2023 has been a complicated year for television already, to say the least. As of this writing, the industry itself is in a state of flux, andwith a writers strike ongoingandSAG now poised to join, it’s unclear what that will mean for the future of TV not just for the remainder of this year but in the years to come. That said, we wouldn’thavetelevision shows at all without the creative parties who not only pen important scripts butare present on set for crucial last-minute changes— as well as the actors who bring their words to life in front of the camera. As we recognize some of the best that the small screen has offered us so far in 2023, we’d be remiss if we didn’t recognize all the contributions behind-the-scenes to make these shows happen, and none of it would be possible without writers.
Halfway through the year, there are certainly many more shows we could name as worth watching — even whittling down this list was a struggle! From brand-new miniseries likeA Small Lightto returning seasons of hit shows likeYellowjackets, from comedy to drama and everything in between, here are our picks for the top 25 TV shows of 2023 so far.
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Abbott Elementary
Abbott Elementaryhas been a smash hit since it first debuted on ABC and Season 2 has only solidified its place as one of the best workplace sitcoms of all time. From creatorQuinta Brunson, the series follows a group of teachers working at an underserved and underfunded elementary school in a predominantly Black neighborhood in the Philadelphia suburbs. Over the course of Season 2’s 22 episodes, Janine (Brunson) and her fellow teachers fight to keep Abbott from becoming a private charter school all while dealing with hilarious hijinks, chaotic field trips, ever-evolving trends, and heartfelt lessons for (and from) their students. Season 2 also sees Janine and Gregory (Tyler James Williams)dance along the edge of their will-they-won’t-they, slow-burn romance, which always keeps us coming back for more. In addition to Brunson and Williams,Abbott Elementaryfeatures a cast of all-around excellence inJanelle James,Lisa Ann Walter,Sheryl Lee Ralph,Chris Perfetti, andWilliam Stanford Davis. —Samantha Coley
A Small Light
It may come as a surprise to many readers, but Disney+’s National Geographic hub is the home of one of the best series to debut in 2023. NatGeo may be better known for its nature documentaries and topical specials, but its historical dramaA Small Lightis undeniablyone of the best projects it has produced in recent memory.
The eight-episode limited series tells the harrowing true story of Miep Gies (Bel Powley), who was an ordinary woman who did extraordinary things during World War II. Despite current efforts to remove books about Anne Frank’s short—and tragic—life from curriculums, most people know about the Franks’ time hiding in the annex before the Nazis murdered most of them at the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp. Few people, however, know about the lives of those that helped to protect them for as long as they did, despite unfathomable personal risks. Miep, alongside her husband Jan (Joe Cole), was part of a network of “helpers” who saw the horrors playing out around them and chose not to turn a blind eye. While Miep’s work as a secretary for Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) plays a large role in the plot ofA Small Light, the series finds its emotional anchorin the relationship between Miep and Jan. What starts out as a marriage of convenience blossoms into something very real and beautiful.
One of the more compelling aspects of Miep’s story is her friendship with Tess (Eleanor Tomlinson), who, unlike Miep, has chosen to turn a blind eye to the atrocities being wrought by the Nazis around them. While her actions are partially driven by self-preservation, they also stand as a neat reminder that those with privilege should use them to help others and not just themselves. While there is joy and laughter and life on full display throughoutA Small Light, it never strays too far from reminding its audience that there are people, still today, looking to snuff out those aspects of life. For that alone,A Small Lightis easily one of the best and most relevant series of the year. —Maggie Lovitt
Man, that maniacBill Haderreally stuck the landing withBarry. Building toa final dark punchlinewhich brought the story of the hitman who wanted to be an actor to a close in stunning fashion makes this achievement of a series even more remarkable. It is hard to think of a show as uncompromising and bleak as this that could still manage to be uproariously funny. To close with an episode where you could burst out laughing in surprise at one moment and then feel sick to your stomach the next was something the show was always just so damn good at.
In addition to Hader proving that he was a director to watch, the performances across the board were also all just outstanding.Sarah Goldberg,Henry Winkler,Anthony Carrigan, andStephen Rooteach made their respective characters soar even as they often sunk further into darkness. For a show about the horrors of Hollywood and performing a lie until it becomes the truth, there was something beautifully honest to be found in every single glorious frame. —Chase Hutchinson
The Bearhad one of the most exciting freshman seasons last summer. This year, it not only avoided the sophomore slump that plagues so many promising series but managed to top its stunning Season 1.The BearSeason 2 sees the staff we’ve grown to love as they prepare to open a fine-dining restaurant (that will eventually be worthy of a Michelin star if Sydney, played byAyo Edebiri, has anything to say about it) in record time. While Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) is still at the core of the endeavor (andfinding romance with childhood friend Claire, played byMolly Gordon), the series wisely gives its other compelling characters more time in the spotlight, too.
Seeing favorites like Marcus (Lionel Boyce), Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas), andRichie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach)spread their wings and soar in this new challenge is beautiful, and the show’s use of perfectly cast big-name guest stars to both help their journeys along (Will Poulter!Olivia Colman!) as well as give background on where they’ve come from (Jamie Lee Curtis!Bob Odenkirk!Sarah Paulson!) is masterfully done. The music drops also remain unmatched, as do the gorgeous shots of Chicago and the mouthwatering meals. Do not watch this delicious dramedy on an empty stomach, chefs. —Taylor Gates
Well, it’s a good thing that this incisive show about the ability to change by taking accountability and showing empathy rather than getting wrapped up in your ego hasn’t been undercut by the recent actions of those involved in creating it. That would leave a real sour taste in the mouth — even as it is just so good, wouldn’t it? What makesBeefone of the best shows of the year is not just its performances, thoughSteven YeunandAli Wongare remarkable in pulling off what are rather complicated characters. Rather, it is the balance the series strikes between spiraling into chaos and yet still managing to find a more sublime catharsis.
In telling the story of two seemingly opposite people who soon find themselves united in rage over a run-in in a parking lot,it teases out reflections about revenge and healingwhile never not just being entertaining as all hell. The more the lives of the characters unravel before you, the more it comes together in a tense tapestry of modern life that will always be one of the best series Netflix has released to date. —Chase Hutchinson
Black Mirror
With the long-awaited return of his smash-hit sci-fi seriesBlack Mirror, creatorCharlie Brookerappears determined to rethink the core identity of his own show — and most of the stories that make up the sixth and latest season have proven to be as absorbing and acute as any that have come before. Of course, Season 6 boasts a wealth of impressive talent all on its own. If you thought you knew whatSchitt’s Creek’sAnnie Murphywas capable of, the meta-tastic “Joan Is Awful” will make you think again, whileJosh HartnettandAaron Paulco-anchor one of the season’s most devastating episodeswith the retrofuturistic emotional thriller “Beyond the Sea.”
More than that, Brooker seems to bewielding this latest mix ofBlack Mirrorstoriesto do something he’s never done before — not only pushing the boundaries of storytelling, but expanding beyond the very genre that’s come to define this show over the years since its initial premiere.“Demon 79,“co-written by Brooker andBisha K. Ali, skillfully toes the line between science fiction and the paranormal, “Loch Henry” takes the audience to task for our rabid and non-discerning consumption of true-crime stories, and “Mazey Day” curiously flips the script on the rise of paparazzi culture. If this is where the future ofBlack Mirroris headed, then the possibilities are like the show itself: bold, daring, and sure to devastate us. —Carly Lane
Daisy Jones & the Six
The Amazon Studios/Hello Sunshine miniseriesDaisy Jones & The Sixwas highly anticipated by the legions of fans of the bestselling novel of the same name fromTaylor Jenkins Reid, andliving up to those kinds of expectationsis always a challenging mountain to climb. And while it’s impossible to make everyone happy about the changes made to any adaptation, the pitch-perfect powerhouse performances delivered byRiley Keoughas Daisy Jones andSam Claflinas Billy Dunne showcase how chemistry quickly spirals into chaos.
Telling the story of the meteoric rise and crash‑and‑burn implosion of the iconic 1970s band, anddrawing inspiration fromRumours-eraFleetwood Mac, as well as the strife and eventual breakup ofThe Civil Wars, the audience gets a glimpse into how the ability to create music that works its way deep into your soul doesn’t actually (or ever) fill the holes within those whose make it. No matter how good something is or how much talent someone has, when personalities clash, lines get blurred, and drugs get involved, things turn toxic and the train wreck waiting to happen becomes inevitable. As their story is recounted directly by the band, personal truths bring unspoken feelings to light, and even though it will never fully repair the damage, it just might help to heal old wounds. Along with the stand-out performances from Keough and Claflin, the other gift this series delivered isa studio album with 11 original tracks that you just can’t get out of your head. —Christina Radish
It’s twice the Weisz inDead Ringers, one of the wildest shows of this year — and perhaps one of the wildest shows ever made.Rachel Weiszplays a set of twins: soft-spoken and logical Beverly and outgoing and spontaneous Elliot. Though they’re very different, they have a common goal: to revolutionalize the birthing industry. It’s not an easy task when you factor in the intense codependence between the twins, made even more complicated by the arrival of Beverly’s new love interest Genevieve (played byBritne Oldford), unhinged and controlling rich birthing center donorsRebecca (Jennifer Ehle) and Susan (Emily Meade), and those pesky medical ethics Beverly’s so adamant about that stand in the way of the research Elliot wants to do. The writing, helmed byAlice Birch, is unbelievably sharp and daring, seamlessly combining wickedly dark comedy and disturbing horror elements rooted in timely and terrifying reality.Weisz gives two performances of a lifetime, holding nothing back as she dives into these twisted dynamics. —Taylor Gates
The Diplomat
I love a good political drama. From the grit and dry humor ofHouse of Cardsto the more traditional and optimistic picture of governmentMadam Secretaryprovided, it’s always fascinating when a series successfully sinks its teeth into the delicate workings of international affairs.The Diplomat’s approach offers a nice combination of the two vibes as it centers on Kate Wyler (Keri Russell), a woman who is excellent with policy but less excellent with people, as she’s thrown into the position of US ambassador to the UK in the middle of a tense time.
Man, is it good to see Russell back on the small screen again post-The Americans. She andRufus Sewell, who plays her charming yet frequently untrustworthy husband Hal, have incredible chemistry, and their tumultuous marriage both grounds and elevates the show. The series was created byDebora Cahn, who worked on bothHomelandandThe West Wing, and her experience with this subject matter shines through in the confident and gripping way it unravels.The Diplomatis a polished, edge-of-your-seat thriller worthy of a watch, and sweetheart, that’s one fact that’s not effing classified. –Taylor Gates
A science fiction horror series with a standout performancefromHarold Perrineauthat againproves he deserves the world and more,FROMhas become a bit of a sleeper hit this year for good reason. Telling the story of a group of people who find themselves trapped in a small town from which they cannot leave, it taps into something terrifying not just because of the dark forces lurking in the woods who come to kill at night. The real key to what makes this all work is the suffocating fear it creates that remains even when peril is not immediately present.It is a mysterious series in the vein ofLostbefore it, but has already become a far more macabre one that transcends any expectations you might have. Throughout all of this, Perrineau is pitch-perfect, as his character of Boyd can go from laughing at the dark absurdity of their predicament to being beaten down by the brutality of it all with grace. The character comes alive in his hands, making a world defined by death into one of the most vibrant of the year when he is on-screen. —Chase Hutchinson
