Pop culture had a huge year in 2012, from movies such as the massive release of The Avengers to international pop-music sensations like Psy’s smash hit “Gangnam Style.” Of course, there were equally memorable offerings from the world of television too.
Scandal (2012–18)
Political thriller Scandal follows Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), a fixer at the head of her own crisis management firm in Washington D.C., as she navigates the circles both within her company and at the White House.
Created by Shonda Rhimes (who also acted as writer and executive producer), Scandal became known over its seven-season run for the complexity of its central character as well as its plot twists and sometimes soap-like drama with high stakes, all making for compelling viewing with Pope at its center.
The Legend Of Korra (2012–14)
A sequel to Avatar: The Last Airbender, Nicklodeon’s The Legend of Korra tells the story of Avatar Korra, successor to The Last Airbender’s Aang, as she develops her abilities amongst the shifting landscape of her world.
As it aired, Korra received critical acclaim, not only for its writing and themes, but also for its indication of a romantic relationship between Korra and Asami in its final episode, which became a groundbreaking moment for LGBTQ+ representation in children’s TV. Balancing comedy and drama, some of the most rewatchable Legend Of Korra episodes are emotional yet satisfying.
The Mindy Project (2012–17)
Created by and starring Mindy Kaling in the titular role, The Mindy Project is a romantic sitcom that centers on OB-GYN Mindy Lahiri.
Arrow (2012–20)
The show that launched the Arrowverse shared universe, Arrow is a superhero show that tells the story of billionaire Oliver Queen (Stephen Amell), who returns to his home 5 years after a supposed shipwreck, and begins fighting crime as a vigilante.
Aside from the show’s success leading to the development of others like The Flash, Arrow has also received praise for its action sequences, tone, and intriguing characters, notable for including moments when Oliver Queen acted like a villain, showcasing the many-layered protagonist to great effect.
Gravity Falls (2012–16)
Disney’s Gravity Falls is a comedic mystery cartoon following Pine twins Dipper and Mabel as they spend time with their Grunkle (great-uncle) Stan in the town of Gravity Falls.
Once there, the twins discover that there’s more than meets the eye to the town, and begin to uncover its mysteries, helped along by a cryptic journal they find. The show has been noted as a cartoon series adults shouldn’t ignore for its sense of humor, mythology, and detailed attention to cultural references, with heartwarming characters for all to enjoy.
Key & Peele (2012–15)
Created by and starring titular comedians Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele, comedy sketch show Key & Peele is made up of skits of varying lengths, sometimes introduced by the pair in a studio setting.
Over its 5 seasons the sketches covered a wide variety of topics, from breaking down racial stereotypes to pop culture insights, and the show employed the use of guest stars with great success. The show won two Primetime Emmy Awards during its run, and Key reprised his recurring role of Luther, President Obama’s “anger translator”, at the White House Correspondents Dinner in 2015.
Chicago Fire (2012–present)
The first show in what would become the Chicago series, Chicago Fire features workers of the Chicago Fire Department and their families in the city as they juggle their jobs with the complications of their personal lives.
Veep (2012–19)
Veep is a show that covers both a comedy and political satire, from the perspective of protagonist Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and her staff as they navigate life in D.C. and attempt to instigate change.
With sharp yet hilarious insight into the games and office politics of life in and around the White House, Veep remained critically acclaimed throughout its run, most evident perhaps for Louis-Dreyfus, who won at the Primetime Emmys a record-breaking 6 consecutive times in the Lead Actress in a Comedy Series category.
Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure (2012–present)
Though its English air-dates began in 2016, the first part of Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure was released a decade ago in Japan, bringing Hirohiko Araki’s long-running manga to the screen.
Following members of the Joestar family, Jojo’s tells the story of their intergenerational conflict with supernatural enemies. Critical reception to the adaption has grown more positive as the story has progressed, but there are still plenty of reasons to not skip Part One, which shows the origins of antagonist Dio Brando in its trademark style.
Elementary (2012–19)
There have been countless adaptations of Sherlock Holmes stories, but Elementary stands out both for its modernization of the character and its re-imagination of Watson as a woman.
Elementary was well received for its approach to the source material, and the dynamic it developed between Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) and Watson (Lucy Liu), as well as the impact its setting of New York City had on the story. Later introductions of iconic Sherlock figures like Moriarty (Natalie Dormer) also contributed to the show’s 7-season success.
