The 20 Best New TV Shows of 2020

by Jason Dietz, Metacritic Features Editor – December 30, 2020

Above are the highest-scoring first-year TV series (including limited series) debuting in the United States between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020. Shows are ranked by Metascore (an average of grades from top professional critics on a 0-100 scale) prior to rounding based on scores as of December 29, 2020, and any programs with fewer than 7 reviews are excluded.

14 of 21 photo by Natalie Seery/HBO

86 I May Destroy You (HBO)

(#7) Michaela Coel (who previously created the BAFTA-winning British sitcom Chewing Gum) writes, produces, co-directs, and stars as the victim of a date-rape drugging who must piece together the events she can't remember in this 12-episode, half-hour drama co-produced by the BBC and HBO and set in London. The series has only grown in stature since its June debut, and is now easily leading all 2020 shows in our compilation of year-end critic top 10 lists.

“It is, in short, an extraordinary, breathtaking achievement without a false note in it, shot through with humour and with ideas, talent and character to burn at every perfectly plotted turn.” —Lucy Mangan, The Guardian

Watch it on HBO Max (12 episodes)

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