2022 was a big year for television, from TV shows that returned after extra-long hiatuses and adaptations done with perfection to brand-new series that made us laugh so hard it hurt.
For me, it was a mix of all of those kinds of shows, including Reboot, Dead to Me, and Interview with the Vampire, along with long-standing favorites and one network show with a perfectly emotional ending that stood out most this year.
In no particular order, here are my top 10 TV shows of 2022:
1. Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul offered a perfect final season this year, and with an even more perfect series finale. I’ve always appreciated how character-driven this story is.
And seeing Jimmy McGill transform into the man we already knew as Saul Goodman was fascinating to watch. Bob Odenkirk’s performance throughout the entire series is stellar, especially as the story progresses into the present when he lives as Gene.
The finale serves the story well, bringing everything full circle and having Saul end up where he belongs. Though what we learn is that as much as this was the story of how Saul Goodman came to be, and then how his story ends, it was also always a love story between Saul and Kim Wexler.
How to watch Better Call Saul:
2. Severance
Perhaps the fastest I binged one series all year, Severance grabbed my attention right away. It’s the kind of show you can’t stop thinking about. The concept is fascinating.
It follows workers at a company who have had a procedure done that completely separates that mind from personal matters while at work, and vice-versa, making one heck of a comment about corporate America.
It also explores its characters in meaningful ways and has several shocking twists throughout the first season. Add to that, it’s beautifully shot, and the performances, particularly from Adam Scott and Britt Lower, are award-worthy to say the least.
How to watch Severance:
3. Reboot
This is the comedy that had me laughing out loud constantly this year. Reboot has one of the most clever concepts for a comedy series that I’ve seen in a long time.
It centers on exactly what it sounds like: a reboot of a fictional sitcom called Step Right Up that harkens back to the days of TGIF. With reboots of old series remaining popular in television, this comedy comes at the perfect time.
It not only focuses on the actors, who have a fairly awkward and complicated reunion thanks to their personal lives, but on the writers room as well.
The biggest twist, in fact, comes from the fact that the writer of the reboot has big plans to approach the series differently, but then finds herself having to work with the original writer — who it turns out she has a surprising connection with. While the show is incredibly funny, it also winds up being endearing and emotional.
4. Grey’s Anatomy
MIDORI FRANCIS, NIKO TERHO, ALEXIS FLOYD, ADELAIDE KANE, HARRY SHUM JR.
Speaking of reboots, Grey’s Anatomy continues to be able to reinvent itself, even now in its 19th season. While the series has been far from perfect this year, it remains one of my favorites because I’m so deeply invested in the stories it tells.
The longevity is a big part of that, but it’s also a credit to the writing. Everything comes full circle, and it’s done that for Meredith Grey, who will be the last of the original interns to exit when the series returns from hiatus.
But it does so after bringing in a brand new group of interns, with everything written in a way that feels fresh and new, and a lot like a Grey’s Anatomy reboot, even though the show never end.
Add that we get special guest stars like Kate Walsh who are able to return after many years of exiting, bringing new energy and powerful new stories to the series. Grey’s Anatomy also continues to tackle timely, important social issues in smart and heartfelt ways, and it’s never afraid to take big risks.
How to watch Grey’s Anatomy:
5. Interview with the Vampire
I’d been looking forward to the AMC adaptation of Interview with the Vampire since it was first announced a few years ago, and I was not disappointed. The series is masterful in the way it adapts Anne Rice’s source material while also making it more modern and timely.
It changes plenty about the original novels, but manages to honor the themes in a deep and meaningful way. This is all while having the interview itself take place in the present time, which allows the series, in a lot of ways, to be seen as a sequel.
It’s brilliant storytelling that works even better as Sam Reid, Jacob Anderson, and Bailey Bass all embody these characters perfectly.
6. Let the Right One In
Another vampire series and another well-crafted adaptation, Let the Right One In is the show that captivated me the most this year. It’s an entirely different take on vampires, involving viruses and science experiments as opposed to the typical mythology.
The central figure is Eleanor, a 12-year-old (really 22-year-old) vampire who doesn’t have to kill because her father does what he must in order to take care of her. That also includes searching for the host, all while keeping her safe and hidden.
But Eleanor wants nothing more than to have a normal life and a friend, which she gains in a next-door neighbor, Isaiah. As intense and thrilling as Let the Right One In is, it’s also a sweet story about family and friendship — and sacrifice. And it’s incredibly amazing storytelling.
How to watch Let the Right One In:
7. This Is Us
The show that had everyone crying their eyes out each Tuesday, This Is Us stands out as a clear favorite for me. Its complex, emotional storytelling was made all the more fascinating by the time jumps and the mystery that those flash-forwards created.
The Pearson family was one that was easy to identify with throughout all six seasons of the series, and while sometimes, the tears the audience shed came because of real tragedy, other times, it was just from the endearing, realistic nature of the interactions between them.
This is also a good time to note that impeccable performance by Mandy Moore during This Is Us Season 6, as she was transformed from a young mom to one dying of dementia. The skill with which she portrayed all of those parts of life for the same character, and with such great nuance, was absolutely remarkable.
How to watch This Is Us:
8. The Rookie
LISSETH CHAVEZ, NATHAN FILLION
The Rookie has officially earned its place as my favorite cop show, with the right balance of drama and levity to make for an enjoyable watch. It’s not as dark as other cop shows on television, yet it does include plenty of suspense.
It’s also unique in the way it focuses on everyday calls and not just detective cases, though there is enough of that to keep us hooked as well.
Nathan Fillion adds necessary humor in his role as John Nolan, and the will they / won’t they element between Bradford and Chen keeps us coming back. The new season has also introduced Lisseth Chavez as the rookie that Nolan is training, and she brings fresh new energy to the show that’s made it even more fun to watch.
How to watch The Rookie:
9. 1883
The first part of the Yellowstone origin story, 1883, turned out to be an emotional, highly suspenseful journey that I couldn’t stop watching. The series immerses the audience in a different time period and a different way of life as we watch James and Margaret Dutton, their children, and new partners along the way travel across the country in search of new opportunities — at great sacrifice.
Though that journey is about how the Duttons wound up settling in Montana years ago, it’s also about their daughter Elsa and her coming-of-age story. She’s the one who narrates the series, and her insights make it that much more powerful to watch.
Here’s hoping the next installment, 1923, is just as good. It’s starting out to be, that’s for sure.
Watch the premiere of 1923 here.
10. Dead to Me
After a long wait, Dead to Me returned to Netflix for its third, final, and most emotional season yet. The dark humor of seeing Jen and Judy try to literally get away with murder is so much fun to watch, and that’s not even considering the bonkers twists the final season takes.
The writing is clever, with small details throughout that foreshadow all sorts of connections. Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate each give award-worthy performances, both with their humor and with the highly emotional scenes that come as they grapple with big changes.
But above all else, it’s the story of their friendship that makes Dead to Me so worth watching.
How to watch Dead to Me:
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What were your favorite TV shows this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The post Ashley’s Top 10 TV Shows of 2022 first appeared on Tell-Tale TV.