Beth's Top Shows of 2023
It's another roundup, year-in-review. This time our focus is streaming TV shows. Also, 2023 is the year of Lee Eisenberg.
Ok, chop chop. Here we go.
Top Dramas
The Last of Us created by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann on Max
Where a post-apocalyptic fungus f*cks with humanity
The "Last of Us" follows the staid recipe of all the end-of-the-world, life-as-we-know-it-is-over thrillers before it. Still, premise wise it's kinda entertaining
The extract above is from my January review of episode 1. And boy, did it end up delivering on the entertainment.
According to HBO, The Last of Us’ first six episodes averaged 30.4 million viewers, with the debut episode closing in on 40 million viewers. It also made the list of Top 15 Streamed Shows in 2023.
The Bear created by Christopher Storer on FX/Hulu
I came late to this series as Season 2 released over the Summer but I quickly caught up. You should too, if you haven’t already. It’s brilliant. And once you watch it, you’ll be glad you did. Probably the most buzzed about TV show this year, especially after Jeremy Allen White earned awards for his portrayal of Carmy, but he’s just the tip of the iceberg. A talented cast with undeniable chemistry coupled with a riveting story of a family in perpetual crisis played against a heart-wrenching soundtrack is worthy of all the accolades.
Lessons in Chemistry miniseries developed by Lee Eisenberg based on a bestselling book by Bonnie Garmus on Apple TV+
A beautiful adaptation of a wonderful story about defying the odds, pursuing purpose over expectations, and how love, in the form of chosen family and friends, actually does conquer all. Easily one of the finest adaptations I’ve seen in a long time which had me not missing the original book at all. It nabbed Golden Globe nominations in the categories of Best Limited Series and a Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series (Larson).
Drama Runner Up
Barry created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader on Max. Season 4, its final season aired in 2023.
Top Dramedies
Jury Duty created by Gene Stupnitsky and Lee Eisenberg (Lessons in Chemistry) on Freevee / Prime Video
In the mockumentary style of 2010s shows like Parks & Recreation or The Office, comes Jury Duty, a Summer series I barely clocked.
Good for hard laughs and watching James Marsden (X-Men (Cyclops), The Notebook) make an ass of himself. Everyone loves an insanely hot actor who can laugh at himself in a completely self-effacing way. See Ryan Gosling and Barbie.
The show is up for some awards as well and happy to see this.
The Afterparty Season 2 created by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord on Apple TV+
In Hannah’s episode (sister of the victim, played with pitch perfect precision by Anna Konkle of Pen15), we get a very Wes Anderson (The Grand Budapest Hotel, Moonrise Kingdom) motif running throughout. In the fiancee of the victim, Grace’s episode, we go back in time to Regency era romance. Think: Bridgerton or Pride & Prejudice. Part of the fun of this show is guessing what kind of episode will transpire based on what we know of the personality of the suspect.
Sam Richardson (Veep, Ted Lasso, I Think You Should Leave), Tiffany Haddish, and Chloe Chao are mainstays from Season 1.
Somebody Somewhere Season 2 created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen produced by the Duplass Brothers on Max
author and pop culture fan who was my collaborator on the review of Season 2 of this show said it best for folks wondering whether or not they should give this show a try:
If you’ve been craving a show that explores the joys and challenges of forming and deepening genuine friendship, if you want to spend time with people that are fully dimensional, who are trying to find their places in the world, who don’t look like Hollywood actors, who might make fart jokes one minute and cry on your shoulder the next, then Somebody Somewhere is for you.
Dramedy Runner Up
Shrinking by Bill Lawrence (Scrubs) on Apple TV+ / Written by Jason Segel (How I Met Your Mother), Brett Goldstein (Ted Lasso) and Bill Lawrence
This is an amazing round-up Beth. I absolutely loved the Bear, and was crossing my fingers to see it here before I clicked on to read!
I never realised lessons in chemistry was turned into a show! Most definitely going to be next on my watch list!
Thanks for sharing :)
Thanks for the recs, Beth! I need more distraction in 2024. Maybe I'll start with jury duty since I too am a VGP.