This year in TV was largely dominated by big franchises and returning heavy hitters. Not a single brand new, non-franchise series made this list. Now I don’t know if that says more about this year in TV or just “my” year in TV, but it’s interesting nevertheless. In saying that, this year gave us some truly epic seasons of TV, so lets start breaking these down.
Honourable Mentions
While not quite good enough to make this list, the following three shows are still worthy of an honourable mention. Coming up first is You, which officially ended the stalking escapades of Joe with its fifth and final season. It’s a shame that it couldn’t make the numbered list despite delivering its best season. It had neat twists and turns, all while remaining fun through to the end. It may be sad, but where one show dies, another is born. Alien: Earth brought the franchise to TV for the first time and largely nailed it. There’s moments in which it pays homage to the tone of the original film, which is awesome, and moments where it builds on the lore of the franchise, which is also cool. It’s just that it gets too convoluted in the tail end, leading to an awful finale that single handedly made it miss this list. Last but not least is The Sandman, a series that appeared on my Top 10 list back in 2022, but dropped the ball with its second season. This was set up to be an epic series that could’ve rivaled that top spot, but this season had too many subpar narratives amongst the phenomenal ones, lowering my overall enjoyment.
#10 – Ginny & Georgia (Season 3)
What a ride we’ve been on with this series. Ginny & Georgia has gone from a cheesy teen drama that I made fun of and was touching on guilty pleasure status, to a quality series that’s edged into my Top 10. This season, while still maintaining the little quirks that make it unique, ramped up the dramatic elements tenfold to the point where I was exhibiting genuine care for some characters. It plays with its cliffhanger endings really well, creating tension out of misdirects that had me bingeing it faster than anticipated. If the show continues in this trajectory, it could climb higher.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Ginny & Georgia by clicking here.
#9 – Only Murders in the Building (Season 5)
It wouldn’t be another year of TV without Only Murders in the Building getting a mention in this list. This show’s ability to remain consistently funny, inventive and engaging after five seasons of murder mysteries is incredible. It may never crack the upper half of this list, but to be one of the best shows of the year for the last five years running is a testament to its originality. It’s fun, it’s silly, it’s hilarious and it’s thrilling; it literally ticks every box with what I want from this series.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Only Murders in the Building by clicking here.
#8 – The Night Agent (Season 2)
This is maybe one of the most blissfully refreshing shows I’ve had the pleasure of watching in the last few years. It’s very much a throwback spy thriller loaded with subplots that interlink and overlap in ways that are both unbelievable and awesome. The Night Agent is wonderfully fast paced, meaning even though this season is a little bloated, it moves along so quickly that you’re just always entertained. The scope of the narrative is greatly expanded in this season, setting up the potential for even more epic spy thriller action in the next season.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of The Night Agent by clicking here.
#7 – Daredevil: Born Again (Season 1)
Saying this is the first season feels both wrong and right at the same time. Daredevil: Born Again revives Charlie Cox’s Daredevil and puts him back on the path of vigilante justice, this time firmly within the MCU. This season is saved by its painfully obvious reshoots. The new content (the first episode, last episode, and a couple moments in between) greatly enhance the impact of the season’s core narrative. Without those moments, this series would’ve probably been dead in the water. But with its brutal, bloody action and the terrifying presence of Vincent D’Onofrio’s Wilson Fisk, this is a must-watch for any Daredevil fan.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Daredevil: Born Again by clicking here.
#6 – The White Lotus (Season 3)
I don’t know exactly what it is about The White Lotus, but there’s something about the quirky characters, blatant satire and uncomfortable relationships that just scratches my brain. Mike White knows how to craft a narrative that’s ripe with tension and suspense no matter which characters are being focused on. Every single crazy personality adds something unique to this season, making it a thoroughly enjoyable ride that I can’t get enough of. It’s not all about the anthology-esque storytelling either, as this season has some wonderful throughlines to seasons passed that are just perfect.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of The White Lotus by clicking here.
#5 – Poker Face (Season 2)
Without a doubt the most bittersweet addition to this list is Poker Face; the murder mystery anthology from the mind of Rian Johnson that has since been brutally cancelled. Each episode follows Charlie Cale taking on a new murder mystery case, forcing her to interact with fresh faces and crazy personalities that make for hilarious dynamics. The tone of this series is both serious and entirely unserious, with each mystery filled with crazy twists and unexpected turns that keep you on your toes. Being an anthology, not every episode is a awe-inspiring as the last, but there’s an entertaining edge to even the episodes that don’t quite hit as well. I have full faith Johnson will be able to find a new home to continue this series, so jump on it.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Poker Face by clicking here.
#4 – IT: Welcome to Derry (Season 1)
One thing’s for certain when it comes to IT: Welcome to Derry; its place on this list has nothing to do with recency bias. Andy Muschietti’s return to the Pennywise character is a supernatural horror spectacle. It harbours the same spine-chilling tone as the films, only expanded on with a slower, more terrifying pace and even more blood-soaked horror sequences. The new cast of characters are very fun to follow and easy to root for, but it’s Bill Skarsgård and his truly phenomenal performance that elevates the series to this height. His Pennywise is as chaotic and menacing as he is hilarious. It’s a slow build to even get to this form of the character, but boy is it worth it.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of IT: Welcome to Derry by clicking here.
#3 – The Last of Us (Season 2)
The first season of The Last of Us was about as perfect as it gets, hence being my #1 show of 2023. This season always had an uphill battle ahead of it in terms of its storytelling, given the unconventional structure of the game, but it managed to overcome almost every hurdle. It’s packed with tense sequences and action-packed set-pieces from start to finish, all while telling a deeply emotional narrative that’s ripe with surprises. There’s an issue of flow I talked about in my review, but given the difficulty of presenting this narrative in a TV show, I say they’ve done the absolute best that they could. Plus we have another season to marvel at the superb performances from Pedro Pascal and especially Bella Ramsay, so what’s not to love?
Check out my full non-spoiler review of The Last of Us by clicking here.
#2 – Severance (Season 2)
Back in 2022, Severance was bested by Stranger Things in my Top 10 list, and despite delivering a 10/10 season it has been bested once again. Despite that, Severance is without a doubt the best high-concept sci-fi series on TV right now, and potentially one of the greatest to exist. The writing of every single scene and line of dialogue is so deliberate that it will have you racking your brain week after week while trying to piece together the layers of mystery that lie within. This season is a masterpiece of suspense, intrigue and drama, setting all of our characters on paths that are deeply engaging and thrilling on their own. Packed with quality writing, stunning cinematography, an electric score and divine performances, Severance is the very definition of must-see TV.
Check out my spoiler-filled episode reviews of Severance by clicking here.
#1 – Stranger Things 5
Here’s a fun fact; the lowest Stranger Things has ever appeared on my Top 10 lists is second place, so it’s only fitting that the series’ biggest and most ambitious season takes out the top spot… one final time. From start to finish this final season is exceptional; it’s laser-focused on bringing the entire series to a close, capping off every character arc in a way that satisfying and rewarding for the fans. It encapsulates why we fell in love with the series nearly 10 years ago, but also shows how much its grown into an epic-scale cultural icon. This final season is riddled with enough tension, suspense and “holy shit” moments to keep you locked in through every episode. It’s even packed with a number of emotional moments that will get the tears flowing. Not only that, but the finale itself perfect for what this series is. I don’t have a single negative note when it comes to the finale, something the Duffer brothers executed to perfection. It’s heartbreaking to say farewell to this series, but I guess the silver lining is it gives other shows more of a chance to steal the #1 spot… looking at you, Severance.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Stranger Things 5: Vol. 1 by clicking here.
Check out my full non-spoiler review of Stranger Things 5: Vol. 2 by clicking here.
Check out my full SPOILER review of the Stranger Things 5 Finale by clicking here.
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