12 of the best and 12 of the worst TV shows that came out this year
Meghan Cook
- Shows that aired on streaming platforms & networks in 2022 have received mixed reviews from critics.
- The top shows of the year included "Severance," "House of the Dragon," and "A League of Their Own."
Critics called Netflix's "Dead End: Paranormal Park" a delight.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: At a pivotal turning point in his life, Barney Guttman (voiced by Zach Barack) finds kinship with his new friend Norma Khan (voiced by Kody Kavitha) as they start jobs at a haunted amusement park.
In addition to lauding the importance of the show's representation, critics also loved its spooky, qualities.
In a review for Tell-Tale TV, Sarah Fields wrote the show was "a fun supernatural adventure with a huge heart."
Netflix's "Heartstopper" was declared a smash hit.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: Based on the graphic novel by Alice Oseman, "Heartstopper" follows teens Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) as they discover more about themselves and their sexualities.
The heartfelt storyline and earnest delivery sold the show to critics.
Kelly Lawler wrote for USA Today, "There are some TV series so sweet, so joyous and so wonderful that the mere mention of them can make you smile. Netflix's 'Heartstopper' is one of those shows."
Reviewers couldn't get enough of Hulu's "The Bear."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: In "The Bear," Carmen (Jeremy Allen White) leaves the world of fine dining to take over his brother's beef shop in Chicago after his untimely death. But trying to run the joint like a Michelin-star kitchen proves difficult for everyone involved.
Critics loved the emotion and grit of the Hulu series.
Wenlei Ma wrote for News.com.au, "'The Bear' will sink its claws into you, pull you in for an anxiety-inducing hug and you will love every tension-filled moment of it."
Critics had high praise for Netflix's comedic drama "Mo."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 100%
Summary: Palestinian refugee Mo Najjar (Mo Amer) adjusts to life in Houston, Texas, after he moves with his mom, sister, and brother to seek asylum in the United States.
Called engaging as well as effortlessly hilarious, "Mo" garnered high praise from critics.
"Somehow, 'Mo' manages to be a family comedy, a romance, and occasionally a crime drama without compromising or switching tone," Proma Khosla wrote for IndieWire.
"Ms. Marvel" on Disney+ breathed new life into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 98%
Summary: Imaginative teen Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) idolizes Carol Danvers (aka Captain Marvel) until she embarks on a heroic journey of her own.
Critics immediately warmed to the show's impressive cast and fresh stylistic direction.
"Vellani is a magnetic force of nature who brings her youthful exuberance to make a splashing debut as Kamala Khan," Marriska Fernandes wrote for Exclaim.
"Severance" on Apple TV+ stuck out as a thrilling, cerebral gem.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Summary: New hire Helly R. (Britt Lower) joins a secretive office job with Mark (Adam Scott), Dylan (Zach Cherry), and Irving (John Turturro) only to discover that their memories are cut off from the outside world.
"Severance" blew critics away with its memorable set design, bold creative choices, and talented cast.
"It's hardly the first satirical take on office life but slick direction and an endlessly compelling, frequently weird premise make 'Severance' worth calling in sick for," John Nugent wrote for Empire.
FX's "The Old Man" was hailed as a rewarding action drama.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Summary: Retired CIA operative Dan Chase (Jeff Bridges) is hunted by the government he once worked for after a deadly home invasion forces him out of hiding.
Despite being a bit of a slow burn, "The Old Man" proved to be a solid thriller for most critics.
"It often amounts to mature characters having mature conversations about youth, passion, aging and vulnerability," John Doyle wrote for Globe and Mail. "That's so rare these days."
HBO Max's "Minx" kept critics coming back for more.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
Summary: In 1970s Los Angeles, scrappy feminist Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond) reluctantly works alongside publisher Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson) to create the first erotic magazine for women.
Critics across the board praised "Minx" for its wit and charm.
"There are so many reasons to watch this, from the crisp script to the incredible rapport between Lovibond & Johnson," Charlotte Harrison wrote for Charlotte Sometimes Goes to the Movies.
Quality writing helped "Andor" stand out from other "Star Wars" stories on Disney+.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 96%
Summary: "Andor" serves as a television prequel to "Rogue One" (2016) and traces Cassian's (Diego Luna) vengeful path against the Empire as he joins forces with the Rebel Alliance.
Critics were drawn in by the ensemble cast and masterclass writing.
"Reminds us of what 'Star Wars' is about when you strip away the Industrial light and magic," Radheyan Simonpillai said on a segment for CBC Radio.
Amazon Prime Video's "A League of Their Own" took critics by surprise.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
Summary: Carson Shaw (Abbi Jacobson), Max Chapman (Chanté Adams), Greta Gill (D'Arcy Carden) and other women pursue long-held dreams of playing professional baseball in post-World War II America.
The sports dramedy gained appreciation from critics for simultaneously paying homage to the original 1992 film and carving out a path of its own.
"'League of Their Own' adapts a once-minor bit of sports trivia to refract modern standards of representation through rich period detail," Alison Herman wrote for The Ringer.
HBO's "House of the Dragon" enthralled audiences and reviewers alike.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 93%
Summary: King Viserys Targaryen (Paddy Considine) prepares his daughter Rhaenyra (Milly Alcock) for the iron throne of Westeros as a sea of embittered rivals waits in the shadows.
Critics said "House of the Dragon" filled the hole left behind by "Game of Thrones," with compelling storylines and a powerhouse cast.
"Winter came and went, but a franchise that was left for dead has found fresh fire on the backs of new dragons," Jason Fraley wrote for WTOP.
HBO Max's "Our Flag Means Death" exceeded expectations.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Summary: Inspired by the adventures of Blackbeard (Taika Waititi), 18th-century landowner Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) discards his wealth and sets sail on the high seas in pursuit of piracy.
The historical comedy earned love from critics for its healthy heaps of humor and unabashed display of queer joy.
"'Our Flag Means Death' treats its audience right. It subverts expectations and then leads its audience exactly where it promises," Federica Bocco wrote for INTO.
On the other hand, critics found CBS' "So Help Me Todd" to be muddled.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 50%
Summary: In the wake of a divorce, Margaret (Marcia Gay Harden) starts a new chapter in her life and enlists her son Todd (Skylar Astin) to work as an in-house private investigator.
Critics largely agreed that the legal show was a jumbled mess of comedy and drama that never found its footing.
"It might have worked as a half-hour comedy, but as an hour-long drama, it drags," Dustin Rowles wrote for Pajiba.
Despite its star-studded cast, Showtime's "The First Lady" fell flat.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 41%
Summary: The series looks back at American history through the perspectives of first ladies Michelle Obama (Viola Davis), Betty Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer), and Eleanor Roosevelt (Gillian Anderson).
Critics had higher hopes for the miniseries, especially considering the powerhouse cast.
Carla Meyer wrote for the San Francisco Chronicle, "Once the 'great woman behind the man' story line emerges as the show's primary theme, 'The First Lady' cannot help but seem hopelessly old-fashioned — and ill-timed for what already seems like a regressive moment for women in our nation."
Critics thought Amazon Prime Video's "The Terminal List" overcooked its plot.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 39%
Summary: After his platoon is ambushed during a covert mission, former Navy SEAL officer James Reece (Chris Pratt) returns home to realize he still has a target on his back.
"The Terminal List" fell into a pattern of too many twists, turns, and contrivances to keep critics engaged.
"If you enjoyed 'Jack Ryan' and 'Reacher,' this is the show the algorithm would say you should watch next," Olly Richards wrote for Empire Magazine. "Ignore it."
Hulu's "How I Met Your Father" received poor reviews.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 38%
Summary: Sophie (Hilary Duff) looks back on her late twenties and recounts to her son how her friend group navigated love, work, and life in Manhattan.
Critics said that forced jokes and stale characters kept "How I Met Your Father" from being as memorable as its predecessor, "How I Met Your Mother."
"Not even the sunny charm and well-honed comedic talents of Hilary Duff can save this 'How I Met Your Mother' spinoff from being the stinker that it is," Brad Newsome wrote for The Sydney Morning Herald.
Reviewers questioned why HBO's "The Time Traveler's Wife" was made.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 37%
Summary: Based on the book by Audrey Niffenegger, the story follows Claire Abshire (Rose Leslie) and Henry DeTamble (Theo James) through a love story that transcends time and space.
The story, which had already been adapted into a 2009 film, fell flat in the eyes of critics.
"I'm sure there's a devoted fan base — there usually is — but this particular story was tricky even on the page, and seems to have defied adaptation on the big and now small screen," Matt Roush wrote for TV Insider.
Critics called Netflix's "God's Favorite Idiot" a flop.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 33%
Summary: After a lightning strike gives him heavenly powers, Clark (Ben Falcone) and his coworker Amily Luck (Melissa McCarthy) find themselves at the forefront of an apocalypse.
The spotty Netflix comedy failed to yield laughs from critics.
"The laughs are few and far between," lamented Alexandra MacAaron wrote for Women's Voices for Change. "Nothing about 'God's Favorite Idiot' lives up to expectation."
Critics quickly lost interest in NBC's "The Endgame."
Rotten Tomatoes score: 33%
Summary: In "The Endgame," criminal mastermind Elena Federova (Morena Baccarin) ends up in US custody after planning seven simultaneous bank heists in NYC. Agent Val Turner (Ryan Michelle Bathe) makes it her personal mission to bring "the queen" down.
Some critics thought the show started strong. But it didn't capture their attention long enough to warrant a second season.
Caroline Framke wrote for Variety, "It all looks quite sleek and impressive, but even after just two episodes, Elena's ability to pull off the impossible out of nowhere begins to get old."
Fox's "Monarch" was written off as a soapy melodrama.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 31%
Summary: Dottie Cantrell Roman (Susan Sarandon) and her husband Albie (Trace Adkins) enjoy stardom as celebrated country musicians, as their daughter Nicky (Anna Friel) tries to find her own place within the family dynasty.
The tangle of silly plotlines and scant use of Sarandon left critics dispirited.
In a review for Decider Joel Keller wrote that the show was "a soap that's all suds and no substance."
Netflix's "The Pentaverate" was written off as an overstuffed comedy.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 28%
Summary: In a secret society, five men (all played by Mike Myers) work in the shadows until a Canadian journalist (also Myers) sets out to expose them for a news story.
Despite pulling a few laughs out of critics early on, "The Pentaverate" proved to be a disappointment.
"Mike Myers' affectionate but uneven conspiracy theory comedy is let down by its lowbrow humor," Laurence Boyce wrote for Vodzilla.
Netflix's "Echoes" left critics scratching their heads.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 24%
Summary: Identical twins Leni and Gina McCleary (both played by Michelle Monaghan) have swapped places their whole lives — until one of them disappears without a trace.
"Echoes" got low marks for being repetitive and having too many twists for its own good.
"The potential of 'Echoes' starts to drain before the premiere is even over as it gets goofier and goofier in a way that's not entertaining but frustrating," Brian Tallerico wrote for Roger Ebert.
Reviewers said Netflix's"Blockbuster" lacked originality.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 22%
Summary: After finding out that they run the last Blockbuster, Timmy Yoon (Randall Park) and his employees team up with their community to save the video-rental store.
Critics quickly grew weary of the show's recycled sitcom tropes and half-hearted jokes.
"I was hoping for an endearing Frank Capra–like humanism - but instead found a tired retread of a silly not-so-'Superstore,'" Matt Roush wrote for TV Insider.
"Last Light" bored many critics.
Rotten Tomatoes score: 18%
Summary: Andy Yeats (Matthew Fox) is ripped apart from his family in the Middle East as the world faces an oil crisis that plunges global relations into chaos.
The self-professed thriller yielded poor grades from critics, who found the show severely lacking in the thrills.
"The series never finds its gear, existing as a ripped-from-future-headlines thriller that's neither particularly credible nor especially thrilling," Daniel D'Addario wrote for Variety.
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