27 Incredible TV Shows From 2022 That You Finally Need To Start Watching In 2023
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1.Bad Sisters
As an avid supporter of "women's wrongs" I hiiiighly suggest you watch Bad Sisters. The series follows the five Garvey sisters — Eva, Grace, Ursula, Bibi, and Becka — who after the sudden death of Grace's husband John Paul, are caught in the middle of a life insurance investigation. The season flips back and forth between timelines before John Paul's death (where Grace's sisters are actually plotting his murder) and after his death (when an insurance agent is determined to find evidence of foul play in order to save his family's business). I cannot stress this enough: This show is incredible. And once I started watching, I literally could not stop, because these episodes are just too good. I really do love the Garvey sisters and am so pumped that the series has been renewed for a second season.
Starring: Sharon Horgan, Anne-Marie Duff, Eva Birthistle, Sarah Greene, Eve Hewson, Claes Bang, Brian Gleeson, Daryl McCormack, Assaad Bouab, Saise Quinn, and more
2.The Bear
The Bear follows a young chef, Carmy, who returns home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop — The Original Beef of Chicagoland — after his brother's sudden death. Carmy, who’s used to the fine dining atmosphere, now must balance the soul-crushing realities of owning a small business, his strong-willed kitchen staff, and the strained relationships with his family, all while dealing with grief. As Carmy fights to transform both The Original Beef of Chicagoland and himself, he works alongside a rough-around-the-edges kitchen crew that ultimately reveals themselves as his found family. Not only is this show chaotic in the best way, but it also feels like a love letter to Chicago. Throughout the first season, Carmy and his staff all go through so much growth that it's impossible not to root for them. The Bear has already been renewed for a second season, and it truly cannot come soon enough!
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliott, Jon Bernthal, and more
3.The Resort
The Resort is a dark comedy that follows a married couple who embark on a seemingly normal resort vacation. After finding an old cellphone in the middle of the forest, the two become involved in a 15-year-old missing person case. In hopes of spicing up their marriage, Noah and Emma take on this mystery and are determined to get to the bottom of it, piecing all the clues together. Suddenly, the resort they're staying at isn't what it seems, and they don't know who they can trust anymore. William Jackson Harper and Cristin Milioti are incredible together, and I couldn't imagine two better people leading this show. Plus, Skyler Gisondo is already great in everything, and The Resort is no different.
Starring: William Jackson Harper, Cristin Milioti, Luis Gerardo Méndez, Skyler Gisondo, Nina Bloomgarden, Gabriela Cartol, Nick Offerman, and more
4.Loot
Newly divorced Molly Novak just earned herself an $87 billion settlement from her husband of 20 years, and now, she's gotta figure out how to spend it. After deciding to reengage with her charity and the world she's strayed from, she takes on a new journey of self-discovery, all while trying not to spiral out of control. Maya Rudolph steals the show in this series. If I could watch it every minute of every day, please believe that I would. It's seriously so funny, and it just gets better by the episode. Also, whenever Latto's "Big Energy" plays during the episode transitions, I get an immediate serotonin boost. Loot has also been renewed for a second season that cannot come soon enough!
Starring: Maya Rudolph, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Joel Kim Booster, Ron Funches, Nat Faxon, and more
5.Tell Me Lies
Now, I'm no stranger to teen dramas, but I've never binged a show quite like Tell Me Lies. I'm telling you, there's something about the toxicity of these characters that made me need to watch every single episode as quickly as possible. The timeline jumps between Lucy Albright's freshman year in college and four years after graduation when Lucy and her college friends reunite for a friend's wedding. I won't give too much away because it's so worth the watch, but when Lucy's freshman year takes a turn for the worst, she finds solace in the school's biggest playboy, Stephen DeMarco. Then, as their tumultuous, whirlwind relationship unfolds, they realize just how their entanglement will alter their (and their friends') lives forever. And luckily, for my sanity, Tell Me Lies has been renewed for a second season.
Starring: Grace Van Patten, Jackson White, Catherine Missal, Spencer House, Sonia Mena, Branden Cook, Benjamin Wadsworth, Alicia Crowder, and more
6.The Afterparty
Tiffany Haddish plays Det. Danner, who takes it upon herself to solve the murder of the iconic pop star and actor Xavier, who was found dead at his…high school reunion afterparty. The series includes a range of characters, all of whom attended the party, and each had their own motives for potentially killing Xavier, but only one of them actually did it. Each episode focuses on a different guest and retells their story of what actually happened that night, all while Det. Danner pieces her own theory together. I just loved how this show was able to incorporate as many different genres to tell a story that I was genuinely shocked to see it ended the way it did. In the vein of Knives Out, The Afterparty's second season will feature a new mystery that Tiffany Haddish's character must solve.
Starring: Tiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson, Zoë Chao, Ike Barinholtz, Ben Schwartz, Ilana Glazer, Jamie Demetriou, Dave Franco, and more
7.The Rehearsal
I'll admit I fell into a Nathan Fielder rabbit hole last year, but it was so worth it. There are so few shows that genuinely make me laugh out loud, so this one deserves a trophy. The premise of the series is that Nathan helps ordinary people rehearse difficult conversations or life events through suuuper elaborate sets and actors designed to imitate real-life situations. The situations range from having a hard conversation with a loved one to understanding what it's like to raise a child. And in this bizarre show, Nathan Fielder's iconic cringe comedy shines brighter than it ever has. The authenticity of the people is just what makes it the most delightfully bonkers show on TV.
Starring: Nathan Fielder and more
8.Ghosts
When Samantha and Jay unexpectedly inherit an enormous country home, they set out to start their own bed and breakfast there. Unfortunately, the ghosts who live in the estate aren't too thrilled and decide to take matters into their own hands. But, of course, things don’t go according to plan. After an accident, Samantha wakes from a coma to find that she can see and speak to the ghosts that are currently living in her brand-new home. Ghosts is so much fun, and it genuinely makes me laugh out loud. The cast is wonderful together, and this show is such an easy binge-watch that you'll just wonder why you never started it in the first place.
Starring: Rose McIver, Utkarsh Ambudkar, Brandon Scott Jones, Danielle Pinnock, Richie Moriarty, Asher Grodman, Sheila Carrasco, Devan Chandler Long, Rebecca Wisocky, Román Zaragoza, and more
9.Under the Banner of Heaven
2022 was truly the year of the true-crime series, but I feel like this one never got the hype it deserved. Under the Banner of Heaven came out sandwiched between Hulu's other true crime hits like The Dropout and The Girl from Plainville, and sadly, it got a little bit buried. But now, I'm here to give it the spotlight it deserves. The series follows two detectives who are investigating the murder of a Mormon mother and her infant daughter. And as the case unfolds, the two begin to learn about the darker beliefs of Mormon fundamentalists that were practiced by members of the Lafferty family. This show has such an all-star cast with actors like Andrew Garfield, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Wyatt Russell, Sam Worthington, and Gil Birmingham, and their respective performances blew me away. If you're a true-crime obsessive, this one is for you.
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Sam Worthington, Daisy Edgar-Jones, Denise Gough, Wyatt Russell, Billy Howle, Chloe Pirrie, Seth Numrich, Adelaide Clemens, Rory Culkin, Sandra Seacat, Gil Birmingham, and more
10.How I Met Your Father
Hilary Duff stars as Sophie in How I Met Your Father, a sequel series to the CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother. It follows the same structure as the original where future Sophie, who is played by Kim Cattrall, flashes back to present-day 2021 and recounts the story of how she met the father of her son. This show absolutely exceeded all my expectations and fit the rom-com-sized hole in my heart. There's something about this cast (especially Chris Lowell and Hilary Duff's chemistry) that is just so wonderful, that I get an immediate boost of serotonin whenever I watch. Season 2 is already returning this month on January 24 on Hulu.
Starring: Hilary Duff, Chris Lowell, Francia Raisa, Kim Cattrall, Tom Ainsley, Tien Tran, Josh Peck, Suraj Sharma, and more
11.The Midnight Club
Mike Flanagan's newest series The Midnight Club dropped on Netflix last year. This series, which is a collaboration with co-creator Leah Fong, is based on the iconic works of Christopher Pike. It's set at a hospice with a mysterious history, where the eight members of the Midnight Club meet each night to tell sinister stories, as they look for signs of the supernatural from the beyond. Familiar faces from the Mike Flanagan universe like Samantha Sloyan, Zach Gilford, Annarah Cymone, Igby Rigney, and Rahul Kohli also appear in the series. Just like Mike Flanagan's other series, yes, this one is a little spooky, but it will also wreck your heart in the best way possible.
Starring: Iman Benson, Igby Rigney, Ruth Codd, Annarah Cymone, Chris Sumpter, Adia, Aya Furukawa, Sauriyan Sapkota, Matt Biedel, Samantha Sloyan, Zach Gilford, Heather Langenkamp, and more
12.A Friend of the Family
Based on the tragic true story, A Friend of the Family follows the Broberg family, whose daughter was kidnapped multiple times over a period of a few years by a charismatic, obsessed family friend. Over the course of the series, we'll see how this "friend" took advantage of the family's vulnerabilities in order to drive them apart and ultimately turn their daughter against them. Jake Lacy, who plays Robert "B" Berchtold, truly gives one of his best performances in this series.
Starring: Jake Lacy, Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton, Hendrix Yancey, Anna Paquin, Mckenna Grace, and more
13.Pachinko
Based on the best-selling novel of the same name, Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean immigrant family along with their biggest hopes and dreams. The series begins with a tale of forbidden love and blooms into a story bigger than itself as characters journey between Korea, Japan, and America, and find themselves thrown into love, war, peace, triumph, and reckoning. Pachinko has also been renewed for a second season, where it will continue with the heart-wrenching stories introduced in the book. If you're looking for a new show to watch, move this one up on your list.
Starring: Youn Yuh-jung, Lee Min-ho, Kim Min-ha, Jin Ha, Soji Arai, Kaho Minami, Anna Sawai, and more
14.Hacks
Jean Smart stars as Deborah Vance, a legendary stand-up comedian who's in danger of losing her Las Vegas residency after being told she's lost her relevancy. Begrudgingly, she hires a new writer to help her freshen up her material, though they don't meet eye-to-eye, like ever. It's such a blast to see these two go at it with each other, and you can't help but love the diva that is Deborah. Jean Smart gives the performance of a lifetime in Hacks, and it's such a privilege to get to watch it onscreen. The series finished its glorious second season last year and is already renewed for a third on HBO Max.
Starring: Jean Smart, Hannah Einbinder, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, and more
15.The Wilds
The Wilds is one of those shows that sneaks up on you when you're looking for something new to watch, and then, it becomes your favorite show ever. If I were to describe this series, I'd say it was a perfect combination of Lost and Lord of the Flies, if both of those stories were told by teenage girls. Season 1 begins as nine teenage girls are on their way to a wellness retreat in Hawaii when suddenly their plane crashes and they find themselves stranded on a deserted island. The girls do everything they can to survive and stay optimistic that someone out there will be searching for them. Each episode follows a different survivor and goes through their life before the crash and their motivations for going on this retreat. You'll discover very early on that every single one of these characters is worth rooting for. The show's second season dropped last spring, and honestly, I will never ever get over the Season 2 finale. Unfortunately, Amazon canceled the series so we won't be getting a third season, no matter how much we ask for it.
Starring: Sophia Ali, Shannon Berry, Jenna Clause, Reign Edwards, Mia Healey, Helena Howard, Erana James, Sarah Pidgeon, Alex Fitzalan, David Sullivan, Troy Winbush, Rachel Griffiths, Charles Alexander, Zack Calderon, Nicholas Coombe, Miles Gutierrez-Riley, Aidan Laprete, Tanner Ray Rook, Reed Shannon, and more
16.Minx
I fell in love with Minx last year, and I really do consider it one of my favorite shows of 2022. The series takes place in LA during the 1970s and follows Joyce Prigger, a woman trying to publish the country's first feminist magazine. When she can't find a company to make her magazine as is, she joins forces with a low-rent publisher, and together they create the first women's erotic (and still feminist) magazine instead. The vibes in this show are so immaculate, from the costumes to the jokes to the overall aesthetic, Minx deserves an A+. Unfortunately, HBO canceled the show (and removed it from the platform) after previously renewing it AND already filming the new episodes, but luckily, they will be moving to STARZ very soon. Boy, do I love this show. Minx is such a treasure to modern-day TV.
Starring: Ophelia Lovibond, Michael Angarano, Jessica Lowe, Oscar Montoya, Lennon Parham, Idara Victor, Jake Johnson, Taylor Zakhar Perez, and more
17.Bel-Air
You've probably seen The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but I bet you've never seen it quite like this. Bel-Air is a modern-day retelling of The Fresh Prince, except this time around, the story is a lot darker and grittier. Just like the original, the series follows Will after he moves from West Philadelphia to the glitzy, privileged city of Bel-Air to live with his Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil. Over the course of the series, Will begins to learn to navigate both cities and make the most out of his time there. This show is seriously such an easy binge; once you start, you won't be able to stop. Will Smith and Morgan Cooper (whose viral trailer inspired the TV series) act as executive producers.
Starring: Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Jimmy Akingbola, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Simone Joy Jones, Jordan L. Jones, Adrian Holmes, and more
18.Starstruck
Created by New Zealand comedian Rose Matafeo, Starstruck follows a twentysomething living in London who works as a nanny and at a movie theater. After a one-night stand, she learns that she actually slept with a hugely famous movie star and realizes she might even have real feelings for him. Starstruck is a perfect show for your inner rom-com lover because all you want is to see these two characters live happily ever after. It's a joy seeing their chemistry explode right in front of you, and Rose's writing is just so freaking enjoyable. Season 2 aired back in 2022, and it's already been renewed for a third one, which is set to come out in 2023.
Starring: Rose Matafeo, Nikesh Patel, Minnie Driver, Emma Sidi, Sindhu Vee, Al Roberts, Jon Pointing, Joe Barnes, and more
19.Our Flag Means Death
Created by David Jenkins and Taika Waititi comes this series about Stede Bonnet, an aristocrat who abandons his life to become a pirate. Understandably, it's not so easy for him to earn the respect of his crew. After coming face to face with the infamous Blackbeard and a gaggle of real pirates, Stede realizes he might be a little in over his head. In classic Taika Waititi fashion, this show is absolutely hysterical with jokes flying so fast you'll miss one if you blink. It's a delightful show about pirates who learn from their toxic masculinity, with a poignant queer love story at its center. This show will also definitely be coming back for a second season.
Starring: Rhys Darby, Ewen Bremner, Joel Fry, Samson Kayo, Con O'Neill, Nathan Foad, Vico Ortiz, Kristian Nairn, Matthew Maher, Guz Khan, David Fane, Samba Schutte, Rory Kinnear, Nat Faxon, Taika Waititi, and more
20.Roar
Based on a book of short stories by Cecelia Ahern, Roar is an anthology series that's described as "a collection of genre-bending stories told through eight women’s eyes." Each episode ranges from insightfully wise to laugh-out-loud funny and delves into feminist fables dealing with themes like gender roles, autonomy, and identity. From the creators of GLOW and executive produced by Nicole Kidman, Roar is an automatic must-watch. And since you can watch all the episodes in any order you want, I highly recommend starting with the one where Alison Brie solves her own murder.
Starring: Issa Rae, Nick Kroll, Nicole Kidman, Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, Daniel Dae Kim, Cynthia Erivo, Jake Johnson, Merritt Wever, Jason Mantzoukas, Hugh Dancy, Christopher Lowell, Ego Nwodim, Jillian Bell, Meera Syal, Peter Facinelli, Rizwan Manji, Fivel Stewart, Alfred Molina, and more
21.First Kill
Based on V. E. Schwab's short story, First Kill follows Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook), a teenage vampire who needs to make her first kill so she can take her rightful place among her powerful vampire family. She sets her sights on a girl named Calliope (Imani Lewis), but things get a little bit messy when Juliette learns that Calliope comes from a long line of vicious vampire slayers. Now, both Calliope and Juliette struggle to stay loyal to their families as they fall for each other. Now, unfortunately, this series didn't get picked up for a second season, but the first season is so worth watching as a one-off. You just have to do yourself a favor and fall in love with Juliette and Calliope's love story, like I did.
Starring: Sarah Catherine Hook, Imani Lewis, Elizabeth Mitchell, Aubin Wise, Gracie Dzienny, Dominic Goodman, Phillip Mullings, Jr., Jason R. Moore, and more
22.Criminal Minds: Evolution
I love Criminal Minds. So, when news of the revival came out, I already knew I was all in. Criminal Minds: Evolution acts as a Season 16 for the original show and follows the BAU team back in action following the COVID-19 pandemic. In this season, the team will hunt down their greatest threat yet, an unsub who has created a network of serial killers spanning across the country. Almost all of the original cast is back, too, so this revival really does feel just like home again. Plus, it also takes a more serialized approach, so while we're still seeing new unsubs every episode, we're also getting to see much longer storylines and new insight into our favorite characters' lives and emotional well-being. It really is everything you already loved about Criminal Minds, just elevated.
Starring: Joe Mantegna, A. J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, Paget Brewster, Zach Gilford, and more
23.Maggie
Maggie follows a woman (Rebecca Rittenhouse) who has psychic abilities that let her see into the future of her friends, family, and random strangers. But her whole life changes when she meets a guy named Ben (David Del Rio) and she suddenly can see into her own future. Trust me when I say that watching this sweet little show felt magical to me. I'm such a sucker for a rom-com, and this show has all of those vibes. It gave me such a nostalgic feeling for weekly network TV sitcoms of the 2010s. And while Maggie has only 10 episodes, I am a firm believer that this show could easily have been a perfect 23-episode long season and I would've devoured it all. If anything, do yourself a favor and just watch the show for Rebecca Rittenhouse and David Del Rio's undeniable chemistry — it's pure magic.
Starring: Rebecca Rittenhouse, David Del Rio, Nichole Sakura, Angelique Cabral, Chloe Bridges, Ray Ford, Leonardo Nam, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Chris Elliott, and more
24.A League of Their Own
Based on the 1992 film, A League of Their Own follows the creation of the Rockford Peaches, a women's team in the brand new All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. One of the things I loved most about this series is it truly has an ensemble cast and tackles so many more perspectives than the movie did. On one side, we meet Carson Shaw (Abby Jacobson), a woman who leaves her small town in hopes of becoming a baseball player. And on the other side, we meet Maxine Chapman (Chanté Adams), a Black woman who's obsessed with baseball but can't even get people to consider letting her try out for a team because of her race. This series delves deep into topics of sexuality, gender identity, white privilege, and racism backed by the classic underdog story we all know and love. A League of Their Own is such a special show, and it absolutely deserves a watch.
Starring: Abbi Jacobson, Chanté Adams, D'Arcy Carden, Gbemisola Ikumelo, Roberta Colindrez, Kelly McCormack, Priscilla Delgado, Molly Ephraim, Melanie Field, Kate Berlant, and more
25.The Patient
Listen, I love Steve Carell and will watch anything he does. But something about this series really stuck with me after. The Patient follows a therapist named Alan Strauss (Steve Carell) who is held captive by one of his new patients (Domhnall Gleeson) seeking help for his homicidal urges. If there's one word I would use to explain this show is "tension," because literally while watching it, my entire body was clenched. Also, there's something so unsettling about seeing Steve Carell not be his usual funny self, and honestly, I think that's one of the best parts of this series.
Starring: Steve Carell, Domhnall Gleeson, Linda Emond, Andrew Leeds, and more
26.Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin
Okay, I will admit that I was very skeptical when I heard that Pretty Little Liars was gonna be rebooted. It felt too soon to me; the original series only just ended in 2017. But, I liiiiive for teen dramas and murder-y shows, so I decided to give it a try. Y'all, this show is bonkers. Set in Millwood, Pennsylvania, the series follows five teens who are receiving cryptic messages from someone named "A," aka the same someone who's now holding these girls accountable for their moms' sins 20 years prior. Now, in the present day, the girls are trying to figure out just what happened and whose lives their moms ruined. This show really is so wild. And luckily, it's already been renewed for a second season!
Starring: Bailee Madison, Chandler Kinney, Zaria, Malia Pyles, Maia Reficco, Mallory Bechtel, Sharon Leal, Elena Goode, Eric Johnson, Alex Aiono, Lea Salonga, Jordan Gonzalez, Derek Klena, and more
27.And finally, Fleishman Is in Trouble
The series follows recently divorced Toby Fleishman (Jesse Eisenberg) as he dives into the weird world of online dating. And just as he's about to embark on a summer full of sexual freedom, his ex-wife Rachel (Claire Danes) disappears, leaving Toby alone to parent their two kids. Based on the novel written by Taffy Brodesser-Akner, Fleishman Is in Trouble is the exact reason why it's so important to have authors involved in the screen adaptations of their books. Everything about it feels grounded and real as if these people aren't just characters on a screen — they're fully formed humans doing human things and feeling human emotions. A bunch of things about this show really stuck with me after I finished the final episode; however, what I cannot stress enough is that Claire Danes is a gift to this world, and we're so lucky to be graced by her talent.
Starring: Claire Danes, Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Eisenberg, Adam Brody, and more
