My Favourite Television Shows of 2013

These days I can't write Best Of lists because it's become impossible to rank shows that have such opposing ambitions and purposes, across different genre. I also think that straightforward Top 10's can be tedious to read at this time of year, as most critics pick largely the same dozen things and only disagree over the exact ordering.

So many of the best or most popular television shows are dead, or dying...

In the wake of True Blood announcing its final season next summer, have you noticed how many TV shows have recently finished, or are also approaching their ends? Being Human, The Borgias, Breaking Bad, Dexter, Fringe, Luther, Mad Men, Merlin, Misfits, Spartacus... I'm sure there are others, but those are the ones that spring to mind. By this time next year, none of those will be broadcasting new episodes. Quite a few will be all tapped out by October. Some are already dead.

TV Finale: SPARTACUS: WAR OF THE DAMNED - 'Victory'

Warning: the following review contains MAJOR SPOILERS for the Spartacus: War of the Damned finale, which hasn't aired in the UK at time of writing.

As I've mentioned before, the only reason I stopped reviewing Spartacus halfway into its 'Vengeance' season is that the show had evolved into more of a straightforward action-adventure drama with lashings of blood and rampant sex. There's nothing wrong with that, but the first two seasons ('Blood & Sand' and 'Gods of the Arena') were, to me, more interesting because of a narrower focus and smarter political elements. I just wasn't sure what purpose my reviews were serving beyond putting into words a sense of weekly excitement, shock and awe. So I stopped writing about Spartacus, but I never stopped watching. And while the later 'Vengeance' and 'War of the Damned' seasons probably aren't my favourites, they were astonishing spectacles that never forgot to balance character with action.

Review: SPARTACUS: WAR OF THE DAMNED – 'Enemies of Rome'

This review is a number of weeks behind the US broadcast on Starz, so please be mindful of spoilers in any discussion below.

I stopped reviewing Spartacus last season because the show, while still very enjoyable and made with bloodthirsty zest, had drifted away from some of the things I most responded to in its Blood & Sand and Gods of the Arena years. The scope widened and the ambition grew as rebel gladiator Spartacus (Liam McIntyre) ventured out beyond his ludus, but I think I started to realise the show spoke to me more in its tighter focus on the everyday running of a gladiator training camp. Given its clear master and servant backdrop, it was essentially a blood-spattered version of Downton Abbey—only with more bodily mutilation. A lot more, let's be honest.

Trailer: SPARTACUS - WAR OF THE DAMNED (Starz)

The trailer for the third and final season of Spartacus was released over the weekend, and it's full of exactly what you'd expect: violence, geysers of blood, granite jaws, nudity, big speeches, violence, huge armies, swords, Julius Caesar, more violence, spurts of blood, the usual thing. I'm still an admirer of this show on a technical level and have always found it supremely entertaining, so I hope they can finish the story on a high note. There will always be a part of me that misses the late Andy Whitfield in the title role, but I'm more concerned they've now killed off every popular character except for Spartacus, Crixus and Gannicus. Hopefully the influx of new third season characters will capture our hearts quickly, otherwise it could be a strange season if we're just awaiting the inevitable (I doubt the show will diverge too much from historical fact, so the fates of the lead gladiators appear sealed). What are your hopes for this show in its final year?

SPARTACUS: WAR OF THE DAMNED premieres 25 January 2013 on Starz. A Sky1 premiere in the UK hasn't been announced yet, but it's usually not far behind.

Winner: SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE Region 2 DVD

Last week I held a competition to win a Region 2 DVD box-set of Spartacus: Vengeance. The question asked was, essentially, where does the character of Spartacus originally come from? The answer was Thrace. Of the many thousands dozens of entries, I'm pleased to announce the randomly chosen winner is...

Elvis Wright, Derbyshire

Congratulations Elvis! I'll pass on your delivery details to the supplier of this DVD and you'll hopefully receive it very soon. Commiserations to everyone who entered but didn't win, and better luck next time. And for all those Spartacus fans who didn't bother to even enter: why? You had a real chance of winning this box-set here. Oh well.

Competition: win SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE on DVD!

Starz's swords-n'-sandals epic Spartacus: Vengeance is coming to DVD and Blu-ray on 1 October in the UK, and I have a Region 2 DVD box-set to giveaway (courtesy of Anchor Bay Entertainment). The second season continues the story of mutinous slave Spartacus (Liam McIntyre) as he tries to amass an army to defeat the Roman Republic...

To be in with a chance of winning this awesome prize, just answer this question:

In the series, where does heroic slave Spartacus originally come from?

(a) Capua
(b) Sparta
(c) Thrace

Aliens and vampires coming to Starz

Steven S. DeKnight (Buffy, Angel) is currently the showrunner of Starz's smash-hit Spartacus, which is gearing up for its third and final season next year. Wary of losing him to a rival, the cable network is already developing Incursion with DeKnight; a series about soldiers fighting an alien invasion.

Starz describe Incursion thus: "Each season the battle will be fought on a new, exotic planet as humanity punches deeper into enemy territory. Grittily realistic combat, darkly complex characters and intrigue on a cosmic scale will permeate the tale of fighting men and women facing the pressures of war and an enemy unlike any ever seen."

I have no evidence for this theory, but I can't help thinking Incursion will imitate Spartacus in terms of production and tone—meaning lashings of stylized violence, lots of greenscreen for the alien worlds, and a carefree attitude to sex and violence. So, basically a TV version of Paul Verhoeven's Starship Troopers? It's just a feeling I get, seeing as how Spartacus' style was so embraced after a tentative start, and the show manages to look seriously epic on a relatively small budget for US TV. That's just what you need to do a convincing yet thrifty space opera.

Starz have also revealed that renowned writer J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5, The Changeling) is joining Roy Lee (The Ring) and Rob Tapert (Xena: Warrior Princess) to write Vlad Dracula, which is described as a "unique spin of the classic tale, blending the historical facts of the 15th century Prince of Wallachia, with the fictional Dracula whose story is known around the world and continues to fascinate audiences. Vlad Dracula traces his evolution from a revered ruler to the world’s most feared vampire, and his slow downfall as he struggles desperately to hang on to his humanity, his wife and his kingdom."

I'm imagining something like Starz's historical drama The Borgias, only with a vampire. What do you think? Is Starz onto something with shows like this, giving talents like DeKnight and Straczynski creative freedom to create something genre fans will lap up? Or did they just get lucky with the Spartacus brand, so brace yourselves for two endeavours along the lines of Torchwood: Miracle Day?

Starz's SPARTACUS to end next year with final WAR OF THE DAMNED season

Starz have announced that the third season of their highly-rated Spartacus (or fourth if you count the prequel miniseries) will be its last. The final season, Spartacus: War Of The Damned, will premiere in January 2013 and conclude the story, inspired by the real-life tale of a rebellious gladiator.

Showrunner Steven S. DeKnight: "It was an extremely difficult and emotional decision for my partners and I. Yet, in the end, the story was best served by rolling all of the remaining action and drama of Spartacus' journey into one stunningly epic season that will be extremely satisfying for everyone who's been along for the ride."

Starz CEO Chris Albrecht: "Spartacus is a landmark series for the network which has enthralled millions of viewers and fans around the world. We are in agreement with our partners in the decision to conclude the story after War Of The Damned, as we believe it is the best way to maintain the integrity of the series and secure its legacy."

Spartacus: War Of The Damned is currently filming in New Zealand, and will reveal that Spartacus and his rebels will have amassed a 30,000-strong army since the events of Vengeance's finale. The new season will introduce new characters Gaius Julius Caesar (Todd Lasance), Marcus Crassus (Simon Merrells) and Laeta (Anna Hutchinson).

What do you make of this news? I think it's perfect, because there were already signs in Spartacus: Vengeance that the show's getting staler the longer it's around. I'm glad the series will build to an epic conclusion while fans are still passionate and excited about the story, instead of lingering around for years and years because Starz refuse to let their biggest hit end. (ahem, HBO and True Blood). Kudos to everyone involved in this decision-making.

I hope we get a fitting end to the story. Something tells me it'll be a bloodthirsty one!

SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE – "Wrath of the Gods"

I stopped reviewing Spartacus: Vengeance a short while into its run, which was no reflection on its quality. It was more down to personal issues like time and, frankly, a growing sense that it's a show where you tend to just reiterate the same handful of points over and over. This sometimes happens with shows after the first season has been thoroughly parsed, so once I'd made my feelings on Vengeance's new characters/actors and broader canvas known, it was hard to envisage doing weekly reviews that wouldn't descend into gleeful remarks about a particular episode's goriest death and eyebrow-raising twist.

But now we've arrived at the thrilling finale of season 2, "Wrath of the Gods", so it makes sense to broadly cover my thoughts and feelings on this 10-part sequel to Blood & Sand and the setup for the inevitable third season. By and large, it's been a very entertaining ride and I particularly enjoyed the return of freed champion Gannicus (Dustin Clare), and tip my hat at how the writers suddenly found a way to make Glaber (Craig Parkinson) into a far more interesting character and worthy opponent for Spartacus. He may lack the sorely-missed Batiatus's gift for spoken vulgarities, but he was a more physical enemy for Spartacus to contend with, which lent his final duel with the mutinous gladiator an epic feel. Indeed, practically every sequence involving a fight and bloodshed has been a technical marvel to watch—particularly knowing this is hardly the world's most expensive TV series. I can only assume the tax breaks in Australia are so good that the makers get twice the bang for their buck. At times the action and signature violence was genuinely jaw-dropping stuff.

The only real problem with Vengeance was a feeling the overall story was a little stretched (considering its relative simplicity as a "manhunt" this season), and the character of Spartacus himself posed a few problems. Liam McIntyre did admirable work, but there were times when he'd stand around looking like a Team America puppet, or else the writers would simply be having more fun elsewhere. The Thracian may be the show's eponymous hero, but at times he was perhaps the dullest cog in the whole machine—prone to spending every episode being insufferably noble, then giving a variation on the same inspiration speech to the other former slaves. It felt like Spartacus didn't have much going on that I cared about—because his relationship with Mira (Katrina Law) never really captured my heart, his aspiration to end the Roman slaver trade is obviously doomed, and the vengeance he feels towards Glaber (the man who enslaved him and his late-wife) was only something you felt when the characters shared the screen. And that was an understandably rare occurrence given the circumstances.

Once again, the finale cleared the decks of characters who had run out of potential. Ashur (Nick Tarabay) had his head hacked off by Naevia (Cynthia Addai-Robinson), bringing an end to his humorous masterplan to create a "House of Ashur" and live happily ever after with Lucretia (Lucy Lawless); Mira was axed in the chest surprisingly early (it doesn't pay to be Spartacus' lover); arrogant Glaber got a sword down the gullet; and the aforementioned Lucretia stole best-friend Ilithyia's (Viva Bianca) newborn baby and fell off a cliff to raise it with her dead husband in the afterlife. Some good characters lost, but this is a show that knows when it's milked every drop from someone, so it doesn't bother me that Tarabay and Lawless won't be back. I just hope they have new characters who are worthy replacements, because, frankly, none of the new characters brought into Vengeance impressed me—such as Capua socialite Seppia (Hanna Mangan Lawrence). In fact, it was notable how the finale was entirely about the established gang from Blood & Sand and Gods Of The Arena.

Ultimately, despite some bumps along the way, Vengeance ramped up the sense of spectacle in every regard and the series remains one of the most operatic and boisterously insane TV shows around. I wasn't as gripped by this year's prevailing story as I was in the two seasons before, as it didn't feel as nuanced or surprising to me, but I was rarely bored and a typically and exhilarating finale has me eager to see what season 3 brings.

I hear Julius Caesar's going to learn Spartacus' name...

SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE – "A Place In This World" & "The Greater Good"

A Place In This World

The Greater Good

Apologies. I've slipped behind with my reviews of Spartacus: Vengeance, and to be honest that'll likely be an ongoing problem for awhile. But I thought I'd at least give some random thoughts on Vengeance now we're three episodes into the season. It's still fair to say the show still misses the marvelous John Hannah (more than Andy Whitfield, too), but the return of Ashur (Nick Tarabay) in "The Greater Good" went some way to make me forget about his loss. A show like this needs a larger-than-life villain, and Roman slimeball Glaber (Craig Parker) isn't a strong enough character in my book. Ashur's history with all of the gladiators is also a strong advantage, as Glaber himself only really has beef with Spartacus, and I loved how Ashur's return explained Lucretia's (Lucy Lawless) "miraculous" survival during the mutiny (he sewed up her stomach wound), and that he told Oenomaus (Peter Mensah) that Gannicus had an affair with his late wife. Tarabay is having a ball with this role, and has almost single-handedly reinvigorated my interest now.

Taking a wider view, I'm still uncertain about the success of Vengeance sending half its cast out on the road. It had to take this step, of course, but there was something singularly fascinating about the politics of the once pivotal ludus. Taking the gladiators out of their training camp is akin to watching a series of Downton Abbey where the servants leave the house and visit London. It may be fun to watch that happen, but it doesn't quite sit right. However, "The Greater Good" was a more promising example of the show's new itinerant nature, with some great woodland battles (were those trees real or greenscreen?) and a brilliant climactic set-piece inside a mine between the fugitives and Roman soldiers. The latter being a particularly good sequence because of the unexpected moment when Crixus (Manu Bennett) was captured while saving his rescued lover from harm.

Speaking of Crixus's girlfriend, it's a shame the show's been forced to recast Naevia (Cynthia Addai-Robinson replacing Lesley Ann-Brandt), although to be honest some of the supporting female characters blend together in my mind anyway. It doesn't help that we've technically spent two years away from this storyline, through no fault of anyone given the tragic circumstances. (Strange to see flashbacks of Blood & Sand scenes, redone with McIntyre and Addai-Robinson.) As for McIntyre? He's doing a decent job as the eponymous hero, given the fact it's hard to step into Whitfield's sandals, although I feel his performance lacks the raw edge of his predecessor. What McIntyre desperately needs is an iconic moment for fans to attach themselves to and remember fondly, but Vengeance hasn't delivered one for him yet, as the story doesn't feel as focused on Spartacus as one might expect.

Overall, I'm happier with Vengeance after seeing "The Greater Good", but I was far much more invested in Gods Of The Arena at this third-hour. I was also wondering if it's possible we've become desensitised to Spartacus, so it's not such a visceral thrill? There was a time when a CGI-blade being jabbed through someone's throat made me wince and gawp at the audacity (for the small-screen), but now I hardly bat an eyelid. At least the show's more significant instances of violence remain tethered to emotional issues happening between the characters (e.g. Oenomaus being flogged by his former pupil Ashur), and haven't become something things the writers throw in to keep bloodthirsty teenage boys happy.

Now we're a third of the way into this latest adventure, what are your current thoughts on Vengeance? Is the show improving steadily, or do you believe Spartacus has lost its mojo—either because of too many unfortunate changes to the cast, or the fact the story felt more creative when it was largely taking place in a cliffside building?

written by Brent Fletcher (2.2) & Tracy Bellomo (2.3) / directed by Jesse Warn (2.2) & Brendan Maher (2.3) / 6 & 13 February 2012 / Sky1

Review: SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE – "Fugitivus"

There are two yawning holes in this third year of Starz's Spartacus: John Hannah's joyously foulmouthed Batiatus, who was brutally slain in Blood & Sand's finale; and the show's eponymous lead Andy Whitfield, who sadly died of cancer last year. It's a rare and difficult task having to replace the protagonist of a show, but showrunner Steven S DeKnight's decision to recast Spartacus with Liam McIntyre is perhaps the best outcome of a tough situation. It helps that McIntyre resembles Whitfield, although it's obviously hard to accept him as the hero of this epic story after we've followed another actor for an entire season. The character may be the same, but the man is not. It will hopefully get easier to accept Whitfield's replacement the more McIntyre settles into this role and gains respect/admiration from his own performances. Hannah's loss could actually be a bigger problem, as there's absolutely no chance of a comeback for Batiatus (beyond the odd surprise flashback?), and his devious character was often more prominent than Spartacus. He was even given a prequel, Gods Of The Arena, largely to himself.

"Fugitivus" launches Vengeance in good form, although for a premiere it didn't feel as strong as Gods Of The Arena's launch. Maybe that's because there's so much here to adjust to; the loss of two major actors, the fact the story's gone cold during an unfortunate two-year wait, and how the show's expanded into an outside world it'll take some adjusting to. However, it certainly didn't hold back with the signature ultra-violence and nakedness to keep fans in no doubt which show they're watching: geysers of blood again erupting from fresh wounds, graphic sex sequences shown in lurid slow-motion, together with full frontal nudity from muscled men and big breasted women.

Away from all that titillation (don't watch this with your parents!), we caught up with the situation after Spartacus' rebellion from the House of Batiatus with his fellow slaves. They've since taken refuge in the sewers of Capua, surfacing only to slay Romans and terrorise the population with their unsettling near-mythical presence. Into this tense situation comes Glaber (Craig Parker), the man who sold Spartacus into slavery and later killed his wife, now promoted to Praetor in the Roman army, assigned to quash the rebellion and restore order to Capua's streets. Taking residence at the abandoned House of Batiatus with his nubile wife Ilithyia (Viva Bianca), they discover that Lucretia (Lucy Lawless) physically survived the uprising in her home, although she's mentally fragile and suffering partly from amnesia. Elsewhere, Oenomaus (Peter Mensah), the now disgraced trainer of the mutinous gladiators, is trying to keep a low profile in the city, knowing there's a bounty on his head.

In terms of laying down firm foundations for this series, "Fugitivus" achieves its aims well enough. There's already a sense that the gladiators aren't quite so unified around Spartacus, as Crixus (Manu Bennett) is particularly anxious to ditch their plan and go find his beloved slave girl Naevia (who was banished from the ludus before the revolt), while others just aren't accustomed to working as an organised group and often question their leadership. Despite how the show has broadened away from its ludus/arena backdrop, it's still oddly comforting when the House of Batiatus is returned to and a typically violent fight at the Capua arena plays out. Hopefully this show will make its new locations feels as iconic, as it may not be wise to venture out into the countryside too often—given the obviousness of the greenscreens at times. (Don't get me wrong, the show does a remarkable job on a comparatively low budget, but it can't quite turn in 300-style exteriors every single week.)

Overall, as a big fan of the two previous seasons, I'm looking forward to seeing where the show takes us. One of the best things about Spartacus is how it pays off everything it sets up, and isn't afraid to dole out gut-wrenching death and pain to characters you come to really like. It may have the surface of a live-action video game crossed with European soft porn, but there's also a playful sense of dark humour and some very charismatic people around. Throw in some of TV's most creative outbursts of archaic profanity, eye-opening violence (bones snap through flesh, knives jab through necks), plus some genuinely shocking twists, and you still have one of the most entertaining shows around right now. I just hope Vengeance has a story arc that proves as engrossing as Blood & Sand's became, develops the new characters into worthy replacements for the fallen ones, and McIntyre wins over fans to prove he's Spartacus.

written by Steven S DeKnight / directed by Michael Hurst / 27 January 2012 / Starz

Dan's Most Anticipated TV Shows of early-2012

Who cares about what was good or disappointing about television in 2011? That's all in the past now, so let's move on. 2012! A shiny new year, full of old favourites and exciting newcomers. Below I pick my 11 Most Anticipated TV Shows of the new year period (Jan/Feb), so be sure to keep an eye out for the following on your screens:

11. Mad Dogs

(Sky1, 19 Jan) I'm in two minds about this show's return. I really loved half of series 1's four episodes, but felt the story tailed off sharply and didn't end well. Even worse, I didn't expect and still don't understand why Mad Dogs is coming back, because the story didn't seem to demand it. So I'm intrigued to see what they have planned in this second year, and if some lessons will have been learned from before. If nothing else, the great cast (John Simm, Philip Glenister, Marc Warren, Max Beesley) should be worth watching as the four childhood friends having a terrible time in paradise.

10. Smash

(NBC, 6 Feb) As Glee gets more ridiculous and repetitive, drowning in its own self-righteous silliness and celebrity cameos, will this brand new musical drama steal some of its thunder? I doubt it, because Smash is a very different beast, but maybe there are some disillusioned Glee fans who are craving something more substantial and dramatic. This song-and-dance drama, about the making of a Broadway show based on Marilyn Monroe's life, should be worth a few hours of your precious time.

9. Eternal Law

(ITV1, 5 Jan) A brand new fantasy drama from the writers behind Life On Mars and Ashes To Ashes, which is reason enough to be excited. (Unfortunately they also did renowned flop Bonekickers, so there are no guarantees.) Eternal Law concerns two heavenly angels, Zak and Tom, who are working as lawyers in modern-day York and use their abilities to influence the community around them in a positive way. Will this be a mawkish Highway To Heaven-style courtroom drama? I have no idea, but it should be worth finding out.

8. Luck

(HBO, 29 Jan) A drama written by David Milch (Deadwood), with a pilot directed by Michael Mann (Heat), starring Dustin Hoffman in his first TV role. Those facts alone guarantee many people will be tuning into this horse racing drama, but it remains to be seen if this equine underworld and its granite-faced characters will charm viewers into going the distance. But can you really refuse anything that co-stars Nick Nolte, Ian Hart, Dennis Farina and Michael Gambon?

7. Justified

(FX, 17 Jan) The third season of Justified will hopefully build on the brilliant second, now the writers have found a great balance between telling standalone stories while keeping an eye on an larger story arc. Great performances from Timothy Olyphant and Walton Goggins, who are joined this year by the beautiful Carla Gugino as a U.S Marshall Assistant Director (an actress who's no stranger to the work of author Elmore Leonard, having starred in Karen Sisco).

6. Being Human

(BBC Three, TBA) This will be a difficult series of the supernatural drama, given the departure of Aidan Turner (as tortured vampire Mitchell) and the knowledge that Russell Tovey's werewolf George is also leaving. Creator Toby Whithouse has his work cutout introducing a more urbane vampire to the group dynamic (played by Irishman Damien Moloney), and it remains to be seen if fans will accept the coming changes. Might it be best to end the show and let fans embrace the fluffier US remake? Maybe, but I'm very interested to see if Being Human can keep its audience as 66% of the original cast leave for pastures new.

5. Touch

(Fox, 25 Jan) It's Kiefer Sutherland's return to TV after 24, in a brand new sci-fi mystery series from the creator of Heroes. The setup is very simple: Sutherland plays the father of an autistic/mute boy who is able to predict various disasters, which he then has to prevent. It doesn't sound very original, but you can't deny the potential for some exciting case-of-the-week stories as father and son save the day together. The test here will be finding ways to stop the formula becoming too irritating. At least it's only been given a half-season order, so it stands a better chance of not outstaying its welcome.

4. The River

(ABC, 7 Feb) Horror is the big thing on television right now, following the success of True Blood and American Horror Story (we'll forget the unjust failure of the brilliant Harper's Island). What makes The River so anticipated is its unique-for-television format: a documentary-style affair similar to The Blair Witch Project, about the search for a famous explorer who goes missing in the Amazon. Six months later, the man's family go on a search to uncover what happened to him, joined by a documentary filmmaker, and discover supernatural goings-on. From the director of Paranormal Activity and a writer of Millennium, The River has the potential to be something really gripping.

3. Alcatraz

(Fox , 16 Jan) The latest project from JJ Abrams' Bad Robot production company, Alcatraz could go either way. The concept sounds great for a movie (prisoners from "The Rock" all go missing one night in the past, only to reappear in the modern-day), but can a TV series sustain that idea and keep audiences interested? It's hard to see how the writers will keep this rolling for years (can't they just interrogate their first recaptured fugitive for answers?), but I'm willing to give anything with Abrams' name attached the benefit of the doubt. Even if he's not actually very hands-on with these shows, day to day.

2. Spartacus: Vengeance

(Starz, 27 Jan) The first true sequel to Spartacus: Blood & Sand, after last year's brilliant prequel, Vengeance sees the show painting on a much bigger canvas. The budget is bigger, meaning the show can take the gladiators beyond the confines of the Capua arena and their training camp, out into the wider world. The big uncertainty is if Liam McIntyre will prove to be a fitting replacement for the late Andy Whitfield in the title role, but I see no reason to be concerned from the trailers. He looks very similar (which helps) and appears to have the same kind of charisma. Expect more ultra-violence, sex, politics, tragedy, nudity, double-crosses, gore, swearing, death and mutilation. I can't think of many shows that are so relentlessly fun and entertaining.

1. Sherlock

(BBC One, 1 Jan) The long-awaited return of the BBC's Sherlock Holmes update, with Benedict Cumberbatch back as the world's greatest sleuth and Martin Freeman as amiable colleague Dr Watson. It's been 18-months since series 1's cliffhanger, and what's exciting about series 2 is that co-creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss have chosen to adapt Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous stories: the one with Irene Adler ("A Scandal In Bohemia"), the one with a beast prowling the moors ("The Hound Of The Baskervilles"), and the one where Sherlock confronts his arch-nemesis Moriarty ("The Final Problem"). With three of the best stories to hand, if Sherlock maintains its sense of visual style, wit and inventiveness, I think we already have a very early contender for Best TV Show of 2012...

Dan's Top 10 TV Shows of 2011

2011's nearly over, so it's time for my traditional end-of-year Top 10 list. Below you'll find my 10 favourite television shows (drama/comedy) that aired the majority of their episodes in 2011.

Rules:

• Given the aforementioned "majority rule", my list can include US dramas that actually started in Sep-Dec 2010, provided they finished around Apr-Jun 2011. If a TV show aired 50% of its season in 2011, it counts.
• This list is my subjective opinion, with results drawn from the TV shows I happened to watch over the past year or so. I don't doubt there were brilliant shows I missed that deserved a place here, or shows I didn't stick with long enough to watch them improve and deserve inclusion, but my Top 10 is purely based on what I saw from beginning to end, on either a US or UK schedule.

And now, the list...

10. Boardwalk Empire

(Season 2) It's fair to say Boardwalk Empire's first season, while brilliant in many ways, had definite storytelling problems. The biggest being its slothful pace and difficulty to make audiences care about many of the characters and events. I'm so pleased the writers took stock of the situation and made clever changes this year, which led to a far more satisfying and rewarding drama. It was easier to understand what was going on, character's allegiances were much clearer, there was more emphasis on stirring action, it contained truly brutal violence (a scalping and garroting proved particularly memorable), the brilliant Michael Kenneth Williams was given more to do as the clenched Chalky White, new characters were introduced who worked nicely (like Charlie Cox's beguiling-yet-ruthless IRA hitman), and the excellent Jack Huston was afford extra opportunities to give depth to his facially-disfigured character Richard Harrow. It's still not the crown jewel HBO wants it to be, but the writers' confidence is growing and things are taking shape. HBO / SKY ATLANTIC (premiere review)

9. Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena

Prequels have earned a bad reputation on the big screen, but Spartacus: Gods Of The Arena showed how to do one very well on the small-screen. The fact this miniseries only came to exist because the late Andy Whitfield was diagnosed with cancer is amazing, because it's far from the lazy placeholder it could have been. Over a lean, mean half-dozen episodes, Gods introduced a few new characters and provided juicy back-story for the old favourites. There's nothing deep about Spartacus, but it's also far from the mindless, bloodthirsty spectacle it appears to be at first glance. I like things that feel very unique, and despite influences from many different sources (particularly the appropriation of 300's visual style), there's nothing else on television like Spartacus. It's irreverent, violent, sexy, shocking, and usually provides more raw drama in an hour than other shows manage in a whole season. While it's on, there's few other shows I'm more excited to sit down and watch. STARZ / SKY1 (review archive)

8. Justified

(Season 2) Yet another improvement this year was Justified, which realised its serialised stories were of greater appeal than most of the standalones, so course-corrected for its second season. This year had more of an ongoing story involving a criminal family led by Mags (Margo Martindale in Emmy-winning form), and the way the story built over time led to very impressive and dramatic payoff in the latter-third. The show proved it didn't have to keep relying on Timothy Olyphant's charisma and swagger as Raylen Givens, as the writers found firm and convincing ways to expand the show. FX / FIVE USA (premiere review)

7. Doctor Who

(Series 6) Here's the thing with Doctor Who: even when it has a weak year in some ways, it remains one of the most entertaining and appealing sci-fi shows around. There's just such a lot of heart and passion on display it's wonderful to just sit back and let it rinse your brain. Most of the episodes not written by Steven Moffat felt redundant this year (a fault of the decision to make series 6 more serialised than ever before), but a few were perhaps the most memorable—like Neil Gaiman's outstanding "The Doctor's Wife". The storytelling was epic this year, but not always handled in a satisfyingly way, with too much emphasis on the interminable River Song mystery. There was also concern from fans who started to think Moffat's tenure is too scary/complex for younger minds. The debate rages on, but it's probably worth mentioning that Douglas Adams once claimed Doctor Who should be "simple enough for adults and complicated enough for children". Anyway, I think a bigger problem is that Moffat enjoys biting off more than he can chew, and adores the challenge of getting himself out of narrative corners. When he manages it with aplomb, there's nothing more cathartic and joyful to watch unfold... but when he doesn't, the feeling of disappointment can really sting. Series 6 overreached, but I'm glad it's aiming for the stars. BBC1 / BBC AMERICA (review archive)

6. Fringe

(Season 3) The season that stopped trying to appeal to newcomers and instead aimed to please and delight the fanbase, Fringe's third season was a fantastic example of a show finding its voice in maturity. By slitting the show between two universes, it gained depth and intrigue on two fronts, and simultaneously allowed the actors to explore alternate versions of their existing characters. Anna Torv bloomed before our eyes because she was finally given the material she clearly craved as "Fauxlivia", and the show galloped through its year having a great deal of fun with its hard sci-fi premises. The only reason Fringe isn't slightly higher on my list is because the final batch of episodes floundered to some extent, and setup an idea that's proven to be problematic in season 4, but its breathtaking first half makes it a worthy chart entry. FOX / SKY1 (review archive)

5. Louie

(Season 2) This micro-budget comedy from US comedian Louie C.K is one of the best things on TV because there's just so much creative freedom on show. FX have such a low financial stake that ratings don't matter quite so much, so Louie can create a quasi-autobiographical world that pushes the boundaries of what people expect from a comedy... even a black comedy. Bookended by footage of his stand-up, each episode is like a fantastic indie movie that isn't afraid to challenge various conventions. It's Curb Your Enthusiasm with added piss and vinegar. The second season was a huge improvement on the first, covering such things as Louie's racist great aunt, having sex with Joan Rivers, the shocking decapitation of a homeless man, a defence of masturbation, the suicide of a fellow comedian, a trip to Afghanistan to perform for the troops, and a wonderful twist on the rom-com cliché of the "airport farewell". FX

4. Game Of Thrones

(Season 1) It took time to warm up and for audiences to get to grips with the sheer abundance of characters, but HBO's Game Of Thrones became must-see television by its sixth episode. Readers of George R.R Martin's books were in heaven much earlier, of course, which is a benefit of already knowing these characters and the fictional realm of Westeros. For newcomers, it took some faith to get through hours of what appeared to be a glum and magic-free Lord Of The Rings. But I'm glad I stuck with it, as the second half was so much stronger and included some of 2011's most jaw-dropping TV moments (including the untimely death of a very significant character). Perhaps the best thing about Thrones is the feeling that season 2 can only get better, now that the exposition's been dealt with and we're fully immersed in these characters' lives, with a real understanding of what makes them all tick. HBO / SKY ATLANTIC (pilot review)

3. Community

(Season 2) The absolute best comedy on television, no question, but I'm speaking as someone who gets most of its references. The problem Community has is that it' plays to the geeks very blatantly, as those people are on the same wavelength as the people writing the scripts, and the TV-obsessed character of Abed (Danny Pudi). It must look like bright, zany gibberish to anyone who doesn't know RoboCop's Prime Directives or what a Vogon is, but I was pleased this show refused to become more accessible to the masses. Just like Fringe's third year, Dan Harmon's team decided to amplify everything fans enjoyed about season 1, which meant more in-jokes and feverish pop-culture creativity. What other TV shows does a Tarantino special that owes more to '80s arthouse darling Dinner With Andre? Or could make a tense and exciting episode from people sat around a table playing Dragons & Dungeons? Or goes to the trouble of making a fake "clip show"? Or has the gumption and budget to produce a fully stop-motion animated Christmas special? Only Community. NBC (review archive)

2. Homeland

(Season 1) This was on my radar for 2011 given its compelling premise and inclusion of so many former-24 writers, but I never expected Homeland to be quite so brilliant. Based on an Israeli series called Prisoners Of War, this cable series told the story of an American PoW rescued from Iraq and flown home to be with his family, who comes under suspicion from a committed CIA operative of being a brainwashed terrorist now working for the people who captured him. Beautifully acted by Claire Danes and Damian Lewis, with fine support from Mandy Patinkin and David Harewood, Homeland kept the plot moving in a plausible and invigorating way, while refusing to treat the audiences like idiots. The "thinking man's 24" is a phrase I've used a lot to describe this show, but that's exactly what it is. The perfect spy thriller for the Obama era. SHOWTIME (review archive)

1. Breaking Bad

(Season 4) How do you follow a third season that was showered with Emmy nominations? You make a better season, that's how. I know some people had concerns about its measured pace for the first five episodes, and others didn't like how Walt (Bryan Cranston) wasn't quite the centre of the Breaking Bad universe this year, but I had no real complaints. Unlike the terrific third season, this year kept building and building every week, until it exploded with a run of four-star episodes all the way to the staggering finale. Of particular note was Giancarlo Esposito's magnificent performance as druglord Gus, who brought a startling amount of depth and magnetism to his larger role on the show. But, really, everything was firing on all cylinders. Even the show's female characters were given better material, particularly in the first half of the year. Plus, without spoiling anything, this season contained one of the most astonishing and indelible images I saw on TV all year, which is almost reason enough to put this incredible show in my #1 spot for the second year running. AMC (review archive)

Honourable mentions, alphabetically: Being Human (series 3), Black Mirror, Fresh Meat (series 1), The Good Wife (season 2), Luther (series 2), Strike Back (series 2) & This Is England '88.

What do you think? In the comments below, free to grumble about my picks, leave your own alternative Top 10s, or suggest a few small-screen gems that I missed.

RIP: Andy Whitfield (1972-2011)

I'm saddened by the news that Spartacus: Blood & Sand star Andy Whitfield passed away yesterday "in the arms of his loving wife", having lost his battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The 39-year-old Welsh-born actor's only known for that one TV role, totaling just 13 episodes, but he left an unforgettable impression as the Thracian warrior sold into slavery.

Despite having come to acting in his late-30s, I'm sure Whitfield's career would have blossomed under different circumstances, as he brought a natural charisma and grace to what could have been a rather one-dimensional role.

Chris Albrecht, Starz CEO:

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of our dear friend and colleague. We were fortunate to have worked with Andy in Spartacus and came to know that the man who played a champion on-screen was also a champion in his own life. Andy was an inspiration to all of us as he faced this very personal battle with courage, strength and grace."

Steven DeKnight, Spartacus showrunner:

"No words to express the depth of such a loss. You will be deeply missed, my brother."

Norman Buckley, Spartacus director:

"So sad about Andy Whitfield. But a lesson--there are no guarantees. Every moment is precious. Life is a gift."

Lucy Lawless, Spartacus co-star:

"Obviously, Andy Whitfield left an indelible mark on all of us in the Spartacus family. He was a gentle man who never said a bad word about anyone, a gifted photographer, engineer (no really!) and a brilliant actor. Andy's incandescent film presence made men want to be him and women want to marry him. Andy's two babies will always know that their Daddy cherished them and their mother, Vashti, above all things. How lucky we were to have him grace all our lives. Godspeed, Andy!"

Spartacus returns next year with Liam McIntyre in the title role, having already replaced Whitfield with his predecessor's blessing. I'm sure McIntyre's performance will honour Whitfield's turn, but it's a shame the original Spartacus couldn't have continued this on-screen journey.

Andy Whitfield is survived by his two children and wife.

Trailer: SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE

Most sequels aspire to be bigger and better, and that certainly appears to be true of Spartacus: Vengeance if this NSFW trailer from Starz is to be believed. Liam McIntyre already feels like a worthy replacement for Andy Whitfield as hero Spartacus, the action's as ludicrously blood-soaked as we've come to expect, some fan-favourite characters are back for more (Lucretia, Ilithyia, Gannicus), and most impressively the show looks three times bigger than its predecessors because the rebel gladiators are out on the road.

I'm very excited about this show's return, knowing how magnificently entertaining and shocking it can be, how about you?

SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE returns to Starz in January 2012.

Comic-Con 2011 panels: DEXTER, FRINGE, SPARTACUS, TORCHWOOD, TRUE BLOOD & THE WALKING DEAD

San Diego Comic-Con is winding down for another year. I'm sure most of you have been watching and reading the coverage online in some capacity, but I thought I'd embed a few videos of various panels that are relevant to DMD's own coverage. Below are the panels for Dexter, Fringe, Spartacus, True Blood, Torchwood and The Walking Dead. Most were filmed using the "wobbly-cam" that's all the rage, so the quality's not great, but I commend Starz for ensuring their Spartacus panel was professionally recorded in its entirety. (You can click through the subsequent "parts" of each video via YouTube.)

A few more panels may be added soon, when they become available. But in the meantime: enjoy!

Trailers: SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE & THE WALKING DEAD, season 2 (Comic-Con)

Starz apparently showed a fantastic trailer for Spartacus: Vengeance at Comic-Con yesterday, but that hasn't hit the internet yet. But we do have the briefer tease (above), which gives you an idea of the increased scale of production in season 2 (horse-riding sequences set against greenscreen will be achieved), plus our first look at Liam McIntyre (replacing Andy Whitfield as the eponymous Thracian warrior).

McIntyre, speaking at Comic-Con:

"It's a great privilege, a great honor, it's a great responsibility. I was a fan. I would have been sitting down there [in the audience]. All of a sudden, I find myself sitting up here. Everyone can agree Andy [Whitfield] was amazing. The best thing I can do is bust my ass and honor that legacy trying to make season 2 as amazingly as exciting as season 1. And that's all I can do."

The Comic-Con panel, which included showrunner Steven S. DeKnight, also confirmed the return of Ashur and that the story will cleave close to how Stanley Kubrick's movie version ended.

SPARTACUS: VENGEANCE returns to Starz in January 2012.

Comic-Con also gave us a four-minute trailer for The Walking Dead's second season, which certainly looks promising. I didn't really like the first season, which fell flat for me after an entertaining feature-length pilot. Showrunner Frank Darabont has apparently recruited a team of writers who are actually fans of the comic-book now, so I hope that means there'll be more passion on display. Last year's was almost excruciatingly earnest and lacked a sense of pace, rhythm, and... well, enough zombies biting people.

I still have my doubts about The Walking Dead, though. I think there's an audience who will watch anything with zombies in it, those people number greatly, and there's no alternative for them on TV. This will be a hit whatever it does. But for me, I didn't really like any of the characters, and because I can't see a plausible solution for a zombie apocalypse, a TV series of this nature has a constant feeling of futility and depression. A zombie movie can be brilliant if depressing, but you're done with it in two-hours. The Walking Dead could be on-air for another five years or more. By the time Andrew Lincoln's blasting a corpse in the head for the sixtieth time, I'm just not sure I'll care, but we'll see if season 2 manages to change my mind. At least from the trailer it looks like the characters are on the move, instead of hanging around that tedious mountain camp.

THE WALKING DEAD returns to AMC on 16 October.

Competition Winner: 'Spartacus: B&S' DVD!

Last week, I held a competition to win a copy of Spartacus: Blood & Sand on Region 1 DVD. This competition was only open to US residents, with the prize kindly provided by Direct Choice Satellite.

The question posed was: In which Italian city do the events of Spartacus: Blood & sand mainly take place? The answer was (a) Capua.

The winner, chosen at random from the correct entries received, is Sonia Rojas from Texas. Congratulations, Sonia! Your Spartacus DVD box-set will be shipped later this week, courtesy of Direct Choice Satellite.

Competition: WIN 'Spartacus: Blood & Sand' DVD

I have a box-set of the action-packed gladiatorial series Spartacus: Blood & Sand to giveaway on Region 1 DVD, courtesy of Direct Choice Satellite, an authorized retailer of DirecTV packages.

SPARTACUS: BLOOD & SAND is a stylized story based on historical truth, about a Thracian warrior sold into slavery to fight as a gladiator. As "Spartacus" adjusts to a life of violent servitude, only the hope of reuniting with his beloved wife keeps his spirit alive, before the desire to lead a rebellion begins to fill his heart. The Starz Original Series stars Andy Whitfield, John Hannah, Lucy Lawless, Manu Bennett & Peter Mensah.

This competition is only open to residents of the United States of America. To be in with a chance of winning this popular Starz cable series on DVD, just answer the question below:

In which Italian city do the events of Spartacus: Blood & Sand mostly take place?

(a) Capua
(b) Rome
(c) Verona

To enter, simply e-mail your answer to me, marking your entry "Spartacus" somewhere in the subject header. Failure to do so may result in your e-mail being misplaced. You must also include your full name and a valid US address for delivery.

This competition closes on Saturday 14 May @12PM EST. All entries received after that time will be discounted, as will entries from non-US residents. The winner will be chosen at random and announced shortly afterwards.

A list of Terms & Conditions can be read here. If you have any questions, please leave them as a comment below.