PEOPLE Picks the Top 10 TV Shows of 2023, fromSuccessiontoLessons in ChemistrytoThe Bear

Mar. 15, 2025

The Diplomat, Swarm and The Last of Us.Photo:Netflix, Amazon prime; hbo

Netflix, Amazon prime; hbo

Over the course of the past year there was lightly dispiriting speculation — something like a never-dissipating autumnal mist — that we’d moved beyond the so-called Golden Age of Television. The upcoming 25th anniversary of HBO’s landmarkThe Sopranos,which premiered in January 1999, possibly added to this sense that innovative greatness was retreating into the past.But let’s hold our horses, at least for now. What else but a Golden Age could have brought forthThe Golden Bachelor,ABC’s popular tweak of its reality-romance classicThe Bachelor?Okay — a contentious proposal.But the year also saw the satisfyingly ironic conclusion of HBO’sSuccessionafter an economical four-season run; a strong second season of FX on Hulu’s uncompromisingly rawThe Bear;and the premiere of Netflix’s ever-rising soufflé, the political soap operaThe Diplomat.And so onto a list of terrific programs—with these honorable mentions:Poker Face(Peacock),Jury Duty(Amazon Freevee),The Curse(Paramount+ with Showtime) andThe Fall of the House of Usher(Netflix).

Over the course of the past year there was lightly dispiriting speculation — something like a never-dissipating autumnal mist — that we’d moved beyond the so-called Golden Age of Television. The upcoming 25th anniversary of HBO’s landmarkThe Sopranos,which premiered in January 1999, possibly added to this sense that innovative greatness was retreating into the past.

But let’s hold our horses, at least for now. What else but a Golden Age could have brought forthThe Golden Bachelor,ABC’s popular tweak of its reality-romance classicThe Bachelor?Okay — a contentious proposal.

But the year also saw the satisfyingly ironic conclusion of HBO’sSuccessionafter an economical four-season run; a strong second season of FX on Hulu’s uncompromisingly rawThe Bear;and the premiere of Netflix’s ever-rising soufflé, the political soap operaThe Diplomat.

And so onto a list of terrific programs—with these honorable mentions:Poker Face(Peacock),Jury Duty(Amazon Freevee),The Curse(Paramount+ with Showtime) andThe Fall of the House of Usher(Netflix).

01of 10

‘The Diplomat,’ Netflix

The Diplomat.netflix

netflix

02of 10’Beef,' NetflixBeef.Andrew Cooper/NetflixRoad rage escalated into punishing fury on this jolting satire that explored issues of Asian American identity. Weren’t these enemies (Steven Yeunand Ali Wong) possibly at war with themselves, as well? Hm!

02of 10

‘Beef,’ Netflix

Beef.Andrew Cooper/Netflix

Andrew Cooper/Netflix

Road rage escalated into punishing fury on this jolting satire that explored issues of Asian American identity. Weren’t these enemies (Steven Yeunand Ali Wong) possibly at war with themselves, as well? Hm!

03of 10

04of 10

Lessons in Chemistry.apple tv+

apple tv+

05of 10

A rom-com about just friends? Is that even a thing? Yes, and it’s a wonderful thing, if it stars the fizzy, funny pair ofRose ByrneandSeth Rogen. Byrne, in particular, deserves praise for carrying off the year’s most challenging comedic scene. It involves partying too hard in middle age.

06of 10’The Bear,' FX on HuluThe Bear.FX NetworkThe return of this series about the opening of a Chicago restaurant proved that a great dish can be even tastier on a second serving.

06of 10

‘The Bear,’ FX on Hulu

The Bear.FX Network

FX Network

The return of this series about the opening of a Chicago restaurant proved that a great dish can be even tastier on a second serving.

07of 10

‘The Last of Us,’ HBO

The Last of Us.hbo

hbo

08of 10’Swarm,' AmazonSwarm.prime videoDominique Fishbackplayed the murderous fan of a Beyoncé-like star in an exhilaratingly funny-scary series about the loss of self — and sanity — in the age of social media. The ending could be interpreted as consoling, pathetic or alarming, depending on your level of cynicism.

08of 10

‘Swarm,’ Amazon

Swarm.prime video

prime video

Dominique Fishbackplayed the murderous fan of a Beyoncé-like star in an exhilaratingly funny-scary series about the loss of self — and sanity — in the age of social media. The ending could be interpreted as consoling, pathetic or alarming, depending on your level of cynicism.

09of 10

‘Succession,’ HBO

Succession.Claudette Barius/HBO

Claudette Barius/HBO

10of 10’Full Circle,' MAXFull Circle.maxDirector Steven Soderbergh’s thriller about a bungled kidnapping evolved into a panicked coming together of both the privileged and the exploited and — because Soderbergh relishes the out-of-left-field detail — postal inspectors and superstitious Guyanese mobsters. Intricate and bitingly ironic.

10of 10

‘Full Circle,’ MAX

Full Circle.max

max

Director Steven Soderbergh’s thriller about a bungled kidnapping evolved into a panicked coming together of both the privileged and the exploited and — because Soderbergh relishes the out-of-left-field detail — postal inspectors and superstitious Guyanese mobsters. Intricate and bitingly ironic.

source: people.com