My Top TV Shows of 2023
Disclaimer: what follows is a ranking based on my personal tastes. Also the ranking of the top 3 in particular is arbitrary as each is about as close to perfection as TV gets in my opinion.
10. Foundation S2, Apple TV+
While season 1 of Foundation got a bit bogged down in world building, season 2 has more compelling plots and mysteries. It’s a beautiful, expensive series that finds clever ways to keep us invested despite its centuries-long timeline.
9. Silo S1, Apple TV+
Silo is a well-executed mystery box show. Every episode gives fills out the world and manages to answer old questions while asking new ones. I’m optimistic that this will all lead to a satisfying conclusion (I’m side-eying Lost right now) because it is based on a series of books.
8. Beef S1, Netflix
My son and my wife both recommended this one to me, and thank god they did. It starts with a simple premise, a beef born out of a road rage incident, that keeps building in surprising ways that leads to a wild climax.
7. The Marvelous Mrs Maisel S5, Prime Video
The final season of Mrs Maisel really sticks the landing. It finishes the arc of the original timeline while giving us glimpses of the main character’s future, culminating in a gratifying final episode, and a more sweet than bitter conclusion to Midge’s story.
6. Loki S2, Disney+
To call Loki a superhero show really undermines what the creators have accomplished here (and I like superhero shows). The production design is incredible, whether it be the retro offices, the automat or the authentic 1980s McDonalds; the CGI is beautiful and the characters are fun. The plot may not hold together perfectly but the writers, in an almost 4th-wall-breaking bit of exposition, let the audience know that this world follows the laws of fiction, not science.
5. Fargo S5, Hulu
It may be unfair to include Fargo in this list as I’ve only seen four of season 5’s 10 episodes, but I’m loving it so far. Juno Temple was amazing in Ted Lasso and in Fargo she continues to kill it with a far different type of character. Jon Hamm is so captivating to watch as he chews through whatever scene he is in. Also, this season is a bizarro-world twist of an homage to the original film.
4. Barry S4, Max
I’ve heard some people say that Barry isn’t really a comedy but I disagree, this is the funniest dark comedy I can think of. Bill Hader directs every episode of the final season and it shows. His mastery of one-shots is up there with Scorsese and Spielberg. It’s an outstanding end to an outstanding show.
3. The Last of Us S1, Max
After going cold on The Walking Dead, which ironically now is a franchise that refuses to die, I was hesitant to invest in another zombie series, but holy shit this show is really something else. Every single episode was extremely compelling on its own and left me counting the days until the next, eventually leading to an ending that totally caught me off guard. We won’t see season 2 until 2025 and it can’t come fast enough.
2. The Bear S2, Hulu
Season 1 of The Bear was one of 2022’s most delightful surprises. Just explaining the premise of this show can’t do justice to how riveting it is to watch. My only complaint is that Hulu released all of season 2 at once because, just like a course at a Michelin-rated restaurant, each episode needs to be savored and discussed individually, whether that be the season’s feel-good high of Forks or the unrelenting craziness of Fishes. This entire show is chef’s kiss.
1. Succession S4, Max
The final season of Succession is as good as anything I’ve ever seen on TV. Every episode twisted and turned in ways I didn’t see coming, especially Connor’s Wedding, but ultimately gives us a satisfying answer to the essential premise of the series. The ending is more bitter than sweet because… haven’t you been paying attention?
I cried twice during this season, and I’m not a cryer. Every scene was captivating and I can’t wait to binge the entire series to pick up on the nuances I missed the first time through, which is the hallmark of excellent television.
Honorable Mentions (unranked and sorted by streamer)
- Ted Lasso S3, Apple TV+
- For All Mankind S4, Apple TV+
- Slow Horses S3, Apple TV+
- Ahsoka S1, Disney+
- The Mandalorian S3, Disney+
- The Crown S6, Netflix
- Star Trek: Picard S3, Paramount+
- Star Trek: Strange New Worlds S2, Paramount+
- Poker Face S1, Peacock
