The Best New TV Shows of 2017

Joey Merkel
TV Streaming
TV Streaming Netflix

It’s very possible that we remember 2017 as the year that streaming services officially drop-kicked cable to the mat and proceeded to pick it up and pile-drive it through the Spanish-announcer’s table.

THE CARNAGE!!!

While it’s no shock that streaming services have invested more and more into original content, it’s rare to see such an overwhelming amount of quality shows in a short amount of time. Now, just as you can’t be in two places at once, it’s pretty damn hard to watch everything … although much to my wife’s displeasure, I sure as hell tried.

With that being said, here is some of the best new television from 2017. The ones that if you’re not watching, you’ve got an easy New Year’s resolution.

American Vandal (Netflix)

Making a Murderer set the world on fire with its late-2015 release. It seemed like you couldn’t go anywhere without people asking if you thought Steve Avery did it or not. I still don’t know, althought it’s nice to see that Brandon got released. The Netflix original series American Vandal however will leave you laughing so hard you’ll cry and will have you begging to eventually find out … #WhoDrewTheDicks

The Good Doctor (ABC)

One of just two network shows on the list, The Good Doctor came out of relatively nowhere with a refreshing take on an otherwise very stale hospital-drama genre. It’s not House nor Grey’s Anatomy. Instead TGD follows Dr. Shaun Murphy, a surgical resident with autism at a California hospital. An original idea, compelling storylines, and a very good ensemble make it no surprise it’s one of the most popular new shows on TV.

13 Reasons Why (Netflix)

After watching, you could come up with 13 reasons why this show had fans divided after it’s early 2017 release. 13 Reasons Why wasn’t afraid to bring up the hard-to-talk-about topics and quickly became one of America’s most-binged shows. The show’s storylines are captivating. While the execution of these storylines doesn’t always make perfect sense, it’s becomes increasingly harder to tear yourself away from watching. Star Katherine Langford recently announced that Season 2 has wrapped and new episodes should drop sometime in 2018.

The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu)

A show as important as it was thought-provoking and entertaining, The Handmaid’s Tale may have been the biggest unexpected hit of the year. Elizabeth Moss shines in this dystopian future in which women have no real control over their bodies. After watching the first full season, with the second on the way, it’s really no wonder why the show basically swept the 2017 Primetime Emmys.

Big Mouth (Netflix)

My personal favorite new show, Big Mouth brought me back to my awkward years in the funniest series 2017. From the minds of Nick Kroll and long-time friend Andrew Goldberg, Big Mouth is filled with wall-to-wall laughs and a star-studded cast. Jordan Peele, John Mulaney, Maya Rudolph, and Will Arnett are just a few that join Kroll in this amazingly-NSFW show. If you’ve ever enjoyed Rick and Morty or South Park, this will easily be your new favorite show. It was even one of few shows to earn a coveted 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Star Trek: Discovery (CBS All Access)

The first Star Trek TV series since 2005, Discovery aimed to capture the excitement created from the big-screen reboot starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. While some were left skeptical, the show was widely hailed as a success. While the timeline doesn’t align with previous shows — Discovery takes place before the original TV series –the new-age action and technology make it worth the watch.

Riverdale (The CW)

Based on the Archie comics so many of us grew up with, the show turns the town of Riverdale into a setting for sex, drugs and murder. These aren’t your parents’ Archie & Friends. With a fresh-faced cast sprinkled in with some familiar veterans (sup, Luke Perry) Riverdale is one of the biggest guilty pleasures of 2017. If you haven’t started it quite yet, you’ll be happy to know you can binge the entire first season on Netflix and start on the Season 2 which is at its midseason mark. Weirdos unite!

Mindhunter (Netflix)

Mindhunter was the unexpected cherry on the top of 2017. The show took fans through the process of when the FBI first started interviewing serial killers to find out why they do they things they do. In fact, some of the scripted interview weren’t scripted at all. In some scenes with murderer Ed Kemper, the writing team lifted quotes from real-life interviews, making the show all the more compelling — and frightnening.

What were your picks for the best TV shows of 2017? Tweet @getfandom and let us know.

Joey Merkel
Joey is a Director of Social Media at FANDOM with a strong affinity for South Park, Harry Potter and the MCU