For the most part, 2020 has been a year to forget. Nevertheless, there has been some unforgettable TV, from film adaptations to hilarious comedies to insightful documentaries. As the year wraps up, here’s a look at the best shows that aired on Sling TV. Where available, follow the links to watch now, and use the button at the bottom of the page to get Sling Orange + Blue at the best price.
Better Call Saul (AMC)
The penultimate season of this Breaking Bad prequel continued to distance itself from its source material. Bob Odenkirk has never been better as the title character and it’s a thrill to see iconic Breaking Bad characters like Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito) and Mike Ehrmantraut (Jonathan Banks) recontextualized. After a somewhat slow start, BCS is on its way to equalling or surpassing the original series as it heads into the final season. - Mark Schiff
The Comedy Store (Showtime)
Mike Binder's five-part Showtime documentary about the legendary L.A. comedy club doubles as a comprehensive look at the evolution of stand-up comedy over the last 40-plus years. Beyond the insightful interviews with almost all of the biggest names in the scene, The Comedy Store is surprisingly poignant, as it doesn't shy away from the moments when comedy turns to tragedy. (Watch now via Showtime) - MS
Dare Me (USA Network)
A murder mystery wrapped up in the competitive drama of high school cheerleading, Dare Me towed the line between depicting hyper-realistic female teenage relationships and a pulpy whodunnit. Based on Megan Abbott’s novel, the USA series kept viewers on edge with feats of high-flying athleticism, steamy love scenes and friendships turning uneasy and toxic. Newcomer Marlo Kelly as head cheerleader Beth delivered a performance impossible to turn away from or forget. - Janine Schaults
Fargo (FX)
After a nearly three-and-a-half year break, Fargo returned for a very strong fourth season anchored by brilliant performances from Chris Rock, Ben Whishaw, and Jessie Buckley. While there was no shortage of quirky characters—including Timothy Olyphant as the chipper but callous Federal Marshal Dick "Deafy" Wickware—this season was heavier than previous installments, yet no less entertaining. (Watch now with FX on-demand) - MS
Killing Eve (BBC America)
After bingeing the first two seasons in no time, I was excited when the third season of Killing Eve debuted in April this year. This British dark comedy, starring Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, brings laugh-out-loud fun to an otherwise serious spy genre. The show follows the increasingly obsessive cat-and-mouse relationship between Eve (a spy) and Villianelle (an assassin). Filming for the fourth season has been delayed so it'll be a while before we get to see new episodes. This gives you plenty of time to watch (and re-watch) this ingenius show. (Watch select episodes via BBC America) - Peyton Lombardo
The Last Dance (ESPN)
For five magical weeks in the spring, just as the world was reeling from the initial pandemic shutdown, we got to relive that glorious time in 1997-98 when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls were an unstoppable force in the NBA and American culture at large. The 10-part, ESPN series documenting the final season the Bulls boasted Jordan, coach Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman on its roster gave us more terrific Jordan memes, hours of thrilling unseen footage, and a welcome respite from the horrors of 2020. - JS
P-Valley (Starz)
As a show set inside a rundown strip club located in the fictional Mississippi Delta town of Chucalissa, P-Valley displays an ample amount of skin, but it never does so gratuitously. The eight-episode drama—adapted from showrunner Katori Hall’s play—films the women working the pole as the athletes they need to be in order to do the job properly. As stars on stage with adoring fans making it rain at their feet in dollar bills, the women must contend with abusive partners, past traumas and an uncertain financial future off stage. Led by Brandee Evans as Mercedes, the club’s main attraction, the cast offers these characters dignity and depth. (Watch now with Starz) - JS
Snowpiercer (TNT)
In a year largely defined by uncertainty, repetition, and claustrophobia, TNT’s adaptation of Bong Joon Ho’s Snowpiercer arrived at the perfect time. Its themes about classism and inequality also felt timely, but the propulsive pacing and performances from Daveed Diggs and Jennifer Connelly kept the show on the rails. (Watch select episodes now on TNT) - MS
Soulmates (AMC)
The first episode of this AMC anthology series feels a lot like Black Mirror, no surprise given that it was co-created by that show’s Emmy-winning writer Will Bridges. But instead of a one-off installment, each of Soulmates’ six-episodes grapples with a different idea and tone as it explores the social implications of a technology that can identify our perfect partner. (Watch now with AMC) - MS
Vida (Starz)
If there's one show I want all of Hollywood to take note of and use as a paradigm for future projects, it's certainly Vida. In the third and final season, released in April 2020, we see Mexican-American sisters Emma and Lynn starting to get a hold on taking over their late mother's Los Angeles bar. The show normalized queer and Latinx representation, slowly getting bolder as each season was released. This season, we got to see a "queerceanera", an awesome LGBTQ+ reimagining of the traditional Latin celebration. (Watch on Starz) - PL
