25 TV Performances From 2018 That We Can't Stop Talking About

From Villanelle’s iconic pink dress to Eve telling Villanelle that she thinks about her constantly, Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer gave us some iconic TV moments this year. While Sandra may have received the groundbreaking Emmy nomination, the most memorable Killing Eve episodes were rooted in the dynamic Sandra and Jodie created on screen. Eve wouldn’t exist without Villanelle and vice versa.

It’s very rare that you care for every single character in a TV show, but this year, The Haunting of Hill House gifted us with that rare occurrence. Every single actor gave a spellbinding performance and proved how important the relationships between all the characters were. These actors helped turn a horror TV show into a believable story about grief and family.

Playing a villain in Season 8 of a beloved TV show is no easy task, but Cody Fern did it so well that we’re sad to see the character of Michael Langdon go. His ability to hold his own in scenes with Jessica Lange and Sarah Paulson was a testament to how talented he is. Michael may be gone, but we hope Cody continues to be part of the AHS family.

Not only did Sarah Paulson direct one of the best episodes of TV this year, but she managed to bring back AHS: Coven’s beloved Cordelia in a fresh and exciting way. Plus, this is Sarah Paulson, so she also played two other characters flawlessly.

The. Crock. Pot. This Is Us didn’t slow down during Season 2 and seeing how Jack died only made us cry harder. While Milo Ventimiglia perfectly played Jack’s heroic nature in his final hours, it was Mandy Moore’s heartbreaking portrayal of Rebecca’s grief that made this a memorable performance.

While the cast as a whole is extraordinary, William Jackson Harper’s role as Chidi particularly stuck with us this year. From his romantic relationship with Eleanor to his shirtless moment, William Jackson Harper made us laugh and fall in love with Chidi’s adorableness all over again.

One Day At A Time continues to be one of the best comedy series currently airing, but this year, Justina Machado took the show to new heights. While her comedic timing continued to be impeccable, it was the episode where Penelope dealt with her depression that was truly remarkable. Justina perfectly captured Penelope’s highs and lows.

For her first major acting role, Eliza Scanlen did not disappoint. Amma was the evil character you couldn’t help but love this TV season. Eliza’s ability to stand out during scenes with both Amy Adams and Patricia Clarkson only solidified what an incredible performance she gave this year.

The cast of Elite reminded us how incredible teen TV can be. This series wouldn’t have worked without the incredible ensemble dynamic the actors created in each episode. You not only understood each character’s motivations alone, but their relationships with each other were unmatchable.

A lesser-known series this year, Sorry For Your Loss worked because of Elizabeth’s ability to showcase every stage of grief. Even more impressive were the wordless moments where Elizabeth conveyed everything Leigh was feeling with just a single look.

In a show filled with demons, it’s the human moments between the characters that make Wynonna Earp a great TV show. Melanie continued to perfect Wynonna’s witty humor, while Dominique took the usually light and bubbly Waverly to some dark and emotional places effortlessly. However, it was Wynonna and Waverly’s sisterly bond and the raw moments between Melanie and Dominique that left us utterly speechless this year.

In Season 4 of Schitt’s Creek, Moira was ecstatic to learn that the internet thought she was dead and that was just the beginning of Catherine O’Hara’s hilarious season. With every season, Moira continues to be one of the funniest parts of Schitt’s Creek and this year was no exception. This is our official plea for a Catherine O’Hara Emmy nomination in 2019.

Atlanta continued to be one of the best TV series of 2018 and we have Donald Glover, Brian Tyree Henry, and Keith Stanfield to thank for it. Not only did the trio continue to work flawlessly together, but their individual characters excelled in more ways than one. We’re in awe of all the talent packed into this single series still.

A character that is usually the life of the party, Xiomara had to navigate the harsh reality of being ill, and it was brutal to watch. Andrea Navedo’s work alongside Gina Rodriguez and Ivonne Coll further proved how powerful the female dynamics on this show are.

A series that flew under the radar for a majority of its run, The Americans gave us memorable performances from both Matthew Rhys and Keri Russell right until the end. In the series finale, Keri delivered two heartbreaking, and almost wordless, performances, while Matthew proved time and time again why he deserved his Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Drama.

D’Arcy Carden continued to be amazing this entire year on The Good Place, but her defining moment came in the Season 3 mid-season finale. When Eleanor, Chidi, Tahani, and Jason are sucked into Janet’s void, D’Arcy played each character flawlessly. She had every mannerism of each actor down in an Orphan Black-like tour de force.

Richard Madden quickly made us forget about his memorable role as Robb Stark in Game of Thrones with just a single episode of Bodyguard. While the entire season showcased Richard’s incredible talent to command a scene, the season finale in particular when David had to negotiate for his life after a bomb was strapped to him left us speechless.

Madam Satan was equal parts evil and hilarious in Chilling Adventures of Sabrina and that’s what made her so damn great. Michelle Gomez brought the same passion that she brought to Doctor Who to this role and we loved every single second of it. Honestly, Madam Satan’s takedown of the patriarchy was a highlight of the year.