The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2018

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 28, 2018

Above are the highest-scoring first-year TV series debuting in the United States between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2018. Shows are ranked by Metascore (an average of grades from top professional critics on a 0-100 scale) prior to rounding, and any programs with fewer than 7 reviews are excluded. (Note that limited series, as well as TV movies and specials, will be ranked in a separate list arriving this weekend.)

18 of 22 photo by Gunther Campine/Sundance Now

75 #18: This Close

A Sundance Now exclusive, this streaming dramedy is a rarity in television: it is created by and stars a pair of deaf actors, Shoshannah Stern (Weeds) and Josh Feldman, who play best friends—the latter is gay, the former is newly engaged. It's also notable for another reason: It's good! Zach Gilford, Cheryl Hines, and Marlee Matlin also appear in the six-episode series, which will return for a second season next year.

“Ultimately, the series works because deafness isn't a twist, but the specificity in what would still be a well-executed buddy dramedy.” —Dan Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter

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