My Favorite TV Shows Of 2022 (So Far)

In the last couple of weeks I have seen a bunch of critics making mid-year "Best Of" Lists. So I thought I should get in on the action. I guess waiting a whole year is just too much to ask for these days when there is so much good TV to watch. It will be interesting to see how many of these end up remaining on my final list in December. And maybe by then I will get around to watching a bunch of great stuff that I missed (like "Euphoria", "The Boys" and "Tokyo Vice"). For now, I have to work with what I've seen so far. I do have a day job after all. 

Read, like, share. Enjoy

Lamont

1. The Bear (Hulu) - “The Bear” is undoubtedly the show of the year so far. With their tight shots and frantic pace, Showrunner Christopher Stohrer and the rest of the writers & directors do an unbelievable job of placing you inside the kitchen of this working class Chi-town sandwich shop. It's like you can feel so much of this tight-knit staff’s stress and claustrophobia that it sort of stings a bit every time they touch a hot plate. The whole cast is effervescent, including Jeremy Allen Wright, who delivers a mesmerizing star turn as Carmy. But Ebon Moss-Bachrach’s Ritchie - at once obnoxious, brash, insecure and sad - truly owns the room every time he is on screen. As a complete package, this show is nearly flawless, especially Episode 7, which is 20 minutes of gravity-defying television as high art. All I can say is, If you haven’t seen "The Bear", drop what you’re doing and watch it…now.

2. Atlanta S3 (Hulu) - It's been said that "Atlanta" is as much a show about the state of white people as it is about Blackness. And Season 3 proves that to be true. Leave it to Donald Glover to be confident enough to explore so many intriguing topics without even bothering to include the best cast on television in half the episodes. Some may disagree, but I think the risk paid off handsomely. The wild and weird detours, with colorful titles such as: “Three Slaps”, “Rich Wigga, Poor Wigga” and my personal favorite,“Trini 2 De Bone” were some of the most talked about episodes of television I've come across in a very long time amongst my friends and family.

3. We Own This City (HBO Max) - Cop dramas set in Baltimore, filled with mass corruption, urban decay and unsolvable problems, have proven to be a bulletproof formula for success (especially if you have David Simon behind the camera). If you loved “The Wire” then you will be in for a treat with “We Own This City” which picks up right where that show left off. In addition to cerebral, journalistic-style filmmaking, the series also offers up a performance for the ages from Jon Bernthal, as the indomitable lead detective, Wayne Jenkins. Not since Denzel Washington in "Training Day" has a dirty cop been this compelling or charismatic (somebody give that guy an Emmy). My only complaint is that it was too good to be so short (only 6 episodes).

4. Abbott Elementary (ABC) - A surprise that came from out of nowhere, “Abbot Elementary” is a throwback to when network comedies served up big laughs with a big heart. There’s some sneaky good commentary in here about the state of the American education system that’s built around excellent joke writing and pitch perfect ensemble performances. 

5. Winning Time (HBO Max) - A show about NBA basketball in the 1980s, with Magic, Kareem, Pat Riley and even the “Hick From French Lick”, Larry Bird. I was pretty sure I was going to love this series and in a surprise to nobody…I did.

6. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel S4 (Amazon Prime) - “Mrs Maisel" is another award-winning, crowd-pleasing comedy that seems to have been forgotten about this season. I can’t see why. I found Rachel Brosnahan, the beautiful set design and the entire cast to be in fine form, and can’t wait to see how they land the plane for the upcoming 5th and final season.

7. The Dropout (Hulu) - I had already had enough of the crazy blood lady so I really didn’t think I was going to like this show. But Amanda Seyfried lured me in from the opening shot. She’s completely electric in this performance and managed to almost (key word being almost) make me feel a little bit of empathy for Elizabeth Holmes.

8. Pachinko (Apple TV+) - In fairness, I have to admit that I have not finished Pachinko. It’s not the kind of show that compels binge watching. It’s too expansive, too complex and demands too much attention. But I’ve seen enough to know, I’ll be thinking about this series and this family for a long time after I'm done with the season finale.

9. Hacks S2 (HBO Max) - What can I say, “Hacks” is just a reliably good, immensely watchable comedy. I pretty much inhaled S2 in one sitting. Jean Smart, who’s great at everything, seems particularly well suited to play this role as aging comedian Deborah Vance (who goes on the road in S2 in search of her mojo). She’s funny, wicked smart and has a mean streak that does an impressive job of hiding the soft spot she has for her co-writer Ava Daniels (played with aplomb by Hannah Einbinder). It’s a real shame we have to wait a whole year for more episodes.

 

10. The Old Man (Hulu) - At just 5 episodes in, “The Old Man” is another series that I have not yet completed. But I can’t imagine that this well-executed, cat and mouse CIA drama is going to run out of steam at the end. Dan Chase (played by a grizzled Jeff Bridges) is a bad mofo who’s competence at ass-kicking and avoiding capture – despite being hunted by a host of formidable assassins – makes for a riveting, must-see thriller.