2023: Year In Review

My final blog for the year and yes, it's a look back at some of the shows I've watched or have started watching to make this list. Here goes.

Doctor Who (BBC1/Disney+): The show really came back swinging triumphantly for its 60th as David Tennant played the 14th Doctor before Ncuti Gatwa debuted as the 15th Doctor. Both utterly sublime.

The Last Of Us (HBO): Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay brought the popular game series to life with their widely acclaimed portrayals of Joel and Ellie. HBO also bagged themselves another successful genre series.

Only Murders In The Building (Hulu/Disney+): The third season gave us both Paul Rudd and Meryl Streep in sizeable roles and certainly put Charles, Oliver and Mabel through the motions.

And Just Like That (Max): This show still has a way to go but the second season was mostly an improvement on its divisive first run. Less of Che though, the better.

Poker Face (Peacock): Natasha Lyonne's streaming renaissance continued with this delightful Columbo inspired piece. A fun but flawed protagonist and cool guest stars made this worth watching.

Doom Patrol (Max): The final six episodes took too long to finally be released but the wait was worth. Especially for the Immortimas extravaganza to boot.

The Bear (FX/Hulu): I binge watched two seasons of this highly addictive but seriously stressful show and loved every minute of it. Jeremy Allen White is a revelation.

Yellowjackets (Showtime/Paramount+): Again, I binged two seasons of this crazy show, following the events of a high school soccer team that barely survived nineteen months in the Wilderness. 

American Horror Story: Delicate (FX): The show might be losing the general audience but who would've thought that Kim Kardashian's Siobhan Corbyn would be a surprisingly entertaining character?

Superman And Lois (CW): The third season sensitively tackled a cancer storyline for Lois while Superman finally faced up to Lex Luthor and Doomsday. 

Loki (Disney+): Season 2 offered a strong conclusion to the god of mischief while also providing the MCU with the means not to continue with Kang. 

Chucky (SyFy/USA): The writers strike might have forced the third season into going the split season route but fun was had with Chucky in the White House and the camp absurdity of Tiffany's trial.

Fellow Travelers (Showtime/Paramount+): A McCarthy era led miniseries with Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey and some of the sexiest sex scenes between two men. Of course this is on the list.

Queen Charlotte (Netflix): This prequel series to Bridgerton turned out to be so fantastic, that I hope it gets a second run. Netflix struck gold with that show

Archie (ITVX): A four part miniseries examining the life of Cary Grant with a brilliant performance from Jason Isaacs as the iconic movie star.

Nolly (ITVX): I knew little of former Crossroads actor Noelle Gordon but Helena Bonham-Carter gave a terrific performance from a great miniseries by Russell T. Davies.

Juice (BBC3): Marwan Rizwan's quirky comedy which included his own family and the always hunky Russell Tovey was one of the better comedy offerings this year.

What If (Disney+): Season 2 of what was my least favourite MCU show (Secret Invasion now has that honour) really managed to up it's game at the eleventh hour. Still though, this show really wants Captain Carter front and centre.

EastEnders (BBC1): The only soap to make this list and yes, it's because of the Six storyline. That storyline really breathed life into the show.

Big Brother UK (ITV2): A genuine return to form from a much missed reality series that can still work in today's environment. I was happy that ITV2 got this right.

Abbott Elementary (ABC): I didn't stick with this as I should've but what I did watch, I enjoyed so I might catch up with it again in the new year.

Ghosts (BBC1): After five series and a US version (which is decent enough), this show bowed out during Christmas. It'll be missed but at least it was smart enough not to outstay it's welcome.

My Adventures With Superman (Max): The anime style took some getting used to but this turned out to be a charming take on the ever iconic DC hero.

A Ghost Story For Christmas (BBC2): Kit Harrington and Freddie Fox delivered in the spooky Lot 249. 

Honourable mentions of course go to other DC shows such as The Flash, Titans and Harley Quinn. Love And Death gave Elizabeth Olsen a real life killer role while David Tennant and Michael Sheen also came back for seconds with Good Omens. The Idol had the perfect set up for a biting commentary for the music industry but fumbled the bag while Succession delivered a final season that was enjoyed. Anime fans also got a win with Netflix's adaptation of One Piece and Mike Flanagan scared up another hit with The Fall Of The House Of Usher. I also binge watched the likes of The Tourist and Wilderness and would consider both American Horror Stories, Vanishing Act and So Help Me Todd as guilty pleasures. 

Now let's see what 2024 has to offer, shall we?