Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
Remember, remember, the TV of November. That’s what I always like to say, a common turn of phrase that everyone knows extremely well. In any event, in case you don’t remember the TV that aired this November, there was even more of it than usual.
That’s because November, 2019 didn’t just see the regular array of broadcast and cable programming, as well as streaming offerings from the likes of Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video. No way, sirs and ma’ams. This month also saw the introductions of Apple TV+ and Disney+, the first new wave of streaming services that will continue through the new year.
Point being, there was a lot of TV, and we here at Decider watched a ton of it. Like, a whole lot. Like, too much, maybe? And then we sifted through all of it, to try and figure out what was the best of the best of the month of November. To that end, everyone sent in their top five, those were ranked, culled together, and we ended up with the list you see below.
From a nice man taking care of a little baby, to show about superheroes and squids in Tulsa, to a bunch of friends hanging out and eating fro-yo in heaven, these are not the concepts of our top three shows. But they could be, if they were less excellent! Without further ado, here are the nine best TV shows that aired in November.
'Mr. Robot'
USA
USA’s Mr. Robot may be more than halfway through its final season, but it is far from slowing down. In fact, thanks to the superb “407 Proxy Authentication Required” that aired this month, the show will never be the same again. What started as a relatively simple, well filmed, well acted hacking thriller has morphed into something bigger and deeper, as viewers found out an essential truth about Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), and his alternate personality, Mr. Robot (Christian Slater) that has nearly ripped the show apart. Beyond that, this month saw a nearly dialogue free episode, a stunning showdown featuring Elliot’s sister Darlene (Carly Chaikin) and FBI agent Dom (Grace Gummer), and even a pretty solid riff on whether Die Hard is a Christmas movie. There’s nothing like Mr. Robot on TV, and now, even Mr. Robot isn’t like Mr. Robot. There are just a few episodes left, and how this all ends will almost definitely cement the show’s legacy as one of the best in TV history. — Alex Zalben
'Stumptown'
ABC
You know what show oozes charisma? If you said Stumptown, congratulations! Your deductive reasoning skills are firing on all cylinders. ABC’s freshman crime drama about a hard-drinking private eye continues to improve with each and every episode as Cobie Smulders and Jake Johnson exude sizzling chemistry. If you have yet to embrace the undeniable charm of this entertaining series, the first seven episodes of Season 1 are available on Hulu. — Josh Sorokach
'Below Deck'
Bravo
No show loves a crew change-up more than Below Deck, and this month we were treated to an extra exciting one. After deckhand Abbi got engaged via text, she decided to pack up and ship out which means the new deckhand is…drumroll, please…Rhylee! That’s right, the Bravo series replaced one redhead for another but it sure is good to see this one back, and not just because she didn’t even wait a day to stir up drama. There’s shouting, there’s smooching, and there’s the guarantee that there’s so much more to come. — Lea Palmieri
'Rick & Morty'
Adult Swim
Life is better when there’s more Rick and Morty. So far Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland’s truncated Season 4 has been exactly what 2019 television was missing. This new season has been unrelentingly silly and weird with just a dash of the existential terror that makes this animated comedy so great. We have no idea what’s going on with Tammy, Phoenixperson, or Evil Morty, but we will gleefully continue to watch classic Rick and Morty adventures until the end of all the multiverses. — Kayla Cobb
'Superstore'
NBC
I know I scream about Superstore literally every month, but Season 5 is just so good, you guys. As we close out the first half of the season, the show has tackled xenophobia, deportation threats, unionization, and the exploitation of labor under capitalism, all while somehow still making me laugh. Superstore might just be the only show on TV right now that has successfully adapted the beloved workplace sitcom formula for the hellfire that is 2019. If you’re not caught up, fix your life immediately. — Anna Menta
'Dickinson'
Apple TV+
Dickinson is so much more than a by-the-books retelling of Emily Dickinson’s formative years: it’s a queer love story, a drug-fueled teen drama, a 19th century comedy, and a surreal thought experiment rolled into one. As this description suggests, the comedy isn’t afraid to take big swings — some of which work, some of which do not. Despite its drastic tonal shifts, Dickinson mostly sticks the landing, largely due to Hailee Steinfeld’s exceptional performance and willingness to fully commit to the series’ delightful absurdity. — Claire Spellberg
'The Good Place'
NBC
After a careful start to The Good Place‘s final season, things ramped up considerably in November as the Soul Squad finally faced the imminent destruction (or at least, rebooting) of the world. Already sweet and funny, the afterlife comedy doubled down on its core relationship — Eleanor (Kristen Bell) and Chidi (William Jackson Harper) — making ‘shippers’ hearts go all a-flutter. As usual, though, it was the tenderness with which it treats its main cast (particularly in a mock funeral focused episode) that makes the show special, thrilling, and laugh out loud funny. — Alex Zalben
'Watchmen'
HBO
HBO’s Watchmen continues to be a spectacular reinterpretation of one of the 20th century’s most subversive texts. In the past month, we’ve seen a reclamation of Laurie Blake, an exploration of the corrosive effects of trauma, and a transcendent look at the masks Hooded Justice needed to juggle just to feel like he could right society’s wrongs. What’s so incredible is that Watchmen’s quality hasn’t flagged since its sensational premiere episode, and that its ingenuity has only gotten deeper; its meditations on race, politics, policing, sex, and violence, bolder. — Meghan O’Keefe
'The Mandalorian'
Disney+
After 40 years of big screen dominance, Star Wars rose to the challenge of creating… a live-action TV show. This was a deceptively difficult task. Not only would The Mandalorian have to live up to the feel of its big budget predecessors, it would also have to clear the ridiculously high bar set in the era of prestige TV (just look at our #2 entry). In three episodes, it’s safe to say that The Mandalorian has blown past expectations, producing a narrative that feels more focused, more concise than anything we’ve seen in not just Star Wars, but on TV today. The world is rich, the practical effects are stunning, and the sci-fi set pieces unfold with the clarity of a classic Looney Tunes short (that sandcrawler melee!) and the intensity of an old school western. This is the show Star Wars fans have been looking for. Also: Baby Yoda. — Brett White
