Alyssa Christian’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2023

2023 has been an excellent year for television, with solid reboots, satisfying series endings, and more.

This year featured the return of beloved shows like Futurama, the end of critically acclaimed shows like Succession, the debut of shows like Andor, and the continuation of beloved and well-reviewed shows like Abbott Elementary. 

In no particular order, here are my 10 favorite TV shows of the year. (Some spoilers below!)

1. Futurama

The long-running animated series Futurama returned after a 10-year hiatus with a bang. The writers smartly brought back beloved characters like Bender, Fry, and Leela and put them in new situations that showed us new sides to their personalities — all the while, still staying true to the characters and their relationships to one another.

One of the stand-out episodes of the season is the finale Futurama Season 11 Episode 10, “All the Way Down,” which is an example of what makes the show (including this most recent season) almost always stick the landing.

It’s funny, clever, topical in unique ways, and still manages to tug at the heartstrings. With at least two more seasons in the works, fans expect more hijinx, adventures, and complex emotions from Planet Express and company.  

2. Succession 

This year, the critically acclaimed HBO drama ended four seasons of Logan Roy’s children fighting to become his successor. Many assumed the series would end with Logan’s death, but Jesse Armstrong and co. decided to kill him off in the third episode, leaving characters in disarray and story threads not fully resolved until the finale.

Succession was thoroughly entertaining, engaging, and thought-provoking throughout, thanks to top-notch writing, performances, and direction.

We were left guessing Logan’s successor until the very end, which featured Macbethian moments and dialogue that would appear soap opera-like if this were another show. The fourth season also featured numerous memorable guest stars, but the real draw here is the pitch-perfect cast, making it difficult to choose an MVP. 

3. Abbott Elementary 

Apparently, writer-creator-star Quinta Brunson doesn’t the meaning of a “sophomore slump,” as she has followed up the well-received first season of her Philadelphia school-set mockumentary with a solid second season.

Brunson herself is given very memorable — sometimes heartfelt — moments, as is the rest of the cast, all of whom get the chance to shine throughout the season. We also get fabulous guest stars like Taraji P. Henson and Ayo Edebiri, who seamlessly fit into the show’s unique vibe.

Those who shipped Gregory and Janine were delighted and then had their hearts broken, in a season finale that had a cliffhanger-like ending. For all of Abbott Elementary‘s shenanigans, it always feels so grounded and heartfelt. 

4. Harley Quinn

I actually didn’t start watching the Max Original Harley Quinn animated series until this year, after the fourth season had already been released. I’m glad I finally caught up with it, as I was immediately drawn into the uniquely hyper-kinetic, self-aware DC series that also features beautiful animation.

While seasons two and three struggled to keep up the momentum, season four is where it gets its groove back, mainly thanks to the focus on Harley and Ivy’s relationship — which is one of the best relationships on any show at the moment.

This season also featured a deliciously bonkers, super-sized Valentine’s Day episode, which is one of the highlights of the season. The voice cast is top-notch, with Kaley Cuoco as Harley and Alan Tudyk as a few different characters. Thankfully, with at least one more season on the way, fans can expect to enjoy more shenanigans from the morally ambiguous Harley and co. 

5. The Bear

In 2022, The Bear came out of nowhere to be beloved by critics and general audiences alike, garnering praise for its hectic, seemingly authentic look at operating and working at a restaurant. While stars Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri gave star-making performances in the first season, here they’re given even more to do, as Carmine’s decision to open a fine dining restaurant is filled with numerous roadblocks for all involved.

This season also saw characters going out on their own, enabling us to see them in new environments. While the show has been categorized as a comedy, this second season features plenty of dramatic and/or heavy moments, which are on full display in the flashback episode featuring terrific guest stars like Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal.

Even in the more intimate moments, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that kept me engaged thanks to compelling performances, well-written scripts, and solid direction. 

6. Loki

After a two-year hiatus, Loki returned, reminding us that it is one of the best Disney+ Marvel shows to date. Season two continued where the debut season ended, bringing us back into this universe with ease. The relatively breezy pace kept it entertaining and rarely boring, and Tom Hiddleston’s committed central performance is one of the principal draws here.

Fortunately, too, the rest of the cast is game, with Owen Wilson and newcomer Ke Huy Quan as stand-outs. This season deals with a lot of science fiction and is filled with esoteric technical jargon, but fans don’t need to fully comprehend everything to enjoy and appreciate it.

The finale, Loki  Season 2 Episode 6, “Glorious Purpose,”  saw the former God of Mischief transformed into a new kind of being, with a new purpose. If this is Hiddleston’s final outing as Loki, then it has been a very fitting one, as it wraps up his character arc — originating in 2011’s Thor — in the best way possible. 

7. The Other Two

When fans heard the cancellation news regarding Max’s The Other Two, they were understandably distraught. Even in its third season, the showbiz-centered comedy continued to come up with new situations for its main characters, especially as it dealt with topical issues and satirized things like super-long Broadway shows and a post-COVID world.

As always, Heléne Yorke and Drew Tarver continued to elicit laughs, even when their characters did things that made me roll my eyes and shake my head. There are plenty of fun celebrity guest stars, who play themselves; while the pop culture-heavy nature of its episodes may seem pretentious for any other show, this is exactly the kind of thing that makes this show what it is.

While it’s a bummer it got canceled, it ends in a rather satisfying way. 

8. What We Do in the Shadows

Several seasons in, What We Do in the Shadows is still extremely entertaining, clever, and funny. Season five gives us a major new development for our characters: Guillermo becoming a vampire — well, sort of.

These episodes smartly show the consequences of this major plot point, especially as this relates to the other characters. Of course, the entire ensemble is hilariously brilliant, but it’s Matt Berry who made the biggest impression on me this season.

Thanks to Berry’s pitch-perfect line delivery and unique mannerisms, it’s a delight to watch Nandor navigate the bizarre situations in which he and his friends find themselves. Harvey Guillén is also given some dramatic moments, which he (as always) handles very well. Long-running comedies often lose steam, but this vampire satire has shown no signs of slowing down. 

9. Andor

Andor is the only Disney+ Star Wars show that I’ve really enjoyed, and its debut season hooked me from the get-go. Perhaps part of its appeal is the fact that you don’t need to be a fan of the franchise to enjoy — or even understand it.

Of course, having seen Rogue One, I was already familiar with Cassian Andor and how his story ends, so it was fascinating to see what happens to him leading up to the events of that film. Diego Luna is reliably great in the lead role, becoming a sort of reluctant hero.

The supporting cast, which includes a never-better Stellan Skarsgård, is excellent, as are guest stars like Andy Serkis (in the flesh!). The storylines are vast but not incomprehensible, and the show focuses on some relatable issues, such as class differences. I’m excited to see where the show goes next, especially as the timeline draws nearer to that of Rogue One.

10. Heartstopper

How could I not include this feel-good dramedy that features so many unique, complex queer characters? Heartstopper followed up its successful debut season with an equally great sophomore season.

It’s the kind of show that I could recommend to just about anyone, because the characters are so likable and, even when they’re going through difficult situations, they manage to overcome them in ways that are sometimes cheer-worthy.  

This season gives us various queer representations, including bisexuality and asexuality, and the show handles these topical issues in delicate, thoughtful manners. Kit Connor gives an especially sincere, at times vulnerable performance, and his line deliveries of, “I’m bi, actually” will live in my mind rent-free.  

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What were your favorite TV shows of 2023? Let us know in the comments!

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