We are about three-quarters through 2026 now, and while there are more TV show premieres yet to come, there is a long, long list of great shows that have produced great seasons this year. I thought I would go through the top 10 list and give some recommendations.
This is based on a combination of Rotten Tomatoes critic scores and audience scores, with the totals added together. If they tie, the one with more reviews gets the spot. Here they are:
1)AdultsSeason 2 (FX/Hulu)– 100% critic score, 96% audience score – Adultsis a Gen Z “friend group” comedy that on the surface, sounds like it should be mediocre. It is not, it is awesome and hilarious. It has still not been renewed for season 3, which seems ridiculous.
2)Colin From AccountsSeason 3 (Paramount+) – 100% critic score, 96% audience score – No, I hadn’t heard of this one, in part because it’s on Paramount+ and not a Taylor Sheridan show. But it’s lasted three seasons now, and it is literally tied for the best-reviewed show of the year. It follows two people brought together by a car accident who form a relationship.
3)Slow HorsesSeason 6 (Apple TV)– 100% critic score, 93% audience score – The can’t-miss spy show is currently airing its sixth season, and it has not lost a step thanks to Gary Oldman and his supporting cast.
4)Widow’s BaySeason 1 (Apple TV)– 98% critic score, 93% audience score – The Emmy-guzzling horror comedy was perhaps the biggest surprise of the year, and thanks to being an Apple show, it was renewed immediately.
5)Star Wars: Maul – Shadow LordSeason 1 (Disney+) – 98% critic score, 93% audience score – Maulmay be the best Star Wars content short of Andorthat Disney has put out in its entire stewardship of the Star Wars brand. Don’t skip it just because it’s animated.
6)The Other Bennet Sister Season 1(Roku) – 98% critic score, 93% audience score – Yes, a Roku show made the list. The period drama racked up high scores as it follows a young woman to London, which ends up in a love story during the Regency era.
7)FuriousSeason 1 (FX/Hulu)– 99% critic score, 89% audience score – The serial killer drama was meant to be a miniseries, but it was so good that it was renewed for season 2. Two of the best performances of the year from its leading ladies.
8)SugarSeason 2 (Apple TV)– 97% critic score, 91% audience score – Sugarflies under the radar at Apple TV, but season 2 racked up fantastic scores with one of Colin Farrell’s most understated roles ever as a noir detective. The polar opposite of his time as The Penguin.
9)HacksSeason 5 (HBO Max)– 97% critic score, 89% audience score -The final season of one of the most acclaimed comedies in recent history did not disappoint, and Jean Smart nabbed her final Emmy, one for each season.
10)The PittSeason 2 (HBO Max)– 99% critic score, 85% audience score –The Pitt squeezes into the list here for its second season, critics giving it a near-perfect score. The annual series will be back in just four months, and we will see if it can maintain this level of comedy.
You will notice that there is not a single Netflix show in the top 10 list, and the first one that shows up, The Boroughs, was cancelled after one season. Next up, How to Get to Heaven from Belfast, also cancelled. No joke, there are maybe four shows total in the top 50 for Netflix, two are miniseries, and two got cancelled. Great service, that.
Enjoy these other shows and of course, watch them from the start if you haven’t.
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This article was originally published onForbes.com
