Last year we had a lot of series based on true stories. This year was a little different. We saw a lot of book adaptations. And we saw many anthology series being nominated again after being absent for one or more years. We have a wide variety of series in this category, so choose your favourite!
Below in alphabetical order the top ten nominees of van best series from 2020;
Des
Over the past few years David Tennant has developed a talent for playing nasty men. In the three part series Des he play Dennis Nilsen, a serial killer who killed at least twelve young men in the seventies and eighties. Hearing him talk about the hidious things he did raises the hairs on the back of your neck. Next to Tennant as a nasty man, Des gives and interesting view on an exceptional murder case and has a nice twist to the well-known detective genre.
Fargo
After being absent for a few years Fargo is back. The snowy Minnesota is swapped for the muggy Kansas City of the fifties, where a conflict between Italian and Afro-American families escalates completely. But the pitch-black humour, extreme violence, absurd situations and sharp dialugue are back again. Just like a strong ensemble cast (led by Chris Rock) carrying the story. Is it time for a comeback as best miniseries after three years?
The Haunting
Two yeats ago Netflix reinvented the horror genre with The Haunting of Hill House. After its success a second season was obvious. But instead of continuing the story, The Haunting became an anthology series. This year the second season, The Haunting of Bly Manor was released. This season may be less scary, it was very enjoyable for those who love haunted mansion stories.
Hollywood (2020)
No American Horror Story this year. But this category would not be this category if there was no Ryan Murphy project amon the moninees. We have this in Hollywood (2020). We see a group of aspiring actors and filmmakers trying to make a career after World War Two and this is not without struggle. With its extravagant production design and exuberant cast, Hollywood (2020) is a typical Ryan Murphy project we're used from him.
Little Fires Everywhere
For a few years Reese Witherspoon is building a career with quality television and Little Fires Everywhere logically follows this career. Here she shines as a traditional housewife coming in conflict with her new neighbour, a single mother and artist. Soon tensions, secrets and conflicts accumulate to escalate in a delightful way. This show is comparable to Big Little Lies, where Witherspoon had a role too.
Mrs. America
Nowadays women and men are equal by law. But until deep in the seventies the Americans had to fight for it. The civil rights movement got an unexpected opponent: a woman. Mrs. America tells the story of Phylis Schalfly, a conservative laywer and politician who did everything to stop the laws for equal treatment. With a beautiful lead role for Cate Blanchett and themes that even play in the present, Mrs. America stands a chance to win this category.
The Plot Against Ameica
For the past few years we saw a lot of what if-stories about World War Two. What if the nazis conquered England or America? But The Pot Against America asks what would have happened if America was not defeated, but joined the nazis voluntarily. Through the eyes of ajewis family we see how America becomes more and more fascist over the years. Just like The Man in the High Castle this alternative history is fascinating. And we should be happy that this never happened.
The Queen's Gambit
Chess is boring? Watching The Queen's Gambit will change your mind. Anya Taylor-Joy shines as Beth Harmon a chess prodigy who makes a career in the sixties. It shows how far people are willing to go to push their boundaries. The same happens to Beth, who faces hard dilemma's and does not always control herself. The Queen's Gambit is beautifully shot, well acted end very intense.
The Sinner
There is one constant factor in The Sinner and his name is Harry Ambrose. The moody detective has been solving the most bizarre cases for a few years. This time he investigates a deadly car accident with clear intent. The evidence points to the driver's best friend who tried to bury a secret. But how guilty is this man? The Sinnner is another classical nothing-is-as-it-seems-story. Although less strong than previous entries, the third season is still an enjoyable anthology series.
Unorthodox
Where lies the border between religious and personal freedom. Unorthodox deals with this question. This is the first Netflix Original in Yiddish. A young orthodox jewish women flees from her husband from New York and travels to Berlin. Here she sees a total different world vastly removed from her old life. Unorthodox asks interesting questions and is and intimate portrait of personal struggles.
These were the ten nominees, nominated by you readers, the editors and myself. If you want to choose another series you can use a wildcard. Good luck voting!
