Year End Wrap Up: Keven's Top 10 TV Shows of 2011

Last year was groundbreaking for me because I came to the conclusion that TV was starting to truly kick the theater's ass in almost every way possible. 2011 has been even better. With HBO pulling all the stops with a strong season of True Blood, a better season of Boardwalk Empire and Game of Thrones - was it enough to conquer the airwaves?

It was a powerful year for TV and I'd have to say it was also HBO's strongest year since The Sopranos came to a close. With Game of Thrones shocking audiences worldwide with it's blatant disregard for human life and Boardwalk Empire's amazing sophomore season – it still wasn’t enough to conquer my top 10. That honor belongs to AMC's Breaking Bad, which delivered not only it's best season yet, but one of the best seasons of TV ever made.

1. Breaking Bad

Bryan Cranston's season-long showdown with one of the most memorable TV villains ever in Gus, culminated in one of the most shocking finales of all time. The suspense filled fourth season saw Walter White complete his transformation into an 'evil' genius.

The season premiere was a dark, quiet work of brilliance and the finale was an explosive earth shattering affair that could have ended the entire series on a high note. I'm still struggling with the fact that the fifth and final upcoming season can't possibly top what went down this year – it's that good.

2. Game of Thrones

Adapted from George R.R. Martin's series of dark fantasy novels, this show came to slaughter expectations and in the process blew this guy's mind by essentially killing it's main character in one of the most brutal and heart-breaking scenes ever filmed. The ensemble cast is mesmerizing, even if none of them last too long in this beautifully grim world.

Peter Dinklage's performance is one of a kind but don't forget that this show also saw Jason Momoa turn out the kind of show that Conan should have reflected on the big screen. Game of Thrones is easily the best 'new' show of 2011 by leaps and bounds.

3. Boardwalk Empire

HBO must have had a meeting with it's showrunners this year and came up with a masterplan to kill it's main characters left and right. As the finale came to a close, viewers were once again treated to another shocking exit, this time involving Boardwalk Empire's most colorful and intriguing character. Steve Buscemi's Nucky was once told that he can't be "half a gangster anymore" – well, he must have taken notes.

After getting looked over at the Primetime Emmys, it will be a shock if this show is passed over in 2012. The second season was 10 times stronger and loaded with so many amazing scenes it's hard to pick a favorite. PS: Always pay your butcher – for the love of god, if you owe him money, pay that man…

4. American Horror Story

Take True Blood, make it scary and then amp up the crazy factor a hundred times and you have what is no doubt the best 'horror' series of the year. It's been compared to Twin Peaks, but FX's American Horror Story is something else entirely – bats*** nuts. The show is bizarre, disturbing, gross, frightening and most importantly – it's gripping as hell.

It's hard to comprehend how the show will continue forth after a first season that killed as many characters as it could, but rest assured that 2011's most insane show will be back to mess with our heads even more. Jessica Lange has never been better and deserves any award recognition that is likely headed her way next year.

5. Sons of Anarchy

Show creator Kurt Sutter amped up his motorcycle crime drama as high as it could possibly go four seasons in. Before the season finale calmed down what was a kill-crazy run of episodes, fans were treated to by far the best that Sutter's team had to offer. Ron Perlman's Clay became one of the year's most hated characters and nearly every secret was revealed as Jax took the head of the SAMCRO table.

Although some may have been let down by the finale, as I initially was, I've learned to love the story choices and traps Sutter has laid here for future seasons. This show has criminally been ignored by the Emmys every year and it blows my mind. Katey Sagal remains the best actress on the small screen and this season was her most engaging performance yet.

6. The Walking Dead

The second season premiere of my favorite comic series' TV adaptation was it's strongest episode yet. Although there seems to be some pacing issues with many critics, you will not find a better example of the 'monster' genre. AMC's zombie apocalypse drama may have ranked higher if it had wrapped up this year, but 2012 will see it finish the second half of episodes.

The mid-season finale also gave viewers a taste of creator Robert Kirkman's style as we were treated to the undead execution of a small child that went missing in the opening episode. It was heart-breaking, intense and shows that the TV series is ready and able to follow the same brilliant dark path of the comic. I hope it goes all the way and this was a great indicator that it just might.

7. Being Human

This series is the biggest surprise of the year for me. What at first seems like a SyFy True Blood knockoff, is actually very, very far from just that. Think Friends with murder, gore and brilliant writing. Based on the UK show of the same name, we're taken inside the lives of three roommates, a vampire, werewolf and ghost. It sounds absolutely terrible, but it works. The acting is all on point, the writing, the plot, it flows beautifully. Sam Witwer and Sam Huntington's on-screen chemistry is believable and the two work so well off of each other.

The series utilizes music very effectively as well, turning out one of the year's best soundtracks for a television show. Give this one a shot and you will not be sorry, I promise you. It's a brave shot in the arm and welcome addition to US audiences who are tiring of True Blood's zaniness.

8. True Blood

Despite what I can only describe as one of the worst season openers ever in which fans were treated to a demon fairy laser fight, True Blood ended on a high note. The first half of the fourth season may have struggled at times, trying to 're-invent' itself with the whole 'time moved forward' plot, but after the show caught up with itself, it became damn good once again.

Alexander Skarsgard finally took over the reigns from Stephen Moyer and became the 'fan favorite', which was a long time coming in my opinion. The witches vs. vampires angle was tremendously heated and the rivalry was built up as much as it possibly could have been before getting settled in one of the most satisfying climactic episode arcs the show has had yet. Main characters finally died – which is nuts since nobody dies on this show and the finale was a shotgun blasty blast with the series' biggest shockers yet.

9. Spartacus: Gods of The Arena

Despite being a prequel and only six episodes long, this mini-series managed to remain that shock factor charm from which Spartacus: Blood & Sand was known for. After star Andy Whitfield became ill, the idea of launching a prequel series without his presence seemed like a bold and bad idea. 'Gods of The Arena' however proved all the detractors wrong and fans were once again immersed in the very naked and very violent world of STARZ' best TV series.

The effects were better and the writing had to be clever than ever in order to tie into the first season's storyline while still remaining a surprise. We saw the rise of the gladiator house which is fitting considering it's been slaughtered at the end of season one. Even though this is a 'prequel' to season one, watch it after 'Blood & Sand' if you're a first time viewer. The writers on this show are sick bastards and they've crafted a bloodbath epic that needs to be seen to be believed.

10. Community

After NBC decided to put Community on the backburner, which feels like an inevitable cancellation may be in the cards, fans were in an uproar. It seems like Community fans have been defending this brilliant show since it debuted. I will also go on the record by hailing this as the funniest show of 2011 and I will be devastated if we never get to see Annie's boobs again.

The cast works wonderfully together and the comedy might even be ahead of it's time here, which is why many of the casual primetime crowds give this one a pass. It's a shame because Community is just so damn funny to it's core. With it's hilarious paintball episode sagas, to it's many obscure film references, to Abed is Batman - Community deserves to be on TV and I'll probably cry if it never comes back.