Justine’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2022

2022 has been a bumper year for TV. Fans of massive franchises like Marvel and Star Wars were gifted with brand-new content that we’re all still talking about. Other shows have gained cult followings that will ensure their immortality, regardless of cancellations. 

I always like to look for a combination of massive hit TV shows and maybe some lesser-known hidden gems. My taste is generally all over the place.

Although the current TV landscape may look worrying with cancellations and a lack of renewals, it’s the perfect time of year to look back on some very good shows that can be re-watched over and over again. 

In no particular order, here are my top TV shows from 2022. 

1. A League of Their Own

Growing up, my cousins played baseball. Coming from a small town, I never had the chance to play the game myself, although I always wanted to. In comes A League of Their Own, giving little girls everywhere amazing women to look up to as they conquer the baseball world. 

TV adaptations of films or novels are always hard to do. Geena Davis will always be an icon for what she did in the original movie. She walked so that the women of the show could run. 

The series is a continuation of the legacy that the film began. I loved that the show never tried to simply re-create the movie’s magic. Instead, it seamlessly passed the torch to an ensemble that had my heart from the very beginning.

I also love that because the show is also a historical period piece, it addressed the fact that Black people and LGBTQ+ people have very much always existed. These historical stories of marginalized communities surviving and thriving are necessary ones. 

2. Bridgerton

While I have really never considered myself much of a romance fan, something about Julia Quinn’s regency saga has pulled me in and hasn’t let go.

Anthony’s character is elevated to new heights by the phenom that is Kate Sharma in Bridgerton Season 2. Simone Ashley really carries this season and is magnetic to watch.

The costumes, the setting, and the breathless romance are all enough to make a compelling escape. Although not every single adaptation of the corresponding novel, The Viscount Who Loved Me, worked well, so much of it did. 

Finally, I love that Bridgerton Season 2 has set up the Polin season. Pen and Colin have been among my absolute favorite couples throughout this entire saga. Their time is coming soon. 

3. Derry Girls

Derry Girls is nothing less than a cultural milestone. From its beginning, this show has brilliantly captured the 1990s in Northern Ireland. The brand of humor in this series is so incredibly delightful and dark. 

As much as the show is a product of history, it never feels the weight of its expectations. At its core, it is the story of love and friendship that doesn’t just transcend the violence of its time. Instead, the characters must find a way to continue living their chaotic lives amid a changing world.

The show has done such a phenomenal job of showing each of the Derry Girls at their own personal crossroads, while their nation faces one also. They have to face new challenges and face the future with courage. 

While it’s sad to say goodbye to these characters, we leave them in a hopeful place. The final season left me feeling nostalgic in the best possible way. It also left me wanting to re-watch the girls of Our Lady Immaculate from the beginning. 

4. House of the Dragon

The first season of House of the Dragon was like a balm for many Game of Thrones fans who left that final season feeling some kind of way. I admit to approaching this series with some level of trepidation. It was unnecessary, and I was utterly blown away. 

This series has really captured what it is to have terrible characters written so well. The number of good, moral characters can be counted on one hand. The characters making the most questionable and downright reprehensible choices are often the most fun to cheer for. 

At its heart, this show tells the story of a highly dysfunctional family. It’s comforting, in a way, knowing that real-world family issues just can’t reach the heights of those of the Targaryens. They have access to dragons, after all, which elevates the disarray to a whole new level. 

It’s refreshing to have an entire show filled with characters who consistently make terrible choices. It’s nice not to worry about being judged for cheering for some of the most unhinged storylines seen on TV. This is the magic that this show has harnessed. 

5. Ghosts 

The family sitcom Ghosts continues its unmatched run, giving us all spooky hijinks for the ages. The residents of Woodstone Manor, living and dead, continue to provide the laughs that we all need right about now.

What I love about the current season is that the show is really delving into the rich backstories of the ghosts. Each of them lived such incredibly rich lives, and it’s poignant that they are each given a chance in the spotlight. 

The show continues to balance the poignance with shenanigans that leave viewers in stitches. The joy that this show brings makes it required weekly viewing for me.

This is the definition of an ensemble series. Together, they are unstoppable. The show may ask us to reflect on mortality and the legacy we leave behind, but it gives us plenty of laughs along the way. 

6. Moon Knight

Marvel continues its strategy of simply overwhelming fans with the sheer volume of content. Movies, TV, and a holiday special have all made this a memorable year for Marvel fans. Moon Knight stands out as something special. 

For starters, it was a big swing for the MCU to incorporate a hero who hears the voice of an Egyptian god and beats the crap out of people into the franchise’s line-up. Only Oscar Isaac could have embodied this beautiful chaos. 

It’s unfortunate that the series didn’t take the opportunity for authentic Jewish representation. In the comics, this character is the son of a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor. 

This is an opportunity for growth, however. In an age of rising antisemitism around the world, a Jewish superhero who beats bad guys into the dust is just what we need right now. 

7. Mythic Quest

Apple TV+ has a winner with its flagship workplace comedy Mythic Quest. With the MQ family no longer working side by side, it would have been easy for the series to lose sight of what makes it special. 

Instead, this season has expanded the MQ lore and made us love these dysfunctional coworkers even more as if that was possible. They have retained their quirkiness, and are getting into all kinds of the best trouble. 

The focus this season has been on friendship, female friendship in particular. This has been handled with such humor and grace. As an adult woman who feels like I too fail at friendship sometimes, it’s nice to feel seen. 

The combination of one-shot episodes with serialized storytelling works incredibly well for this series. As a non-gamer, there’s something I can appreciate about being transported to a new world with endless possibilities. 

8. Obi-Wan Kenobi

Star Wars is another franchise that gifted its fans with multiple adventures from the galaxy far, far away. Obi-Wan Kenobi is a heartbreakingly beautiful story that highlights one of the galaxy’s finest heroes.

The prequel trilogy is seeing a well-deserved renaissance. Seeing Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen back together on-screen is almost too much for this prequel trilogy apologist. 

This series is really a deep dive into the character of Obi-Wan, and a meditation on his grief. While we who are watching may not be able to comprehend the universal stakes at play in this movie, so many of us can relate to the heart-wrenching experience of losing someone we love.

The real strength of this show is that it never tries to be something it isn’t. It strikes a near-perfect balance between offering fan service and offering a venue to explore well-loved characters in brand-new contexts. 

9. Pachinko

Based on the Min Jin Lee novel of the same name, Pachinko‘s expansive drama captures an arc of history that is captivating and at times overwhelming to watch. 

This show is filled with gorgeous performances, particularly from Kim Min-ha and Youn Yuh-jung. This painful period in Korean history is handled with the same gravitas as the source material.

What makes this show so magnetic is its meditation on intergenerational trauma. This is a story of love and family that really doesn’t let up in packing emotional punches. 

The show has personal significance for me, as I was so fortunate to be able to be among the first to see it at the 2022 SXSW Festival. It was a truly memorable experience that made diving into the entire series even richer.

10. Paper Girls 

Paper Girls is a classic coming-of-age story, with a supernatural twist. Another story about friendship, this series is also about the perils of growing up, and how we can live up to the legacies of our inner children.

These girls are smart, funny, and have the entire world ahead of them. The most relatable thing about seeing them together is remembering what a struggle it was to be taken seriously at their age. 

Frankly, they’re also just funny. Seeing comedic heavyweights like Ali Wong and Jason Mantzoukas on-screen just elevates the series’ humor to another level. 

There were so many more stories to tell in this universe, and it’s devastating that Prime Video elected not to continue with the series past the inaugural season. At least there are still the graphic novels to re-visit. We can imagine what might have been. 

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What TV shows from 2022 make your list? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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