15 Shows That Made This the Best TV Summer Ever
Yahoo TV
Updated
'UnREAL' (Lifetime)
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There's no question — this dramedy was easily the summer's most refreshing surprise. The show, which followed the making of a fictional "Bachelor"-like reality show, was a dark, thoughtful satire wrapped in a fun, silly concept. Kind of like "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" was in its day — which makes sense given that "UnREAL" was co-created by "Buffy" executive producer Marti Noxon. The action was elevated even further by the performance of its lead, Shiri Appleby, as a conflicted but manipulative mad-genius producer able to bend the reality show players — from the contestants and the suitor to her colleagues high and low — to her will. We played right into her hands, too… and can't wait to do it again in Season 2. — Breanne L. Heldman
'Mr. Robot' (USA)
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The pilot for USA’s "Fight Club"-by-way-of-"American Psycho" hacker drama was brilliant, but also a little worrying — how could the series ever hope to sustain that level of intense paranoia, not to mention the conceit of an unreliable narrator, over the course of an entire season? Here’s how: through excellent writing, graceful direction, and a standout lead performance by Rami Malek as our hero (or is he?) Elliot, a semi-reluctant anarchist whose computer skills are as sharp as his mind is muddled. Far from running out of story, "Mr. Robot" only deepened its world and characters as the season progressed, so that when the rug was pulled out from under Elliot — and us — in the show’s eighth episode, we came away feeling like reality itself had split apart. We’re no longer worried about whether the show can last a season. Now we only want to know: How many seasons will the show last? (Please say five. Or ten.) — Ethan Alter
'Orange is the New Black' (Netflix)
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Jenji Kohan's sprawling prison dramedy has been remarkably consistent through three seasons, and this summer's Season 3 might've even been its best yet. "OITNB" took on the prison-industrial complex, faith and spirituality (kosher meals, yo!), the harrowing repercussions of rape, the joys and pitfalls of the creative process (we so want to read "The Time Hump Chronicles") — and concluded with a truly cathartic scene of the Litchfield inmates frolicking in a nearby lake that felt like a beautiful, ecstatic dream. — Dave Nemetz
'Humans' (AMC)
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To those of us who do not usually partake of TV’s most sci-fi-iest of offerings, "Humans" initially might have seemed like an automatic write-off. “Synthetic” humans? Synths becoming real humans? Synths having sex with humans? No, thank you. Except that this British-American remake of a Swedish series offered tense thriller elements, genuine emotional connections between the synths and their human families, Oscar-winning veteran William Hurt and breakout newbie Gemma Chan, and a provocative storyline about what it really means to be sentient. It is one of the surprises of the summer that not only did we non-genre fans enjoy the whole eight-episode run of Season 1, but we can’t wait for next year’s Season 2. — Kimberly Potts
'Playing House' (USA)
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The most original show on USA that’s not "Mr. Robot," "House" is the stealth comedy from Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair that turns the domestic sitcom inside-out. Packed with jokes and an amazing array of familiar funny faces as semi-regulars and guest stars (Keegan-Michael Key, Zach Woods, Andy Daly, Kyle Bornheimer, Gerry Bednob, and more have all popped in), "Playing House" operates as both a conventional sitcom and a deconstruction of one — both ways of viewing are recommended. — Ken Tucker
'BoJack Horseman' (Netflix)
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One of the few shows — animated or live-action — capable of spoofing J.D. Salinger and reality television in the same episode, "BoJack Horseman" became a richer, funnier and all-around better series in its sophomore year. Even though equine superstar BoJack (voiced impeccably by Will Arnett) achieved his dream of starring in a Secretariat biopic, his life continues to fall apart in spectacular ways. The same goes for the other folks in his orbit, from Todd’s dalliance with an improv comedy cult to Diane’s disastrous trip to the war-torn Republic of Cordovia. (On the other hand, everything was coming up… um, peanut butter for canine optimist Mr. Peanutbutter.) If it stays on this creative upswing, bet on "BoJack" continuing to lap the cartoon competition again in Season 3. — Ethan Alter
'Another Period' (Comedy Central)
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If you kind of wish someone would take the starch out of "Downton Abbey's" trousers, you might love this ridiculously raunchy freshman comedy. Creators Natasha Leggero and Riki Lindhome star as two overly entitled society girls who spend their days indulging in Champagne and morphine while laughing at their dirt-poor servants — basically, the Paris and Nicky Hilton of the Gilded Age. A rock-solid supporting cast (Paget Brewster and Jason Ritter are especially great) and a delightful streak of absurdity all help "Period" earn a place among summer TV's upper crust. — Dave Nemetz
'Suits' (USA)
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Sometimes it pays to ruffle a Tom Ford suit. Since the USA drama's 2011 premiere, New York City's top, best-dressed closer, Harvey Specter has been one of the coolest cats on TV. But as Season 5 began in June, he was fraying. Losing secretary Donna to Louis gave him panic attacks that sent him to a therapist, who's helped Harvey see the real root of his issues — and given fans deeper insight into his backstory (along with the sight of him wearing a cardigan).
The other characters have grown, too: Jessica has made time to mentor Rachel. Rachel and Mike have realized how far they may have to go to protect each other's futures. And Louis has managed to find new and increasingly shocking ways to sabotage his relationship with Harvey. It's drama that builds on years of insecurities, loyalties, and fights in the office bathroom — and for longtime fans, it's been nothing but satisfying. — Mandi Bierly
The other characters have grown, too: Jessica has made time to mentor Rachel. Rachel and Mike have realized how far they may have to go to protect each other's futures. And Louis has managed to find new and increasingly shocking ways to sabotage his relationship with Harvey. It's drama that builds on years of insecurities, loyalties, and fights in the office bathroom — and for longtime fans, it's been nothing but satisfying. — Mandi Bierly
'Halt and Catch Fire' (AMC)
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AMC's tech-geek drama chronicling the 1980s personal-computer boom was okay in Season 1, but it completely rebooted itself for its sophomore season — and got positively great. Season 2 smartly switched its focus from snake-oil salesman Joe to female programmers Cameron and Donna and their punk-rock start-up Mutiny. By dipping their toes into the brave new world of online gaming (over old-school phone lines, natch), Mutiny's emergence gave "Halt" a crackling urgency. — Dave Nemetz
'The Fosters' (ABC Family)
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This family drama Just. Keeps. Getting. Better. This summer saw some pretty significant developments for the Adams-Fosters and their brood, and not just because Jesus was gone and not missed. Stef and Lena's marriage faced some roller coaster realness the likes of which we haven't seen since "Friday Night Lights" (yeah, I said it). And almost-adoptive siblings Callie and Brandon sealed the deal after three seasons of awesome, inappropriate tension and brought with it probably the steamiest sex scene ever to hit the teen-centric network. "The Fosters" is a series that could easily veer towards the saccharine and melodramatic, but somehow manages to make a sharp turn just before it gets there and move me in the process. — Breanne L. Heldman
'Review' (Comedy Central)
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Life goes on, and so does "life critic" Forrest MacNeil, reviewing life experiences like rest-stop glory holes and curing homosexuality on a five-star scale. No pancakes this time, thankfully, but his fanatical devotion to his reviews is still having a hilariously negative effect on his life in Season 2. (He had a nice girlfriend before he attempted to blackmail her, and his stint as a little person led to his father's house burning down.) And it's all anchored by Andy Daly's five-star performance as Forrest, truly one of TV's most inspired comedic creations. — Dave Nemetz
'Catastrophe' (Amazon)
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Not only is this the best new romantic comedy of the summer, it’s one, I have discovered, that holds up to repeated viewings. The interplay between the new couple played by Rob Delaney and Sharon Horgan is full of intricately clever jokes and sweet-'n'-sour scenes that make you want to watch this courtship more than once. — Ken Tucker
'The Daily Show With Jon Stewart' (Comedy Central)
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After breaking the news back in February that he’d be stepping down from the "Daily Show" perch he’d held for 16 years come August, this instantly became the Summer of Stewart. Rather than get bogged down by sentimentality and nostalgia, though, the comedian became looser than he’d been in years. He approached his final weeks on the job like a victory lap, culminating in a finale that was equal parts heartfelt, honest and hilarious — all reasons we tuned into "The Daily Show" night after night in the first place. When New Jersey builds its own Mount Rushmore, Stewart’s face will be proudly displayed alongside fellow rockin’ Jersey Boys Frankie Valli, Bruce Springsteen, and Jon Bon Jovi. — Ethan Alter
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'Hannibal' (NBC)
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Yes, NBC did sort of spoil our appetite by canceling Bryan Fuller's vividly gory serial-killer drama just three episodes into Season 3. But if this is to be our last meal with Hannibal, Will Graham, and company, then we're enjoying every morsel. This season's early episodes served as a gorgeous travelogue as Will tracked down his cold-blooded nemesis Hannibal through the churches and catacombs of Italy. And now we get to see an imprisoned Hannibal and Will actually join forces to catch a new killer: the demented Francis Dolarhyde (in a fearsome performance by Richard Armitage). A triumphant final act for one of TV's strangest and most satisfying dramas. — Dave Nemetz
'Wet Hot American Summer' (Netflix)
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It may not be the "Salute Your Shorts" revival that ‘90s Nickeloedon fans were hoping for, but hey... we’ll take it. David Wain’s eight-episode continuation of his cult summer camp comedy is a more than worthy follow-up to a much-loved movie, and one of the few prequels that actually justifies its existence. (Wain clearly could’ve taught George Lucas a thing or two on that front.) The fact that he was able to reassemble the entire Camp Firewood staff — Paul Rudd! Amy Poehler! Bradley Cooper! Chris Meloni! — plus make room for new characters played by the likes of Chris Pine, Lake Bell, and Jon Hamm makes "First Day of Camp" an extra-impressive feat. Now we want a spinoff that follows "Electro/City’s" inevitable path to Broadway. — Ethan Alter
"Reruns"? What are those? Summer used to be a dead time for TV viewing, but thanks to an influx of new shows and returning favorites, our DVRs were just as busy this summer as they are in the fall and spring. In fact, we're declaring 2015 the Best TV Summer Ever — and here are 15 shows that prove it.
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