The Best TV Shows Of 2023
From hilarious sitcoms to time travel mysteries to killer dolls, these TV show can’t be missed! The writers of Pop Culture Planet are sharing the Best Of 2023.
A Small Light
A Small Light tells the story of Miep Gies, Otto Frank’s secretary, and the unsung heroes who bravely helped hide Anne Frank’s family.
The National Geographic show makes the true story accessible and relatable, but also taps into the hope and life of the characters we’re following. Bel Powley delivers a fiercely layered performance as the modern thinking Miep Gies and showcases how even an everyday person can make a change.
Watch A Small Light on Disney+ and Hulu.
- Kristen Maldonado
Abbott Elementary Season 2
Abbott Elementary has become a breakout success and there’s a plethora of reasons why. Its mockumentary-style is one that allows audiences to get to know the characters in an intimate way and captures the essence within the school.
Each character gets to hilariously showcase their individual personalities on a personal level with the audience and — with the award-winning ensemble Abbott Elementary has — not doing so would be a mistake. Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Janelle James absolutely shine in this show. Abbott Elementary has allowed these actors to demonstrate their comedic talents like no other, while highlighting the struggles teachers face in the U.S. education system.
The first two seasons are streaming on Hulu, with a third season dropping February 7, 2024 on ABC.
- Danielle Forte
Beef
An unhinged road rage incident takes over two people’s lives in Netflix’s Beef.
Ali Wong and Steven Yeun deliver career best performances as they struggle with a rage that threatens to ruin their lives. Complex, funny, tragic, unpredictable, and toxic, Beef will have you hooked.
Beef is streaming on Netflix.
- Kristen Maldonado
Chucky Season 3 Part 1
Our favorite red headed killer has taking over the White House in Chucky season 3 part 1. With a hilarious twist, it turns out Damballa has forsaken Chucky and he is trying to make the biggest sacrifice yet so he doesn’t die of old age.
There’s plenty of campy, meta, and over the top humor. While it’s not the scariest season yet, but I’m excited to see where it goes in part 2 dropping in 2024. With the power he could gain in the White House, Chucky could have the potential to take over the whole world!
Chucky is streaming on Peacock and Syfy.
- Kristen Maldonado
Class of 07
When an apocalyptic tidal wave hits during an all-girls high school 10-year reunion in Australia, the women work to survive while dealing with old drama in Class of 07.
Led by Emily Browning, the cast is diverse and fun to follow. Class of 07 brings a refreshingly funny take to the stranded genre with a great premise and larger than life characters.
Streaming on Prime Video.
- Kristen Maldonado
FROM Season 2
FROM is the best show you’ve never heard of. It follows a group of people who are stuck in a small town that they can’t escape and, at night, mysterious creatures come out to try to kill them. While that sounds terrifying enough, that’s just the first layer of horror.
Are the townspeople dead, trapped in limbo, lost in a Bermuda Triangle-type effect? We have no idea. You don’t know who will survive, or even where these characters really are. The stakes are high and the mystery, lore, and atmosphere they set up will absolutely keep you hooked. If you love shows that make you think — like Lost or The OA — you need to watch it.
The first two seasons of FROM are streaming on MGM+, with a third on the way.
- Kristen Maldonado
Gen V
Set at Godolkin University, The Boys spin-off Gen V follows a group of college-age supes who find themselves thrust into competition with each other for top spots while uncovering a sinister secret at the school.
Gen V definitely follows the lead of The Boys with all the gore, guts, blood, and sex running rampant at the school.
Streaming on Prime Video.
- Kristen Maldonado
Ghosts Season 2
Ghosts follows Sam (Rose McIver), who has the ability to see and hear ghosts thanks to a near death experience, and her husband Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) as they run a haunted B&B.
In season 2, we got to learn more about the ghosts in their home, while an exciting cliffhanger teases a ghost has moved on to the afterlife. Ghosts remains wholesome and hilarious with one of the best ensemble casts on television.
The first two seasons of the CBS show are streaming on Paramount+.
- Kristen Maldonado
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies
Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies is set in 1954, four years before the events of Grease, and follows four fed-up students who bring out a moral panic that will change Rydell High forever… and introduce us to the founders of the Pink Ladies. From the dancing to the vocals to the costumes, this show was severely underrated and full of Easter eggs. It has really empowering messages as these young women rebel against what’s excepted of them and continually show up for each other. The music by hitmaker Justin Tranter is phenomenal and has been on rotation for me all year long.
You’ll laugh out loud, enjoy stunning musical numbers, and see them right the wrongs of the original film in this perfect continuation of the Grease legacy that celebrates individuality, sisterhood, and rock ‘n roll.
- Kristen Maldonado
Heartstopper Season 2
This year, Heartstopper returned with another heartfelt and feel good season. The show takes on more of an ensemble style cast this season. Each character gets their own arc and journey, from figuring out their identities to navigating their first relationships. This all takes place in the same positive and optimistic world we know and love of Heartstopper.
Alice Oseman’s continued success shows as the series is able to include such important moments and ideas without making it seem like they’re checking a box or overdoing it. The show remians wholesome and optimistic but doesn’t shy away from realism and hard discussions. With a soundtrack full of stars, direct adaptations from the comics, and plenty of Easter eggs for fans to spot, this season was a standout. Already renewed for a third season that just wrapped on production, fans will be happy to have more of this joyous series on their screens.
The first two seasons are streaming on Netflix.
- Jordan Bohan
High School Musical: The Musical: The Series Season 4
In High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, the wildcats at East High gave us one last farewell as they wrapped up season 4 earlier this year. This series truly gave us a unique blend of nostalgia and captivating storytelling, coupled with an insanely talented cast. The infectious energy of musical theater in the form of a mockumentary gave us so many comedic moments especially from Joshua Bassett who was a bit more sassy this series finale.
We got to see some of our most anticipated moments such as Gina (Sofia Wylie) and Ricky’s growing relationship and Ashlyn (Julia Lester) and Maddox (Saylor Curda) confessing their feelings. We were also surprised witnessing Carlos (Frankie Rodriguez) and Seb’s (Joe Serafini) breakup and the secrets that unfold from that. This show, among all its quirks, will stand as a testament to the High School Musical franchise, while also touching on important topics such as struggles of anxiety, identity, relationships, and more.
All four seasons of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series are streaming on Disney+.
- Paola Cardenas
Jury Duty
If you like The Office, you’ll have a blast with Jury Duty. The show follows regular guy Ronald Gladden who thinks he’s participating in a documentary about jury duty. The reality is that the whole case is fake and everyone’s an actor. That includes James Marsden who’s nominated for a Golden Globe for playing a fictionalized version of himself.
This wholesome series puts Ronald into progressively wackier situations that he handles with humor and ease as the cast becomes a found family. The everyday hero became so beloved that he recently signed a two-year deal to produce, develop, and star in content across Amazon MGM Studios.
Jury Duty is streaming on Amazon Freevee.
- Kristen Maldonado
One Piece
Monkey D. Luffy and his Straw Hat crew explore dangerous worlds in search of the One Piece and fight for their dreams together in the live action adaptation of One Piece. Based off the hit Japanese manga, this definitely lived up to the hype.
Episode two with Buggy the Clown is a particular highlight, showing off the excellent costumes, makeup, effects, and casting. The world is just so rich and wondrous that you can’t help but want to see more and explore the strong messages of friendship, adventure, and going after your dreams.
One Piece is streaming on Netflix.
- Kristen Maldonado
Schmigadoon Season 2
The second season of Schmigadoon is even better than the first as they explore the grittier musicals of the 60s and 70s in Schmicago. It features a tighter storyline and fantastic performances by our favorite Broadway stars who channel hit musicals like Sweeney Todd, Chicago, Hair, Cabaret, and more.
There are also tons of Easter eggs that eagle-eyed musical theater fans will LOVE. Dove Cameron is a stand out this season, while Ariana DeBose performs my favorite song of the series with a Dreamgirls-style number called “Over and Done.”
Schmigadoon season 2 is streaming on Apple TV+.
- Kristen Maldonado
Somebody Somewhere Season 2
Somebody Somewhere was the true underdog show of 2023. Bridget Everett plays an iteration of herself, Sam, who is a true Kansan woman on the surface and is struggling to fit into her hometown's mold. She’s dealing with the devastating loss of her sister all while grappling with her family relationships. Singing is her saving grace and leads her on a journey to discover herself and a community of outsiders who don't fit in, but don't give up. The show’s premise is deceptively simple, but it’s script, setting, and character development are astounding. Though, Somebody Somewhere’s real brilliance lies in the remarkable performances of Everett alongside her co-stars Jeff Hiller, Murray Hill, and Mary Catherine Garrison. Did I also mention that this show will make you laugh, cry, and left awestruck all at once?
Somebody Somewhere is streaming on Max.
- Danielle Forte
Succession Season 4
Where do I begin with Succession? The ingenous writing, superb acting, rich character development, captivating narrative and premise, and thought-provoking themes all makes Succession one of the best shows to grace the year 2023.
This season was its final season and it was an absolute knockout. What Succession does best is its unnerving approach of never letting the audience feel comfortable with the characters. All of the characters in this divine drama create a complicated cocktail of privilege and trauma amongst the show’s protagonists. If loving this show was a Facebook relationship status, it would be complicated. The writing was so good, that you couldn’t help but hate and love the characters. As viewers, we were constantly entrenched in the characters’ narcissism and self-sabotage, which kept audiences hungry for more each episode and season. Succession may reign in history as one of the best shows ever made.
Succession is streaming on Max.
- Danielle Forte
The Bear Season 2
Season 2 of The Bear picks up with the team planning for a new upscale Michelin star worthy restaurant tied to their deep Chicago roots. Throughout the season, the Berzatto family struggles to fix up the old sandwich shop while digging into deeper plot lines for each character. The highlight of the season is the one hour flashback episode centered around the family’s Christmas celebration.
From the cinematography and editing to the incredible acting performances, you feel like you’re sitting at their dinner table. The writers created the most realistically chaotic scenes. It was an incredibly difficult episode to watch, but a real and raw representation of how complicated family relationships can be. This season is full of celebrity cameos, mouth watering food, and pressure cooker-style stress. The show doesn’t try to get you to fall in love with any specific character, but rather explores the flaws and complexities of real people.
The Bear is streaming on Hulu.
- Jordan Bohan
The Changeling
LaKeith Stanfield and Clark Backo play first time parents who find themselves in a dark fairytale odyssey through a New York City they never knew existed in The Changeling, based on the book by Victor LaValle.
Stanfield anchors this project with a rich and layered take on fatherhood. The adaptation is extremely faithful to the book and introduces dark magical realism and disorienting truths that are as intriguing as they are frustrating. A stunning and complicated take on parenthood, postpartum, and generational trauma through the eyes of Black parents, The Changeling will leave you captivated.
The Changeling is streaming on Apple TV+.
- Kristen Maldonado
The Fall of the House of Usher
Mike Flanagan delivers a Gothic horror Succession meets Edgar Allen Poe tale in The Fall of the House of Usher. The story centers around Roderick Usher, played by Bruce Greenwood, the patriarch of a billion-dollar empire who made his money by taking advantage of the opioid epidemic. Each episode is a reimagining of a different Poe work that follows each of the Usher children’s deaths. We learn exactly what happened to his six children and how it all connects back to a mysterious deal he made in 1980.
The cast is full of our Flana-faves from his past works like The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, The Midnight Club, and The Haunting of Bly Manor. The show really shines in the dark themes it explores and it offers a lot for viewers to discuss as they watch. Like Poe did with his works, Flanagan tells a story that goes beyond the mystery and macabre to offer commentary on the way we live. He wraps up his tenure at Netflix with a hauntingly twisted cautionary tale of pride, wealth, and legacy.
The Fall of the House of Usher is streaming on Netflix.
- Kristen Maldonado
The Last Of Us
Based on the best-selling video game, The Last of Us stars Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey on a journey across a post-apocalyptic world as they are humanity’s last hope of survival.
The casting was perfect and even incorporated actors from the video game in the show. The series explored humanity in a really moving and profound way. Diving into the story of a different character each episode allowed the show runners to explore a variety of backstories, experiences, and emotional reactions to such devastating events. The show is one of the biggest launches on HBO to date and was named the most Googled show of 2023. This series undoubtedly lived up to its hype and deserves every bit of positive press and reviews.
The Last of Us is streaming on Max.
- Jordan Bohan
The Way Home
The Way Home is the best show to come out of Hallmark Channel.
The multi-generational drama is focused on teenage Alice (Sadie Laflamme-Snow), her mom Kat (Chyler Leigh), and her grandmother Del (Andie MacDowell). The women have dealt with a lot of pain in their lives, but when Alice learns she has the ability to time travel, it opens up new wounds as they try to heal the past. The storytelling and lore are captivating and the show is full of high stakes and emotions.
The Way Home is streaming on Peacock, with a second season returning January 21, 2024.
- Kristen Maldonado
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story
Queen Charlotte is a stand alone origin story, stemming from the world of Bridgerton. Though this show has more impact in the context of the original series, its storyline is independent and can be enjoyed without prior knowledge or watching the original series. It dives into the backstory of Queen Charlotte and how she came to power through her marriage to King George. It’s a heartfelt story about unconditional love, mental health, and the struggles of adjusting to newfound fame and power.
This show has everything including queer relationships, characters of diverse backgrounds, and modern popular music with an orchestral twist. With only six episodes, this series took the Internet by storm and left fans only wanting more. As a nice prequel and tie over between seasons, Queen Charlotte adds a new depth and understanding to the Bridgerton show. This series is a great example of how to do a prequel the right way.
Streaming on Netflix.
- Jordan Bohan
