High-concept science fiction has defined the television year so far. The truth is that science fiction has been the most influential genre in television history. Bestshowsof the last six months have involved time travel, body-swapping, alien invasion, speculative futures, and a world where people can have their personalities split between their work and home selves.
Then again, maybe the year in television so far has been defined by down-to-earth realism. After all, some ofthe otherbestshowsof the last six months have involved resource-strapped elementary schools, single parenting, and cultural conflicts.
Or maybe, just maybe, the lesson of the year in TV so far is that great television can come from both outlandish concepts and simple ones, so long as theShows are made as well asThe 15 listed alphabetically here.