TV

50 worst TV series of 2020

December 30, 2020
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50 worst TV series of 2020

There were , a new record for television. If each episode was 60 minutes long, it would take more than 22 days to watch just one episode of each.

Not all television is created equal, of course, and the last year was riddled with TV series running the gamut from virtually perfect to unequivocally dreadful. With that in mind, gathered data from on the worst TV shows of 2020 and ranked them from bad to worse according to their Metascores as of Dec. 9, 2020. New series and old series with new seasons were considered alike, as were limited series and docuseries. To qualify, the show had to have a Metascore and a 2020 release date. Comedy specials, although included under TV on Metacritic, were not included in this list. As a guide for measure, TV series ratings tend to run high, topping out on this list at 60/100 and bottoming out at 35/100. Ties are broken by ranks assigned on Metacritic's site.

Critical reviews, compiled by Metacritic, were also consulted. These reviews are consolidated from sources such as The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, The New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Vulture, Decider, RogerEbert.com, Paste, TV Guide, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, Time, and more. All reviews鈥攑ositive and negative鈥攍end insights into why each series earned its low ranks.

If you enjoy bad TV, this may be the list you've been waiting for鈥攊t could actually turn out to be your must-watch TV list. There's certain escapism in bad TV: the show that's so bad it's actually good. The silly characters and nonsensical plot lines that allow you to do other things while you watch TV are often a welcome treat. Not every show needs to be an award-winner鈥攁nd some of the series that made our list certainly hold a certain degree of (varying) charm. Even the award-winners don't hit all the time. And let's not forget: Every once in a while, the critics even get it wrong and fans fall in love with some obscure show that they're supposed to hate.

Keep reading to bring on the bad TV and find out which TV shows Metacritic ranked as the 50 worst of 2020鈥攁nd why.

#50. Soulmates

- Metascore: 60
- Release date: Oct. 5, 2020

AMC's 鈥淪oulmates,鈥 a dramatic anthology series that has been compared to 鈥淏lack Mirror,鈥 is set 15 years into the future when a person can take a test in order to match with his or her soulmate. Despite its notable cast, including Malin Akerman, Charlie Heaton, Bill Skarsg氓rd, and Sarah Snook,  gave 鈥淪oulmates鈥 a C rating, describing the series as 鈥渁 collection of chemistry-less performances and outdated tropes, some of which are so egregious that they overshadow any attempt at memorable storytelling.鈥 The showrunners have another chance to make an impression with a second season, expected sometime in late 2021.

#49. Little Voice

- Metascore: 60
- Release date: July 10, 2020

Bess, an aspiring singer, juggles life, love, and dreams in New York City on Apple TV+'s 鈥淟ittle Voice.鈥 There were high hopes for this show, which was created by Sara Bareilles and Jessie Nelson and produced by J.J. Abrams. While some viewers agree 鈥淟ittle Voice鈥 is charming and genuine, others just can't get past its predictable and overly familiar vibe. Dan Fienberg, writing for the Hollywood Reporter, said even though the show made him cringe, he at least once as well as humming to the tunes. 

#48. Your Honor

- Metascore: 60
- Release date: Dec. 6, 2020

Adapted from the Israeli show 鈥淜vodo,鈥 Bryan Cranston stars in Showtime's 鈥淵our Honor鈥 as a judge trying to protect his son after a hit-and-run accident in New Orleans. Although the 10-episode limited series features a talented cast, notes that it 鈥渃ontains so many familiar crime TV elements that it bends toward the tropey.鈥

#47. Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels

- Metascore: 60
- Release date: April 26, 2020

A spin-off of the 2014 鈥淧enny Dreadful鈥 series, this Showtime supernatural horror show set in 1938 Los Angeles pairs two detectives in a murder investigation. that 鈥渢he show was always intended to be about the complex racial and political landscape of Los Angeles in the period.鈥 Many critics and audiences felt that the plotlines of 鈥溾 were too muddled and even the performances of its talented cast, such as Natalie Dormer and Nathan Lane, weren't enough to save the show from cancelation.

#46. Animaniacs

- Metascore: 60
- Release date: Nov. 20, 2020

Critics say Hulu's 2020 reboot of the popular '90s cartoon "Animaniacs" feels extremely similar to the original series due to the same characters, composers, manic energy, and joke styles鈥攂ut not all agree on whether this is a good thing.  wrote that the new show "focuses on how messed up the world is now," which "gives 2020's 'Animaniacs' more of a sour aftertaste that keeps it from being as effervescent as it once was, and could be."

#45. Truth Seekers

- Metascore: 60
- Release date: Oct. 30, 2020

In this Prime Video comedy-horror series from Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, two part-time ghost hunters partner to film paranormal sightings in the U.K.  said while the show is watchable, it 鈥渋s a slight and only sporadically amusing effort that lacks the panache and wit of previous pairings of Pegg and Frost,鈥 referring to gems like 鈥淪haun of the Dead,鈥 鈥淪paced,鈥 and 鈥淗ot Fuzz.鈥 

#44. Helter Skelter: An American Myth

- Metascore: 59
- Release date: July 26, 2020

In this six-part docuseries about Charles Manson on Epix, extensive interviews, archival footage, and photos are chronicled鈥攂ut not much new information is uncovered. Time critic Judy Berman says that the first episode acts much like an hour-long trailer for the rest of the series, suggesting the docuseries might have hit the mark as a . 

#43. We Hunt Together

- Metascore: 59
- Release date: Aug. 9, 2020

The Showtime suspense series 鈥淲e Hunt Together鈥 follows two detectives as they hunt for two killers in London. Some critics note that the series lacks tension and originality, with IndieWires in Showtime's line-up. 

#42. Star Trek: Lower Decks

- Metascore: 59
- Release date: Aug. 6, 2020

The animated comedy 鈥淪tar Trek: Lower Decks鈥 is a CBS All Access Original Series. Set in the year 2380, the show follows a support crew on the U.S.S. Cerritos, one of the Starfleet鈥檚 least important ships. Critics report that the show is sometimes witty, but Polygon's Samantha Nelson says it 鈥渜uickly fades into a series of .鈥

#41. Cursed

- Metascore: 59
- Release date: July 17, 2020

This Netflix fantasy series starring Katherine Langford, follows Nimue (The Lady of the Lake) as she travels with a mercenary to return Excalibur to Merlin.  to be cliche, with a confusing plot, and sometimes cheesy effects, but fans of the show found it fun and entertaining nonetheless. While it hasn't been officially confirmed by Netflix, a second season is expected. 

#40. The Liberator

- Metascore: 59
- Release date: Nov. 11, 2020

This Netflix animated series, which uses new patent-pending Trioscope Enhanced Hybrid Animation technology, is based on a book about World War II U.S. Army officer Felix Sparks and the 157th Infantry Regiment, and how they invaded Italy and freed those at the Dachau concentration camp. Many critics felt that while focusing on the technological effects of the animation, the creators of 鈥溾 may have missed an opportunity to tell this important battle story in detail.

#39. Away

- Metascore: 59
- Release date: Sept. 4, 2020

Hilary Swank plays an astronaut who leaves behind a husband and daughter in order to embark on a journey to Mars in this Netflix drama series. The show was canceled after its first season, leaving fans on a never-to-be-resolved cliffhanger. 鈥淎way鈥 was reportedly one of Netflixs most expensive shows, at an , which Esquires Adrienne Westenfled guesses could have had something to do with it ending after just one season. 

#38. The Comey Rule

- Metascore: 58
- Release date: Sept. 27, 2020

This four-hour, two-night Showtime miniseries is based on the memoirs of former FBI director James Comey, who is portrayed by Jeff Daniels in the show. Politics aside, that the public didn't already know. "The Comey Rule" attracted  in two days and reportedly helped Showtime gain a substantial number of subscribers. 

#37. Emily in Paris

- Metascore: 58
- Release date: Oct. 2, 2020

A 20-something marketing executive played by Lily Collins moves to Paris for work in this Netflix rom-com, which critics have called out for being particularly unrealistic and clich茅. New Yorker writer Kyle Chayka suggests the show's surprising success is tied to the : 鈥淭he purpose of Emily in Paris is to provide sympathetic background for staring at your phone, refreshing your own feeds.鈥 Despite the lackluster critical reception, 鈥淓mily in Paris鈥 has been renewed for a second season. 

#36. neXt

- Metascore: 58
- Release date: Oct. 6, 2020

This sci-fi Fox series inspired by an Amazon Alexa device follows a former tech CEO played by John Slattery as he tries to help Homeland Security stop an AI digital killer. Roger Ebert critic Brian Tallerico says the series reminds him of an earlier generation's storytelling, referring to "'." Variety reported Fox would not renew the show for a second season after only airing a few episodes . 

#35. Tommy

- Metascore: 58
- Release date: Feb. 6, 2020

A woman NYPD officer is hired to become the first female LAPD police chief in this CBS drama starring Edie Falco. While , she was not enough to hold together the predictable storyline and lackluster dialogue, and the show was canceled after its first season. Hollywood Reporters Daniel Fienberg called the series 鈥 that probably could have been a lot better.鈥

 

#34. Council Of Dads

- Metascore: 58
- Release date: March 24, 2020

NBC's drama-heavy 鈥淐ouncil of Dads鈥 begins with a terminally ill dad asking his friends to step in as father figures for his children after he's gone.  says the show 鈥渋s so eager to balance its inherently sad premise with some emotional catharsis that it rushes to an endpoint that's anything but earned.鈥  due to its low ratings.

#33. Big Sky

- Metascore: 58
- Release date: Nov. 17, 2020

This ABC suspense-drama series follows two private detectives as they search for two kidnapped sisters, only to find that there are more missing. Critics say that time and talent is wasted on this , who has delivered TV shows like 鈥淢r. Mercedes,鈥 鈥淏ig Little Lies,鈥 and 鈥淏oston Legal.鈥 

#32. Unsolved Mysteries

- Metascore: 57
- Release date: July 1, 2020

鈥淯nsolved Mysteries鈥 has returned to television. This time it鈥檚 on Netflix, with no host, and each episode focuses on one unsolved cold case instead of several. The narration often repeats what is said by family members or shown in reenactments, which made some critics question the lengthiness of the episodes. IndieWires Kristen Lopez suggests 鈥渢he show needs to do something to situate itself as  and not another quasi-HBO documentary series.鈥

#31. Coastal Elites

- Metascore: 57
- Release date: Sept. 12, 2020

"Coastal Elites" is a 90-minute series of five monologues that was originally written to be performed on stage, but moved on-screen due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The satire involves five personalities, including Bette Midler, Issa Rae, Dan Levy, Sarah Paulson, and Kaitlyn Dever, talking directly into the camera about how much they dislike President Donald Trump. The Guardian's Charles Bramesco called the project "."

#30. The Twilight Zone

- Metascore: 57
- Release date: June 25, 2020

The complete Season 2 of 鈥淭he Twilight Zone鈥 was released by CBS All Access in June. Critics say this season is , but that Jordan Peeles reboot still hasn't reached the potential or impact of the original series. points out the irony in that 鈥渢he original series speaks to the strange times through which we're living more directly and profoundly than the new one.鈥

#29. Utopia

- Metascore: 56
- Release date: Sept. 25, 2020

Based on a British show of the same name and created by Gillian Flynn (author of 鈥淕one Girl鈥), the Amazon Prime suspense series 鈥淯topia,鈥 starring John Cusack, follows fans of a comic that predicts world events and contains secret messages. Critics of the show say theres an and too many characters to follow. Amazon canceled 鈥淯topia鈥 after its first season. 

#28. Social Distance

- Metascore: 56
- Release date: Oct. 15, 2020

Filmed remotely and set during the pandemic, Netflix鈥檚 鈥淪ocial Distance鈥 is an eight-part anthology series with each episode lasting roughly 20 minutes. Critics say the series tends to feel unambitious despite what it may have set out to accomplish. Roger Ebert critic Robert Daniels notes there is 鈥,鈥 including 鈥淭he Offices鈥 Oscar Nu帽ez, 鈥淲hen They See Us鈥 Asante Blackk,  and 鈥淟uke Cages鈥 Mike Colter. But Daniels still asserts things like the rushed narratives and discrepancies in the small details got in the way of the series reaching "the caliber of the actors delivering it.鈥

#27. Hollywood

- Metascore: 56
- Release date: May 1, 2020

This Netflix limited series created by Ryan Murphy follows a struggling actor as he accepts a job at a gas station pumping gas and begins prostituting in order to make it in the 鈥淕olden Age鈥 of Hollywood. on this series, with some admiring the entertainment value and others feeling it lacked substance. Brian Tallerico, critic for Roger Ebert, went as far as to call it 鈥溾 of [Murphys] career,鈥 adding that the series 鈥渁ttempts a degree of social commentary that can only be called insulting.鈥

#26. Snowpiercer

- Metascore: 55
- Release date: May 17, 2020

This TNT series is based on a 2013 film (and French graphic novel) about humans who live on trains that never stop moving once the world has frozen. Critics call it an inferior version of Bong Joon-ho's film鈥攅ven though he is credited as a producer鈥攁nd say it doesn't start to pick up momentum until the second half of the season.  suggests, "this show works best if you didn't watch or enjoy the original 'Snowpiercer.'"

#25. Love in the Time of Corona

- Metascore: 55
- Release date: Aug. 22, 2020

A four-part limited drama series on Freeform and available on Hulu, 鈥淟ove in the Time of Corona鈥 follows three married couples and two roommates as they go through quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hollywood Reporters Inkoo Kang says the show, which features actors Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nicolette Robinson, 鈥渦ltimately manages to rouse with its grand romantic gestures, but too much of the preceding material feels .鈥

#24. Intelligence

- Metascore: 54
- Release date: July 15, 2020

Created by co-star Nick Mohammed and released on Sky One and Peacock, 鈥淚ntelligence鈥 stars David Schwimmer as an NSA agent who鈥檚 transferred to the U.K.鈥檚 equivalent agency, and struggles to take over. CNNs Brian Lowry says the shows 鈥渜uirky assortment of characters has a very (just the slightly dry British kind).鈥 The series has officially been renewed for a second season in 2021. 

#23. Love Life

- Metascore: 54
- Release date: May 27, 2020

Set in 2012 at first, HBO Max鈥檚 anthology rom-com series 鈥淟ove Life鈥 stars Anna Kendrick as Darby, a 20-something fumbling her way through relationships in New York City. , but say the show鈥檚 narration can be distracting and the series leaves the viewer yearning for Darby to find some authentic human connection. The show has been picked up for another season, but this time Good Places鈥 William Jackson Harper will be in the leading role.

#22. Interrogation

- Metascore: 54
- Release date: Feb. 6, 2020

This CBS All Access drama series is based on a real-life case that spanned 20 years in which a 17-year-old was convicted of killing his mother. Viewers are told that they can watch the episodes in any order, much like a cold case would be handled. Each episode follows a different character within the case. Variety critic Daniel DAddario suggests that 鈥 to be frustrating for the ways in which it isn鈥檛 yet better, and most of them stem back to the original sin of the show鈥檚 format.鈥

#21. Brave New World

- Metascore: 54
- Release date: July 15, 2020

Based on Aldous Huxley's novel, "Brave New World" lasted just one season on Peacock and is now being pitched to other outlets. The story is about a utopian society that prohibits monogamy, money, family, and privacy. Ultimately, great-looking sets and lots of risque behavior couldn't make up for the dull script. Ed Cumming, a critic for The Independent, says the adaptation lacks risk, surmising that Huxley "." 

#20. Hunters

- Metascore: 54
- Release date: Feb. 21, 2020

This Amazon Prime Video drama set in 1977 stars Al Pacino as a Nazi hunter in New York City. New York Times critic Mike Hale says the show doesn't do enough with Pacino, the rest of the , or the premise. However, Hunters, which is produced by Jordan Peele, has been renewed for a second season. 

#19. Filthy Rich

- Metascore: 54
- Release date: Sept. 21, 2020

Based on a New Zealand series, 鈥淔ilthy Rich鈥 on Fox follows Margaret Monreaux (Kim Cattrall), the wife of a rich Southerner who dies and leaves her in charge of the business. Three illegitimate children are named in her husband鈥檚 will, and Margaret must deal with them. The , and the acting, including Cattrall鈥檚 Southern accent, has left much to be desired for some critics. The after it aired its first five episodes. 

#18. White Lines

- Metascore: 53
- Release date: May 15, 2020

This Netflix suspense 10-episode series follows a British woman who travels to Ibiza to investigate her brother鈥檚 two-decade-long disappearance after his body is found. Odd plot twists, subplots, and character changes midway through the series don鈥檛 seem to make sense, while overdramatization appears to be the glue keeping some viewers held to the story. Roger Ebert critic Nick Allen says the show is ,鈥 calling it a beach read you can watch. Netflix canceled White Lines after its first season. 

#17. Deputy

- Metascore: 51
- Release date: Jan. 2, 2020

Western meets cop drama in this Fox drama that follows the new L.A. County Sheriff Deputy, played by Stephen Dorff. A fifth-generation lawman, the new sheriff isn鈥檛 used to big-city rules. Riddled with clich茅s and inconsistencies, delivers little more than the typical cop show.

#16. Amazing Stories

- Metascore: 51
- Release date: March 6, 2020

This Apple TV+ anthology series is a reboot of Steven Spielberg's 1985 series. Most , saying that the show was OK for families, but that it lacks what viewers have come to expect from Spielberg. IndieWire critic Steve Greene called the "Amazing Stories" premiere "." 

#15. Ratched

- Metascore: 50
- Release date: Sept. 18, 2020

This Netflix series starring Sarah Paulson was inspired by the character Nurse Ratched in the book 鈥淥ne Flew Over the Cuckoo鈥檚 Nest.鈥 Chicago Sun-Times critic Richard Roeper says despite the 鈥渂reathtaking鈥 production design and 鈥渁 few dark laughs,鈥 the drama can be tedious and the horror is more gross than scary, resulting in 鈥.鈥

#14. Motherland: Fort Salem

- Metascore: 49
- Release date: March 18, 2020

In this supernatural, alternative-reality drama airing on Freeform, three witches enlist in the U.S. Army. Numerous story ideas, an uneven tone, and a somewhat clunky dialogue have made 鈥淢otherland: Fort Salem鈥 a confusing show to follow. Variety critic Caroline Framke says the series fails to be "" as the actual history of witches.

#13. Space Force

- Metascore: 49
- Release date: May 29, 2020

Steve Carell plays Gen. Mark R. Naird in this Netflix comedy series that tells the story of the new Space Force branch of the U.S. military. Despite it鈥檚 big, talented cast, including John Malkovich, Lisa Kudrow, and Ben Schwartz,  or an interesting enough storyline for many critics. Audiences appeared to appreciate 鈥淪pace Force鈥 more than critics though, as Netflix renewed the show for a second season.

#12. The Walking Dead: World Beyond

- Metascore: 48
- Release date: Oct. 4, 2020

The latest AMC 鈥淲alking Dead鈥 horror spin-off picks up after the zombie apocalypse when the first generation is coming of age. Critics say this new series doesn鈥檛 live up to the original, and with no character connection to past 鈥淲alking Dead鈥 series, it鈥檚 hard to get into the show. suggests this third series 鈥渇eels more than a little bit like beating an undead horse.鈥

#11. Selena: The Series

- Metascore: 48
- Release date: Dec. 4, 2020

This Netflix musical drama series chronicles the life of murdered Tejano music star Selena Quintanilla played by Christian Serratos. to tell more of Selena's story, instead choosing to focus more attention on the male figures in Selena's life. Hollywood Reporter critic Inkoo Kang says the show "."

#10. Crossing Swords

- Metascore: 47
- Release date: June 12, 2020

From the producers of 鈥淩obot Chicken,鈥 this highly anticipated adult animated stop-motion series on Hulu follows squire Patrick, voiced by Nicholas Hoult, as he discovers the kingdom is corrupt. Viewers who appreciate vulgarity and crassness may enjoy 鈥淐rossing Swords,鈥 but those who don鈥檛 should give it a pass, according to critics, who seemed to like it a lot . 

#9. Messiah

- Metascore: 46
- Release date: Jan. 1, 2020

In the Netflix series 鈥淢essiah,鈥 a CIA agent played by Michelle Monaghan is recruited to help with the case of a man who travels around the world allegedly performing miracles. by piquing interest and curiosity without ever offering a satisfying conclusion to anything. Netflix announced there would be no second season just a few months after the first season began streaming. 

#8. AJ and the Queen

- Metascore: 46
- Release date: Jan. 10, 2020

RuPaul Charles stars as a drag queen named Ruby Red who ends up with a 10-year-old stowaway in his RV in the comedy-drama 鈥淎J and the Queen鈥 on Netflix. Critics say the show, which was not renewed for a second season, was fun, but Salon critic Ashlie D. Stevens notes that 鈥渢he , potentially by virtue of trying to balance camp and commentary in hour-long episodes.鈥

#7. The Politician

- Metascore: 45
- Release date: June 19, 2020

Despite its creator being Ryan Murphy and featuring stars such as Bette Midler, Judith Light, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Ben Platt, Netflix鈥檚 second season of 鈥淭he Politician鈥 struggles to keep the attention of viewers.  is filled with talking points that don鈥檛 go anywhere and a plot that seems pointless and shallow. A , but not expected for a couple of years. 

#6. Too Hot to Handle

- Metascore: 43
- Release date: April 17, 2020

In this Netflix reality series, 10 single contestants are told that they can split $100,000 if they refrain from sexual contact with one another. While producers may have been wanting to do something different from the typical dating reality show, on most accounts, pointing to its shallowness and lack of direction. 

#5. The Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow

- Metascore: 40
- Release date: Jan. 24, 2020

Wellness topics, some unconventional, are explored in this Netflix series with Gwyneth Paltrow and her team at goop. Bloomberg critic Polly Mosendz compared the six-episode season to an infomercial, calling it a 鈥.鈥 Despite the poor reception from many critics, 鈥淭he Goop Lab with Gwyneth Paltrow鈥 has been renewed for a second season. 

#4. Helstrom

- Metascore: 40
- Release date: Oct. 16, 2020

Based on Marvel comic characters, Daimon and Ana Helstrom use their gifts to deal with supernatural beings in this Hulu fantasy series. Unfortunately, is very dissimilar to 鈥淗elstrom鈥 the comic, according to critics, and the result is dull and creepy.

#3. Indebted

- Metascore: 36
- Release date: Feb. 6, 2020

In this NBC sitcom, grandparents played by Fran Drescher and Steven Weber show up broke at their son鈥檚 house and need to move in. The parents struggle with boundaries when it comes to their son and his young family. Boston Globe critic Matthew Gilbert says the show 鈥渇eels more like the .鈥 NBC canceled 鈥淚ndebted鈥 after its 12-episode first season. 

#2. The Duchess

- Metascore: 35
- Release date: Sept. 11, 2020

Netflix鈥檚 semi-autobiographical comedy series 鈥淭he Duchess鈥 follows a London-based single mother Katherine (comedian Katherine Ryan) as she considers having another child with her ex. Telegraph critic Michael Hogan says one of the frustrations with this show is that it feels like 鈥, fighting to get out,鈥 Hogan says despite its 鈥渋ntermittent killer lines,鈥 it lacks 鈥渃oherence and heart.鈥

#1. Hoops

- Metascore: 35
- Release date: Aug. 21, 2020

This Netflix animated series follows a foul-mouthed high school basketball coach, voiced by "New Girl's" Jake Johnson. Rife with stereotypes, excessive cursing, and profanity, multiple to watch. IndieWire's Ben Travers says, "there's no satire here, or anything beyond the surface-level ugliness." 

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