The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2019 (So Far)

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – July 2, 2019

Which newcomers on the small screen have impressed reviewers the most during the first half of the year? Above, find the highest-scoring first-year TV shows (and miniseries) debuting between January 1, 2019 and June 30, 2019. Only shows with at least 7 reviews from professional critics are included.

6 of 21 photo by Jon Hall/Netflix

79 #15 (tie): Sex Education: Season 1

This winning coming-of-age dramedy set in an English high school stars Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson. The latter plays a sex therapist, while Butterfield is her socially awkward son, who teams with a classmate (newcomer Emma Mackey) to offer advice to their fellow students. Netflix picked up a second season, which should arrive early next year.

“This is a series that modernizes the genre to embrace every kind of kid--the sportos, the motorheads, geeks, sluts, waistoids, dweebies, dickheads, all of 'em!--and without pandering to any singular point of view in doing so. ” —Melanie McFarland, Salon

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