What to Watch: The Best New TV Shows of 2022 So Far

Mar. 15, 2025

01of 34Heartstopper (Netflix)NetflixIn this adorable British series — just renewed for two more seasons — openly gay 14-year-old Charlie (Joe Locke) has a crush on jock schoolmate Nick (Kit Connor). The attraction appears to be mutual, but Charlie is slow to catch on — his go-to mode is fumbling self-doubt. It’s all performed with sweet, funny sincerity. Olivia Colman turns up as Nick’s mom. —Tom Gliatto

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Heartstopper (Netflix)

Netflix

In this adorable British series — just renewed for two more seasons — openly gay 14-year-old Charlie (Joe Locke) has a crush on jock schoolmate Nick (Kit Connor). The attraction appears to be mutual, but Charlie is slow to catch on — his go-to mode is fumbling self-doubt. It’s all performed with sweet, funny sincerity. Olivia Colman turns up as Nick’s mom. —Tom Gliatto

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Abbott Elementary (ABC)

ABC/Prashant Gupta

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The Dropout (Hulu)

Beth Dubber/Hulu

04of 34The Staircase (HBO Max)HBO MaxBased on the 2004 docuseries of the same name, the scripted dramaThe Staircasebecame the true crime obsession of 2022’s first half — and showed everyone that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Patrick needs to be on our screens more often. The limited series tells the story of a crime novelist (Colin Firth) accused of violently killing wife (Toni Collette). As the writer and his family undergo a grueling legal process, a French documentary team takes interest in the case, making for a truly meta viewing experience. —Dana Rose Falcone

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The Staircase (HBO Max)

HBO Max

Based on the 2004 docuseries of the same name, the scripted dramaThe Staircasebecame the true crime obsession of 2022’s first half — and showed everyone that Arnold Schwarzenegger’s son Patrick needs to be on our screens more often. The limited series tells the story of a crime novelist (Colin Firth) accused of violently killing wife (Toni Collette). As the writer and his family undergo a grueling legal process, a French documentary team takes interest in the case, making for a truly meta viewing experience. —Dana Rose Falcone

05of 34The Offer (Paramount+)Nicole Wilder/Paramount+The fact thatThe Godfather(arguably one of thegreatest films of all time) ever got made in the first place is mind-blowing. The string of good luck, bad luck and near-misses that had to align to bring the Francis Ford Coppola film based on Mario Puzo’s bestseller into theaters makes for a surprising and entertaining 10 episodes — even if you’ve never seen the film. (Full disclosure: I hadn’t seen it in its entirety before watching this series. I have now, and I loved it.) Those who are craving more Miles Teller after seeingTop Gun: Maverickwill enjoy him as executive producer Al Ruddy, and Juno Temple is every bit as lovable and badass as his assistant, Bettye McCartt, as she is inTed Lasso. And Matthew Goode’s turn as Paramount studio head Bob Evans is hilarious, magnetic and often the reason to press play on the next episode. —Breanne L. Heldman

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The Offer (Paramount+)

Nicole Wilder/Paramount+

The fact thatThe Godfather(arguably one of thegreatest films of all time) ever got made in the first place is mind-blowing. The string of good luck, bad luck and near-misses that had to align to bring the Francis Ford Coppola film based on Mario Puzo’s bestseller into theaters makes for a surprising and entertaining 10 episodes — even if you’ve never seen the film. (Full disclosure: I hadn’t seen it in its entirety before watching this series. I have now, and I loved it.) Those who are craving more Miles Teller after seeingTop Gun: Maverickwill enjoy him as executive producer Al Ruddy, and Juno Temple is every bit as lovable and badass as his assistant, Bettye McCartt, as she is inTed Lasso. And Matthew Goode’s turn as Paramount studio head Bob Evans is hilarious, magnetic and often the reason to press play on the next episode. —Breanne L. Heldman

06of 34Ms. Marvel (Disney+)Disney+High school drama isn’t exactly what one might expect from a Marvel series, but never mind confusion about boys: Pakistani-American teen Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) has newfound powers to sort out and battles to fight with possible long lost relatives. Knowing Kamala will eventually team up with her hero, Captain Marvel, in next year’s theatrical movie The Marvels makes watching her origin story all the sweeter — and Vellani is adorable and magnetic. —Breanne L. Heldman

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Ms. Marvel (Disney+)

Disney+

High school drama isn’t exactly what one might expect from a Marvel series, but never mind confusion about boys: Pakistani-American teen Kamala Khan (Iman Vellani) has newfound powers to sort out and battles to fight with possible long lost relatives. Knowing Kamala will eventually team up with her hero, Captain Marvel, in next year’s theatrical movie The Marvels makes watching her origin story all the sweeter — and Vellani is adorable and magnetic. —Breanne L. Heldman

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I Love That for You (Showtime)

Tony Rivetti Jr./SHOWTIME

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The Kardashians (Hulu)

Hulu

09of 34We Own This City (HBO)Paul Schiraldi/HBOFor any fan ofThe Wire— and if you haven’t seen that gritty cops-and-criminals epic, drop everything and binge it this summer — showrunner David Simon’s return to the streets of Baltimore was bound to be a treat. This six-episode series tells the real-life story of a group of brutal, corrupt police officers who were brought to justice in 2017. It’s not aWire-level classic: There are too many slow stretches and stilted sociopolitical explanations. But Jon Bernthal’s chillingly charismatic turn as a very, very dirty cop — and all that crackling, cynical Baltimore dialogue — are riveting. —Samantha Miller

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We Own This City (HBO)

Paul Schiraldi/HBO

For any fan ofThe Wire— and if you haven’t seen that gritty cops-and-criminals epic, drop everything and binge it this summer — showrunner David Simon’s return to the streets of Baltimore was bound to be a treat. This six-episode series tells the real-life story of a group of brutal, corrupt police officers who were brought to justice in 2017. It’s not aWire-level classic: There are too many slow stretches and stilted sociopolitical explanations. But Jon Bernthal’s chillingly charismatic turn as a very, very dirty cop — and all that crackling, cynical Baltimore dialogue — are riveting. —Samantha Miller

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The Summer I Turned Pretty (Amazon Prime Video)

Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno) and Belly (Lola Tung) inThe Summer I Turned Pretty.Peter Taylor/Prime Video

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12of 34This Is Going to Hurt (AMC+)Anika Molnar/Sister Pictures/BBC Studios/AMCBen Whishaw — that fantastic, whippet-lean British actor (No Time to Die, Paddington) — plays Adam Kay, a young doctor struggling with the pressures of a hospital maternity ward. Dr. Kay sometimes rouses himself with a sharp, needling joke (“I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news,” he tells a woman doing a puzzle. “You’ve spelled ‘pavilion’ wrong”), but he’s exhausted, on edge about revealing that he’s gay and — perhaps inevitably — capable of making a disastrous misdiagnosis. Whishaw gives this tough-minded limited series just enough bite and just enough empathetic kindness. —Tom Gliatto

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This Is Going to Hurt (AMC+)

Anika Molnar/Sister Pictures/BBC Studios/AMC

Ben Whishaw — that fantastic, whippet-lean British actor (No Time to Die, Paddington) — plays Adam Kay, a young doctor struggling with the pressures of a hospital maternity ward. Dr. Kay sometimes rouses himself with a sharp, needling joke (“I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news,” he tells a woman doing a puzzle. “You’ve spelled ‘pavilion’ wrong”), but he’s exhausted, on edge about revealing that he’s gay and — perhaps inevitably — capable of making a disastrous misdiagnosis. Whishaw gives this tough-minded limited series just enough bite and just enough empathetic kindness. —Tom Gliatto

13of 34Minx (HBO Max)Katrina Marcinowski/HBO MaxPlucky 1970s journalist Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond) dreams of launching a high-minded feminist magazine calledThe Matriarchy Awakens. The naked truth? The only publisher interested is nudie mag mogul Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson, oozing sleaze and charm in equal measure), who wants to add full-frontal photos of disrobed men and create the country’s first erotic publication for women. In this cheeky comedy, the laughs come courtesy of Joyce and Doug’s power struggle. The blushes come courtesy of all the cheeks (and more).—Eric Andersson

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Minx (HBO Max)

Katrina Marcinowski/HBO Max

Plucky 1970s journalist Joyce Prigger (Ophelia Lovibond) dreams of launching a high-minded feminist magazine calledThe Matriarchy Awakens. The naked truth? The only publisher interested is nudie mag mogul Doug Renetti (Jake Johnson, oozing sleaze and charm in equal measure), who wants to add full-frontal photos of disrobed men and create the country’s first erotic publication for women. In this cheeky comedy, the laughs come courtesy of Joyce and Doug’s power struggle. The blushes come courtesy of all the cheeks (and more).—Eric Andersson

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15of 34Chloe (Amazon Prime Video)York Tillyer/Banijay Rights Limited/Amazon StudiosErin Doherty (The Crown) plays Becky, a sullen, possibly unstable office temp obsessed with the social media posts of posh, happy Chloe. When Chloe dies unexpectedly, Becky assumes a sophisticated new identity — Sasha! — and infiltrates Chloe’s circle of friends to investigate. Terrific. —Tom Gliatto

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Chloe (Amazon Prime Video)

York Tillyer/Banijay Rights Limited/Amazon Studios

Erin Doherty (The Crown) plays Becky, a sullen, possibly unstable office temp obsessed with the social media posts of posh, happy Chloe. When Chloe dies unexpectedly, Becky assumes a sophisticated new identity — Sasha! — and infiltrates Chloe’s circle of friends to investigate. Terrific. —Tom Gliatto

16of 34Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (Netflix)NetflixWe love a good Netflix docuseries, butBad Veganmight just take the cake as the craziest of them all. The four-episode series follows Pure Food & Wine owner Sarma Melngailis, who went from celebrated restaurateur to fugitive on the run when she and her husband Anthony Strangis swiped nearly $2 million from investors and employees. The pair made headlines when they were famously arrested in May 2016 after ordering a non-vegan Domino’s pizza to the Tennessee motel room where they were hiding out. But it turns out, the true story of what happened is even stranger than has been reported. Just wait until you get to the meat suit!—Dave Quinn

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Bad Vegan: Fame. Fraud. Fugitives. (Netflix)

We love a good Netflix docuseries, butBad Veganmight just take the cake as the craziest of them all. The four-episode series follows Pure Food & Wine owner Sarma Melngailis, who went from celebrated restaurateur to fugitive on the run when she and her husband Anthony Strangis swiped nearly $2 million from investors and employees. The pair made headlines when they were famously arrested in May 2016 after ordering a non-vegan Domino’s pizza to the Tennessee motel room where they were hiding out. But it turns out, the true story of what happened is even stranger than has been reported. Just wait until you get to the meat suit!—Dave Quinn

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apple tv+

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The Tourist (HBO Max)

Ian Routledge/Two Brothers Pictures

19of 34Moon Knight (Disney+)Marvel StudiosOscar Isaac has given us many strong performances (Ex Machina,Annihilation,Scenes From a Marriage), most of them of an almost crushing gravitas — even his first appearance in the Marvel Universe (2016’sX-Men: Apocalypse) was as a stone-faced supervillain. Here we get a new Oscar Isaac — funny, playful and lively — as he returns to Marvel for this entertaining series, which has him shifting, splitting and doubling identities (one of them is British and works in a museum gift shop) and at times becoming Moon Knight, who looks like a moth in a suit. There are also some ancient Egyptian gods. If it’s boredom you’re after,Moon Knightwon’t do it.—Tom Gliatto

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Moon Knight (Disney+)

Marvel Studios

Oscar Isaac has given us many strong performances (Ex Machina,Annihilation,Scenes From a Marriage), most of them of an almost crushing gravitas — even his first appearance in the Marvel Universe (2016’sX-Men: Apocalypse) was as a stone-faced supervillain. Here we get a new Oscar Isaac — funny, playful and lively — as he returns to Marvel for this entertaining series, which has him shifting, splitting and doubling identities (one of them is British and works in a museum gift shop) and at times becoming Moon Knight, who looks like a moth in a suit. There are also some ancient Egyptian gods. If it’s boredom you’re after,Moon Knightwon’t do it.—Tom Gliatto

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Jared Leto stars as eccentric WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann alongside Anne Hathaway who plays his business partner and wife. The drama may center around the chaotic rise and disastrous fall of the co-working space startup, but at the core of the series is the love story between the Neumanns. And money. Lots and lots of money.—Emily Strohm

21of 34Single Drunk Female (Freeform)Freeform/Danny DelgadoTackling addiction through a comedic lens isn’t an easy feat, but what makes this series work is its leading lady, Sofia Black-D’Elia (The Night Of,The Mick) as Samantha, a 28-year-old alcoholic forced to move back in with her mother (Ally Sheedy) after hitting rock bottom. You can’t help but root for Samantha as she goes through a series of ups and downs while navigating her sobriety journey, including her crush James (Garrick Bernard), who is also in recovery.—Dory Jackson

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Single Drunk Female (Freeform)

Freeform/Danny Delgado

Tackling addiction through a comedic lens isn’t an easy feat, but what makes this series work is its leading lady, Sofia Black-D’Elia (The Night Of,The Mick) as Samantha, a 28-year-old alcoholic forced to move back in with her mother (Ally Sheedy) after hitting rock bottom. You can’t help but root for Samantha as she goes through a series of ups and downs while navigating her sobriety journey, including her crush James (Garrick Bernard), who is also in recovery.—Dory Jackson

22of 34Inventing Anna (Netflix)Aaron Epstein/NetflixOzark’s Julia Garner continues to impress as strange-accented, superbly styled fake German heiress Anna Delvey — or is it Sorokin? — who manages to scam New York City socialites and banks out of untold amounts of money, goods and services from 2013 until her arrest in 2017. Ambitious journalist Vivian (Anna Chlumsky) helps unravel her story in the Shonda Rhimes-created series.—Breanne L. Heldman

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Inventing Anna (Netflix)

Aaron Epstein/Netflix

Ozark’s Julia Garner continues to impress as strange-accented, superbly styled fake German heiress Anna Delvey — or is it Sorokin? — who manages to scam New York City socialites and banks out of untold amounts of money, goods and services from 2013 until her arrest in 2017. Ambitious journalist Vivian (Anna Chlumsky) helps unravel her story in the Shonda Rhimes-created series.—Breanne L. Heldman

23of 34The Thing About Pam (NBC)Skip Bolen/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty ImagesAs Pam Hupp, the woman at the center of a 2011 Missouri murder case, Renée Zellweger is buried in makeup that makes her look like a sour, frumped-up Martha Stewart. There’s a slightly condescending satiric humor both to her performance and to this true-crime miniseries, as if a grave miscarriage of justice were funnier because it happened in the suburban Midwest. But the story, on its own terms, is riveting.—Tom Gliatto

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The Thing About Pam (NBC)

Skip Bolen/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

As Pam Hupp, the woman at the center of a 2011 Missouri murder case, Renée Zellweger is buried in makeup that makes her look like a sour, frumped-up Martha Stewart. There’s a slightly condescending satiric humor both to her performance and to this true-crime miniseries, as if a grave miscarriage of justice were funnier because it happened in the suburban Midwest. But the story, on its own terms, is riveting.—Tom Gliatto

24of 34As We See It (Prime Video)Ali Goldstein/Amazon Prime VideoIn this rewarding series, roommates Jack (Rick Glassman), Harrison (Albert Rutecki) and Violet (Sue Ann Pien) are all on the autism spectrum and all doing their best to engage with a complicated world. The three stars also identify as being on the spectrum.—Tom Gliatto

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As We See It (Prime Video)

Ali Goldstein/Amazon Prime Video

In this rewarding series, roommates Jack (Rick Glassman), Harrison (Albert Rutecki) and Violet (Sue Ann Pien) are all on the autism spectrum and all doing their best to engage with a complicated world. The three stars also identify as being on the spectrum.—Tom Gliatto

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Pam & Tommy (Hulu)

Pam & Tommy.Hulu

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Courtesy of Apple

The whodunit genre is nothing new, but what makes this series fun, exciting and fresh is the stacked cast (includingTiffany Haddish, Sam Richardson and Ben Schwartz) and clever storytelling. Once you learns the murderer’s identity in the season finale, you want to rewatch it all over again to see what clues you may have missed.—Dory Jackson

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Julia (HBO Max)

HBO Max’s new series, Julia.Seacia Pavao/hbo max

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Based on Min Jin Lee’s 2017 best-selling novel,Pachinkois a multigenerational epic, sweeping yet at times passionately intimate, about the fortunes of a Korean family through the 20th century — beginning in 1915, an era of Japanese colonial oppression. The huge cast includes Youn Yuh-jung, who won Best Supporting Actress atthe Oscarslast year forMinari. (She has a uniquely touching scene talking about the flavors of Japanese vs. Korean rice.) Addictive!—Tom Gliatto

29of 34Wolf Like Me (Peacock)PeacockThis six-episode dramedy follows the unusual love story between Gary (Josh Gad) and Mary (Isla Fisher) — two individuals with painful and complicated pasts that seemingly find comfort in each other after relocating to Adelaide, Australia. There’s only one tiny (er, large) problem: Mary’s real identity could pose a serious threat to their relationship… and Gary’s life. It’s a bizarre tale that leaves you wondering: does love truly conquer all?—Christina Dugan Ramirez

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Wolf Like Me (Peacock)

Peacock

This six-episode dramedy follows the unusual love story between Gary (Josh Gad) and Mary (Isla Fisher) — two individuals with painful and complicated pasts that seemingly find comfort in each other after relocating to Adelaide, Australia. There’s only one tiny (er, large) problem: Mary’s real identity could pose a serious threat to their relationship… and Gary’s life. It’s a bizarre tale that leaves you wondering: does love truly conquer all?—Christina Dugan Ramirez

30of 34Life & Beth (Hulu)Scott McDermott/ Hulu/ THA / Hollywood Archive / AvalonAmy Schumer gives her most endearingly earnest performance yet inLife & Beth, complete with moments of the candid humor she’s become known for. This deeply personal comedy drama, costarring Michael Cera, examines generational trauma in a healing way that will have viewers crying cathartic tears.—Glenn Garner

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Life & Beth (Hulu)

Scott McDermott/ Hulu/ THA / Hollywood Archive / Avalon

Amy Schumer gives her most endearingly earnest performance yet inLife & Beth, complete with moments of the candid humor she’s become known for. This deeply personal comedy drama, costarring Michael Cera, examines generational trauma in a healing way that will have viewers crying cathartic tears.—Glenn Garner

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Pieces of Her (Netflix)

Mark Rogers/Netflix

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The Gilded Age (HBO)

Alison Cohen Rosa/HBO

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Mario Casilli/mptvimages/Courtesy of SHOWTIME

34of 34Pivoting (Fox)Michael Becker / FOXEliza Coupe, Ginnifer Goodwin and Maggie Q are a winning trio in this Fox sitcom about three friends coping with the death of their longtime pal. Even with a devastating loss at the core of the group’s journey, the series still proves to be both relatable and comical as the ladies pivot their lives to discover what makes them happiest. Even better, viewers will wish they could be a part of this tight-knit friend group. Or they would. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled in May.—Dory Jackson

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Pivoting (Fox)

Michael Becker / FOX

Eliza Coupe, Ginnifer Goodwin and Maggie Q are a winning trio in this Fox sitcom about three friends coping with the death of their longtime pal. Even with a devastating loss at the core of the group’s journey, the series still proves to be both relatable and comical as the ladies pivot their lives to discover what makes them happiest. Even better, viewers will wish they could be a part of this tight-knit friend group. Or they would. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled in May.—Dory Jackson

source: people.com