The Last of Us Season 1 — MAX
Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckman (co-president of Naughty Dog game development) teamed up with HBO to pull off the impossible with the launch of the post-apocalyptic drama, The Last of Us. They cast Pedro Pascal (The Mandalorian) at the absolute height of his popularity. They gave Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) a platform to expand and diversify their already impressive resume. Most importantly, they put story and theme ahead of spectacle as they developed a compelling human drama. The end result was the first video game adaptation to garner extensive, prestige-level coverage and acclaim without drawing negative attention for the material’s video game origins.
Don’t be fooled by the source material. This show makes it very clear that it is aiming for a larger fanbase than the dedicated gamers who have been singing the praises of the franchise for years; sure, the longtime fans have an edge when it comes to some of the biggest reveals the series has to offer, but the action takes a back seat to character and emotion. Most importantly, the show knows where to make changes and unearth rich storytelling potential. One of the single greatest episodes of television this year (perhaps of all time), “Long, Long Time” (episode 1.3), reinvents a couple of one-dimensional characters from the game and transforms them into the center of an epic and nuanced love story about devotion and compromise.
If you are drawn to complex human stories with complex themes, this is the show for you. It can move you to tears with the beauty of a loving relationship, but also explore the danger of that type of love (should we really do anything for the people we love?).
….and of course, there are also a bunch of mushroom zombies that remind us of our existential helplessness in the face of nature’s unceasing ability to adapt and survive.
-Randy Allain
Ahsoka — Disney+
Ahsoka was this writer’s #1 show of the year for two reasons.
The first reason is very personal. This is the first Star Wars property — which I have held close to my heart since I was a small child — my daughter was completely into. Sure, she like everyone else loved Baby Yoda/Grogu, but she could’ve cared less about the rest of the series. However, when she saw that Ahsoka had not one but three women in leading roles (plus two strong supporting roles), she was all in. She dressed as her for Halloween, has the toys and Legos and anxiously watched the entire series. To me, a huge W for dad.
Speaking critically, the series is one of the all-around best Star Wars shows to date. While Andor was absolutely phenomenal, it was a very serious and somber journey through the Star Wars galaxy. Ahsoka, meanwhile, was able to retain the fun and adventure of Star Wars while also tackling the concepts of trauma, failure, impostor syndrome, survivor’s remorse and more. The action was terrific. The worlds we were taken to were breathtaking, and honestly let’s hope there’s more of this series coming back to our screens real soon.
-Bill Bodkin
Shrinking — AppleTV+
Back in January, Apple TV+ premiered Shrinking, a new project from creators Bill Lawrence (Scrubs), Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother), and Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso). While this series didn’t catch fire with the intensity of Lawrence and Goldstein’s Ted Lasso, it has been winning over new viewers all year.
Jason Segel stars as Jimmy, a spiraling widower who has fully detached from his teen daughter and fallen into the throes of depression. This state of affairs is all the more disturbing when we realize that Jimmy is still a practicing therapist. In a moment of frustration, Jimmy becomes a “vigilante” therapist against the good advice of his coworkers Gaby (Jessica Williams, Booksmart) and Paul (Harrison Ford, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). While his renegade therapy yields mixed results, it also pushes Jimmy down his own path of practicing self-care, taking responsibility for his actions, and making amends. Mental health professionals will be rightly disturbed by some of Jimmy’s unethical choices, but it looks like he will still have to reckon with his recklessness.
Perhaps the biggest reason to watch the show is the absolutely delightful turn from Harrison Ford as Paul. We are so used to watching a curmudgeonly Ford grimace and grunt through various genre offerings, it is easy to forget his full range as an actor. Shrinking certainly gives us Ford’s full range. Paul has an easy time playing the part of the mentor, but we slowly come to understand his baggage as well. Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie (Players), and Christa Miller (Cougar Town), also shine as part of an ensemble that is strong from top to bottom.
-Randy Allain
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story — Netflix
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story has swiftly earned its place as one of the best TV shows of 2023 by captivating new and already-established fans of Bridgerton with its irresistible blend of continuing the period drama and diving deeper into a character that seemed to be figured out already — little did the viewers know. The series delves into the personal backstory of young Queen Charlotte (India Ria Amarteifio, Sex Education) and young King George (Corey Mylchreest, The Sandman).
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story not only maintains the high production standards set by its predecessor but also expands the Bridgerton universe with a fresh perspective. Here, viewers see how much Charlotte has gone through, shaping her to be the Queen she was and will continue to be in Bridgerton. With its blend of even more romance, scandal, and wit, the series has become a cultural phenomenon, proving that it not only lives up to the legacy of Bridgerton but stands on its own as a must-watch masterpiece.
-Amanda Clark
Poker Face — Peacock
In Poker Face, creator Rian Johnson and lead actress Natasha Lyonne explore an important question: what would Columbo look like in 2023? Well, it turns out our hero wouldn’t actually be a cop (or a man), but she would share Peter Falk’s disarming quirk and inquisitive raspy voice. She would pair that schtick with her signature disheveled-chic chaos, and this time around, she would be a human lie detector doing her best to avoid conflict and responsibility – but never at the cost of her personal integrity. Meet Charlie Cale.
Over the course of ten episodes, Poker Face manages to lay a throwback case-of-the-week structure over the skeleton of a larger threat. It’s an impressive balancing act. We get variety in tone and setting, a whole host of incredible guest stars eager to play off of Lyonne, and larger stakes to keep us invested. While the tone shifts from high art to playful hijinks and back again, we end the season with one of the best stretches of television we got all year.
Grab your aviators, hop behind the wheel of your vintage Barracuda, and buckle up for television’s greatest road trip!
Blue Eye Samurai – Netflix
From Netflix comes another excellent animated show this year with Blue Eye Samurai. Not only does it have a star-studded cast that delivers a powerful punch in their voice-acting, it brings beautiful cinematography and art to the table, along with an impactful story to match.
Blue Eye Samurai is set in Edo-period Japan, in a time where borders are closed to outsiders. Mizu (voiced by Maya Erskine, Obi-Wan Kenobi), who is half Japanese and half White (her father being an “outsider”), is bullied for who she is, and she’s forced to hide pieces of herself. She embarks on a quest for revenge against the four white men who were in Japan when she was born, as she thinks one of them is her father. Along with an intriguing batch of characters, namely Ringo (Masi Oka, Heroes), Taigen (Darren Barnet, Never Have I Ever), and princess Akemi (Brenda Song, Dollface), we witness Mizu’s journey to defeat her demons and explore her past, from abandonment and secrets, to sword making and love.
The show delves into important themes like family, gender, race, and belonging, and it will keep you at the edge of your seat. If you love animated television or are looking for a gripping, visually stunning series to fall into, Blue Eye Samurai is one of the best of 2023.
-Avani Goswami
