Top 10 TV Shows of 2023
The Crimson Arts Board presents its television favorites of 2023, from "Succession" to "Jury Duty."
1. “Succession” (Season Four)
2023 marked the cessation of “Succession,” a show that television fans and critics alike will forever speak of as one of the greatest, to be mentioned in the same breath as “The Sopranos,” “Breaking Bad,” and the like. Unlike many shows nowadays, which run themselves into the ground, extending their stories long past their rightful ending like zombified corpses, “Succession” ended on a high, dignified note. The pinnacle of Season 4’s artistry (and perhaps that of the entire series) arrives unexpectedly early in the third episode, when the infamous Logan Roy (Brian Cox), whose brazen cruelty and cutthroat business tactics drive much of the drama in prior seasons, dies in the bathroom of his private plane. This now-iconic plot twist not only gives the cast of “Succession” an excuse to show off their other-worldly acting chops but also flips the entire trajectory of the season on its head, turning the final seven episodes into an unforgettably entertaining battle for power among the Roy children and their corporate competitors.
Watching Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Siobhan (Sarah Snook), and Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) repeatedly fail to mimic their father’s vicious business acumen and instead expose their wealth-induced naivete produces a cathartic viewing experience like no other television show currently airing. The thesis of the entire season — which is magnificent in its comedy and classical in its tragedy — seems to come in the form of Logan’s venomous accusation that his own children “are not serious people,” a driving theme that is apparent from Season 1 but does not reach its fullest, richest expression until “Succession”’s final credits roll. — Brady M. Connolly
2. “The Bear” (Season Two)
Immune to the sophomore slump, the second season of “The Bear” is even better than the first. Following the familiar array of staff turned family and family turned crew, this season oscillates its focus between major characters as head chefs Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) struggle to remodel the Original Beef into a successful fine dining establishment, worthy of its new title, the Bear. In many ways, “The Bear” strives to accomplish entirely too much in this season: viewers watch as Carmy and Sydney hire new staff members, plan and execute building renovations, craft an entirely new menu from scratch, and struggle to build an optimal and balanced coworking relationship. However, its flawless ability to compellingly center each character amidst a plot of constantly moving parts is what makes “The Bear” an undeniable success. Episodes such as “Forks”, which follows Richie “Cousin” Jerimovich (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) as he learns what it means to be in service to others while spending a week working at the best restaurant in the world, or “Honeydew”, which tracks Marcus’s (Lionel Boyce) private pastry chef tutoring under guest star Will Poulter, demonstrate that character development is where this season shines. When combined with “Fishes,” an episode with a foot-length roster of notable guest stars, including Bob Odenkirk, John Mulaney, Sarah Paulson, and Jamie Lee Curtis — whose portrayal of Donna Berzatto, Carmy’s mother, is a shoo-in for next year’s Emmy nominations — “The Bear” Season 2 takes the cake (or cannoli) for one of the most stellar seasons of television to date. — Anya L. Henry
3. “Abbott Elementary” (Season Two)
ABC’s hit show “Abbott Elementary” is one of the best sitcoms on television today, and its second season didn’t disappoint. The show, which can best be described as “The Office” meets an elementary school environment, follows second-grade teacher Janine Teagues (Quinta Brunson) and her colleagues at an underfunded public school in West Philadelphia. Filmed in a meta mockumentary style, the show offers a fresh take on comedy, balancing modern humor with heartfelt, human moments between characters. The show’s creator and titular actress Quinta Brunson said she was inspired to create the show after watching her mom teach in the Philly public school system for 40 years. The second season continued to provide witty banter and entertaining shenanigans, but also featured more character development for certain characters and some compelling larger arcs, such as the teachers’ battle with the charter school program. Fans of the show will enjoy witnessing the character growth, such as Janine learning to stay true to herself as she grapples with the different relationships in her life, or the hilariously incompetent Principal Ava Coleman (Janelle James) — the Michael Scott of “Abbott Elementary” — coming to possess more depth and genuine care for the school than viewers may have initially thought. The will-they-won’t-they dynamic between Janine and first-grade teacher Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams) simmers all season before finally coming to a head when the characters share a kiss (spoiler!) at a teacher’s conference — but their story isn’t quite over yet. Overall, “Abbott Elementary” delivered an utterly stellar second season that speaks to the show’s merit as one of the funniest sitcoms on television today and certifies its place in this list. — Arielle C. Frommer
4. “Good Omens” (Season Two)
“Good Omens” is a tale as old as time — literally, as its main characters met before the earth was even created. The series follows Crowley (David Tennant) and Aziraphale (Michael Sheen), a demon-angel duo trying to find a place for themselves despite being dictated by the whims of Heaven and Hell. The show’s second season picks off where the first season, and the original book co-written by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett, left off. Since co-author Pratchett passed away in 2015, fans have been touched by Gaiman’s commitment to finishing the work that he and his good friend penned back in the ’90s. The second season of “Good Omens” is fantastical, funny, and unendingly heartwarming, sure to make anyone obsess over the relationship at its core. Unsurprisingly, the show took the Internet by storm this summer, as its heart-shattering cliffhanger finale shocked fans, prompting demands for a third season and a level of fandom unseen since the Superwholock dark days. Amazon Prime recently promised fans that a conclusive season will come, and we know that this standout season definitely deserves its place among the best shows of 2023. — Hannah E. Gadway
5. “Daisy Jones and the Six”
Inspired by Taylor Jenkins Reid’s best selling novel of the same name, “Daisy Jones & The Six” is an intoxicating tale of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. The limited series follows the will-they-won’t-they love affair between Daisy Jones (Riley Keough) and Billy Dunne (Sam Claflin) as the pair begin working together while navigating their ever growing stardom. The pair is joined onscreen by a loveable cast of supporting characters filling out the rest of fictional band including Keyboardist Karen Sikko (Suki Waterhouse), Guitarist Graham Dunne (Will Harrison), bassist Eddie Roundtree (Josh Whitehouse), and Drummer Warren Rhodes (Sebastian Chacon). At its core “Daisy Jones & The Six” is an exploration of family from all angles as Billy struggles to live up to the expectations of his brother, wife, and eventually his daughter while battling temptation and addiction which have become ever-present in his life as a rockstar. However, what truly sets “Daisy Jones & The Six” apart from any other ‘70s tale are the dozens of original songs created and performed by the cast, including the full length “Aurora” which was packaged and released to real-world audiences under the fictional band’s name.
We reviewed “Daisy Jones and the Six” here. — Jen A. Hughes
6. “Loki” (Season Two)
Amid a deluge of Marvel Cinematic Universe projects that have seemed lost and aimless, Loki Season 2 is a reminder of what the MCU once was and a promise that there is still hope for the expanded universe. In both seasons of “Loki” the show is burdened by extensive world building as writers are forced to juggle time travel, variants of different characters, and a multiverse worth of chaos. Yet, the show works because of the impressive character work grounding the story amid the chaos. The unlikely friendship between Loki (Tom Hiddleston), and Mobius (Owen Wilson) continues to shine in this installment as the characters explore their histories and purposes in life. The show also introduces new standouts including the quirky and ever optimistic head of Time Variance Authority Tech Support Ouroboros (Key Huy Quan), while further developing characters including the TVA’s villainous AI assistant Miss Minutes (Tara Strong). When “Loki” was first announced many skeptical viewers asked whether a series focused on an alternate version of the character could add any value to the MCU. However, two seasons of storytelling answered with a resounding yes, making Loki the most well-developed and compelling character in Marvel’s on-screen universe. With Marvel dropping Jonathan Majors, who plays the main villain in Loki, from future projects, the return of Loki is particularly uncertain. However, given how perfectly Season 2 bookends decades worth of Loki storytelling , it might be best to leave the character untouched.
We reviewed “Loki” Season 2 here. — Jen A. Hughes
7. “Beef”
“Beef” made waves with its release, garnering 13 nominations at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards and three nominations at the Golden Globe Awards. Darkly funny and wildly inventive, “Beef” follows Amy Lau (Ali Wong) and Danny Cho (Steven Yeung) as a road rage incident spirals into an intricate plot of revenge and betrayal. The series stands out for its nuanced takes on familial relationships, generational trauma, and the illusion of the American Dream, especially for immigrants of color. The series is also noted for launching Young Mazino into the public eye for his acclaimed role as Danny’s younger brother, Paul Cho. With just 10 episodes, “Beef” is ideal for binge-watching, and its brevity is part of its success. Action, comedy, and drama are all jam-packed into each episode, making for a watch that never fails to entertain even as it confronts its darker topics. — Sean Wang Zi-Ming
8. “Queen Charlotte”
Smash hit “Bridgerton” still doesn’t have a Season 3 release date. However, to tide fans over (or to trial the longevity of the franchise with different characters), “Queen Charlotte” was an unexpected and emotionally devastating side story released May 4. Exploring the early days of the marriage between King George III (the same King George from the Civil War) and Queen Charlotte might seem like an odd choice, but Golda Rosheuvel’s performance gave Queen Charlotte such gravity that it seemed natural to return to their younger days. Newcomers India Amarteifio and Corey Mylchreest have electric chemistry and give a memorable performance, bolstered by both incarnations of fan favorite Lady Danbury (Arsema Thomas and Adjoa Andoh). Providing more background on the world’s revisionist take on historic racial equality, “Queen Charlotte” deftly — though not perfectly — explores pain, joy, belonging, and what it truly means to love someone. — Millie Mae Healy
9. “Jury Duty”
Of all the show’s on this list, none was more surprising than the Freevee original comedy series “Jury Duty.” A mind-boggling amalgamation of “The Office” and “Punk’d,” Jury Duty follows Ronald Gladden, an Average Joe who is under the impression that he is filming an informational documentary about serving Jury Duty. In actuality, everyone around Gladden is an actor and the entire case is fabricated. The show follows the entire trial process from jury selection to arguments and, eventually, the verdict, as the antics of the characters around Gladden become increasingly unfathomable. However, rather than taking the route of earlier prank shows, Gladden is not the court’s jester forced to endure the torment of producers but is instead painted as an unlikely hero showing kindness and compassion to the wacky and absurd characters that were created around him. Gladden is surrounded by a truly impressive ensemble of improv actors that comedy fans will recognize from their favorite sitcoms. James Marsden gives a particularly impressive performance, playing an highly egotistical and over-the-top version of himself which earned an Emmy nomination. In an industry dominated by sequels, remakes, and adaptations, “Jury Duty” is a delightful and original experience to watch.
We reviewed “Jury Duty”’s first four episodes here. — Jen A. Hughes
10. “Barry” (Season Four)
In a series of episodes that dragged the viewer from Los Angeles to a maximum security prison to rural America and then eight years into the future, “Barry”’s final season exemplified the show’s impressive habit of making drastic finale-worthy plot developments in every single episode. Looking back at Alec Berg and Bill Hader’s ambitious project, the HBO show’s original premise seems laughable: A hitman named Barry (Bill Hader) moves to LA and joins an amateur acting class. As the show continued, this humble origin spiraled into a complex interrogation of absolution; Barry’s quest for redemption grew increasingly voracious even as he committed more and more legal and moral atrocities throughout the series. Season 4 was announced as the final season before new episodes had even premiered, and Hader treated it with the reverence it deserved; for the first time, he directed all eight episodes of the season, on top of writing three and portraying the titular character. His directorial prowess spoke for itself: The season’s fifth episode “tricky legacies” was a standout involving a haunting time jump, and the finale “wow” was nothing short of pure excellence. Season 4 served as the well-earned final triumph of an excellent dark comedy that knew precisely when to pull the plug. — Stella A. Gilbert