10 Best TV Shows Of 2016 (So Far)
1. Game Of Thrones
After fourth earth-conquering seasons that made it the biggest show on the planet, Game of Thrones took a couple of missteps in Season 5. Don't get me wrong, it was still good, but more than ever before plotlines fell flat, the show pissed off fans, mishandled a couple of horrible moments, and showed the slightest cracks of vulnerability. With Season 6 taking the biggest step yet away from the books, there was a worry those cracks could begin to widen.
Instead, Game of Thrones changed up the formula, and delivered one of the series' best seasons yet.
The general slow build was still there, all working towards the final payoff, but the big moments were bigger, the plot moved faster, and with the endgame getting terrifyingly near, it really began to up the ante.
This was the season when the tide started to turn, and the good guys were winning. Jon, Sansa, Arya, Daenerys, Tyrion - all the characters we truly root for we succeeding, with the people we love to hate finally getting what they deserved. Strong women were coming to the fore, and taking control. Book readers and TV-only viewers were on a level playing field, treated to huge, game-changing shocks. It walked that dangerous line of fan-service, but managed to maintain its balance throughout ten expertly crafted episodes. It looked stunningly cinematic, which is almost a given by now but is worth repeating again when it's so obviously the case, as in episodes like the Battle of the Bastards.
Like Daenerys' dragons, the series soared to heights it had never attempted before, from the huge battles to the season finale - the best finale they've done, and one of the all time great episodes. Everything in Season 6 built towards it; along the way it made us cry, scream in horror, whoop with joy, and stand and applaud.
What are your picks for the best show of 2016 so far? Share your picks down in the comments.