Best of 2013: Robert Lloyd picks ‘Drunk History,’ ‘The Returned’

In this time when news is disseminated ever more quickly, we asked our critics to list the best of culture in 2013 in tweet form:

“The Returned” (Sundance Channel). Supernatural French import joins the uncanny and the quotidian, prizes mystery over explanation.

“Inside Amy Schumer” (Comedy Central). Year’s most daring, dangerous, political, serious, human comedy. Also funny.

“Drunk History” (Comedy Central). Speakers under the influence get vernacular with the past; miming actors create ironic tension.

“Top of the Lake” (Sundance Channel). Jane Campion directs Elisabeth Moss in New Zealand highland mystery. Unsettling, gorgeous.

GRAPHIC: Best of 2013 | Entertainment and culture

“Moone Boy” (Hulu). “Family Tree” (HBO). Chris O’Dowd x 2. 1st: a memory piece, from himself; 2nd, by Chris Guest, a piece on memory.

“MasterChef Junior” (Fox). Little kids give hope for the future with brilliant cooking. Moving! And Gordon Ramsay behaves himself.

“The Hollow Crown” (PBS). Three kings (Richard II/Henry IV/Henry V) in four plays. Shakespeare is the man for the tragical-historical.

“Incredible Crew” (Nickelodeon). Smart teen sketch show (canceled) offered media critique, parodies, pranks, weirdness, chops.

“Only the Young” (PBS). Distressed SoCal Christian skate punks in a documentary teenage “Jules and Jim.” No lessons, just love.

“Please Like Me” (Pivot). “The Fosters” (ABC Family). Family, friends, identity. Australian mumblecore/American YA. Couldn’t choose!

Twitter: @LATimesTVLloyd