I doubt I’ve ever watched as much TV as I did in 2013. Self-evidently, it’s because I’ve been reviewing TV throughout the year, again, thanks to the Guardian’s continued patronage of Telly Addict, which has now reached its 134th edition. There’s a special review of the year up now, although, in the heat of trying to put together a definitive list, I forgot to mention The Returned, which is something of an omission. I’ll provide a Top 10 here, as it’s easy enough to siphon out the highest echelon from another quality-packed year. But after that, they’re in no order. All entries here are, in my fallible opinion, what the piece of furniture in the corner was made for.
1. Utopia, C4*
2. Breaking Bad, Netflix
3. Ripper Street, BBC1
4. The Returned, C4
5. Louie, Fox
6. Parks & Recreation, BBC4
7. Gogglebox, C4
8. Fresh Meat, C4
9. Game Of Thrones, Sky Atlantic
10. Broadchurch, ITV
Friday Night Lights, Sky Atlantic
The Walking Dead, Fox
Sound Of Cinema, BBC4
The Fall, BBC2
Love/Hate, C5
Y Gwyll, S4C
The Job Lot, ITV
In The Flesh, BBC3
The Village, BBC1
Boardwalk Empire, Sky Atlantic
Stewart Lee’s Alternative Comedy Experience, Comedy Central
The Wrong Mans, BBC2
Bates Motel, Universal
Hannibal, Sky Living
The Newsroom, Sky Atlantic
Boss, More4
The Good Wife, More4
Nashville, More4
Fried Chicken Shop, C4
The Route Masters, BBC2
David Bowie: Five Years, BBC2
Family Tree, BBC2
The Great British Bake Off, BBC2
Southcliffe, C4
Dates, C4
Mad Men, Sky Atlantic
It’s Kevin, BBC2
London Irish, C4
Oliver Stone’s Untold History Of The United States, Sky Atlantic
The United States Of Television, BBC2
Suits, Dave
Veep, Sky Atlantic
I feel certain I’ll have missed essential titles off this already fairly swollen list, so let me know if I have.
*Having named Utopia as my TV show of the year, it would be rude of me not to provide a link to it at the Channel 4 Store website, as Channel 4 DVD were kind enough to send me a copy just before Christmas when I merely asked them, via Twitter, where I might buy a physical copy at short notice (having failed to find one in my local HMV). For that, they deserve a link. It was re-watching the whole thing between Christmas and New Year that just edged it past Ripper Street in my final list. It was close run.
Never Knowingly Underwhelmed 
The only additions that I would personally suggest would be The Americans and Count Arthur Strong. Otherwise, a great list reflecting the fantastic year it has been in telly again.
I would definitely add in Treme. It seems to be underrated. It has a sense of place and an atmosphere pretty much unlike anything else.
I still enjoy Treme – and sticking with a long-running series is in itself a mark of appreciation when so many fall by the wayside – but it doesn’t linger in my bones the way it used to. I look forward to its final episodes, however.
Great choices. My suggestions for additions would be Yonderland and The Tunnel http://tvclaw.wordpress.com/2013/12/06/favourite-tv-shows-of-2013/
I really liked Yonderland when it started but sheer bulk of other viewing pushed it aside and I lost the thread. But yes, worth mentioning in dispatches. I couldn’t keep up with The Tunnel either, despite a great start. Who knew we’d live in a TV age when brilliant TV went unwatched due to the preponderance of brilliant TV? (Seems churlish to complain about such a luxury, but here I am doing it.)
I know, right? That’s what happened to me with Broadchurch. I was away, then busy, and it sat and sat in my DVR for weeks unwatched while I watched other, newer, good things. Still haven’t seen it.
I hesitate to say “You should”, as there’s nothing more annoying. But you should.
I know. And I have to do it before the US remake and/or series 2 hit screens
Hold on, Friday Night Lights? One of the greatest TV dramas of all time, for sure – but it ended 3 years ago.
Not in the UK. It has been showing, back to back, on Sky Atlantic, and it reached its conclusion in 2013.