Welcome to our list of the 10 best TV series of 2022! We, Tom and Saskia, have scoured the small screen to bring you a selection of the most highly-rated and critically-acclaimed shows of the year. From gripping dramas to laugh-out-loud comedies, there's something for everyone on this list. We hope you enjoy reading about our picks and discover some new shows to add to your watchlist.
Bridgerton Season 2
Bridgerton very quickly became a cult classic when season one was first released days before Christmas in 2020. Breaking barriers – and Netflix records – by turning a blind eye to race and giving classic musical numbers a Regency-era spin, Bridgerton had fans swooning over its ‘ships’ and steamy nature. Although season two may have been lacking in the latter, following the journey of Kate and Anthony, as well as the fallout of the big Lady Whistledown reveal, was exactly the kind of entertainment we needed to start the year off with a Julia Quinn-style bang.
Derry Girls Season 3
No one likes it when their comfort show comes to an end, and Derry Girls, however brief, was that show for a lot of people. Lisa McGee announced that this season of Derry Girls would in fact be the last, but at least she sent the girls (and James) out in style. The final season of Derry Girls was every bit as loveable as the last two. With more shenanigans, more hijinks, and more emotion than ever, Lisa McGee and the gang left on high. With surprise guest stars like Liam Neeson, and a fallout I think we all probably guessed was brewing, Derry Girls will go down in history for its simplistic originality, beaming Irish pride, and nonstop hilarity at every turn.
Stranger Things Vol. 4
I’m not ashamed to admit that I was a late passenger on the Stranger Things bandwagon. Not wanting to give in to the nostalgia of the 80s, I avoided it with haste. However, this year I decided to give in and watched all 4 seasons in one week. Stranger Things Vol 4 brought us Vecna (the internet’s new favourite guilty pleasure) and the return of Kate Bush’s Running Up That Hill – need I say more? Although, if that wasn’t enough, Nancy became a badass, Robin got a love interest, and Hopper lives. Stranger Things is truly a remarkable show that crosses generations and gives you a nonstop thrill ride. Max’s famous scene will live with us fans forever, and I can’t wait to see what happens on our next trip to the Upside Down.
Love is Blind Season 3
Say what you want about reality shows, but Love is Blind is top-tier trash TV that tugs at my heartstrings whilst simultaneously making me swear off relationships forever. After the disappointment of season two and the unlikability of most of the cast, season three had a lot of making up to do, but I’m pleased to report that it succeeded. There was drama, plot twists, heartbreak, and some big revelations. Love is Blind is a reality show that is trying to do good in a sea of unethical and superficial competition (uhum, Love Island) but what makes Love is Blind different is the way it recognises that and tries to be as transparent as possible. I will be there when Season 4 drops, ready for the next instalment of drama, fauxmance, and perhaps even the occasional happy ending.
Harry and Meghan (Limited Series)
As sick of this story as I am, and I’m sure you are too, the Harry and Meghan documentary was a sight to behold. Simultaneously being one of the sweetest and most devastating things I’ve seen this year, Harry and Meghan touch on so many important issues, in as much of an unfiltered way as possible for the unique situation they are in. Combining the UK’s unnatural fascination with the Royal family, as well as exposing the audacity of the UK press and finally reclaiming their narrative, Harry and Meghan reminds us of the importance of true love, accountability, and having your voice heard. A limited series it may be but the gravity of informing people of the excruciating reality of being a Black woman in the UK has no limit.
Severance Season 1
Apple TV may have had a slow start, but the service has really started to step into its own for high quality programming. That quality is most on display with Severance, a science fiction psychological thriller directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle. It follows Mark (Adam Scott), an employee of Lumon Industries that agreed to work in the “severance programme”, where his work memories are separated from his personal life memories. The series had a creeping sense of unease as the threads of a conspiracy are discovered and pulled at, and the bizarre company culture is teasingly unveiled to us. It’s gripping viewing, and season 2 can’t come soon enough.
What We Do In The Shadows Season 4
I’m a real latecomer to WWDITS, but having finally succumbed to the growing demands that I watch it, I am hooked. The easiest way to describe this is “The Office, but with vampires”. This mockumentary follows the antics of four hapless vampires who all houseshare, and their familiar who longs to also become a vampire. It was created by Jermaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords) and is based on the film of the same name, which was created by Clement and Taika Waititi. It has great writing, great acting, and a shocking amount of guest stars.
Andor Season 1
If like many you were burnt out (or just burned) by the rapid fire mediocrity of the Disney era Star Wars, then I can understand why you might have given this a miss. The sell was perhaps even harder when considering it’s a prequel to Rogue One, and the first two episodes were pretty dry. But please stick with it, as this is possibly the best Star Wars product Disney has released (with The Mandalorian coming a close second) – and what’s more, it basically requires no knowledge of Star Wars to be enjoyed. It follows Cassian Andor as he finds himself entangled with the Rebel cause and his early missions with them. Once you’ve gotten over the hump of the set-up, Andor is a real blast, and the Star Wars franchise hugely benefits from stepping back from the Skywalker mythos.
The Boys Season 3
Anybody who has spent enough time talking to me about TV will know that I’m a big fan of The Boys, which is streaming on Amazon Prime. The show asks the question of what the world would be like if superheroes were will, corporatised, and just absolute assholes. The Boys Season 3 continues the bombastic, gory efforts of ‘The Boys’, a group of humans that have tasked themselves with keeping the Supes in check, and has introduced more elements from the comic series by Garth Ennis, while maintaining its own unique spin on the story. While Season 3 doesn’t surpass its predecessors, it certainly lives up to them, so if you’re buying what The Boys is selling, Season 3 will have you covered!
Peacemaker Season 1
When I first heard they were making a Peacemaker series, I was sceptical. Yes, John Cena had played the psychopathically patriotic assassin exceedingly well in James Gunn’s 2021 The Suicide Squad, but what was there left to do with the character? It turns out, quite a lot. This show had humour, action, and a totally unexpected level of heart and trauma in it, and Cena, for me at least, really solidified his transition to a ‘serious actor’ with the show. Supported by an exceptional cast of talent, and the genius that is Gunn as showrunner, Peacemaker had me laughing, crying, and desperate for more DC shows of this calibre. It obviously impressed the people at Warner Bros Discovery, as Gunn is now co-CEO and co-chairman of DC Studios. To be honest, the show’s intro is enough to give it a chance – it’s glorious.
0 Comments