The television programs of 2023 are extraordinary, despite the ongoing turmoil of screenwriters and actors on strike. Although the number and revenue of streaming media have reached historic highs, many highly anticipated performances have been cancelled. Some well-known TV programs proudly stand out, while other heavily promoted projects (and celebrities) are disappointing because the return and debut programs are equally exciting. Here are our selected best English programs for 2023 (in no particular order):
The Last of Us
This excellent adaption of a post-apocalyptic thriller is based on the same-titled computer game. The show’s authors are Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann, who made the game. In The Last of Us, a fiery, sarcastic adolescent named Ellie (Bella Ramsey) and a rugged and compassionate smuggler named Joel (Pedro Pascal) embark on a terrifying adventure. A fungus that converts humans into mindless, rabid, rage-filled zombies has devastated the earth. Joel and Ellie must navigate dangerous territory while avoiding cannibals, despotic quarantine areas, diseased people, and ominous preachers who have accepted God. The chemistry between Pascal and Ramsey is flawless, as is the acting, scripting, and production design.
Succession
What else needs to be said about the business drama starring Jesse Armstrong, which justifiably claims to be one of the best dramas on television ever? We eagerly anticipated the reveal of the next ruler of the Roy family empire for four breathtaking seasons, and even after all logical theories were put out, the show never failed to astound and delight us in equal measure. The final season was just as tragic, hilarious, and entertaining as it always has been, wrapping up the lives of these complex characters that we have come to love and detest. Some of the most memorable moments included the unexpected death of patriarch Logan Roy, the resurrection of Kendall and his subsequent destruction, and Roman’s predictable yet brilliant U-turn. Television royalty at its best was what Succession was.
Gen V
Isn’t this school for supes diabolical? Based on the ‘We Gotta Go Now’ comic book storyline by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, the superhero spin-off of The Boys is entertaining from all aspects. There are unexpected bloody scenes, an exciting mystery, needle drops, and appearances by The Boys. Godolkin University, a superhero equivalent of Hogwarts, is the setting for Gen V. Even though blood-manipulating Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) views Godolkin as a means of escaping her terrible past, obstacles such as malevolent Vought International and external factors stand in her way. Gen V has several thrills and spills, from the opening scene that is reminiscent of Carrie until the stunning conclusion.
A Murder at the End of the World
The Agatha Christie classic And Then There Were None comes to mind when one imagines guests at a remote resort who are further shut off owing to a snowfall and suddenly violently die in the middle of it all. The modern adaptation of the tale, A Murder at the End of the World by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, provides something both radically fresh and reassuringly familiar by meticulously adhering to the genre’s traditions. The show, which is set in two timeframes, centers on hacker Darby Hart (Emma Corrin), who is attempting to understand the fatalities at the Icelandic hideaway of tech mogul Andy Ronson (Clive Owen).
The Curse
The Agatha Christie classic And Then There Were None comes to mind when one imagines guests at a remote resort who are further shut off owing to a snowfall and suddenly violently die in the middle of it all. The modern adaptation of the tale, A Murder at the End of the World by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, provides something both radically fresh and reassuringly familiar by meticulously adhering to the genre’s traditions. The show, which is set in two timeframes, centers on hacker Darby Hart (Emma Corrin), who is attempting to understand the fatalities at the Icelandic hideaway of tech mogul Andy Ronson (Clive Owen).
Dead Ringers
The drama, Dead Ringers, is based on the 1988 film by David Cronenberg, which was inspired by the lives of two twin gynecologists who passed away in New York in July 1975 under suspicious circumstances. Despite being unsettling to witness, Rachel Weisz’s outstanding portrayal of the gynecologist twins, Beverly and Elliot Mantle, serves as the film’s focal point. The miniseries centers on the twins, Elliot and Beverly, who have quite different personalities. Elliot is a risk-taker and a voracious consumer of cocaine, while Beverly is sensitive and longs for a child. The gender-swapped show, in which Jeremy Irons played the twins in David Cronenberg’s film, is a fascinating psychological study of competition, jealously, anxiety, mental illness, love, and hatred. The predominant color red represents the childbed, which is the battleground.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
While Blue Eye Samurai and Scavengers Reign came very close, this anime version of the Scott Pilgrim comic novels—which has the voice actors from Edgar Wright’s critically acclaimed 2010 film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World reprising their roles—was finally chosen as the best animated streaming premiere of 2023. In addition to being loyal to the franchise’s vintage feel, this sleek entry offers us the opportunity to analyze the story from several angles and features a catchy, fast-paced animation style and excellent music. This is one of the most enjoyable surprises of the year, aside from an excellent Michael Cera. Other standout performances are by Ellen Wong’s Knives Chau and Mary Elizabeth Winstead’s Ramona Flowers.