Best TV Shows of the 2015-16 Season

Best comedies

Awards

Below are the shows that have been nominated for () or have won () awards for best overall comedy this season. Note that Emmy winners will be announced the evening of September 18th. The TCA Awards are handed out each year by the Television Critics Association (consisting of print/web TV critics and journalists), while the newer (and somewhat less prestigious) Critics Choice Television Awards are handed out by a separate group consisting of broadcast journalists.

In addition, note that the Golden Globes and Critics Choice honors were given out in the middle of the season, so any shows debuting during the first half of this year won't be up for consideration until next year. (Any 2015 nominations for shows from the 2014-15 season are omitted from this page.)

	Best Comedy Series
Show	Emmy Awards	TCA Awards	Critics Choice	Golden Globes	Watch Now
Black-ish ABC, Season 2
Casual Hulu, Season 1
Catastrophe Amazon, Season 1
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend CW, Season 1		*
Jane the Virgin CW, Season 2
The Last Man on Earth Fox, Season 2
Master of None Netflix, Season 1		*
Modern Family ABC, Season 7
Silicon Valley HBO, Season 3
Transparent Amazon, Season 2
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Netflix, Season 2
Veep HBO, Season 5
You're the Worst FXX, Season 2

* Includes a TCA nomination in the Best New Show category

Best-reviewed comedies

Here are the season's best-reviewed NEW comedies, ranked in order by Metascore (based on reviews published at the time of each show's premiere). Because very few comedies are re-reviewed by critics in subsequent seasons, the list only includes first-year shows.

First-Year Comedies Ranked by Metascore, 2015-16 TV Season

	Comedy Series	Network	Watch Now	Metascore
1	Master of None	Netflix		91
2	Lady Dynamite	Netflix		85
3	Full Frontal With Samantha Bee	TBS		84
4	Catastrophe	Amazon		83
5	Crazy Ex-Girlfriend	CW		78
6	Angie Tribeca	TBS		78
7	Casual	Hulu		77
8	Documentary Now!	IFC		77
9	W/ Bob & David	Netflix		76
10	Difficult People	Hulu		76
... and the worst:
	Dr. Ken	ABC		26

A show must have at least 7 reviews from critics to be eligible for this list and all other rankings on this page. Includes shows that debuted between June 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016. Shows are ranked by Metascore prior to rounding.

Best dramas

Awards

Here are the dramas that have been nominated for () or have won () awards for best overall drama this season.

	Best Drama Series
Show	Emmy Awards	TCA Awards	Critics Choice	Golden Globes	Watch Now
The Americans FX, Season 4		†
Better Call Saul AMC, Season 2
Downton Abbey PBS, Season 6
Empire Fox, Season 2
Game of Thrones HBO, Season 6		†
Homeland Showtime, Season 5
House of Cards Netflix, Season 4
The Knick Cinemax, Season 2
The Leftovers HBO, Season 2
Marvel's Jessica Jones Netflix, S1		*
Mr. Robot USA, Season 1		*†
Narcos Netflix, Season 1
Orange Is the New Black** Netflix, S3
Underground WGN, Season 1		*
UnReal Lifetime, Season 1		*†

* Includes a TCA nomination or win in the Best New Show category
† Includes a TCA nomination in the Program of the Year category
** Actually nominated as a comedy for the Golden Globes, but considered a drama for all other awards. Note that the just-aired Season 4 counts as part of next season (2016-17) for awards purposes.

Best-reviewed dramas

Below are the season's best-reviewed NEW dramas, ranked in order by Metascore (based on reviews published at the time of each show's premiere). Following that is a list of the best-reviewed RETURNING drama series, though note that only a handful of notable series will be re-reviewed by critics after their debut seasons.

First-Year Dramas Ranked by Metascore, 2015-16 TV Season

	Drama Series	Network	Watch Now	Metascore
1	Marvel's Jessica Jones	Netflix		81
2	Spotless	Esquire		79
3	Mr. Robot	USA		79
4	Deutschland 83	Sundance		79
5	The Girlfriend Experience	Starz		78
6	UnReal	Lifetime		78
7	The Last Kingdom	BBC America		78
8	Horace and Pete	LouisCK.net	LouisCK.net	78
9	Narcos	Netflix		77
10	The Man in the High Castle	Amazon		77
... and the worst:
	Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders	CBS		28

Best Returning Dramas*, 2015-16 TV Season

	Drama Series	Network	Watch Now	Metascore
1	The Americans Season 4	FX		95
2	Rectify Season 3	Sundance		89
3	The Knick Season 2	Cinemax		85
4	Better Call Saul Season 2	AMC		85
5	Outlander Season 2	Starz		85
6	American Crime Season 2	ABC		85
7	Hannibal Season 3	NBC		84
8	Orange is the New Black Season 3	Netflix		83
9	Penny Dreadful Season 3	Showtime		83
10	The Returned Season 2	Sundance		82

* Among shows with at least 7 reviews for their most recent season, a number that most returning series do not reach. Only a small number of extra noteworthy shows generate enough interest for critics to write new reviews in subsequent seasons. Includes seasons that began between June 1, 2015 and May 31, 2016.

Best TV movies, miniseries, and specials

Awards

Below are the miniseries that have been nominated for () or have won () awards for best miniseries this season.

	Best Miniseries
Miniseries	Emmy Awards	TCA Awards	Critics Choice	Golden Globes	Watch Now
American Crime ABC
American Horror Story: Hotel FX
Childhood’s End Syfy
Fargo FX		†
Flesh and Bone Starz
Making a Murderer Netflix		†**
The Night Manager AMC
The People v. O.J. Simpson FX		†
Roots History
Saints & Strangers Nat Geo
Show Me a Hero HBO

† Includes a TCA nomination or win in the Program of the Year category
** Includes a TCA nomination or win in the Reality Programming category

And here are this season's made-for-television movies nominated for () or winning () awards.

	Best TV Movie
TV Movie	Emmy Awards	TCA Awards	Critics Choice	Golden Globes	Watch Now
All the Way HBO
Confirmation HBO
Luther BBC America
Sherlock: The Abominable Bride PBS
A Very Murray Christmas Netflix
The Wiz Live! NBC

Best-reviewed TV movies, miniseries, and specials

Finally, here are the critics' favorite one-off programs this season, based on reviews at the time of each show's premiere.

TV Movies, Miniseries and Specials Ranked by Metascore, 2015-16 TV Season

	Movie/Miniseries/Special	Network	Watch Now	Metascore
1	Fargo Season 2	FX		96
2	The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story	FX		90
3	Show Me a Hero	HBO		85
4	The Dresser	Starz		84
5	Making a Murderer	Netflix		84
6	Roots	History		83
7	Jackie Robinson	PBS		83
8	And Then There Were None	Lifetime		82
9	The Night Manager	AMC		82
10	All The Way	HBO		78
11	Amy Schumer: Live at the Apollo	HBO		77
12	Grease: Live	FOX		75
13	Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp	Netflix		74
14	Arthur & George	PBS		73
15	London Spy	BBC America		73

What are your favorites?

What shows did you like this season? Let us know in the comments section below. You can also check out our full index of shows from the 2015-16 season as well as from the current season.