Apotheosis' Favorite Media of 2020
Film recommendations, an app you need in order to make streaming usable, a list of things we missed and our 10 favorite TV shows of 2020.
We sure spent a lot of time cooped up in our homes this year. For many of us, that translated into more time to watch stuff and assign meaning to the things we watched so that they could stand as placeholders for real life relationships that were put on pause. Run-on sentences aside, this really was a great year for on-screen media. It was the most difficult list I’ve ever had to put together for TV shows and I expect that it will only become more difficult to do those lists as the years go on.
So without taking up any more of your time, here’s The Apotheosis Newsletter’s favorite media objects from 2020.
The Best Thing I’ve Ever Seen
A lot of great TV shows came out this year. Sure it was a bit weak on the film side, if only because theaters were largely not open, but TV absolutely came through. That said, the best thing I saw this year, perhaps the best thing I’ve ever seen in my life, was this video of David Guetta paying tribute to George Floyd during a rooftop livestream concert.
To be clear, I don’t think Guetta was trying to make a mockery of George Floyd’s murder, the power of MLK’s speeches or the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. He doesn’t strike me as a bad guy, just someone who poured too much sincerity into something that ultimately was Not The Right Place For The Message™.
Nothing will ever top the level of comedy contained in this video. It’s like the best Curb Your Enthusiasm bit came to life and then improved itself. It’s everything that SNL tries and fails to be. It’s the most agonizing thing I’ve ever watched and I can’t get more than 30 seconds into it before crying with laughter. Nothing has ever been this tone deaf. No one has ever been this funny.
Most Clutch App for Film and TV Fans
As streaming services keep propagating, recombining and fracturing, those of us who subscribe to a large number of them now have the first world problem of “too many channels.” JustWatch was an app that a friend brought to my attention, and now I think I owe them something.
JustWatch asks you for all the streaming services and cable options you have and little else. Using that information, it’s able to tell you which shows are on the platforms you’re already subscribed to, and which ones aren’t available with your current setup. All you need to do is search the show and it’ll tell you where it’s available for streaming. Even better, it also works for movies, which are far more difficult to keep track of in my experience. The app won’t change how you watch TV or Movies, but it will cut down on time spent aimlessly scrolling through Netflix.
Movies You Should Watch
Because movie theaters have been closed all year I honestly haven’t seen as many movies as I would have liked. My plan was to catch up in December, but predictably things have been far too busy to allow for that particular luxury. However there were still a few film projects and documentaries that were worth shouting out. If there’s something missing this list, definitely leave a comment. I plan to catch up on movies eventually. But for now, here’s what I enjoyed in film in 2020.
I’m Thinking of Ending Things - A wonderful puzzle-box of a film. There’s technically only one correct interpretation, but the room for personal interpretation makes the film unique and special even if it frustrates you with its lack of clarity. Definitely something that grew in my estimation over time.
Da 5 Bloods - All Spike Lee movies are good. Whether or not they’re excellent is the question. While this doesn't hit the same highs that Do the Right Thing does (honestly what films do?) it features brilliant performances, interesting ideas, and some real “heart in your throat” moments of tension.
History of the Seattle Mariners - If you’re not following the careers of Kofie Yeboah, Jon Bois, and everyone else at Secret Base, you need to rectify that immediately. History of the Seattle Mariners blends a true love of sport with a thorough investigation of fandom and why we cling to it even when it fails us. On top of all of that it’s touching, well-written and one of the most exciting pieces of media from this year.
The Vast of Night - Written and directed by Andrew Patterson, whose previous credits almost exclusively include OKC Thunder commercials and promo shorts, The Vast of Night is the sort of swing that never works out on paper. But thanks to a patient camera, snappy dialogue, a keen attention to detail and a willingness to bask in mystery, this $700,000 movie might be the best thing that popped onto my TV screen this year.
The Speed Cubers - This past year was harrowing for every one of us. The Speed Cubers provided a moment of relief when we needed it most. Directed by Sue Kim, the film follows Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs, the two fastest Rubik’s Cube solvers in the world. Narratively it focuses on the rise of Max and the inevitable decline of Feliks as he grows older and gains more responsibilities. What truly elevates the film is the intense focus on the loving, brotherly relationship between the two competitors. There’s no twists, no chaos, no big breakdowns, just joy and celebration. It’s a welcome reprieve.
Best TV Shows of 2020
While 2020 didn’t come through on the film side, at least in terms of making films easy to see for a reasonable sum of money, this may have been the best year in TV of my young life. For the first time in quite a while it was a struggle to pull together a clean top ten. To rectify that, I’ve added in a list of runners up and a list of shows that I wanted to see but never got the time to watch. I’ll be watching them in 2021, but the list gods demand a sacrifice before the ball drops. I’m inclined to acquiesce to their demands.
Shows I Missed
PEN15
The Good Lord Bird
The Queen’s Gambit
We Are Who We Are
The Plot Against America
Normal People
The Boys
What We Do in the Shadows
Black Narcissus
Cobra Kai
Little America
Dickinson
Gangs of London
Zero Zero Zero
Gentefied
Once I get to these shows and some of the movies I missed in 2020, I’ll put out a revised version of the final lists, but there’s no timetable on that for now.
Runner’s-up
Dave - A hyper-funny fictional biography of rapper “Little Dicky” that has some surprisingly touching moments tucked beneath its absurd exterior.
Dorohedoro - It may be anime, and therefore bumps against all the issues I have with anime in general, but Dorohedoro crafts a complex fantasy world bursting with originality. Violent, absurd and surprisingly light, it’s the freshest experience on television.
How to With John Wilson - Documentarian John Wilson explores various topics that never go where you expect them to. You’re always glad when you arrive at the destination.
Bojack Horseman - The final season of Bojack Horseman (which might be the best Netflix original show) cleanly wraps up all the tangled storylines from its previous seasons. It would absolutely be in the top ten were it not for 2020 being so stacked.
Apotheosis’ 10 Favorite TV Shows of 2020
10. The Great - Hulu
Primarily written by Tony McNamara (The Favourite), The Great contains all the acerbic humour and royal wankery that you could ever want. Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult are absolute scene stealers, especially Hoult, who imbues his portrayal of Peter III with such hilarity that you truly stop caring about whether or not he’s supposed to be good or bad. While the key strength of the show is its ability to pull you out of the real world and into a world of power-fueled disaffection, it still provides enough cutting real world commentary to satisfy those who need it.
9. The Outsider - HBO
One of the greatest television casualties of 2020, The Outsider turned the police procedural on its head by introducing the occult. It isn’t the first to mix the two genres, but it is the first I’ve seen that explores how these two things might butt up against one another in reality. Cynthia Erivo and Ben Mendelsohn both turn in remarkable performances, and Jason Bateman tries his hand at direction with shocking levels of success. It’s more popcorn fare than societal commentary, but the latter is there if you look, and the former is more engaging than it has any right to be. The only warning: this show is not for the faint of heart.
8. Betty - HBO
If the last nine months have left you missing the power of community and person-to-person interaction, then Betty may be the only show capable of soothing that particular ailment. More of a vibe than a narrative experience, Betty follows a group of Bettys (female skateboarders) around New York City as they get into and out of trouble. At only six episodes, the show feels comfortable leaving viewers wanting more, and their confidence is well earned. Each young actor provides remarkable performances and the dialogue feels honest and down-to-earth. It’s a delightful experience from start to finish.
7. Devs - FX (FX on Hulu Exclusive)
Decidedly less delightful than Betty, Devs wins points for taking a singular vision and putting it on screen directly as Alex Garland (Annihilation, Ex Machina) envisioned it. The show follows Lily Chan (Sonoya Mizuno) as she is thrust into a whirlwind of events after the disappearance and apparent suicide of her boyfriend, Sergei Pavlov (Karl Gusman). Featuring spine tinglingly measured performances by Nick Offerman and Alison Pill, the show asks big questions and expects you to keep up. I’d go on at greater length but the real joy of Devs comes from luxuriating in its brilliant production design and knotty sci-fi narrative. Any spoilers would be a disservice to both. My only note is this; if you’re the type of person who has wrestled with the Calvinist notion of predestination, you need to watch Devs.
6. The Mandalorian - Disney+
The Mandalorian corrects all the issues of the Star Wars sequel trilogy without addressing it directly. Every second of this show feels tightly controlled and carefully planned. But don’t mistake that intentionality for sterility. By returning to the roots of what made Star Wars so fun that it inspired a sprawling expanded universe, The Mandalorian pulls off what we’ve always wanted from the franchise. Whenever there’s a big moment, it lands with the force of an atom bomb, and the small moments are handled with the delicate hands of an ice sculptor. Best of all, it works whether you’re a Star Wars nut or not. The former will catch dozens, perhaps hundreds, of nods to extended universe canon, Clone Wars and Rebels. The latter will undoubtedly be pulled in by the week to week thrust of the plot. It’s TV making at its absolute finest, you simply can’t ask for more than it already provides.
5. Ted Lasso - Apple TV+
Any show claiming that its protagonist is so likeable that they can’t help but to succeed places a tremendous bet on itself and its writers. Well after throwing all their chips on 13 at the roulette table, the team behind Ted Lasso walked away millionaires. Jason Sudeikis finds his perfect niche as the titular character, an unrelentingly positive D-II college football coach turned Premier League football manager, imbuing Lasso with a cluelessness that is charming but not oafish. Almost offensively simple at face value, the show goes through an array of emotional twists and turns where you watch characters actually grow and evolve in the way that real people often do, through conversations with people who care about them. It’s as heartwarming as it is tear jerking, and the snappy dialogue never fails to elicit a good cackle or two per episode.
4. I May Destroy You - HBO
This is probably the best made show of the year. What Michaela Coel (Chewing Gum) accomplishes with the project boggles the mind. I May Destroy You focuses on the idea of consent, but takes it far beyond the traditional confines of sex and relationship. Unlike most portrayals of the subject, the show refuses to tiptoe around these subjects. Instead, it stomps in them gleefully like they were roadside puddles. The willingness of this show to get its hands truly filthy reveal some of the most stunning moments of television in recent memory. It also makes many of the episodes profoundly uncomfortable. It’s a complex web of a show, particularly in the thematic realm, but then again so is life, especially when it bumps against the subjects this show wishes to unpack. It takes a strong constitution, but the rewards of the show are well worth any of the trials it puts you through.
3. Industry - HBO
Adding yet another show into the genre of “shows about people you should hate but can’t help loving” Industry brings propulsive intrigue to a world many of us would rather not exist. It follows a group of young graduates as they navigate the world of high-finance and private banking. Often, the show takes monstrous bites out of big questions, which might lead you to believe it will eventually choke on them, but it never does. Even better, the crackling dialogue gives each of the young actors plenty of material to work with, and it features what might be my favorite acting performance (Eric, portrayed by Ken Leung) from anyone in 2020. It’s also a terribly horny show. But what do you expect will happen when you lump a bunch of 22-25 year olds with money into an office with one another?
2. Better Call Saul - AMC
I’m not going to be the one who dissects whether or not Better Call Saul has outstripped its predecessor, Breaking Bad, in terms of quality. But that I’m bringing it up at all should key you into how excellent this show has become. Rhea Seehorn and Bob Odenkirk deliver the most electric TV performances on a weekly basis as Kim Wexler and Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman, and the loaded cast of Giancarlo Esposito, Jonathan Banks, and Tony Dalton only elevate the show with their presence. Additionally, the writing and direction has outstripped anything else on TV. While I can’t say where the show will end up, Vince Gilligan and his writing staff have such a firm grasp on their characters and the overarching narrative of the show that anything they do feels like the right decision. Things just don’t operate on this level. Somehow, Better Call Saul does it week in and week out.
1. The New Pope - HBO
The New Pope bowled into our living rooms well before the year went to hell, and has since disappeared without much fanfare. But the provocative imagery, questions, performances and narratives that this season of television provided has yet to leave my mind. A surreal exploration of faith, miracles, love and more, The New Pope has no interest in slowing down for its audience. If that sort of thing works for you, you won’t find a more compelling experience on television. But even looking beyond the surreal proclivities of The New Pope, the show has plenty to offer. It’s easily the most gorgeous show on television, challenged only by Devs and The Mandalorian, and the unique performances from Jude Law (Pope Pius XIII) and John Malkovich (Pope John Paul III) are the sort of thing that gets reserved for arthouse films. It hardly makes sense that this appeared on our television screens at all. I’m profoundly thankful that it did.