5) Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is one of the rare television series out there that never seems to disappoint. Killing off Joffrey (Jack Gleeson) early in season four once again proved that no one character is more important than the narrative itself, and at the same time gave fans a giant sense of relief. What came after that solidified this show as one of the best of the year – again.
Viewers were again transported to a fantastical world where the fight for the iron throne raged on, only partially eclipsed by the danger lurking just on the other side of the wall. Although there were plenty of plot details to latch onto, the highlight this season was definitely watching the remaining members of the Stark family embrace their destinies. Although they are still on separate paths, the notion that they will once again be united as they reclaim their families’ honor was evident as each episode brought them one step closer to that point.
Season four kept viewers on the edge of their seats as the search for Joffrey’s killer took the narrative to an interesting new level. It created an unprecedented situation for characters who had been walking on eggshells since the King’s death in season one. The dynamic within King’s Landing shifted along with every parallel storyline, leaving viewers with just under a year to ponder which direction the story with go in now.