The Final Posts | Bests of the Rest

As I approached the end of Rath's Reviews I questioned: "should I do an overall Rath Awards?" The answer was immediately a NO as that massive undertaking would neither be efficient, nor translate well for many awards. Slowly, a larger ranking idea changed into a massive movie ranking (which will come later) and this idea of "Bests of the Rest"...a place to give my favorite music, videogames, and television shows a moment in the sun. 

So that's what this Final Post is about. I refrained from ranking things as narrowing them down was already hard enough - plus there will be plenty of ranking in the movie section - so instead think of this as the entertainment worth celebrating and reflecting on from 2011 until now in the mediums of MUSIC, TELEVISION, and GAMING. Let's begin!

MUSIC

I broke the music section up into ARTISTS and ALBUMS. I wanted to make this distinction because there have been artists that are so consistent during the last decade+, that's it's worth recognizing them as a whole, but there are also some albums where the artist may not always hit (or produce that much content), but I do adore a particular masterpiece of theirs. 

ALBUMS

Yeezus by Kanye West (2013) - Kanye has well...um...fallen off in recent years and I've always found several of his projects overpraised. However, I will passionately defend how utterly fantastic Yeezus is, even all these years later. It's probably the best workout album ever, and it still has hits that feel modern today. 

Year of the Caprese by Cherub (2014) - This band isn't well known and I'm honestly not sure how much other music they've created, but I'll be damned if this entire album isn't a blast. It's got catchy disco hooks, can be funny at times, and has at least one bigger hit with "Doses & Mimosas".

The Human Condition by Jon Bellion (2016) - Jon Bellion is an artist I wish would make more music (he features a lot on singles) and The Human Condition is a true masterpiece of an album that I listened to a lot in the following year of its release. "All Time Low" is his biggest hit from it, but there's so many other songs to love that I highly encourage you to check it out if you haven't. 

Manic by Halsey (2020) - Halsey narrowly just missed getting in the artist category overall. Manic is potentially one of my favorite albums ever, and her other work - while never quite as excellent - pushes boundaries. In my mind, she's the world's "smallest" BIG pop star and she deserves more attention, particularly this masterpiece. 

Harry's House by Harry Styles (2022) - Harry Styles doesn't make a ton of music, but damn...Harry's House is an all timer. It'll be an album that still gets played 30, 40+ years from now. Every song feels like a potential classic and it rocketed Styles to the stratosphere of the music world. I was not a fan of his previously (was indifferent), but Harry's House has me anticipating whatever he does next.

ARTISTS

The Weeknd - I'm pretty hipster about The Weeknd as I found him very early on in his Trilogy (2012) and Kiss Land (2013) era before his massive run. He's insanely productive, with an album almost every 1-2 years. Despite becoming mainstream, I find that he's retained his signature disco-esque beats and swagger and there's no denying that his hits are massive, and some of the best, most recognizable songs to come from the last decade. Favorite Album: Starboy

Kacey Musgraves - Aside from the fact that I'm in love with her, Kacey Musgraves is a criminally under-appreciated artist and is on an insanely impressive album streak right now. Her masterpiece is Golden Hour, without a doubt, but the pop-infused, star-crossed, and more "hippie"-oriented Deeper Well (one of this year's best albums) show her ability to flex with the best of them. Throw in a Christmas Special that's a delight to watch annually - and features some massive original Christmas ear-worms - and you've easily got one of my favorite artists of the last decade. Favorite Album: Golden Hour

Kendrick Lamar - There's fiery debate within this realm and I've grown away from rap as I've aged, but I believe Kendrick Lamar to be one of the most consistent and top-notch rappers ever. He's got a lot of work worth citing, though I find To Pimp a Butterfly and his Black Panther-inspired album to be highlights, though pretty much everything he's done is high quality. His recent Drake beef produced "Not Like Us" which is iconic in a lot of ways, but even before that, he's been dependable for top-tier rap for ages. Favorite Album: To Pimp a Butterfly

Taylor Swift - I'm a Swiftie and have been for a long time, since RED debuted when I was in college. It won my "Best Album" that year and the rest has been history. Taylor Swift is the singular most adaptable and genre-leading singer we've maybe ever seen. She's reinvented her sound in massive ways and subtle ways, each time providing a voice for a particular "era" that is unmatched. She's the world's biggest star for a reason: her talent and pulse on what she wants to create next is 1 of 1. Favorite Album: (tie) Midnights and Lover

TELEVISION

There was a true Golden Age of television near the start of Rath's Reviews that has never really let up. Unfortunately, that was at a point where - between where I was at in life and the fact that streaming hadn't really taken off yet - one could keep up with the majority of BIG TV. Now, we're in a completely oversaturated market. It's one where I've been slow to adopt new shows (for fear of cancellations or quality drop offs) and where it can be impossible to keep up or know what's worth your time. My list of favorite shows may look very different than yours, and that could simply be because of tastes or even come down to what you made the time for vs. what I did. 

For the Television space, I decided to stick to something simple: my 10 favorite TV series from Rath's Review's duration. Note that these are series that have more than 1 season, so limited series (e.g. Chernobyl) didn't make the cut. Enjoy!

Arrow / The Flash (early seasons) - One of the more interesting events during Rath's Reviews was how DC really floundered to copy Marvel's Cinematic Universe. Meanwhile, the "Arrowverse" on CW was highly compelling in early seasons. Arrow's first several seasons are incredible superhero fare, and S1 of The Flash is one of the best initial seasons for a show I've ever seen. Eventually, their quality fell off as they went on too long, but along the way we got fun crossovers and a Legends of Tomorrow spin-off that proved to be just as fun (in early seasons) as the shows it was birthed from. 

Better Call Saul - I disagree with those who claim this is better than Breaking Bad, but that's not really important. Better Call Saul is perhaps the best spin-off show ever and fleshed out the character in meaningful, sometimes tragic ways. Certain episode arcs are just as iconic in anything we saw in BB, and, much like its predecessor, it didn't go too long, knowing when to ride off into the sunset appropriately. 

The Leftovers - The Leftovers was my LOST replacement, and goes deep over the course of its short lived 3 seasons. The quality of the material was outstanding - acting, cinematography, original score, etc. - and the plot compelling, despite being confusing. It packed a punch with so little time, and was able to wrap up on its own terms, leaving fans satisfied (and likely crying). 

The Boys - One of the few on this list where the jury is still technically out given the show is still ongoing (but has an end in sight), though I have high confidence in this show finalizing in an impactful, likely jaw-dropping way. The Boys is a perfect blend of R-rated humor, superhero antics, compelling characters, and shock moments. Even though it's a streaming show, I'm still gasping over some of the scenes they've been able to get approved, but what I continue coming back for is the well-written and engaging drama. That's largely thanks to Anthony Starr's performance as Homelander (one of the best in the last decade) on top of all the other exciting elements.

Ted Lasso - I'm apparently one of those rare people that has found each season of Ted Lasso to be fantastic. I know it has received flak for its recent, allegedly "final" season (even though more seasons are being discussed), but my wife and I truly cherish this show's airy, fun nature that has surprising undercurrents of worthwhile character drama. I'm hoping this isn't one I look back at in 10 years after they've run it into the ground, and though I miss it, I'd be fine if they left it where it's at right now.

Hannibal - An overlooked show that was of such incredible quality, it deserved a better home than NBC. Starring Mads Mikkelsen as the titular character, it was one of the better TV performances I've ever seen for a show that established tone, mood, and horror effortlessly. Toss in some truly "How on earth did that slide on national TV?!" kills and gore (that live rent free in my head) and you've got a show that should have been talked about and appreciated much more than the small - but vocal - fanbase it had at the time.

The Bear - I know a lot has been said about the most recent season (3) of The Bear, but I still found it highly compelling, exquisite TV. It's so well made from a technical perspective, and the characters so rich and flawed, that it's hard not to root for this complicated, fun, dramatic, and intense cast of chefs. One has to imagine it'll be a show that knows when to call it quits and although it's small stakes, it keeps me coming back for seconds. 

Stranger Things - Stranger Things has been something of a pop culture phenomenon since it released, and I'm completely on board with that. It's fantastic at telling stories, often creating a massive hook for its main arc, with mostly satisfying side arcs. The most recent 4th season was its best, and the upcoming 5th season has a ton of hype as the finale. It'll be sad to see something as iconic as this go, but I believe it will with a tremendously satisfying conclusion. And special side note to one of the best original scores - across any medium - of the past decade. Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein are masters. 

Brooklyn Nine-Nine - I loved this show so damn much, and the tumultuous nature of its final season really frustrated me. Being cancelled (one of TV history's worst decisions?) by Fox and then picked up by NBC was frightening, and it did fine on NBC, but ultimately felt like it rushed an ending. If I had to pick a "funniest" show during Rath's Reviews run, it would, without a doubt, be Brooklyn Nine-Nine for so many reasons. I found myself in love with this wacky cast who each brought their own brand of specific comedy to each episode and it was a true laugh out loud show. I miss it very much. 

Breaking Bad - Probably a surprise to no one, but Breaking Bad was around for the very first part of Rath's Reviews and...well...it made its mark. It's one of TV history's best shows - potentially its very best - and the final seasons were riveting, chill-inducing, and jaw dropping. The transformation of Walter White was one of the best character studies in all of storytelling and Vince Gilligan's attention to detail and ability to spin a yarn is unparalleled. This show sits very highly among history and deserves a rewatch (I should get on that!)

I mean...this scene was WILD

VIDEOGAMES

Gaming was a really hard area to narrow down partly because i) there are so many good ones and ii) I rarely spend time on bad games. So, similar to the music space, I decided to break this into separate parts to get maximum coverage of praise. There's specific GAMES that may be standalone or part of bigger series, but these rose to the top. In addition, there're specific SERIES (or groupings...you'll see) that holistically deserve praise as often being some of the best of the best.

GAMES

Far Cry 3 (2012) - I could have put the entire Far Cry series under the "series" portion, but I don't think it has stayed relevant enough over time to deserve a series-wide accolade. Far Cry 3 however - at the time in early Rath's Review days - felt revolutionary. The story was captivating, anchored by an iconic villain performance with Vaas and the gameplay was earth-shattering at the time. It was intense, brutal, gorgeous, and effortlessly fun. I remember it repeatedly dropping my jaw back in 2012.

Splinter Cell: Blacklist (2013) - I'm consistently frustrated that Ubisoft has never resurrected this series and left it to all but die. Blacklist was such a damn good game - and a perfect blend of the old and new Splinter Cell play styles - that I adored it upon release. Not only did it have a mission at Denver International Airport, but it was a thrilling game all around. Plus you could customize your suit to be a ghillie stealth suit with pink lights and there was always something so satisfying about killing an enemy with that combo.

The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt (2015) - The Witcher 3: The Wild Hunt was a game that took over my life when it first released (and again when I played the remaster many years later). And while I never finished it because I kept getting distracted with side quests and Gwent, the in-game card game (damn you Gwent!!), I still remember my time with it fondly, particularly how lived-in the open world felt and how impressive the combat was in a challenging world. It really helped CD Projekt Red solidify their names in the open-world genre map.

Overwatch (2016) - Overwatch began the "year of the shooter" in 2016, and was revolutionary upon release. Playing it with friends was an absolute blast and the cast of characters, their power ups, the game modes, and the balance was all something that led to a truly iconic game. I remember so many close matches, which are always the best in multiplayer games, and it always felt fresh if you were able to flex/play as other characters. It's been a shame that it has fallen off and Overwatch 2 felt like an empty sequel, but I'll cherish my time with the original and the enormous amount of hours it consumed in 2016. 

Battlefield 1 (2016) - Battlefield as a series can be very up and down, but Battlefield 1 felt like a breath of fresh, violent air. Based in World War 1, which had very rarely been done in gaming, it was intense and massive. Multiplayer battles felt like true large-scale wars in jaw-dropping locations that were complimented by visuals and sound design that's still impressive today. The multiplayer remained fun for months, and is responsible for some of my favorite gaming memories with my friends, including a comeback win so massive, it still gets reminisced about to this day.

One of the best campaigns EVER

Titanfall 2 (2016) - Titanfall 2 is one of the best videogames ever made, flat out. I'll throw down that gauntlet and defend it every single day of my life. The fact that it released between juggernauts like Battlefield and Call of Duty in 2016 is one of the worst business decisions EA ever made and likely stifled future Titanfall projects. It features perhaps my favorite 1st person shooter campaign ever (which is impressive given the first game had no campaign) and the multiplayer was iconic. It was just such a f**king cool game that flowed well and played like nothing else. It's also the multiplayer game I became best at in my entire gaming career, so it had a period where I felt like a god. I love this game so much and it's likely in my Top 3 games, ever. 

Ghost of Tsushima (2020) -  Ghost of Tsushima was a game that consumed me in a year that was dark for most everyone. Equal parts familiar a la Assassin's Creed, but still with subtly great nuances and features, it was a completely successful new IP from PlayStation developer, Sucker Punch. In addition to feeling fresh, it's world was jaw droppingly gorgeous, the story was engrossing, and the horde-esque multiplayer added later worked really well. I look forward to next year's sequel very much. 

It Takes Two (2021) - One of my fondest gaming memories ever is playing through It Takes Two with my then-fiancé, now-wife. She is not a gamer by any means, but with It Takes Two, we were able to have hours of fun in this wildly inventive game that rarely keeps its gameplay the same. The fact that it works so well is something of a minor miracle, and the story is deep in a Pixar sort of way. It's one of those rare games I consider basically "perfect" and even writing this makes me want to play it with her all over again. 

SERIES

Call of Duty - Some may scoff at this first entry, and likely for good reason. There's a lot of mediocrity within the Call of Duty franchise. However, the games I'm referring to are the examples that occur every 2-3 years where the franchise offers massive amounts of really strong content that push the series forward. Examples like the Modern Warfare reboot and its direct sequel (not MWIII though) and even this year's Black Ops 6 are all examples of strong campaigns, great visuals, often a couple worthwhile other modes (e.g. Zombies), and addicting multiplayer that scratches my "unlock" itch. It may not be a series that always fires on all cylinders, but when it does, it's hard to top it. Favorite Game: Modern Warfare reboot

Assassin's Creed - Another series that has very exciting highs and rather mundane lows. This series also gets extra credit for completely reinventing itself along the way. That reinvention left some fans in the cold, but I LOVED the new approach - something that was reinforced as I could barely make my way through the boring, traditional Mirage entry from last year. Assassin's Creed is a series that offers vast worlds, intriguing historical periods that change and feel fresh, fun gameplay and combat, and often stories and characters that keep me invested. Nevermind that I've probably eagle jumped from the highest points on maps 1000+ times, I still love this series and am excited for its upcoming adventure in Japan. Favorite Game: (tie) Black Flag and Origins

Horizon - The first of several PlayStation franchises on this list (I will die on the hill that PS is the best console for exclusives), Horizon, which includes Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, is a sci-fi series where the story may be the primary reason I play. That's saying a lot because the gameplay and open worlds are so incredible and worth praising, but it's the wild, post-post-apocalyptic storytelling that keeps me yearning for more. Both titles scored really well with me and were equally strong powerhouses to show off graphics and one of PlayStation's best leading characters in Aloy. Favorite Game: Forbidden West

Spider-Man - Superhero games are hard ones to get just right. Aside from the Arkham series (which narrowly missed my cutoff since it only had Arkham Knight during my RR tenure), there aren't many examples...that is until PlayStation's Spider-Man series came along. It started strong with Peter Parker's story in Spider-Man 1, then evolved into a fun extra of Miles Morales. But when the two came together in Spider-Man 2, it felt like such a big step forward for an already-great series that I couldn't help but be wowed. It's a rare open world game where I truly never became bored, and the story, visuals, and city were things to behold. But those are nothing if the gameplay isn't fun, and Spider-Man's combat is exquisite in every way while looking flashy and impressive the entire time. Favorite Game: Spider-Man 2

Forza Horizon - There's a sole Xbox exclusive franchise on this list, but don't let that diminish just how utterly fantastic Forza Horizon games are. Featuring breathtaking locales and visuals, the best car rosters to ever grace videogames, and SO.MUCH.STUFF.TO.DO...these titles are Day 1 purchases for me, every time. They're the perfect "sit back and chill" game where I can have a lot of fun driving really fancy cars recklessly along a countryside. And at the end of the day, isn't that what videogames are for? Favorite Game: Forza Horizon 5

God of War - The God of War franchise is a storied one, featuring nearly all highs (except Ascension, which we don't really talk about). The original Greek trilogy is downright iconic, with God of War III being one of my favorite games of all time. Since then, the series has reinvented itself in nearly every single way aside from having Kratos as the main character, and a near-perfect series got even better. God of War and God of War: Ragnarok's storytelling is even more impressive and humanizing, with console-best graphics, and perhaps the single best combat gameplay we've ever seen. The future of the franchise is unknown, but one has to feel hopeful that, given what we've seen before, there's so much talent involved, it'll be an instant classic. Favorite Game: God of War: Ragnarok

Rockstar Games | Red Dead Redemption & Grand Theft Auto - Perhaps a cheap merging of different series to count as one entry, but as I always say, this is my show, I can do what I want! There's no one who does open worlds quite as effectively as Rockstar. They feel truly lived in and transport the player to whichever locale the game is set in, whether that be the old west, or modern day cities. While I still absolutely detest the "Tap X to run" mechanic, it's hard to find a fault in these games otherwise. Not to mention, their stories are riveting. Even if you don't ever get into the online modes, each of Rockstar's games has more than enough to enjoy as a single player experience. Favorite Game: Red Dead Redemption 2

Naughty Dog Games | Uncharted & The Last of Us - There is no other gaming developer that I get more excited for than Naughty Dog. Much like Rockstar, they are masters of their craft, and their craft is insanely crisp gameplay with next-level visuals and unparalleled storytelling. With The Last of Us, they've managed to craft such intense experiences that both Part I and Part II gave me an eye twitch, with stories that are thematically mature and morally grey. Uncharted, my favorite game series of all time, is on the lighter side, but no less rich in adventure, splendor, and entertainment value. These are the games that I cite as the reason why, in my mid-30s, I continue to play videogames. When done right, there is no better medium to put the audience into the story. Favorite Game: (tie) Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and The Last of Us: Part II

As is the case with these Final Posts, I greatly enjoyed my time reminiscing and narrowing down my "favorites" from the last decade+. This list was particularly ambitious (and time consuming) as it covered SO MUCH, but the outcome is something I'll look back on ages from now and recall fond memories.  

What are some of your favorite albums, artists, TV series, or videogames of the last decade? Share them below or on socials! 

Still to come is my massive movie ranking. Stay tuned!