15 Most Binge-Worthy TV Shows of 2022 So Far

Well, we’ve officially hit the halfway point of 2022. If you’re one of the few lucky ones not melting in the insane heat this summer, congrats! If not, you’re probably spending more time indoors than you’d like, flipping between your channels and apps to find something to watch.

We’ve compiled a list of the top binge-worthy series to catch up on if you missed them the first time around. Whether you’re in the mood for a comedy or drama, a 30-minute show or an hour-long one, this list should have something for you.

Here are our picks for the 15 most binge-worthy shows of 2022 so far:

1. Severance (Apple TV+)

Severance, one of Apple TV+’s latest hits, is by far one of the most interesting new shows of the year. It has a higher concept than most shows, which means you have to pay attention while you’re watching, so I wouldn’t recommend just having in on the background.

Patricia Arquette, Adam Scott, Jon Turturro, and Christopher Walken headline the cast, but the support of some of the lesser-known faces and their characters make Severance exciting.

There’s not one character that you’re not dying to learn more about (except maybe creepy Mr. Milchick) as the season goes on. The season ends on a cliffhanger, so fair warning if you haven’t seen it yet, but the positive is that Apple renewed their latest darling for a Season 2!

Speaking of Severance Season 1 Episode 9, “The We We Are,” it’s genuinely one of the best hours of television I’ve seen in a while. The Twists! The reveals! The cliffhanger! You’ll be dying to see more of Lumon by the time it’s over.

2. The Bear (FX)

Another series that had one of the best episodes of television is FX’s The Bear. Contrary to the title, the series isn’t set amongst wild animals in the wilderness, but instead in the wild environment of a Chicago kitchen.

With the same frenetic energy as Uncut Gems, The Bear exposes a world that’s not usually seen on TV. It’s these shows that take us to places we haven’t delved into before that become some of the most exciting.

The Bear‘s stars are Jeremy Allen White (Shameless) and relative newcomer Ayo Edebiri (recently in Dickinson), two chefs trying to turn a long-running family-owned establishment into a genuine top-tier restaurant.

Did this show give me lowkey secondhand anxiety from all the yelling and make me realize I’d never make it in the culinary world? Yes. Did it give me a newfound level of respect and awe for chefs of all caliber? Heck yeah.

The Bear Season 1 Episode 7, “Review,” is the episode I was referring to as one of the best — you’ll understand if/when you’ve seen it. Be on the lookout for a Jon Berenthal sighting! It wouldn’t be a gritty city show without him, let’s be real.

3. Station Eleven (HBO Max)

Station Eleven is one of my favorite shows of the year, hands down. The limited series wrapped up on HBO Max back in January and sadly was snubbed from most Emmy categories, but it definitely deserves your time.

Set in a post-pandemic world (it and the novel it was based on were both written pre-2020), the series explores what it really means to create a community and how the longevity of art can transcend the artists that created it.

The score to this show is hauntingly beautiful and the perfect background music to work or study to when you need to focus.

Station Eleven is one of the rare shows that spans multiple timelines and really makes it work.

4. Murderville (Netflix)

Sometimes, you just need a 20-minute comedy series to make you belly laugh. Look no further than Netflix’s Murderville.

It’s essentially improv on screen. The premise is simple — Will Arnett is playing a detective trying to solve a murder case. He has a script to follow.

Each celebrity guest, however, does not get any lines to follow. The show is formulaic (each mystery gets 3 suspects to interview and choose from) but it’s hilarious to watch the guest actors interact in the absurd situations regardless.

Annie Murphy and Kumail Nanjiani are the guest stars in the best episodes, but the rest of the season is tied for second place in my book.

It’ll take you less than a day to get through the entire series, so it’s a perfect pick-me-up. Fingers crossed we get a Murderville Season 2 sometime in the future.

5. Pivoting (Fox)

Every year there is a slew of new shows that come up in the new primetime slots. Sometimes they take off (hello Abbott Elementary), and sometimes they quietly disappear, no matter how fun they are to watch.

This year’s midseason comedy offering on FOX was the darkly funny, female-led, Pivoting. Following a group of 30/40-somethings, the series looks at how friendship dynamics change over time, and how they evolve in the wake of losing a friend.

The humor is top-notch, even if some of the storylines are cringey. It is also one of the rare shows that focus on female relationships outside of a YA lens, something severely lacking in primetime.

Even though it didn’t get picked up for a second season, Pivoting season 1 is a great short-binge with a nice arc. Think of it as a limited series, if you will.

6. Ms. Marvel (Disney+)

The MCU Disney+ Streaming universe has given new heroes the opportunity to shine with hyper-focused origin stories. Ms. Marvel is an excellent example of how they’re investing in their new characters before they’re thrust into the big-screen Marvel world.

The best of these Marvel shows are the ones that seem to be building towards the future, which definitely includes Kamala Kahn. We already know we’re going to see Kamala on the big screen in 2023’s The Marvels, but I’m glad we got to meet her beforehand.

Ms. Marvel (like Hawkeye before it) is bringing the new MCU generation to the forefront. I’d imagine more of these Gen Z superheroes will end up teaming up (either in the streaming or the cinematic universe) before it all ties together in the next Avengers mashup.

Ms. Marvel is definitely the most accessible superhero for Gen Z thus far. From the lingo to the pop culture moments in the series, it’s just a fun MCU addition to sink your teeth into.

And like Moon Knight before it, it allows us to explore a new culture and a history that many watchers probably knew very little about. I adored Kamala, Bruno (what is it with Disney and the name Bruno these days?), and Nakia, and hope to see more of them in future MCU projects.

7. The Afterparty (Apple TV+)

Apple TV+’s The Afterparty has to have one of the most inventive concepts on TV right now. It could have easily just been another murder mystery a la Knives Out or How to Get Away With Murder.

Instead, it switched up the formula and leaned into the talent it had with its all-star comedic cast. It’s the vantage point angle of it all that makes it interesting. Obviously in any true-crime case, each witness/suspect has their own side of the story.

The Afterparty dedicates an episode to each of those sides. And each of those sides has a very distinct perception of themselves, the events, and especially of their fellow suspects. From noir to musical, each character has a distinct flair that makes the series incredibly entertaining.

The most fun part of this series is trying to figure out who the murderer is, and I bet if you’re paying close attention, you’ll be able to figure it out in real-time with Tiffany Haddish’s detective character.

Zoe Chao and Sam Richardson are standouts among the cast, and we’re in luck because The Afterparty Season 2 will pick up with their characters. How will they become entwined with another crime? I guess we’ll see.

8. Gordita Chronicles (HBO Max)

It’s no secret that I’ll be the first to champion series that are making strides for Latin representation. One of the best so far in 2022 is HBO Max’s Gordita Chronicles. If you don’t know what “Gordita” means, the series protagonist, Cucu, will tell you right away.

Cucu, played by newcomer Olivia Goncalves, is one of the funniest children on tv this year. Her comedic timing is excellent, and she plays a new immigrant to Miami from the Dominican Republic hilariously.

While the series definitely focuses on the immigrant experience, both expectation and reality, it also showcases what it was like to grow up in the 80s. Big hair and all!

You don’t have to be Latinx to enjoy Gordita Chronicles, it’s just a genuinely funny show. If you need a little more convincing, just know that Eva Longoria Bastion and Zoe Saldana helped create the project — so you know it’s good!

9. The Wilds (Prime Video)

Ok to be clear, The Wilds was on my list before Amazon pulled the plug. And even though it’s canceled now, it’s still worth watching.

If The Wilds has a million fans, I am one of them. If The Wilds has one fan, it is me. If The Wilds has no fans, it means I’m no longer around. I’m still a wilds fan even though Prime Video made the worst decision available and canceled their best show.

The Wilds Season 2 finally dropped this spring after over a year of waiting since the series first debuted in winter 2020. While there was a mixed bag of reactions to the sophomore season, especially with the introduction of men to the female-led show, it still deserves a watch.

The concept of an airplane crash isn’t wholly unique, but the weird added layer of a social experiment being conducted on a group of poor unassuming high school students. All of the girls are fully fleshed-out characters that are easy to root for.

And the boys are there. I mean no hate towards them, I may be one of the few that actually didn’t mind the new addition. I just don’t think they’re anywhere near as interesting as the female characters, but I went in with an open mind.

10. The Summer I Turned Pretty (Prime Video)

Oh man, if you have any form of social media, you know that Prime Video’s The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 1 took the internet by storm. And not only for Gen Z, who the series is clearly geared towards. I had full-blown millennial tears going down my face by the final episode.

It’s the perfect summer show. And it has a story that’s so easy to get invested in, even if you do relate more to the moms than the kids.

The trilogy of books came out a while ago, written by the same author (Jenny Han) that helmed the To All the Boys… series. So if all else fails, you know that means it’s going to have a relatable young female protagonist and a really wholesome coming-of-age story.

The series also has the perfect soundtrack. It’s been a go-to playlist all summer, and will probably carry us through the fall when we’re wistful for long summer nights.

I personally refuse to take sides on the Team Jeremiah or Team Conrad debate until at least the middle of next season. My hat’s in the ring for my guy Cam Cameron at the moment, even though I know Belly is in deep with the brothers.

The Summer I Turned Pretty has been renewed for a second season, so we’ll be back to Cousins Beach soon.

11. Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max)

Every once in a while a show takes off quietly and then the internet blows it into a phenomenon. A prime example of that is Our Flag Means Death Season 1.

An HBO Max original, the series wasn’t too far in the zeitgeist while it was airing weekly, but by the time it had all been released, it was everywhere.

Part of that is due to the Taika Waititi effect — he directed the pilot, and the multi-hyphenate joins the ensemble cast a few episodes in as the well-known pirate, Blackbeard.

Another contributing factor could definitely be the surprising queer love story that emerged halfway through the season between the gentleman pirate Stede Bonnet and Blackbeard himself.

Our Flag Means Death really capitalizes on the absurdities of being a pirate (sewing your own flags, for example) rather than just the fighting and looting villages. In a weird way, on Stede’s ship at least, it’s like being a pirate is a sort of summer camp for adults — it’s about the community rather than the pillaging.

Our Flag Means Death has been renewed for a second season, which is a positive considering the open ending with which the first season finished. The possibilities on the open seas seem endless, and we should be excited to see what guest stars our pirates encounter.

12. Abbott Elementary (ABC)

So it’s been a minute since a mockumentary-style sitcom debuted in primetime, and if there’s one thing the successes of The Office and Modern Family have shown, it’s that America eats this format up.

Abbott Elementary Season 1 capitalized on America’s appreciation for fourth-wall-breaking comedies and gave us a half-hour series set in an environment we haven’t seen before — a school.

Quinta Brunson is the series creator and also stars as Janine, a starry-eyed young teacher in a lower-income elementary school in Philadelphia.

Brunson named the series after a teacher that had a lasting impact on her own life, which is really all you need to hear to know that Abbott Elementary is made with appreciation toward educators.

The cast of characters is one of my favorites on TV right now, and they play off each other so well. Sheryl Lee Ralph and Lisa Ann Walter play a pair of the more experienced teachers at Abbott and are sure to remind you of the teachers you had in your own childhood.

It’s also just a genuinely funny show. Janelle James’s Principal Ava is one of the funniest characters on TV right now. The Janine/Gregory will they/won’t they romance is going to be the next Jake Peralta/Amy Santiago slow burn, I’m calling it now.

There’s essentially a little bit of everything in Abbott Elementary, and ABC seems to think so too. Abbott Elementary has been renewed for a second season, so I think we’ll be seeing these teachers in session for a while.

13. Bridgerton (Netflix)

Period romances are not for everyone, I’ll concede that fact. However, Bridgerton Season 1 was one of Netflix’s biggest English language shows ever. Bridgerton Season 2 was even better.

Do you need to have seen the first installment to jump into the second? Nope! While Daphne and Simon had a lovely romance with “burning” passion, their storyline mostly stays within the confines of their season.

Bridgerton Season 2 follows another Bridgerton sibling, the eldest brother, Anthony, and his journey to find a wife.

Jonathan Bailey and Simone Ashley have star-making performances in Bridgerton Season 2 as the aforementioned Bridgerton brother and his forbidden paramour, Kate Sharma.

If you thought Bridgerton Season 1 was sexy, Season 2 keeps the trend going — this time with a more emotional, slow-burn longing.

The Sharma sisters keep the “ton” on their toes, which makes Bridgerton Season 2 a delight to watch. The season also subtly sets up Bridgerton Season 3, which we’re dying to watch.

14. Motherland: Fort Salem (Freeform)

Freeform doesn’t have too many original series in production, but the ones that it does are all top-tier. Motherland: Fort Salem, going into its final season, has been one of the network’s more inventive stories.

The fictional Fort Salem in question explores what would have happened if the Salem Witch Trials had some witchy merit, and those witches had in turn worked with the American government in the Revolutionary War.

It’s essentially a look at America if the patriarchy had been replaced with a matriarchy, and if magic was real. The explanation of how their powers work does have some holes, and yes, it’s a little weird that there’s like a Mother Mushroom thing.

But the series does what not too many shows dare to do — give all the focus to the women. Motherland: Fort Salem Season 3, which is a few episodes away from its finale, has thrown the series into new territory and shares a lot of themes with present-day America.

Now that the entire series is almost out, it’s the perfect time to binge the entire story.

15. Only Murders in the Building (Hulu)

Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez have given us not one, but two seasons of Only Murders in the Building in the span of 365 days. So not only is this one of the best shows from the first half of this year, but it’s also one of the best shows from the second half of last year.

If Only Murders in the Building Season 1 introduced us to the unlikely trio of characters, Season 2 has really cemented the focal relationship as one of the best dynamics on screen. You can’t help but fall in love with Charles, Oliver, and Mabel.

The central mystery in Only Murders in the Building Season 1 was a little predictable, but so far, Season 2 is keeping us on our toes as we try to unmask this season’s killer.

The best news of all is that the series has already been renewed for a third season! There’s plenty of sleuthing and podcasting in store for our favorite trio.

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What’s your favorite show from the first half of 2022? Let us know in the comments below! 

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