2017 was a great year for television, specifically with nerd-centric shows. There were tons of comic adaptations, cartoon reboots, and dystopian tales. Here is our list of the top “geek” TV shows of the year. You can read last year’s list here, or check out the list of Top 10 New Shows of 2017 (with several of the following shows included!)
Honorary mentions include MARVEL’S RUNAWAYS, DIRK GENTLY, PEOPLE OF EARTH, and HAPPY! If any of your top picks don’t appear on the list, be sure to let us know in the comments, or on Facebook and Twitter.
2No. 14 – 8
14. Riverdale (Seasons 1 & 2)
This moody new take on the Archie Comics world took the world by storm. Riverdale has been described as a Twin Peaks-esque exploration of dark genre work. The series has done interesting work with taking the well-known characters of the classic comics and updating them for the modern day. Even on a network with strong superhero shows, Riverdale may be the most popular comic book adaptation on the CW. Season 2 is still airing on the CW, and returns January 17th.
13. The Magicians (Season 2)
The Syfy series The Magicians had a strong second season this year. The show is based on a series of Lev Grossman novels about college-aged wizards. The second season took the gang to the mythical land of Fillory, the source of magic. The TV show is like a profane combination of Harry Potter and Chronicles of Narnia. The series has been compared to Buffy the Vampire Slayer by many fans, including Chris Hardwick. Be sure to look out for season three when it returns January 10th – when Felicia Day joins the cast!
12. Supergirl (Seasons 2 & 3)
Of the many CW superhero shows, Supergirl has steadily been the strongest. It was ranked as the strongest DC CW TV show in our weekly recap post last season. It’s maintained a strong standing so far this season, even though it lost the Alex-Maggie power couple. The series does a solid job of balancing the humor and action with the soap opera elements of the show. Supergirl is the strongest, and most well rounded geeky show on the network.
11. Attack on Titan (Season 2)
Attack on Titan had its highly anticipated return this year. The anime series has been off-air since 2013, but finally came back this year. In the second season, Eren Jaeger and friends found that he wasn’t the only human who could turn Titan. The second season did a great job of building up the supporting cast and lore. The TV show’s return proved why Attack on Titan deserves the acclaim it gets.
10. The Defenders (Season 1)
This year, Netflix united its four flagship Marvel shows for Marvel’s The Defenders. While the Punisher was left out of the mix, fans got to see Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, and Iron Fist team up. The show didn’t hit the highs that some of the individual shows did, but it was solid nonetheless. Plus, it was fun to see all these heroes come together, just like the film heroes of Avengers. Among the Netflix-Marvel releases, Defenders was the best.
9. Legion (Season 1)
Legion on FX proves that the current renaissance of superhero content has room for variety and originality. The series comes from Noah Hawley, the brilliant mind behind FX’s adaptation of Fargo. Legion is an enthralling take on David Haller, the son of Professor X, and his battle with the Shadow King. The series is brilliantly stylized, and has great performances from actors like Dan Stevens and Aubrey Plaza. Legion is expected to return February of 2018.
8. Samurai Jack (Season 5)
Many remember the brilliant animated series Samurai Jack from the early 2000s. However, it wasn’t until this year that the brilliant kids cartoon got an official finale. The latest season shows the lone samurai’s final battles with Aku, along with his journey back to the past. Samurai Jack has been updated brilliantly for its older audience, while still retaining its original unique style and charm. Any fans of the original run should absolutely watch the fifth and final outing.
