10. “Station Eleven”
Released in the no man’s land of late December 2021, into January 2022, we initially overlooked the magnificent “Station Eleven” and who could blame us since so many others did (and it certainly deserves a slot here) And HBO kind of just dumped the show at the worst time ever. Maybe that’s because the show was based on a global pandemic where a virus wipes out most of modern civilization and who wants to see that during an ongoing pandemic? Still Patrick Sommerville’s “Station Eleven” was sublime. A sprawling narrative told over 20 years—based on Emily St. John Mandel’s novel of the same name though changed significantly to fit the medium of television—begins with a nascent but deadly global pandemic, but quickly fast forwards twenty years, but somehow connects many of the key players of the past… eventually anyhow. The details of the plot are perhaps too long to explain here but suffice to say, most post-apocalyptic narratives get dark and ugly fast. And while there is the threat of violence everywhere and tension throughout, not to mention a few heartbreaking and tragic incidents, “Station Eleven” was arguably able to subvert the dystopic model, creating something deeply empathetic, human, and ultimately hopeful. Mackenzie Davis and Himesh Patel were outstanding on the series, Gael Garcia Bernal crucial in getting the first few eps on the ground, and the series contained several breakout performances from people we will no doubt likely see more of like young Matilda Lawler, David Wilmot, and Danielle Deadwyler (who later broke out in “Till”); shout out to David Wilmot and Caitlin FitzGerald who did tremendous work too. Featuring a devastatingly beautiful and sad score by Dan Romer, “Station Eleven” was something people either missed or caught up with late, but its luminous humanity about survival, community, and the power of rebuilding after devastation, was worth it nonetheless. – RP
9. “Pachinko”
The phenomenal Kogonada is receiving year-end praise for his excellent “After Yang,” which hopefully will bring viewers to his underrated and gorgeous “Pachinko,” one of the standouts of an excellent year for Apple TV+. This adaptation of the 2017 novel by Min Jin Lee takes place across multiple generations, featuring the kind of stunning period detail and striking cinematography that is still too rarely seen on television. Playing out more like a series of short films, the season centers Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung (“Minari”), who plays a Korean woman who was forever changed by the occupation of her country by the Japanese. Hers is only one part of this story that features moving romance, character-driven drama, unexpected comedy, generational & culture clashes, and just the best opening credits scene on television. – BT [read our review]
8. “The Dropout”
2022 featured an overload of limited series inspired by popular podcasts, but one, in particular, rose to the top, “The Dropout.” Chronicling Elizabeth Holmes’ rise from Stanford freshman to tech industry wonder, the drama spills the tea on Theranos, one of the biggest con jobs of the 21st Century. At the center of it all is Amanda Seyfried, who manages to give remarkable depth to a public figure whose actions had turned her into a walking caricature. Series creator Elizabeth Meriwether deftly guides the twist and turns of the Theranos story with the unique juxtaposition of allowing viewers to understand how this scam came to be while also prompting them to wonder how so many seemingly “smart” people could be duped. By the end, you’re certainly not rooting for Holmes but intrigued by her steadfast belief she did nothing wrong. And that’s mostly a feat carried on the shoulders of what is so far a career-defining performance for Seyfried. – Gregory Ellwood [read our review]
7. “Severance”
One of the most buzzed shows of 2022 lived up to its pop culture prominence with a first season that maintained quality from its startling beginning to its cliff-hanging end. Yes, the concept of “Severance” was its main hook, tapping into the increasingly-prominent conversations about work/life divides by presenting a world in which that issue was literal, but the TV landscape is cluttered with high-concept shows that had nothing more than an idea. “Severance” became a cultural phenomenon because of its execution, including pitch-perfect performances from basically everyone (but especially Adam Scott and Britt Lower), striking production design, riveting cinematography, and a remarkable vein of dark humor. The only real concern remaining about “Severance”? How do they keep this momentum in season two? – BT [read our review]
6. “Atlanta”
After way too long off the air, Donald Glover’s masterful series returned with two seasons in 2022 and then said goodbye forever. The manner in which the third season alternated stories of the beloved quartet of characters that fans knew with standalone stories that often played like episodes of “The Twilight Zone” divided fans, but it was undeniably ambitious television. And even as the fourth season became arguably more traditional, it consistently defied expectations, particularly in an incredible final run that included some of the year’s best writing. In the end, television will miss Earn (Glover), Paper Boi (Brian Tyree Henry), Darius (Lakeith Stanfield), and Van (Zazie Beetz). This is a show that never apologized to anyone and never catered to audience expectations. Glover and his team proved that staying true to their voices was all that mattered. Let’s hope other creators follow that part of their example. – BT [read our review]
