Top Television of 2022 (Part 2)
It’s January here at Do You Know What I Love The Most?, and that means it’s time to sum up the last 12 months with Year End Lists! I’ll be devoting the rest of this month to rounding up and discussing the various media released in 2022 that meant the most to me — just like every other website on the internet! Isn’t that special?
Today we’re going to talk about the best TV shows of 2022! As always, this is not meant to be a definitive list of the best out there, because I simply cannot and have not watched it all. These are simply the shows released in 2022 that caught my attention and/or tugged at my heartstrings the most throughout the year, in no particular order. Enjoy!
Due to size restrictions for these emails, we discussed the first half of this list a few days ago in Part 1.
Abbott Elementary (ABC)
Abbott Elementary has taken America by storm, reviving both the network sitcom and the mockumentary format with its gut-busting, good-hearted sense of humor. Writer, producer, and lead actress Quinta Brunson isn’t reinventing the wheel; she knows that the key to any good sitcom is simply to create a cast of characters that the audience wants to spend a half an hour with every week and to fill their mouths with top-notch jokes, and with Abbott Elementary she has more than succeeded in both regards; every character is instantly iconic, especially Janelle James’ incompetent, hustling principal Ava and Sheryl Lee Ralph’s comedically dignified mentor figure Barbara Howard, a role Ralph (deservedly) won her very first Emmy for! As someone whose favorite show is Parks and Recreation, it’s such a joy to find a new series to fall in love with that hits that same beloved tone and format, but Abbot Elementary is not in any way derivative; its predominately black cast is still (unfortunately) a rarity in these genres, and the show’s emphasis on the struggles and tribulations of a group of teachers in an underfunded Philadelphia public school ensures that it always has a unique voice and something important to say. It’s also a show that was great right out of the gate and has only gotten better as it’s moved into its second season; I’m so excited I was able to jump on the Abbot Elementary hype train early and watch this one grow into a phenomenon. It’s earned it.
(Of course, it also would have earned its spot on this list for the Gritty guest appearance alone!)
Heartstopper (Netflix)
God, I wish this show had been on the air when I was in high school. Heartstopper — based on a series of graphic novels by Alice Oseman — is in many ways a classic love story. There’s real value in an all-ages appropriate love story between two young men like this one; being a gay teen can be so isolating, and Heartstopper shows them that love stories are for them as well, not just for straight people. It is, thankfully, an extraordinarily well-done love story as well thanks to heartfelt and specific writing and soulful, heart-on-sleeve performances from Joe Locke as Charlie and Kit Connor as Nick, who have terrific chemistry and make both characters incredibly easy to empathize with and root for. But despite all that, what makes Heartstopper special is that it’s not just any old love story — it’s specifically a queer love story, one that understands the different struggles both Charlie and Nick have had to navigate due to their sexualities. It also isn’t just a “gay” story either; Nick eventually realizes that he’s bisexual, and various friends throughout the strong, fun supporting cast shine a light on the “L” and “T” parts of the community as well. Heartstopper is a feel good show in the best way possible; not because there’s no conflict or hardship (there’s plenty!), but because you always know Charlie and Nick are going to persevere in the end, and it’s always such a joy to see them overcome their problems and find their way to each other. It makes me so happy to know so many kids are going to grow up with Heartstopper in their lives; hell, it’s clearly had quite an effect on me even as a gay adult.
Tuca and Bertie (Adult Swim/HBO Max)
Tuca and Bertie hits a really special tonal sweet spot that’s exactly what I’m looking for in a TV show. It’s absurd, wacky, and non-sensical, with fanciful animated sight gags, living duck boats that ravage cities when they aren’t being used for tours, a sports league revolving around raking leaves, and an entire episode about the main cast being eaten by snakes. But it’s also dramatic, heartfelt, and confessional, using its incredibly well-written characters (now with several years’ worth of history between them and the audience) to explore fraught and complex topics like mentorship and cancel culture, burnout and gentrification, alcoholism, and the medical system’s inability/unwillingness to treat Tuca’s painful periods. The best thing about Tuca and Bertie is that these two different styles never clash; its more fanciful elements provide a welcome respite and contrast from the difficult emotional truths that form the core of the show, but they also often serve as handy metaphors that help explore those themes — for example, Tuca’s alcoholic boyfriend is a sentient tree that Tuca can literally see wilting away the more he drinks. In Tuca and Bertie Lisa Hanawalt has created a distinct, singular world that, nonetheless, shines a light on realities of our own that are all too often ignored or brushed aside. All of this makes Tuca and Bertie’s cancellation late in 2022 especially tragic (yes, I can still be mad at Adult Swim and HBO Max for canceling the show even if they did give it an extra two seasons after Netflix cancelled it the first time), and I really hope some platform somewhere is able to give Tuca and Bertie (and Speckle!) a final chance to close their story out on their own terms. They, and the fans, deserve that much.
Reboot (Hulu)
Reboot — the Hulu comedy about a hokey 90s sitcom that’s rebooted by the creator’s estranged daughter — is many things. It’s a story about second chances; the new iteration of Step Right Up is a chance for its cast and crew to rekindle old careers and old romances, a chance to get even, to heal old wounds, or maybe to just try to do things better the second time around. It’s a potent parody of Hollywood (and streaming service) bullshit. It’s a story about coming together; the scenes where Step Right Up’s original writing staff — a bunch of foul-mouthed, quip-filled Jewish geriatrics — and its new staff — a diverse pool of broke millennials — bounce off each other are some of Reboot’s funniest, but are also a really cool example of different generations learning from each other and growing as a result. It’s an incredible actor’s spotlight, giving cult favorites like Rachel Bloom, Keegan Michael Key, Judy Greer, Paul Reiser, and Johnny Knoxville all ample opportunities to show why they’re so beloved (though my personal favorite character ended up being Calum Worthy’s doofy, earnest, lonely former child star Zack). More than anything, it’s a really smart blending of new and old television sensibilities, combining classic sitcom tropes and modern dramedy beats; it’s got those tried and true set-ups and punchlines, but also drops a “cunt” within its first five minutes. It’s a winning combination.
The end credits of Reboot’s first episode also featured the song “Re-Do” by Modern Baseball, a complete shock that had me running laps around the living room and lead to one of my favorite moments of the year:
Harley Quinn (HBO Max)
Unsure if the show would be renewed or not, Season 2 of Harley Quinn ended with Harley and Poison Ivy riding off into the sunset together as an official romantic couple. They eventually were renewed, though, and this is where most shows would stumble; how do you follow up “Happily Ever After?” Season 3 of Harley Quinn is no ordinary TV show, though, and it never falters for even a moment. Harley and Ivy don’t become a perfect, boring couple, nor do the writers introduce contrived drama or break them up just to cause conflict. Instead, the season long conflict between the two — Ivy is becoming more villainous as Harley is becoming more heroic — feels like a natural extension of these characters and is solved in the most mature way possible; Harley and Ivy realize that they love each other no matter what and will always be there for each other, even if they don’t always have the same goals or interests. I don’t think any other TV show I watched in 2022 made a move as interesting as that one, and I’m still flabbergasted by it, months later. Speaking of Harley becoming a hero, it’s something the comic books have toyed with for years to mixed results, but Harley Quinn once again nails the concept by approaching it from a novel angle; Harley remembering who she used to be and what she used to value before she fell under the Joker’s thrall. It’s, yet again, just an incredible idea executed so damn well. Over its run Harley Quinn has also assembled one of the deepest supporting casts this side of The Simpsons, and Season 3 finally gave them the chance to lead their own stories; Clayface, King Shark, Nightwing, and even the Joker himself (running a Bernie Sanders-inspired campaign for Mayor) are all comedic highlights of the season, but best of all is Batman’s season-long arc. It’s one of the best explorations of Batman’s trauma and dysfunction I’ve ever seen in any medium — it’s just wild that it’s coming from a show that began as a profane parody of everything Batman. But that’s just the thing; Harley Quinn isn’t that show anymore. It’s just gotten better and better every year. It may very well be the best superhero/comic book on TV right now. Fuck yeah!
Do You Know What I Love the Most’s “Best Of 2022” series:
2022 In Review
2022: A Playlist
Top Comics of 2022 (Part 1)
Top Comics of 2022 (Part 2)
Top Television of 2022 (Part 1)
Top Television of 2022 (Part 2)
Top Movies of 2022
Top Albums of 2022
And for more, check out last year‘s “Best of 2021” series!:
2021: A Playlist
Top 10 Newsletters of 2021
Top Television of 2021
Top Comics of 2021 (Part 1)
Top Comics of 2021 (Part 2)
Top Albums of 2021
As well as our “Best of 2020”!:
Top 10 Newsletters of 2020
Top Television, Podcasts, and Movies of 2020
Top Books and Comics of 2020
Let’s Talk About Substack
2020: A Playlist
Top Albums of 2020
ABOUT
“Do You Know What I Love the Most?” is a newsletter from Spencer Irwin about his relationship with the stories he loves. Spencer is an enthusiast and writer from Newark, Delaware, who likes punk rock, comic books, working out, breakfast, and most of all, stories. His previous work appeared on Retcon Punch, One Week One Band, and Crisis on Infinite Chords, and he can be found on Twitter at @ThatSpenceGuy. If you like this newsletter, please subscribe and share with your friends!