20 Best TV Episodes Of 2016 

4. Marcia, Marcia, Marcia - The People V O.J. Simpson

Best TV Episodes 2016
FX

The People V O.J. Simpson was a superb first entry into Ryan Murphy's latest anthology series, American Crime Story. With a fantastic cast, and a true story already rich in drama, it quickly became the show to beat in 2016 - a feat few series managed.

It didn't have a weak episode, but its strongest was easily Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.

The real-life Marcia Clark was vilified at the time of the trial, for everything from her supposed incompetence to her hairstyle, and this episode puts the spotlight on the character and her treatment.

Sarah Paulson gives the best TV performance of the year as Clark, and manages to completely humanise her here. We see both her strengths and weaknesses, and the toil the trial is taking on her. It's an absolute tour de force, and makes us think not just about Marcia Clark and this trial, but the treatment of women then and whether things have changed all that much since.

Contributor
Contributor

NCTJ-qualified journalist. Most definitely not a racing driver. Drink too much tea; eat too much peanut butter; watch too much TV. Sadly only the latter paying off so far. A mix of wise-old man in a young man's body with a child-like wonder about him and a great otherworldly sensibility.