Favourite TV Shows of 2020

In terms of TV, 2020 has been a good year. Since we were in Lockdown I turned to my streaming apps on my phone for escape – when I wasn’t reading a book – so I watched a lot this year. Here are my favourite TV shows of 2020.

Some have been out a while, but I only discovered them in 2020. Others are later series of my all-time faves, and some are brand new mini-series.

It was only in November that I got an actual TV so a lot of these programmes are from streaming sites over real-time TV. I probably watch Netflix more than anything on my TV, so you’ll recognise a lot of programs from there. I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard that the best VPN for Netflix is Always VPN as well – so top tip!

Favourite TV Shows of 2020

Without further ado though, here are my favourite TV shows of 2020.

Love Life (BBC)

I stumbled upon this series on BBC IPlayer one afternoon and honestly clicked because it had Anna Kendrick in it. A BBC original drama with Anna Kendrick? It was fantastic! Utterly relatable, hilarious (genuine LOL one-liners!) and great writing. A must-watch.

The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix)

After seeing the trailer for The Queen’s Gambit I put it straight into my Watch List on Netflix. I stormed through this mini-series in two days and it was stunning. The casting, the writing, the costumes (60s outfits!!) and the atmosphere of the show was amazing. Anna Taylor-Joy, Thomas Brodie-Sanger and Harry Melling are perfectly cast in this 60s drama about a chess prodigy and orphan, struggling with addiction.

The Great British Bake Off (Channel 4)

Series 10 is here and didn’t we need it? Whilst I’m not a massive fan of the Channel 4 version of Bake Off, I still look forward to it every year. My best friend, her sister and I usually get together every Wednesday to watch the show on catch-up with pizza and wine. This year, we only managed two episodes before I had to disappear for my sister’s wedding and then lockdown. I did manage to get my mother back into it this year though.

Hollywood (Netflix)

I didn’t think Hollywood was going to be a show for me, based on the description. But after watching the trailer and hearing my friends raving about it, I decided to give it ago and I thought it was great. It’s a re-telling of the 1950s era golden age of cinema in Hollywood. What would have happened if people of colour and LGBT actors (like Rock Hudson) came out and worked together to make a film? Fantastic. I hope there’s a second series.

RuPaul Drag Race: All Stars 5 (Netflix)

I always look forward to Drag Race, and All Stars is a fantastic series as it’s great to see how far Drag Queens come in their careers when they appear for the second or even third time on the show. This year’s series was FULL of drama! And addictive AF. Great escapism for lockdown.

The Witcher (Netflix)

At the beginning of the year I, like many of us, got addicted to The Witcher series on Netflix. Sure the graphics aren’t great, but the plot line and writing is so clever. It definitely fills the hole Game of Thrones left a few years ago. I’m very much looking forward to series 2, coming soon!

Medici: The Magnificent (Netflix)

The final series of Medici aired just before Lockdown in March and it was fantastic to escape into historical Italy for a little while. The Medici were a fascinating dynasty, that put Italy on the map for the first time since Roman days in my opinion. Like the Spanish Borgias and the English Tudors, the story of the Italian Medici make amazing TV dramas. And the good-looking cast wasn’t detrimental either.

Normal People (BBC)

Thank god for the Irish. Normal People began airing just as we went into the first lockdown and it was the perfect escape from it all. I rationed myself to only two episodes per day to make it last as long as possible. I have no problem admitting I’ve watched the series two more times after I finished it though. The acting was superb and the BBC did themselves proudly by adapting this wonderful book by Sally Rooney.

The Order (Netflix)

I hadn’t even realised that The Order was a thing until my dad started to watch it and I caught the tail-end of a few episodes. At the beginning of the lockdown, this was my go-to binge watch and I really enjoyed it. It’s a shame it was cancelled. It’s a university-set, paranormal series following a witchcraft society and the werewolves that ‘monitor’ the magic that is used to create balance. It’s kind of hard to explain… when you watch it though, you’ll understand.

Cheer (Netflix)

At the start of the year, I fell into the Cheer hole. Once upon a time, I was a cheerleader – NOTHING compared to these guys! Hearing the story of the troubled teens and seeing the intense training they put themselves through just for one competition is insane. But also very watchable.

Interior Design Masters (BBC/Netflix)

Anyone that knows me, knows that I love a good DIY project. And, of course, during the lockdown, all I’ve been thinking about is ways I can refresh my flat. A BBC series was added to Netflix in October and I binged it in a matter of days. The series is a competition for interior designers who are called in to decorate various shops, homes and hotels and the best designer wins a massive monetary prize and project. I love seeing an interior transformations like these.

Cobra Kai (Netflix/YouTube)

My parents raised me right, and by that I mean they raised me on 80s music and 80s films. One such film was Karate Kid. My sister and I watched the movie all the time when we were younger, so much so we even joined a Karate Club for a time. So when Cobra Kai started to air on YouTube, and then later Netflix I was beyond excited. I watched season 2 during the lockdown and it made me very happy. So much so that I think my friends are sick of me talking about it – mostly since none of them has seen Karate Kid! 

The Crown (Netflix)

I don’t know why, but I was ridiculously excited to watch series 4 of The Crown. I even set an alarm on a Sunday to get up at 8 am to watch the whole series in one day. Of course, I also didn’t realise how miserable it would make me. Whilst the acting is superb – in particular, Emma Corrins as Diana who was bloody brilliant – the lives of the royal is depressing AF. Whether it’s true or not. No one wants to find and marry a prince or princess after watching this show, that’s for sure.

Emily in Paris (Netflix)

And finally, yes it’s terrible, but I did enjoy Emily in Paris. It’s a series that is full of cliches and stereotypes, but who doesn’t love a self-discovery story about a woman who is thrown in at the deep end, falls in love and struggles to adjust to a new life? The fit French next-door neighbour is also a plus.

Those are my favourite TV shows of 2020. What are yours? Have you got any binge-watch recommendations for me now that I have a TV? Let me know in the comments below.

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