Contributor: Paul Asay

Paul Asay has been part of the Plugged In staff since 2007, watching and reviewing roughly 15 quintillion movies and television shows. He’s written for a number of other publications, too, including Time, The Washington Post and Christianity Today. The author of several books, Paul loves to find spirituality in unexpected places, including popular entertainment, and he loves all things superhero. His vices include James Bond films, Mountain Dew and terrible B-grade movies. He’s married, has two children and a neurotic dog, runs marathons on occasion and hopes to someday own his own tuxedo. Feel free to follow him on Twitter @AsayPaul.

Top Television 2020: Plugged In’s Year-End Picks

Let’s dive into Plugged In’s highly subjective list of the top five TV shows that we reviewed in 2020.

And older brother and little brother exchange a high five in the older one's dorm room.

Safety

Safety continues a strong tradition found in Disney’s film catalog—that of the inspirational sports movie.

Two girls are surrounded by curious animated wolves in a forest.

Wolfwalkers

Artistically and aesthetically, Wolfwalkers wows. But theologically, it has some issues.

The Plugged In Show, Episode 55: I’m (Not) Dreaming of a COVID Christmas

Long before it was required, good old Scrooge was a master at social distancing.

A man and woman walk arm in arm on a resort beach.

All My Life

All My Life, as a romance, may work for some. And as I mentioned, it could’ve been worse. But I left with little love for this love story.

We see a man walking on an Hollywood set, the image in black and white.

Mank

Mank illustrates that it’s not just the superficial content that can make a film problematic. Often, issues are hardboiled into the story, too.

A fairy godmother waves her wand next to an amazed woman.

Godmothered

Godmothered is a light, sweet and wry movie, the latest to gently reexamine Disney’s legend-spinning archetypes.

The World’s Biggest Entertainment Franchise Has a Very Small Star

It was a big week for Baby Yoda. Not only did the little guy spend time on a new planet in Disney+’s The Mandalorian, but his show was named the top entertainment franchise on this one.

A teen girl rubs a horse's nose.

Black Beauty (2020)

The heroes here—both human and animal—remind us that when times get tough, perseverance can spur toward a brighter tomorrow.

Two men and a young woman get out of a 1960s-era car.

Uncle Frank

While Uncle Frank is more nuanced at times than you might expect, its messaging can still feel pretty heavy-handed, too.

Kris Kringle Makes Some High-Tech Adjustments to COVID

As we head into Thanksgiving, most Americans are aware that the holidays will look much different in 2020. Even Santa’s made adjustments.

Supernatural

This CW series does for theology what Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter does for presidential history.

A nervous woman (Jessica Chastain) walks down the street, casting a subtle glance behind her.

Ava

Ava is yet another movie about an assassin with a heart. Maybe it’s not a heart of gold, exactly, but at least a heart of bronze.

Three Wise Men is Fun, Poetic Ride Through Nativity Story

The Three Wise Men reminds us that while Rudolph and Frosty and the Grinch are just fine, Christmas is really about Jesus.

The LEGO Star Wars Holiday Special

It’s funny, sweet, super family friendly and a 12-parsec improvement over its predecessor. Not that the latter set a particularly high bar, but still.