My Top TV Series in 2022
It’s been ages since the last time I wrote something. 2022 has been very interesting — rough but also a joyride — and I tried hard to make the time to write (which I obviously failed miserably at). I think it’s just not right to leave 2022 without writing something about films or series. This year has been great for both. With the rise of SVOD and the changing landscape in the filmmaking industry, everyone’s upping their ante and trying to stay on top of the game. By everyone, I mean every filmmaker and showrunner. So with that being said, I’d like to wrap up 2022 by sharing my top films and series released in 2022. As the nature of the market has changed, I will just merge every genre and every country of origin into one big pile of lists because I’m just too lazy to categorize. Now let’s start with the top series of 2022. Here we go (in no particular order).
The Bear — US Series (Disney+ Hotstar)
If you’re a fan of US adaptation of Shameless just like myself, then the first thing you’d recognize from this series is probably Jeremy Allen White. He starred as Lip, a regular on the series of Shameless and he’s been a fan favorite other than Ian and Mickey.
White starred as Carmen “Carmy” Berzatto in this series, an award-winning NYC chef de cuisine who returns home to run his late brother’s failing restaurant. When he hires a Culinary Institute of America-trained sous chef (Ayo Edebiri) to help him run the place, the staff resents them both and resists the changes. A very simple premise with a bang. The series mostly depicts life in a restaurant kitchen — the haste, anxiety, heightened emotions, and increased voices. It’s hardly a relaxing viewing experience — one late-season episode appears to be a single take, with the camera swirling restlessly among the various cooking stations as orders pile up and everyone starts to turn on one other.
The Bear is a gut-punch of a show, and that’s because the writing and acting are all superb, with each character distinct and completely realized, even those with limited screen time. At its core, it’s a workplace/family drama (as are most dramas), and as such, several clichés feel tired. But there are many fantastic recipes produced from the same fundamental components — what you do with them is what matters. The Bear strikes the perfect blend of mood and story, bittersweet. At a time when big budget TV has decided that more is more with shows like House of the Dragon or The Rings of Power, The Bear is a refreshing palette cleanser.
Heartstopper — British Series (Netflix)
Don’t get me wrong, I love Sex Education to the core but I also need teen series that does not as heavy. That’s probably the reason why I’m not a fan of Euphoria. I love Zendaya but I think the show is overrated. There. I said it. Don’t @ me. That’s why I found Heartstopper quite endearing. Heartstopper is an eight-episode television series based on Alice Oseman’s graphic novel series of the same name. The first season, directed by Euros Lyn, is based on the first two volumes of the graphic novel series.
This coming-of-age drama is nothing like Sam Levinson’s Euphoria. This new romantic adolescent drama sets itself up as an obvious antithesis, with its candy-colored palette, exuberant speed, and sharp use of needle drops: Whereas Euphoria’s fascination with teenage emotions is based on exaggerated nihilism, Heartstopper leans into seriousness, building a coming-of-age drama noted above all for its tenderness — in all positive way. The dulcet tone of Heartstopper is enticing. Oseman (who also authored the web comic that inspired the program) strives for authenticity. Her characters address common difficulties with a nurturing degree of attention. The series chooses moderation and subtle humor to allow its core learnings to breathe. It’s a low-key watching experience that lingers long after you’ve finished the show. It’s like a warm big long hug on a rainy day.
First Love (Hatsukoi) — Japanese Series (Netflix)
First Love: Hatsukoi has brilliantly described the twists and turns of fated love. With fate drawing two people together but also ripping them away when tragedy struck, it’s an addicting emotional roller coaster trip packed with the euphoria of first love, the regret of lost love, and the joy of second chances.
This series, although being a lovely narrative of a love that transcended the sands of time, slipped into comfortable and familiar clichés. However, in this show, I found the tropes endearing. With such tremendous chemistry between the leads (younger and older versions), I am content to just ride along and watch the emotional romance bloom.
Kanchiku Yuri, the director, and the cinematographers injected fresh life into scenes by using diverse color palettes and appealing visuals. The viewers are effortlessly transported from flashbacks of the characters’ history into the reality of their current predicament thanks to fluid camera movements. I appreciate how the filmmaker employed elements like snow, sea, and plane sounds; several shots seemed like emotive images with vintage characteristics. Color is not just an emotion or a state of mind in this program, but it’s also an integral part of the story. The way the presentation filtered and concentrated on colors help me to see the tale through a different lens, which draws me further into it.
Of course, one of the most significant parts of this show is its soundtrack. After all, the plot is inspired by Hikaru Utada’s songs, First Love (this song was and still is my jam!) and Hatsukoi. Aside from these two, the drama soundtrack, which included instrumental pieces by Taisei Iwasaki and other songs, perfectly convey the emotional moments — whether joyous, nostalgic, or heartbreaking. The music elicited empathy for the characters and is essential to the plot.
The Dropout — US Series (Disney+ Hotstar)
Before delving into the tale of Theranos, The Dropout wants us to understand that Elizabeth Holmes is a real bizarre person. The docudrama’s creator, Elizabeth Meriwether (New Girl), immerses viewers in its weirdness. The program begins with Elizabeth at several telling moments from her life — parroting a Mandarin tape on the way home from high school; bristling at reporters’ softball questions; and determinedly flailing her way to the finish line of a race that she has lost by at least a lap as a youngster.
The Dropout follows Elizabeth (Amanda Seyfried) from her days as the ambitious teenage daughter of a disgraced Enron executive (Michael Gill), to her tumultuous time at Stanford, to her meeting with manipulative businessman Sunny Balwani (Naveen Andrews), to building Theranos from the ground up without first ensuring the foundation could withstand real pressure. There are so many various paths the series might have taken, so many varied views to explore, so many strange rhythms it could’ve pounded home with grim resolution. Instead, it mixes Theranos’ natural solemnity with the comic timing of author Elizabeth Meriweather and director Michael Showalter (The Big Sick) to delve into both the sadness and absurdity of every crazy turn this narrative takes.
My absolute favorite episode of this series (and perhaps of all series combined) would be the 4th episode, Old White Men. The directing, the satirical yet hilarious dialogues as well as the message this episode carry is just superb!
My Liberation Notes — Korean Series (Netflix)
I’ve said it here and I’m saying it again: My Liberation Notes is the best kdrama in 2022. I don’t understand why it’s underrated. Our three main characters are corporate slaves and I can’t help but give a thumbs up seeing how the creators of this drama describe the work culture that exists in it. Nasty coworkers, annoying bosses, toxic gangs, curious people who don’t know the realm of privacy. All of these things are scattered in every episode which makes me even more amazed by Park Hae-Young’s three-dimensional script writing.
With a melancholic tone and light drama, My Liberation Notes actually seems serious. But fear not, there will be a lot of humor in it that usually pops up in the most unexpected places. And when the humor appears, be prepared to laugh out loud because My Liberation Notes always reminds you that life is mind-effingly absurd. I want to admit that actually I wasn’t ready to part with the Sanpo gang. I rewatched the show two times. I just love this series as this is a story about people who struggle to find happiness.
1899 — German Series (Netflix)
Just like Dark, this show gave me a headache for all the good reasons. A multilingual mystery box from the creators of Dark, 1899 follows far too many characters on a voyage to America. The characters don’t have much in common at first, other from the fact that they’re all running away from something — and they’re all hiding a vital secret. Each episode, as in the early days of Lost, begins with a flashback to a single character, providing you some insight into who they are and why they’re aboard the ship. That would be enough drama, but 1899 isn’t satisfied with just being a character study. Things rapidly go from unusual to bizarre.
When Dark released on Netflix, audiences had no idea what to anticipate, making the show’s surprising disclosures all the more impactful. People watching 1899, on the other hand, are prepared to be deceived by the showrunners, which means they will hunt for hints in every frame of the series. Knowing well that the mind-bending mystery is the most appealing aspect of Dark and 1899, Friese and bo Odar don’t waste time shattering our perceptions and making us doubt reality. This method enables them to deliver a tale that is both more complicated and simpler to follow. As a result, the mystery consumes the attention that should be focused on the characters.
Another important thing to highlight is the multilingual part. That’s sometimes confusing for me but also part of the compelling part as the language plays important role on the narrative as well.
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There are many other shows that I haven’t watched yet so again, the list is personal. We can all agree to disagree. With that being said, there are three series that I’d like to watch ASAP:
Abbott Elementary (Disney+ Hotstar)
Severance (Apple TV)
and The Patient (Disney+ Hotstar)
That’s pretty much about it. Let’s regroup on my top movies list in 2022 post.
