Did you agree with every single entry and ranking on our best films and TV series of the year lists? We doubt it. After all, even we didn’t agree on everything in there, so why would you? To give these aggrieved souls a chance to speak their mind, here are some of the shows and movies we wished we’d managed to sneak in there.
Game of Thrones
Clearly, this past season of Game of Thrones was not the best HBO ever produced. The lack of George R.R. Martin’s literary guidance has taken its toll, and the cracks are starting to show. Some of the decisions, like Arya and Sansa’s sibling rivalry fake-out, made no sense and only served as unnecessary plot filler in an already shortened season. That said, it’s still the biggest show ever created, and it only continues to grow, with some of the best characters, stories, and action sequences that have ever been shown on television. The Loot Train Battle alone makes this one of the best shows of the year. I feel like Game of Thrones suffers too much from comparisons to itself, and even when it’s not at its best, we need to step back and remember how incredibly lucky we are that this series exists. — Beth Elderkin
It
We never get horror movies like It anymore: Movies that are not just scary, but cultural landmarks. Films that rise not just above expectations, but soar into the stratosphere of what’s possible. It was a movement when it came out, and the whole thing frankly came out of nowhere. Sure, we thought the trailers looked good, but to successfully blend horror with a coming-of-age story, nostalgia, amazing performances, and more, in such a profound and entertaining way, really should have gotten a little more recognition. Alas, It didn’t make our final list, and I wish it would have. – Germain Lussier
Gotham
Look, I never really expected Gotham to make it in our Top 10 Shows of 2017 list. After all, a hyper-violent, blood-soaked prequel to the campy Batman TV show of the 1960s isn’t for everyone. But if you could get over the fact that this show had abandoned any obligation to the Bat-mythos years ago, there’s a lot of total insanity to love. Why, this year alone, we saw: Bruce Wayne and Jim Gordon working together to literally punch the proto-Joker’s face off, one of the show’s original and low-key characters turn into a zombie monster who joins a fight club, the arrival of megavillain Ra’s al Ghul only for Bruce to murder him two episodes later, and last but certainly not least, Jim Gordon enlisting the help of an army of mobsters to take out the Penguin because Penguin’s “crime licence” program was working so well Gotham City’s crime rates were down to historic lows and Gordon was jealous, basically. Does it adhere even slightly to canon? No. Is it entertaining as hell? Absolutely. — Rob Bricken
Image: Sergei Bachlakov/FOX
The Exorcist
The Exorcist wrapped up its second excellent, very scary season with a finale that both referenced a legendarily pants-wetting moment from the film series that inspired it (hospital scene, Exorcist III… if you know, you know) and left the story wide open for a season three. Another turn with exorcists Marcus, Tomas, and new teammate Mouse is exciting to contemplate; season two successfully changed settings and introduced a whole new supporting cast, while continually introducing surprises into a show that has a necessarily set template of “person possessed, demon confronted.” However, now that Fox and Disney are under the same roof, the show’s creators aren’t sure what the future will hold. Hopefully there’ll be an adventurous outlet willing to take on what’s quickly become the best horror show in recent memory. — Cheryl Eddy
Downward Dog
Downward Dog did not get a fair shake, which is a shame considering dogs are really great at shaking hands. The show had just eight episodes on ABC this year with Fargo‘s Allison Tolman starring as the earnest and talented Nan, and co-creator Sam Hodges voicing her loveable pooch Martin. Yes, the dog talked, and it was amazing. But the human drama was excellent as well. Nan was a really great female character in that she was trying to excel at work, find happiness, and sleep. The CGI effects on Martin’s mouth and eyes might have turned a few people off from the delightful series, which is unfortunate considering his running commentary was one of the greatest things I’ve ever heard. While only the audience could hear Martin, he weighed in on all manner of topics like youth culture (puppies), the magic of trash, and the despicable nature of cats. But the best part about the show was how much Martin loved Nan and how much Nan loved Martin. The show truly captured the essence of pet ownership down to the tiniest details. — Jill Pantozzi
Image: Allen Fraser/Syfy
Channel Zero
Syfy’s anthology show is two seasons deep, and though we really liked 2016's Candle Cove, the more recent No-End House proved that Channel Zero‘s adventurous format is a creative slam-dunk. With stories inspired by the internet-based horror folklore known as Creepypasta, each season is delivered by a different director with a strong indie-film background and a distinctive visual style. Each season lasts just six episodes, the perfect length of time to dive in, introduce characters we can connect to, then get totally weird, freaky, and surreal, and come to a conclusion that leaves a lingering nightmare in the atmosphere. Season three, Butcher’s Block, can’t get here soon enough. – CE
Coco
I went into Coco expecting a pretty but inconsequential romp through the Land of the Dead. What I got was a profoundly heartfelt story about family, legacy, and the fear of being forgotten. I spent the last 30 minutes of this film in tears, because every moment resonated with me on a deeply personal level. It’s also gorgeous and vibrant, with an incredible soundtrack. I honestly feel Coco will go down as one of the finest films Pixar has ever made, or will ever make. — BE
Agents of SHIELD
SHIELD has been great for ages, but for many who ditched it before season one’s big Hydra twist, it’s still held that initial negative view despite the fact that the show has gone on to do some excellent things in its corner of the Marvel universe. The last year has been especially fantastic on SHIELD – last season dealt with some classic Marvel concepts, introducing the supernatural into the Marvel TV mythos (in a better way than Iron Fist handled it, easily) through Ghost Rider, and then taking the concept of Life Model Decoys to the next level with an alt-reality storyline that tackled the timely themes of modern fascism. The current season is off to a little more lighthearted, but just as lovely start, bringing the SHIELD team into space for a Kree-filled adventure that’s proving, five seasons in, Agents of SHIELD can sit with the best of what Marvel live-action has to offer. – James Whitbrook