Our previous end-of-year best lists mainly focused on films because there is too much TV to get even close to a definitive list. However, this year there were too many good shows out there not to engage with them.

So this year, we will look at all the shows we reviewed last year, SEE HERE, and pick our Top 10 of the 40 shows we reviewed. For a show to count, it needed to end its run or season in 2023.  

Highly Commended – The Diplomat, Foundation, Letterkenny, Poker Face, Rick and Morty, Star Trek: Lower Decks & Star Wars: Ahsoka

So, without further ado, these are our Top 10 TV Shows of 2023. Be warned that there may be slight spoilers for the shows in question.

10: Deadloch

Deadloch is a deeply dark show, but also profoundly funny. This is a combination that should not work as well as it does, but take Scandi Noir Thriller and dump it into rural Tasmania and somehow it all works.

Highly Commended – Australia & New Zealand, Cinematography, Fun & Tension

Directed by – Ben Chessell, Beck Cole & Gracie Otto
Written by – Kate McCartney, Kate McLennan, Kim Wilson, Christian White, Madeleine Sami, Anchuli Felicia King, Kirsty Fisher,
Created by – Kate McCartney & Kate McLennan

9: Jury Duty

I hate prank shows, I hate that they have invaded YouTube, and the public space. But even with all this, I could not help but be captivated by Jury Duty. The show struck gold when it found Ronald Gladeen, because he is such a genuinely nice person, that I think it restrained the show makers and made this better. Throw in some James Marsden chaos, and you have a compelling show.   

Highly Commended – Cinematography, Fun & Worldbuilding

Directed by – Jake Szymanski
Written by – Tanner Bean, Katrina Mathewson, Ese Shaw, Marcos Gonzalez, Andrew Weinberg, Mekki Leeper, Kerry O’Neill & Evan Williams 
Created by – Lee Eisenberg & Gene Stupnitsky

8: Silo

Silo is weird and moody, but profoundly facinating. It had the stregth to know that it could present and then kill off its two main leads in the first two episodes and that we would still be hooked, and they were right. I don’t know where Rebecca Ferguson is going in the end of that final episode, but I want to find out.

Highly Commended – Emotions, Tension & Worldbuilding

Directed by – Morten Tyldum, David Semel, Bert & Bertie & Adam Bernstein
Written by – Graham Yost, Jessica Blaire, Cassie Pappas, Ingrid Escajeda, Remi Aubuchon, Aric Avelino, Jessica Blaire, Jeffery Wang, Lekethia Dalcoe & Fred Golan
Created by – Graham Yost
Based On – Silo by Hugh Howey

7: Doctor Who

This is such an odd group of episodes, because it feels like the new showrunner is doing a Doctor Who victory lap for David Tennant & Catherine Tate but it still worked. It may have struggled a bit in the narrative section, but goodness did it nail a vibe. Also it showed that if you are not casting Ncuti Gatwa, why are you not casting Ncuti Gatwa?

Highly Commended – Music & Tension

Directed by – Rachel Talalay, Tom Kingsley, Chanya Button & Mark Tonderai
Written by – Russell T Davies, Pat Mills & Dave Gibbons

6: Pokémon Concierge

Pokémon Concierge was the surprise that appeared without warning at the end of the year, and it was brimming with delight. It is a four-episode story about finding you place in the world that is perfect for kids while also exploring toxic work culture. How dare it be so bold but pull it off so well.

Highly Commended – Animation & Worldbuilding

Directed by – Iku Ogawa
Written by – Harumi Doki
Based On – Pokémon by Satoshi Tajiri

5: Star Trek: Picard

Look, if you are going to take one more victory lap, make sure you do it as well as Star Trek: Picard did. The final season of the show took a dramatic right turn and brought the crew back together. It may have been fan service, but I can not lie, it was effective.  

Directed by – Terry Matalas, Doug Aarniokoski, Jonathan Frakes, Dan Liu & Deborah Kampmeier
Written by – Terry Matalas, Chris Derrick, Cindy Appel, Christopher Monfette, Jane Maggs, Matt Okumura, Sean Tretta & Kiley Rossetter
Created by – Akiva Goldsman, Michael Chabon, Kirsten Beyer & Alex Kurtzman
Showrunner – Terry Matalas

4: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds

Yes, this is two Star Trek shows in a row, and I almost snuck another one in, but sorry not this year Lower Decks. But if there was one show that was completely consistent this year it was Strange New Worlds. It is a season that was not afraid to take some risks, and they all paid off, yes even the Klingon K-pop. Especially the Klingon K-pop.

Highly Commended –  Costumes, Emotions & Music

Directed by – Chris Fisher, Valerie Weiss, Eduardo Sanchez, Amanda Row, Dan Liu, Jordan Canning, Jonathan Frakes, Jeff W. Byrd, Dermott Downs & Maja Vrvilo
Written by – Akiva Goldsman, Dana Horgan, Kirsten Beyer, David Reed, Onitra Johnson, David Reed, Henry Alonso Myers, Kathryn Lyn, Bill Wolkoff & Davy Perez
Created by – Akiva Goldsman, Alex Kurtzman & Jenny Lumet
Based On – Star Trek Created by Gene Roddenberry

3: Loki

If there was an award for most improved, Loki would win hands down. I was fundamentally frustrated with the first season that throw out so many different ideas and hoped one of them stuck. Well, this season refined it down, and made something that might be my MCU highlight from what has been a rocky couple of Phases.  

Highly Commended – Costumes, Emotions & Music

Directed by – Kasra Farahani, Dan Deleeuw, Justin Benson & Aaron Moorhead
Written by – Kasra Farahani, Jason O’Leary & Eric Martin
Created by – Michael Waldron
Based On – Characters created by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, Walt Simonson, Sal Buscema & Don Heck

2: The Last of Us

Finally, we got a video game adaptation that was not embarrassed about its source material. Okay that is a little bit of hyperbole because Sony has had a strong year on that front. But no one has yet done it as well as The Last of Us has. I knew when to follow the video game, down to almost identical stagging, and when to make changes, sometimes fundamental changes. While I am fraught thinking about season two, I have to respect the work they have done here.  

Highly Commended – Action, Cinematography, Emotions, Music & Tension

Directed by – Ali Abbasi, Liza Johnson, Jasmila Žbanić, Jeremy Webb, Peter Hoar, Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann
Written by – Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann
Created by – Craig Mazin & Neil Druckmann
Based On – The Last of Us by Neil Druckmann and Naughty Dog

1: Ted Lasso

Well it might be three seasons and we are done, but I am glad that we got our time with Ted Lasso. It took big swings with episodes like Sunflowers, told emotional stories, and had the audacity to stick the landing with the finale episode. Perfect? No. Fundamentally engaging at all times? Absolutely. I will miss AFC Richmond, which is saying something because I have never cared for football before, real or imagined. But like people, please put the lid on your peanut butter jars.

Highly Commended – Cinematography & Emotions

Directed by – MJ Delaney, Destiny Ekaragha, Matt Lipsey, Phoebe Walsh, Erica Dunton & Declan Lowney
Written by – Leann Bowen, Sasha Garron, Bill Wrubel, Brett Goldstein, Jamie Lee, Brendan Hunt, Jason Sudeikis, Joe Kelly, Keeley Hazell, Dylan Marron, Chuck Hayward & Jane Becker,  
Developed by – Jason Sudeikis, Bill Lawrence, Brendan Hunt & Joe Kelly
Based On – Format and characters from NBC Sports

With that, our awards for Television in 2023 end, it was an excellent year for the small screen, and we look forward to continuing our coverage into 2024.   


By Brian MacNamara: You can follow Brian on Twitter Here, when he’s not chatting about Movies and TV, he’ll be talking about International Relations, or the Solar System.

What are your favourite cinematic moments from 2023?, let us know what you thought in the comments below, feel free to share this review on any of the social medias and you can follow us Here. Check out all our past reviews and articles Here, and have a happy day. 

Credits – All images used were created by the respective studios and artists of each show