Colby's favorite TV shows of 2023

It's that time of year, which is end of year top or favorites lists! In this post, I will be sharing my FAVORITE shows, not necessarily the best shows (though most of them are!) for 2023. The list isn't a ranking, but perhaps a hint of ranking...I like flexibility. With each show, I'll show a brief critics consensus from Rotten Tomatoes, then I'll write why that show is on my list. So lets get started!

Fargo-Season 5: FX/Hulu Critics Consensus: A back-to-basics caper populated by the likes of a mesmerizing Juno Temple and a thick slice of Hamm, Fargo's fifth season is a superb return to peak form.

Starring: Juno Temple, Jon Hamm, Jennifer Jason Leigh, David Rysdahl

My take: Caveat as I write this: there are three episodes left in the season, but with how the first seven have played out, I have been mesmerized and faith restored in executive producer Noah Hawley's vision. From the acting of Juno Temple's Tiger/McGyver survivor, to the monster that is Jon Hamm's character, to the iciest of ice queens, Jennifer Jason-Leigh (her character could melt the Antarctic with one glare!), Fargo serves up glorious cinematography, twists, and revelations with each episode, all while maintaining the Minnesota Nice credo, until that is pushed to the breaking point.

Beef: Netflix

Critics Consensus: Ali Wong and Steven Yeun are a diabolically watchable pair of adversaries in Beef, a prime cut comedy that finds the pathos in pettiness.

Starring: Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Joseph Lee, Young Mazino

My take: "It's always effing something." Taking the passive-aggressive experience to a whole new level, Beef shows that not sweating the small stuff should be taken more seriously. After a parking lot skirmish, the escalation of petty to outright devious exchanges between the two main leads is bonkers. Ali Wong and Steven Yuen are deservedly getting award nominations for playing two characters who have problems in their own lives, only to express their frustration not at the problems at home but at each other. This takes venting to a whole new level. By the time we get to the final episode, let's just say things get trippy and introspection finally comes back from holiday to enlighten these two antagonists. The supporting cast and locations add more texture to the ambience of the series. Obsession, know thy name.

Strange New Worlds-Season 2: Paramount Plus Critics Consensus: Boldly going where this hallowed franchise has gone before with effervescent execution, Strange New Worlds' superb sophomore season continues to recapture classic Trek with modern verve.

Starring: Anson Mount, Rebecca Romijn, Ethan Peck, Jess Bush My Take: Returning to episodic form, SNW really took off this season with compelling, heartbreaking, curious sci-fi, with well placed humor sprinkled throughout to lighten the mood, and even had the nerve to do a musical episode that worked brilliantly! Writing and acting was top notch this season, and on top of all that , left viewers with a true cliffhanger to end the season.

Mrs. Davis: Peacock

Critics Consensus: Positively bonkers while undergirded by an intelligent design, Mrs. Davis makes Betty Gilpin a hero for modern times in a highly imaginative mixture of spirituality and technology.

Starring: Betty Gilpin, Ely Henry, Raphael Corkhill, Sam Meader

My take: Bonkers is the right word! The consensus is spot on, as this was one of the most unique shows to hit the screen in a while. An absolute thrill ride on what the creators of the show wanted to explore, from God and Heaven being a greasy spoon diner, to taking AI to the extreme. Beware false prophets, and don;t mess with this nun!

Picard-Final Season: Paramount Plus

Critics Consensus: Finally getting the band back together, Picard's final season boldly goes where the previous generation had gone before -- and is all the better for it.

Starring: Patrick Stewart, LeVar Burton, Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes

My take: The OG gang from Next Generation series is back together! Sir Patrick Stewart and the rest of the cast bring th nostalgia, but season 3 was also meant to show what banding together to fight a common enemy bent on world destruction (what else?) while putting aside long held grievances, surprise reveals, and realizing that found family can be just as grand as genetic bonds. A nicely wrapped gift with a bow to close out the Picard era. Now can we please, please, PLESE have Star Trek: Legacy sequel lead by Jeri Ryan's awesome turn as Seven of Nine. Please, Paramount Plus? :)

Ashoka: Disney Plus Critics Consensus: Elevated by Rosario Dawson's strong performance in the title role and a solid story that balances new and old elements of the Star Wars saga, Ahsoka is a must-watch for fans of the franchise.

Starring: Rosario Dawson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Ray Stevenson My take: This character was pulled from two animated Star Wars series Clone Wars and Rebels, and basically reunites the cast from that show as the crew, who had gone on separate paths since Clone Wars and Rebels, eventually come together to both find a lost friend and stop the evil Empire from re-emerging! Very engaging, solid acting, creative fight sequences, and, they brought back the witches!

Fall of the House of Usher: Netflix

Critics Consensus: Presenting vintage Poe stories filtered through Mike Flanagan's deliciously dark lens, The Fall of the House of Usher will get a rise out of horror fans.

Starring: Bruce Greenwood, Carla Gugino, Mary McDonnell, Carl Lumbly

My take: The Poe classic gets a modern update, with an opioid big pharma company as the family focus. Fantastic performances, especially from my personal favorite, Carla Gugino, and Bruce Greenwood, as the family suffers the gruesome Poe-inspired fates thru each of the eight episodes. Greed payback at it's most deliciously gory best! Good Omens- Season 2: Amazon Prime Critics Consensus: Boding well for the series' longevity, Good Omens' second season is even more splendid than the first.

Starring: Michael Sheen, David Tennant, Jon Hamm, Sam Taylor Buck My take: Building off a solid first season, the pairing of an angel and a demon as they try to work together and save the world serendipitously from their respective home offices, this quirky comedy provides some great twists, especially where Jon Hamm's character is concerned. Michael Sheen and David Tennant have wonderful chemistry as the "opposing" forces of good and evil, tackling universal topics as to what is right and wrong, and what/who makes those decisions. The wallpaper line in the opening minutes of the first episode is one of my all-time favorites!

Fellow Travelers: Showtime/Paramount Plus Critics Consensus: A queer romance with the full breadth and depth of an epic, Fellow Travelers is a moving showcase for Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey's captivating on-screen chemistry.

Starring: Matt Bomer, Jonathan Bailey, Noah J. Ricketts, Will Brill

My take: Superb acting (including Alison Williams), in a story that jumps around in time, covering several historic moments in US history, from the McCarthy hearings to the AIDS crisis, all the while two men try to navigate their feelings for each other while leading secret lives to the rest of the world. The secondary story of a closeted reporter and drag queen is as equally compelling as well. Viewers will experience a range of emotions thru this eight part emotional journey.

Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story: Netflix Critics Consensus: A resplendent romance between two of the most interesting characters in the Bridgerton saga, Queen Charlotte is a spin-off that arguably perfects the primary series' formula.

Starring: India Amarteifio, Adjoa Andoh, Michelle Fairley, Ruth Gemmell My take: What a delight that Netflix and executive producer Shondra Rhimes decided that Charlotte would be their first Bridgerton spinoff. We get all ofthe lush detail and period costume and settings the original had, but with the added backstory of one of the most interesting and popular characters from the main series. Just a pure delight watching these talented actors tell the tale of how Queen Charlotte came to be!

Heartstopper: Netflix Critics Consensus: Beautifully acted and scripted, Heartstopper's second season is fit to bursting with emotional truth.

Starring: Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney My take: Fans clamored for a second season, and the Netflix brass agreed! This season focused on Joe dealing with his coming out and having a boyfriend, while the other young characters navigated signals (mixed or not) in their teenage angst relationships and own demons to battle. The writing and especially the acting among the young cast is simply spot-on. This show really does have "heart" and here's hoping for a season three.

Poker Face: Peacock Critics Consensus: With the incomparable Natasha Lyonne as an ace up its sleeve, Poker Face is a puzzle box of modest ambitions working with a full deck.

Starring: Natasha Lyonne, Chloë Sevigny, Lil Rel Howery, Joseph Gordon-Levitt My take: Natasha Lyonne MAKES this show! While there is a running storyline, the series is episodic, with some fantastic guest appearances, like Ellen Barkin (my fave ep). Natasha's character is a human lie detector- you just cannot tell a lie she won't catch, it's her gift and curse. The writing and style of the show reminds a lot of viewers of the classic Columbo series, where we are presented a mystery, and thru Natasha's sleuthing, and following the clues, we get our "gotcha" of the bad guy. Fun series all around!

American Born Chinese: Disney Plus Critics Consensus: Jam-packed with inventive flourishes and grounded by lovable actors, American Born Chinese musters epic elements from Chinese mythology to tell a deeply relatable coming of age story.

Starring: Michelle Yeoh, Ben Wang, Yann Yann Yeo, Chin Han My take: Michelle Yeoh! Hello??!! This comendy/drama/fantasy does a nice job of blending together the story of two young characters- One on a quest to restore order to his mythological kingdom, the other trying to find his way and himself in a new school and with troubling family dynamics at home. A bit plodding at times, but the end result was wonderful. Note: Do NOT mess with Michelle Yeoh once she has solved the great mystery of assembling an IKEA coffee table!

Swarm: Amazon Prime Critics Consensus: Swarm can be as unpleasant as a hornet sting, but Dominique Fishback's ferocious performance and the creators' bold creative swings add up to a truly subversive take on toxic fandom.

Starring: Dominique Fishback, Chloe Bailey, Heather Simms, Karen Rodriguez My take: Not much more I can add that the consensus pointed out. Dark and gritty, and Dominique Fishback deserves all the flowers for a truly unique and disturbing performance as a super-fan.

These last three were not on the Rotten Tomatoes list, so just me! The Crown: Netflix The eight part series finale was broken into 2 four-part runs. First four: Oomph. Viewers of the show knew this was coming. The events leading up to and after Princess Diana's death. Elizabeth Debicki's haunted performance as Diana was a revelation. Expressing moments of hope, anger, happiness despair and even resignation as being a target of the relentless papparazzi had viewers engaged throughout until the tragic end. Imelda Staunton as Queen Elizabeth gave us shades of defiance, angst, self-doubt and nobility. The rest of the supporting cast was outstanding as well. But bring the Kleenex! Last four: Focusing on Prince William several years after Diana's death, the casting department

did an outstanding job casting Ed McVey; he's almost an identical twin to the real Prince William during that time frame, and McVey shows us the inner turmoil he feels as WilliamMania swept the world, his dislike of the press, and his resentment towards his father, Prince Charles (Dominic West had his best episodes here). We also get a side story about the health issues of Princess Margaret and of a night out on the town on V-Day. What did our young Queen get herself into? (I actually liked this episode; I got to see the Queen's veneer fall off and just be Elizabeth.). In all, I preferred the 1st 4 over the last 4, but it was still a well-done final season Survivor: CBS/Paramount Plus Not much to say here except that this is STILL not only the OG of reality TV shows, but is still vastly entertaining. Great editing helps present great choices in contestants who participate in creative ( and grueling) challenges, while they try to out-wit, out-play and out-last each other to become the sole Survivor and the cash prize. Both physical and mental, from unpredictable Tribal Councils to final three facing the jury of ousted contestants that the final three had a hand in bouncing from the game, there's rarely a dull moment on this show. Oh, and can host Jeff Probst FINALLY get the Emmy as best reality tv host??!! Ghosts: CBS/Paramount Plus This comedy is like a warm fuzzy blanket for me! Getting ready to enter its 3rd season, the story of a young couple who buy an estate in Maine (??) only to discover it's filled with ghosts from past to present is just simply delightful. The comedic chops of the cast, with its deadpan (see what i did there?) humor, makes for 30 minutes of chill TV.

Honorable Mentions: Succession, Dead Ringers, Mandalorian Season 3, Hunters, you-Season 4, Amazing Race, House of the Dragon, Station 19. Let me know in the comments below if you have seen any of the above, and your thoughts!