The best TV of 2023

While some of the best television was ending and others just starting, two historic strikes shut down Hollywood. The WGA and SAG strike brought to light the dismal state of how television operates today. Streaming services changed the landscape of television not just on the screen but also in how it’s written, directed, and produced. As fans and critics of these shows, we want the people who make the things we love to be fairly compensated. And we don’t want our favorite shows to keep disappearing.

Still, television this year managed to break us and uplift us. Some of the bleakest shows ended this year, on the same night no less. When shows like Barry and Succession end, it feels like a loss. But so many others are just starting. Rian Johnson brought his passion for detective stories to the small screen with Poker Face. One Piece broke the curse of live-action anime. Swarm dug deep into obsessive celebrity culture. Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which premiered this week on Disney+, is already looking like it’s here to stay. And The Last of Us revitalized the waning zombie genre (though somehow The Walking Dead is still holding strong with its successful spin-offs).

Other shows made magnificent returns. Nothing was more celebratory than David Tennant’s return as The Doctor for Doctor Who‘s 60th anniversary. Speaking of David Tennant, Good Omens also made a come back with a wonderful smaller-stakes Season 2. The Crown ended, as did The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. 911 ended its sixth season, got cancelled, then renewed by ABC. 911: Lone Star ended Season 4 with an emotional two-part finale, complete with death and weddings. The Summer I Turned Pretty brought shipping wars back to the forefront of pop culture conversation (did it ever leave?).

Not all of these shows made our list of best TV shows of 2023. However, despite the 15-point difference between number two and number 1 on this list, everything was pretty close. Because despite the weird state of television at the moment, there’s some absolute bangers out there, even if they are not on our list.

10. Lessons in Chemistry

Lessons in Chemistry took a beloved bestseller and expanded its source material into something entirely its own. What began as a story about a chemist who loved to cook unfolded into a love story, a tragedy, a tale of unlikely stardom, and an exploration of real-life history. Lessons in Chemistry changed its own rules every single episode, from unconventional narrators to jumping between timelines to expand the lore about characters we’d already come to love.

Brie Larson’s Elizabeth is a TV star in the series—and a hit with real-life viewers—for staying true to her principles and empowering women to use their talents to make a difference. It was a limited series, but if Elizabeth ever has more lessons to learn, we’d love to tune in. [Claire Di Maio]

9. Reservation Dogs

Across three seasons the Reservation Dogs team has used the medium of television to its fullest potential. Creator Sterlin Harjo and his team brought a whole world to life. The Reservation Dogs crew of Elora, Bear, Willie Jack, and Cheese are so well-drawn that part of me believes they’re really out there in a little corner of Oklahoma.

The third season closes this particular chapter in the lives of the Rez Dogs beautifully. With the core characters nearing the end of their journeys, Season 3 was able to find time to dive into the lives of the supporting characters. Community has always been at the heart of Reservation Dogs so episodes exploring the elders and the history of the tribe not only enriched the world but also highlighted the way the Rez Dogs fit into the vast tapestry of their community. Reservation Dogs is a minor miracle, a show that burst out of the gate confidently and with a defined identity, managed to stay at the top of its game for three seasons, and reached a satisfying conclusion. [Jose Cordova]

8. Heartstopper

After the candy-coated breeze that is Heartstopper‘s first season, the second season peels back the layers of what it means to be a queer high schooler. Nick obsesses about coming out while facing biphobia from the adults and kids around him. Charlie’s experience with bullying catches back up to him in the form of his eating disorder. Tara and Darcy navigate their first “I love you” while Darcy hides an abusive home situation. Elle and Tao stumble through their romantic feelings for each other while Tao’s jealousy about Elle’s new friends rears its head.

But it’s still Heartstopper, and the wholesome nature of the show allows these darker topics to be digestible. Nothing goes unsaid this season, so while some conversations are difficult to have, they do occur. Another stand-out element this season are the older queer people. Heartstopper has been praised for showcasing a more wholesome queer environment, but that’s not always the reality. That’s why it’s great that Mr. Farouk exists in this season. In Episode 6, Mr. Farouk explains to Mr. Ajayi that he didn’t know he was gay until his late twenties, and believes it’s too late for him to experience “any youthful moments of discovery.” Mr. Ajayi responds that “there is no age limit on those.” It’s a wonderful exchange, and a great addition to a second season that focuses more on the nuances of the coming out experience that Season 1 wasn’t quite interested in yet. [Katey Stoetzel]

7. The Fall of the House of Usher

Can I just say, “Wow!” Mike Flanagan hit it out of the park with his latest horror miniseries. The Fall of the House of Usher on Netflix was eight thrilling episodes of betrayals, family drama, and of course, death. And these weren’t just filler kills of no-name campy characters. Oh no, these were satisfying and bloody deaths of a crooked dynasty that had it coming.

The Fall of the House of Usher featured a beautifully written tale of a family that fell under the weight of their unlucky curse. What made this miniseries shine was the depth of these characters. Each family member was unique and complex; you truly understood their motivations and how they fit into this family. But as the deaths pick each family member off, you’ll be treated to one gloriously horrifying and shocking kill after the other. Grab your popcorn, TV fans. This is a must to watch! [Justin Carrerio]

6. Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary deserves its place as one of the best TV comedies to air in 2023. For one thing, the ABC workplace sitcom continues to pay homage to classic mockumentaries such as The Office and Modern Family while remaining remarkably fresh. At first blush, the series, which takes place in an underserved Philadephia public elementary school, may look like a staid faux documentary with its on-camera confessionals, shaky cam, and narration.

However, what makes the Quinta Brunson production a standout is that the show feels like it has delivered six impeccable seasons and a movie when, in actuality, it has only been two, partly thanks to its hilariously talented ensemble cast. Although we will not see second-grade teacher Janine and her messy but dedicated co-workers until February 2024 — thanks to studio heads fighting tooth and nail to pay its creatives unfair wages — it will be worth the wait. [Phylecia Miller]

5. Jury Duty

Jury Duty is a miracle of a show. So much so that it’s made our unlikely lead, Ronald, into an actual potential star. The sitcom series follows Ronald who believes he’s on jury duty with the only twist being that a camera crew will be filming for the sake of making a documentary that depicts the jury duty process. What he doesn’t know is that everyone from the judge, to the fellow jurors, are actors. That is aside from one, as he recgonizes James Marsden who is playing himself. As the series amps up it’s hilarity by constantly putting the hired actors into increasingly ridiculous situations in order to gain some sort of rise out of Ronald, the more we the audience realize that he might just actually be a nice guy, one of the biggest revelations of the show.

The ultimate goal, seemingly, was to get some hapless guy to lose his cool due to the outsized personalities and the slow, drawn out process of the trial. Instead, we start to root for Ronald’s kindness, as he champions underdogs and approaches everyone with an affable, compassionate spirit. The entire cast is hilarious with Marsden getting ample oppertunity to shine, but perhaps the biggest star is the editing and creative team behind the scenes as they have to stay constantly in the moment, trying to switch things up and throw Ronald up. It’s a hilarious concept that lives up to it’s pitch. The biggest hurdle will be Hollywood refraining from trying to bottle lightning twice. [Allyson Johnson]

4. Barry

Barry, the tonal 180 that was Bill Hader’s massive HBO experiment, finally came to a conclusion this year; we’re still devastated by its ending. What began as a dark comedy steadily cascaded into nihilistic drama and gallows humor as Barry Berkman finds himself in jail at the season’s start. At this stage, he’s more of a force of nature as the people he’s engaged with devolve into their most desperate, chaotic nature. Sally’s working through her own trauma while Gene’s rocky relationship with his family clashes with his ego to capitalize on the drama with Barry.

Hader’s time studying the writers room of Vince Gilligan’s Better Call Saul paid off, because Barry starts in such a macabre place that the desperate, dramatic turns taken for his characters throughout the series end in nothing except for misery, to the point it can be easy to forget the comedy roots the show had just a couple years ago. [Evan Griffin]

3. The Bear

The Bear Season 2 escaped the chaos of a barely functioning restaurant kitchen and entered the chaos of opening a business. As a result, this sophomore season streamlined it’s episodes to put more focus on its secondary characters. While Jeremy Allen White is still a powerhouse, shifting the screen time to the other employees makes The Bear more lived in.

It also allows them to grow. Season 1 was eight episodes of the old versus the new. When Carmy and Sydney decide to reopen as The Bear, they work to set up their employees for success. Marcus studies baking in Copenhagen, Tina goes to culinary school, and Ritchie shadows at a very prestigious restaurant. Each character comes into their own across Season 2’s ten episodes. [Katey Stoetzel]

2. Succession

Weaving a story of intergenerational trauma and the cycle of abuse perpetrated by those meant to protect you, Succession doubles down on this ideology in its quietly explosive fourth and final season. That Succession worked as well, as seamlessly, as it did is a near miracle. Expertly crafted with a level of precision that is protective over the story it’s telling and the characters who pave the way, the HBO series’ innate understanding of what made the Roy’s tick was integral to the narrative. It meant that when it leveraged emotional blows they were going to bruise upon impact.

Achored by the main cast delivering some of their finest work in the seires — with Kiernan Culkin being a particular standout — Succession has never been better. From the breathless third episode “Connor’s Wedding” that brought down a titan and left the Roy children scrambling, to “Church and State” that saw Roman finally, publically, crumble, to the thunderous finale “With Open Eyes,” season four delivered one staggering episode after another. In the end, the series mourns its characters fates while suggesting what we all know — the cycle will continue to move, and the damage will repeat itself. The ones who are lucky are those who are forcibly removed, and even then those who should be grateful may never be. [Allyson Johnson]

1. The Last of Us

HBO’s The Last of Us, based on the popular video game, takes the zombie genre to a whole new level when a parasitic fungus adapts to a warming planet and takes out most of the human race. In the post-apocalyptic landscape, the last vestiges of humanity are hanging on, largely through totalitarianism as they scramble for resources, and take every possible precaution against “the infected.” Make no mistake, the human villains are just as terrifying as the world-dominating fungus. 

But there’s hope. When the grizzled and jaded Joel (Pedro Pascal) agrees to shepherd the young Ellie (Bella Ramsey) across country, as her immunity to the infection may prove the key to ending this nightmare, he is unprepared for how fiercely he will come to love and strive to protect her. The series’ chilling tension is what draws you in, but the time it takes to drill down on its relationships, the quiet moments of connection, is what makes it great. [Linda Melah]

Honorable Mentions

Our Flag Means Death
Though it was working with less episodes, Season 2 of Our Flag Means Death showcased a full redemption arc for notorious Season 1 villain Izzy Hands. While Ed and Stede worked out their many issues, the rest of the crew had to work through their own trauma and toxicity aboard The Revenge. The shorter run time ultimately rushed the season’s end, it still delivered on many fronts, including putting Wee John in drag. [Katey Stoetzel]

Poker Face
Rian Johnson brings his flavor of mystery storytelling to TV and absolutely nails it. Natasha Lyonne is operating at the height of her powers in Poker Face as reluctant detective and human lie detector Charlie Cale. A keen understanding of how to deploy and subvert whodunnit tropes and a murderer’s row of guest stars makes Poker Face a zippy and engaging watch. [Jose Cordova]

My Adventures with Superman
Over the past few decades, it’s been the DC animated television slate that’s best captured the DC superheroes compared to it’s live action figures. This trend continues with the lively, sweet, and introspective My Adventures with Superman. Clark Kent is voiced by Jack Quaid in a story that looks to reevaluate the Man of Steel while also keeping true to some of the core essence of what makes Superman such an icon — this version does, in fact, help cats out of trees. With gorgeous visuals and score cues that marry together classical immagery with clear, anime nods, it’s one of the best shows of the year and yet another reminder of the depth capable in animation. [Allyson Johnson]

Gen V
Spin-offs are always tough to get right but Gen V succeeds by grafting the cynical superhero reality of The Boys onto a familiar coming-of-age story. A crop of talented young actors makes it easy to invest in these characters and their struggle to find their place in this terrible world. The first season of Gen V proves the show is more than a sidekick. [Jose Cordova]

Only Murders in the Building
How many more murders can The Arconia take? Just when amateur detectives and podcast hosts Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin were in the clear, another death befalls New York’s deadliest building. Only Murders in the Building moved to its quirkest setting yet: a Broadway musical that spawned some of 2023’s catchiest earworms. The addition of Meryl Streep and Paul Rudd brought gravity to Hulu’s wickedly funny dramedy, which returns in 2024 for more murder and mayhem. [Claire Di Maio]

---

Images courtesy of Hulu, Max, HBO, Peacock, Prime Video, Adult Swim, ABC, Netflix, FX, and Apple TV+