The Best TV Shows I Watched in 2019 / by Lisa Keogh

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1. Unbelievable (Series 1) The survivor of a brutal rape is further traumatised when her story is not believed. Meanwhile two female detectives do dogged police work to try and catch a serial rapist. This miniseries was everything so I hoped it would be and more. This will break your heart and rebuild it.


2. I Love Dick (Series 1): A mediocre filmmaker becomes obsessed with a famous artist (who is has given her husband a residency) and in pursuing him discovers her true artistic talents. This may be marmite but I found it revelatory and altering: it genuinely challenged and changed my own feelings about rejection and how women should express desire. Kathryn Hahn is fearless. This is daring TV with complex, challenging characters that experiments with form.

3. Russian Doll (Series 1): A woman keeps dying on her 36th birthday and has to resolve past issues to break out of the loop. The plotting, the humour, the characters. This was an amazing exploration of trauma and growth.

4. Tuca and Bertie (Series 1): 2 Humanoid Birds experience the trials of being in your early 30s and female while navigating relationships, careers, families and past traumas all through an absurdist lens.

5. This Way Up (Series 1) A woman recovers from an acute period of mental stress and breakdown and tries to rebuild her life with a chronic mental health condition. So touching and funny and relatable.

6. Chewing Gum (Series 1&2): A virgin from a very religious family tries to get laid. Smart, funny with sharp writing & epic performances.

7. Sex Education (Series 1): A shy teenager becomes a sex therapist. This examines teenage life & relationships without pandering or censorship.

8. GLOW (Series 3) Our diverse cast of female wrestlers head to Las Vegas. I loved this show already and Series 3 had me laughing out loud and tearing up.

9. The End of the F**king World (Series 2) While on its face this is a just a quirky “teens gone bad show” it’s actually about grief and trauma.

10. Fleabag (Series 2) After a year of “Hot Priest” mania this hasn’t aged as well in my memory but it was still amazing.