The 25 Best TV Shows of 2016

There was no way Netflix's Stranger Things wouldn't make this list. The supernatural series, which, happily, brought Winona Ryder back into our lives, was deeply thrilling and sheer nostalgic indulgence. Plus, it was one of the most binge-able things we've seen all year. Watching Eleven, played by our new favorite actress, Millie Bobby Brown, come into her own felt relatable, even if we don't have any superpowers of our own. Can someone bring us some Eggos?

Although Tom Hiddleston's subtle but intense performance in The Night Manager was overshadowed by his romance with Taylor Swift, he's definitely one of the main reasons this limited series is worth watching. Based on John le Carré's novel, the show deals with big issues of war and power but also gives us a complicated and interesting love story. Plus it introduced Elizabeth Debicki, who can wear a dress like no one we've ever seen. A second season is reportedly on its way—fingers crossed.

The trial of O.J. Simpson found new relevance this year in Ryan Murphy's limited series, which followed Simpson (Cuba Gooding Jr.) from the days of Nicole Brown Simpson's murder through to the verdict. The series raised questions about race, misogyny, and celebrity, and gave us some of the best performances of the year. Sarah Paulson's Emmy for her work as prosecutor Marcia Clark couldn't have been more deserved.

In her Emmy acceptance speech, Julia Louis-Dreyfus noted that Veep "started out as a political satire, but it feels now like sobering documentary." Although the actress has excelled in the role of Selina Meyer for five seasons, it was this year's episodes that really allowed her to shine as the abrasive, egotistical politician. Meyer is essentially a terrible person, but somehow we love watching her in all her ups and downs. The best episode came in the form of "Mother," which showed us how Selina dealt with grief (not well).

In its third season, animated Netflix series BoJack Horseman continued to surprise, spark laughter, and make viewers think about what it means to be alive. The show is poignant and thoughtful—even through its barrage of puns—and it's the sort of thing you want to watch over and over. The "Fish Out of Water" episode was an especially powerful (and bittersweet) moment of TV, real proof that a cartoon can be beautifully wrought and emotionally relevant.

In the first season of Catastrophe, Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney revealed that even deeply imperfect people can find a way to be together. In the second season, the actors, who created and write the show, tackled what it means to keep it together as imperfect parents. The show is brutal, honest, and hilarious—just like life. If you haven't watched it yet, mark it as top priority.

Finally, the women have come to power in Westeros. The most recent season of the HBO drama gave us everything we've ever wanted from the characters: the ladies in charge. Watching these characters creep toward the finale, which is the best episode of TV this year (and maybe ever), was thrilling and emotional. Sophie Turner's Sansa Stark and Maisie Williams's Arya Stark both got their revenge, and Daenerys continued her rise to power. But best of all was Cersei Lannister claiming the iron throne. That one was a long time coming.

Orange Is the New Black returns every summer on Netflix and never fails to be one of the most compelling binge-watches of the year. There is always so much at stake for the characters, and we just want them to be happy. But this season was particularly affecting in that it tackled the Black Lives Matter movement and addressed the power dynamic between white authorities and inmates of color. The tragic loss of one of our favorite characters still resonates months later.

The Americans finally got some long-deserved respect at the Emmys this year. The spy series, which follows a Russian couple who pose as Americans and send information back to the homeland, was particularly suspenseful this year. Will their daughter join the family trade? Will their FBI neighbor uncover their activities? Will any of their wigs slip off? There are so many questions still unanswered, and we're dying for the next season to answer them.

Millennials: We never quite understand them, but it's fun to watch their antics. And pretend to be one. That's the whole deal of Younger, which stars Sutton Foster as a woman who lies about her age in order to get a publishing job and start her life over post-divorce. The second season was even better than the first, dealing with the idea that age might just be a number and nothing more. The characters are relatable and sympathetic, even when they're doing insane things, and it's always hope inducing to watch someone try to begin their life again. Younger offers the sense that it's actually possible.

Last year, Mr. Robot broke out as one of the most exciting and innovative series out there. So it makes sense that the second season, which asked even more questions than it answered, would amp up all that drama. Rami Malek's transformative portrayal of Elliot, a pensive, antisocial hacker, has been thrilling to watch, especially in recent episodes. The narrative is remarkably complex and intellectual: It assumes that its viewer is smart and engaged, unlike a lot of shows on TV, and that makes it even more of a must to follow week by week, although now we have a long wait for season three.

Abbi and Ilana. Our friends. Our queens. Played by creators Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer, the characters have given us so much insight into what it's like to be a weed-smoking weirdo in New York City. In the third season, Broad City really found its voice, probably because we know these two characters so well by this point—and will follow them on any escapade. We will never forget the laugh-out-loud episode "2016," which guest-starred Hillary Clinton herself.

Outlander switched things up in its second season by moving the action to Paris, where the gowns and setting got seriously ornate. The reinvention helped keep the show—and its central, time-traveling romance—fresh, and we could not love stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan more. The season ended with a bit of a cliffhanger (will Claire and Jamie ever reunite?????), and we can't wait to see how the drama unfolds in season three. But, please, no more nipple-revealing dresses…..

How, in 2016, is Samantha Bee the only woman helming a late-night talk show? Luckily, Bee has the power of 10 late-night hosts, especially as she dissects Trump and Clinton throughout the election season. Bee is hard-hitting and fierce, taking a no-nonsense approach to current events, but she also clearly cares about the issues at hand. Times are tough right now and she knows it, but she's also willing to make a joke (or 20) when warranted.

Maria Bamford is our hero. Not only did the comedian create an engaging show for Netflix that is literally unlike anything we've ever seen before, but she did so in a way that directly discusses mental illness. Bamford is clearly unafraid of subjects like her own depression and going to a mental hospital, and her sincerity helps viewers feel like they aren't alone in their struggles. This series admits that life is hard, but reminds you that it's also sweet and funny and worth living.

This BBC series comprises just five episodes, but they're enough to showcase star Ben Whishaw's impressive performance as a gay man caught in a web of lies after his lover is found dead. It's taut and thrilling, and, refreshingly, an action-based spy show where the protagonist isn't a straight man. We won't spoil the plot, which is deeply engaging, but be assured it's thoughtful and surprising.

The third season of You're the Worst recently premiered on FX, and already we can tell that the new episodes will measure up. After learning that Gretchen (Aya Cash) suffers from clinical depression last season, we now watch her try to get better by going to therapy and dealing with her pain. It's a rare show that tackles mental illness head on—and with humor—and seeing Cash interact with her therapist, played by Samira Wiley, is seriously entertaining as well as poignant.

This series, inspired by Steven Soderbergh's 2009 film, received mixed reviews. But its investigation of female sexuality and what it means to use your body as currency is fascinating, despite any plot holes. Riley Keough's apathetic law student Christine Reade has sex for money—and that leads her, and us, down a sort of rabbit hole. It's unclear what sort of follow-up season the show will receive, but suffice to say that more would be welcome.

From the premiere episode of Underground, it was clear that the series would unflinchingly represent the horrors of slavery. Noah (Aldis Hodge) begins to coordinate an effort to escape a Georgia plantation, and as the show unfurls, it reveals that morality can be relative, contingent. It's an important show to have on TV, and star Jurnee Smollett-Bell is a standout.

UnREAL's second season didn't quite have the punch of its shocking first season, but it still felt groundbreaking. The Lifetime series gave us the first-ever black Bachelor on television (albeit a fictional one). The only downside was that we wanted to see Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer's characters working more in unison ("Money. Dick. Power"). Here's hoping that next season the two will continue their united takeover of TV.