As we head to the end of the year its a time of lists and here are my top 10 of media I've experienced this year. First of all a caveat that some of the following isn't from this year, I've only just got around to some of it this year. Honourable mentions go to No Rolls Barred coverage of Blood on the Clocktower, The Traitors which despite being must see TV had a nasty feeling to the end, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice which was an unexpected hit with me, Drunk Women Solving Crime which maintained a stupidly high standard, Once and Future which is a Big Finish mini series celebrating Doctor Who's 60th Anniversary.
11. Fallout - yes I'm creating an extra space because I can't not have this in my list. Never has a film / TV show based on a video game made me want to replay the game so much. As well as having the budget to do it justice the plot was wonderful nicely subverting the game and I can't wait for more.
10. Goth Opera - an audio adaption of the first ever book from the Missing Adventure range from Doctor Who. Nicely taking me back to the wilderness years of the 90s when fandom was obsessed with the Stone Roses.
9. Wicked - the hit film of the year and in "Defying Gravity" possibly the best celluloid adaption of a musical song.
8. Wrestling - AEW's build up to All In including a live taping of Dynamite in Cardiff was my high point but WWE's TV product was on a high point this year that it may never reach again.
7. Hairspray - saw the musical at the Millennium Centre and it was a brilliant production of one of the best musicals.
6. Red Dead Redemption 2 - never have I been so wrapped up in the plot of a game and had so many opinions about non playable characters. An absolutely brilliant game that pulls you into the final days of the old west.
5. Game of Thrones : Steel and Snow - my favourite book that I've read this year and a world you can lose yourself in for months.
4. The Witcher 3 - is it the best game ever? I don't know but its a game you can lose yourself in for hours at a time, have a fun session and not even touch the main plot. A truly brilliant game that I finished early in the year.
3. Squeeze - a late booking due to another act cancelling but a fun gig with a good supporting act.
2. Critical Role Campaign 3 - after being told about it for years I finally dived into campaign three and am loving it. Highlights are Matthew Mercers world building and Travis Willingham trying to develop a character that was blatantly only meant to last for a few episodes.
1. The Great - my highlight of TV this year, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, set in the court of Catherine the Great this has been my favourite show of the last decade. Wrapping up after three seasons the third and final season was a thing of delight. A plot and cast that kept me watching, some of the best laughs I've seen and a moment at the half way point which sent the show spiralling to a wonderful end.
