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Showing posts with label jenn's pick. Show all posts
Showing posts with label jenn's pick. Show all posts

Saturday, December 30, 2023

Jenn’s Pick: My 15 Favorite TV Shows in 2023 [Contributor: Jenn]

The end of the year is always the perfect opportunity to reflect on lots of things — achievements, goals, heartbreaks, dreams... and all of the media you consumed! As someone who watches a whole lot of television, this year I thought I would sit down and write about some of my favorite shows from 2023. 

They’re in no particular order, and you’ll notice an array of genres here but they all have one thing in common: they captivated me, made me feel something deeply, and also entertained me. And in (another) year of chaos and darkness, that’s exactly what I want out of my media.

Spoilers for these series will be included below so read at your own risk!

The Last of Us (HBO Max)

I’d stayed away from watching The Last of Us live on HBO Max for a few reasons: one is that I wanted to see if the show lived up to the hype by the end of the season (because adaptations of things don’t always) and the second is that I wanted to see if I could handle any of the gore or jumpscares the show had in store for me. And after hearing unanimous, effusive praise for “Long, Long Time,” I knew I’d eventually check out the series.

So this summer I sat down to binge watch it and quickly realized that while the series is incredible, it’s one that I had to pace myself for. Make no mistake: The Last of Us is definitely worth the hype (see: it being on nearly every “best of” list this year) but it is dark. It, after all, is set in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world. 

But the storyline is captivating. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey are truly incredible, versatile actors — equally at home conveying their characters’ pains as they do their comedic charms and witty banter. Pedro expertly conveys the reluctance of a man who has lost so much to get emotionally attached to anyone or anything. And Bella’s portrayal of Ellie as a young person grappling with trauma (Bella’s performance in “When We Are In Need” in particular is award-worthy) and also wanting love, acceptance, and friendship like any teenager is so compelling. Together, they represent everything you could want from co-leads of a series.

The show tackles everything you’d expect it to: grief, morality, love, survival, and found family. If you haven’t yet watched The Last of Us, I highly recommend doing so as soon as possible. You won’t regret it!

Starstruck (HBO Max)

Rose Matafeo’s hilarious rom-com, Starstruck, came back this year. While Starstruck strayed more into somber themes in its third season, it remained one of the most charming shows on television that not enough people are watching and/or talking about online. The series begins with a normal woman named Jessie (played by Rose Matafeo) meeting and sleeping with a famous actor named Tom (Nikesh Patel) on New Year’s Eve. The rest of the show has depicted the highs and lows of their relationship across various holidays, and the newest season is no exception. 

Even though I cried at the season three finale, the new season has no shortage of laughs either. Most importantly, watching Jessie’s trajectory has been so rewarding. Rose is an incredible comedic actress but she’s also so powerful this season whenever she is doing dramatic scenes — whether confronting love, loss, or failed expectations in herself, her relationships, and her friendships. The season specifically feels especially relatable as Jessie watches the people she loves most slip into new phases of their lives with seeming ease, and they appear to be growing away from her. Nikesh Patel continues to be such a great romantic lead too, balancing subtle humor and genuinely heartbreaking moments this season alongside her.

Literally the only complaint I ever have about Starstruck is that it’s too short. And as the show seems to be winding down (cue me crying), I’m more confident than ever that it will continue to be a frequent comfort rewatch for me.

Good Omens (Amazon Prime)

When it was announced that Good Omens was coming back for a second season, I knew I would need to rewatch season one because anything that aired before the pandemic has essentially evaporated from my brain. Good Omens debuted in 2019 and it came back this year — stronger than ever, in my personal opinion.

The show is based on the novel of the same name in which an angel named Aziraphale (Michael Sheen) and a demon named Crowley (David Tennant), who have been longtime friends and allies, try to stop the apocalypse from happening. But the second season gives us a stronger, deeper — and more romantic — connection between these two characters as they try to keep Archangel Michael (Jon Hamm) away from both heaven and hell. 

I really love Good Omens; it’s a wild, weird little series that hinges on the fantastic chemistry between David and Michael. The world around them is fantastical, but the connection between Aziraphale and Crowley is about as true and grounded as it gets. 

It’s so heartbreaking to watch the end of the season after all of the growth that Crowley had, but at the same time I really love the depth and complexity of their relationship, which is really what makes this series as compelling as it is. Crowley is ready to break ties with hell and the other demons to be with Aziraphale, but Aziraphale can’t do the same thing. He believes the whole spiritual realm system can be improved if he is reinstated as an angel in heaven, while Crowley is not optimistic. The themes of religion and morality run deep in Good Omens, and the way the series depicts struggles with faith, free will, and love is so great.

With the news that Good Omens has been renewed for a third and final season, it’s time for you all to watch it if you haven’t yet!

Doctor Who (Disney+)

I’ve been a fan of Doctor Who for so many years. In fact, a long-standing tradition with my best friend has been to watch the show together every Christmas Day whenever the new holiday special drops. So imagine my joy when the show returned and, most excitingly, on a streaming service I already had! A minor qualm of my Doctor Who-watching days has been that I could not keep up with the series simply because it aired on BBC America and I cut the ties with cable TV years ago. An unfortunate consequence of the show not being available to (easily) watch weekly for me was that I missed out on part of Thirteen’s (Jodie Whittaker) era. 

So when her regeneration dropped online and it revealed the return of David Tennant, I was surprised. And then when it was revealed that Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) would be returning alongside David for a few specials, I was overjoyed. Ten/Donna’s dynamic was one of the most lovely ones — they had an incredible friendship and comedic rapport — but also Donna’s exit was, arguably, one of the series’ most heartbreaking.

Doctor Who returned with three specials (all of which were stellar, navigating Doctor Who lore and also giving us some new twists and old villains) leading up to our new Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) this year. It was such a joy and delight to see David and Catherine return to Doctor Who, specifically because their chemistry is so strong, whether they are bantering or having a gut-wrenching moment of honesty between them. But perhaps the most satisfying was how the specials wrapped up the Fourteenth Doctor’s journey: he is able to find freedom from all of the darkness and trauma that has happened to him since the last time we saw The Doctor with David Tennant’s face. Ultimately this leads to a bi-generation where a more emotionally-evolved Fifteenth Doctor splits from Fourteen and continues their journey throughout time and space.

The return of Ncuti in this year’s Christmas special, “The Church on Ruby Road,” that kicks off his new era really proved how great he is going to be as The Doctor. He is hilarious (leaping along the rooftop, singing an improvised verse or two to the Goblin King, defending the new sonic, etc.) and also heartbreaking (anyone else tear up when Fifteen listened to Ruby (Millie Gibson) talk about family and adoption?). There is so much promise with this new era of Doctor Who and I cannot wait to see all of the adventures that The Doctor gets up to in 2024.

Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+)

It’s no surprise to anyone who knows me that I love musical theatre. So when Schmigadoon! premiered in 2021, I was enamored by the cleverly-written, tongue-in-cheek Apple TV+ show that referenced classic musicals (and parodied them/their archetypical characters). And when I heard the show was coming back with “Schmicago,” I was even more excited. The show’s plot in the first season was about two doctors — Melissa (Cecily Strong) and Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) — who were struggling in their relationship and stumbled upon a magical, musical town called Schmigadoon. There, they met an array of characters, eventually rekindled their romance, and left. 

In season two, Melissa and Josh are struggling again. But this time, their relationship is solid — it’s the rest of their life that has begun to feel mundane. Additionally, the couple is struggling to have a child. So they decide to embark on an adventure to find the quaint little town of Schmigadoon which they know will make them feel hopeful again. Unfortunately, Schmigadoon is gone and in its place is Schmicago — a nod to a darker, grittier period of musicals. Melissa and Josh must now adjust to a new town with familiar faces (since the actors from season one all mostly return to play new characters in season two) and try to solve a murder.

Schmigadoon! is worth watching for so many reasons: the cast is immensely talented (in addition to Cecily and Keegan, the series also stars Dove Cameron, Aaron Tveit, Ariana DeBose, Jane Krakowski, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, etc.), and we get the new additions of Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page in the second season too. The musical theatre homages are fantastic and funny — season two features parodies of Chicago, Sweeney Todd, Hair, and more. And the songs are incredibly catchy too!

If you love musical theatre and are looking for a comedy series to immerse yourself in, then Schmigadoon! is right up your alley.

Shrinking (Apple TV+)

Are you looking for a series from Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel that is equal parts funny and heart-wrenching and also stars Harrison Ford as a curmudgeonly mentor? Then Shrinking is the show for you! Jason Segel plays Jimmy, a therapist who recently lost his wife and is struggling — both as a therapist and as a dad to his teenage daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell). In a pretty dramatic move, Jimmy decides to tell his clients what he actually thinks instead of merely listening to their issues or approaching them in ethical, compassionate ways. This radical development is meant to unnerve us. And that’s what I love about Shrinking so far — the characters are complex and you don’t always root for Jimmy. He’s messy and trying to shove the pain and grief he’s feeling away. It’s hurting his daughter and his relationships with others. And Jason Segel is a perfect choice to play this immensely complex character, as someone who is equally at home with shenanigans but also can really deliver a dramatic moment with simplicity and gravitas.

Additionally, it wouldn’t be a Bill Lawrence show without the hilarious and talented Christa Miller as Jimmy’s neighbor and Alice’s pseudo-guardian. Christa’s dynamic with everyone in the cast is just perfect, and her storyline with Harrison Ford in one particular episode is hilarious. Jessica Williams is, however, my favorite performer in the show — witty, sharp, and deftly navigating both drama and comedy, Jessica is Shrinking’s MVP and if it were up to me, she would win Best Supporting Actress awards.

The writing of the series is stellar, weaving together humor and tragedy — all while able to find the humanity within each character and situation. The show has a bit more bite than Ted Lasso does, as the main character is supposed to be far less likable than Ted, but it’s also what makes Shrinking stand out. I kind of like when shows give us characters we do not want to root for at the beginning and, by the end, we see a little bit of growth. Plus, the final moments of the Shrinking finale deliver a jaw-dropping twist and I am really interested to see how it is handled in season two.

If you’re able to emotionally handle a show about grief and all its messiness, be sure to check out Shrinking on Apple TV+.

Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

If someone were to ask me how to summarize Mrs. Davis, I wouldn’t quite know how without spoiling the show for them. So instead, I’ve told people: “It’s the wildest, most absurd, wonderful show you’ll watch this year.” The Peacock series stars Betty Gilpin as a nun named Simone who’s determined to destroy the A.I. interface (Mrs. Davis) that has taken over the world, and is tasked with locating The Holy Grail in order to complete this mission. In the process, she reconnects with her ex-boyfriend Wiley (Jake McDorman) who has been helping lead a resistance against Mrs. Davis. I won’t say more about the show’s plot for risk of spoiling some of the best TV twists this year, but suffice it to say that Mrs. Davis was an incredible series that tackled all kinds of topics — faith, love, trauma, our life’s purpose, family — in fresh ways.

And while the writing was fantastic, this show would not have worked without Betty Gilpin leading it. She is so compelling to watch — hilarious (see: her delivery of a specific plot twist in the finale) and nuanced, she embodied all of the complexities that made Simone who she was. Whether Simone was grappling with her evolving faith, her relationship with her mother, her dynamic with Wiley, or her complex feelings about Mrs. Davis, Betty truly made you feel all of the emotions in a scene. She deserves all of the accolades for the way she led this show with such force, always able to find exactly the right way to emotionally compel us. Jake McDorman too is such a great actor — he deserves to be in more things, honestly, and I am always rooting for that — and he and Betty had such delightful chemistry and rapport. Jake is hilarious (please go watch the tragically cancelled Limitless on Paramount+ for more evidence of his physical comedy) and has always been great at banter, but he excelled at the dramatic moments too, as Wiley grappled with what his life was truly worth and what he believed he deserved. The season finale is a tour de force for him, and I wish both he and Betty nothing but accolades for their performances anchoring this series.

I loved Mrs. Davis so much and truly believe it’s one of the most unique shows to have debuted this year. If you weren’t watching it when it aired and have access to Peacock, do yourself a favor and watch all of this limited series soon. You won’t regret the weird, wonderful ride.

Jury Duty (Amazon Prime/Freevee)

I heard everyone singing the praises of Jury Duty and then decided to binge watch it to see if it held up to the hype. Spoiler alert, it did! I was a little worried, given the premise of the show, that I’d have secondhand embarrassment for Ronald or that I’d be subjected to some mean-spirited pranks. But Jury Duty is not even remotely mean-spirited or intentionally trying to be cringe-comedy. It is, instead, a show about a genuinely decent guy who is thrust into a chaotic little experiment (unbeknownst to him) and handles all of the characters he meets — including James Marsden playing an exaggerated version of himself — with such grace and kindness. The premise of the show is simple: Ronald thinks he got called for a normal jury duty assignment, but the whole jury duty experience is fake, filled with improv actors, and there is no real trial. All of the actors are following a loose script that they use as a foundation for their interactions with Ronald.

The star of the series, of course, is Ronald, who is not an actor. He’s the one we’re really watching for to see if, at any point, he begins to suspect that things aren’t what they seem and exposes the ruse. Because we live in a world saturated with reality television, we might expect Ronald to snap — yelling about the absurd behavior of his fellow jurors or questioning why he’s even there. But even though wild things happen around him every single episode, Ronald keeps his composure. He tries to find solutions to truly absurd issues that arise. He forms connections with people, even though he finds some behaviors weird. And while he’s not perfect because he, like all of us, is human, the way he acted throughout the whole show was so charming to watch! All of the actors adored him and we, the audience, did too. 

And because he is nominated for awards this season, I have to mention how utterly perfect James Marsden is in Jury Duty. He, is consistently hilarious, utterly charming, delivers some truly fantastic lines and scenes, and he should truly be in all of our TV shows and films. Why is James Marsden not in all of the things we are watching?! (Aside: I also love that he and Ronald are still close after the show!)

So if you want a quick, light-hearted binge that will actually make you have faith in humanity, Jury Duty is the show for you.

Mythic Quest (Apple TV+)

I’ve talked many, many times about how much I love Mythic Quest. If you have not yet watched this Apple TV+ show, just stop reading this article, go binge-watch it, and then come back. 

Unsurprisingly, I loved season three of the series. (You can listen to And A Rewatch’s coverage of the show, which includes special guests like Megan Ganz talking about the beautiful, heartbreaking standalone episode this season, “Sarian.”) One of the show’s continued strengths is the ability to mix and match character pairings and correctly assume that the dynamics will just work. Because they always do! The cast is so incredibly talented, but also genuinely enjoy one another and that comes through in the chemistry on screen.

This season, we got more of Dana (Imani Hakim) and Ian (Rob McElhenney) interacting (which I loved), as well as the unexpected trio of Rachel (Ashly Burch), Brad (Danny Pudi), and Carol (Naomi Ekperigen). Plus, David (David Hornsby) is starting to come into his own as a leader! While the show is still, at its heart, about the complex dynamics and relationship between Ian and Poppy (Charlotte Nicdao), it’s been really fun to see the other characters — especially Jo (Jessie Ennis) — shine over the last two seasons. (Can we get an Emmy for Jessie Ennis interacting with Joe Manganiello please?) 

Whether the season was tackling the dynamic of brunches, leadership issues, creativity, or highlighting the bittersweet backstories of Ian and Poppy, Mythic Quest remained one of the most consistently well-done comedies on television.

If you haven’t checked out the series yet, use your Apple TV+ subscription (or free trial if you got a new device during the holidays!) to binge it. You won’t regret it.

Poker Face (Peacock)

In the era of “whodunnits,” Poker Face was Peacock’s “howcatchem” series that compels you from the very first episode. Created by Rian Johnson (if you loved Knives Out and Glass Onion, you’ll definitely like this show), Poker Face follows the story of Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) who is a waitress at a casino but is also basically a human lie detector. When her best friend is murdered, Charlie begins investigating — and unfortunately lands herself into hot water. The rest of the season is Charlie running away from the people hunting her down and, as she arrives in various places, solving murders. Unlike a “whodunnit,” the audience sees at the beginning of each episode, exactly what crime happened and who committed it. The fun of a “howcatchem,” then, is for us as an audience to see Charlie piece the clues together. We wonder if she’ll figure out who the bad guy is in time or if her curiosity will land her into precarious situations.

Natasha Lyonne was really born for the kind of detective role she gets to inhabit with Poker Face. Because even though this series is chock full of big name guest stars each episode — Adrien Brody, Hong Chau, Judith Light, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Rhea Perlman just to name a few — the whole series is really about Charlie. If we don’t care about her, the episodes don’t matter as much. But we do care about Charlie. We want to see her succeed and we root for her to outwit those who are tracking her.

Poker Face is a really fun series that works well as a binge watch or, when it returns to Peacock next season, as a week-to-week show.

Somebody Somewhere (HBO Max)

I heard quiet murmurings of how Somebody Somewhere was a great show and I finally decided to check it out this year when season two dropped. The show is just as great as everyone said it was, and I think what makes it so wonderful is just how unassuming it is. Unlike a lot of shows on this list, there are no fantastical elements — no demons or angels, no sci-fi, no crimes to solve. It’s a show about a woman in Kansas named Sam (Bridgett Everett) who moved back to her hometown and is dealing with the death of her sister. Sam is trying to figure out what makes her happy and how to be okay with a town she doesn’t feel like she fits into anymore. She reconnects with a friend from high school, Joel (Jeff Hiller), who introduces her to people who also don’t fit the typical mold.

Somebody Somewhere is a lovely little show about figuring out who you are, loving yourself, struggling with grief, and developing relationships in adulthood. It’s a deceptively simple show that packs an emotional punch through its storylines. You truly feel all of the emotions that Sam does when she and Joel get into a fight or when she and her sister don’t see eye-to-eye. You ache because she’s trying to figure out her life while trying to hold everyone together — including her parents.

But when Sam is in her element — when she’s singing on stage — you watch her come alive and you see, clearly, her passion and love for music. In the second season, the scenes between Sam and her old music teacher are so subtle and yet so emotionally poignant. Season two of Somebody Somewhere walks the tightrope between drama and comedy; Sam’s relationship with her sister Trish is rife with both, for example. If you, like me, have only heard about this show but haven’t watched it, be sure to catch up as soon as you can.

The Bear (Hulu)

Much has been said and written about The Bear and I’m not sure if anything I say will convince you to watch the show but I’ll try: this series is consistently one of the most tense, character-centric shows — and season two has, perhaps, the most prime example of that (“Fishes” will have you feeling like you are watching the most intense drama). Even though things aren’t really life-and-death stakes in The Bear, the way that the series is written, shot, and acted would beg to differ. It centers on Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), a chef who was once in the high-dining world and comes back to Chicago in order to run his late brother’s small restaurant. There, he begins a quasi-mentorship with a promising young chef named Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) and continues to struggle with his relationships — including his friend, Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach). I am so glad that this year Ayo is in a leading actor category because she and Jeremy are truly the anchors of the show. It would not work if it was just Carmy leading the restaurant; Ayo depicts the passion, creativity, and leadership that Sydney has in a way that parallels and yet perfectly contrasts Carmy. Her scenes in the finale with Ebon were incredibly moving too, and you really root for Sydney and her journey.

The Bear, like I said, is rather low stakes in the grand scheme of things: one of the biggest sources of conflict in the second season involves re-opening the restaurant and all the things that go wrong prior to, and up until, the opening night. But I cannot emphasize just how frantic and tense this show manages to make everything feel. I’m on edge, and sometimes in a way that unsettles me. Make no mistake, though: even though The Bear is labeled as a comedy in awards shows (because of the rule that half-hour series are “comedies” and hour-longs series are “dramas”), there are difficult topics that the show tackles — with grief and trauma being at the forefront.

The series has some of the most compelling characters and dynamics (whether you ship them romantically or not, the Carmy/Sydney relationship is fascinating, thanks to the writing and chemistry between the actors), and had some of the best episodes of television this year (the aforementioned “Fishes” but “Forks” is an incredible episode focused on Richie as well that deserves to be in award conversations). 

So if you are looking for a TV binge this winter break and are fascinated by the fast-paced, tense, dramatic world of dysfunctional family dynamics, then The Bear is for you.

Queen Charlotte (Netflix)

While we’re all waiting for a new Bridgerton installment, Netflix gave us a self-contained Bridgerton story this year: Queen Charlotte. The series is a Bridgerton prequel, taking place as a young Charlotte (India Amarteifio) meets and marries a young King George III (Corey Mylchreest). She realizes upon marrying George that he is struggling with a mental illness, and the rest of the series is about their partnership, family, and love. The series also flashes to the present-day queen (Golda Rosheuvel) who is dealing with the death of Princess Charlotte and putting the pressure on her sons to marry so that there will be a legitimate heir. Charlotte is not the only character we get to see in both flashbacks and present-day though — Violet and Agatha also woven throughout the season’s storylines and we get a clearer understanding of who both women are in the present by understanding their pasts. Arsema Thomas, in particular, does a fantastic job depicting the strength and heartbreak of young Agatha.

What I loved about Queen Charlotte as a series was that it focused on how Charlotte became the queen we saw in the first and second seasons of Bridgerton. We know, of course, about George’s mental state but seeing the young Charlotte navigate all of the emotions that come with being a wife and caretaker — her frustration, sadness, and love for George — is heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time. India did an absolutely stellar job and I was captivated by her performance. India and Corey, meanwhile, had incredible chemistry together. Their love story was so beautiful to watch (and I’ll be thinking about the final scene with them for a while).

If you’re a Bridgerton fan who didn’t watch Queen Charlotte, check it out on Netflix!

Daisy Jones & the Six (Amazon Prime)

This summer, music from Daisy Jones & the Six was stuck in my head (particularly “Look At Us Now”) because it was so catchy and so good. The Taylor Jenkins Reid adaptation exceeded my expectations — particularly in regards to the chemistry between Billy (Sam Claflin) and Daisy (Riley Keough). Both the book and series are constructed like a “behind the music”-style interview about the rise and fall of the titular band, Daisy Jones & the Six. 

What makes this show so compelling is, of course, Daisy herself — an immensely talented, free spirit singer-songwriter. Daisy, however, has her own darknesses from her childhood and the way she’s been treated by people. She self-medicates with drugs and alcohol, much to the disappointment of Billy who’s sober by the time he meets Daisy. But Daisy is a force to be reckoned with — and Riley is just so talented, inhabiting this messy, complex character and making us fall in love with her. Her vocal performances are stellar, and her dynamic with Sam is the kind of chemistry that producers can only dream of finding. 

Speaking of: Sam Claflin really deserves to be in more things. Not only does he deliver some heartbreaking moments in the series (specifically the end of “Looks Like We Made It”), but he’s also such a compelling romantic lead, able to communicate longing and heartbreak and love. The rest of the cast is so great too — particularly Camila Marrone who plays Billy’s wife, Camila. She’s navigating her love for Billy, her disappointment with his choices, her fierce desire to be loved the way she deserves, and much more. Camila navigates all of these emotions with such grace and vulnerability. Additionally we get way more time with Simone (Nabiyah Be) in the show than we do in the book. We get the opportunity to see the trajectory of her career and personal life as a Black queer woman in the 70s, and Nabiyah does a fantastic job depicting all of the highs and lows, as well as her complex friendship (and often codependency) with Daisy.

Daisy Jones & the Six is only 10 episodes, and by the time you finish binge-watching the series, you’ll be ready to listen to the soundtrack on repeat!

Ghosts (Paramount+)

I love this CBS sitcom and have been singing its praises ever since my friend Alicia introduced me to it. If you’re in the market for a really charming ensemble comedy with a bunch of talented actors, then watch Ghosts! The series follows Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), a couple who inherit a bed and breakfast. The only problem: it’s inhabited by ghosts. And after a near-death experience, Sam can see all of them. The rest of the show is about the dynamics between Sam, Jay, and the ghosts —and it’s so much fun to watch. 

The lighthearted, found family-centric ensemble comedy is just that: an ensemble. It’s the kind of show where you can put any two actors together and it just works. The ghosts all also get their own arcs and stories. This season, we got more backstory of what happened to Alberta (Danielle Pinnock) and also learn how she died. We get a really fun, unexpected dynamic between Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky) and Trevor (Asher Grodman), and a sweet relationship between Flower (Sheila Carrasco) and Thor (Devan Chandler Long). Plus this season we also got perfect running commentary from Sass (Román Zaragoza), some truly great moments for Pete (Richie Moriarty), and growth for Isaac (Brandon Scott Jones).

Ghosts, more often than not, stays pretty light in terms of the drama, but when they choose to focus on emotional beats, the show really knocks it out of the park. With Ghosts returning for season three soon, be sure to catch up on this delightful little series!

Honorable mentions: Reservation Dogs (Hulu), Lessons in Chemistry (Apple TV+), What We Do in the Shadows (Hulu), and The Afterparty (Apple TV+)

What were some of your favorite television shows this year?

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

Jenn's Pick: If You Like This, Watch That! [Contributor: Jenn]


I feel like every year I write an article about how we’re in a season of peak TV. And the truth is that every year, I’m technically right — with more and more streaming services developing their own content in addition to cable networks continuing to create their own, peak TV is constant. With so much content available to consume, you might feel a little bit overwhelmed. Where do you even begin? 

I thought it would be helpful to create a little “if/then” guide for you: “If you like ___, then you might like _____.” The categories below feature mostly shows I haven’t discussed before or ones that are newer (though you can always check out lists of some of my 2022 favorites if you want discussions about how great Abbott Elementary and Mythic Quest are). 

So let’s dive in, shall we?

IF YOU LIKE ENSEMBLE SHOWS, WATCH …



Ghosts (CBS/Paramount+)

I have talked about Ghosts before but I feel like it’s important to reiterate just how fun this CBS show is and what a stellar ensemble cast it has. The tricky thing with ensemble shows is that some characters get left behind storytelling-wise. But Ghosts strikes a really intricate balance with a cast of 10 people — and most of them are the ghosts! 

The show manages to tell compelling, funny, character-based stories while depicting different combinations of characters each week. Whether we’re meeting Trevor’s parents, watching Sas have a love story, or joining Alberta on her quest to discover who killed her, each week of Ghosts is something different and fun. Everyone should be watching this charming series!


Grand Crew (Peacock)

A true ensemble, Grand Crew is a story about shenanigans and wine. I could stop right there and most of you would already be sold, but I’ll elaborate: this series is all about supporting your friends through career highs and lows, relationship disasters, family issues, and misunderstandings. And it also features wine! The whole cast is stellar and they all have their own specific comedic strengths, but for me personally it’s been really fun to see Nicole Byer and Echo Kellum play siblings. If you’re looking for your Happy Endings/Cougartown successor, this is the series for you!


The Bear (Hulu)

I really enjoyed The Bear when I binged it this past year. I wouldn’t classify it as a comedy (I know awards rules dictate that it is), but it’s a really powerful show about grief, pursuing your dreams, and complex familial — and coworking — dynamics. Jeremy Allen White is a fantastic lead who is dynamic and compelling and heartbreaking, but Ayo Edebiri as Sydney truly blew me away. What stands out most to me in shows is when they refuse to depict characters as flawless — The Bear is great at depicting characters’ flaws and complexities. It’s also an unexpectedly tense show that makes you feel on edge whenever there is a kitchen-related crisis. (Or maybe I just feel stressed whenever I see people rushing and struggling to complete a task in a certain timeframe, or witness their failings.)

The Bear will be back for a second season, so be sure you binge the first season on Hulu before it returns.


Loot (Apple TV+)

Talk about a show with an incredible ensemble: Maya Rudolph, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Nat Faxon, Joel Kim Booster, and Ron Funches lead the cast (with a recurring Adam Scott in an unlikable role!). Loot follows billionaire Molly who receives a massive settlement after her divorce and decides to invest it — and herself — in a charitable foundation she forgot she’d founded. The first season is so great, balancing individual stories and pairings with the overarching narrative of Molly trying to figure out who she is and become the best version of herself. 

I like that Loot is unafraid to make Molly unlikable or craft stories where she makes mistakes. The joy of it all is watching Molly slowly become passionate about the other people in her life and the foundation that she runs. Loot is a fantastic ensemble show that I wish more people watched. Catch up before the second season now! 

IF YOU LIKE ADAPTATIONS, WATCH …



Daisy Jones & the Six (Amazon Prime)

I read “Daisy Jones & the Six” in two days. Why, you ask? Because I knew the Amazon Prime series had just dropped and was already getting a serious case of FOMO. Even though there are a few things that the series changed from the book (and only one I didn’t care for), the TV version of Daisy Jones & the Six is so good and compelling. The show stars Riley Keough as the titular Daisy who joins a band and skyrockets to fame with them — only to have the band dissolve in a short period of time. 

Both the book and series are framed as a “behind the music” interview. And this leads to such a great exploration of memory and complex relationships. Sex, drugs, and rock and roll take center stage with dynamics between band members ranging from distrust and petty jealousy to affection and love. Daisy and Billy’s relationship is tumultuous and so captivating because of the chemistry between Claflin and Keough.

Even though Claflin did a great job playing a character who is often unlikable, making decisions that serve his own self-interest and desire for control at all costs, Keough is truly what sells the series to me. She depicts Daisy’s addiction with such vulnerability and raw power. Daisy Jones is a talent and a star, but there’s a part of her that is leaning on her alcohol and drugs in order to survive the voices in her head and the people in the world who don’t believe she is enough.

The music in the series is fantastic and catchy (I definitely downloaded most of the Aurora album), and I’d be truly surprised if the series didn’t get nominated for an award in some capacity this season.


The Last of Us (HBO Max)

I heard the buzz for The Last of Us, but knew relatively nothing about the series apart from the fact that Pedro Pascal was in it, it was adapted from the popular video game of the same name, and was being adapted by Craig Mazin (who I knew as a writer and actor from one of my favorite series, Mythic Quest). After consulting with trusted friends that this show was not too scary or gory for me, a 34-year-old baby, I checked it out. And I was hooked.

I knew I’d be hooked because of Pedro Pascal (what a dreamy man), but truly everyone in the series delivers: no one, perhaps, more than Bella Ramsey as Ellie. The quick recap is that a fungus-based (Cordyceps) apocalypse has destroyed the world as we know it. Once you’re infected with the fungus, it takes over your body, essentially using you as a host while you mutate into various forms. Except if you’re Ellie. Ellie is apparently immune. And that means she may be able to help find a cure. Enter the grumpy Joel (Pascal) who lost his daughter early on in this world-ending disaster and hasn’t been the same in the 20 years since. He desperately tries to not form an emotional attachment to Ellie, who he’s tasked to deliver to a group who is researching the cure, and ends up treating her like his surrogate daughter.

The world-building in The Last of Us is incredible. The scope of set and production design is immaculate, as well as the prosthetics and makeup on the infected/Clickers, etc. is impressive. But the storytelling is truly what makes this show top-tier. I knew from mass positivity that I’d love the episode “Long, Long Time” (and not just because it had Nick Offerman). And I did. I found the ability for the show to tell stories of love and tenderness and longing within such an intensely traumatic backdrop really inspiring. I can’t say enough good things about the show’s ability to craft character-centered content, so just go and check it out for yourself! You won’t be disappointed.

IF YOU LIKE THE GREAT BRITISH BAKE OFF, WATCH …



The Big Brunch (HBO Max)

When I heard that Dan Levy was going to be hosting and judging a brunch-related show, I was immediately in. So if you’re looking for a charming, fun competition show... The Big Brunch is the one for you! I don’t know how much I really need to sell you on it (10 competitors battle it out by creating intricate brunch dishes) but it’s got incredible food and fun challenges. All the chefs are great and it made me want to go out to brunch. You’re welcome!


Selena + Chef (HBO Max)

Selena Gomez is a treasure and a delight. And in the midst of the pandemic, she created and starred in her own cooking show, Selena + Chef. It was a clever, wonderful concept to get us through social distancing: Selena wanted to learn how to cook and professional chefs sent her all the ingredients she’d need each episode to make a good meal. They’d video call into Selena’s house (where she was staying with her grandparents and roommates) and they’d walk her through how to cook the meal while they cooked it in their home. “Cooking a good meal together, apart” was pretty much the tagline and it was truly great.

Selena’s skills have improved so much over the course of the seasons, and we’ve gotten the chance to see so many amazing appetizers, entrees, and dessert recipes cooked on screen (available on the HBO Max website, by the way). Better still is that Selena donates money to the charity of the chef’s choice at the end of every episode.

Silly and fun, featuring hilarious appearances from Selena’s close friends and family, this is not a cooking competition show but it’s 100% worth watching anyway!


The Great Pottery Throw Down (HBO Max)

By the way, I didn’t intend for these all to be from HBO Max but here we are! From the same universe that brought you The Great British Bake Off comes a pottery competition show with the same spirit. I love watching shows where people practice skills that I don’t even remotely have (hence why I love dancing series). This show is exactly what it sounds like: competitors participate in two challenges each week just like The Great British Bake Off — a small challenge and then a “main make” which is the main challenge. The judges are so sweet and encouraging, the amateur potters are so supportive of one another. If someone finishes early, there’s a chance they’re helping other contestants. They truly become a little family and it’s precious. Get your happy tears out while watching this British competition series!

IF YOU LIKE MUSICALS, WATCH …



Schmigadoon! (Apple TV+)

If you’re even a casual lover of musical theatre and haven’t yet watched Schmigadoon!, please stop reading this article and immediately remedy that. The first season of the show is a star-studded affair — starring alongside leads Cecily Strong and Keegan-Michael Key are Ariana DeBose, Kristin Chenoweth, Fred Armisen, Martin Short, Aaron Tveit, Ann Harada, Alan Cumming, Dove Cameron, Jane Krakowski, and Jaime Camil. The show follows a couple, played by Strong and Key, who are at a crossroads in their relationship and stumble into a small town stuck in a 1940s musical vibe.

There are parodies of The Music Man, The Sound of Music, Brigadoon, Oklahoma!, and many more in the first season. The second season takes the majority of the cast — while adding icons Tituss Burgess and Patrick Page — and transports them into the gritty “Schmicago” (of course parodying darker musicals like Chicago, Sweeney Todd, as well Hair and Godspell). The music is fantastic. The jokes are so layered and clever. The characters are nuanced. And truly it’s one of the best shows on TV that more people need to be watching.


Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies (Paramount+)

If you’re looking for fun musical camp, look no further than the new show on Paramount+ with a familiar title. Because while Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies will give viewers some little Easter eggs for fans of the initial film, original members of the Pink Ladies are front and center in the series. Four young women are outcasts at Rydell High and band together in order to find their own place in school and make a difference for people who are outsiders. 

There’s Jane (Marisa Davila) who is the studious “good girl” whose reputation is soured thanks to her ex-boyfriend and the high school rumor mill. Cheyenne Isabel Wells is Olivia who hangs with the T-Birds (her brother is a member) and has been shunned at school for an alleged affair. Speaking of the T-Birds, Ari Notartomaso (who does go by they/them/he when they are not playing their character) plays Cynthia. And Cynthia is desperate to be in the T-Birds gang but they shut her out because she’s a girl. Rounding out the Pink Ladies is Tricia Fukuhara playing Nancy — obsessed with fashion and dramatic and witty.

The show is, as I’ve alluded to, a musical. The songs are catchy and fun and it’s the kind of show bursting with fun energy and choreography, 1950s wardrobes and sets. It’s got a lot of representation and new, young talent which is refreshing to see. If you have Paramount+ and are looking for something to tap your foot along to, check out Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies!

IF YOU LIKE COMEDIES THAT WILL ALSO MAKE YOU CRY, WATCH …



Shrinking (Apple TV+)

There’s one comedy on TV right now that’s vying for Ted Lasso’s spot as a show that “claims to be a comedy but makes you cry a whole lot” and it’s the new series, Shrinking. Honestly it should be no surprise that this show gives you similar vibes as it’s co-created by Bill Lawrence, Brett Goldstein, and Jason Segel. 

Shrinking is a show about a therapist named Jimmy (Segel) who’s mourning the loss of his wife and making pretty unhealthy decisions due to the pain of that loss. He’s stopped parenting his daughter, Alice (Lukita Maxwell), leaving his neighbor Liz (Christa Miller) to pick up the slack. He gets frustrated with his clients one particular day and gives them impulsive advice — which seems to actually help a client who he couldn’t get through to before. This leads Jimmy to believe that he needs to rethink his approach to his clients. Not everyone is thrilled with this idea, especially Jimmy’s curmudgeonly mentor Paul (Harrison Ford). Meanwhile Jimmy’s friend and therapist colleague Gaby (Jessica Williams) is also navigating her own divorce and clients.

The reason that Shrinking is so wonderful is because it combines everything that I have come to know and love about a Bill Lawrence show (silly comedy and zany moments, with some of the absolute best occurring between Jessica Williams and Harrison Ford) while also incorporating some bite (Jimmy is wholly unlikable on many occasions! Characters are mean and things don’t get resolved neatly in the next episode! Grief is depicted as all kinds of things and not just sadness!) and some unexpected twists.

Honestly, I hope every actor in this cast is up for an Emmy nomination this year. Everything about the first season worked for me, and I look forward to seeing how the show plays out in season two!


Trying (Apple TV+)

I’ve talked about Trying and I will keep yelling about it until more people I know watch this Apple TV+ gem. A British comedy, Trying is about a couple: Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall) who want to have kids but can’t. Thus begins their journey to adoption. Along the way they face personal and professional hurdles, deal with their wacky family and close friends, and discover what it means to be parents.

Honestly, it’s a comedy that made me cry multiple times. It’s heartwarming and sweet, hilarious and just the perfect antidote to bleak shows (some of which you’ll find on this list). If you want something that will make you feel hopeful and remind you of the idea that family is what you make it, watch Trying now!

IF YOU LIKE SOLVING MYSTERIES, WATCH …



You (Netflix)

Look, You is one of those shows I binge watched so I could keep up with internet discourse. At its best, it’s an interesting look on things like class systems, obsessions, and power. At its worst, it’s just a hot mess. But sometimes that’s exactly what you need to watch in order to pass the time. Season four of You was something else. The audience spent half the season convinced they knew what was happening, only to have their perceptions shattered by reality. Penn Badgley was working overtime to bring the most unhinged parts of Joe to life. And he really delivered on that. This season’s first half was more like a mystery than others which was fun to explore because it put Joe in the unprecedented situation of being the “mouse” in a cat and mouse game.

For those who are unaware of the premise, You is about Joe Goldberg (Badgley) who... well, he’s a serial killer. But he wouldn’t categorize himself that way at all. He’d tell you he’s a book-loving hopeless romantic who just happens to get himself wrapped up in the worst situations with no way out. Oh, and he narrates the entire series. Season one is fine, but seasons two and three get to showcase Joe delivering more sarcastic monologues (and playing opposite powerhouse Victoria Pedretti helps bolster those seasons in my opinion). You is dark, but it’s at its best when it doesn’t stray too far into unbelievable, convoluted territory.

This season’s ending (and the reveal that the next will be the show’s last) made a vast majority of us question exactly where the show could go and it’ll definitely be interesting to see how the series wraps up.


Poker Face (Peacock)

I was talking to our podcasting friend Gavin (from The Mixed Reviews) a while back and he described the difference between a “whodunnit” and a “howcatchem” (the latter of which I didn’t realize was a genre). Of course, a “whodunnit” is a story that many of us are familiar with because it’s been serialized a million times over: a crime happens, and we spend the rest of the TV/movie with the characters as they (and we) try to figure out who the perpetrator is. 

But with a “howcatchem,” like Poker Face, the audience already knows who committed the crime at the top of the episode. We see the perpetrator(s) commit the act, and then we spend the rest of the episode alongside Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) as she solves the crime. You might ask, “What’s the allure of that kind of story?” And I’d tell you, “Uncovering the missing components and watching someone piece it all together.”

Poker Face is a brilliant series from Rian Johnson (you know him from Star Wars and/or Knives Out fame) that follows Charlie, a human lie detector, who is on the run across the country from a casino boss. Along the way, she encounters various people she connects with and takes a variety of jobs — all which, of course, lead her to have to solve some mysterious deaths. Charlie can’t just let something go if it sits wrong in her gut, and that’s the crux of the series in a nutshell.

Dramatic, silly, funny, suspenseful, and featuring an incredible line-up of guest stars (Hong Chau, Judith Light,  S. Epatha Merkerson, Tim Meadows, Luis Guzmán, Joseph-Gordon Levitt, David Castañeda, Clea Duvall, and Rhea Perlman among others), Poker Face is totally worth your watch. I can’t wait to see where the show goes in season two!


Mrs. Davis (Peacock)

Even if I wanted to spoil the new, wild sci-fi series Mrs. Davis for you, I don’t know that most of you would believe me. I checked it out because I love the two leads: Betty Gilpin (justice for GLOW, always) and Jake McDorman (I loved him in Greek and Limitless, so why isn’t he in all my TV content?!). The show looked weird, so I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to stick around. As it turns out, the show is VERY weird but also the exact kind of weird that I like. It’s quirky and silly, campy and fun, dramatic and showcases the actors’ wide-ranging talents. It’s religious while being interesting and not preachy, and it’s futuristic while also being pretty dang relatable.

The quick summary is: A nun (Gilpin) sets out to confront an all-knowing AI known as “Mrs. Davis” and destroy it while also being tasked to find the Holy Grail. (If the summary sounds weird, it might also behoove me to inform you that Damon Lindelof is one of the creators.)

I love Mrs. Davis already though. It’s so compelling, so engaging, and definitely leaves you yelling: “WTF?!” at your screen. In my book, that’s fodder for some great television.


Outer Banks (Netflix)

The best way I can describe Outer Banks is “fun, but totally unhinged; suspend your disbelief at the door.” And every season that seems to get more and more accurate. At its core, it’s a mystery, teen drama. Following two distinct social classes in the titular location in North Carolina, Outer Banks is a story about John B. (Chase Stokes) whose father disappeared. As he and his friends JJ (Rudy Pankow), Pope (Jonathan Daviss), Kie (Madison Bailey), along with his John B.’s girlfriend Sarah Cameron (Madelyn Cline) dig deeper into Big John’s disappearance, they realize that he’s connected to a treasure — and something way bigger than themselves.

The show is a bit bonkers but a whole lot of fun. Nearly every episode ends with you wondering how the teens will get out of the mess they’re in and survive. But what I do enjoy about the show (even though it’s frustrating) is that the teens don’t get neat little bows on their stories where they win every season. They win some fights, they lose some others. And that’s just realistic: especially when they’re going up against wealthy, ruthless residents of the island like Wade Cameron (Charles Esten) and his son Rafe (Drew Starkey) who hold all the power, control the narrative, and can buy out anyone who would oppose them.

But if you’re into a teen-centric treasure hunting show that features a lot of mysteries (the biggest among them is: “How bad do these kids smell if they’re running around North Carolina in the summer without changing their clothes?”), social class dynamics, teen romance, and action sequences, then Outer Banks is the show for you!

I hope that you found some use in these recommendations, folks! Happy viewing! 

Saturday, November 12, 2022

Jenn’s Pick: The 22 Best TV Series of 2022 [Contributor: Jenn]

A TV critic friend of mine (hi there, Nick!) posed a question on Twitter a while back, asking how many television shows per year — new series and rewatches included — we watched. The point was to ponder whether or not the amount of television he watched was way higher than an average person’s. Because I was curious, I compiled my list.

I clocked in at 75 shows, and I still feel like I’ve missed some. (Can you tell I’m a TV fan?) And in the spirit of being clever, I decided to narrow my list down into a listicle, selecting the top 22 shows from 2022 that I watched. These are all series that aired at least one new episode — most an entire season — this year. They’re in no particular order, but they have one thing in common: They got me through another very strange year in this very strange world.

Tuesday, December 14, 2021

2021 in Review: My Favorite TV Shows [Contributor: Jenn]

As we round out our sophomore year in a pandemic (ugh, can you believe it?) I’ve realized that essentially I need a Letterboxd for television. I watch way more TV than I do film, and this year was no exception. The truth is that between the fifteen different streaming services out there, it’s impossible to watch everything that is available to stream. That is never more evident than when we get to year-end lists and I read through picks from Vulture, EW, and more while realizing there are shows I’ve never heard of out there! Nevertheless, I have compiled some of the television shows that got me through 2021 — and ones that I personally think you should be watching.

For ease of access, I’ve broken the series down by which streaming service (or cable network) they’re available on. If you have access to one or all of these streaming services, I highly recommend checking these shows out. May they get you through your junior year (ugh) of the pandemic.

Note: Spoilers will be discussed below so read at your own risk!

APPLE TV+

Mythic Quest 

Look, I’ll sing the praises of Mythic Quest all day long but it’s an absolute shame that the series wasn’t nominated for any Golden Globe awards or Critics’ Choice awards. While season one was great, season two brought even more heart and twists to our favorite video game company. In addition to two stellar standalone episodes, Mythic Quest gave us growth and development for every character in its ensemble, delivered the feels (if you didn’t cry during “Juice Box,” are you a robot?), and propelled us into season three — and four, thank goodness! — with so much promise. I might be biased because I podcasted about this series incessantly this past year and adore all its stars/behind-the-scenes people, but I stand by it: Ted Lasso is Apple TV+’s golden child but Mythic Quest is its secret weapon.

Ted Lasso

Of course Ted Lasso landed on my list, y’all. Season two improved on what season one of the show delivered: promise to make us laugh hysterically and also weep. But what I particularly enjoyed about this show’s sophomore season was its insistence that its characters aren’t perfect. I like watching Ted make poor decisions or not realize the consequences of his actions. Even though it was frustrating, I like that the series made Nate a villain and didn’t neatly resolve that arc. I love that the show prioritized therapy and mental health. I love that the show made me weep overtly. And I love that even though there were elements this season that felt weaker or I disagreed with (controversial opinion: I can’t get on board Sam/Rebecca and I am mad that the show made me think for even a moment that they would do a Jamie/Keeley/Roy love triangle), they never overshadowed the series as a whole. Bring on season three, everyone!

Schmigadoon!

Do you love musicals? Do you love shows that poke fun of musicals while also BEING musicals? Then Schmigadoon! was just the series for you. Filled to the brim with a talented cast — Cecily Strong deserves awards, Keegan-Michael Key was so wonderful, Ariana DeBose keeps winning, Kristin Chenoweth and Aaron Tveit were perfect, etc. etc. — this comedy about a couple on the verge of a break-up winding up in an old-school musical town hit all the right notes. It was funny, the songs were incredibly catchy and paid homage to musicals (please, I beg you, listen to Cecily Strong sing a Sound of Music parody song that had me in stitches) while delivering some much-earned heart. If you have Apple TV+ and enjoy musicals, check this one out.

Acapulco

One of Apple TV+’s newest offerings is one of the most delightful. Set in the titular Mexico resort city, this Spanish/English show has a lot to offer. Think the same sort of storytelling as How I Met Your Mother but without the rage and way more fun! Eugenio Derbez plays the present-day version of Maximo, the show’s main character and whom we meet as a young adult who got his dream job: working at Las Colinas Resort. The series follows Maximo and his best friend Memo as they navigate resort politics, love, and friendship.

Season one wrapped and left us wondering what would happen next, so I can’t wait for a second season to get to know more about these characters and their relationships!

(Honorable mentions on Apple TV+ are Dickinson which continues to be zany and absurd, but also often fun as well as The Shrink Next Door which was a wild ride and often stressful. It made me not like Paul Rudd — simply because of the character he played which is based on a real person — and I really don’t love that feeling!)

HBO MAX

Hacks

This series is on nearly every “best of” list for 2021 and it’s deserved. Starring the impeccable Jean Smart, Hacks is the story of Deborah Vance who is a comedy legend. She reluctantly teams up with a young writer named Ava (Hannah Einbinder) because she’s been tasked with becoming more relevant to new audiences. It’s a plot that’s made even more compelling by the push-and-pull dynamic between Deborah and Ava, as well as the growth and regression that we see from both of them. Flawed characters are interesting and these two women are incredibly flawed — and I love it. Moreover, you will understand each character as a person, woman, and comedian by the end of the first season. Oh, and in addition to being compelling and well-written as a series, Kaitlin Olson recurring as Deborah’s daughter on Hacks is maybe one of my favorite performances in 2021. 

Starstruck

Do you want a rom-com miniseries that will make you feel all of the things, especially for Nikesh Patel? Good, then watch Starstruck on HBO Max! This six-episode first season stars — and is written and produced by — Rose Matafeo as Jessie, a normal 20-something who has a one-night-stand on New Year’s Eve with a famous actor (Patel). Honestly this description doesn’t even do it justice because the show is so funny, so sweet, and so swoony. Each episode focuses on a different season in the year as Jessie and Tom navigate their personal lives, their feelings for each other, and their life decisions. It’s so wonderful and I’m thankful it’s getting a second season because I honestly know Starstruck is one of the best shows I watched in 2021.

Insecure

The final season of Insecure is winding down and I’m not ready to let these characters go quite yet! I’m so impressed by Issa Rae, think that she deserves all the awards for playing Issa Dee so faithfully and beautifully, and I just want the best for Issa — the character and actress! Insecure’s last lap is bringing the character development, the tears, and the laughs as it’s clear that Issa and our other characters are growing up and moving on. I’m not ready for this journey to end, but I’m grateful to know that Issa, Kelli, Molly, and Tiffany are going to be okay. (Fine, the men will probably be fine too but I really care about that core friendship most of all!)

Mare of Easttown

Dramatic and harrowing from start to finish, Mare of Easttown was everything that I was promised it would be. Kate Winslet gave a compelling performance as Mare, a detective investigating the murder of a young girl who was also a mother. In addition to Winslet, Julianne Nicholson gave an amazing performance from start to finish as Mare’s best friend... especially when we get to a revelation at the end of the series. Honestly, even though I prefaced this article with a spoiler alert, I won’t tell you the twist of this show because I think it’s worth watching without knowing the ending. Just be aware that this is a heavy series so you might want to space it out with some fun.

NETFLIX

Never Have I Ever 

Over on Netflix, Never Have I Ever continued to shine. Mindy Kaling’s coming-of-age comedy focused on Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) navigating a love triangle between Paxton Hall-Yoshida (Darren Barnet) and Ben Gross (Jaren Lewison). In the end though, this season wasn’t just about Devi trying to juggle boyfriends, which she thought was so cool: it was also about her best friends, her mother, and her cousin trying to navigate life and love. Devi is an imperfect character who you don’t always root for but that’s beautiful! She’s a teenage girl so we should expect her to be selfish and petty and hurt other people occasionally. And she does. She also avoids pain and dealing with the grief of her father’s death, but we all avoid grief and pain to an extent which makes her actions relatable but also hard to watch. I love Never Have I Ever and while I’m #TeamBen, I am really interested to see what happens next season with Devi and her friends!

Maid 

I was incredibly impressed with and compelled by Maid. Again: if you’re looking for something that is light and fluffy, this isn't the show for you and trigger warning — this is a show that depicts and discusses abuse. If you choose to watch it, Maid is a powerful tale based on a true story. Alex (Margaret Qualley) decides to leave an abusive relationship with her young daughter and start cleaning houses to provide for their new life. But Alex goes through a lot of financial and emotional struggles on this journey, including dealing with her absent father and her undiagnosed bipolar mother (Margaret’s IRL mom, Andie MacDowell). I think one of the things I can say about Maid as a whole is that it’s hard to watch someone try and fail because of the way the odds are stacked against her — especially when it comes to emotional and verbal abuse.

But you root for Alex. You hope she can get on her feet. You want her to accept the help that others are offering but you also don’t want to pity her. You know that she’s making sacrifices for her daughter. You know they both deserve the best life. It’s a complex journey as a viewer but that makes the series rewarding. (Additionally, Anika Noni Rose plays Regina, a wealthy client whom Alex cleans for, and delivers a monologue so compelling and utterly heartbreaking in episode four that it should earn her all the awards.)

DISNEY+

WandaVision

Few shows were talked about as much this past year as WandaVision, with good reason. Not only was this series the character study on Wanda Maximoff and Vision that I needed to care about them as individuals and a unit, but it was also an incredibly well-done homage to television sitcoms in every decade. While a lot of Marvel TV might feel like one big set-up for future films, WandaVision swung big and accomplished something much more: letting us all feel the weight of grief and pain and not shying away from it or covering it up. WandaVision reminded us that to be human is to feel and not to be ashamed of those feelings, whatever they are.

(It also gave us standout performances from Kathryn Hahn and scene-stealing ones from Kat Dennings and Randall Park.)

While WandaVision did set up the next phase of the MCU, it did more than that: it touched us all in unexpected ways and reminded us that regardless of the flashy CGI budget Marvel has, it can weave compelling stories with earnest characters — and it did.

Big Shot 

I love John Stamos and I love Yvette Nicole Brown so when my friend Nick mentioned Big Shot, I was on board — even if I’m ambivalent about basketball, which is what the show centers around. But that’s the best part of Big Shot: it seems like it’s going to be a show about basketball but it’s really a show about female friendship, teamwork, and family. A big shot basketball coach (Stamos) is fired and given a job coaching an all-girls high school basketball team. In the process, he bonds with the girls, learns how to be a better coach and person, and gains new insight as a dad. It’s charming, sweet, funny, and features a stellar cast of young actors. Check this one out of you’re looking for a fun binge this holiday season!

(Honorable mention to Loki which was a wild and fun ride, but mostly honorable mention to Tom Hiddleston let’s be real.)

HULU

Only Murders in the Building

What happens when you put Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez in a Hulu show together? Magic, that’s what! I absolutely fell in love with Only Murders in the Building and they’re the reason why. The Hulu series focuses on these three characters: Charles (Martin), a former actor and star of a popular detective drama, Oliver (Short) who’s a Broadway director struggling financially, and the young Mabel (Gomez), a mysterious woman renting an apartment from her aunt. The three bond after a murder occurs in their building and they use their obsession with a true crime podcast to try and solve the case — while also starting their own podcast in the process. 

Often silly and fun, occasionally incredibly tense and dramatic, Only Murders in the Building was the show to watch in 2021. Steve Martin and Martin Short have incredible chemistry, obviously, but it’s the inclusion of Selena Gomez’s dry wit and hilarity that really sells this show. You’ll likely call some of the twists and turns, but probably not all of them. And there’s one particular episode of the show — “The Boy From 6B” — is one of the most inventive episodes of TV this season.

Home Economics

A worthy tonal successor to the charming ABC series Single Parents, Home Economics airs on the same network but is available to stream the next day on Hulu — just like the other two shows below. Starring Topher Grace as a novelist writing a book about his dysfunctional sibling group, Home Economics is a fun, endearing ensemble sitcom that everyone should be watching. If you’re a fan of Mythic Quest, you’ll get a double dose of Caitlin McGee, plus the bonus of Sasheer Zamata who is hilarious. Karla Souza plays the pitch-perfect, blunt, sardonic Marina. And James Richard Tatro is so fun as the wealthy youngest sibling. The kids are just as entertaining as the adults which is what makes this show such a great choice to watch. 

The Wonder Years

If you’re looking for a new show with the same name as an 80s classic, look no further than the 2021 version of The Wonder Years which focuses on a Black family in Alabama. Dean (older narrator Don Cheadle) navigates life as a pre-teen including friends, family dynamics, and his love life. Dulé Hill stars as Dean’s dad and of course we love him because Dulé is amazing. But one of the best episodes of the show thus far has been one that focuses on Dean’s mom, Lillian (Saycon Sengbloh) and what Dean learns about her not just as an adult but as a Black working woman when he shadows her at her job for the day. 

The Wonder Years is fun, fresh, and a lovely little ABC addition that you all should check out.

Ordinary Joe

Starring James Wolk, James Wolk, and... James Wolk (and other talented actors of course), this show is essentially a “Choose Your Own Adventure” game that begs the question of what would happen if you could see the effects of one choice in your life. The show follows Joe (Wolk) after a decision he makes on graduation day. He had three options: to go to a party his college girlfriend Jenny was attending, to celebrate with his family, or to go meet with a young woman he just literally ran into at graduation. Based on the choice Joe makes, his life turns out differently. In one timeline, he’s a musician, in another he’s a nurse, and in another he’s a cop. The coolest thing about the show is seeing the color cues for each timeline (red, blue, and green), which means you’re never confused by which timeline you’re in!

It’s truly an intriguing concept for a show that’s anchored by Wolk, who should be a lead in way more things than he has been. Charming, engaging, and often breaking your heart, James Wolk is the star of every timeline and I’m here for it.

PEACOCK

Girls5Eva

Music, comedy, and girl power: what more could you want? What if we threw in the iconic Sara Bareilles, Renée Elise Goldsberry, Busy Philipps, and Paula Pell? That’s exactly what Girls5Eva does. From the minds of  Meredith Scardino and Tina Fey, the series focuses on a 90s girl group of the same name who decides to reunite and produce music together again. The show is a quirky and fun comedy about getting older, female friendships, love, and music. It features one of the funniest songs I’ve ever heard (“I’m Afraid”) as well as plenty more original, catchy music. I love all these characters, I love recurring hilarity in the form of Andrew Rannells, and I love that we’ll be getting more of these characters in another season!

We Are Lady Parts

Featuring punk rock music and an all-female Muslim group, We Are Lady Parts was a gem of a freshman find. The best part about the show is that in only a few episodes, each character manages to be completely developed and nuanced. They all have different priorities — Amina wants to find a husband, Saira wants to preserve the punk music of their band, etc. — but each woman grapples with her priorities and the responsibility of the band. Even though it’s a short season, there’s so much character development and heart that I can’t wait for season two. Watch this charming series on Peacock if you’re able to! You won’t regret it.

Rutherford Falls

When I discovered that there was a show starring Ed Helms on Peacock, I wondered why I hadn’t heard of it before (... the answer is because it was on Peacock). But I checked out Rutherford Falls on a whim and fell in love! Created by Helms, Mike Schur, and Sierra Teller Ornelas, the series follows Nathan Rutherford (Helms) and Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding) who are childhood best friends and live in Rutherford Falls, a small town founded by Nathan’s ancestors. Reagan is from the Minishonka Nation and is desperately trying to create a museum that celebrates the history of her Nation. 

Featuring Indigenous actors (Michael Greyeyes is perfect in this show) and writers, Rutherford Falls is a funny, engaging sitcom about a friendship tested and the boundaries you have to put in place with people you love. I like that Nathan is someone you actively root against at points in the show and that Reagan’s career ambitions and love for her Nation are something the series celebrates. Jana is absolutely captivating and her rapport with both Michael and Ed is hilarious. I’m excited to see where season two will take us, especially in regards to the town’s future, but I’m ready for the journey!

Baking It

The literal cutest show ever, Baking It is the spin-off of Amy Poehler and Nick Offerman’s crafting series Making It. This cooking competition series features pairs (either siblings, parent and children, partners, etc.) baking up creative holiday treats which are judged by literal grandmas. Oh, and it’s hosted by Maya Rudolph and Andy Samberg because they need to host literally everything. I’m not joking. EVERYTHING. If you’re in need of some pure serotonin this holiday season, get Peacock and check this gem out!

What television shows got you through this year? Sound off in the comments below!