The EW Community's juu 10 shows of 2014// Friday Night Lights (nostalgia recaps) 

EW Community TV Show Episode Guides and Recaps from EW's Community

To celebrate the year in TV, we at The EW Community decided to vote on our favorite shows of 2014. Any show recapped on The Community was eligible, including shows no longer on the air, like

 Our writers chose from the over 150 shows recapped this year and whittled those down to a mere 10.

Podcast: 'Clear Lists, Full Drafts, Can't Lose,' episode 14—Top 10 shows of 2014

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Here are the top 10 shows of 2014, as voted on and covered by the Entertainment Weekly Community.

solidified itself as one of the best family dramas on television with its darkest season yet. Frank was dying, Lip was struggling through college, Fiona was ruining her life, and Ian was nowhere to be found at all for most of it. Just as they saw a light at the end of the tunnel, the Gallaghers allowed their instincts to take over and fell back down to perhaps their lowest point yet. But by the end, we were reminded why we root for this ragtag group—they are strong and tough, and they never run out of hope.

worth watching is how refreshing it is among other sitcoms. It rejoices in imperfections, offering comedic stories about characters who are far from likable, but entertainingly so. Leads Aya Cash and Chris Geere play two self-destructive people attempting to have a relationship with each other. It sounds like a disaster, yet when these two are together, they somehow bring out the best in each other in their own funny and sincere way.

hits its emotional beats without ever feeling manipulative or forced. The laughs are frequent and earned. That’s a credit to the richly talented cast and writers, who know how to balance the tones of this sitcom so effectively.

going strong for 10 seasons is that no matter what monsters, demons, angels, or other supernatural creatures the Winchester Brothers meet, it always comes back to Sam and Dean and the power of family. Live or die, these brothers always have each other’s backs. That’s why we root for them season after season.

is an amazingly underwatched show that will move you from the minute you start watching it. I love anything set in the South, but this show is so attuned to the human spirit that it transcends region and just speaks to what it means to have a human heart. It is so quietly powerful that it forces you to be still in order to receive it, and that is a rare commodity on TV today.

The show is about Daniel Holden, a man convicted of the rape and murder of his high school girlfriend 19 years earlier. The first episode picks up just after his conviction has been overturned, yet he hasn’t been exonerated. The entire trajectory relies on Daniel’s reintegration in the world and his wonder at the beauty of it. As a viewer, you become less and less occupied with whether Daniel is guilty or not, and more and more invested in knowing him as a person. Showrunner Ray McKinnon infuses this show with almost as much heart and emotion as a person can take, but he does it with such grace that you never feel manipulated or preyed upon.

Stop what you’re doing and watch this show on Netflix right now. Then go hug your mom.

has something for everybody—beautiful and complicated relationships, intricate family dynamics, and witty dialogue, all with the backdrop of high school football. If you aren’t familiar with this series, I have your New Year’s resolution: Sit back, relax, and take a trip to Dillon, Texas. You won’t be sorry, I promise.

Sometimes I don’t care that orange is the new black. There are days when I may not feel like visiting a post-apocalyptic America. And when the bachelor gives another rose to a girl wearing something from Build-A-Bear, I know it’s time for a palate cleanse.

is like a good old-fashioned stew. Unrealistic small town antics are the hearty base. An eclectic wardrobe department and whimsical set design are the meat and potatoes. Clever writing and witty one-liners give the show its flavor. At this point, all you need is a spicy kick and you’re ready to savor this dish. Say hello to Wade Kinsella.

You won’t find bloody corpses, motorcycle clubs, roaming zombies, or arguing attorneys on this show. But if chicken and waffles at the Rammer Jammer or rooting for a New York doctor and a country bartender to go ahead and get together already is your type of entertainment, then

was one of the first of the new crop of fall/winter shows to get greenlit for a full season, so it goes without saying that America is on board for the adventures that the Johnson family has in store for us. But

is more than just a hilarious look at the modern American family; it’s also sly in how it forces America to take a bracing look at the intersection of race relations and society.

Episodes including hot topics like spanking, being the Token at work or at school, and cultural signifiers like “the nod” reveal there’s more to being an American, particularly a black American, than what the stereotypes suggest. There’s a Johnson family in almost every neighborhood, and

has made people pay more attention to these families’ stories.

has managed to push the envelope in every way possible, from what we watch on television to how we feel about the nature of evil. The evocative and visceral visual style is as much a character as Hannibal Lecter or Will Graham. Plus, director Bryan Fuller has caused me to question my sanity more than once. If you like a good dive into crazy, you’ll love

Pawnee, Indiana: A terrible place to live, but a great place to watch people live. Season 6 saw our forever-perky heroine Leslie Knope recalled from office in the city she loves and offered a job with the National Parks Department, threatening to take her away from Pawnee. It also saw the departure of Ann Perkins and Chris Traeger, Ben’s appointment as City Manager; the end of Andy’s career as a wannabe rock star and his phoenix-like reemergence as a children’s entertainer; April and Donna stepping up at work; Ron becoming a father; and Tom finally growing up a little. It was an emotional season, and one that shows what’s great about

: It’s built on its characters and unafraid to do right by them. It’s scary to see characters we love change, but they’re still hilarious and quirky and lovable. It’s that kind of daring and reinvention that earns

To the fiercely loyal surrogate members of Team Braverman, it’s no surprise that

takes the top spot on this list. Despite its impending series finale in early 2015,

has left its mark by being a show with heart, which is a bit of a rarity these days. To its fans, this show has been more than an hour of escape each week; it’s been a lifeline that has helped them through situations and issues that mirror those that the Bravermans have gone through—good and bad. Much like with our own families, we don’t always agree with things that are done or decisions that are made, and we can’t control the fate of the members we love. All we can do is take the ride and try our best to enjoy it, because

There you have it—our favorite shows of 2014. We laughed, we cried, we enjoyed looking at the beautiful people of The CW. What do you think? Did we get it right? What was your favorite Community-covered show of 2014?

For more top-10 lists of 2014, check out the Clear Lists podcast.

Mike spends an awful lot of time reading comic books and making bad jokes on Twitter, but when he\'s not doing that, he\'s watching television and writing about his favorite shows. His current obsessions are Game of Thrones, Orange Is the New Black, Broad City, and Black Mirror. Read more of Mike\'s thoughts at Mike TV.

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