5 Fantastic TV Dramas That Ruled in 2015

I love great storytelling. I’m drawn to dramas than any other format because I know they can provide me with fantastic characters, gripping tales and add meaning to my humdrum life. 2015 was an excellent year for television, but dramas have ruled supreme. From UnREAL to Outlander, here are five shows that have captured my attention this year.

5. Madam Secretary

During the first season, Madam Secretary was a fledgling story of the first female secretary of state, her family, and staff. This year, it refocused on the two main leads (played by Tea Leoni and Tim Daly), working for the state department and the NSA and conflicting with each other over how international matters should be handled. These storylines are the reasons why Madam Secretary is becoming one of the most compelling shows on television. A relevant and gripping tale of the complexities of international politics and domestic matters in the world that could dissolve into World War III at any moment, Madam Secretary is a comedy one moment, a suspense the next, and a family drama a second after that. It hits the nail on the head but remains criminally underrated by critics and audiences alike.

4. UnREAL

I never imagined that a show airing on Lifetime would hold my attention, but I was wrong. UnREAL is a satirical look at our obsession with reality TV, particularly The Bachelor, and those who run the show. The best part of the show comes from the brilliant acting of Constance Zimmerman and Shiri Appleby, playing women who are allowed to be individuals — vulnerable and distinct but with clear goals in mind. The first season boasted moments that were sexy, cruel, and heartbreaking all while holding a mirror up to our own obsessions with women we only view as dummies, narcissistic, or promiscuous when they are so much more than a label. 

3. American Crime

Some shows have the ability to transform audience thinking. Such is the case with American Crime, where racism, socioeconomic differences, and addiction were thrown out to an audience, that may not have been ready to acknowledge these very real and difficult subjects. Suffice to say, the emotional journey the show went through was a very wild ride, superbly brought to life by the brilliant acting by Felicity Huffman, Regina King, and Timothy Hutton. Their acting that was the trigger to a story rich with tension. Most surprising was the ending, where we were left with more questions than answers as perhaps it was always meant to be.

2. The 100

It’s the show that, before this year, I didn’t know I needed: a post-apocalyptic teen survival story that purports to be “teenaged viewing”. The CW’s dark drama is a philosophical questioning of morality and the consequences of choices, you make to survive. It’s also a show about humanity that is decidedly inhuman. But it’s also daring and cool, superbly written and acted, and accompanying a questioning message that can only be described as “revolutionary.” Developed by Jason Rothenberg, The 100 does what drama does best: it takes the format and elevates it to a whole new level.  

1. Outlander

Outlander, in many ways, is one of the more distinct dramas on TV: It’s a wartime drama, that’s a time travel story and a romance fantasy. But what makes it exceptional is how it acknowledges the female gaze, particularly during sex scenes, never showing or forcing the female lead to do something she doesn’t want. In the 16 episodes that have aired so far, the show has explored arranged marriages, witchcraft, religion, class and male rape, but it’s done so with respect and intelligence, making it clear that these are issues that TV dramas should respect and not use for shock value.

What was your favorite drama this year? Share your pick or picks in the comments below.