Recently my wife was commenting on the fact that I have not added a post to Like a Dad in a long time. It’s true. I don’t think about it anymore and I forget how much fun it can be to write something. Every now and then I think about a topic that would work and then I just don’t write.
So, to get something up before the end of the year I needed a topic that was pretty easy to put together, but also one I have a lot of thoughts on.
Then I started seeing the top lists of 2023 start to surface. Of course, that’s an easy one to do. A look back at the year that was. But since I don’t really see that many movies, or have any idea what new music is, I knew there was only one source for a very detailed list.
TV shows.
I watch a lot of TV shows and try to keep up with what is popular even if it’ something I would not normally check out. Thanks to a pocast I listen to on the regular – The Watch – I feel I watched many of the big shows of 2023.
Actually as I was trying to remember the many shows I watched, it amazed me just how many I had forgetten. Not because they were unmemorable, but because the calendar is chalk full of things to watch. I worry 2024 will be a down year as everyone tries to catch up from the writer’s strike, but I will remain positive.
2023 had so many worthy entries for my list and to keep it simple, the criteria was – what shows did I really look forward to each week. What shows were hard to limit myself to one episode at a time. What shows were my favourite? Some were critically acclaimed, while others were considered just ok by the TV experts. But I am the final judge and jury for this list. I think I have a nice mix of drama, comedy and shows driven by stars I just can’t get enough of.
So, without anymore puttering around, here is my list of favourite TV shows of 2023.
18. Rabbit Hole (Paramount Plus)
To kick off my list of favourite TV shows of 2023, I go to something tried and true. Jack. Bauer. Well, kind of. For those who have a need for some Jack Bauer in your lives, this show did it for me. While it’s not Jack yelling at terrorists, it was peak Keifer in the best ways. Intrigue, mystery and sly comments from Mr. Sutherland. I would agree if you really put a lot of thought into this show, it has flaws. But overall it was an enjoyable binge. The supporting cast was a bit weak, but this one was all about more Keifer. I also liked that it felt like a concept I had not seen before. So do yourself a favour and take a trip down the Rabbit Hole and you will see what I mean.
17. Beckham (Netflix)
This was pure sports nostalgia for me. It was a great recap of a time when social media didn’t exist and you only knew what was reported on the news. Which as you are reminded, wasn’t positve for poor David. I also get a kick (pun intended) that it aired in a time when the world is following Taylor and Travis like they are a royal couple. David and Victoria are like – hold our lager. They were put through the ringer to the ultimate degree. But short of the story of how Beckham and Posh came to be, you are reminded just how special Beckham was as a footballer. His crosses are unmatched to this day. I also had a good laugh that the doc series was created by a character from another show on my list. Spoiler, it’s the top show on my list. Also, it may make you take a look at how to leave your candles.
16. Justified: City Primeval (FX/Disney Plus)
All I need to write here is RAYLAN GIVENS is back. That is all I needed to know. The show could have been hot garbage but I would not have cared. Raylan is maybe my fave TV character ever. So much so that I ended up rewatching all of the original Justified this year. What a special show it was. As for this spin off or reboot, it was decent. I liked the Detroit angle. I didn’t get the daughter storyline as much, but what ended up bumping the show up was the performance by Raylan’s enemy – Clement Mansell. His never predictable traits made the show. His love of the White Stripes was a nice touch as well. This version of Justified was not Kentucky finger licken good, but it was worth the watch. Also the ending had me pretty happy when a few of the main players from the original series showed their faces. Spoiler – there was some Boyd Crowder finally.
15. Fleishman is in Trouble (FX/Disney Plus)
I wasn’t sure I was going to like this show. It touched on a failed marriage which I always find hard to watch. It had Claire Daines, who I also always find hard to watch. But it was a solid story. The writing was above average and I found Jesse Eisenberg’s character relatable in some ways (just some). Plus I am a sucker for any show that shows off New York City. It was not the most happy show each week, but at the same time it pulled you in. Maybe it was one of those – makes you feel better about your own life and family – shows.
14. For All Mankind (Apple)
I know. The latest season of For All Mankind is not even over yet, but I don’t care. It’s going on the list of favourite TV shows of 2023. It may actually be Apple’s best show when it’s all said and done. I read they plan to do several seasons and seeing as they are currently only in 2003, I can see it happening. What I enjoy about this show is it mixes our love of space and rockets with what I really liked about The Americans. Cold War spy shit. I also like that they are rewriting how history went and making it very interesting. Al Gore as president?? Apple put a lot of money into this show and visually it’s a knockout. Season 2 went a little soap opera for my tastes, but then it recovered and now it’s back to the A game. It has so many characters you learn to hate, but they are such a key part of the show.
13. Reservation Dogs (FX/Disney Plus)
This one is a little contoversial in our house. I am a huge fan of Reservation Dogs but season 3 didn’t do it for me as much as the first season for example. For me, the kids was where I wanted it to be, not so much the other stories. While everything overall was still excellent television and something I had not seen before, I was underwhelmed. I think it also didn’t help that we watched the season knowing it was the final season and I think I expected it to go a different way. I look forward to similar projects from this group. One day I think I will need to do a rewatch of the whole series, because there are enough people in my life who really liked this season and maybe I just didn’t give it the chance it deserved.
12. Platonic (Apple)
What an out of nowhere hit in my opinion. While Apple is staking the claim for best streamer for science fiction, they also have been sneaky good at comedies. Shrinking, which is on the list later, was also another hit (but with the cast I think more expected). Platonic seemed to be done a flyer for kicks. Seth Rogan and Rose Byrne have amazing comedic comedy and that’s no suprise for anyone who has seen the Neighbour movies. While I knew Seth would be great, it really was a show for Rose to steal scene after scene. She is really funny and nails the role. This show will forever make me laugh anytime I see electric scooters. Also, the horse tranq bit was endlessly funny. This was easily the most surprising show to make my list in 2023. I hope they give us more.
11. Last of Us (Crave/HBO)
Well this was easily the most hyped show heading into 2023 and I am not 100% sure it was able to live up to it. It was classic HBO doing HBO things, but the show turned out to be not what I thought. There were stand out performances don’t get me wrong. The Nick Offerman episode was stand alone TV that everyone should see. The relationship between Joel and Ellie was worth the watch but it had moments that felt frustrating. Having not played the video game, I was expecting it to be more The Walking Dead, with endless zombies and gotcha sequences. I enjoyed the slower pace of traveling across the country and learning everything about the characters and how they ended up who they are. It’s a disappointment this show won’t be back until 2025.
10. The Diplomat (Netflix)
Can you believe I almost forgot this one on my list of favourite TV Shows of 2023. The Diplomat was slick in the writing and didn’t rely on explosions and gunfire for drama. It was all about being diplomatic – go figure. Plus, anyone who knows me, I have always enjoyed Keri Russell. I think I have mentioned The Americans already in this post. She shines on this show. If this is what the backroom deals are really like in government, there needs to be more shows or movies. It was funny, but serious all at the same time. Again, I hope there is another season soon, as the cliffhanger ending was unexpected.
9. Hijack (Apple)
If all you want to see is Idris Elba on a plane trying to save the day, then that’s all you need to know. But this show was so much more. It was one of the most anticipated episodes for me each week. It went back to a bit more of a 24 style setup where we were experiencing a plane hijack in real time. But at the end of each episode there was a twist to steer you down the runway of the story, or to just add more mystery of what is going on. I am a sucker for anything on a plane to the point where I watched a movie recently that was literally called Plane. Like the previously mentioned The Diplomat, there were so many good shows in 2023 that were very British based. Coming later in the list there is also Slow Horses. The secondary and third level actors and actresses on these productions are always top notch. But back to Idris. He’s been in so many good movies and TV shows and outside of Stringer Bell, this was his best vehicle to shine. I don’t really know how he can fall into another hijack situation, but I really hope Apple gives us more.
8. Shrinking (Apple)
This year we were all riding a Ted Lasso high despite what we actually thought of the show. It just hit us in the feels. So when it was announced the same group would be doing a Jason Segel led production, it seemed like a no brainer. Then you tossed in Harrison Ford?? Han Solo on a TV show? That’s all I needed. Then it turned out to be better than expected. Segel and Ford’s banter was full of laughs, but what made the show were the women. Gaby, Liz and Alice were the heart and soul of the show, while Jimmy and Dr. Paul took the big homerun swings. What made this show hit, was yes it was funny, but it also went dark and sad and real. I am pretty sure we can all relate to one of the less than happy parts of life that these characters were dealing with. I only hope they can get in a few more seasons before Mr. Ford stops acting.
7. The Righteous Gemstones (Crave/HBO)
Good lord, is there a group of people who have more fun at work than the group that creates this masterpiece?? The Righteous Gemstones is one of the silliest and funniest shows HBO has made. Succession gets all the praise for nailing the sibling dynamic, but you could argue, Gemstones does it better. You just never know where this family is going to go next. Bumping up the screentime for Baby Billy didn’t hurt. It doesn’t matter who, each character can carry an entire episode. Yes you could say they can’t keep track of whether Jesse Gemstone’s sideburns are black or grey, but that only adds to the crazy. Was there a more fun scene on TV this year of watching the family just run shit over in a monster truck for what seemed like ten minutes. I think we all could relate and we all needed it.
6. Special Ops: Lionness (Paramount Plus)
I wasn’t sure I was going to see this one because I did not have Paramount Plus. But finally I used the free preview week to knock off Special Ops and the above mentioned Rabbit Hole. The only thing I did not like about Special Ops: Lionness, was it was over pretty quick. The episodes flew by. If you enjoy Taylor Sheridan shows (think more like Mayor of Kingstown than Yellowstone), then you will get into Lionness pretty quick. There should also be a warning that it’s not an easy watch. There is a lot of violience of the torture variety. Throw in some Nicole Kidman and Morgan Freeman and you have yourself a very enjoyable show that gets your heart racing.
5. Slow Horses (Apple)
Jackson Lamb played by Gary Oldman is a character that disgusts me and at the same time, capitvates. Watching him slurp back noodles or openly fart while conversing in a park is pure art. This show is slick and smart and is exactly what we need for a spy thriller in 2023. It’s about a group of screw ups who are not good enough to be MI6, but at the same time have very special skills. Each season has been excellent and at the time of this writing, season 3 is not over. But the storyline so far is very cat (Tiger?) and mouse as always. Excellent casting and portrayel of the intellignce services in the UK. I don’t even mind the theme song which if you are on X, seems to grate on people. I wonder as they are both Apple properties, if there is a way to tie Slow Horses to Hijack, or at least get Idris Elba in Slough House. I think if I delay this post anymore I may have to move it up the list of my favourite TV Shows of 2023.
4. Silo (Apple)
When I first saw the trailer for Silo, I had no idea there was a book and that it was one the most celebrated science fiction series of our times. The series which includes 3 books (Wool, Shift and Dust) is a must read even if you never watch the show. I picked up the first book after a few episodes of the show so it was cool to be reading a long and to see where the TV show and the book went different ways. Like most, the book is superior thanks to the amount of detail you can include both physically and mentally. But the TV show did a great job of creating the world underneath the ground. Rebecca Ferguson is great as the main character Julliette and even if I would not choose Tim Robbins as Bernard, he turned in a strong performance. Like I have mentioned already, Apple is killing it with the science fiction and this has a chance to be one of the best shows for years to come. Shift, which is everything that happens before what we experience in Silo, would be an amazing show by itself. Also, it hits a little close to home in 2023 and how the next 30 years could go.
3. Barry (Crave/HBO)
I would have never predicted that of all the legends that have come out of SNL, that Bill Hadar would be this high up on the list of creatives. He could have just milked his impersonations and characters for a nice career. But no, he went into the business of adding writing, producing and directing to his acting and I am so glad he did. Barry is changing how we look at TV shows. No longer do you have to be a comedy or a drama. He has perfectly blended the two. In most years, Barry would have been my favourite show easily. No Ho Hank will always be on my list of best TV characters. The scene in Dave and Busters, I have not laughed that loud in a long time. Then it turns to very violent shoot outs where a kid watches everyone die. It goes very dark and creepy and Hadar is amazing at doing it. I know Barry is over, but I am pretty stoked to see what Hadar does next.
Here is the famous scene.
2. The Bear (FX/Disney Plus)
Don’t do it Mikey. Don’t do it. Well I’m doing it. The Bear ranks second on my list of favourite TV shows of 2023. Again, you know why. Most years it would also be first. But you know why it’s not. Another show has a giant bear hug on that spot and honestly, it wasn’t even close. But back to Carmy and his family and the dream of opening The Bear. I really didn’t think they could make a second season that could rival the first. But they did. They did over and over again with each episode. How many shows in recent years have created a conversation of what their favourte episode was. We all knew what it meant to say – but have you reached EP 6 yet? No? Okay I won’t say anything. The episode simply known as Fishes, broke TV in terms of stressful and chaotic masterpieces. It’s become a running reference for every holiday family gathering. It still stresses me out. And you know what? It wasn’t my fave episode. Ep. 7 called Forks, blew it out of the water. It was the career arc we all needed for Cousin. It had him driving down the highway belting out Taylor Swift and I was like – yeah this is awesome. It was uplifting and so on the nose it outranked the crazy of Fishes. But you know what. The finale was also excellent. The episode where Marcus went to Copenhagen was great. Watching Sydney wander around Chicago trying food and reading Coack K’s book was mesmorizing. And you can’t forget our boy Matty. Excellent, excellent show and I hope there are many more seasons as The Bear rolls on.
1. Succession (Crave/ HBO)
Then there was the king, the number one boy. The show we all knew would be the best and it still exceeded all expectations. Every Sunday night HBO made us gasp, made our jaws drop and of course made us laugh out loud. Because there are so many shows to watch and life is so busy, you easily forget just how good Succession was as a whole and the final season in particular. Looking back, every episode was a winner. I mean, they killed off argubly the main character 3 eps in. Sorry for the spoiler, but you should have seen it by now. This show was one you did not want to wait. For example, my friend who doesn’t watch messaged me before I watched episode 3 on the Monday eve saying – man I heard Succession killed off the main guy. I was pretty mad. From that point on, I went kind social media dark on Mondays and for the finale we watched it in real time. Every character had a love/hate quality to them. Every single one. How many shows can say that. I always come back the Bluth family of Arrested Development for an example of a cast from top to bottom that dominated. Succession never rested on what it had already pulled off. It just kept going hard. They tooks us on a boat cruise of misery, we got to go to Sweden, we had the most uncomfortable funeral ever and closed it out with a sibling fight for the ages in the boardroom next door. There are so many moments you forget even happened. I will need to do a rewatch again one day. My fave episode? That’s really tough. I think I would have to choose the finale because even until the very end, I did not know what was going to happen. Tom and Shiv driving away in the car. Kendall maybe walking off into the river. It was a perfect ending for a show that was so big, no ending could have been fully satisfying.
So that’s the list. My favouiite TV shows of 2023. I probably could have found a few more to make it a nice, even 20, but oh well.
What do you think? What would be on your list? What shows did I not add? There are a lot of shows I just did not know about or have time for so I would love for some recommendations. With 2024 looking light, I am happy there are many shows still to catch up on.
Thanks for reading. Chat soon.
