Changes from 2022:
As always with TV these days, this list will barely have any consistency year over year. In 2023, I will have 15 shows that didn't make the cut in 2022, namely because of a plethora of shows that either were miniseries or just ended in 2022, and two that I just didn't get around to watching.
#19 - Irma Vep
#15 - The Flight Attendant
#14 - The Rehearsal (gonna assume it's done)
#7 - We Own This City
#5 - Better Call Saul
#2 - The Dropout
Didn't Air in 2023
#20 - The Old Man
#18 - Hacks
#16 - Peacemaker
#11 - Andor
#10 - House of the Dragon
#9 - The White Lotus
#1 - Stranger Things
Wasn't as Good / Didn't Watch
#17 - The Gilded Age
#13 - Minx
20.) Perry Mason (Season 2, HBO)
The show got cancelled during the HBO purge, and while I would've watched a 3rd season had there been one, it was a bit clear the show just never really stuck its landing. The performances were phenomenal all across the board, from Matthew Rhys in the lead role to all the supporting characters. The exploration of early-20th Century LA racial dynamics took an interesting viewpoint but ultimately even with better focus in its second season, the darkness of the show just played out a bit too negative on screen compared to the written material. Enough went on to keep it entertaining but in the end maybe another trip through this source material is needed to get it fully right.
19.) The Diplomat (Season 1, NETFLIX)
After talking about Matthew Rhys's latest vehicle, let's get to his The Americans co-star, with Keri Russell who carried this show about a career ambassador getting caught in a web of intrigue after being given what was supposed to be a do-nothing ambassador post. I don't know how much of the inner workings of the political stuff in teh show is true, but it definitely read interesting. The constant elevation of the wild husband didn't always work for me, but man was Keri Russell fantastic, as were the various British pols that had to control and manager her. Fun show, that I'm glad NETFLIX supported.
18.) Party Down (Season 3, Starz)
The revival people wanted (including myself) forever was worth the wait. It definitely wasn't as good as the original show, but I don't think anyone was expecting that. Missing out on getting Lizzy Kaplan was tough, and probably cost it a few spots as the Henry/Casey interplay was such a crucial part of the first run. But aside from that the new characters in Tyrell and Lucy were both well integrated super early and well. Jennifer Garner even was super believable in someone who would fall for a cater waiter. The show also maybe took the most creative approach to weaving in the pandemic as a story point. Not having Lizzy there made it feel just slightly incomplete at the end of the day, but it was just so good to have these seven doofuses back in our lives again after so many years.
17.) I Think You Should Leave (Season 3, NETFLIX)
On the downside, I don't think there was one out and out masterpiece sketch. On the upside, there probably was as high a floor or median sketch than the past two seasons. There were some brilliant moments, like the High Security Doggy Door sketch which may have some of the funniest moments of any sketch to date, and of course the food order for the Pay it Forward sketch. As always it used the roving trope of regulars super well also. I'm just glad NETFLIX has supported this show that I'm sure is watched less than its great constant meme-ified presence in the areas of the net I frequent make me think it was. Tim Robinson is a god, and even if there wasn't an outright killer like a Coffin Flop or whatnot, the little moments were every bit as good on the 3rd go aroud.
16) A Murder at the End of the World (FX)
This show was very good, but really should have been better. Namely I wish this would've been a 10-episode miniseries. I hate that the new norm is the 7-8 episode range. There was a lot of good stuff here, namely anything Emma Corrin did. Corrin was amazing throughout, both in the flashbacks where we got to see them and the younger Bill character fall in love, and undersatnd what made Darby tick, and then everything in the present as she unraveled the fake world around Darby. The scenery, the views, the magic of that Iceland bunker was amazing as well. I could've done without the final conceit being this is all a giant AI-goes-bad story, but even that was well played and not at all what I expected when firing up the final episode. Great show, but with a few tweaks could have been even better.
