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My Top 5 for 2014

These are my pick of the top 5 new shows that debuted in 2014.

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2013-12-07_1601This morning on Fran Kelly’s Radio National Breakfast programme I revealed my annual Top 5 shows of the year.

These are my pick of the top 5 new shows that debuted in 2014.

Honourable mentions in no particular order go to:

Devil’s Playground
The Honourable Woman
Outlander
Peaky Blinders
INXS: Never Tear Us Apart
The Missing

But the 5 ranking in order are:

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#5 The Code, ABC

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#4 Happy Valley, ABC

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#3 Fargo, SBS

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#2 The Normal Heart, Showcase

True Detective

#1 True Detective, Showcase

 

17 Responses

  1. Another one whom agrees entirely with the other 4 but I’m not sure what The Code is doing there – it had problems with the writing and acting and I found it rather derivative, pedestrian and tedious compared with Happy Valley, Fargo and True Detective.

  2. Tough to do a list right now with ‘The Missing’ yet to air its finale anywhere in the world (unless anyone has seen an advance of it).

    Ultimately, a series finale is vital to the overall quality of a show. As many have already pointed out, ‘True Detective’ lost a few points because of its climax.

    Otherwise, all great picks (even if – being pedantic – I personally wouldn’t have included a telemovie for consideration as a “series” or “show”). Ignoring ‘The Missing’ for the time being, my top 3 would be (in some order) Fargo, Happy Valley & True Detective.

  4. Fargo was my number one by far. Every episode was like a mini movie, I loved it.

    True Detective had all the right ingredients but it turned out to be a self-indulgent bore. It’s the new Mad Men.

    Is The Normal Heart being developed into a series?

  5. Would not have caught The Honourable Woman had it not been for your site David so thank you! True Detective did fizzle a little I thought at the end but only because they set the bar high.

  9. Fargo would be my #1 with Les Revenants at #2. Happy Valley is right up there too but I have no doubt forgotten a couple of shows that were prob on SBS2 (like Salamander which would crack an honorable mention if not make the Top 5).

    We’ll have to disagree on The Code. As I have already said, I thought it was a bit of a mess and not very credible.

    Special Honorable mention to Homeland which is pretty much a new show for this season.

  10. The Normal Heart was just incredible! The acting was flawless, the script was heartbreaking – I’m just sorry that it was the same year as True Detective as it deserved many accolades…

  11. Have to agree with No1 David compelling viewing set a high standard for others to follow I just tracked down the opening audio tune that I play back once in a while to remained me of the show

  12. Fargo would also be my Number 1.
    The excellent Happy Valley definitely deserves to be there as well.
    Wasn’t mad on TD – started out brilliantly but fizzled out towards the end, I thought.
    The Code was just OK but there were more deserving shows that missed out.
    Really look forward to catching up with Devil’s Playground -have heard it’s really good.

  14. Thanks David, I love this list every year. I saw The Normal Heart on a flight and would not have watched had you not told me to. It was great. Fargo number 1 for me.
    Annoyed that RN has you on too late for me to listen these days.
    Merry Christmas.

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