Top Ten Television Shows of 2023

10. Poker Face - Rian Johnson' razor sharp dark comedy, led by the fantastic Natasha Lyonne, and an incredible group of guest stars that range from Oscar winners to character favorites, was one of the highlights of new shows in 2023. It was funny, entertaining, thrilling, and brings his cinematic flair to television. 

9. A Black Lady Sketch Show - In what turned out to be its final season (a real shame), A Black Lady Sketch Show continued to be as inventive, funny, and groundbreaking. I hate it is ending. I hope that Robin Thede continues to create new projects, because the world will be lesser without her wit. 

8. Reservation Dogs - A great little series that never got the credit it deserved, Reservation Dogs is a fun, smart, soulful, inclusive show about family and friendship, love and loss. It's final season matched the creativity of its first two seasons, which upon a re-watch I liked so much more than the first time, and it ends the show on a high note. 

7. The Last of Us - Okay, so I was skeptical about another video game adaptation, and I am not the biggest fan of horror. But boy was I wrong about The Last of Us. Beautifully cast, brilliantly constructed, and impeccably human, it has set a new bar for video game adaptations, and continues HBO's streak. 

6. Beef - Dark, weirdly funny, and intoxicatingly entertaining, Beef, led by great performances from Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, is a great limited series from HBO, and in a weak year for those categories, it clearly rises to the top. 

5. Somebody Somewhere - Somebody Somewhere is a such a beautiful little human show with deep characters, lots of laughter and tears, and by the end you are left with smiles all over. Kudos to Bridget Everett for her fantastic and grounded lead performance. 

4. Heartstopper - Season 2 of Heartstopper was a thrilling joy start to finish, just like its first go around. It is such a warm series that makes different okay, and deals with teen issues in a way that is refreshing compared to so many depictions. So happy it got renewed for Season 3. 

3. The Bear - The Bear's second season was even better than the first, which is saying a lot. It continued to be heartfelt, intense, darkly funny, and proved that season one was not a fluke. 

2. Abbott Elementary - Abbott Elementary still remains the best show on broadcast television, and is proof that the medium still has spark. The best ensemble on television continued to make us laugh, break our hearts, and remind us of why teachers are so important. 

1. Succession - It only had a couple of seasons, but Succession made the most of its short run, and it ended on top. It's final season was shocking, emotionally crazy, darkly funny, and brilliant, all the way to the end.