The writers’ strike may have crippled late-night TV in 2023, but for at least the first half of this year, scripted TV was in full swing and clearly at its peak. If there was only one series that aired all year long, inheritance, it would still have been a phenomenal year for small film productions.But in between returning a series like bearthe final farewell inheritance, barryand reserved dogand unexpected new hits such as jury duty, the past 12 months have produced some truly captivating television across all genres. But which shows were the ultimate highlights? Here are our picks for the best shows of 2023 – our favorite shows.
the last of us
Few would have predicted that the video game adaptation would become one of the best shows of the year.but the last of usNeil Druckmann and Craig Mazin (who co-created the game)Chernobyl), proving that anything is possible.with Pedro Pascal game of thrones Breakout star Bella Ramsay is the perfect match as a partner on an unlikely journey to survive in a world of mushroom monsters. Ellie (Ramsay) is a precocious, pun-loving teen who is confirmed to be immune to the infection that is ravaging the world and turning people into fungal zombies, meaning she will defeat the pandemic. It may hold the key to genetics. Grieving the loss of her family, Joel (Pascal) is tasked with traveling across the country to smuggle Ellie out of her quarantine area and bring her to safety. Along the way, the two slowly develop a familial bond, which causes confusion in Joel’s original mission. The series ended on a bit of a cliffhanger, but it has already been renewed and it has been confirmed that both Pascal and Ramsay will be returning.
bear
If you haven’t seen it yet bear, I’m sure I was asked to watch it by at least five people. Hulu’s FX series tells the story of Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a young chef who reluctantly quits his job at a Michelin-starred restaurant and returns to Chicago to save his family’s Italian beef sandwich shop, but basically no one else was the only thing I wanted to talk about. The intensity of the kitchen scenes proved to be anxiety-inducing for some viewers, but for others, it’s also part of what makes this drama so unique.and bear It quickly gains many A-list fans, many of whom make cameo appearances in the second season (see: Olivia Colman). But the season 2 episode “Fish” in particular raised the bar even higher for an already impossibly high series. This is a flashback episode that takes place at a Christmas dinner, and stars Jamie Lee Curtis as Carmy’s mother, Donna. Bob Odenkirk plays Donna’s ex-boyfriend. Sarah Paulson plays Carmy’s cousin Michelle. John Mulaney plays Stevie, Michelle’s boyfriend. In many ways, this episode is a bit of an outlier, as it has little to do with the events of the series (Carmy tries to fast-track the reopening of the sandwich shop as a family-style dining experience). But in its short 66 minutes, it manages to fully immerse the viewer in Carmy’s life and explain her many quirks that make her who she is.
barry
barry is one of those rare series that started out as a good show and then surpassed itself with each new season. The premise of borrowing a gun and going straight ahead has been done many times before; barry The comedy was darker (and funnier as a result), the violence was more brutal, and the drama felt more authentic. Co-creators Alec Berg and Bill Hader placed no limits on the show or the characters and were not afraid to experiment with the format. So viewers tuned into the show’s fourth (and final) season expecting to see hitman-turned-actor Barry Berkman (Hader) avenge all his misdeeds, but what they got was nothing at all. It was something else — including a time jump that no one expected.
scum on earth
black mirror Creator Charlie Brooker took a break from scaring us with depictions of technology gone awry and entertained us with this painfully awkward mockumentary series. Philomena Cunk (Diane Morgan) is the host of the history series. scum on earthTo that end, she travels the world to share and learn about history and the most fascinating places on Earth from real experts. Where this show really shines is in the interviews. Morgan’s deadpan delivery and startled reactions are met with her perfectly blunt questions (“Does teaching Shakespeare to children physically make their heads grow bigger?”) and observations (“Most banknotes… Apart from the Queen’s name, there are no women’s names listed (“Who’s involved with everyone?”), and the facts stated (“It’s a relief to know that we don’t have nuclear weapons these days”) are laughable. do not stop. In one episode, an Egyptology professor explains the mummification process, and Kank declares it’s the same spa routine that Gwyneth Paltrow does. With only five episodes, this is one show to savor.
curse
while nathan for you and rehearsal, there’s no doubt that Nathan Fielder is one of Hollywood’s most unique voices. Even if you think you know what you’re going to get from Fielder, he has a way of quickly upending everything you thought you knew about what you’re seeing.for cursehe teams up with writer-director-actor Benny Safdie (uncut gems) co-produced the series and starred with Fielder alongside Oscar winner Emma Stone. Whitney (Stone) and Usher (Fielder) are a newly married couple and the stars of their own HGTV house flip show. flirtatiousness. They are also trying to start a family, which is stressful. It becomes even more stressful when a young girl allegedly places a curse on them. You’ll have to experience it yourself to see what happens from there.
happy valley
After seven agonizing years, the third season has begun. happy valley It’s finally here, and this time the title of the series doesn’t seem so ironic (at least at first). Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) is still chasing criminals in her small West Yorkshire town, but the turmoil that has surrounded her over the past two seasons has been compounded by her grief over her daughter’s suicide and her young grandson Ryan (Reece). ), including child-rearing issues. Kona), her unfinished affair with her ex-husband Richard (Derek Liddell), and her strained relationship with her son Daniel (Carl Davis) seem to have settled down. This leads Katherine to believe that her daughter was raped, until she learns that her sister Claire (Siobhan Finneran) is driving Ryan to see her father Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton) in prison. (Tommy Lee) and Katherine’s own violent relationship. he. Meanwhile, she is also tasked with solving a murder and the disappearance of a young woman with an eye on her future, as she heads to the Himalayas in her new Land Rover. The show’s long-awaited final season is as captivating as the previous two, but it manages to wrap up the story in a way that doesn’t feel forced or rushed. Julia) provides even better performance.
i think you should leave
Since its debut in 2019, the debate over how connected many men are has continued. i think you should leave, and how much it bothers women in their lives. But the polarizing nature of Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin’s sketch comedy series has nothing to do with gender and everything to do with an appreciation for completely free absurdist comedy. If the name “Bert Harley Jarvis” means anything to you, you are clearly a fan of this series. Even in its third season, the series goes from Banana Breath to cocktail party small talk gone awry.
jury duty
Part mockumentary, part truman showa surprise hit jury duty It puts an ordinary man, Ronald Gladden, in the middle of a fake trial where everyone but himself is in on the joke. Among those pranking him is James Marsden, who plays a different version of himself and becomes Gladden’s companion when he is selected for the jury. Marsden won critical acclaim for playing both a smart Hollywood guy who isn’t afraid to show off his resume, yet someone as down-to-earth as his second son, earning him an Emmy Award and a Golden Globe. Nominated for the award for the first time. But it’s the earnest and sincere Gladden who keeps the show from becoming a complete farce and, dare I say it, heartwarming.
reserved dog
There’s something brave and refreshing about a TV show doing well and leaving fans wanting more. That’s exactly what it is. reserved dog Such was the case during the third and final season. The show, co-created by Taika Waititi and Starlin Harjo, begins with a group of Native American teens who dream of moving from an Oklahoma Native American reservation, and who do enough to make it happen. He committed a petty crime in an attempt to save money. At the start of Season 3, the kids are in California, but things don’t go as planned as their car is stolen with all their belongings inside. Ultimately, Rez Dogs comes full circle and learns to appreciate the comforts of home and the sanctuary of community.
inheritance
From that first episode, inheritance He proved that he is not afraid to disappoint. But what started out as an interesting show quickly turned into a great one. It is a series that will be talked about forever along with the rest of the series. the sopranos, wire, Breaking Badand mad men As one of the most prestigious “prestige television” in the 21st century. Fans were shocked to learn that season 4 would be the last, but it’s finally revealed who media mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox) will name to take over the Waystar Royco conglomerate. Expectations were high.But things are never easy inheritance, and power exchange was no exception. I was stabbed in the back, relationships were forever changed, important words were never spoken, and ultimately time was lost. But even in the most stressful moments, inheritance He managed to maintain a jet-black sense of humor. TV series come and go, begin and end. But even in a world where we literally do; hundreds of Of the programs you watch, inheritance It stood out as unique, powerful, and important. The third episode of the final season, “Connor’s Wedding,” was the best episode of television of all time at 62 minutes, and some are immediately declaring it the best episode of television of all time.
