With 2020 being the year of quarantine, I definitely got the most out of my streaming services. From Netflix to Hulu to Crunchyroll and Funimation, no service was left untouched. Early in the year, my best friend got me back into watching anime which I haven’t done in years. I was hooked again and binged show after show like nobody’s business. And for those out there that believe anime is for children, I encourage you to watch any of the shows on my list to change your mind. I did watch a handful of “regular” shows as well, including the series finale of my favorite crime show Criminal Minds – and yes I did cry.
If I had to pick a favorite show for 2020, I have to pick Haikyu! due to the fact that I watched the whole show twice and have already started on a third re-watch with my fiancé. When my best friend told me to watch this show I was so hesitant. It’s centered around a boys high school volleyball team and I am not really into sports. I watched the first two episodes and couldn’t feel myself getting into it but with a little push I started it up again a couple months later and was hooked. The story and the way the characters are introduced and developed really kept me glued to the screen and I became a huge fan of the main team, so much so that I bought the team jacket. I started to really root for these animated boys! I can’t wait for season 5 to be released, hopefully, this year.
As for the “regular” shows, I’d say I enjoyed The Haunting of Bly Manor the most. The twists and turns of the story mirrored it’s predecessor The Haunting of Hill House but without as much terror. It was extremely interesting to see how the story progressed and it was shocking to see the hauntings played into the real world for the characters. I’ve been left a bit dumbfounded after both Haunting series.
Now of course not all of the shows I watched kept my interest. Netflix’s The Witcher and HBO’s Gunpowder were underwhelming to say the least. The Witcher didn’t really hold my attention until the last three episodes or so which is the only reason I may watch season 2 when it’s released. Unfortunately, not even Kit Harrington could keep my interest during Gunpowder. I found myself extremely bored while watching it and I’m glad it was just a mini-series.
I’m interested to see what shows come out in 2021 seeing as many production companies are not filming while the pandemic continues. I have a very long anime watch list to get through though, and there’s always new shows and seasons coming out since Japan was able to keep COVID rates low. I hope that everyone out there stays safe as the world continues to change around us and these times are still uncertain. Here’s to a new year.
Full List of Shows Watched in 2020 *animes are listed if I watched them subbed or dubbed*
- The Witcher (Season 1)
- Gunpowder (Mini-series)
- Criminal Minds (Season 15)
- Schitt’s Creek (Season 1-6)
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Season 1-7)
- Locke & Key (Season 1)
- Ozark (Season 1-3)
- Dear White People (Season 1-3)
- My Hero Academia (Season 1-4; dubbed)
- Haikyu! (Season 1-4; subbed and dubbed)
- Your Lie in April (Season 1; subbed)
- Food Wars! (Season 1-5; subbed and dubbed)
- The Promised Neverland (Season 1; subbed)
- Tsuredure Children (Season 1; subbed)
- Demon Slayer (Season 1; subbed)
- Given (Season 1; subbed)
- Fire Force (Season 1-2; subbed and dubbed)
- Dead to Me (Season 2)
- Free! (Season 1-3; subbed)
- Banana Fish (Season 1; subbed)
- Kimi ni Todoke (Season 1-2; subbed)
- Devil’s Line (Season 1; subbed)
- Erased (Season 1; dubbed)
- Seraph of the End (Season 1; subbed)
- Violet Evergarden (Season 1; dubbed)
- The Haunting of Bly Manor (Season 1)
- Fruits Basket (Season 1-2; dubbed)
Katrina's Cluttered Chaos 