THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER

Horror shows are always tough to pull off. Whether it be budget constraints or a story becoming inert in its need to fill a required number of episodes, they are usually more lackluster than their cinematic counterparts – except for the creations of Mike Flanagan. He has repeatedly proven that he knows how to deliver scares on the small screen. In 2023, he delivered a near-masterpiece with The Fall of the House of Usher, a miniseries amalgamation of Edgar Allan Poe adaptations that has it all: gore, spookiness, and genuine fright, not to mention a superb cast and tightly written mystery. - Quentin

The Fall of the House of Usher is currently streaming on Netflix.

THE WALKING DEAD: DEAD CITY/DARYL DIXON

I know, I know. Many have fallen out of love with the Walking Dead franchise, yet here I am ranking it amongst my top series of the year... twice. Here's the thing: for the final four seasons of the original series, there was no doubt the highlight was Jeffrey Dean Morgan's Negan. With his combustible relationship with Lauren Cohen's Maggie Rhee, there was clear potential for Dead City. It was a no brainer. It's Daryl Dixon, however, that really surprised me. Norman Reedus' Dixon has never been among my favourite characters, but the decision to place him on a bilingual show in France harkened back to the underrated Mexico arc of Fear the Walking Dead. It was a series I had low expectations for, and one that greatly exceeded them. Both series managed to remain unique enough to stand alone while still feeling part of an extended universe, and I look forward to seeing the directions they take. - Nick

Season One of each series is currently streaming on AMC+. Season Two of Daryl Dixon, subtitled The Book of Carol, is set to premiere in 2024, while the release date for Dead City is currently unknown.

BUPKIS

As far as his acting credits go, I wouldn’t exactly call myself a Pete Davidson fan. However, I can’t deny that Bupkis was one of the best comedies of 2023, new or otherwise. Maybe it’s my love for Joe Pesci, maybe it’s the fact that Edie Falco can do just about anything, or maybe it’s the hyper-real yet genuine meta comedy that plays like Atlanta meets Curb Your Enthusiasm. Whatever it is, the recipe cooked up by series creators Davidson, Judah Miller, and Dave Sirus works, and no show made me laugh out loud more frequently than Bupkis did last year. Let’s hope Season Two is just as “Crispy!” - Quentin

Season One of Bupkis is currently streaming on Peacock. It has been renewed for Season Two, but a release date is currently unknown.

GEN V

The Boys is such an enigma of a series. You have Quentin Tarantino-style violence blended into a superhero series that touches on world issues and the possibility of what a real world with these powers would look like. To replicate it would be a near impossible task, but Gen V honestly does a pretty good job. Absent are many of the downfalls that come with teen-focused series because, much like its parent series, this show doesn't shy away from foul language, graphic imagery, and extreme violence. Instead of relying on lazy tie-ins, Gen V introduces a new cast of characters, giving them their own stories separate from the likes of Homelander. This allows the show to blend into the Boys universe organically without being totally reliant on it. It’s another win for show creator Eric Kripke. - Nick

Season One of Gen V is currently streaming on Prime Video. It has been renewed for Season Two, but a release date is currently unknown.

THE DIPLOMAT

The Diplomat might be my biggest surprise of 2023. When I first saw the trailer, I thought, “Oh, another ‘can-she-really-have-it-all?’ soap opera.” However, contrary to what many may tell you (my fellow Bitesizers included), I can admit when I’m wrong. Keri Russell channels the inner fierceness of her character from The Americans to carry a The West Wing-meets-Homeland series about the American political machine and the dramas one must endure, personally and professionally, to be a successful public servant. I’m sure it helps that my day job is…let’s say, adjacent…to the world in which this series is set, but that doesn’t diminish how great the show is, overall. - Quentin

Season One of The Diplomat is currently streaming on Netflix. Season Two is currently filming and will release on Netflix in 2024.

SILO

A series that was completely off my radar to start the year was the Apple TV+ program Silo. Led by Rebecca Ferguson, this sci-fi story is one that grabbed me early and kept tightening its grip as it progressed. Silo asks interesting questions of both the characters and the viewers as the story slowly unravels amongst some fantastic world-building. The directions this show can take and the possibilities within this world are plentiful, which for a viewer, is so damn exciting. It has been a while since a good sci-fi series has gotten its hooks in me (Falling Skies may have been the last), but I've been anticipating Season Two from the moment the finale ended. I’d advise going into this one with the least information possible. - Nick

Season One of Silo is currently streaming on Apple TV+. It has been renewed for Season Two, but a release date is currently unknown.

BEEF

After winning a slew of Emmys and Golden Globes, Beef’s inclusion here should come as no surprise. This darkly hilarious miniseries taps into our inner and unspoken desire to watch the world burn after it kicks us in the dick, as well as our inability to take responsibility for the reason it kicked us in the dick in the first place. Terrific and award-winning performances from Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, who share an animalistic chemistry, are the centerpiece of the series, but the entire supporting cast brings their A-game too, especially David Choe and Maria Bello. Plus, Hoobastank covers! - Quentin

Beef is currently streaming on Netflix. Season two is rumored to be in development, starring Anne Hathaway, Jake Gyllenhaal, Charles Melton, and Cailee Spaeny.

SHRINKING

A series from the creator of Ted Lasso featuring a solid comedic cast, including the legendary Harrison Ford as a curmudgeon therapist? Sign. Me. Up. Whether it's Jason Segel as a leading man, the emergence of Lukita Maxwell, or the welcome return of Christa Miller, Shrinking turned out even better than I could have hoped for. While the ensemble is what really makes the show work, the series also provides consistent laughs and memorable moments. Most importantly, though, it leans into the feel-good and relatable aspects that made Ted Lasso such a success. I hope, as it goes forward, it delves further into some darker themes because I know it will be able to approach these subjects in a delicate yet comedic manner, much like Lasso did. - Nick

Season One of Shrinking is currently streaming on Apple TV+. It has been renewed for Season Two, but a release date is currently unknown.

MRS. DAVIS

With hilariously intriguing and borderline blasphemous takes on religion, Mrs. Davis is successful because of its sheer audacity and outright bonkersness, all of which is somehow made to feel grounded through Betty Gilpin’s dryly droll performance. Like a New York nightclub that Stefon from SNL might rave about, this limited series has everything, from British Knight shoe references to a taco-making Jesus, but it’s the themes of redemption, love, pride, and faith that are rolled into the wacky road-trip adventure that will keep you coming back for more, even as it becomes more and more ludicrous. In a way, it’s the comedic yin to Preacher’s dark yang. - Quentin

Mrs. Davis is currently streaming on Peacock.

HIJACK

Since 24 popularized the "real time" storytelling format way back in 2001, it's been highly underused. It's a great way to build tension and make it feel like anything can happen. Hijack is a great example of this. Much like 24, they found an electric lead in Idris Elba, and they let the man cook. At times, it feels like you're personally trapped on the plane instead of watching a series thanks to its anxiety-inducing realism. In fact, the show was such a success that Elba will get another crack at portraying Sam Nelson in the future. While it seems unlikely that a second season lands him back on a plane, if they keep the realistic approach and tense edge-of-your-seat moments, Hijack: Season Two may not be the last. - Nick

Season One of Hijack is currently streaming on Apple TV+. It has been renewed for Season Two, but a release date is currently unknown.

PAUL T. GOLDMAN

Almost certainly the best show on this list that no one watched, Paul T. Goldman is a hybrid documentary miniseries that is equal parts funny, compelling, and sympathetic. It’s so layered that it’s hard to describe with so few words, but know this: the lovable Paul, who makes you want to say “oh, honey” at every turn, tells the true story of how his ex-wife pulled him into a world of pimps, prostitutes, and sex trafficking. Also, he cringily plays himself in the dramatizations even though he is not an actor. Concurrently, there is a making-of-the-documentary angle where Jason Woliner, the frustrated director, is trying to extricate fact from fiction as the sweet-natured Paul may potentially be an unreliable narrator who becomes increasingly involved in the production. It's an easy binge that you won’t be able to look away from. - Quentin

Paul T. Goldman is currently streaming on Peacock.

THE LAST OF US

The phrase "video game adaptation" often is synonymous with words such as disappointing, underwhelming, and disastrous. Then there's The Last of Us. A game that found popularity largely due to its story has become the basis for an adaptation that has to be one of, if not the, greatest video game adaptations of all time. Led by Pedro Pascal - who since filming has rapidly ascended to the A-list - and Bella Ramsay, The Last of Us is able to stand on its own in zombie media because of the unique creature designs, its ability to look and feel like the game (including direct shot-for-shot remakes), the fleshed-out characters, and the in-depth storytelling. The temptation will be there to continue this series beyond the game's story, but I hope it comes to an end with Season Two because, honestly, there is no better way to end it. - Nick

Season One of The Last Of Us is currently streaming on Max. It has been renewed for Season Two, with a release expected in 2025.