From 'The Last of Us' to 'Succession', these are the shows that kept our eyes glued to the screen.
11 of the Best TV Shows of 2023 to Binge These Holidays
From 'The Last of Us' to 'Succession', these are the shows that kept our eyes glued to the screen.
As the year comes to a close, now is the perfect time to reflect and take stock. When we weren’t glued to Gwyneth’s iconic ski trial or a Matilda’s World Cup game, what were we watching?
From The Bear to Beef to Beckham, we were spoiled for choice when it came to good TV this year. And with a few weeks left of 2023, there’s still time to catch up on what you might’ve missed.
To help you out, we’ve narrowed it down to 11 of the best series that blessed our screens this year.
1. The Bear, Season 2
Where can I watch it? Disney+
Thought your family's Christmas was stressful? None of us have been able to look at forks the same again since watching Season 2, Episode 6 of The Bear. Titled ‘Fishes’, the ep deserves an Academy Award on its own. So too does every member of the cast, who by the end of another chaotic and claustrophobic season feel more like fam than faces on a screen. Special shout out to Syd and Richie for giving gourmet potato chip omelettes and T-Swift car singalongs the respect they deserve!
2. Beef
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Beginning with the return of three hibachi grills and ending with a conversation between two crows, Beef is an eight-episode exploration of the term ‘Hurt people hurt people.’ Amy Lau (Ali Wong) and Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) take pettiness not just to another level but another universe, and what starts as a road rage incident soon accelerates into something much more serious.
3. Succession, Season 4
Where can I watch it? Binge
If Shakespeare were alive today, he likely would have penned Succession. Undoubtedly one of the most expertly written, produced, and executed television series of all time, Succession’s final season did not disappoint. Proving that family dysfunction knows no bounds, The Roys powerplay their way through acquisition, death, and matrimony, with a gasp-worthy twist delivering the final blow in a political drama that drew more blood than a war epic.
4. Love & Death
Where can I watch it? Binge
Created and written by David E Kelley (of Ally McBeal and Big Little Lies fame), Love & Death is essentially Desperate Housewives set in the 80s. Based on the true story of Candy Montgomery, a Texas mistress accused of murdering her lover’s wife, the seven-episode miniseries is equal parts enthralling as it is unbelievable. The set design and wardrobe alone are enough to keep you entertained, but Elizabeth Olsen’s incredibly convincing performance as a wholesome housewife with a dark side is spectacular.
5. The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart
Where can I watch it? Prime Video
Adapted from Holly Ringland’s book of the same name, The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart is a cinematically stunning exploration of womanhood, family bonds, empowerment, and the effects of domestic violence. Set on Thornfield, a native Australian flower farm, the heavy subject matter is handled delicately through the language of flowers and told with conviction by stars Sigourney Weaver and Alycia Debnam-Carey.
6. Top Boy, Season 5
Where can I watch it? Netflix
This generation’s version of The Wire, UK drug-crime-drama Top Boy took its final bow this year with a gripping six-episode final season. Featuring an incredible cast that includes Ashley Walters, Kane Robinson, Jasmine Jobson, and Little Simz, Season 5 (or season 3, according to Netflix) follows the fall of a once powerful network, with a perfectly written send-off that’s both thrilling and thought-provoking.
7. The Last of Us
Where can I watch it? Binge
The Last of Us felt like this year’s Game of Thrones – not plot-wise, but in its inescapability. If you didn’t watch each new episode within the first few hours of release, you were excluded from every conversation, group text, and meme. A post-apocalyptic series based on a video game has never had so much heart. Protect Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey at all costs!
8. Deadloch
Where can I watch it? Prime Video
You can’t go wrong with a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. Set in a coastal town in Tasmania and dripping in witty, Australian humour, you’ve never cackled over a murder mystery like this before. Dubbed a ‘ripsnorting whodunnit’ and a ‘feminist crime parody’ written by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan (AKA the Two Kates), it’s no wonder season 1 is up for so many awards.
9. Beckham
Where can I watch it? Netflix
Bless this four-part series that birthed some of the year’s best memes and most iconic clips – including Victoria Beckham’s infamous ‘working class upbringing’ that included getting driven to school in a Rolls Royce. Come for the archival footage of David Beckham’s iconic football career, and stay for the juicy BTS content of his incredibly organised wardrobe and penchant for cooking a single mushroom on the grill. Truly mesmerising.
10. Colleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story
Where can I watch it? Disney+
Keeping it in the world of UK football and tabloid fodder, Colleen Rooney’s ‘Wagatha Christy’ documentary takes Instagram sleuthing to new heights – or lows, depending on how you look at it. Years ago, Colleen (the wife of UK football star Wayne Rooney) realised someone on her private Instagram was selling her family photos and stories to the press. To ID the snitch, Colleen put the ‘close friends’ function to inarguably the best use we’ve ever seen, and then took to Twitter with her evidence. Then she got taken to court. Popcorn, please!
11. The Crown, Season 6
Where can I watch it? Netflix
The Crown has been one royal rollercoaster ride, with the series beginning at Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding in 1947 and continuing to trace Her Majesty’s reign throughout the following decades. Released in 2 parts, the final season covers from 1997 to 2005, including William and Kate's early romance as well as Prince Charles and Camilla's wedding. Intimate character studies, beautiful sets, and exquisite cinematography all shine through here.
