It’s the Media Boat 2023 Year-End Wrap-Up! Today we’re taking a look back at the year in Television! First we’ll recap the year in news, choosing one story that defined the year. Next, we’ll give our individual Top Five Shows, followed by choice for Media Boat’s Show of the Year!

Matt’s Top Five Shows of 2023

Still the best sitcom on network; the second season delivered everything that was great about the first, and much more. The characters are just so charming, and it’s the first show to pull off a will-they-won’t-they romance that never feels forced or contrived. The finale in particular manages to up the ante between the two characters while still feeling ambiguous, which is what you want from that kind of dynamic. Oh, and it’s really funny.

I’m not the most “prestige TV” person– just look at my previous lists. But being based on a video game I enjoy, of course I was going to try The Last of Us. And I did end up surprising myself with how much I liked it. It’s a not a perfect show; in fact, it’s at its best when its not following the game’s plot beat-for-beat, but it does a good job endearing you to its characters and spending enough time in the wasteland to really make you feel the oppression. But just like the game, ultimately the story is about finding that glimmer of hope.

I love this show. I’m so sad it’s not coming back. Single Drunk Female is so good at portraying the daily struggles of a recovering alcoholic while remaining funny and compelling. Even the supposed villain of the show, Sam’s mother, is given a redemption arc, and somehow it feels earned! Like shows like Gilmore Girls or Parks and Recreation, the show makes you feel you’re embedded within this community of characters. It’s a community I will miss.

In my household, 2023 was the “Year of the Mystery,” and what better way to start it off than with a new mystery show that felt like an instant classic? Natasha Lyonne is incredible as a free-wheeling walking lie detector to stumbles upon a career in whodunnits. The mysteries she solves are sometimes shocking, but always intricate, and even though the show tells you what’s happened, Columbo style, it’s still quite a ride to see how it all wraps up. The performances across the board here are great, and it certainly sets the table for more stories for years to come.

Even if this wasn’t a show based in the Scott Pilgrim universe, a graphic novel series and film that I love dearly, this would still be my favorite show of the year. Incredible animation, hilarious writing, and twist after twist make this easily the best roller coaster ride of 2023. On top of that, the series enhances everything that was great about the media that preceded it, offering a slightly different perspective on some familiar events. It’s an incredible example of how animation can, and always has, tell stories that simply can’t exist in any other medium.

Mike’s Top Five Shows of 2023

Yeaahhhh, this might be all that we get, and yeah, I guess this might well be it. The series finale has quickly come and 3 years in, we have to say good-bye to the team at Richmond AFC. This season built upon the team dynamic to provide us with more player interactions outside of the core cast. It felt like I could identify everybody on the team this year instead of having them be general background characters. While some of us might not be able to forgive Nate, we will all never forget the wonderful time we had with Ted Lasso.

Rian Johnson brings his creative writing from Knives Out and Glass Onion to the small screen. The mystery-of-the-week series follows Natasha Lyonne as she brings her fast talking and unique ability to detect bull-shit along for the wild ride of guest stars and sprawling locations that makes each episode different, yet familiar. It’s also currently the only show on Peacock worth watching until the Olympics coverage next year.

Take the framework of Edgar Allen Poe and modernize it against the backdrop of Succession and you get The Fall of the House of Usher. Each episode correlates directly to a short story from the Raven master himself, but they are all intertwined so seamlessly with each death feeling personal. Bruce Greenwood and Carla Gugino shine in this bleak story of greed and hubris enveloped within the House of Usher.

It’s not a reboot, it’s not a remake, and it’s not quite a sequel. This is a reimagining of Scott Pilgrim vs The World filled with all the same jokes and references, just recontextualized for a new interpretation. Written by Bryan Lee O'Malley, with the entire main cast from the 2010 film adaptation, this new series puts a fresh spin on a cult classic that makes it just as good as the original. Whether you’re a fan of the comic books or the film, there is something in here for everybody to enjoy.

Season 2 isn’t exactly back in the kitchen, but instead lays the literal groundwork of building up a reputable establishment with all the pitfalls and follies that come with getting a restaurant up and running. Don’t get me wrong, there’s still plenty of high stakes drama, it’s just a different kind than season 1 and that’s what makes this show so great. All of the side characters get their moment to shine as you can visually see them grow into ideal versions of themselves. The Bear feels like a real restaurant family mixed together with their own argumentative drama that makes this show so compelling to watch.

2023 Year-End Wrap Up: Television

Matt’s Top Five Shows of 2023

Mike’s Top Five Shows of 2023