As we enter the final days of 2023, many people are starting to reminisce about their favorite shows of the year. This year’s show releases have been quite sparse compared to previous years since the entertainment industry came to a sudden standstill with both Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild of America going on strike. Nevertheless, there were still many exceptional show releases, ranging from murder mysteries to dramas to romances. To highlight some of those amazing series, I curated a list of our favorite TV shows in 2023. Without further ado, here are TV Tea’s best new shows of 2023:
1. “Poker Face”
Over the past couple of years, murder mystery has become one of the most booming genres across all media platforms. You would think that the genre is dying down, but you would be mistaken. If anything, 2023 proved that the genre is still very much alive and well as viewers received over six new and recurring murder mystery series, of which most have received critical praise. But there is one new murder mystery series that has taken the world by storm, and it is none other than “Poker Face.” Inspired by “Columbo,” this mystery-of-the-week series is centered around Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne), a casino cocktail waitress who has an innate ability to call someone’s bluff correctly. However, when she gets into trouble with her powerful casino boss, she flees the state and travels across the United States. On her travels, she encounters eccentric characters that steer her to uncover many different homicides in various settings. What makes this series stand out as one of the best murder mystery series is the show’s creator Rian Johnson, who brought back good old detective sleuthing while incorporating his modern take on the subject. He created a fun, quirky storyline that captivated the audience as they had yet to see a murder mystery quite like this one. As a result, the goofiness of both the show’s characters and story kept the audience hooked throughout each episode and by the end left them wanting more.
“Poker Face” is available to stream on Peacock.
2. “Lessons in Chemistry”
2023 has been a strong year for book adaptations as many popular books like “Fellow Travelers” and “Daisy Jones and the Six” have been created into TV shows. Although these adaptations are very noteworthy, “Lessons in Chemistry” was one series that grabbed the audience’s attention as the show brought the pages to life with its empowering storyline. The series centers around Elizabeth Zott (Brie Larson) who becomes a famous cooking show host in the 1960s after being fired as a chemist a decade earlier. Viewers follow Elizabeth’s life as she defies societal norms and fights for her place in the male-dominated field of chemistry. At the start, the series immediately captivated the audience with its combination of romance, drama and social commentary. But what made the audience fall in love with the series was the performances by Larson and the supporting cast. They perfectly embodied their characters and had such amazing “chemistry” with one another, which made every scene feel more impactful and emotional. Subsequently, this caused many viewers, including myself, to choose “Lessons in Chemistry” as our top pick of 2023.
“Lessons in Chemistry” is available to watch on Apple TV+.
3. “A Murder at the End of the World”
Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, creators of the hit series “The OA,” have brought another sensational series this year. This series is the new FX show “A Murder at the End of the World.” This murder mystery series centers around a Gen Z amateur sleuth and a tech-savvy hacker named Darby Hart (Emma Corrin) who is invited, along with eight other guests, by a reclusive billionaire to participate in a retreat at a remote location. However, their retreat takes an unexpected turn when one of the guests is found dead. Darby must use all her combined skills to prove it was murder before the killer takes another life. Like “The OA,” creators Marling and Batmanglij were able to create an intriguing murder mystery story that combines different genres such as sci-fi, thriller, romance and of course mystery, which enticed viewers from the very beginning. But what stood out the most was the plotline’s discussion about AI and climate change. Marling and Batmanglij brought these topics to life as they showed the grueling realities of wealth and power with this set of individuals. Overall, the creators’ ability to discuss real-world issues while telling a murder mystery story was such a refreshing and thought-provoking experience for viewers and made most of us reflect on our own real-life climate.
“A Murder at the End of the World” is available to watch on Hulu.
4. “Everything Now”
Sophie Wilde has been all the rave this year as her breakthrough performance in “Talk to Me” took everybody’s breath away with her portrayal of Mia. So, when Netflix announced that Wilde would star in its new teen-drama series “Everything Now,” many were eager to see her on their television screens again. The series centers around a 16-year-old girl named Mia Polanco (Sophie Wilde) who is released from a rehabilitation facility after battling with anorexia. When she’s thrust back into the world of high school, she realizes her friends have already experienced so much while she was away. Mia is determined to catch up on her life and devises a bucket list of quintessential teen experiences to compensate for lost time. This series, without a doubt, was one of the best TV shows of 2023, and honestly my favorite out of all the shows I have listed. This show was beautifully written as it perfectly depicted both the ups and downs of battling an eating disorder. Also, Wilde’s astounding performance as Mia cannot be ignored as she brought so much depth and rawness to her character, which left many viewers feeling for her character even at times when it was difficult to root for her. As a result of her marvelous performance and the series’ brilliant storyline, “Everything Now” is the best show of 2023.
“Everything Now” is available to stream on Netflix.