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15 Best TV Shows of 2023 (So Far)
Jul
A mid-year snapshot of the series that made “one more episode” feel like a legally binding contract.
Halfway through 2023, TV was doing what TV does best: turning our free time into a hobby, a personality trait, andif you’re not carefula full-time group chat topic. This list is a “so far” roundup: the shows (and seasons) that premiered or hit their peak in the first stretch of 2023 and sparked real buzz for a reason.
The picks below balance prestige dramas, comedy comfort food, smart thrillers, and a few genre-benders. Everything is spoiler-light, and each entry comes with a quick “who it’s for” so you can choose with your moodnot just the algorithm.
How This List Was Picked
This is a synthesis of early-2023 critics’ roundups plus later-year “best of 2023” lists that confirmed which shows actually held up. The goal: spotlight series that are widely acclaimed, confidently made, and distinct enough that you’re not bingeing the same flavor 15 times.
The 15 Best TV Shows of 2023 (So Far)
1) Succession (HBO)
In its final stretch, Succession stayed vicious, funny, and weirdly relatableif your family arguments involve billion-dollar companies and not who left the light on. The Roys’ war for the throne is tension at a simmer: every “nice” moment arrives with a hidden invoice, and every victory feels temporary by design.
- Why it’s great: razor-wire dialogue and performances that never blink.
- Vibe: corporate knife fight… in designer shoes.
- Where to watch: HBO / Max.
2) The Last of Us (HBO)
Yes, it’s post-apocalyptic. No, it’s not “just zombies.” The Last of Us works because it treats survival as an emotional problem, not just an action sequence. Joel and Ellie’s journey is tense and tender, with episodes that play like short storieseach expanding the world without losing the human center.
- Why it’s great: a big-budget adaptation with a big heart.
- Vibe: heartbreaking road trip with real stakes.
- Where to watch: HBO / Max.
3) Beef (Netflix)
Beef begins as a road-rage incident and escalates into a darkly funny spiral about pride, pain, and the stories we tell ourselves to feel “fine.” Ali Wong and Steven Yeun are electricsometimes hilarious, sometimes rawwhile the show uses thriller momentum to sneak in real emotional weight.
- Why it’s great: tight storytelling that actually sticks the landing.
- Vibe: “I’m totally okay,” said no character here, ever.
- Where to watch: Netflix.
4) The Bear (FX / Hulu)
If Season 1 was pure kitchen panic, Season 2 is about building something better without losing your mind (or your friends). The Bear keeps the intensity, but adds warmth as Carmy and the crew try to transform a chaotic sandwich shop into a real restaurantone deadline, one apology, one “Yes, chef” at a time.
- Why it’s great: character growth that feels earned, not scripted.
- Vibe: stress, heart, and the best TV workplace energy.
- Where to watch: Hulu (U.S.).
5) Barry (HBO)
Barry finished its run like a punchline you didn’t see coming: dark, bold, and oddly philosophical. It’s still about a hitman who wants to be an actor, but by 2023 it had evolved into a twisted meditation on consequenceshow people rewrite themselves until the rewrite becomes reality.
- Why it’s great: fearless tonal shifts that somehow work.
- Vibe: comedy-drama on a tightrope… over a canyon.
- Where to watch: HBO / Max.
6) Poker Face (Peacock)
Case-of-the-week TV is back, and it’s wearing a leather jacket. Poker Face follows Charlie, a human lie detector with a talent for stumbling into trouble. Each episode is a compact mystery with playful guest stars and a “howcatchem” structuremeaning you often see the crime first, then watch Charlie unravel it with shaggy charm.
- Why it’s great: old-school structure with modern wit.
- Vibe: road trip + mystery + jokes that don’t try too hard.
- Where to watch: Peacock.
7) Jury Duty (Freevee)
Imagine a courtroom documentaryexcept one juror is real, and everyone else is acting. That’s the delicious premise of Jury Duty, a surprisingly sweet comedy that never has to be mean to be funny. The show works because the “normal guy” at the center is genuinely decent, which turns chaos into something oddly wholesome.
- Why it’s great: a prank concept that chooses kindness over cruelty.
- Vibe: The Truman Show’s nicer cousin.
- Where to watch: Freevee (Amazon).
8) The Diplomat (Netflix)
The Diplomat is the rare political thriller that remembers humor is part of the job description. Keri Russell plays a seasoned diplomat thrown into a high-stakes posting in the UK while juggling an international crisis and a complicated marriage to a fellow operator. It’s brisk, talky, and addictive.
- Why it’s great: sharp banter and constant momentum.
- Vibe: global crisis management with marital side quests.
- Where to watch: Netflix.
9) Shrinking (Apple TV+)
Shrinking takes grief seriouslyand still finds room for laughs that feel human, not sitcom-y. Jason Segel plays a therapist who starts breaking rules to help his clients (and himself), while Harrison Ford brings unexpected warmth as a colleague navigating loss. It’s a comfort show that earns its comfort.
- Why it’s great: emotional honesty with smart humor.
- Vibe: tear up, laugh, repeat.
- Where to watch: Apple TV+.
10) Yellowjackets (Showtime)
Yellowjackets keeps two timelines in the airteen survival story, adult aftermathand makes both feel urgent. The 2023 season leans into mystery and psychological tension, using the past to explain the present without handing you easy answers. It’s twisty TV that practically begs for theories.
- Why it’s great: suspense with layered character work.
- Vibe: survival thriller + grown-up consequences.
- Where to watch: Showtime / Paramount+ (with Showtime).
11) The Other Two (Max)
Fame is ridiculous. Streaming is ridiculous. Trying to become famous because streaming is ridiculous? Even more so. The Other Two is a joke-dense comedy about siblings riding their kid brother’s sudden stardom while quietly melting down in their own very adult ways. The satire hits, but it also cares.
- Why it’s great: sharp observations with a real emotional underside.
- Vibe: pop culture fever dream with feelings underneath.
- Where to watch: Max.
12) Dead Ringers (Prime Video)
Rachel Weisz plays twin doctors with shared ambition and shared messiness in Dead Ringers, a reimagining that leans into psychological tension and bold choices. It’s stylish, unsettling, and often darkly funnyan example of an adaptation that actually has a reason to exist.
- Why it’s great: one actor, two distinct performances, zero safe decisions.
- Vibe: prestige drama with a “don’t watch right before bed” energy.
- Where to watch: Prime Video.
13) Mrs. Davis (Peacock)
Mrs. Davis is the kind of show you recommend with your hands waving: “Okay, hear me out.” It’s about a nun on a mission against an all-powerful AI, but it’s also about faith, purpose, and the seductive comfort of being told exactly what to do. It’s weird on purposeand strangely moving.
- Why it’s great: big swings, big ideas, and a grounded lead performance.
- Vibe: spiritual quest meets tech satire.
- Where to watch: Peacock.
14) Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (Netflix)
Even if you don’t usually do period romance, Queen Charlotte is more than fancy gowns and longing looks (though yes, it delivers those). It uses the Bridgerton universe to tell a story about power, partnership, and what it costs to become “the symbol.” Glossy entertainment, real emotion.
- Why it’s great: romantic sweep paired with character stakes.
- Vibe: heartfelt historical drama with sparkle.
- Where to watch: Netflix.
15) Silo (Apple TV+)
For viewers who like mysteries with world-building, Silo is a slow-burn puzzle box set in an underground society where “the outside” is deadlyat least, that’s what everyone’s told. The show’s power comes from patient reveals and atmosphere, pulling you deeper with each clue instead of tossing answers like confetti.
- Why it’s great: suspense, scope, and a hook that keeps tightening.
- Vibe: dystopian mystery you’ll pause to theorize about.
- Where to watch: Apple TV+.
Watching 2023 TV “So Far”: of Real-World Viewing Experience
Here’s the part critics’ lists don’t always capture: the experience of living with these shows while they’re happening. Early 2023 reminded us that how you watch can be as memorable as what you watch. The weekly rollout of Succession turned Sundays into a ritualrecaps on Monday, hot takes by lunch, and that one friend insisting, again, that they’re “starting it soon.” If you watched live, you weren’t just consuming episodes; you were participating in a small public event.
Then you had the binge drops. Beef is the kind of series that feels engineered for “one more,” not because it’s shallow, but because the pacing is tight and the emotional cliffhangers are sneaky. A practical tip: don’t start at 11 p.m. unless you enjoy the thrill of regret. (And heyregret is basically a supporting character.)
The Bear created a different momentum: the “I need to watch this, but I also need to prepare myself” momentum. It’s intense without being graphic, but it’s honest about stress. Many viewers fell into the same pattern: one episode, a deep breath, a snack, then another episode because you can’t leave the kitchen mid-service. It’s also a great rewatch, because once you know the plot beats, you notice the micro-momentsglances, half-finished sentences, the way people soften their voices when they’re trying not to start a fight.
Comedy in 2023 wasn’t just “escape”; it was calibration. Jury Duty became the perfect palate cleanser between heavier dramas, and it’s a rare watch that leaves you in a better mood without feeling like it’s trying to sell you optimism. The Other Two, on the other hand, makes you laugh and then immediately wonder if you should text someone you once ignored. That’s a feature, not a bug.
Some shows felt like “one-and-done” nights with a very specific vibe. Poker Face is perfect when you want a satisfying mystery without committing to an emotional Everest, while Queen Charlotte is ideal for a cozy, dramatic bingeespecially if you like pausing to admire costumes and then unpausing to gasp at the dialogue. And the wildcardsMrs. Davis and Dead Ringersare best watched when you’re alert, curious, and ready to say, “Okay, that was… a choice,” in the most respectful way possible.
If you’re the kind of person who turns watching into a mini-project, the puzzle-box shows were thriving. Silo invites theory-crafting, screenshotting, and re-reading your own notes like they’re sacred text. Yellowjackets inspires group chats where everyone has a different suspect, a different timeline theory, and a different threshold for “I can handle one more twist.” For maximum enjoyment, watch these with a friendsomeone who will debate you, but also remind you to sleep.
The best part of a “so far” list is that it’s not a finish line; it’s a launchpad. Pick one show for your mood (tense, funny, cathartic, romantic), pick one for curiosity, and give yourself permission to stop after two episodes if it’s not clicking. Your watchlist should serve you, not bully you.
Wrap-Up: Start With Your Mood, Not the Algorithm
Want airtight writing and gut-punch performances? Start with Succession or The Last of Us. Want a fast, satisfying binge? Try Beef or The Diplomat. Want comfort with depth? Pick Shrinking or The Bear. 2023 proved one thing: TV is still very good at making you cancel plans with a smile.
