My Top 5 Shows of the Year So Far

With Rogue Eye Media back up and running again, plus being at about the halfway point of the year, I thought it was a good time to look over what we've gotten so far in 2026. Although there's still a ton to come, it's been a great year for shows even starting back in January. There's been both mainstays returning for another season and new shows that have come to challenge the usual contenders.

Today, I'm going to rank my top five shows of the year so far, give some honorable mentions, and also make sure to point out what I'm watching right now as anything could spring into this list later in the year. These will only be shows that released in 2026, anything that I've watched that's prior will have to be a whole seperate list. I want to make it clear that this is my opinion and I have no issue with anyone who would rate these lower or higher. I'll definitely come back around to this list around the Emmys and also at the end of the year, just to have a more complete list. But for now, enjoy my assessment of the halfway point!

Currently Watching (Ineligible)

Credit: Disney/Marvel

I'm currently watching three new shows and honestly, I could see any of them making it into this list by end of year. The first is X-Men '97 Season 2, which just has to be put in another category in terms of comic book storytelling. Season 1 was my favorite thing Marvel Studios has ever done and Season 2 is continuing that trend of an unmatched comic adaptation. I wouldn't say it's as sharp as Season 1, as there's a lot going on at once and the vibes are just generally different, but it's still almost a perfect season so far. The first three epsiodes were a thrill ride, episode four was heartbreakingly great and the most recent episode was better than your typical bottle episode. I can't wait to see how the rest of the season unfolds and make sure to follow us on TikTok for weekly reactions every Wednesday!

As for the next two, it's kind of a random mixed bag of really good shows. The first would be The Testaments Season 1, a spin off of a universe I really have no experience with. I love Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men, but I never got around to watching the Handmaid's Tale. I was a bit cautious to watch Testaments because of this, but a few friends encouraged me and I decided to give it a shot this week. Let's just say I have not been disappointed. The world is interesting, the young cast is compleltey standout and there's some incredible thematic storytelling. Chase Infiniti is a force of nature and I'm also really appreciating the dual storytelling. I'm already six episodes in and I definitley will be finishing this very soon. I also just watched the first two episodes of Lucky, a limited series from Apple TV starring Anya Taylor-Joy. I do tend to be a bit biased when it comes to Anya because she is my favorite actress, but this story is actually really engaging so far. It's just crazy so far, with Anya's character on the run and some other intruiging plotlines coming in. It's a bit too early to say anything for sure, but I'm really enjoying it so far.

Just Missed

Credit: Amazon

My entire top five is between an 8.5-10/10, so these projects are still great, but just missed out on the top five. The first to miss is Spider-Noir, which I really loved but just kind of failed to break out of its low budget. However, I love the characters and it feels like a very refreshing take on Spider-Man. Nicholas Cage is just having the absolute best time with it and Lamorne Morris deserved Emmy recognition for this. I really hope we get another season now that the world is established. Next would be Fallout Season 2, which had a first season that was definitely towards the top of my list that year. I think reflecting on this season a few months after it's been out, it isn't as strong as the first season, but they are absolutely on the same level. Purnell crushes it playing a complicated version of her hyper character from season 1 and there's just so many cool moments. Lastly would be Your Friends and Neighbors Season 2, which also was a worthy follow up to a great first season. James Marsden was a welcome addition to the cast and I liked how they kept the same vibes from the first season while also using different forms of storytelling. Very excited for Season 3!

5: Paradise Season 2

Credit: Hulu

As seems to be common with this list, Paradise is another show where I loved season 1 and season 2 was absolutely a worthy follow up. Season 2 expands the world a lot, but that doesn't make it lose its stride. Xavier's (Sterling K. Brown) journey outside the bunker introduces us to so many great new characters, both in emotion and true evil. It really showcases all sides of the apocalypse, a form of storytelling that I've always been interested in. You never really would think a show like this could be as intense as it is, but then you watch as James Marsden delivers line after line that just hit so hard. There's twists and turns throughout, but like I said earlier, it continues with the same good that made season 1 great. There's the emotional reunion for Xavier, the twist with Link (Tom Doherty), and the cliffhanger ending which sets up for a crazy final season. I was happy to see both the show and Sterling K. receive recognition with the Emmy's last week, because this show really does deserve it.

4: Beef Season 2

Credit: Netflix

It is honestly insane that a show like Beef that is so funny and insane can be as actually emotionally good as it is. I was behind so I watched Season 1 and 2 back to back, leaving me just so impressed with everyone working on this show. Obviously I knew these were the minds behind Thunderbolts and The Bear, so I was in no way shocked that I loved this show as much as I did. Season 2 introduces us to four new actors as the leads: Oscar Isaac, Carey Mulligan, Charles Melton and Cailee Spaeny. I really respect this strategy of storytelling where you just put so much weight and trust into your acting cast. If any of these four didn't play up to the absurdity of the plot, the show would be dead on arrival. But all of them are so good in their own way. The standouts to me were Isaac and Spaney, both in their strained relationship and also their fall off the deep end as the season goes on. For the first half of this season I kind of just enjoyed how entertaining it was more than any deep themes going on, but by the end I saw exactly what they had been setting up all season. It's a story about what we are willing to give up for our relationships and two couples desperately trying to hang on. I still think I slightly prefer the themes in season one, but this season is absolutely on the same level.

PS: These guys are making the X-Men reboot, how cool is that!!!

3: Invincible Season 4

Credit: Amazon

With Season 4, Invincible continues to stand out as one of the best comic book projects of all time. I thought it would be impossible to top some of the highs from both season two and three (I think I preferred two the most due to Levy being a fascinating villain), but this season does it. It's sort of interesting because what I've loved about this show has never been the action. Sure, there's some cool sequences and power sets, but those grounded moments between Mark and Eve have always hit the most for me. However, this season became the best season of the show due to its incredible action sequences. From Mark and Conquest's gut-wrenching (see what I did there?) fight, the episode seven all out brawl and anything to do with Thragg, this season just turned up the action to eleven. I know this show doesn't really deserve praise for it's animation, but they clearly stepped it up for a few of the episodes here. There were also great new characters with great voice actors paired along with them. Even with all of this action, the season did still have some iconic emotional moments that were completely grounded. Sandra Oh and J.K. Simmons deserve praise for their dynamic, especially Oh who puts her all into multiple scenes throughout this season. I am so intrigued to see where we go next and yes, I do think this is the best season of the show so far.

2: The Pitt Season 2

Credit: HBO/WB

No surprise, but The Pitt is back to a level of filmmaking that is completely unseen in televsion these days. Obviously there's other reasons I love this show so much, but every episode I am just floored by the filmmaking and acting involved in every part of the show. Season 2 brings back most of the cast we know, while also bringing in some new characters to really add to the tension. There's a running storyline all season related to Noah Wyle's Dr. Robby, tackling both his mental health and purpose. I think there's so much nuanced storytelling here and the way they explore it through this profession is just so impactful. It's one of those things where we know exactly what he's feeling all season and even when it eventually comes out in the final few episodes, we still feel emotional due to the incredible acting all around. I could praise the entire cast, but the three standouts for me this season were Wyle, Katherine LaNasa and Fiona Dourif. Dana and Robby have multiple scenes together that are just acting clinics, but Dourif shines all on her own. There's a incredibly difficult storyline in here that her character has to be around and I just think the actor works so hard to make it feel as emotional as it should be. The finale absolutely sticks the landing and it made me physically emotional many times. I think it's not a perfect season like season one, but it's just slightly below that and continues to be the best show on television right now - outside the next one on this list.

1: The Bear Season 5

Credit: Hulu

Congratulations to The Bear Season 5 for being my only 10/10 season of television so far this year. I've always considered this show as one of my favorite shows in recent memory, but this final season cemented it as one of my favorite shows of ALL TIME. I thought season one and two were basically perfect, then the next two seasons slightly stalled, but season five brought this show back to incredible heights. I think the choice to have the entire season basically take place in one night is genius, especially after complaints that the last two seasons were dragged out. The tension is at another level, with a Hans Zimmer score making for an incredible feat of music paired with the intensity in the kitchen. There's so many things handled perfectly for this final season, but the one I appreciated the must was the return of Jeremy Allen White's Carmy to the kitchen. I was worried seeing him in the promos that the ending of season four wouldn't be paid off well enough, but the way they handle it is so perfect and makes the entire night have even more of an emotional weight to it. There's a scene in the final episode with White that is just some of the best acting I've seen in a long time. Let's give our kudos to Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss-Bachrach as well, who both finish some of the best five-season long character arcs I've ever seen. This last season is funny, incredibly stressful and most importantly, emotional. I cried basically for the entirety of the final two episodes. Really I can't remember the last time a show stuck the landing as well as this did and it has cemented itself as one of the greatest shows of all time.