10. “Archer”
Every year just seems to get better for “Archer.” The most talented voice cast on television makes the funniest writing on television absolutely sing.
9. “Community”
Sadly, the spirit of “Community” — creator and ousted showrunner Dan Harmon — won’t be around when it returns in February. But he couldn’t have produced any better episodes to go out on than those in 2012. The Season 3 finale was wonderfully done, but my personal favorite was the “Law & Order” episode. Hopefully, the excellent cast will make up for his absence.
8. “Boardwalk Empire”
Steve Buscemi and Bobby Cannavale gave all-time performances as rival gangsters, but the meticulously written plot signals this will be one of TV’s best crime dramas for years to come. The way every coalesced in the final episodes was very impressive. The highlight was the finale’s extreme gangland violence, especially [spoiler alert] Richard Harrow (Jack Huston) doing his best Rambo impression.
7. “Shameless”
A great premiere season was followed by an even better Season 2 that perfectly balanced raucously dark humor and empathic drama. Emmy Rossum gives a tour de force performance as a young woman trying to hold her large, blue collar family together. And Jeremy Allan White and Cameron Monaghan are among the best young actors on television.
6. “Louie”
Louis C.K.’s wonderful series had another absolutely amazing year, like the previous two seasons. It really was a great year of television if “Louie” is outside the top 5. The two-part Parker Posey episode and the three-part “Late Show” arcs were “Louie” at its best.
5. “Sherlock”
With only three episodes, “Sherlock” still managed to be one of TV’s best dramas thanks to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock and Martin Freeman’s Watson — the best onscreen duo outside of Walter White and Jesse Pinkman on “Breaking Bad.” The finale’s showdown with Sherlock nemesis Moriarty was especially thrilling.
4. “Luck”
Most of the news coverage about “Luck” was about the death of three horses on the set. This is a tragedy for sure, but it’s only compounded by one of the finest shows to come along in years — thanks to the unequivocal writing of David Milch and the visual splendor of Michael Mann — calling it quits as a result. I will forever miss the odd bond among the four degenerate gamblers and Nick Nolte’s grizzled performance.
3. “Girls”
This was the definitive love-it-or-hate-it show. Even if the titular girls were pretty annoying, creator and star Lena Dunham presented a hilarious and heartfelt look at being tragically hip in your twenties. Hope Dunham can keep up the great work when “Girls” returns Jan. 13.
2. “Mad Men”
After a long hiatus, showrunner Matt Weiner produced one of the best “Mad Men” seasons to date. The growing disillusionment of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) may have been the tragic theme, but Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) getting his ass kicked — twice! — and Roger (John Slattery) tripping were the highlights. Putting “Mad Men” at two and “Breaking Bad” one was really just splitting hairs.
1. “Breaking Bad”
Yet another stellar outing from showrunner Vince Gilligan and his talented group of writers and directors. Walter White (Bryan Cranston) transforming into full-blown kingpin was as frightening as it was compelling. The supporting cast of Aaron Paul, Jonathan Banks and Anna Gunn was second to none, as usual. The incredible fight between Walt and Skylar (Gunn) in “51” and the painful — yet magnificently constructed — cold open of “Buyout” were the year’s most haunting moments on television.
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