The Absolute Best TV Shows of 2023
There was a lot to watch this year, and so many series delivered new seasons or debuts that really stood out for craft, scale, and smart storytelling. From character driven dramas to inventive comedies to world building genre epics, the range was wide and there was something for every kind of viewer.
This list gathers standout shows that aired new seasons or premiered across major platforms. You will find the network or service mentioned for each series so it is easy to track down where to watch, along with useful details about creators, casts, episode counts, and what each show focuses on.
‘The Last of Us’ (2023–present)
Based on the PlayStation game created by Neil Druckmann, this series follows Joel and Ellie as they cross a pandemic ravaged United States. Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann developed the show with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey leading the cast. The story blends survival drama with a focus on found family and moral tradeoffs. The series airs on HBO.
The first season covers the core arc of the original game with key chapters adapted into self contained episodes. Production used large scale location shoots across Alberta with practical sets for quarantine zones and small town waypoints. The season runs nine episodes with recurring appearances by Anna Torv, Gabriel Luna, Lamar Johnson, Keivonn Woodard, Storm Reid, and Melanie Lynskey.
‘Succession’ (2018–2023)
Created by Jesse Armstrong, this drama follows the Roy family as they maneuver for control of the Waystar Royco media empire. Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, and Matthew Macfadyen anchor the ensemble as power shifts inside the company and the family. The show airs on HBO.
The fourth and final season closes the corporate saga with boardroom votes, shareholder showdowns, and sibling alliances that change by the hour. Filming moved between New York offices, private homes, and European locations for key episodes. The season delivers ten episodes directed by returning veterans like Mark Mylod and Andrij Parekh.
‘Barry’ (2018–2023)
Bill Hader and Alec Berg created this dark comedy about a hitman who discovers acting in a class run by Gene Cousineau. Bill Hader and Henry Winkler lead the cast with Sarah Goldberg, Anthony Carrigan, and Stephen Root. The series airs on HBO.
The final season follows the fallout from prior murders, a shifting timeline, and the consequences of fame inside a true crime media bubble. Bill Hader directs multiple episodes while the production leans on practical Los Angeles locations and minimal score for tension. The season spans eight episodes.
‘The Bear’ (2022–present)
Christopher Storer created this kitchen set dramedy starring Jeremy Allen White as Carmy, a fine dining chef returning to run his family sandwich shop. Ayo Edebiri and Ebon Moss Bachrach co star with recurring guest appearances by chefs and actors from Chicago and beyond. The show streams on FX on Hulu.
The second season expands the restaurant into a full renovation with episodes centered on training, menu development, and service drills. The production uses real kitchens, handheld camerawork, and long takes for rush sequences. The season includes a bottle episode focused on a holiday dinner and a finale that plays out during friends and family night.
‘Beef’ (2023)
Created by Lee Sung Jin, this limited series tracks two strangers whose road rage incident spirals into a long running feud. Steven Yeun and Ali Wong star with Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, and Maria Bello in key roles. The show streams on Netflix.
The story follows escalating pranks, personal fallout, and how anger crosses class and family lines. Episodes balance character backstory with present day conflicts as art, real estate, and small business pressures collide. The series runs ten episodes and features an original score with choral elements.
‘Jury Duty’ (2023)
This docu style comedy builds a full trial around a single juror who thinks it is real. Everyone else is an actor including James Marsden playing a version of himself. The show streams on Freevee.
Across the season, courtroom days, juror sequestration, and civic tasks create improvised scenarios that play on reality show formats. The production used a decommissioned courthouse with hidden cameras and a rotating script outline. The season includes eight episodes.
‘The Diplomat’ (2023–present)
Created by Debora Cahn, this political drama follows a career envoy posted to London during a rapidly changing security crisis. Keri Russell leads the cast with Rufus Sewell, David Gyasi, Ali Ahn, and Ato Essandoh. The series streams on Netflix.
Episodes move between embassy offices, rural estates, and Whitehall settings as negotiations, staffing, and media optics converge. The first season features eight episodes and blends procedural briefings with personal life at official residences. Location work spans the UK with supplemental shoots on stages.
‘Silo’ (2023–present)
Adapted from Hugh Howey’s novels, this science fiction series follows a community living underground under strict rules and a sealed environment. Rebecca Ferguson stars with Rashida Jones, David Oyelowo, Common, Tim Robbins, and Harriet Walter. The series streams on Apple TV Plus.
The production built multi level set pieces for the central spiral staircase, mechanical floors, and agricultural zones. The first season has ten episodes and incorporates mystery plotting with engineering details, IT control systems, and legacy records that drive the investigation.
‘Shrinking’ (2023–present)
Created by Brett Goldstein, Bill Lawrence, and Jason Segel, this comedy centers on a therapist who begins telling clients exactly what he thinks. Jason Segel stars with Harrison Ford, Jessica Williams, Luke Tennie, and Christa Miller. The series streams on Apple TV Plus.
The season tracks patient breakthroughs, a practice in transition, and workplace mentorship across therapy rooms and Pasadena homes. The first run includes ten episodes and leans on single camera setups with music cues curated by the creative team. Writers from other Lawrence projects contribute scripts.
‘Poker Face’ (2023–present)
Rian Johnson created this mystery of the week series that follows a human lie detector who hits the road and stumbles into crimes. Natasha Lyonne stars and also writes and directs episodes. The show streams on Peacock.
Each episode presents a fresh location, a new cast of guest stars, and a puzzle that reveals how the crime happened before the investigator arrives. The season includes ten episodes with filming across the Southwest and Northeast. The format uses a case of the week structure with a light ongoing chase thread.
‘The Fall of the House of Usher’ (2023)
Mike Flanagan adapts works by Edgar Allan Poe into a modern saga about a pharmaceutical dynasty confronting its legacy. Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, Mary McDonnell, and Mark Hamill lead the ensemble. The limited series streams on Netflix.
Episodes weave motifs from Poe stories into courtroom battles, corporate maneuvers, and family confrontations. The production uses practical mansions, court sets, and lab spaces with recurring visual motifs tied to ravens and masks. The series consists of eight episodes.
‘Gen V’ (2023–present)
Set in the world of ‘The Boys’, this spin off follows students at a superhero university ranked for power and popularity. Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Maddie Phillips, and Patrick Schwarzenegger star. The show streams on Prime Video.
The season explores corporate sponsorships, viral metrics, and how testing programs shape young supes. Episodes include campus competitions, covert labs, and media training sequences. The first run spans eight episodes and ties directly to ongoing storylines from the flagship series.
‘Blue Eye Samurai’ (2023–present)
Michael Green and Amber Noizumi created this animated revenge tale set in Edo period Japan. The voice cast includes Maya Erskine, George Takei, Brenda Song, Darren Barnet, and Randall Park. The show streams on Netflix.
Animation combines hand drawn inspired textures with 3D environments for sword fights, snow fields, and crowded streets. The season includes eight episodes and uses a multilingual approach with cultural consultants on costume and weapon details. Opening credits feature calligraphy inspired typography.
‘Loki’ (2021–2023)
Tom Hiddleston returns as the God of Mischief in a series that explores branching timelines, variants, and the Time Variance Authority. Sophia Di Martino, Owen Wilson, and Ke Huy Quan join the cast across seasons. The show streams on Disney Plus.
The second season focuses on time slipping, device fixes, and the integrity of the TVA. Sets include retro futuristic offices, archive stacks, and repair bays built with practical lighting. The season runs six episodes with closing chapters that resolve key arcs for major characters.
‘Ahsoka’ (2023–present)
Created by Dave Filoni, this live action ‘Star Wars’ series follows Ahsoka Tano as she tracks a rising threat alongside allies from animated stories. Rosario Dawson stars with Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, and Lars Mikkelsen. The show streams on Disney Plus.
Chapters feature starship chases, lightsaber duels, and a search across distant regions. Production uses StageCraft volumes with physical set pieces for cockpits and ancient ruins. The season includes eight episodes and connects threads from ‘Star Wars Rebels’.
‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ (2022–present)
Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, and Ethan Peck lead the crew of the Enterprise in a return to episodic adventures. The series balances exploration, diplomacy, and character centric stories. The show streams on Paramount Plus.
The second season blends stand alone missions with ongoing arcs and includes a crossover with an animated sister series. Ship interiors are built on large stages with AR walls for viewscreen shots. The season contains ten episodes with a musical episode that features original songs.
‘Happy Valley’ (2014–2023)
Sally Wainwright’s crime drama follows Sergeant Catherine Cawood as she pursues a personal and professional reckoning in the Calder Valley. Sarah Lancashire stars with James Norton and Siobhan Finneran. The series airs on BBC One and streams on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
The final season centers on a prison plot, a family in crisis, and a force confronting resource limits. Six episodes close the story with location work around West Yorkshire. The season uses grounded police procedure and tight character focus.
‘Reservation Dogs’ (2021–2023)
Created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, this coming of age comedy follows four Indigenous teens in rural Oklahoma. Devery Jacobs, D’Pharaoh Woon A Tai, Lane Factor, and Paulina Alexis lead the cast with a recurring community ensemble. The show streams on FX on Hulu.
The final season follows homecomings, mentorships, and community rituals. Episodes highlight elders, clinics, and youth programs with a mix of humor and quiet moments. The season runs ten episodes and features Indigenous directors across the slate.
‘Dead Ringers’ (2023)
Alice Birch reimagines the Cronenberg film as a limited series with Rachel Weisz playing twin obstetricians who push the limits of medical ethics. The show streams on Prime Video.
Across six episodes, the twins pursue new funding, a clinic launch, and research that challenges oversight norms. The production uses mirrored sets and motion control work for twin interactions. Supporting roles include Poppy Liu, Britne Oldford, and Michael Chernus.
‘Slow Horses’ (2022–present)
Adapted from Mick Herron’s Slough House novels, this spy series follows a team of sidelined agents led by Jackson Lamb. Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Jack Lowden, and Saskia Reeves star. The show streams on Apple TV Plus.
The third season focuses on a kidnapping, inter agency friction, and compromised assets. Episodes move between London safe houses, office basements, and foreign operations. The run includes six episodes with returning directors for continuity of tone and pace.
‘Only Murders in the Building’ (2021–present)
Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez play neighbors who make a true crime podcast about cases in their building. The series mixes whodunit structure with show within a show elements. The series streams on Hulu.
The third season brings a Broadway setting with rehearsals, backstage drama, and an investigation tied to a new production. Episodes include bottle chapters, narration shifts, and guest turns from stage veterans. The season contains ten episodes.
‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)
Created by Peter Morgan, this drama chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II with a rotating cast across different eras. Imelda Staunton, Jonathan Pryce, Dominic West, and Elizabeth Debicki lead the final cast. The show streams on Netflix.
The concluding season covers a series of public and private events with attention to protocol, press, and political context. Production includes large scale set recreations, location doubles, and signature score motifs. The season is split into two parts that complete the story.
‘Black Mirror’ (2011–present)
Charlie Brooker’s anthology returns with standalone episodes about technology and human behavior. Casts vary by episode with international ensembles and guest directors. The series streams on Netflix.
The new run features horror leaning entries, an alternate history production, and a story set around a streaming documentary. Episodes range from feature length to tight half hours and use a mix of urban and rural locations. The season includes five episodes.
‘Fargo’ (2014–present)
Noah Hawley’s anthology tells crime stories that echo the tone and morality of the original film. Each season introduces a new cast and time period with midwestern settings. The series airs on FX and streams on FX on Hulu.
The fifth season follows a housewife with a hidden past, a sheriff with strong ties, and a landlord with outsize influence. Episodes blend home front scenes, county offices, and border disputes. The season spans ten episodes with recurring nods to regional folklore.
‘The Curse’ (2023–present)
Nathan Fielder and Benny Safdie created this satirical drama about a home improvement show couple and a producer whose choices ripple through a small community. Emma Stone stars alongside Fielder and Safdie. The series airs on Showtime and streams on Paramount Plus.
Across the season, episodes move between set builds, municipal meetings, and fundraising events while the reality show format shapes personal decisions. Production uses location builds in New Mexico and handheld coverage for behind the scenes sequences. The season counts ten episodes.
Share your favorites from the year in the comments and tell us which series you think belongs on this list.
