This was the year that was an exceptional for television. Streaming services and networks alike brought ambitious projects to life, delivering everything from fantasy epics to gritty horror to superhero fare with a twist. Some series wrapped up storylines, while others burst onto the scene with fresh energy. What ties them all together is their ability to hook audiences and keep them talking. Here are the 10 best TV series of 2019 that stood out across Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, Crunchyroll, and more.
10. Attack on Titan: Season 3 (Crunchyroll / Funimation)
Anime fans had plenty to cheer about in 2019, and Attack on Titan’s third season proved the series wasn’t slowing down. With jaw-dropping revelations about the Titans’ origins and political conspiracies unraveling inside the walls, this season delivered equal parts heart-pounding action and deep worldbuilding. It balanced intense battles with character-driven storytelling, cementing the show’s place as one of anime’s great modern epics.
9. Black Summer: Season 1 (Netflix)
Zombie fatigue might be real, but Black Summer found a way to breathe new life into the undead genre. With relentless pacing, raw tension, and a stripped-down survivalist approach, the series felt like a spiritual successor to 28 Days Later. Its unpredictable structure, often following different survivors’ perspectives, kept audiences guessing and fully engaged.
8. Carnival Row: Season 1 (Amazon Prime Video)
Blending Victorian noir with high fantasy, Carnival Row offered a unique world of fae creatures, political intrigue, and simmering tensions between humans and magical refugees. Orlando Bloom and Cara Delevingne anchored the series with strong performances, while its lavish production design set a new standard for Amazon’s fantasy offerings. Though uneven at times, it was undeniably one of the year’s most ambitious debuts.
7. Evil: Season 1 (CBS)
For those craving supernatural chills with a procedural twist, Evil delivered in spades. The series followed a psychologist, a priest-in-training, and a contractor as they investigated cases of supposed demonic possession and miracles. With sharp writing, strong performances, and a creeping sense of dread, Evil combined faith, skepticism, and real-world horror into something far more than your standard network drama.
6. Jessica Jones: Season 3 (Netflix)
Closing out Marvel’s Netflix era, Jessica Jones’ third season gave fans a fitting send-off. Krysten Ritter once again embodied the flawed, sarcastic PI with grit and vulnerability, while the season’s focus on morality and obsession made for a thoughtful final chapter. Though bittersweet in its farewell, the show proved why Jessica Jones was one of Marvel’s most compelling street-level heroes.
5. Kingdom: Season 1 (Netflix)
Few series were as gripping as Kingdom, a South Korean period drama with a zombie twist. Set during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty, the show combined political intrigue, family betrayal, and stunning action with the dread of an unstoppable undead plague. With breathtaking cinematography and fast-paced storytelling, Kingdom stood out as one of 2019’s most original offerings.
4. The Witcher: Season 1 (Netflix)
Netflix swung big with The Witcher, its adaptation of Andrzej Sapkowski’s beloved fantasy novels. Henry Cavill’s brooding Geralt of Rivia instantly won fans over, and the intertwining timelines challenged viewers while fleshing out a vast and dangerous world. Between monster hunts, political plots, and iconic songs (“Toss a Coin to Your Witcher”), it became a pop culture phenomenon almost overnight.
3. The Mandalorian: Season 1 (Disney+)
The launch of Disney+ was fueled by The Mandalorian, and it did not disappoint. Set in the Star Wars universe, the show balanced space western grit with heartfelt storytelling, largely thanks to the instantly iconic Grogu (a.k.a. Baby Yoda). Pedro Pascal’s stoic yet nuanced performance and the series’ cinematic visuals made it one of the most binge-worthy shows of the year.
2. The Dragon Prince: Season 2 (Netflix)
Building on the momentum of its first season, The Dragon Prince returned with a bigger, bolder story. Expanding its magical world while diving deeper into character arcs, the second season struck a perfect balance between humor, heart, and epic fantasy adventure. With beautiful animation and sharp dialogue, it continued to prove itself as a worthy successor to Avatar: The Last Airbender’s legacy.
1. Stranger Things: Season 3 (Netflix)
The biggest TV event of 2019 belonged to Stranger Things. The third season brought the Hawkins kids into a new era of mall culture, neon-soaked nostalgia, and Cold War paranoia, all while raising the stakes with the terrifying Mind Flayer. Blending humor, horror, and heartbreaking character arcs, it was both a thrilling summer blockbuster and a coming-of-age drama. Netflix’s crown jewel proved once again why it’s a global phenomenon.
The Verdict
From anime epics to space westerns, supernatural thrillers to political zombie dramas, 2019’s television slate was nothing short of extraordinary. These 10 series each stood out by pushing boundaries, experimenting with genre, or simply telling their stories with style and heart. Whether you were streaming late at night or binging entire weekends, 2019 gave us shows worth remembering — and revisiting.
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