It’s the Second Most Wonderful Time of the Year! (After Most Handsome Young Man, that is!) That’s right, it’s time for the Feelies, where we celebrate the best and brightest of the television season! If you can believe it, this is the sixth year we’ve done this, and it’s always one of our favorite weeks here at Head Over Feels. We may choose the nominees, but the winners are all up to you, dear readers. Vote hard, vote often (or, vote once an hour). You’ll have until 6 PM this Friday to choose your winners. Let the games begin!
Best Comedy
Barry
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Fleabag
The Good Place
Jane the Virgin
Schitt’s Creek
It’s the swan song for two of our previous Best Comedy winners: Jane the Virgin and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Both shows have been revolutionary, between CXG‘s unflinching look at mental illness to Jane‘s multi-generational story and Latinx representation. I can’t even begin to say what these shows have meant, from the women behind the scenes calling the shots to the incredibly talented leading ladies leading the ensemble. Television won’t be the same without them next year, and I am so so so grateful to have been a fan. Last year’s champ The Good Place continues to be the most daring and innovative show on TV as our heroes embarked on brand new lives in the effort to save their souls. It’s equal parts absurd, profound, hilarious, and heartbreaking. Much like the human existence itself. — Kim
In its sophomore season, Barry proved that “bleak” and “funny” are not mutually exclusive concepts. As Barry’s life choices continue to catch up with him, these new episodes delved into the show’s equally fascinating supporting characters, including a knockout arc for Sarah Goldberg as Barry’s narcissistic and fragile girlfriend Sally. The highly anticipated second season of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag was worth the wait and more – delivering six stunning, heartbreaking episodes, of which not a moment is wasted. Having subdued some of the demons that were plaguing her back in Season 1, this Fleabag is less tragic but still struggling to figure out how to survive life as an intensely feeling person. No one has ever done fourth wall breaks so well. And it’s about time Schitt’s Creek be recognized by those official awards bodies. In year number five, the lovingly crafted small town comedy kept on doing what it does best: enriching characters we already love and their relationships to each other…and putting on one hell of a production of Cabaret. –Sage
Best Drama
Good Girls
Good Omens
Pose
Sharp Objects
Stranger Things
This Is Us
Legends of Tomorrow
It made me so happy to see the Good Girls fandom take off as soon as the underrated crime dramedy hit Netflix. What could have been an easily overplayed storyline was deftly teased out in Season 2, as the three core ladies outrun the repercussions of their actions, go toe-to-toe with each other, and, in Beth’s case, finally resolve that sexual tension with Gang Friend. (God bless us everyone.) Our Patreon sponsor Will nominates Legends of Tomorrow, saying, “Simply put, my favorite show about Time Travel these days: fun, funny, silly, heartfelt, romantic, clever, and so much more. I love the crew of the Waverider. They bring me joy.” Pose, too, is just a joy to watch, even when it’s sad. You can feel the amount of care and love poured into every episode, by the cast, the dancers, the costume designers, the writers, and so on. Season 2 jumped into 1990, when Madonna took voguing mainstream, ditched those extraneous white male characters (sorry JVDB, we still love you!), and is still leading the way for representation of so many overlapping identities. And Sharp Objects is the penetrating, painful adaptation my favorite Gillian Flynn novel deserved. With Amy Adams turning in her Disney princess spunk in for a lethargic, dead-eyed stare, the HBO miniseries explored the legacy of pain passed down from mother to daughter. –Sage
I really wondered where This Is Us was going to go once it was free of the Jack Pearson mystery that made it buzzy in the first place. It can be tough to keep family-driven dramas feeling fresh, but This Is Us does it deftly, from exploring Jack’s past in Vietnam to mining the months in the immediate aftermath of Jack’s death to see how Rebecca and the Big Three survived to teasing out elements of the future. (Kevin has a son! Where the fuck is Kate?) We will only ever have six episodes of Good Omens, but talk about maximizing your time. The show absolutely would not have worked without the combination of David Tennant and Michael Sheen, but it’s hard NOT to bring your A-Game when you’re given such killer material. From the writing to the supporting cast to the visual style, it’s a perfect way to spend a Lazy Sunday. Equally binge-worthy is season three of Stranger Things which takes every element of those one magic summer coming-of-age teen movies we all loved growing up and makes them fucking terrifying. What makes this season stand out to me is how the pains of growing up are just as evil as the Russians experimenting with the Upside Down. — Kim
Best Actress in a Comedy
Kristen Bell, The Good Place
Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Veep
Annie Murphy, Schitt’s Creek
Gina Rodriguez, Jane the Virgin
Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag
I’ll say it before, and I’ll say it again. Over the past four seasons, Rachel Bloom has given THE finest comedy performance on television. Rebecca Bunch isn’t the easiest person to love, and she’s often hard to watch when she goes on a self-destructive bout. But that’s why she’s so great – even with all her flaws, you still rooted for her, you still wanted her to succeed. I’ll miss her desperately. Speaking of characters that make us uncomfortable (not a pre-requisite for this category, I swear!), Phoebe Waller-Bridge delivers in the second season of Fleabag. While not as dark and painfully uncomfortable as season one, Phoebe still delivers a performance that cuts you to the core as Fleabag struggles to connect with her family and wrestles with her inappropriate (or not?) feelings for the new hot priest. And she does it with the best red lipstick game on TV. Gina Rodriguez is a two-time Feelie winner and it’s easy to see why. To put it bluntly, Jane the Virgin would not have lasted five seasons without her performance at the center. We’ve laughed with her, we’ve cried with her, and we’ve fallen in love with her. I can’t wait to see what she does next. — Kim
Over in The Good Place, Kristen Bell is still giving us equal parts bravado and vulnerability as a woman who didn’t really start living until she died. Eleanor’s kinship with Michael, romance with Chidi, and rallying of the rest of the group line the heart of that show. Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy is more than “A Little Bit Alexis.” As the princess of the family settles into her first real relationship – that’s not with a disgraced foreign dignitary – and prepares to spread her wings, you can’t help but want the best for her. Julia Louis-Dreyfus closed out these auspicious Veep years with a nasty, surprising, uproarious final season that took Selina Meyer to the very depths of her ambitious depravity. And she did it all after beating cancer. –Sage
Best Actress in a Drama
Amy Adams, Sharp Objects
Jodie Comer, Killing Eve
Christina Hendricks, Good Girls
Suranne Jones, Gentleman Jack
Mj Rodriguez, Pose
Jodie Whittaker, Doctor Who
Michelle Williams, Fosse/Verdon
Sharp Objects would be ineffectual without a believable Camille, and Amy Adams wore her damage down to the bone. She’s a fuckup, a hero, and blind to her own family’s monstrousness; in Amy’s capable hands, she’s also relatable. Jodie Comer inhabits Killing Eve‘s Villanelle, to the point where I might be afraid to run into her on the street. With her sly smile and killer pout, Jodie proves why the unpredictable assassin invites obsession. Nobody stepped into a leading role this year with more swagger than Gentleman Jack‘s Suranne Jones. Whether she’s outsmarting hateful men, wooing very willing ladies, or showing off her giant thermometer, Anne Lister is always swoon-worthy. As Mother Blanca in Pose, Mj Rodriguez is still giving us aspirational kindness and an infectious appreciation for life. There’s no falseness to what she does in that role; you can tell that every word and gesture comes right from her soul. –Sage
From the moment she crashed through the ceiling of that train car, Jodie Whittaker effectively killed all speculation as to whether or not a woman could play the Doctor. Her performance is confident and she truly makes the Doctor her own, carrying forward the last words of her predecessor by making her truly kind but still a force to be reckoned with when she’s challenged. Plus, she literally has the world’s cutest face scronch. I’m always rooting for Jen Lindley, y’all, and holy hell did Michelle Williams turn in a career-defining performance as Gwen Verdon in Fosse/Verdon. It was thrilling to watch Michelle sing, dance, and act (A! Triple! Threat!) every week, especially in how she altered her voice and posture according to Gwen’s age. Razzle Dazzle indeed. And finally, as Good Girls‘ Beth Boland, Christina Hendricks gives us the Walter White-esque character we all deserve. Beth is all at once ruthless, scared out of her mind, and bored to tears, which is, quite frankly, a dangerous combination. Add all of that to the hot game of cat-and-mouse between her and Gang Friend, and you’ve got an unmissable performance. — Kim
Best Actor in a Comedy
Justin Baldoni, Jane the Virgin
Ted Danson, The Good Place
Bill Hader, Barry
Dan Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Andrew Scott, Fleabag
Yes, Andrew Scott‘s hot priest on Fleabag had the power to reduce three grown women to watch his scenes through their fingers. But that’s not the only reason he’s nominated here. What makes the Priest more than just an object of lust is the way that Andrew portrays a man that’s having his faith challenged and who is questioning everything he believes in. It’s a Thorn Birds for millennials, and I am here for it. National Treasure (and last year’s winner) Ted Danson continues to do no wrong on The Good Place as Michael continues to fight for the souls of his four favorite humans. And let’s give it up for Justin Baldoni, shall we? The work he’s done on Jane the Virgin has been vastly underrated and under-appreciated for the entire series. (By us too! This is his first Feelie nomination!) Rafael has had a JOURNEY, from self-involved hotel heir to contented family man. And he goes toe-to-toe with Gina Rodriguez for the title of prettiest crier on television, and that’s saying something. — Kim
Oh, my sweet, sweet Bill Hader. Grappling with the dark choice he made in Barry‘s first season finale, the hitman hangs onto his new life by a fingernail in the second, layering even more new shades onto the SNL vet’s performance. Meanwhile, I would fight a war for Dan Levy, fearless leader of Schitt’s Creek and the reason why every single life milestone reached by one David Rose makes me weep — and will until the very end. In this season of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Andy Samberg exudes even more the-one-straight-white-cis-man-we-can-trust energy, especially in the episode where Amy shares her own experiences with harassment and assault with Jake, who feels deeply hurt on her behalf and powerless on his own. –Sage
Best Actor in a Drama
Sterling K. Brown, This Is Us
David Harbour, Stranger Things
Chris Messina, Sharp Objects
Billy Porter, Pose
Sam Rockwell, Fosse/Verdon
Michael Sheen & David Tennant, Good Omens
Amidst all the toxic, broken women in Sharp Objects, there’s also Detective Willis, a nice-ish guy who’s way out of his depth. As he does in everything, Chris Messina brought his magnetism and world-weariness to the role and was the sparring partner Amy Adams needed. Pray Tell isn’t just the master of ceremonies on Pose — he’s a referee and a truth teller too. No one can host a ball, cut a bitch down to size, or sing his heart out like Billy Porter. We made the choice to nominate Michael Sheen and David Tennant as a unit, because their Good Omens performances coalesce as one beautiful, cohesive, codependent thing. As an angel and a demon who could never bring themselves to hate each other, they give us hope that there are, in fact, some very fine people on both sides. –Sage
Every season, I am certain that Sterling K. Brown has already shown me his best, but every season he proves me wrong. This was not the easiest season for Randall, as his tunnel vision for his City Council campaign had him neglecting his family and her marriage. But what’s so wonderful about Sterling is that he fearlessly delved into the ugly side, making it hard to watch because it was just so utterly human. Speaking of ugly sides, it’s no secret that Bob Fosse was a monster, and Sam Rockwell certainly didn’t shy away from that fact in Fosse/Verdon. He’s maddening, he’s monstrous, and he’s got one hell of an over-inflated ego. Yet Sam’s performance makes it clear why people were drawn to him and why you would crave those moments of genius can make you feel like the sun is shining directly on you. The angrier David Harbour‘s Chief Hopper becomes, the hotter I get for him. Hopper had exactly zero fucks to give in season three, and while we cheered every time he punched a bad guy in the face, where he really shined was in those gruff moments with El and Joyce where he struggled to express his emotions. We love an emotionally stunted teddy bear, what can we say? — Kim
Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy
D’Arcy Carden, The Good Place
Donna Lynne Champlin, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Natasia Demetriou, What We Do in the Shadows
Emily Hampshire, Schitt’s Creek
Jameela Jamil, The Good Place
Catherine O’Hara, Schitt’s Creek
Donna Lynne Champlin is a two-time winner in this category, and it’s easy to see why. Paula Proctor is a character we don’t often celebrate on television, a woman who decides to completely change her life in middle age. We’ve cheered for Paula from the start and it’s been so rewarding seeing her accomplish her dreams and find her path on her own terms. Plus, absolutely no one can deliver a musical number like she can. D’Arcy Carden‘s mantel should be collapsing under the weight of awards she’s won for her portrayal of Janet on The Good Place. I’m in awe every week as she manages to keep Janet somewhat monotone in delivery, yet also imbues her with every emotion known to man. It’s an incredibly difficult role, and yet somehow, she makes it look easy. In a lesser actor’s hands, Tahani Al-Jamil would be a completely one note character, but Jameela Jamil brings her an incredible amount of depth and heart, while never losing Tahani’s shallowness. No one can deliver a backhanded compliment like she can. — Kim
I’m so grateful for the very brilliantly stupid What We Do in the Shadows series for introducing me to Natasia Demetriou, who may in fact be a genius. Her Nadja – a vampire who is both horny and almost perpetually bored – slots right into the tone established by the movie. May this be the beginning of her domination of American comedy. Stevie is breaking out of her shell on Schitt’s Creek, and Emily Hampshire captures how simultaneously thrilled and embarrassed she is in any moment where she tries — and succeeds at — something new. And her costar Catherine O’Hara somehow adds class to the proceedings, even in Moira’s ill-fitting wigs and outrageous ensembles. We love her for indulging her maternal side without dimming her ego. –Sage
Best Supporting Actress in a Drama
Gillian Anderson, Sex Education
Millie Bobby Brown, Stranger Things
Maya Hawke, Stranger Things
Indya Moore, Pose
Meryl Street, Big Little Lies
Susan Kelechi Watson, This Is Us
Going into season two of Big Little Lies, there was only one question on people’s minds: just how amazing was Meryl Streep going to be? The season as a whole may have been a mess, but Meryl certainly wasn’t; her Mary Louise was so chilling, so misguidedly insidious that literally every time she showed up on screen, I shouted “THIS BITCH!” Last year’s winner Millie Bobby Brown continued to impress us in season three of Stranger Things as she not only dealt with the realm of the supernatural and evil Russian spies, but teen angst as well, learning that boys are shitheads and sometimes all a girl needs is a trip to the mall with her bestie. Season three of This Is Us finally delivered the Beth Pearson content we’d been clamoring for from the beginning and Susan Kelechi Watson flourished in her spotlight. From her solo episode “Our Little Island Girl” to the devastating “R + B,” she painted the picture of a woman reclaiming her space in her marriage and demanding that her dreams were just as important as her husband’s. We were riveted. — Kim
I can’t believe it’s taken this long for someone to cast Gillian Anderson as a sex therapist with no shame filter, but here we are, finally. Sex Education is unexpectedly winning and sweet, and Gillian is having so much fun playing the most sex-pos parent in her sleepy English town. Maya Hawke is this season’s Stranger Things breakout. Sarcastic but game, Robin fit right into the adventure, saved Steve’s summer, and gave fans a new cool queer girl to stan. It’s not hard to see why everyone on Pose keeps talking about Angel’s star quality. It’s there courtesy of Indya Moore, who this year gets to break away from Angel’s star-crossed love story and concentrate on her dreams (but hopefully save some time for Papi too). — Sage
Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy
Jaime Camil, Jane the Virgin
Tony Hale, Veep
William Jackson Harper, The Good Place
Manny Jacinto, The Good Place
Eugene Levy, Schitt’s Creek
Noah Reid, Schitt’s Creek
Gary’s Veep arc is downright Shakespearean, and Tony Hale has always had the tragedy of that character on lock. He and JLD operate flawlessly together and Gary’s asides shall go down in comedy history. History, I say! Soft-hearted and bumbling, Eugene Levy is the dad of dads on Schitt’s Creek. As the family has warmed to the town, Johnny has traded in some of his wide-eyed horror for more sweet, paternal moments, like the time he gives up his evening of glory at the Hospies to save his surrogate daughter Stevie from humiliation. What a guy. Patrick’s coming out storyline and local theatrical debut were a showcase for Noah Reid, who sold it all with quiet bravery and an abiding sense of irony. Put him on tour as the Emcee now. –Sage
There’s very little to say about Jaime Camil that I haven’t said before. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a character like Rogelio de la Vega before, all at once self-involved and the most generous person in the room. What makes him work is the commitment that Jaime brings to the role; you can tell he believes in every single word he’s saying. Lucky for us, even though Jane the Virgin is ending, he’ll be back this winter in CBS’ Broke, where hopefully, the rest of the world will catch on to what we’ve known all along. The Good Place truly struck the casting lottery with their ensemble. It’s not easy playing dumb, but Manny Jacinto brings a goofy sweetness to Jason that makes him incredibly endearing and also probably the most emotionally intelligent person in the room. And in William Jackson Harper, Mike Schur blessed us with an unconventional conventional romantic hero wrapped up in a big ball of neuroses. Chidi’s Peeps Chili meltdown is a masterclass in monologuing and the fact that he does it all in a too small “Who What When Where Wine” t-shirt, revealing the BODY that he’s been hiding under those professor clothes? Well, that’s just a bonus. — Kim
Best Supporting Actor in a Drama
Peter Dinklage, Game of Thrones
Justin Hartley, This Is Us
Joe Keery, Stranger Things
Manny Montana, Good Girls
Adam Scott, Big Little Lies
Bradley Walsh, Doctor Who
Everyone has a problematic fave and Kevin Pearson is mine. I’ll never stop yelling about the extraordinary performance Justin Hartley is giving on This Is Us; he took Kevin to new depths this season, from delving into his father’s past in Vietnam to navigating his first truly adult relationship with Zoe, all while still grappling with the demons of his addiction. He’s truly an unappreciated piece of the ensemble. On the other end of the spectrum is Peter Dinklage, who has long been the anchor of Game of Thrones. Tyrion’s big speech at the gates of King’s Landing, pleading with his sister to just surrender and spare all the innocent souls inside had me screaming “You get that Emmy, Peter!” And who knows, maybe he’ll get a Feelie too. Adam Scott may be known best for his comedic chops, but he is turning in some of the best work of his career on Big Little Lies as Madeline’s beleaguered husband Ed. As Ed grappled with Madeline’s infidelity, Adam managed to say more with a clench of a jaw or a furrow of a brow than most actors say with pages of dialogue. — Kim
From arrogant bully to full-time dad, Steve Harrington has evolved quite a bit on Stranger Things. Joe Keery channels the charm of every slightly geeky ’80s teen movie hero (the ones who aren’t problematic at least) this season, as well as the spirit of Ben Wyatt on morphine for that one episode. Manny Montana is one half of TV’s hottest forbidden couple and the unpredictable, menacing energy that drives Good Girls. At any given second, you can’t be sure if Rio is friend or foe, boss or owner, but either way, you can’t take your eyes off him. And Bradley Walsh came through as our surprise fave in the Series 11 of Doctor Who. His Graham is courageous, kindhearted, and willing to learn — everything you want in a companion at more than twice their usual age. –Sage
Best Shipper Moment
Everything About the Hot Priest, Fleabag
Jaime Goes to Brienne’s Room, Game of Thrones
Beth & Rio in the Bathroom, Good Girls
“You Go Too Fast For Me, Crowley,” Good Omens
Papi Tells Angel How He Feels, Pose
Patrick Proposes to David, Schitt’s Creek
Andrew Scott’s Hot Priest should come with a warning. From that very first dinner with her family, we know that he truly sees Fleabag, which is as seductive a quality as his…*vaguely gestures* everything else. The chemistry between the two of them is almost unbearable at points, and the “kneel” scene may make you believe in god. Pose finally delivered on all those scenes where Papi gazes adoringly while Angel does her thing, and the two Evangelistas are now the show’s sweetest ship. Angel’s a little busy with her career now, but Papi won’t let her forget that he’s a prize too. We’re rooting for them so hard. One of the most comforting aspects of Schitt’s Creek is that we can be confident that Dan will never pull the rug out from under us with David and Patrick. We knew a proposal was coming eventually, but who would be the one to do it? Since David made the first move, it was only fitting that Patrick take the next leap, asking David to be his husband during a hike that his now-fiancé otherwise hated. Patrick wouldn’t be Patrick if he didn’t coax David out of his comfort zone, and this was just one more example of why they’re perfect for each other. –Sage
Listen. I was warned about episode 2×04 of Good Girls. I KNEW it was going to be the long-awaited hook-up between Beth and Rio and I was ready. But reader, I was NOT READY. I was not ready for the way Beth saw Rio at the bar in the middle of a date with Dean and went to the bathroom. I was not ready for the way Rio walked in to see her against the counter, her dress already hiked up and a look of determination in her eye. I certainly wasn’t ready for the way Rio yanked her panties down and fucked her right there on the bathroom counter. (They did that! On network TV!) And I wasn’t ready for how she just went back to her date, freshly fucked and glowing. Pass me my smelling salts! Every shipper knows that the best kind of sex is “We survived something traumatic and we should celebrate the fact that we are alive” sex. The post-Battle of Winterfell celebrations may have been fan service but it was the kind of fan service Game of Thrones fans deserved as a game of “Never Have I Ever” finally spurred Jaime Lannister to break that long simmering sexual tension and FINALLY make a move on Brienne of Tarth. Sure, they may have fucked it all up by the end of the episode, but for one shining moment? Paradise. Speaking of slow burns, let’s talk about Good Omens, shall we? It’s clear from the first episode that Crowley and Aziraphale are MFEO, but Aziraphale’s cautious nature keeps him from allowing himself to have what he truly wants. Their differences are made even more stark in the face Crowley’s devil-may-care (HA!) approach to their relationship. “You go too fast for me, Crowley” would not be out of place in a Jane Austen novel, the admission conflicting with every emotion flittering across Aziraphale’s angelic face. To borrow from another David Tennant show, they are the stuff of legend. — Kim
Best Warm Fuzzy Moment
Rebecca Invites Paula into Her Mind Palace, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
“The Only Person I’d Run Through an Airport For is You,” Fleabag
Jane Asks Alba to Officiate Her Wedding, Jane the Virgin
Otis & Eric Slow Dance, Sex Education
Robin Comes Out to Steve, Stranger Things
At its core, among the crazy telenovela madness, Jane the Virgin, is a show about family, specifically the relationship between three generations. It was only fitting, after struggling to find an officiant for her own wedding, that Rafael came up with the perfect solution. Who better to marry them but Alba? She has always been the rock of the family, whose faith in the power of love and family has been unshakable. My heart glows gold for them. Speaking of family, you can’t get a more complex sibling relationship than that between Fleabag and her sister Claire. They are often at odds, just too different to ever truly find themselves on the same side. Except when they are. Season two is all about the sisters finding their way back to each other, how they realize that, at the end of the day, they are the only people in their lives they can truly count on. “The only person I’d run through an airport for is you,” Claire tells Fleabag in the finale. And in that moment, my heart grew three sizes. Steve Harrington achieved new cinnamon roll levels in season three of Stranger Things through his friendship with Robin. I can’t be alone in shipping them up until the very moment in the bathroom stall when Robin confessed to him that she liked girls. Like Robin, we all held our breath as he processed the new information. And then what did he do? He immediately started ragging on the girl that was oblivious to Robin’s affections and questioning her taste in women. The BEST of boys, I swear. — Kim
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has always been about the terrible, wonderful inner-workings of Rebecca’s mind. While she frequently casts people in her fantasies, she doesn’t let anybody in until the finale, and who would that honored guest be but Paula? Rebecca is so afraid of being known and of not controlling people’s perception of her that it’s a huge breakthrough to let down that gate to someone she completely trusts. Otis misses Eric’s birthday trip to a screening of Hedwig and the Angry Inch in Sex Education, but makes it up to him later at a school dance while the band plays — tissues ready: “Origin of Love.” Theirs is a sensitive, affectionate friendship, and watching two boys — one gay, one straight — twirl each other underneath the lights and in front of all their classmates melted my cold, dead heart. –Sage
Right in the Feels Moment
Eleanor & Chidi’s Video, The Good Place
The Rape Kit Episode, Grey’s Anatomy
Candy’s Lip Synch, Pose
Hopper’s Letter, Stranger Things
Beth & Randall Are On The Rocks, This Is Us
“You Deserve 100% of What You Want,” Will & Grace
The highlight reel of their relationship that Michael gives Chidi and Eleanor as a “going away present” in the season finale of The Good Place almost makes the devastating decision Chidi is forced to make bearable. Jeremy Bearimy, my little chili babies. We’re all gonna get through this. To raise awareness of the real epidemic of violence threatening trans women of color, Pose flipped the script on its comic relief queen when Candy was murdered in Season 2. Her meta funeral and post-humous lip synch to “Never Knew Love Like This Before” gave all our faves a chance to say goodbye and let Angelica Ross go out (and into AHS, we later learned) in style. We all know that Chief Hopper is cooling out in a Russian prison right now, but that doesn’t change the fact that the Stranger Things characters believe him to be dead. In the finale, Joyce give El the practice speech that her adoptive dad wasn’t brave enough to actually deliver, and, as David Harbour narrates it, there isn’t a dry eye in the house. –Sage
Through most of This Is Us, the one thing we could count on was the solid state of Randall and Beth’s marriage and partnership. So imagine our distress when cracks started to form, building to one hell of a nasty voicemail and a devastating fight where two people who know each other inside and out know exactly how to wound each other. “R + B” was the long awaited flashback to the beginning of their relationship, which made everything worse seeing the patterns emerge in context with present day. They found their way back to each other in the end but goddamn if they didn’t scare the hell out of us. It’s always been hard watching Grace Adler fall for the wrong guys on Will & Grace and this season’s story with Noah was no exception. It looked like she was following the same road that she did with Leo (fuck that guy) except THIS TIME Will didn’t hold back and Grace managed to find her backbone right in time. The two friends have a heart-to-heart in the airport bar as they wait for Jack’s wedding and it’s the kind of talk that only two best friends can have. “I wish you could see yourself the way I see you,” Will says. “Because if you did, you’d know you deserve 100% of what you want.” May we all have a Will Truman in our corner, honestly.
15 seasons in, Grey’s Anatomy can still pack one hell of an emotional wallop. “Silent All These Years” is an unflinching look at sexual assault and what a woman actually endures when she agrees to do a rape kit. The emotional climax of the episode comes when Abby, the victim and survivor, is being wheeled into surgery. Having expressed the fear that every man she sees reminds her of her rapist, every woman that works in Grey/Sloan lines the halls, physically barring every man from the space so she can feel safe. So she can feel seen. The image of all these women (many of whom were staff that worked on the show, not just actors) lining the halls, sharing in a moment of solidarity and support, left me a sobbing mess. –Kim
YAS QUEEN Moment
The Thirteenth Doctor Remembers Who She Is, Doctor Who
Arya Kills The Night King, Game of Thrones
Sansa’s Crowned Queen in the North, Game of Thrones
“I Just Really Like Having Sex with Him,” Good Girls
“Janet(s),” The Good Place
Stevie’s Theatrical Debut, Schitt’s Creek
The Television Academy should be ASHAMED of itself for giving the writers of The Good Place‘s “Janet(s)” an Emmy nomination but completely ignoring the woman who brought the episode to life. D’Arcy Carden’s performance is the definition of tour-de-force as she gives pitch perfect imitations of all of her cast mates, all while keeping the Janet filter on. Brava! There’s a lot of Whovian handwringing in ANY post-regeneration episode of Doctor Who as to whether the new Doctor will be Doctor enough. But it was magnified thirteen-fold (see what I did there?) in the Series Eleven premiere, because it was the first time a woman was stepping into the role. I watched “The Woman Who Fell to Earth” with all of my girl gang, and the room was filled with tears and cheers when Jodie stepped forth on that crane with a triumphant grin on her face, declaring “I know who I am! I’m the Doctor!” Damn right she is. The only satisfying thing about the Game of Thrones finale is a “YAS QUEEN” moment. Literally. Sansa Stark, the smartest character on the show, may not have ascended to the Iron Throne like we wanted her to, but she got the throne she wanted. All Hail the Queen of the North! — Kim
It seemed like all was lost at Winterfell (due to several stupid-ass decisions by Jon Snow, but that’s an entirely different post), but the Night King hadn’t counted on Arya Stark. The Game of Thrones bow was chockfull of silly choices, but this one — the moment where Arya’s training comes to fruition and saves everybody — made me literally stand up and cheer. Good Girls will never let you forget that it’s written by women: case in point, the scene where Dean confronts Beth about her fascination with Rio. He wants it to be about her failings or the trashfire that is their relationship. He tries so hard to throw it in her face. But with a smirk, Beth relieves him of all those assumptions. It’s delicious. On Schitt’s Creek, people see the good and potential in each other and tease it out, which is exactly what happens when Moira taps Stevie Budd — yes, that Stevie — to lead the town’s musical. It’s not easy for her to drop the cynicism and actually put herself out there but Stevie gives herself over to the process, leading up to a triumphant, moving performance of “Maybe This Time” that shows everyone in town that she’s not someone to be overlooked. –Sage
Best WTF Moment
“ronny/lily,” Barry
The Solitract is a Frog, Doctor Who
Dany Burns King’s Landing, Game of Thrones
Every Single Episode of Russian Doll
Nicky Pearson is Alive, This Is Us
Selina Betrays Gary, Veep
Barry delivered the most batshit half hour of television that I saw all season in “ronny/lily,’ a fever dream of a bottle-ish episode that features some unreal stunt and fight work and will leave you (as it leaves our main character) wondering what the fuck just occurred. The entirety of Russian Doll is a mindfuck, but an endlessly charming, funny, and meaningful one. The Natasha Lyonne-led series asks questions about identity, survival, and — to put it in Good Place parlance — what we owe to each other. I turned it on and basically let the whole thing autoplay. Selina Meyer had done her fair share of despicable things leading up to the series finale of Veep, and that episode added even more to the pile. But no betrayal was more shocking than when she turned on Gary, the only person who loved her unconditionally, possibly ever. –Sage
Don’t get me wrong, Daenerys Targaryen always had the potential to go all Mad Queen on us. It’s just the way Game of Thrones did it! We watched in horror as the character who once called herself the “Protector of the Realm” and the “Breaker of Chains” flipped to a vengeful tyrant in essentially two episodes, culminating in her ignoring the bells of surrender and incinerating King’s Landing out of spite. In a word, yikes. When the trailer for Series Eleven of Doctor Who was released, fans were sent into a speculating frenzy over a shot of Jodie Whittaker in a stark white room, blowing a goodbye kiss to an unseen recipient. Imagine our delight when the trippy “It Takes You Away” aired and Jodie entered a stark white room and delivered a spectacular monologue…to a frog. Only Doctor Who could get away with a parallel universe seeking companionship taking the form of a talking amphibian. After the mystery of Jack Pearson’s death was solved in season two, we wondered how else This Is Us could possibly surprise us. We need not have worried though. We were shook to the core when it was revealed that not only did Jack’s brother Nicky get out of Vietnam alive, but he was living in Pennsylvania and Jack knew the whole fucking time and kept him from the rest of the family. — Kim
Remember the winners are in your hands! Happy voting!
VOTED!
The fact that the YAS QUEEN category is by the most difficult for me makes me so so gd happy.