The best TV shows of 2023 so far

We’re going to put this really simply for you: TV whips. Long-form serialized storytelling — what a concept. It’s a great gift. Even in an ongoing time where there’s just There is so much TV to wade through, it’s hard to be mad about so much beauty in the world.

At this point in the year, it’s possible that people are still working through the things they missed from 2022, let alone catching up on every single thing they could from 2023. Still, time’s arrow marches on, and brings with it new, fabulous TV offerings — including some early contenders for the best of the year.

This is not a complete list. However, it will show the seasons in reverse order by their season finales. This means the most recent episode will appear first. The next one in turn, starting at the 2023-earliest, will follow. The Polygon staff will vote for their favorites to create a final ranking list at the end of each year.

Season 3 of Party Down

Image: Starz

Genre:Comedy
Episodes: 6
Showrunner: John Enbom
Cast: Adam Scott, Ken Marino, Jane Lynch, Ryan Hansen, Martin Starr

Though Starz’s cult comedy Have a good time! only lasted for two seasons, fans spent most of the last decade hoping the much-bigger-than-they-were-when-they-were-on-Party-Down cast would reunite eventually, knowing full well that a revival can be a bit of a monkey’s paw wish. (Had the cast seen? Arrested DevelopmentSeasons 4 and 5? How refreshing that they have been resuscitated! Have a good time!The satirical comedy “The Core Cast” brings back the cast, except Lizzy Caplan, in pink bowties to continue their hijinks-filled catering. Clever and clever as hell. Charming and funny. This is a miracle.

Have a good time! season 3 picks back up with the group of aspiring actors, who have gone their separate ways since the show’s original run, but find themselves in a post-pandemic 2023 needing a few extra bucks. Describing the ups and downs of their comedic hors d’oeuvres serving would deflate the balloon, so let us serve up some general accolades: Scott’s Henry remains a multidimensional, emotional core for a show that would be just fine without one; Marino remains a king of timing and physical gags, with a poop joke that immediately enters the canon; Hansen, Starr, and Lynch pick up their old cadences with the new social standards of 2023 pulling the rug out from under them at every turn; and newcomers Zoë Chao, as a wannabe Michelin-star chef overthinking the appetizers, and Tyrel Jackson Williams, checking the box of a Gen Z TikTok influencer in the mix, fit right in with the mainstays. Funny. Funny. Funny. Funny. Funny. —Matt Patches

Have a good time! You can watch season 3 online Starz.

Season 2 of Abbott Elementary

Photo: Bonnie Osborne/ABC

Genre:Comedy
Episodes:22 episodes
Showrunner: Quinta Brunson
Cast:Quinta Brunson. Tyler James Williams. Janelle James. Lisa Ann Walter. Chris Perfetti. Sheryl Le Ralph. William Stanford Davis.

It’s easy to fall in love with Abbott Elementary. It’s heartfelt and charming as it follows a group of teachers at the titular Philadelphia elementary school.

But even as workplace comedies go — a reliable staple in any TV rotation — Abbott Head of class. For starters, it’s consistently funny and creative as it approaches life in the public school system, whether it’s tackling broken water pipes or students fighting. But it’s also just smart as hell in the ways it keeps its stories feeling fresh and fun.

A cast as powerful as this one. AbbottYou could likely continue with the same dynamics. But in its second season, it’s not afraid to challenge itself: The teachers are starting to loosen up and connect outside of school hours, whether that’s through misguided attempts to learn to make pasta sauce or a tension-filled Christmas trip to the club. In the second, Abbott is playing with us; it’s past “will they won’t they” and more into a very whiny “why won’t they already!!!” from me.) The pairings are a way to show new flavours and different facets of each character. New aspects of characters are revealed to us: their passions and goofiness, their foibles, and their food preferences.

Remarkably, Abbott He manages to maintain all those feelings true. Sitcoms often sacrifice their characters in favour of the punchline. With Abbott Elementary, It feels more like characters are finding deep roots or finding new places to live in. It’s nice to have a sophomore season where we don’t have to grade on a curve. —Zosha Millman

Abbott Elementary It airs on ABC, and can be viewed online Hulu. You can also find the first season on HBO Max.

Poker Face

Evans Vestal Ward/Peacock

Genre: Mystery
Episodes: 10
Showrunners: Nora Zuckerman.
Cast:Natasha Lyonne & Benjamin Bratt

Pilot of Poker Face, Charlie (Natasha Lyonne) and her bullshit detector get compared to a litany of TV detectives — including, hilariously and in a bit of corporate synergy for a Peacock show, You can burn the notice’s Michael Westen. He’s actually a spy, but whatever. It’s clear that Charlie, with her preternatural talent to spot lies and detect when others are being deceitful of him, is an old trick in television history.

It’s a dynamic that Poker FaceThis is something that Rian Johnson of Knives Out fame is very well-aware. Rian Johnson, of Knives Out fame created the show. It is in keeping with stone-cold TV greats. It should be noted that Poker Face pilot doesn’t name Columbo, but that’s the obvious antecedent, starting with the who and how and making a puzzle of how Charlie will fit in and figure out the what and whodunit. The fun here is how the show manages to hum along even when it’s a familiar formula. Lyonne is a star-powered celestial being that pulls everyone around her. Though the show’s mechanisms can get a tad worn across the 10-episode first season, each new chapter is its own delight, its own small and careful twist of the blueprint.

Naturally Poker Face isn’t all old school. Charlie’s particular brand of justice doesn’t (always) include a tidy Law & Order ending, where just desserts is the justice system. Heck, unlike Lieutenant Columbo, she hasn’t even figured out how to get paid for all this detective work. So, these mysteries are a touch more personal than the usual TV series. Charlie. Poker Face aren’t exactly one of a kind, but they’re something even better: appointment television. —ZM

Poker Face It is possible to view it Peacock.

Drive to Survive Season 5

Image by Netflix

Genre:Docuseries
Episodes: 10
Showrunner: Sophie Todd
Cast:F1 driver and team principals

Drive for Survival is back for its fifth season, and it’s starting to really carve out a place for itself in the Formula paddock. Although this is not the first season that drivers and team principals have spoken out about the Netflix cameras in Formula 1, it feels like it’s the one where they are making the most impact. This, like many things in Formula 1, creates great drama.

Formula One enthusiasts in To Survive, Drive’s audience, the ones that watch every race, there could be a bit of trepidation heading into this year’s season, considering there wasn’t really much of a title fight. However, the show is always mindful of the narratives and knew that there were plenty of interesting off-the track nonsense to keep it exciting. From budget controversies to porpoising cars to seat-changing drama, there’s always something exciting happening in the season, even if Max Verstappen is taking home race after race on his way to the championship.

The one big point in Netflix’s favor for this season’s championship is that the winner himself isn’t keeping quiet anymore. After a full season away from the show — reportedly over frustrations with the way he was treated — Verstappen is back in the Drive for SurvivalHot seat. He seems to have a great time telling stories about the ridiculous amount of wins.

This is also the first season in which both F1 and this show embrace Guenther Steiger as their protagonist. That alone makes this an excellent season for TV. —Austen Goslin

Stay Strong It is now available on Netflix.

Physical 100

Photo: Zooyoung/Netflix

Genre: Competition/reality
Episodes: 9
Showrunner: Jang Ho-gi
Cast:100 of South Korea’s best-fit people

There’s nothing on TV quite like Physical 100. A series of tough physical challenges is put on by 100 of South Korea’s best-fit people. They range from small-time world-champion athletes and larger-than life fitness influencers. It’s riveting television due to the caliber of contestants and the quality of the contests, pitting wildly different disciplines against each other in a variety of compelling ways. It’s a group of people who are dedicated to their bodies and put that commitment to the test with a variety of well-designed contests. That’s television gold.

However, what is it that makes this possible? Physical 100It is unique to see the interaction between contestants. The show has no host visible, so all support staff wear anonymizing clothes from head to feet. That means that the only people the contestants (and the audience) see and hear are each other, as they become each other’s cheerleaders, rivals, and support groups.

One of the most important aspects is camaraderie between contestants and their mutual respect. Physical 100’s highlights, and this is clear from the very start: Much of the first episode is spent following each of the contestants filing in, one by one, and showing us the reactions of the other people in the room when they arrive. Most of them know at least one other person in the contest — one of them remarks, “Everyone who works out in Korea is here” — which adds a further emotional depth to many of the competitions, like when wrestlers on Korea’s national team have to square off in an elimination battle. It quickly transforms from a competition of individual skills into something that feels like it is out of place: a matchup between teams. SurvivorIt is a process of building loyalty and then putting it to the test.

Bodybuilding husband-and-wife duo Kim Kang-min and Song A-reum often steal the show — they’re both unbelievable athletes, and she’s often remarking on how cute he is (she’s right and right to say it). The show’s talent and charisma are evident, with Jang Eunsil, a former UFC fighter, and Yun Sung Bin, a gold medalist in skeleton racing, all of whom are considered celebrities. You’ve got drama, excitement, and good-looking, talented people all in one place performing tasks so challenging they will break your brain thinking about them. A competition show has everything you could want. —Pete Volk

Physical 100 It is now available on Netflix.

Season 5 of Game Changer

Image by CH Media

Genre: Competition/reality
Episodes: 8
Showrunner: Sam Reich
Cast: Sam Reich, Brennan Lee Mulligan, Grant O’Brien

Dropout, CollegeHumor’s quietly excellent streaming service, changed the game show game with Game Changer. On the show, contestants (usually) arrive without knowing what game they are about to play — the gimmick relies on the players figuring it out as they go, often putting them delightfully at odds with Sam Reich (operating as the show’s host/antagonist).

Here are some examples: A game in which contestants use a heart monitor to compete in various mental tasks that elevate their heart rate; an improvised Shakespeare game starring The Improvised Shakespeare Company. This was my favorite episode, and a stunning display of flexibility and skill. It is also a hilarious parody of The Bachelor. SOne contestant can be laser-targeted in some of the most exciting games, as was done earlier, when the only rule was that they should not target one other person. [contestant redacted for spoilers] couldn’t win, much to their frustration and our delight.

Game Changer It has proven so popular that many other Dropout games shows have been created from it. Make Some Noise Where contestants must create sound-related prompts for improv. You can play it by earThe musical theater improv troupe,

All of it comes back to Game ChangerThe best streaming game show that has many good episodes is ‘Game Show’. I’ve gotta come clean: Typically, I really do not like improv comedy, so the fact that Game Changer works so well for me should tell even the most skeptical of readers that it’s worth a shot. —PV

Game Changer It is possible to view it Dropout.

The Legend of Vox Machina Season 2

Image: Amazon Video

Genre: Fantasy
Episodes: 12
Showrunner: Brandon Auman
Cast: Matthew Mercer, Laura Bailey, Ashley Johnson

It is rare to find animated programs that cross the boundary between animation and live action. Avatar of The Last AirbenderAnd Rick and Morty. TThe Legend of Vox Machina is a show that is unapologetic about being an earnest fantasy adventure for adults built on the deep friendships between the main cast, and showing the power of hope in the face of defeat — while also packing in a whole lotta butt-stuff jokes and hard drinking.

Based on the first campaign of the hit Dungeons & Dragons webseries Essential Role, Legend of Vox MachinaThe 30-minute episode distills hours worth of story and gameplay into a single, stunning show. Animation brings the combat scenes to life, while the terrifying dragons the motley crew of mercenaries face this season are frighteningly rendered. The D&D roots are more evident than ever in this season, and that’s not a bad thing. You’ll be able to see the quality of storytelling, which gives each party member a character moment and an emotional arc. They overcome their demons and then band together to save humanity.

The secret to success Legend of Vox Machina The heartfelt nature of the animation is what makes it so captivating. While there may be a ton of raunchy and crude jokes, it’s never cynical, purposefully edgy, or cruel — pitfalls that surround a lot of comedic adult animation. The characters in this series find strength and support from their friends. Even when everything around them is falling apart, these characters remain strong. It’s a great time having fun together. —Petrana Radulovic

Legend of Vox Machina It is possible to view it Prime Video.

Get Cunky on Earth

Jonathan Browning/BBC Photo

Genre: Mockumentary
Episodes: 5
Showrunner: Charlie Brooker
Cast: Diane Morgan

Get Cunky on EarthThis faux-documentary, hosted by Philomena (Diane Morgan), chronicles modern civilization’s rise and asks some of most intelligent people the dumbest of questions. Without two key creative choices, this would have been impossible. Cunk, and the audience, have been treated as if they were a teacher who is interacting with precocious children. And just as important: Cunk’s questions occasionally travel the philosophical loop from illogical to profound. The show was produced in collaboration with Netflix and BBC Two. It combines both of these influences to create something that can chart everywhere and every where in the highbrow/lowbrow matrix.

Still unsure? You still have questions? Black Mirror? What if I told you that every episode featured the 1989 Technotronic song “Pump Up the Jam,” or that once you’ve watched all of Get Cunky on Earth, you’ll be primed to mine YouTube for all Philomena Cunk media?

Diane Morgan’s Cunk first appeared roughly 10 years ago in Charlie Brooker’s Weekly WipeSince then, Morgan has been featured in a Christmas special as well as a book and several miniseries. As I looked through these clips, Morgan was expected to slowly find this character. Get Cunky on EarthThis would only be possible after a decade of refined work. No. Philomena seems to be as brilliant and buffoonish as she was when she was born. Americans seem to be late to the party. —Chris Plante

Get Cunky on Earth It is now available on Netflix.

Paul T. Goldman

Peacock image

Genre: Comedy/documentary
Episodes: 6
Showrunner: Jason Woliner
Cast:Paul T. Goldman. Frank Grillo. Dennis Haysbert. Dee Wallace. Melinda McGraw. Josh Pais.

Paul T. GoldmanThis is the type of happy accident that happens when a storyteller listens to their audience and opens their hearts. Jason Woliner is an example of this.Borat Subsequent Moviefilm), an eye on the tweets: More than a decade ago, wannabe author/actor/entrepreneur Paul T. Goldman spammed Woliner’s mentions (and those of every other working director online) begging him to produce a script based on Goldman’s loopy life. Woliner was the only one to ignore the spammer, and he fell into the social-media rabbit hole that revealed a jovial male living a QAnonesque fantasy in self-published crime fiction.

Functioning as both a skewering and a fascinating iteration of the true-crime genre, Woliner’s pursuit of the truth manifests in two ways: a documentary interrogating Goldman’s real-life story — involving a con-artist wife, psychic Floridians, and a potential child-trafficking ring — and a narrative film adapting key scenes from Goldman’s screenplay.

Like Borat’s sequel, his mix of mediums shifts the tone to funny. Interviews with Goldman get to the bottom of his full-life implosion — he’s kind of a weird guy, and few of his impulses make sense. Scenes where he’s performing alongside the likes of Frank Grillo, Dennis Haysbert, and Dee Wallace achieve that so-bad-it’s-good movie quality, mostly because Goldman is such a pure presence. Woliner is a true believer that he’s an Oscar nominee. By playing himself, Woliner lets his dimension show through on the pages. Although he is a bigger-than-life comedy TV experiment, Paul T. GoldmanIt is ultimately the triumph of character analysis. —MP

Paul T. Goldman It is possible to view it Peacock.

Season 3 of The Owl House

Image: Disney

Genre: Fantasy
Episodes: 3
Showrunner: Dana Terrace
Cast: Sarah-Nicole Robles, Wendie Malick, Alex Hirsch

Disney Channel’s The Owl House won’t be getting the full third season that it so rightfully deserves, but creator Dana Terrace and the rest of the people behind the show have managed to pull off the impossible. They are giving away three episodes of 45 minutes each The Owl HouseIt’s a satisfying end, with the world building, character development, subtle humor, scary but child-friendly horror and clever humor all coming together to create something amazing.

The season’s second episode aired January and featured Luz (the plucky protagonist) returning to the Boiling Island demon realm with her mom and witchy friends. Much has changed since the chaotic Collector took over the Boiling Isles, turning everyone who doesn’t please them into puppets for their own amusement. Luz and her friend, friends struggle to reconcile with loved ones they lost.

The very first steps were taken to ensure that the project was successful. The Owl HouseThe story was about misfits who try to find their place. Over the course of two seasons, Luz found the people who get her — and that manifests in her own personal epiphany in the third season’s penultimate episode, a moment that results in the cutest little snake creature ever, but also some real tears from anyone who can relate to being a weirdo teenager struggling to make friends. The Owl House celebrates the weird — and that may not have been Disney’s cup of tea, but it’s also their loss, because this show is brilliantly weird and weirdly brilliant. —PR

The Owl House It is possible to view it Disney Plus.

Willow

Lucasfilm

Genre:The ensemble fantasy comedy adventure comedy
Episodes: 8
Showrunner: Jonathan Kasdan
Cast:Warwick Davis. Tony Revolori. Erin Kellyman. Ruby Cruz. Ellie Bamber. Amar Chadha.

Willow, the TV series that’s a sequel to the 1988 movie of the same name, is what you get if you roll up the spirit of every oddball 1980s fantasy movie with the vibe of the modern explosion of queer-inclusive live-play D&D media, and add just a dash of YA adventure. Warwick Davis plays the title role, and the series’ second season. HalblingNelwyn wizard leading a bunch of fantastic fantasy heroes through a new quest against the evil forces and rescuing a childnapped prince. (DempseyBryk, The Birch).

Our adventuring party is the prince’s twin sister, a tomboy princess who doesn’t want to get married (Ruby Cruz, Mare of Easttown); her betrothed prince, who doesn’t much want to get married, either (Tony Revolori, Grand Budapest Hotel); her best friend, the first girl knight in the kingdom (Erin Kellyman, The Falcon and Winter Soldier); an untrustworthy thief who will earn his freedom by helping them (Amar Chadha-Patel, The Third Day); and the kitchen maid who insisted on coming along for the sake of true love (Ellie Bamber, Pride and Prejudice, and Zombies).

The series has everything: comedy, drama, actors saying phrases like “cross the Shattered Sea to the Immemorial City” with a straight face, fantastic costuming, spooky castles, queer subtext that becomes text, riddle solving, romance, a monster that’s a big ol’ puppet, and sword fighting while a rock song plays in the background. Its final episode teases the next season. —Susana Polo

Willow It is possible to view it Disney Plus.