Top 10 Best TV Shows of 2023
#10: “Gen V” (2023-)
Top 10 Best TV Shows of 2023 (So Far)
Season 1 In a world where many superhero franchises have become less and less– well– super, “The Boys” fans can relish in the fact that this spin-off is an absolute delight! In “Gen V,” we follow a crew of up-and-coming heroes attending the “God U” School of Crimefighting, as they vie for one of the school’s top spots as part of “The Seven.” The show does a great job of differentiating itself from its predecessor, exploring similar ideas of the moral responsibilities of power with a fresh and relatable coming-of-age lens. It’s gross, it’s fun, it’s weird– everything young adulthood is– but with superpowers! What more could you ask for?
#9: “The Righteous Gemstones” (2019-)
Top 10 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2023
Season 3 Danny McBride, you’ve done it again! Season three of “The Righteous Gemstones” continues to deliver the same balance of suspense, action, and absurdity, all while staying grounded in its core themes of family and corruption. Not to mention, the dialogue– and each character's one-of-a-kind delivery of it– remains some of the sharpest and funniest on television today. Despite the Gemstone family’s often strange and abhorrent behavior, the series still manages to find heart and sympathy for its leads at every twist and turn. Oh, and Walton Goggins as Baby Billy is the performance of a lifetime. We said what we said.
#8: “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (2022-)
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Season 2 Trekkies, unite! While the Patrick Stewart-led series “Star Trek: Picard” wrapped up with its third installment in 2023,“Strange New Worlds” makes our list as it continues to impress fans in its second season! The prequel series sticks to its guns– or should we say, its phasers– by embracing the classic Star Trek’s episodic nature, focusing on unique, individual storylines and general character arcs over the course of the season. But even if you’re not a die-hard fan of the OG franchise, you can still enjoy this out-of-this-world sci-fi romp across the galaxy for its lighthearted tone, adventure-filled plots, and even– spoiler alert– a musical number!
#7: “Beef” (2023-)
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Season 1 Who hasn’t gotten such bad road rage that they literally plotted to ruin the other person’s entire life? … Right? Well, regardless, that’s the hook that thrusts us into the Netflix original “Beef,” starring powerhouse performers Ali Wong and Steven Yeun. The whole concept is undoubtedly fresh and daring, taking the extremely human experience of suppressed emotion and using it as a vehicle to investigate the lives of its two lead characters– and their mutual hatred for one another. Plus, all the artful symbolism used throughout the series makes it a perfect rewatch contender! Not that we didn’t get it the first time. We totally got it.
#6: “The Fall of the House of Usher” (2023)
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Speaking of symbolism, where are our Edgar Allan Poe fans? This Mike Flanagan miniseries has everything– big pharma, acid rain… a series of brutal and mysterious deaths… and uh, Mark Hamil! It’s a fantastically spooky watch, coalescing a variety of Poe tales to create a new narrative about a wealthy family’s dark history and gorey downfall. The story spans generations and digs into each character’s literally fatal flaws, all within the larger context of a criminal investigation and confession by the Usher patriarch, Roderick. It’s difficult to truly capture the scope of this gothic drama– you’ll just have to watch and see for yourself!
#5: “Poker Face” (2023-)
Season 1 We’d likely be entertained listening to Natasha Lyonne read the phone book, but nobody owns phone books anymore, so we’ll just watch “Poker Face” instead. Rian Johnson directs this next-generation “Columbo,” as we watch central character Charlie investigate murder mysteries across the country while on the lam. Oh, and she has a secret skill in her back pocket– she’s a human lie detector. Every episode has a different setting and vibe, but one is as incredibly entertaining and genuinely intriguing of a whodunit as the next! Unfortunately, Lady Gaga does not make an appearance. Maybe season two!
#4: “Barry” (2018-23)
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Season 4 In its final season, everyone’s favorite hitman-turned-actor Barry continues to attempt to forge a path towards redemption despite his increasingly villainous behavior throughout the run of the show. Not only is Barry one of TV history’s most captivating and irredeemable anti-heroes, the entire cast of this dark comedy– emphasis on the dark– carry the series with defining performances. The show has never faltered, always masterfully blending high stakes tension just enough levity to keep the audience on the edge of their seats. We won’t spoil the finale for you– we’ll just say that each character meets satisfying ends, and that you’ll have to see it for yourself!
#3: “The Bear” (2022-)
Top 10 Most Anticipated TV Shows of 2023
Season 2 Every guy in their 20s’ favorite Halloween costume is now a hit TV series! Okay, kidding. “The Bear” followed up on its mega-popular first season with another banger of season two– a feat that many shows are unable to accomplish! We dig deeper into the Berzatto family history, all while Carmy and Sydney begin to turn the restaurant from a small-time sandwich shop, into what they hope will become a Michelin star spot. What continues to impress about the series is how incredibly raw and human each character’s story is, both impeccably written and acted as such. If that doesn’t convince you to give it a watch– there are some star-studded cameos that might!
#2: “The Last of Us” (2023-)
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Season 1 This post-apocalyptic series was adapted from the mega-popular video game, and has been a hit with existing fans and new audiences alike! We wonder why pandemic-centric content might appeal to so many people… sorry, too real? Anyways, the story of infection survivor Joel and immune teenager Ellie is as thrilling as it is emotional taxing. Seriously, this isn’t a series you can watch without the tissues at arm’s length. But it’s these intricately crafted heart-wrenching moments that are what make “The Last of Us” so impactful, instead of becoming just another gorey outbreak show. We can’t wait to see the seasons to come! Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Reservation Dogs” (2021-23)
Season 3 We Delve Deeper Into the Rez Dogs’ Histories in the Final Season of This Coming-Of-Age Dramedy
“Loki” (2021-)
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Season 2 Tom Hiddleston Gives Us a Fantastic Performance in a Story Filled With Exciting Twists
“Abbott Elementary” (2021-)
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Season 2 Janine & Co Continue to Bring Us Joy, and Shed Light on the Realities of the Education System
“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (2017-23)
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Season 5 The Curtains Close On Miriam’s Story, as We See Her Road to Stardom Finally Unfold
“One Piece” (2023-)
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Season 1 An Enjoyable, Superfan-Approved, Live-Action Adaptation of the Fantasy-Adventure Anime
#1: “Succession” (2018-23)
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Season 4 Ah, corporate America. The Roy children have been clawing for the top spot at Waystar RoyCo, and in the show’s final season, we finally see the winner take it all as a succession actually takes place. But before that– we’re taken on a rollercoaster of major business deals, a presidential election, and… Connor’s Wedding. If you know, you know. There’s no denying that this show deserves all the praise it's received by critics and audiences alike. It’s a fascinating look into the world of incomprehensible wealth and power, where our key players couldn’t be more childlike and dysfunctional. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, and you’ll never get that theme song out of your head!
