The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2017

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 27, 2017

Above are the highest-scoring first-year TV series debuting in the United States between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017. 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.)

1 of 22 photo by Hulu

92 The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu)

Metacritic's Best New TV Show of 2017.

(#1) This year's best-reviewed new series is also one of 2017's most provocative, timely, and buzzed-about programs. Adapted from Margaret Atwood's acclaimed 1985 novel by Bruce Miller (The 100), the Hulu drama is similarly set in a dystopian near future where a fundamentalist, male-dominated dictatorship called Gilead has replaced the United States.

The series was nominated for 13 Emmys and won in eight categories, including outstanding drama series (a first for any streaming service). Star Elisabeth Moss, co-star Ann Dowd, and "guest" star Alexis Bledel also turned their terrific performances into Emmy trophies. Yvonne Strahovski, Joseph Fiennes, Samira Wiley, O.T. Fagbenle, and Max Minghella round out the cast for Handmaid's Tale, which will return for its second season in April.

“It is unflinching, vital and scary as hell.” —James Poniewozik, The New York Times

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