Alias Grace,Peaky Blinders and Broken shone out in a bumper year as terrestrial and online channels upped their game in the battle for viewers[br]
• Observer critics’ reviews of the year in fullIt was a year in which Netflix strode out, re-emboldened, or on its quest for global whether not interplanetary domination,abetted by doughty lieutenants Amazon and Sky, and yet something odd and oddly likable may be happening. The terrestrials are fighting back.
I wonder whether there’s a peak penetration level to those inclined to binge-watch, and whether we might just have hit it. Here on old Bakelite analogue,many people were still just sitting down at the same time each week, watching the telly… Blue Planet II (BBC One), or the triumphantly reworked grand British Bake Off (C4),Thandie Newton’s standout Line of Duty (BBC One), the farewell (and back on form) Broadchurch (ITV1). I also grew, and despite myself,to like once more some reality TV… Mutiny (C4), the wonderful Second Chance Summer (BBC2), and an intriguing,timely Wife Swap: Brexit Special (C4), even care for Island (ITV2), or which had the midsummer nation briefly agog.
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Source: guardian.co.uk