21 TV Dramas We Loved in 2017
19. Alias Grace
At first glance, Alias Grace is a psychological crime drama, with a who-dunnit murder as the anchor conflict. On further examination, the stunning series based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, delves deeper. (Atwood also wrote The Handmaid’s Tale, by the way.)
Grace is a woman who has had to be on the defensive her entire life in order to survive. The people she cherishes do not always survive like her.
Alias Grace carefully considers the ways people react to intense trauma, when they live in a world that has a one-dimensional understanding of innocence.
The acting is superb and the meanings of Alias Grace will be running through your mind weeks after watching.
20. Queen Sugar
Queen Sugar is a compelling OWN drama about siblings coming together to take over a sugar cane business after they experience a loss.
There are many things to love about this thought-provoking and engaging drama. One stand-out is the cinematic styling of the show. The lighting, landscape and camera work serve as a silent character in the story of the Bordelon family.
It is too rare for a serious drama featuring people of color as leads to have success over multiple seasons. Queen Sugar is sticking around and that is a win for viewers in 2017.
21. Bates Motel
Bates Motel takes Hitchcock’s horror classic and serializes it in the best way. The dysfunctional mother/son duo played exceptionally well by Vera Farmiga and Freddie Highmore, are riveting in every episode.
Not only does Bates Motel do the iconic film justice, but it creates its own narratives. It is shot cinematically, and the performances are beautifully nuanced. The first four seasons lead up to the events of Psycho, and the final season tackles it.
Bates Motel pays homage, but also stays true to its own intricately weaved storylines, while throwing in shocking plot twists and reveals. The tragic story of Norma and Norman is punctuated with quirky, funny moments, romance, murder mystery, and family drama. It really has it all.
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What was your favorite TV drama from 2017? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, and be sure to check out our picks for favorite TV comedies and favorite sci-fi and fantasy series from 2017 as well.
Additional contributions by: Mary Misasi, Allison Nichols, Caralynn Lippo, Erin Allen, Samantha Coley, Jennifer Ann, Shabnaj Chowdhury, and Janelle McCammack
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Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Ashley Bissette Sumerel is a television and film critic living in Wilmington, North Carolina. She is editor-in-chief of Tell-Tale TV as well as Eulalie Magazine. Ashley has also written for outlets such as Rolling Stone, Paste Magazine, and Insider. Ashley has been a member of the Critics Choice Association since 2017 and is a Rotten Tomatoes-approved critic. In addition to her work as an editor and critic, Ashley teaches Entertainment Journalism, Composition, and Literature at the University of North Carolina Wilmington.