The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2019

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 29, 2019

Above are the highest-scoring first-year TV series debuting in the United States between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019. 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, are ranked in a separate list.)

2 of 21 photo by Courtesy of Netflix

88 Russian Doll (Netflix)

(#2) It may be yet another twist on the Groundhog Day formula, but it's a wildly successful one. The Netflix comedy stars Natasha Lyonne as the guest of honor at a never-ending party in New York. Well, technically, it does end—repeatedly—with her death, only for it to restart each time with her unharmed but retaining her memories of her previous versions of the day. Lyonne co-created the eight-episode comedy with Amy Poehler and Leslye Headland (Bachelorette), and also served as one of the directors (along with Headland and Jamie Babbit). Despite reaching a pretty satisfactory conclusion, the Emmy-nominated series will return for a second season.

“Unlike so many puzzle-box shows, Russian Doll doesn’t rely on its twists and clues, though there are plenty of those, all expertly deployed across each of its eight exquisite half-hour installments. ... Russian Doll’s investment in its characters makes it a binge-worthy show that demands an immediate rewatch.” —Danette Chavez, A.V. Club

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