The television landscape of 2023 so far has been marked by numerous returning series and significant finales, with shows like “Succession,” “Barry,” “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” and “Ted Lasso” (as we know it, at least) taking their final bows.
The first six months have brought forth a diverse collection of memorable TV shows, from dramas and comedies to limited and docuseries, and even an unconventional comedy-reality fusion, “Jury Duty.” The latter has particularly brought some visibility to Amazon’s relatively lesser-known channel, Freevee.
Let’s look at the standout shows until June, listed in their order of premiere. As a sign of the times, a few are similar enough to be logically grouped based on their debut timings.
While the overall crop is decent, Hollywood needs to level up to ensure 2023 is remembered as a stellar year for both new and concluding series. One big caveat though: if the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike against the studios continues, it may impact the production of scripted series for the second half of 2023:
‘The Last of Us’ (HBO)
So far, the most talked-about new show of the year, generating buzz for its drama and unexpected depth while adapting the game into a series set in a zombie-destroyed world. The show lived up to the anticipation, with Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey’s performances standing out.
‘Shrinking’ (Apple TV+)
The creators of “Ted Lasso” are back with this comedy featuring a grieving therapist (Jason Segel) and his extended network, with a standout supporting role by Harrison Ford.
‘Bill Russell: Legend’ (Netflix) and ‘The Luckiest Guy in the World’ (ESPN)
Two docuseries providing insights into the lives of two of the best basketball centers, covering the late Celtics star’s athletic achievements and activism and Bill Walton’s injury-marred journey from the court to the broadcasting booth.
‘Daisy Jones & the Six’ (Amazon’s Prime Video)
This show is essentially a vintage soap opera set in the music world of the 1970s, portraying the turbulent journey of a band reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac with their new lead singer (Riley Keough).
‘Swarm’ (Prime Video)
Created by Donald Glover and Janine Nabers following the end of “Atlanta,” this miniseries offers an intriguing exploration of extreme fandom, as depicted through Dominique Fishback’s portrayal of a character whose obsession with a music star leads her on a violent path.
‘The Night Agent’ (Netflix) and ‘Hijack’ (Apple TV+)
Two suspenseful thrillers in the vein of “24,” with the first featuring an FBI agent (Gabriel Basso) who uncovers a vast terror threat infiltrating the White House and the second showcasing Idris Elba as a proficient negotiator on a hijacked London-bound flight.
‘Beef’ (Netflix)
Second only to “The Last of Us” in terms of engaging TV shows, this series stars Ali Wong and Steven Yeun as strangers whose road-rage incident leads to a cascade of comedic yet tragic consequences.
‘A Small Light’ (NatGeo/Disney+)
This quiet yet powerful miniseries about Anne Frank’s family and their protectors during Nazi rule stars Bel Powley as the unsuspecting hero, Miep Gies, and Liev Schreiber as her employer, Otto Frank, who enlists her help in hiding his family.
The first half of 2023 has already served up an impressive range of new TV shows that have enthralled audiences and critics alike. As we navigate the rest of the year, it will be interesting to see what else TV has in store, especially with the uncertainties around the Writers Guild of America strike. Hollywood certainly needs to keep up the momentum to ensure 2023 is a banner year for both newly launched and concluding series. For now, we can only hope that the shows to premiere maintain the high bar set by these standouts.
