2020's Top Ten

To suggest 2020 has been a frickin’ strange year would be putting it mildly. Not only has the world stumbled its way through political upheavals, protest movements and global pandemics, but the entertainment industry has also taken its fair share of hard knocks, with cinemas feeling the pressure, film and TV projects reeling from forced shutdowns and high-profile events and launches being pushed back to 2021.

That being said, it hasn’t been all doom and gloom on the entertainment front, and when things seemed darkest many of us turned to popular entertainment to help see us through one of the most challenging years in recent history. So in honour of the year that was, I’m taking a quick look back at some of my top picks from the world of film and TV that are well worth the time to check out if you haven’t already.

So in no particular order, here are my Top 10 of 2020:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars Season 7

Dave Filoni’s first Star Wars series has had an interesting history, from its early days on the Cartoon Network, through to its original cancellation, to its 2014 season 6 Netflix resurrection, and finally culminating in this concluding chapter which aired in February on Disney+. In this final season, Filoni continues to prove himself as the true creative successor to George Lucas, and not only laid the groundwork for his next animated spin-off, The Bad Batch, but also took Ahsoka Tano’s story to a whole new level as she faced off against Maul and survives the infamous Order 66.

The Magicians Season 5

Those familiar with my own pop-culture meanderings may be aware of my obsession with SyFy’s The Magicians, the series based on Lev Grossman’s trilogy of books. Not only do I consider this series to be one of the few examples where the adaptation is actually better than the source material, it also ranks as one of my all-time favourites. That being said, season 5 be no means packed the same punch as previous seasons, and the departure of Jason Ralph’s Quentin Coldwater in the heart-breaking season 4 finale is keenly felt in every episode, but it’s hard for me to divorce myself from my love of the series as a whole, so season 5 definitely gets an honourable mention in this list.

Birds of Prey (And the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn)

It feels so long ago that its almost easy to forget that this film was actually a 2020 release, but as one of the few big films to make it to cinemas before Covid-19 put everything on hold, this one also gets a mention – and probably would have made my list even if it didn’t. There’s no secret that the DC cinematic universe has had a rocky road to travel in its early days, and I’m not going to cast shade at some of their earlier releases – but let’s just say some were less than stellar. That being said, Margot Robbie’s second outing as Harley Quinn was a much tighter, and more well told film than her Suicide Squad debut, and Ewan McGregor was hugely enjoyable as the villainous Roman Sionis AKA Black Mask. My only real quibble is that I think they wasted the character of Victor Zsasz by turning him into little more than Roman’s deranged lieutenant.

Utopia

Based on the original UK series, this latest American reimagining starring John Cusack is a wild ride and an ironically well (or poorly) timed series to drop during the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic. Following the tale of a group of diehard fans and conspiracy theorists who believe a cult graphic novel titled Dystopia predicts many of the world’s previous pandemics, when a new second manuscript is uncovered, they find themselves dragged into a dangerous game as a deadly new Influenza begins sweeping the nation.

Dispatches from Elsewhere

This show actually describes itself as “Fight Club on acid, written by someone who actually loves life”, and there’s probably no better summary. When a group of four, very different strangers find themselves pulled into a complex, and mysterious game, they begin a transformative journey which simultaneously puzzles the mind and leaves a feel-good buzz in the pit of your stomach. A good one if you’re not adverse to some mind-bending, surrealist fiction.

Upload

Robbie Amell stars as Nathan Brown, a computer programmer with an idea to enable open source access to a digital afterlife currently reserved for only a wealthy few, when he suddenly finds himself deceased and his consciousness uploaded to the exclusive Lake View afterlife, courtesy of his wealthy, and over-bearing girlfriend. Meanwhile Nora, Nathan’s new afterlife handler, begins to find herself attracted to Nathan whilst beginning to suspect that his death may not have been the accident everyone believes. A refreshingly original sci-fi comedy which offers plenty of laughs.

Enola Holmes

Based on the Young Adult novels by Nancy Springer, Enola Holmes charts the adventures of younger, and lesser-known sister of Mycroft and the great Sherlock Holmes. When Enola’s mother suddenly goes missing, her older brothers seeks to enrol her in a boarding school and hope to educate “the wildness” from her, but Enola has other ideas as she seeks out to discover her mother’s whereabouts for herself, proving herself a most competent detective in her own right. Played by the immeasurably talented Millie Bobby Brown from Stranger Things, let’s keep our fingers crossed that this film will only be the first in a much beloved series.

Tiger King

In the years to come 2020 will be remembered for two things, Coronavirus and that b*tch Carole Baskin. This docuseries turned pop culture sensation is a exercise in proving that truth, is indeed, much stranger than fiction. After the first episode you’re left thinking it can’t possibly get any stranger than this… you’d be wrong. It gets MUCH stranger every episode.

Harley Quinn Season 2

Harley is getting a double billing on my 2020 top 10, courtesy of the animated series’ 2nd season. Voiced by The Big Bang Theory’s Kaley Cuoco, this delightfully twisted cartoon version not only brings Gotham Clown Princess of Crime back to her animated roots, but does so with a deliciously warped sense of humour which puts a whole new spin on the Batman pantheon. Definitely not one to watch with the kiddies though.

The Mandalorian Season 2

If the Clone Wars season 7 wasn’t enough to prove Filoni’s prowess as the new master of Star Wars, the second season of The Mandalorian drives the point home with the force of what is most probably the best Star Wars content since the original trilogy. Filled to bursting with amazing Easter eggs, cameos and character returns, this is a show not to be missed under any circumstances. Pure magic, and Favreau, Filoni and the rest of the crew truly deserve every accolade thrown their way.

And that finale! WOW!