Top 5 Television Series Of 2022

In many way, 2022 was a renaissance for scripted television. While a lot of pundits and critics have been frustrated with the proliferation of steaming services leading to a glut of mediocre content to keep up with consumer demand, there have, nonetheless been a number of quality shows to make it to air that would not have in eras previous. And given the wide selection of content, we here at FilmIronic have done the dirty work of picking out the 5 best shows. If you watch nothing else from 2022 except these five shows, then you’ll still be missing out on a lot of great stuff (honorable mentions to shows like Severance, Fleishman is in Trouble, and new seasons of For All Mankind and Stranger Things) but at lease you will have sampled some of the best. So, with out further delay, we present FilmIronic’s picks for the Best Television Series of 2022!

5. The Offer (Paramount+)

With Paramount relying so heavily on the Yellowstone IP, The Offer came a little out of left field, largely because the huge shift in narrative positioning. That is to say, this series was very much a slow burn with a focus on authentic characters. That isn’t to say that Yellowstone doesn’t have compelling characters, but they are far more bombastic, whereas The offer takes a subtler approach. The series lives in the small moments where characters are dealing with their circumstances and changes. This is most apparent in Matthew Goode’s Robert Evans who deals with a roller coaster of emotion throughout the creation of the cinematic adaptation of The Godfather. One moment he’s on top of the world, reveling in the success that he is positive that only he could achieve, and the next he’s an insecure, sniveling mess upset that the world is falling down around him. In many ways, he’s a character very much like Kelly Reilly’s Beth Dutton from Yellowstone: a force of nature that just is. However, in The Offer, every off-the-wall moment feels earned. It feels like the natural progression of events based on how this character lives. Beyond that, The Offer is, perhaps, the most well-cast series of the last decade. Miles Teller carries the show with aplomb as lead character, Al Ruddy, while his supporting cast, from Juno Temple and Giovani Ribisi to Colin Hanks and Dan Fogler, shine as uniquely eccentric characters that are coming together to do something that everyone thought was going to fail. It’s a wonderful love letter to old school Hollywood that reiterates that it is okay to slow down in a show and not force anything.

4. Peacemaker (HBO Max)

This was, arguably, the first major series to debut in 2022. And, as it was a spin-off from a film that didn’t really hit with audiences (though The Suicide Squad has definitely grown in popularity as time has gone on), many didn’t have high hopes for the project. However, the James Gunn-created series not only surprises with its nuanced character development and complex story, but it is, without doubt, one of the most fun shows to come out in 2022. The real standout here is John Cena, who solidifies that he’s a leading man in Hollywood, but also that he’s got surprising range as an actor. While the majority of the show leans into its gimmicky, comic book nature and the ridiculous aspects of the Peacemaker character, there are times when the story goes into darker, more intimate territory, and that is when the series truly shines, and Cena is able to buck the stigma of his WWE origins and showcase his talent. Peacemaker isn’t really anything anyone asked for, but that allows it to fly free of expectation and it stands as one of the best, if not the best, comic book adaptations of 2022.

Peacemaker Trailer

3. The Boys- Season 3 (Amazon Prime)

The Boys is something like a fine wine, it just gets better and better with time. Eric Kripke continues to astound and outdo himself with every season getting bigger and bolder. It’s hard to say that one season is really better than another with this show, but if one had to be chosen, it seems likely that numero tres would take the crown. All the stakes get amplified, and all of the storylines take logical steps forward that not only elevates the story, but creates something new within the genre of superhero cinema/television. Certainly, there have been darker takes, such as Joker or The Batman, and satire, such as Kick-Ass, but The Boys is able to blend these elements in such a subtle manner that it never really feels over the top, even when there is a giant superhero orgy taking place. Very much adding to this season was Jensen Ackles, who shows up fresh off his Supernatural run as a twisted and debaucherous version of Captain America. He adds a level of sincerity to the role, with his gruff portrayal and honest demeanor, that even when he’s an absolute monster, it is hard not to love him. Season 3 is everything fans loved from earlier seasons, but so much more, while still being accessible to new audiences.

2. Blackbird (AppleTV+)

This true crime story, which follows a wayward sports star who became a drug kingpin become a secret informant for the FBI and attempt to befriend a supposed serial killer in order to garner information about his victims, is equal parts suspenseful and creepy. Taron Edgerton shines as Jimmy Keene, the aforementioned drug runner. He has the requisite amount of swagger that the character requires, but he is able to pull off a nuanced performance that both showcases his range, as Keene falls down a black hole of friendship with Larry Hall, and cements Edgerton’s stance as one of Hollywood’s top leading men. For as good as Edgerton is, though, the real star here is Paul Walter Hauser. He embodies the disturbing nature of Larry Hall in an uncannily successful manner. From the high-pitched voice to the “burnsides” and the almost foppish personality, Hauser is pitch perfect. The downside is that the series actually feels a little short. It really could have benefited from two or so more episodes to really flesh out the narrative. Even so, Blackbird has such strong performances, which includes the late Ray Liotta in an extremely heartfelt effort, any of the small narrative inconsistencies are easily overlooked. This is a portrait of a monster of a man that will keep you on the edge of your couch for the entirety of its runtime.

1. The Bear (FX/Hulu)

What more can we say about The Bear that we haven’t already in our previous review. There is a reason that the show has garnered a plethora of awards, such as a Best Actor win at the Golden Globes for Jeremy Allen White. It’s really a fantastic show. It is a heartfelt look at a family shattered by sudden and tragic loss and how they are trying to rebuild. What makes this series work so well though is the authenticity that rings out in every scene. From a line cook struggling to admit that she still has something to learn to estranged friends trying to figure out how to work together now that the buffer they once has is gone. Not only is The Bear the best series of 2022, there is a solid argument to be made that it is the best thing to release on the small screen in the last five years.