2020’s MOST PROVOCATIVE SERIES
P-Valley, Unorthodox, Normal People +
Is it just us, or did 2020 serve up more provocative shows this year? With being stuck inside for many hours at a time, TV provided us with ways to escape. From strip clubs in Mississippi to an Army base in Italy and Russia’s palaces, here are the most provocative series of 2020.
P-VALLEY
A show based on the play Pussy Valley is on this list. The Starz series set in Mississippi strip clubs climbed its way to the top of many “best of” lists. For us, we love seeing the lives of characters on and off stage.
HIGH FIDELITY
Zoë Kravitz led this Hulu series based on the novel and John Cusack’s film of the same name. High Fidelity adapted to the modern age beautifully by putting a woman in the lead and exploring many different relationships.
I MAY DESTROY YOU
I May Destroy You is being heralded as the best show of the year. Hailing from HBO, Michaela Cole stars as a woman who challenges modern notions about dating and relationships while dealing with sexual misconduct. Don’t sleep on this series — you might learn a lot from it.
WE ARE WHO WE ARE
Come for the cast; stay for the story. Chloë Sevigny and Alice Braga are just two of the stellar names attached to this Luca Guadagnino (Call Me By Your Name) project. Set on an Army base in Italy, the HBO series is a stunning portrait of individuality and self-discovery.
LITTLE FIRES EVERYWHERE
Reese Witherspoon and Kerry Washington stunned us with their dynamic performances in Hulu’s Little Fires Everywhere. The series demonstrates the dichotomy of people of color and white people living in the suburbs.
MRS. AMERICA
We see women on TV, not every day advocating against equal rights, but our history shows that it happened. In Hulu’s Mrs. America, we see women pitted against women in the battle over the Equal Rights Amendment in the 1970s. Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, and the many other cast members push boundaries.
NORMAL PEOPLE
Hulu cranked out the hits this year. Normal People — based on the book by Sally Rooney — was more than a look at a secret, seductive romance. It evaluated society, class, and how they play into our relationships. The hot sex is just a bonus.
UNORTHODOX
Few shows garnered attention the way Unorthodox did. The Netflix series follows a young, Orthodox Jewish woman who runs away from her life to start over. It’s a story about liberation.
PENNY DREADFUL: CITY OF ANGELS
Oh, how we’ve missed Natalie Dormer. The former Game of Thrones actress took on the lead role in the Penny Dreadful spinoff City of Angels. Set in LA, the monster-filled series was one of our favorites this year.
THE UNDOING
OK, it’s always impressive when names like Hugh Grant and Nicole Kidman star in an HBO series. They play husband and wife on a thrilling, murderous ride. There is something sleek about this New York City-set series.
THE GREAT
Elle Fanning plays Catherine the Great in this Hulu series. She is married to Nicholas Hoult’s character and uses him to make her way to the top. The series is like The Favourite, which makes sense considering members of the creative team worked on both.
LA RÉVOLUTION
Netflix’s French series La Révolution takes the French Revolution and puts it on its head. It’s a thorough interpretation that may or may not involve vampires. You’ll have to watch to find out.
