10 most impressive North American TV series of 2016

Metacritic lists "Game of Thrones," "Stranger Things," "Westworld," and "Narcos" as some of the works that have been well received by both critics and the public.

Game of Thrones (season 6)

Season 6 revealed many events to prepare for the finale of the 18+ series, including the background of the main character Jon Snow. He is not a descendant of Eddard Stark but the illegitimate son of Prince Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna Stark - Eddard's sister. The plot gradually moves towards an alliance between Jon Snow and his aunt - Mother of Dragons Daenerys Targaryen - the female leader who is leading troops to the continent of Westeros.

According to TV Series Finale statistics, this season achieved the highest viewership of the series with an average of 7.69 million views per episode.In Emmy history, the entire six-season series received 23 nominations and won in 12 categories, includingwon the important award "Outstanding Drama Series". The fact that season 7 will be released in summer 2017, instead of April as usual, makes the audience look forward to it even more.

Stranger Things

Released in mid-July, the Netflix series has become a hit thanks to its suspenseful and surprising content. A boy named Will Byers suddenly goes missing overnight, causing the whole town to worry. On the way to find Byers, his three friends witness many mysterious supernatural phenomena, including a girl with superpowers who claims to know where the boy is. The series has the sound of 1980s classics such as ET and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, while the content is inspired by Stephen King's stories.

The performances of the child cast and Winona Ryder (as Will’s mother) were highly praised. Critic Emily Nussbaum of The New Yorker also praised the film’s skillful storytelling, making “eight hours fly by in the blink of an eye.” According to Symphony Technology Group, Stranger Things attracted 14.7 million views in its first 35 days – the third highest of any Netflix original series.

Mr. Robot (season 2)

Mr. Robot is a phenomenon of American television when it unveils the mysterious world of technology heroes. The story revolves around Elliot, a security guard by day and a genius hacker by night. He is lost in society, disgusted with mass products and joins the fight against a powerful corporation. Thanks to his hard work, producer Sam Esmail has a multi-dimensional and realistic view of the hacker world. The excellent performance of actor Rami Malek in the main role was also honored with an Emmy award for "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama".

Westworld (season 1)

Premiering on October 2, Westworld is a major project of HBO with the ambition to replace Game of Thrones in the future. According to Hollywood Reporter, the budget of the series is up to 100 million USD, of which the budget for the first episode alone is 20 million. The content is about a giant amusement park simulating the Wild West, where visitors can freely shoot and have sex with robots. The first season ends with a bloody party, marking the rebellion of robots to overthrow humans.

The series' quality was confirmed by three Golden Globe nominations, including the important award for "Outstanding Drama Series" and two acting nominations for stars Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton.Entertainment Weeklysaid the series will last for at least five more seasons.

The People v. OJ Simpson: American Crime Story

At this year's Emmy Awards, The People v. OJ Simpson surprisingly won big with nine awards, three more than the hit series Game of Thrones. The series revolves around the sensational 1994 case when star OJ Simpson was accused of murdering his ex-wife and a friend of hers. The show not only recounts the incident, but also creates drama and presents little-known details.

Metacritic rated the series with a score of 90. Both main actors Courtney B. Vance and Sarah Paulson were honored with Emmy awards.

The Americans (season 4)

The series offers a unique look at the Cold War through the lives of two KGB agents posing as a married couple in America. The Russians in The Americans are not the cold enemies that Hollywood often portrays. Instead, they are portrayed with a more sympathetic view and many very real concerns.

The show's producer, former CIA agent Joe Weisberg, brings a thrilling and interesting story about the activities of the intelligence community. The show received five Emmy nominations this year, but only won one for guest actress Margo Martindale.

Black Mirror (season 3)

After two seasons premiering on the UK’s Channel 4, the third season of Black Mirror is produced by Netflix. The series is an anthology series, with each episode being a separate story. All reflect the common theme of the unpredictable consequences of rapid technological development.

The first episode of season 3 depicts a future where people are so dependent on social media that they lose the ability to communicate in a traditional way. Another story shows the threat of hackers who can overwhelm the system. Critic Jeff Korbelik of The Lincoln Journal Star praised the stories in season 3 as being more dramatic than the previous two seasons.

Narcos (season 2)

The Netflix series is based on the true story of drug lord Pablo Escobar. Born in 1949, Escobar rose to prominence in the 1980s and ran a massive drug operation. He was shot dead by Colombian intelligence in 1993.

The second season of Narcos is more engaging than the first season in depicting Escobar's double life. On the surface, he is a philanthropist who often donates money to the public, but on the inside, he is a ruthless killer who kills without mercy to protect his empire. The top performance of actor Wagner Moura helps recreate the image of the powerful boss of the past.

Better Call Saul (Season 2)

Better Call Saul is a prequel to the classic series Breaking Bad, focusing on the past of lawyer Saul Goodman. Compared to Breaking Bad, the new series is more humorous and satirical. Both seasons of Better Call Saul have been rated 97% on Rotten Tomatoes. In Slant Magazine, writer Chuck Bowen gave the show a perfect score and praised: "Every moment of the show is condensed, leading to the next plot with unpredictable precision and sharp handling."

The Crown

The Crown tells the story of the early years of Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. The series is considered a blockbuster in the television industry and has a budget of up to £100 million. Netflix even invited Peter Morgan – the screenwriter of the hit film The Queen (2006) – to write the script for the new series.

Premiering in November this year, The Crown met fans' expectations with a coherent story, cleverly incorporating many historical events, and excellent acting from the cast. The series received a Golden Globe nomination for "Outstanding Drama Series", competing with big rivals such as Game of Thrones or Westworld. In addition, two actors Claire Foy (as Queen Elizabeth) and John Lithgow (as Winston Churchill) also had the opportunity to compete.

According to VNE