Favorite TV shows of 2016-2017 Season, Part 2.

5) The Flash- Season 3 (The CW)

*Release Date: October 4th, 2016

We have finally made it to my top 5! These shows were all epic enough to deem the top five spots of my favorites of 2016/2017 season. The Flash Season 3, has definitely earned it's right on this list, coming in at number 5.

The Flash season 3 followed Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) aka The Flash, who has been living in an alternate universe of his Earth, called Flashpoint. He's basically been living the dream life in Flashpoint, where his mother and father were never killed. He has no speedster powers, as there is a new Flash named Kid Flash (Keiynan Lionsdale), to stop all the bad guys. Disaster strikes in Flashpoint and Barry is forced to make a decision, whether he wants to continue living in Flashpoint or go back home to save his friends and family. He decides to go back to his original Earth, only things don’t seem right when he returns. Everything he once knew and loved has had some sort of change, all because of creating this Flashpoint. The main villain/premise of this season was that of Savitar and Alchemy. Savitar calls himself a speed God, who was created because of Flashpoint. He basically mind-controls "Alchemy" (Tom Felton), to create a meta-human army, at the same time having a mission to kill Iris West (Candice Patton). Even through all the change of Barry's old Earth, he brings back his team to stop Alchemy, who we found out was actually a mind-controlled Julian Albert (Tom Felton). And to eventually kill Savitar.

There were so many twists and turns of this season, that had me on the edge of my seat at all times. To me, it was the best season of The Flash yet, where I had no idea what was going to happen next. We got some more Gorilla Grodd, Killer Frost, a very musical episode, and many different versions of Wells, which kept me thoroughly entertained. I am so ready for season 4, and hope that Cisco aka Vibe (Carlos Valdes), will finally find his perfect love match.

4) The 100 - Season 4 (The CW)

* Release Date: February 1, 2017

The 100 has to be one of my all time favorite shows, so it's no secret that season 4 was going to make this list. Season 4 of The 100, was definitely one of the best seasons of this series, in my opionion. And, I don't understand how it hasn't been able to get a 22 episode season, because it is definitely worthy in my eyes.

In the 100; we follow 100 teenaged criminals, who were sent down to Earth to see if the post-apocalyptic Earth is now livable. In season 4, we learn that an impending meltdown of the Earth's remaining nuclear power plants would cause a second nuclear-level extinction event for the planet, called Praimfaya. There was also a strife between the different clans, not just between the Arc members and the Grounders, but amongst the different clans of this Earth as well. Clarke (Eliza Taylor) finds out that there is a bunker for some people to live in, and to have the option to survive this Praimfaya. But, only a select few can be held in this bunker, because the oxygen levels and valuable sources aren't enough to sustain everybody. Clarke has to choose 100 souls to have the ability to survive this nuclear event, while leaving the rest to die. This causes more strife between all the clans and members of the Arc, so Octavia comes up with the plan that each clan leader will fight to the death. The last one standing will have their say in who lives and who dies. Octavia obviously ends up winning, and decides that all clans will have the chance to live in this bunker. But, obviously that plan doesn't work, leaving Kane and Jaha to commission a lottery. At the same time, Raven (Lindsey Morgan) being the badass that she is, figures out that she can somehow boot up this ship that they found. Which can ultimately, send some people back up to the ARC, despite the fact that solving this problem might kill her.

This season of the 100 was definitely a fight to the death, and was extremely entertaining to watch. I thoroughly enjoyed the character development this season, and believe that we got some of the best acting from this cast out of all the previous seasons. Octavia Blake (Marie Avgeropoulos) and Raven Reyes (Lindsey Morgan) were the definite standouts of this season, growing into complete badass female warriors, that they already were. But of course, it wouldn't have been a normal 100 season if another lovable character didn't fall to their death. Leaving us with some gut-wrenching and heartbreaking deaths, most notably the death of Jasper Jordan (Devon Bostick).

His death was probably one of the most difficult deaths to watch, because you couldn't help but feel for his best friend Monty (Christopher Larkin). He has lost his father, was forced to kill his mother, and had to watch his best friend basically commit suicide. Like even writing about it has got me all choked up, and just makes me want Monty to have a happy ending with Harper (Chelsey Reist). A part from probably being one of the most difficult seasons to watch, we did get some amazing Bellarke moments.

But, it's clear the producers and writers were just teasing us with those steamy and swoon-worthy moments. Now that it's been a whole six years of Bellamy being up on the ARC and with Clarke being a "Mother" to this strange new nightblood. I am really excited to see what happens in season 5. There are some definite questions I have after that season finale, which I hope they can answer in season 5!

3) Game of Thrones- Season 7 (HBO)

*Release Date: July 16th, 2017

So, I'm not going to go into too much detail of why this show has made it on my top 10 fave shows of the 2016/2017 season. Mostly, because I already posted a discussion about it on another blog post. But, if you are interested on my thoughts of the season so far, here is the link to that blog post.

https://chynnaw16.wixsite.com/caffeinatedfoodie/single-post/2017/08/15/Previously-on-Game-of-Thrones

I will say that this has been my absolute favorite season of Game of Thrones, and that I am extremely excited for the season 7 finale. I really have no idea how it well end, and somehow I have been able to stay away from season 7-ending spoilers this entire season. But I really do hope that we get some more swoon-worthy Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen moments. Even though it may be incest, because Daenerys might actually be Jon's Aunt, and that would just be plain weird.

If you can't wait another week, like me, here is a preview for the season 7 finale! Which I have just watched for all of you readers, and OMG I can’t handle it!

2) This Is Us- Season 1 (NBC)

*Original Release Date: September 20th, 2016

When I saw the trailer for this debut series coming to NBC, I just about flipped out. The reason being, because it reminded me so much of Parenthood. Parenthood easily became one of my top favorite television series ever, and I was so sad when it ended. But, when I found out that there was going to be another family drama coming to NBC, that was basically going to fill our Parenthood void, I was very excited. The trailer for this new series was so beautiful, and just about made me cry as soon as it ended. So, before I get into the many details of why This Is Us easily earned number 2 of my favorite tv series of the 2016/2017 season. Let's take a look back at that incredible trailer. If it didn’t make you cry tears of joy and sadness, and didn't tug at your heart strings. Well, then there is something wrong with you.

This Is Us, is a family drama series about the loveable Pearson family. We follow siblings; Kate (Chrissy Metz), Kevin (Justin Hartley), and Randall Pearson (Sterling K. Brown), who all share the same birthday. Kate and Kevin are twins of parents Jack (Milo Ventimiglia) and Rebecca Pearson (Mandy Moore), and were conceived in the bathroom of a bar, during Super Bowl XIV (which is a very important topic during the progress of this show). Randall, is Jack and Rebecca's adopted son, who happened to be born on the same day as Kate and Kevin. Jack and Rebecca end up taking a third baby home, when they originally lost their third during the birth.

The story begins on the siblings 36th birthday, as we get flashbacks of the day they were born in Pittsburgh. Kate Pearson, the second born child, is extremely overweight, and we follow her difficult weight loss journey throughout the season. She meets a man named Toby, during their support group, and they eventually fall in love with each other. During the flashbacks, we understand why she has had a problem dealing with her weight, and also see that she has the strongest relationship with father Jack. Kevin Pearson, is a handsome and successful television actor, known for his role as "The Manny." Throughout the show we start to see that he is bored with his bachelor life as "The Manny," and decides to make a name for himself in theater. He moves to New York City, to start his new life, while falling in love with a number of woman. In his flashbacks, we see him struggle in accepting Randall as his brother. Which has caused a riff in their relationship. Which brings us to the last sibling, Randall Pearson. We find out that Randall was adopted by Jack and Rebecca, and was left at a fire station by his drug addicted father William (Ron Cephas Jones). Randall finds his biological father in a rundown apartment, who is now a recovering addict. After letting his feelings known to William, Randall realizes that he wants to introduce his father to his children. Throughout the season, we unravel more secrets of this family, and why their father, Jack, is non-existent in their current lives. Who easily became my favorite character of this show, I mean look at this picture. How can you not instantly fall in love with him?

This show was extremely heartbreaking, but is filled with many lovable characters, that made me adore this show so much. A part from the obvious, Jack Pearson, my favorite characters were Randall and his wife Beth (Susan Kelechi Watson), and his biological father William. While, there were many parts in this first season, that literally made me want to throw the remote at the television screen. It was hard not to get hooked by it, because it was so real and relatable. It covered many important topics of discussion; such as race, sexuality, alcoholism, and obesity. It definitely helped fill that Parenthood void, and lived up to the hype. Even though I have cried more times in this first season, than any other show I have ever watched. I can't wait for season 2, because that finale was not ok.

1) Stranger Things- Season 1 (Netflix Original)

*Original Release Date: July 15th, 2016

I don't think this comes as a surprise to many people, since I'm not the only one who became completely obsessed with this debut Netflix Original series. Although, I would have to say that I came a little bit late on this train, watching it around last fall. But, I don't think I was the only one, because there wasn't really much hype when it first came out last summer. Not at least, until I kept seeing it on everybody's Snapchat closer around the fall time. And boy, was I extremely happy to have joined the hype for Stranger Things.

Stranger Things is set in fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, during the early 1980s. It follows the investigation of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), son of Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), who suddenly disappears. We start off the series with a group of young boys, playing a game of Dungeons and Dragons. The four boys finally leave the home of Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), after playing Dungeons and Dragons for almost an entire day. But, not everyone returns home, as Joyce and her oldest son Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton) realize that Will is not in his room. The entire first season is basically trying to figure out where Will could've gone missing. His friends Mike, Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), and Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), do everything they can to get their friend back. While encountering a runaway girl, who they name Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). Mike's older sister, Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) becomes involved with this case, after her friend Beth goes missing too. Nancy and friend Jonathan believe that wherever Beth was taken, so was Will, and become more involved in this disappearance case than they thought they would.

Throughout the season, we figure out that Will has been stuck in a parallel universe called "The Upside Down." After he contacts his mother for help, using Christmas lights and the alphabet on the wall. We also find out that Eleven was a test subject at the United Department of Energy, where they have apparently been secretly doing experiments on the paranormal and supernatural. Eleven was being subjected there, because we later find out that she can control things with her mind. This parallel world has been created, basically due from these experiments.

Stranger Things has earned it's right at number one, because not only was it an extremely creative story, brought to you by the Duffer brothers. But, it also provided a childhood nostalgia for all those people who lived throughout the 80s and even 90s. Now, I was born in 1994, but I instantly recognized all the 80s references, and fell in love with all of it. I have a huge obsession with 80s movies, which is why I think I loved this show so much. But, it also didn’t hurt that the kids in this show were incredibly adorable, and did such a standout acting job. This show also had one of the most memorable opening credit theme song ever, which is enough of a reason to get anyone hooked.

Stranger Things has already become such a major pop culture icon, which I don't see fading anytime soon, and it's only been one season. I am extremely excited for season 2, and for the many future seasons to come. This show was eggo-tastic, and definitely deserves to be my number one!

I hope you enjoyed my top ten series of the 2016/2017 television season, as it was a really good year for television. There were so many good debut series, I mean half of these series were premiere seasons, and normally new series tend to get cut after a few episodes. So, I have no idea if this means that the writing has gotten extremely better or what? But, I am not complaining, because I am always down for new shows. Which is putting a lot of pressure on the new series that will be debuting for the 2017/2018 fall season. However, I am very excited to see if the second seasons of these debut series will be just as good as their first, and if existing shows will continue to be as good as they already are.

With that being said, please stay tuned for my "most-anticipated series of 2017/2018 Fall season," post, that will be coming soon. I will also be posting a Honorable Mentions blog, sometime next week. Where I'll be talking about entertaining television series of the 2016/2017 season, that were all very good, they just weren't able to make the cut of my top ten.

TTFN,

Chynna Williams aka "The Caffeinated Foodie"