As 2022 draws to a close, it provides a bittersweet opportunity to take stock of some of the best episodes of television that we saw this year. In a streaming landscapewhere even the creators of the shows themselves don’t know if they will vanish without warning, this type of reflection feels different from any other.
While it is still very much about highlighting great work, it also serves as a farewell to many shows who have either been canceled too soon or may be the next to be sentinto the unknowns of streaming limbo. One hopes that this will not be the case, but the act of appreciation is still all the more important as a way to hold on to what we do have while it is still here. Thus, here are the best TV episodes of 2022 that we were not just entertained by but often deeply moved by in small ways.
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“Chapter Seven,” Pachinko
No list would be complete without a recognition ofone of the most sublime shows of the year. WhilePachinko, based on the outstanding novel of the same name byMin Jin Lee, waswrongfully snubbed by the Emmys, it will always hold a place in our hearts when we look back on this mess of a year. The episode simply entitled “Chapter Seven” is one of the reasons why, as it centered on the character of Hansu (Lee Min-ho) and brought his own harrowing brush with death into the forefront of the story. As directed by the visionaryKogonada, it was an absolutely shattering part of a season that was never lacking in such moments.
“The Thing Lay Still,” Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire
Another adaptationthat completely blew us away,Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampireproved itself to be one of the most engaging works of television for this year or any other. Taking familiar source material in interesting new directions, it all built to the finale, “The Thing Lay Still,” which laid bare how Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson)could not run from the pain of his past no matter how much he tried to rewrite them in his memory. It was a tragic yet triumphant conclusion that was bloody, brutal, and beautiful unlike any other show this year. Not only did it stick the landing even as it tore through flesh and bone, it brought the world Louis built for himself crashing down in delicate yet devastating fashion.
“John and Sun-Hee,” The Boys Presents: Diabolical
While the main series ofThe Boysitself has a strong run this year, it is the animated spinoffDiabolicalthatreally stuck with us due to one particular episode. “John and Sun-Hee” is a short about an older man willing to do whatever it takes to save his wife from terminal cancer. However, his actions soon put both of them in even greater danger. It is not just one of the best animated shorts of the bunch in how it strikes awe and terror at the same time, but also the one that leaves the most impact. This culminates in a series of magnificent final frames that manages to be so melancholy yet mesmerizing that it is worth seeking out.
“Saul Gone,” Better Call Saul Season 6
This year also included us having to say goodbye to our favorite huckster with a heart of gold that was Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) or Jimmy McGill to those who loved him. The final season ofBetter Call Saulwas not just one of the better prequels out there, but it evensurpassed the original series to become one of the best shows of all time. Central to this is not just Odenkirk, but an utterly amazingRhea Seehornwhodoes more with a single look than most actors do in an entire show’s run. This all concludesin the unexpected yet no less spectacular “Saul Gone,”a finale that will go down in history as one of television’s greatest.
“The We We Are,” Severance
One of the year’s biggest surprises wasSeverance, a science fiction series of sorts about labor exploitation and the crushing forces of capitalism. One can only wonder why this resonated. It centered around a group of employees who “sever” each day, meaning they don’t remember what they did at work and the version of themselves on the job are trapped there. This horrifying premise was brought home in yet another stunning final episode, “The We We Are,” whichsaw all of them coming together to find a collective powerthat has the potential to reshape their world forever. While it has us eagerly anticipating what is next for these characters, it still all fell into place with a painful poetry one can’t help appreciating.
“Go Flip Yourself,” What We Do in the Shadows Season 4
Now we get into the silliest entry on this list that made this season ofWhat We do in the Shadowsone of its best to date. The story of a group of vampires living in present-day Staten Island had been building to “Go Flip Yourself” for a while, but the payoff was worth it for how ridiculous it got. An extended storyline that was a parody of reality television yet still packed all the same sharp humor, it is just overflowing with jokes galore to be the funniest episode of the year. You’ve likely seen some of the many memes that have since emerged from it, but nothing can compare to seeing the entirety of the episode itself in all its glory.
“Decolonativization,” Reservation Dogs Season 2
If you haven’t been watchingReservation Dogs, then you best get on that now as it is one of the most refreshing and hilarious shows out there. Featuring a group of teens trying to make their way in the world, it is side-splittingly funny and emotionally resonant without missing a beat. Nowhere was this more so than in “Decolonativization,”an episode that skewered the shallowness of influencerswhile never losing sight of its characters along the way.
“El Eclipse,” Los Espookys Season 2
Now we get into a couple of the sad entries of shows that are now no more.Los Espookysreturned for a wonderful second season after a lengthy hiatus andwas canceled just recently despite deserving so much better. That makes the show’s sendoff, “El Eclipse,” one that we will cherish even more because it is now the last we will ever see of this group. In particular, it is worth seeing for the glorious absurdism ofAna Fabregaas Tati alone. As their one final scheme comes to fruition, it is her performance that rockets the show to the moon.
“Adirondack S3,” Rutherford Falls Season 2
Why must we keep canceling the best comedies out there? The second season ofRutherford Fallswas more focused and funny than the first,though it also met its end far too soon. If there is one episode that proves this more than others, it is the slyYellowstonespoof that is “Adirondack S3,” whereJana SchmiedingandMichael Greyeyesare joyous in how they poke fun at the failures of other shows representing Indigenous life. While there are many great performances and episodes in the show, it is their work that makes this the best of the best.
“More Than You’ll Ever Know,” Let the Right One In
While the series overall is not quite up to the same level as the original films,Let the Right One Inwas yet another vampire show that managed to leave a mark. The reason for this all comes back to the flashback episode, “More Than You’ll Ever Know,” which takes its time in establishing the fault lines that tear a family apart in a patient yet profound manner all its own.
