Google has released its 'Top Trending' lists for 2017, and as usual, there are some surprises amongst the heavy hitters that anyone could have predicted! There are plenty of ways to measure the popularity of a TV show, of course, and Google's 'top trending' is only one of them. These stats measure those searches that have seen the highest spike in 2017 compared to 2016, compared to (for example), looking at social media conversations or total searches overall. Still, with Google the world's undisputed most popular search engine, the data collected is a great measure of what people were looking for over the past year.Of course, this doesn't necessarily mean that every show on this list is here because it was great quality viewing, or because all those people searching for it are fans. In fact, many of these TV series made it onto Google's top trending list for 2017 because of a controversy associated with them... and that means that they might have preferred to stay off this list, after all!Related: Top 10 Trending Actors On Google In 2017From the perfect to the problematic, here are the ten top trending TV series of 2017.This page: American Gods, Big Little Lies, and Santa Clarita Diet

10. American Gods

American Gods, based on the Neil Gaiman novel of the same name, came to the small screen in April for its freshman season. With incredible cinematography that was mind-bendingly beautiful at points and incredibly graphic at others, it's no wonder that American Gods had people talking. The existing fandom from the book didn't hurt, either, and with Gaiman himself involved in the writing and the press tours, there were plenty of book fans rushing to watch the premiere. Nominated for two Primetime Emmys (and a host of other awards), it's no surprise that American Gods was one of the biggest searches of the year. It's not here just for its success, though. American Gods is also complicated and often confusing, leading many fans to search for answers online. In addition, American Gods got a Google bump in recent months, with the announcement of a second season on the way, and the news that star Ricky Whittle may be in the running to play John Stewart in the Green Lantern movie.

9. Big Little Lies

Another series based on the book of the same name (this time by Liane Moriarty), and a muder-mystery of sorts, where all the lies of the characters' relationships are revealed over the course of seven episodes. It's a phenomenal look at the dark depths of families with seemingly perfect lives, and with a star-studded cast (including Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodly as the three leads) it's no surprise that Big Little Lies was a smash hit for 2017. Nominated for a whopping 6 Golden Globes, with another 25 wins (including multiple Primetime Emmys) and dozens of other nominations, Big Little Lies makes it onto the trending list by virtue of just being really fantastic TV! It has also now been announced that despite being originally described as a one-off mini-series, Big Little Lies will be returning for a second season, which is sure to have boosted the buzz around this show.

8. Santa Clarita Diet

Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant in Santa Clarita Diet

The Santa Clarita Diet may come as something of a surprise entry on this list, as the show's freshman season was popular, but not necessarily stunning enough to make it one of the top trending for the entire year. Starring Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant, The Santa Clarita Diet puts a spin on the zombie genre, as a preppy California mom and real estate agent becomes zombified, and she and her family hilariously struggle to cope with the fallout. It's a blend of brutal and bright that made it a surprise hit for the start of the year, with fans already looking forward to a second season.

However, it's not the show itself that had everyone talking this year, but the marketing campaign. Before the premiere, Netflix launched a marketing campaign that seemed to be promoting a literal diet, with the hashtag #SantaClaritaDiet. Social media influencers were posting images of themselves sipping dark red smoothies from bottles labelled #SantaClaritaDiet (or even 'blood, brains, tissue'), occasionally with what looked like blood dripping from their mouths. It was the perfect ad campaign to have people searching for the hashtag to find out what was going on - and clearly, it worked! However, The Santa Clarita Diet has been criticized for being too graphic, and the marketing campaign also received complaints in Germany, where posters showing a finger sliced up in food caused controversy and led to the image being dropped from the campaign.

The Good Doctor and Mr. Potato Head

7. The Good Doctor

The Good Doctor is the latest show to join the 'white male savant' genre, with Freddie Highmore starring as Dr. Shaun Murphy, a brilliant autistic surgeon. Highmore himself is recognized as the high point of The Good Doctor, and is compelling as the lead, but the concept as a whole has been heavily criticized. In many ways, The Good Doctor is a re-boot of House, with a brilliant medical professional who struggles to connect with his patients on an emotional level, and whose personal issues often cause conflict. The Good Doctor has also created a lot of buzz around the ways that it deals with autism, with some applauding the writers for the way that they are handling the lead character's condition (especially showing him in a professional setting), and others angry at the way that Dr Murphy seems to confirm many less-than-positive stereotypes about those on the autism spectrum. Highmore himself has also created videos to talk about autism, and to attempt to raise awareness of the condition, but it's a sensitive subject that is bound to spark some controversy no matter what. Netflix's Atypical, while not on the top trending list, dealt with similar responses for the same reasons.

6. Bachelor In Paradise

Bachelor In Paradise

The only reality TV series to make this list, Bachelor In Paradise undoubtedly got some searches from fans wanting to learn a little more about the various contestants of this 'competitive romance'. Pitting past contestants from The Bachelor and The Bachelorette against each other, Bachelor In Paradise has all the usual reality show drama to enjoy... but the big reason that it has become one of the top trending shows of the year is the sexual assault scandal that rocked the production before it even aired. During filming, two of the contestants got very drunk, and were filmed throughout as they got very sexually explicit in the pool. During the incident, one of the producers claimed to feel deeply uncomfortable, and wanted to stop filming, but had her request denied. She then allegedly threatened to sue the production over what happened, leading to filming being stopped altogether while an investigation took place. The female contestant involved, Corinne Olympios, stated later that she had blacked out before the sexual relations happened, meaning that she was unable to give consent to it. In a year where sexual assault allegations have continued to rock Hollywood, this scandal was one that threatened to shut down Bachelor In Paradise for good. Eventually, however, the season did air; only a little later than originally planned.

5. Riverdale

Riverdale has had a fantastic year in 2017, with the entire first season and half of the second season released on the CW and on Netflix, and it has built up a huge fanbase in this short span of time. An adaptation of the Archie and Jughead comics, Riverdale is a gloriously trashy murder-mystery series set in a small town populated by only gorgeous people, and it takes some real liberties with the comics to create something new and completely addictive. It's not just the wonderfully more-ish nature of Riverdale that has had it trending this year, though, as the production and its stars have been caught up in multiple controversies over the past twelve months. Lili Reinhart drew the ire of some fans after posting a photo of a woman dressed up as a demon in black body paint, saying that it would be her Halloween costume; which led many to accuse the young star of promoting blackface. Cole Sprouse's character, Jughead, also sparked controversy when he got into a relationship, frustrating asexual fans who felt that his presumed asexuality in the comics should have been honored in the series. One of the other stars of Riverdale, KJ Apa, was in a car accident after working a 14 hour day, leading to accusations that the production was working cast and crew too hard on set in Vancouver, BC.

4. Iron Fist

It's no surprise that Iron Fist made the top trending list this year, as the fourth solo Defenders series on Netflix has been mired in controversy since the start. Iron Fist (Finn Jones) joined Jessica Jones (Krysten Ritter), Luke Cage (Mike Colter) and Daredevil (Charlie Cox) as part of the Marvel/Netflix universe this year, and it became the first huge critical flop for the partnership. Not only was the fight choreography rushed and stilted, but the entire concept received backlash for using a hero that is the definition of a white savior. Although some called the show 'whitewashing', the issue is one of a rich white kid learning martial arts and becoming the literal savior of Kun-L'un, before returning to New York as a hero. The premise is trope-city, from the orphaned billionaire superhero to the secret training from kung-fu masters in the mountains, and fans were not happy that Marvel/Netflix chose to spotlight this hero. Many felt that Rand should have been portrayed by an Asian actor, at the very least. Although Iron Fist was still heavily binge-watched, and will be getting a second season, it was still a disappointment for the Defenders.

3. This Is Us

This Is Us Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia

This Is Us premiered in 2016, and like Riverdale, enjoyed a 2017 that included the end of season one and the start of the highly anticipated season 2. This Is Us has been praised for its somewhat unusual storytelling style, blending traditional drama with a more genre-esque series of flashbacks and flashforwards that tell the characters' stories over four decades at once. As well as being critically acclaimed, This Is Us has also been one of the most emotional and tear-jerking series of the year, keeping fans glued to the edge of their seats as plot twists are revealed and a major character was killed off. There have been a few twists and turns off-screen for This Is Us as well, as an episode ('The Disappointed Man') used the n-word, and star Chris Sullivan has had to defend his use of a fat-suit to play Toby. However, these are reasonably minor 'controversies' compared to those plaguing other series on this list, so we can happily say that This Is Us hit the number three spot simply for ripping out viewers' hearts time and time again.

2. Game Of Thrones

Viserion Eye Game of Thrones

No prizes for guessing that Game Of Thrones was one of the most popular series of 2017, as this HBO juggernaut remains one of the most talked about series year after year. Season 7 saw some of the biggest moments of Game of Thrones so far, too, as all the major players return to Westeros to gear up for the final battles. Jon Snow's (Kit Harrington) parentage was finally revealed after six seasons of speculation... although the reveal didn't come in time to stop some good ol' fashioned Game Of Thrones incest, as Jon got it on with his aunt, Daenerys (Emilia Clarke). The Stark sisters were also dishing up some scandal, as they slaughter their way through their various enemies with aplomb, and the family is reunited to reclaim the North. However, enemies rise as the White Walkers get hold of one of the dragons, and the Wall finally comes under a real attack... leaving fans speculating wildly about what will happen when the final season airs in 2018. Off-screen, Game Of Thrones also made headlines as fans wondered when season 8 will premiere, as Kit Harrington and co-star Rose Leslie got engaged, as spin-offs were announced as in the works, and as rumors grew that multiple endings are being filmed to avoid leaks.

1. 13 Reasons Why

13 Reasons Why Hannah Baker Clay Jensen

Some may be surprised that with so much going on, Game Of Thrones didn't manage to snag the top spot, but that honor goes to 13 Reasons Why. Of course, the honor is a dubious one, as this Netflix original series about suicide has been incredibly controversial. Based on the novel of the same name by Jay Asher, 13 Reasons Why takes place after the suicide of the central character, as she tells her story through a series of tapes recorded before her death. It's not too shocking that a show about suicide would be a controversial one, but 13 Reasons Why came under fire for seeming to glamorize suicide, as Hannah (Katherine Langford) finally gets listened to, and gets to make her tormentors see exactly what they did to her. Parents and schools became concerned that 13 Reasons Why would lead to an increase in self-harm and suicidal behavior in young viewers, and Netflix added warnings to it as a result. Many pushed to have the show removed entirely out of fear that it would cause harm, but instead, 13 Reasons Why became the most tweeted-about show of the year, and has now been confirmed for a second season.

Next: Top 10 Trending Movies On Google In 2017