These are TV shows, mini-series, or multi-part documentaries that I streamed in 2020. If it specifies a season then I have watched the previous seasons prior to Jan 1, 2020
- 1BR (Amazon Prime) – B-
- Midsommar + The Invitation.
- 13th (Netflix or Youtube) – A
- – Ava DuVernay’s documentary about racial inequality in the United States. A must watch
- 21 Bridges (Showtime) – C
- Was this script found in the back of Bruce Willis’ closet because it would’ve been lame even thirty years ago.
- 1917 (Amazon) – A
- One of the most riveting war movies ever made.
- A Very English Scandal (Amazon) – A
- The true tale of a closeted government official and his scheme to keep his affairs private.
- Alias Grace (Netflix) – A-
- Beautiful and fascinating true crime mini-series set in 1843. Based on Margaret Atwood’s book things aren’t always what they seem.
- Altered Carbon season 1 (Netflix) – C+
- Rich people in the future will do anything to stay young, including MURDER! A bit dull.
- American Murder: The Family Next Door (Netflix) – B
- The Chris Watts murder case unfolds in this clever documentary using only real footage.
- An American Pickle (HBO) – C+
- This movie can’t decide if it’s a comedy, a fantasy, heart-warming, or a dark drama therefore it fails at everything.
- Bad Education (HBO) – B+
- True story of a high school newspaper that uncovers the biggest budgetary scandal in New York State.
- Brightburn (Starz) – C+
- What if a superhero child was also serial killer? Interesting premise, mediocre execution, gross diner scene.
- Broadchurch season 1 (Netflix) – B
- A child is killed; everyone is a suspect.
- C.B. Strike: The Cuckoo’s Calling (Cinemax) – A-
- The case of the dead model.
- C.B. Strike: The Silkworm (Cinemax) – B-
- The case of the missing author.
- C.B. Strike: Career of Evil (Cinemax) – B+
- The case of the serial killer.
- Challenger: The Final Flight (Netflix) – B+
- This documentary details the avoidable disaster, the men responsible, and the cover-up that ensued.
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season 3 (Netflix) – quit after 5 eps
- I quit once Sabrina was queen of Hell and still in high school and they had the same musical number TWICE in one episode.
- Class Action Park (HBO) – B
- The most dangerous public park in the U.S. People loved it.
- Coastal Elites (HBO) – C
- Just watch the first one (Bette’s). The rest are ho-hum.
- Cobra Kai (Netflix) – B
- I appreciate that they lean into the cheese of it all. Thoroughly entertaining if not a bit ridiculous.
- Collateral (British mini-series on Netflix) – B-
- Carey Mulligan investigates a murder and unravels a bigger conspiracy.
- Come to Daddy (Amazon Prime) – B
- Elijah Wood locates his estranged father and oh-boy do things go haywire.
- Da 5 Bloods (Netflix) – B+
- Spike Lee’s film about four veterans that return to Vietnam to locate the remains of their fallen friend.
- Dead to Me season 2 (Netflix) – A-
- You thought season 1 was crazy? I love this show.
- Defending Jacob (AppleTV) – B
- Chris Evans’ kid may be responsible for a murder or maybe not.
- Dirty John S1 – B+
- True account of a grifter. An engaging and engrossing watch even if the daughters voices are super annoying.
- Escape at Dannemora (Showtime) – A-
- True retelling of two inmates escape from prison. Give Patricia Arquette all the Emmys.
- Extra Ordinary (Netflix) – A-
- A reluctant medium investigates a possession in this clever comedy.
- Fargo season 3 (Hulu) – A-
- Idiot twin brothers get involved in murders and mobsters.
- Fleabag Live (Amazon Prime) – B
- The origin of the series in this live stage performance.
- Great British Bake Off S11 (Netflix) – A-
- So relaxing
- Hollywood (Netflix) – B+
- Fantasy reimagining of 1950s Hollywood and its hidden scandals.
- How to Build a Girl – (AppleTV) – B-
- Beanie Feldstein goes from underdog to influencer in this true story that should’ve been better.
- I’m Thinking of Ending Things – (Netflix) – B+
- Charlie Kaufman’s beautiful if not slightly confounding tale of one woman’s strange night.
- Jack Ryan seasons 1 and 2 (Amazon Prime) – B+ for S1/B- for S2
- S1 finds Ryan thwarting Middle East terrorists. S2 is a Venezuelan political scandal.
- Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (Netflix) – B-
- Documentary about Trump’s best friend.
- Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne (Amazon Prime) – B
- Frothy adaptation of love and class is 1850’s aristocracy.
- Jurassic World: Camp Cretaceous (Netflix) – B
- A parallel story to Jurassic World this animated kids show supplies the adventure and the danger in a cool way.
- Just Mercy (appleTV) – B
- A lawyer defends an innocent man on death row.
- Killing Eve season 2 (Hulu) – A
- Jodie Comer is unbelievably fantastic as the complicated assassin.
- La Boheme (Met Opera) – A
- ‘Rent’ but in Italian.
- Little Fires Everywhere (Hulu) – B
- Adaptation of Celeste Ng’s novel about two families dealing with secrets.
- Lost in Space season 2 (Netflix) – B+
- The Robinsons are stranded on an ocean planet this time.
- Lovecraft Country (HBO) – B
- Every ep is weirder and weirder.
- Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D final season (ABC) – B+
- Lots of time travel in this solid season.
- McMillion$ (HBO) – C+
- Six-part documentary on the McDonald’s Monopoly scandal. Should’ve been 3 eps.
- Mucho, Mucho Amor (Netflix) – B-
- Documentary on the famous and eccentric Walter Mercado.
- Murder in the Bayou (Cinemax)- B-
- Investigation into the murder of eight women in the same town.
- Mrs. America (Hulu) – B+
- Don’t let this fool you, Phyllis Schlafly was not a good person.
- Never Have I Ever… (Netflix) – C+
- …finished watching this series.
- Ozark (Netflix) – A
- Hands down the best show on TV. Julia Garner is a marvel.
- Parks & Rec all seasons (Hulu) – B
- This show is not “The Wooooooooorst.”
- Pen15 (Hulu) – A
- Awkwardly hilarious. I love this show so much.
- Perry Mason 2020 (HBO) – B+
- The origins of Perry in this period piece murder mystery.
- Ratched (Netflix) – B-
- It’s gorgeous and ridiculous and campy. What’s not to like?
- Remember (Showtime) – B
- Christopher Plummer on the hunt to kill the last remaining Auschwitz guard who killed his family. Solid and Hitchcockian.
- RuPaul’s Drag Race S12 (Amazon/VH1) – B-
- Some shantay most sashay away.
- RuPaul’s Drag Race All-Stars S5 (VH1) – B-
- See above but with re-Queens
- RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race S1 (Amazon/VH1) – C
- You will hate Nico Tortorella after this.
- Safe (British mini-series on Netflix) – C+
- Michael C. Hall’s daughter goes missing in this Harlan Coben series.
- Shrill season 2 (Hulu) – B+
- Aidy Bryant is a likeable loser finally gaining her courage in this tight comedy.
- Search Party S3 (HBO Max) – A
- These kids are way in over their heads.
- Sex Education season 2 (Netflix) – B
- Further adventures of the sexually active teens.
- Space Force (Netflix) – B-
- I rather enjoyed this ridiculous sitcom about a ragtag military operation. John Malkovich is very good.
- Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Disney+) – B
- Nicely fills in the gap between episodes II and III
- Support the Girls – (Hulu) – B
- Quiet comedy about a female manager at “Double Whammies” a local Hooters-like sports bar.
- The A.B.C. Murders (Amazon Prime) – B
- Hercule Poirot tracks a serial killer.
- The Assistant – (Amazon Preview) – C+
- Completely mismarketed dry drama about a film exec’s abused assistant. It’s not a thriller like the trailer would lead you to believe.
- The Boys season 1 (Amazon Prime) – A-
- Superheroes are bad people too!
- The Comeback -S1/S2 (HBO) – B
- Poor Valerie, she’s so pathetic.
- The Good Fight S2-4 (CBS All Access) A-
- This spin-off of the Good Wife is always great.
- The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix) – C
- Boo!ooooring! This take on “The Turn of the Screw” gives us 4 episodes of nothing then all of a sudden 4 episodes of… “something”. Also Victoria Pedretti might be one of the most bland, bad actors out there.
- The House with the Clock in its Walls (Showtime) – B
- Kids movie directed by Eli Roth about magic.
- The Imagineering Story (Disney+) – B
- History of the Disney Imagineers.
- The Final Girls (Amazon) – D
- Interesting premise, awful movie.
- The Five (Netflix) – D+
- Why was this so boring? Another Harlan Coben mini-series about a missing kid.
- The Lovebirds (Netflix) – B
- Fun comedy about a couple accidentally involved in a murder.
- The Mysterious Case of Agatha Christie (Showtime) – A
- Quick reimagining of a real life case. Funny.
- The Old Guard (Netflix) – B+
- Charlize and her mercenary crew can’t die no matter how hard they try.
- The Outsider (HBO) – B+
- Cynthia Erivo investigates the disappearance of a child in this creepy Stephen King miniseries.
- The Peanut Butter Falcon (Hulu) – B
- Shia LeBeouf and a young guy with Down’s Syndrome go on the run.
- The Pharmacist (Netflix) – A-
- Documentary about the opioid crisis.
- The Politician S2 (Netflix) – B
- This is dipping into later-season Glee territory already.
- The Stranger (Netflix) – B+
- Another Harlan Coben, this time a mysterious woman appears to people just before something bad happens.
- The Vow (HBO) – C
- Clues you are in a cult: mandatory volleyball from midnight to 7am several nights week, a literal brand on your pubic region, sex with the predatory founder is a reward.
- Tiger King (Netflix)- A-
- It’s just weird.
- Unsolved Mysteries 2020 (Netflix) – B
- More mysteries yet to be solved.
- Upload (Amazon) – B
- A less clever “The Good Place” with A.I. but woah, that ending!
- Veep S1-4 (HBO) – C+
- These people are not likable.
- Wayward Pines S1 (Hulu) – A-
- This mindf%$k mini-series is worth the time. Trust me.
- What We Do in the Shadows (Fx on Hulu) – A-
- My favorite sitcom. So clever. Team Nandor!
- Work in Progress (Showtime) – B+
- Abby confronts Julia Sweeney about her Pat character. That’s all I remember.
- Why Women Kill (CBS All Access) – B+
- Because of men, that’s why.
- Wrinkles the Clown (Hulu) – C
- Documentary about this weirdo, it takes a turn in the middle but it’s not worth watching.
Jason S Steele 