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.
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7. Future Man (Season 1)
The Hulu sci-fi comedy Future Man has a unique style and sense of humor that sets it apart. The TV show takes on time travel, gaming culture, James Cameron… just about everything nerdy. Future Man can be overly broad in its comedy at times, but it has some great action and performances along the way. It does a great job at taking on the sci-fi genre, poking fun while paying tribute to it as well.
6. Voltron: Legendary Defender (Seasons 2, 3, & 4)
Netflix managed to crank out three seasons of Voltron in one year, while staying consistent across the board. The reboot of the classic cartoon was exhilarating, combining humor and action across each season. From the minds of Avatar and The Legend of Korra, Voltron is equally impressive, visually and story-wise. The line-up of Paladins definitely shifted per season, but the strong dynamics between the group never wavered. Who knows how many seasons will come in 2018, but they will undoubtedly be great.
5. Stranger Things (Season 2)
The instant hit series from last year came back for a second strong season. This new season wasn’t quite as strong as its premiere, which landed the #1 spot on last year’s list. However, Stranger Things S2 was still strong, bringing in new characters and higher stakes. The tribute to 80’s sci-fi expanded upon the world of psychics, demons, and D&D that it built. Plus, it had a phenomenal performance by Sean Astin, who’s a bundle of dorky dad joy. If that doesn’t sell you, who knows what will.
4. Rick & Morty (Season 3)
The raunchy sci-fi comedy Rick and Morty returned for a third season this year. While the show may have some – ahem – overly passionate and rambunctious fans, the show retained its strong voice and sense of humor. The show brought new fan-favorite moments and characters, including Pickle Rick, The Vindicators, and Atlantis (well, sort of). If you’re a fan of Rick and Morty’s particular brand of humor, odds are you’ll love their latest outing.
3. Game of Thrones (Season 7)
Game of Thrones had its biggest season yet. The HBO series united nearly all of its characters, bringing together all the plot lines we’ve followed for six years. The latest season gave us the return of several characters, dragons fighting zombies, and (sigh) more incest sex. Game of Thrones had some great twists and deaths, making this season exhilarating. While some have called season 7 “fan service,” as a fan, it’s hard to complain. Be sure to watch and re-watch this season, as we may not get more Game of Thrones until 2019.
2. American Gods (Season 1)
American Gods is one of the strongest series to premiere this year. With strong source material, showrunners, and performances, the Starz series is brilliant. The first season brought the Neil Gaiman novel to life, while updating it and injecting new elements to it. The TV show does a great job at enhancing the roles of certain characters, like Laura Moon. It’s frightening to imagine what season 2 might look like, now that American Gods has lost both its original showrunners. That said, whether or not season 2 is as strong, season 1 was absolutely fantastic.
1. The Handmaid’s Tale (Season 1)
The best geek TV show of 2017 also happens to be one of the strongest shows across the board. Hulu’s adaptation of the Margaret Atwood novel was a fantastic drama that feels especially relevant today. The way The Handmaid’s Tale explores feminism in a dystopian setting is unsettling, but thematically important and stunning. It has since received several accolades, including Best Drama at the Emmy awards. The Handmaid’s Tale is an incredible series, and absolutely worth your watch.
