2015 ushered in the most television series to ever hit the airwaves, with over 409 scripted programs being produced on the broadcast networks, basic cable, premium cable, and streaming services. Among those 400-plus shows were a bevy of critically-acclaimed freshman series, including Better Call Saul, Mr. Robot, Master of None, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Below, you’ll find individual lists from each of our participating writers with their picks for the best new TV shows of 2015 and a paragraph or two about why a certain show made their list. Then at the very bottom of the page is the official list of TVOvermind’s Best New TV Shows of 2015, as all of our writers’ votes were tallied to create a combined and fair selection of ten of this year’s greatest new series.
Check out the lists below and be on the look out for our picks for the best episodes of the year sometime. Also, if you haven’t already, take a look at our lists for the best TV dramas of 2015, the best TV comedies of 2015, and the best TV shows of the year overall.
Blaise Hopkins
10. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
9. W/ Bob and David
8. Marvel’s Agent Carter
7. Marvel’s Jessica Jones
6. Man Seeking Woman
5. iZombie
4. Marvel’s Daredevil
3. Better Call Saul
2. Mr. Robot
1. Master of None
Why Master of None: Master of None was probably the nicest surprise for me in 2015. I’m a huge Aziz Ansari fan, and when Parks and Rec came to an end, I knew I was going to miss seeing him in something (as well as the rest of that cast). When Master of None came out, I was blown away and watched the entire first season three times in the first week or two of its release. Not only did it have me laughing during most of the episodes, but it brought up some great points about culture and race as well as hitting viewers hard in the feels with its extremely accurate portrayal of the different stages of a relationship. People have been calling Master of None the Louie for the 20-30 age bracket, and it couldn’t be more true.
Chris King
10. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
9. Red Oaks
8. Marvel’s Agent Carter
7. Marvel’s Daredevil
6. Marvel’s Jessica Jones
5. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
4. UnREAL
3. Better Call Saul
2. Master of None
1. iZombie
Why iZombie: One of the most wonderful things about television today is that shows no longer feel constricted by genre or category. A comedy can have dramatic elements, and a drama can make us laugh a ton. But iZombie pushes that idea even further, blending together elements of horror, sci-fi, crime procedural, and comedy all together for one the most distinctive and satisfying TV experiences you can have right now. As Liv Moore, a zombie who works at a morgue in order to eat fresh brains and helps the police solve murder cases, Rose McIver is a big part of what keeps iZombie‘s high-concept drama grounded. Every conflict Liv faces, whether it’s because of a brain she ate (the brains that Liv consumes keep her functioning like a normal person, but they also cause her to experience visions and take on the personality traits of the deceased) or because she still longs for her old, normal life, injects the show with real, powerful emotion, even in its wackiest moments. Not to mention that iZombie‘s terrific writing (despite being a series with a zombie protagonist, iZombie is one of the most human shows on television, and it also has some of TV’s sharpest, wittiest dialogue as well) and the great supporting cast of David Anders, Rahul Kohli, and Malcolm Goodwin, always keep things entertaining, even when Liv’s not front and center. Somehow, alll of these elements work so well together and help make iZombie not only The CW’s most unique show but the best new series to debut on TV in 2015.
Jasef Wisener
10. The Grinder
9. W/ Bob and David
8. Mr. Robot
7. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
6. Ash vs. Evil Dead
5. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
4. Marvel’s Jessica Jones
3. Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp
2. Better Call Saul
1. Master of None
Jen Winkler
10. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
9. The Muppets
8. Schitt’s Creek
7. Fresh Off the Boat
6. UnREAL
5. Bloodline
4. Quantico
3. Master of None
2. The Last Man on Earth
1. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Joy D’Angelo
5. Marvel’s Agent Carter
4. Empire
3. UnREAL
2. Blindspot
1. Code Black
Why Blindspot: It’s got overarching political intrigues and personal intrigues, many evolving mysteries; a good looking, complex, will they/won’t they couple; a cool geek girl; a conflicted agency head; and a bada** woman whose memory’s been erased. Oh, and said woman is covered in tattoos that reveal all kinds of government corruption stuff that create a case a week. Think of if as if Daniel Craig’s James Bond met Jason Bourne – only Jason is a Jane Doe covered in tattoos. With a great cast and decent writing, Blindspot is pure escapist entertainment.
Nick Hogan
10. The Grinder
9. Supergirl
8. Grandfathered
7. UnREAL
6. Master of None
5. Marvel’s Jessica Jones
4. Marvel’s Daredevil
3. iZombie
2. The Man in the High Castle
1. Mr. Robot
Why Mr. Robot: Mr. Robot accomplished what many other shows this year could not: it kept us guessing. There was little predictability to it. Every character was deep, well-acted, and had a rich history. Even the parts that were predictable turned out to be some of the most stunning elements of the 10-episode first season. There was a time when nothing was on in the summer, and now summer fare has crept into everybody’s “Best of the Year” lists, and I expect that this Robot will continue to do so, captcha or not.
Virginia Podesta
10. Master of None
9. Narcos
8. Mr. Robot
7. Show Me a Hero
6. Marvel’s Jessica Jones
5. Casual
4. UnREAL
3. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
2. Bloodline
1. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
Why The Jinx: Simply addicting. I bow to HBO, Andrew Jarecki, and everyone else involved in bringing this documentary series to us. From the first frame, to the opening credits, to the show’s final moments, every piece worked. More series like this are needed.
Overall Top 10 Best New Shows of 2015
10. Marvel’s Agent Carter
9. Bloodline
8. The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst
7. Marvel’s Daredevil
6. iZombie
5. Better Call Saul and Mr. Robot (tied)
4. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
3. Marvel’s Jessica Jones
2. UnREAL
1. Master of None
[Photos via AMC, Netflix, The CW, NBC, USA Network, HBO & Lifetime]
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