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.)

5 of 22 photo by Amazon Studios

83 #5: Homecoming

Based on the hit Gimlet Media fiction podcast of the same name, Amazon's psychological thriller about a secretive, experimental program for American war veterans comes from Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail and stars Julia Roberts in her first regular TV role. The strong cast also includes Sissy Spacek, Bobby Cannavale, Shea Whigham, Dermot Mulroney, Stephan James, and Alex Karpovsky. A second season—which will take the story in a new direction, given that season one mostly exhausted both seasons of the podcast—will stream in 2019.

“If you blink, you might miss a nuanced bit of dialogue or the camera focusing on something relevant to the plot. This is one of the most carefully crafted programs I’ve seen, with fantastic performances from Roberts and Stephan James (in a breakout role). Homecoming is addictive, appointment television and yet another feather in the cap for Amazon’s streaming service.” —Terry Terrones, Colorado Springs Gazette

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