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English Teacher
(Disney+) A hilarious new high-school-based sitcom that flew under the radar. Its debut season started with a complaint being made by a conservative mum that our eponymous teacher, Evan Marquez, was spotted kissing his boyfriend on school grounds – and ended with him dressed in rubber at a fetish club with the entire faculty doing poppers and singing karaoke. It had charm, sexual tension and a sky-high gag rate. Instantly lovable stuff.
What we said: “For all its handling of today’s hot-button topics (non-binary people, book bans, rogue school boards, ‘wokeness’), English Teacher is a breeze – a tricky mix of wit, silly humour and heart with plenty of potential.” Read more
49
Julia
(Sky Atlantic/Now) Sarah Lancashire as charming 60s TV chef Julia Child was a pure joy to watch – made even more joyous by whisking Julia away to Paris for the first half of this second (and last) season. The supporting cast were wonderful, too: David Hyde Pierce as her loyal life partner Paul, Isabella Rossellini as her pastry frenemy Simone, and Bebe Neuwirth as her sarcastic best friend Avis. In fact, it was their individual stories that collectively made this such a rich show, tackling issues of the time with nuance, wit and piles of delicious food.
What we said: “A uniquely indulgent watch, erudite and gorgeous and heady.” Read more
48
Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show
(Sky Comedy/Now) Months after Jerrod Carmichael Reality Show aired, it still hurts your brain to think about it too much. During its eight episodes, standup comedian Carmichael interrogated the failings of himself and those around him so gratuitously that it felt pathological. He professed his love for his best friend. He filmed himself cheating on his boyfriend. He engineered a truly excruciating fight with his father. At times it was like staring directly into a wound, and yet it had more fun dancing on the line between performance and truth than any show since The Rehearsal.
What we said: “You have to wonder why the man has chosen to pick his scabs so publicly.” Read more
47
Inside No 9
(BBC Two/iPlayer) One of British TV’s greatest ever comedy franchises came to a brilliant end this year. Were it not for the fact that its ninth season marked the natural endpoint, Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith’s dark, celebrity guest-packed show felt inventive enough that it could run and run. A self-referential finale that saw the actors playing themselves at the Inside No 9 wrap party – featuring extremely game turns by Amanda Abbington and Katherine Parkinson – was a daft, touching meditation on the duo’s working relationship. Hopefully that will run and run.
What we said: “Nothing short of miraculous.” Read more
46
The Dry
(ITVX) Roisin Gallagher returned as thirtysomething recovering alcoholic Shiv in the second season of creator Nancy Harris’s excellent Irish dramedy. Her family – the Sheridans – were as dysfunctional as ever, bringing equal parts heartbreak and hilarity to the story, as Shiv continued to try to get her life back on track in Dublin. Pom Boyd was particularly memorable as her “invisible” mother who was ready to roar and be seen: when she joined the AA with Shiv, she boasted: “They’re practically fighting over who is going to sponsor me!”
What we said: “A dense, clever, deeply sad, deeply funny achievement.” Read more
45
Ludwig
(BBC One/iPlayer) David Mitchell’s debut as a case-of-the-week detective was the BBC’s most-watched scripted show of the year. It’s hard to think of a more pleasing murder mystery in recent times than this fish-out-of-water tale of a professional puzzler roped in to pretending to be a police officer. Add a stellar turn by Anna Maxwell Martin as Ludwig’s sister-in-law and you had a hugely watchable bit of cosy, mindless TV.
What we said: “Mitchell is as brilliant as ever at playing the part he was born to play.” Read more
44
The Day of the Jackal
(Sky Atlantic/Now) Eddie Redmayne and his wheelie-bag-cum-rifle snipered their way around Europe in this thrilling and aesthetically pleasing re-up of the classic movie about the world’s deadliest gun for hire – and the agent trying to track him down, played by a fantastically on-edge Lashana Lynch. Who would have thought a man hiding in a vent in a concert hall for 24 hours and weeing in a bottle would make some of the most breath-stoppingly tense TV of the year?
What we said: “Highly enjoyable, trigger-happy stuff.” Read more
43
Pachinko
(Apple TV+) The second season of this sweeping historical saga, about the Koreans who left home to work in imperial Japan before the second world war, continued to follow several generations of a family along two timelines – and it was every bit as sensational to watch. An ominous fear was palpable in Osaka, 1945, where Sunja (Minha Kim) lived with her family, and we saw how history’s most devastating events were navigated by ordinary households, as well as the generational repercussions they left.
What we said: “Pachinko is close to reaching classic status. This is still an excellent drama powered by a rare emotional intelligence.” Read more
42
The Assembly
(BBC One/iPlayer) This one-off show was probably the best TV interview the BBC aired this year, thanks to the panel of neurodivergent interviewers – and their dedication to asking Good Omens star, Michael Sheen, whatever the hell they felt like. From: “How does it feel to be dating someone who is only five years older than your daughter?” to: “Do you know anything about Tom Jones, the long-term celebrity?” it was a lovably chaotic watch, not least due to the panel’s occasional yells of “Michael! You’re doing fabulous!” or “My mum likes you!” There were almost too many wondrous moments to mention, although quite possibly the highlight was the viral clip where an interviewer was nearly too nervous to ask their question – then hit Sheen with an incredibly eloquent query about Dylan Thomas.
What we said: “Sheen, of course, is charm personified. I guess you have to be to play Tony Blair twice and still be loved by everyone.” Read more
41
Lady in the Lake
(Apple TV+) Stunningly directed, impeccably acted and peppered with shocking action sequences, this stylish 60s-set thriller somehow prompted far less water cooler chatter than you’d expect from Natalie Portman’s TV debut. It wasn’t just an intricate murder mystery, it was an astonishingly dense meditation on racism and sexual oppression all wrapped up in beautiful vintage styling.
What we said: “It is altogether masterly. And if you don’t have room to love it while you bow down before its technical and dramatic proficiency, that’s fine. Give yourself time to digest it. We’re not used to fare this rich. The love will come.” Read more
40
Undercover: Exposing the Far Right
(Channel 4) This hair-raising feature-length documentary followed the impossibly courageous anti-fascist activists Hope Not Hate as they attempted to infiltrate and expose various far-right groups in Britain and Europe. It was a grim insight into increasingly mainstream radicalisation but also an uplifting and frequently thrilling look at what can be done to counter it.
What we said: “The film made headlines when the London film festival cancelled a screening over safety concerns. Nick Lowles, Hope Not Hate’s founder, released a statement that read: ‘Safety must always be an utmost priority. But we can’t deny that it is disappointing to see the brave work of our staff being denied the widest possible audience. Now, more than ever, the true nature of the far right, in Britain and abroad, needs to be exposed.’ At least those watching on television will be exposed to the true nature of the far right – and one of the year’s great documentaries.” Read more
39
Somebody Somewhere
(Sky Comedy/Now) The joyously touching relationship between pals Joel (Jeff Hiller) and Sam (Bridget Everett) has long been the beating heart of a show so heartstring-tugging it’s hard to know whether an episode will leave you giggling or weeping. And in this final season, it roared back to its best, from car-based heart-to-hearts to silly sleepovers – and the performance of a love song so adorable it’s hard to believe it immediately followed an uproariously filthy rendition of She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain (emphasis on the “coming”). What a show, what a way to go out.
What we said: “It is a subtle and gentle tale in a TV landscape which rewards big bangs, and it is one of those beautiful, sad comedies that elicits the occasional belly laugh, but mostly leaves behind a low level hum of melancholy ... The show ends fittingly, with a sing-song, before it drifts away into the night. It will be missed.”
38
Agatha All Along
(Disney+) WandaVision, the rare critical and ratings hit in Disney’s Marvel strand, got a spin-off … and also proved a hit. Kathryn Hahn’s reprisal of her role as frustrated witch Agatha Harkness was every bit as dramatic as the first time round, with the added fun of a coven including Aubrey Plaza’s cheeky malevolence and Joe Locke’s lovable sweetness. Dropping it at Halloween certainly didn’t hurt.
What we said: “The script is burnished to a high shine and slips seamlessly from comedy to tragedy and back again. There is plenty of action, but plenty of depth too. It’s the perfect show for Halloween season, but an absolute treat any time at all.” Read more
37
Fantasmas
(Sky Comedy/Now) This off-the-wall exercise in comic surrealism from ex-Saturday Night Live writer Julio Torres was hard to pin down. In theory, it was a sitcom, but its pinwheeling narrative quest to discover a lost earring meant it often felt like a series of charmingly oddball skits. From Steve Buscemi playing a personification of the letter Q to Emma Stone as a reality star, it had the air of an enjoyably weird fever dream.
What we said: “A glimmer of hope for non-generic television that writes its own rules.” Read more
36
Sunny
(Apple TV+) It might be packed with profanity-filled moments of black humour, but this Rashida Jones-starring tale of a woman wrapped up in a bizarre robot-based mystery after her husband and son vanish in a plane crash was a rare chance for the lead to plunge into a darker role. Part meditation on grief, part crime thriller, it was an idiosyncratic show whose whisky-soaked jaunt through a reimagining of Japan proved that Jones is far more than a star of upbeat comedies.
What we said: “I suspect Sunny is intended to scratch the Severance itch while we wait for the new series; it probably will. But it is undoubtedly its own thing – and a very good one, too.” Read more
35
Say Nothing
(Disney+) This adaptation of Patrick Radden Keefe’s book explored dark recent history with a remarkably light touch, telling the story of IRA volunteer Delours Price but locating the drama within the emotional terrain of radicalisation, violence and, eventually, conscience. A startling lead performance from Lola Petticrew brought the young Price to entirely convincing life, while Maxine Peake invested Price as an older woman with weary defiance.
What we said: “It’s a terrible story – many terrible stories – of a terrible time that is barely over.” Read more
34
Kaos
(Netflix) So glossily styled and impressively cast was this modern-day take on Greek gods – from The End of the F***ing World creator Charlie Covell – that you suspect the huge budgets involved must explain why Netflix cancelled the show before we got to see how it played out. It was certainly not down to the quality of the series itself: grippingly plotted, peppered with just the kind of cheeky humour you’d expect from a show starring Jeff Goldblum as Zeus and leading to a cliffhanger that, sadly, will never be resolved. Can we persuade you to think again, Netflix?
What we said: “Covell’s script is a masterpiece – so confident, so apparently effortless, so light on its feet – as it builds an alternative modern world in which pantheism (and Zeus) still rules, and gods mix with mortals, rarely to good ends.” Read more
33
After the Party
(Channel 4) What would you do if you knew something to be true that no one else accepted or was willing to confront? Robyn Malcolm was sensational and formidable as the woman who knew – or thought she knew? – she saw her husband (a perfectly ambiguous Peter Mullan) sexually assault a teenage boy at his own birthday. But when she dug her heels in after no one believed her, she spent years alienating herself from everyone in her family and her entire community. This New Zealand drama was stunning and thrilling with a creeping sense of dread – and provided the rare joy of getting to watch a star at the very top of their game.
What we said: “What a role. What an actor. What a performance.” Read more
32
How to With John Wilson
(BBC Two/iPlayer) A gem of a show, the third and final season of John Wilson’s comedy documentary may well qualify as its best. As ever, this was a jumble of New York footage – a bin in a sinkhole, a dog on a ledge – and interviews with oddballs who appear to share some of Wilson’s own insecurities. The magic of this show was that Wilson was able to engineer these fragments into a larger point. The episode How to Find a Public Restroom, a standout, ended up being a thorough piece of reportage on how private development has ripped the heart out of cities.
What we said: “Whether his show is the most profound on TV is arguable; that it is one of the funniest is undeniable.” Read more
31
Only Murders in the Building
(Disney+) It was starting to feel like Only Murders in the Building – a comedy mystery about two elderly men and a young woman who solve homicides for a podcast – had lost the ability to surprise. And yet in its fourth season, the show found a new colour in its palette. This was Only Murders’ Hollywood season, as the podcast was adapted into a movie starring Zach Galifianakis and Eva Longoria. This helped sharpen the show’s satirical muscles, giving us the greatest outing since its debut.
What we said: “This show remains an extremely rare example of a comedy-drama that does both equally, and incredibly, well.” Read more
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Supacell
(Netflix) The long-awaited superhero drama from Blue Story creator Rapman transcended your average capes-and-carnage fare. Its look at five south Londoners who suddenly developed unearthly abilities was an impressive portrait of Black Britishness that asked – what would you do if you suddenly had the ability to level the playing field?
What we said: “It’s clear that this is a world crying out for more exploration. The intriguing sci-fi elements and the ingenious ways characters react to getting powers – from fighting off bailiffs to trying to prevent sexual violence – are just the beginning.” Read more
29
The Diplomat
(Netflix) Season two was another addictive instalment of this drama about high-stakes political machinations. This tale of US ambassador Kate Wyler’s London-based attempts to deal with international crises was so good it was like all the best bits of The West Wing, The Americans and Homeland thrown together – topped off by a stunning performance by Keri Russell.
What we said: “Season two carries straight on from the explosive twist that ended the first run and continues to be a masterclass in storytelling. No moment is wasted and, before you know it, it’s 2am and you’re still watching.” Read more
28
True Detective: Night Country
(Sky Atlantic/Now/HBO) This ice-rimmed Alaska take on the long-running detective drama single-handedly revived a flagging format – and made it must-watch TV. Jodie Foster’s captivating turn as a hard-bitten detective made a strong bid for being this franchise’s best star ever, as she ploughed through a frozen, melancholy world on the trail of a seemingly supernatural murderer.
What we said: “Night Country is a brilliant inversion of the men-heavy, heat-oppressed, narratively bloated series that have gone before. New showrunner Issa López has kept the essence of the thing but made it its own thing.” Read more
27
The Bear
(Disney+) The stressful Chicago-set chef drama set an impossibly high bar with its flawless second season – so this year’s third was met with some disappointment. As Carmy (Jeremy Allen White) continued to struggle with the new restaurant, Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) started to question her future there, and that frustration extended to watching fans. But this show at its worst was still very good. Highlights included Tina (Liza Colón-Zayas) being given an emotional backstory, Carmy’s confrontation with the chef who traumatised him, and a chaotic but beautiful birth scene with Sugar (Abby Elliot) and her mother Donna (Jamie Lee Curtis).
What we said: “Little wonder it has become such a pop culture phenomenon, churning out superstars quicker than plates on the pass … This is the kind of show that elicits a deep fondness and, even in its flaws, I feel very fond of The Bear.” Read more
26
Until I Kill You
(ITV) Has there ever been a better TV portrayal of the damage that male violence causes – and the monumental strength survivors require to move on? Arguably not. This dramatisation of Living With a Serial Killer – an account by Delia Balmer of surviving repeated physical and sexual assaults by her boyfriend John Sweeney – was a striking depiction of the traumas of both the violence and her subsequent treatment. It resisted the temptation to grind the edges off its protagonists’ spikiness to give her more mainstream appeal, instead opting for a refreshingly respectful approach to audience’s intelligence.
What we said: “Until I Kill You is an extraordinary portrait of survivors’ suffering. But there is no scurrying after sensationalism. It insists on the essential pitifulness – not pitiableness – of these men and the needs they serve. It is a magnificent treatment of a damnable, unending subject.” Read more
25
Masters of the Air
(Apple TV+) Full of immortal lines (“What took you so long?”) and immortal scenes (every terrifying flight sequence), Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks rounded out their second world war trilogy with hour after airborne hour of flying into enemy territory, flak attack – and certain death for most of the characters. The tale of the 100th bomb group (so-called because so few pilots actually made it home from expeditions) was not just terrifically tense but had the hottest young cast imaginable – from Austin Butler and Callum Turner as best friends Buck and Bucky to Ncuti Gatwa and Barry Keoghan. It was overly patriotic – this is Spielberg we’re dealing with – but after putting us in the pilot seat for 10 excruciating hours, it earned the right to be. The only pity? It was tucked away on Apple TV+ where far fewer people got to experience it than its epic sister shows The Pacific and Band of Brothers.
What we said: “Horribly, gut-twistingly tense” Read more
24
Curb Your Enthusiasm
(Sky Comedy/Now/HBO) After quarter of a century, Larry David’s seminal comedy came to an end with a humdinger of a final season. It went out not only doing what it has always done – gleefully kicking at the margins of public etiquette – but also righting a historic wrong. This was a season that inexorably led to a re-do of the much-maligned Seinfeld finale, with David put on trial for all his terrible past behaviour. Unbelievably, he stuck the landing. Even more unbelievably, he had the audacity to write a scene where Jerry Seinfeld congratulated him for it. What a man. What a show.
What we said: “Larry David, thank you always for your service.” Read more
23
Blue Lights
(BBC One/iPlayer) Fists pumped up and down the country at the seemingly casual yet actually weep-inducing taxi scene that rounded out the second series of the thrilling Belfast cop show (which was a corker, even without Gerry: RIP). After being separated on the beat for most of the series, Grace and Stevie finally got their act together – and went home together. And all it took was a child almost shooting them both, then Stevie nearly dying in a blaze of fire at the Mount Eden riot. Some people …
What we said: “Its gift for plain speaking is one thing that makes Blue Lights such rewarding drama, but the difficult political truths are softened by a weakness for that staple of escapist emergency-services soaps, the workplace romance.” Read more
22
We Are Lady Parts
(Channel 4) Nida Manzoor’s hilarious anarchy-comedy about a Muslim punk band returned with more bangers, more depth – and a clutch of phenomenally unexpected cameos. The band recorded their first album and found that they weren’t the hottest new thing on the block any more when confronted by the influencer-led Second Wife (a great name, to be fair). But as lead singer Saira wrestled with the dangers – or perks? – of selling out, she encountered her idol Sister Squire, played by none other than Meera Syal in full-on leather get-up. And she wasn’t the only one; enter Malala riding on a horse!
What we said: “Consistently more than the sum of its (lady) parts.” Read more
21
Big Boys
(Channel 4) Jack Rooke’s semi-autobiographical ode to male friendship returned for a second series, with all the rude gags, pop culture references and properly heart-tugging moments that made it such a warm hit in the first place. As newly out Jack (Dylan Llewellyn) and his straight best friend Danny (Jon Pointing) continued to unsuccessfully navigate uni, we also got to spend more time with the other great people in Jack’s life: Harriet Webb was the standout comedy star as cousin Shannon, who got pregnant with her Asos delivery driver and insisted he search every corner shop in Watford to find a Peperami for her to eat during labour.
What we said: “To highlight just how gorgeous and poignant Big Boys is almost feels like a disservice to the comedy. There are plenty of knob jokes too. But it is a beautiful blend, and it deserves all the success it has had.” Read more
