The Beat’s Best TV Shows of 2022

We proceed to reside within the period of peak TV, and if meaning we now have a deluge of new reveals to make amends for and binge, that additionally means we’ve a wealth of reveals to select from. Whether you like a great thriller, a drama, some dragons, or a trio of magical rings, 2022 was overflowing with reveals on each streaming and on cable for audiences to get misplaced in. We right here at The Beat have compiled our favourite hits of the 12 months.  

Andor Season 1 (Disney+)

When it involves Star Wars (and different massive IP just like the MCU), we’re all beginning to really feel just a little bit fatigued. Sure, it’s been some time for the reason that final film, however from animated reveals to a number of live-action reveals coming down the pipeline, it feels just like the galaxy far far-off is getting just a little too shut. However, it’s truthful to say that Andor is well the very best factor to come back out of the Disney Star Wars universe in a very long time. Showrunner Tony Gilroy dives into the world of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) with a gritty have a look at the years previous the occasions of Rogue One.

This Cassian is just not the spy for the rebel but, the truth is, he doesn’t imagine within the trigger. But Andor reveals the oppressive drive of the galactic empire, one thing much more insidious than the Sith, and brings the sort of nuance and emotional depth that has actually by no means existed in Star Wars. — Therese Lacson

Atlanta Season 3 & 4 (FX)

Atlanta launched not only one however two distinct seasons this 12 months, however both one would have been worthy of inclusion on each “Best of 2022” checklist. In explicit, Brian Tyree Henry’s efficiency as Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles stood out throughout each. Over the course of the sequence, the character has been catapulted from cult obscurity to mainstream success.

But whereas many such musician-based tales comply with the protagonist right into a dying spiral of extra, Alfred’s arc was extra about being disabused of his misconceptions, being compelled to empathize with these he least expects, and in the end, trying to outline that means in his life – a aim he achieves within the present’s penultimate episode, which actually seems like a contented ending nicely earned. In a simply world, we’d have an upcoming season of Donald Glover’s animated Deadpool to console us over the loss of this instantaneous traditional sequence. Atlanta was forty episodes of perfection. — Avery Kaplan

The Bear Season 1 (FX)

Mostly set in a cramped and run-down Chicago restaurant, Christopher Storer’s thrilling new drama can have your nervousness feeling like a whistling kettle pot able to boil over. Filled with implausible performances from its complete ensemble together with Jeremy Allen White, Ayo Edebiri, and Ebon Moss-Bachrach, the characters of The Bear can have you rooting for them, and feeling a buffet of feelings, even after a number of nail-biting kitchen arguments. — Aaron Halls

Better Call Saul Season 6 (AMC)

Much like Bob Odenkirk, I spent this season of Better Call Saul watching Rhea Seehorn simply rip it to shreds. She was a hearth that burned up each scene. There’s no backside to struggling on these Vince Gilligan reveals. Seehorn’s Kim Wexler is the one who makes the not possible occur for these in want. Seeing her snuffing out happiness like cigarettes is tough. Harrowing performances from Michael Mando who brings some Steppenwolf-tier agony, and Tony Dalton, whose sociopath with secret coronary heart remembers the Shakespeare chilly with a code of Gbenga Akinnagbe in The Wire.

Characters with good and unhealthy in them that aren’t reconciled. This season was self-indulgent, however paid off in twists, good small moments, and the trouble they put into nailing the conclusion. It additionally boasts completely phenomenal technical digital camera work, meta-homage to the movie period the present is obsessive about, of a top quality that may please Jean Renoir. — Arpad Okay

Central Park Season 3 (Apple TV+)

It’s protected to say that Loren Bouchard’s animated sequence Central Park hasn’t fairly reached the identical heights in reputation as his different present, Bob’s Burgers, however if you happen to’ve been sleeping on this sequence you will have significantly been lacking out. As a lot as I loved the earlier two seasons, the present has actually discovered a brand new groove and life in the latest season.

A big half might be attributed to Francisco Angones approaching as a producer and author this season after his work on the superb DuckTales reboot got here to the top. After stepping down from voicing Molly (now voiced by Emmy Raver-Lapman), Kristen Bell returns within the new function of Abby, the sister of matriarch Paige. Abby isn’t any Poochie, and this new addition to the ensemble has actually enhanced the present. The future of Central Park is up within the air however I’m holding out for extra seasons to come back. — Taimur Dar

The Expanse Season 6 (Prime Video)

For the previous 5 seasons, the crew of the Rocinante have traveled across the photo voltaic system and past, at all times on the middle of the present disaster dealing with the increasing worlds of humanity and this final season was no totally different. Based on the best-selling books, the ultimate season of Prime Video’s hit sequence finishes with a bang. A present can solely be nearly as good because the stakes and its villain, and having crippled the governments of Earth and Mars, Marco Inaros proved he was the very best type of unhealthy man, charismatic and succesful, utilizing the historic subjugation of his individuals, the Belters, as gas for his warfare towards the interior planets or not above utilizing them as human shields to additional his targets.

The degree and depth of the final season didn’t let up with a number of beautiful area battles interspersed with dramatic moments of doubt and loss. This high-octane political area drama mad sprint for the ending line leaves room for future episodes or film specials however nonetheless manages to present viewers a top-tier sequence finale. — George Carmona third

For All Mankind Season 3 (Apple TV+)

When it involves sci-fi TV, we actually have a wealth of choices, however Ronald D. Moore‘s For All Mankind takes sci-fi to a different degree. Known for his work on Battlestar Galactica, For All Mankind follows an alternate historical past America who misplaced the area race to Russia. In typical American style, this simply made the US extra dogged in attempting to one-up the Soviets. What follows is a long time of fast growth, main the earth to colonize the moon after which make all of it the best way out to Mars. 

But on the middle of this story is its host of characters, who age up a decade each season. Joel Kinnaman leads the sequence as a first-generation astronaut and take a look at pilot, Ed Baldwin. The sequence paints a distinct America, one which quickly modifications when ladies are introduced into the area program within the early 70s. Alongside Kinnaman come robust performances from Shantel VanSanten, Krys Marshall, Sonya Walger, and extra. For historical past buffs and lovers of epic sagas, there’s nothing that hits fairly as laborious or as dramatically as For All Mankind. — Therese Lacson

House of the Dragon Season 1 (HBO)

I went into this sequence absolutely ready to tear it to shreds. Let’s face it, who amongst us fantasy nerds didn’t get burned by that Game of Thrones finale? But House of the Dragon is working on an entire different degree. On high of critically acclaimed performances by the likes of Paddy Considine and Matt Smith, the sequence introduces actors like Milly Alcock and Emma D’Arcy to spherical out probably the most chaotic and messy household in Westeros historical past. 

Unlike the sprawling surroundings of Thrones, House of the Dragon is extra household drama than the rest. It’s Succession with winged lizards and delightful costumes. While the fast time jumps in Season 1 labored towards the sequence, these highly effective performances and dedication to character growth makes House of the Dragon a worthy successor to the very best seasons of Thrones and gives HBO a lift of confidence for his or her many different Song of Ice and Fire initiatives in growth. — Therese Lacson

Interview with the Vampire Season 1 (AMC)

I can’t say I anticipated a lot from this new spin on Anne Rice’s iconic novel, and the thought of a shared “Immortal Universe” with different properties she created throughout his profession nonetheless sours the entire proposition a bit. But I’ve to confess that the liberties taken with the fabric — even from the soar, performing as a form of “requel” with immortality tortured vamp Louie DuPont du Lac (Jacob Anderson) assembly again up with journalist Daniel Malloy (Eric Bogosian) for a do-over of their earlier interview from many a long time earlier than makes for a pleasant premise – added a lot to maintain my consideration rapt. Moving the timeline of Louie’s pre-vampire previous to the early 1900s and making Louie a black man in that time-frame does a lot to change the dynamics of Louie’s life and his relationship with Lestat (Sam Reid), and offers solution to a deeper and extra compelling arc than even the novel introduced.

And of course, there’s little I can say about Reid that hasn’t been mentioned earlier than, however the man is unbelievable; parlaying what I feel is one of probably the most memorable tv performances of the 12 months. And, placing apart all of his different virtues, Lestat lastly has a French accent, one factor Tom Cruise simply didn’t trouble with, for higher or worse. I might even be lax in my duties if I didn’t make point out of how the sequence takes the not-really subtextual queer themes and content material of the books and brings them to the forefront. Why beat across the bush? And all of these sensible choices are wrapped in gripping storytelling and a sequence that I’m itching to get one other season of. I nonetheless don’t have a lot curiosity in regardless of the Mayfair Witches are as much as, however possibly I’ll be confirmed improper. I typically am. — Kyle Pinion

Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls (Prime Video)

In Prime Video’s Lizzo’s Watch Out for the Big Grrrls, the three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Lizzo hunts for badass Big Grrrls dancers for her 2022 tour. The multi-platinum artist explains, “I asked dance agencies for big girls, and they gave me nothing! Girls that look like me don’t get representation.” Unlike most dance competitors reveals, the place contestants stress over weekly eliminations and having the proper physique and approach, Lizzo’s sequence facilities round physique positivity, self-acceptance, and self-expression. The present additionally incorporates a trans auditionee, Jayla Sullivan, who Lizzo encourages to shine the entire first season. You can be taught extra about trans illustration in dance from Jayna Ledford, Chase Johnsey, and Maxfield Haynes. — Rebecca Oliver Kaplan

Ms. Marvel (Disney+)

There is a glut of Marvel (and superhero) TV as of late and it’s laborious to get enthusiastic about every new factor. What actually made Ms. Marvel stand head and shoulders above the remaining this 12 months, nevertheless, is the sheer infectious enthusiasm Iman Vellani delivered to the function, a lot in order that it even satisfied a somewhat-jaded watcher to root for her (and persuade his apathetic geekery-averse sister to dig it too). — Dean Simons

Our Flag Means Death Season 1 (HBO)

Just whenever you assume you’ve seen all that the historic pirate style has to supply (and the way a lot is there to supply, actually?) after which David Jenkins is available in and gives you Rhys Darby because the Gentleman Pirate, Stede Bonnet, with Taika Waititi because the legendary Blackbeard in a rom-com set on the excessive seas. Whose coronary heart didn’t soften when Blackbeard got here again to the Revenge for Stede set to Fleetwood Mac‘s “The Chain”?

The sequence has gained important acclaim not just for its sharp and witty humor but in addition for its illustration of LGBTQ characters. Fans throughout cheered when Blackbeard and Stede formally admitted their love to one another, solidifying that their chemistry was excess of simply platonic. Representation apart, Our Flag Means Death is a enjoyable and irreverent romp by way of historical past, full of comedic moments that can give anybody a great stomach snort. — Therese Lacson

Peacemaker Season 1 (HBO Max)

If you need a motive why James Gunn was named co-chair of DC Studios look no additional than his work on the Peacemaker tv present. John Cena returns within the titular function he first performed in The Suicide Squad. Like most individuals, MCU Phase 4 has left me feeling chilly, Gunn stays the grasp of methods to completely stability comedy and coronary heart in superhero tales. I might by no means have imagined that a complete monologue about an individual dying their beard would emotionally resonate.

It’s a testomony not solely to Gunn however all of the supporting actors he assembled for this ensemble. And of course, the soundtrack is excellent as exemplified by that fantastically choreographed opening title sequence set to Wig Wam’s “Do You Wanna Taste It.” — Taimur Dar

Reservation Dogs Season 2 (FX)

It was not possible to not fall in love with Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis), Cheese (Lane Factor), and Elora (Devery Jacobs), Reservation Dogs’ titular foremost characters, after its unbelievable first season debut final 12 months. In its Sophomore outing, the sequence created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi returned with a comforting sense of ease in its slice-of-life model storytelling. This informal strategy was current in Season 1, however Season 2 has perfected it with an assertive confidence. Again, this present brings much-needed Indigenous illustration in entrance of and behind the display that’s nonetheless missing all through the present media panorama. No matter which of the ten episodes of the second season you watch you’ll discover a mixed sense of coronary heart, humor, and cultural specificity that can make your coronary heart soar as you attain the credit. — Aaron Halls

The Rehearsal Season 1 (HBO)

Have you ever had a troublesome dialog or scenario and want you can put together your self for all doable variations of the end result? Enter: The Rehearsal, a quasi-reality tv present aiming to simulate real-life conditions and navigate its members to the very best consequence. If you’re aware of Nathan Fielder, you’ve most likely heard him in comparison with Kaufman. Andy or Charlie, although? After watching The Rehearsal, the reply is obvious: each. With clear references to Synecdoche, New York, coupled with Fielder’s intense want to occupy a efficiency that lives someplace between performing and documenting, The Rehearsal goes to nice lengths to hunt out fact within the confines of the staged. — Hannah Lodge

Severance Season 1 (Apple TV+)

It was laborious to inform from the advertising and marketing simply what Severance was. Created by Dan Erickson with Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle, on the floor, the sequence may seem like maybe some type of twist on The Office or a brand new sitcom involving an eclectic combine of co-workers. But Severance is a lot greater than that. Not solely does it dive into the deep finish of sci-fi, however as we comply with Adam Scott‘s Mark by way of his work and residential life, the psychological thriller elements of the present unfolds.

The premise gives this concept: what if you happen to may actually separate your work life from your house life? People who’re “severed” have “innies” who exist solely at work whereas their “outies” reside their house life. As mysteries unravel and reveal themselves surrounding the corporate that created this know-how, Severance ends its first season with extra questions than solutions. With robust performances from Scott, John Turturro, Christopher Walken, and Patricia Arquette, if you happen to like a great thriller and you want a wholesome dose of dystopia, that is your subsequent binge. — Therese Lacson

Somebody Somewhere Season 1 (HBO)

A implausible Bridget Everett is the star of the brand new present Somebody Somewhere, a pleasant new comedy-drama a couple of lady named Sam struggling after returning to her hometown after the loss of her sister. Intimate and splendidly small scale, the present by no means ceases to be heartfelt as Sam tries to attach with household and a brand new pal named Joel (performed by a captivating Jeff Hiller). This present is a pleasant reminder you could at all times discover your group and step into your genuine self. — Aaron Halls

Star Trek: Lower Decks Season 3 (Paramount+)

There’s so much to like in regards to the third season of Lower Decks, from a lead character in a queer relationship to the widening scope of the Cali class ships of Starfleet. But my favourite subplot was the additional growth of Ensign D’Vana Tendi (Noël Wells). As an Orion, Tendi faces the sort of discrimination that’s meant to be eradicated within the Federation. This consists of internalized discrimination, which she confronts in “Hear All, Trust Nothing.” The return to Deep Space Nine and the present’s introspective and self-reflective themes reveal how Lower Decks‘ self-referencing textual content digs deeper than shallow gags.

And in “Crisis Point 2: Paradoxus,” Tendi will get the possibility to step into the half of Acting Captain Meena Vesper. This results in a private realization: she desires to be a captain however hasn’t been in a position to see herself in that function because of a dearth of illustration. Lower Decks is Star Trek at its best. — Avery Kaplan

Star Trek: Picard Season 2 (Paramount+)

There is way to love about Season 2 of Star Trek: Picard. Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan) lastly comes out of the regeneration alcove, relationship Rafi (Michelle Hurd). Agnes Jurati (Alison Pill) sings “Shadows of the Night,” initially by Pat Benatar, and it’s showstopping. The Borg Queen (Annie Wersching) has a implausible arc, settling long-debated questions within the fandom in regards to the Hive.

And the episode “Hide and Seek,” which explores Jean-Luc Picard’s PTSD after witnessing his mom’s suicide when he was younger, is an skilled depiction of the mind’s capability to play video games to guard us from trauma and grief. Although Trek began counting on recommendation from psychologists and medical doctors within the Nineties, episodes like “Hide and Seek” present how the franchise has gone above and past lately to destigmatize psychiatric issues and psychological well being therapy. – Rebecca Oliver Kaplan

Star Trek: Prodigy Season 1.5 (Paramount+)

Throughout Star Trek: Prodigy‘s debut season, the first animated Trek series geared toward younger audiences won over viewers of all ages. A stealth sequel to Star Trek: Voyager, focusing on some of the most marginalized individuals in the galaxy, Prodigy is somehow the Trek series that’s most reliant on what’s come earlier than whereas concurrently performing as probably the most accessible to new viewers.

The again half of the primary season continued to present us they/them illustration by way of Zero (Angus Imrie) and a powerful give attention to S.T.E.A.M. In explicit, Rok-Tahk (Rylee Alazraqui) is an effective function mannequin for youths within the science of sci-fi. Brett Gray and Ella Purnell proceed to shine within the main roles. Meanwhile, as somebody who has been watching the exploits of Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) since I used to be a toddler, I can’t assume of a greater ambassador for the subsequent era of Trekkies. – Rebecca Oliver Kaplan

Star Trek: Strange New Worlds Season 1 (Paramount+)

A return to the episodic formulation for a live-action Star Trek paid off massive time on this gorgeous debut season for Strange New Worlds. After a pilot that served as each a mission assertion for the sequence and a homage to sci-fi traditional The Day the Earth Stood Still, the Enterprise crew underneath Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount) encountered 9 more odd, new conditions, every distinct in taste.

For two very totally different examples, take into account the highschool theater vibe of “The Elysian Kingdom” contrasted with the Alien homage “Not All Who Wander.” As Hemmer, Bruce Horak stole each scene he appeared in – particularly these shared with Uhura (Celia Rose Gooding). Meanwhile, we’re all ready for extra of Melissa Navia’s Ortegas. And how about that rating by Nami Melumad? The better part of this season is that you just get the indelible sense that this superb present is barely simply getting began. — Avery Kaplan

Tales of the Jedi (Disney+)

A sequence of vignettes spotlighting moments within the lives of Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano wasn’t precisely going to be a tough promote however this miniseries surpassed my impartial expectations. The animation felt prefer it took a big soar towards a center floor between live-action and The Clone Wars fashions and the textures felt so wealthy and vibrant. Camera angles, music, temper. It simply all got here collectively so fantastically nicely that it felt prefer it set a brand new bar for CG-animated Star Wars. — Dean Simons

Welcome to Chippendales (Hulu)

Fresh off the success of final 12 months’s Pam & Tommy, Robert Siegel is again with a brand new bio miniseries chronicling the sordid true crime story of the notorious male strip membership. After branching into the superhero motion style with Eternals to blended outcomes, actor and comic Kumail Nanjiani returns to kind portraying Chippendales founder Somen “Steve” Banerjee.

Not too dissimilar to Bryan Cranston in Breaking Bad, Nanjiani’s actually brings each likability and underlying menace to the function as we witness Banerjee’s descent in his try to pursue the American Dream. While 80s nostalgia is in vogue as of late, Chippendales offers with themes extra related than ever together with race, standing, and success. — Taimur Dar

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