Andor, Star Trek, She-Hulk, and a pair of Taylor Sheridan Series were among the best TV of 2022 that programming had to offer. There were some standouts among the TV series that I was able to fit into an otherwise busy schedule.
As the year came to an end, it saw Harrison Ford turned to TV as a series regular in 1923. Ford’s TV stint will continue into the new year when he appears in Bill Lawrence, Jason Segel, and Brett Goldstein’s new Apple TV+ series, Shrinking, starting in late January. Later this month, audiences can watch the Indiana Jones star on a Friday or make Sunday a double-Ford day. With Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny due out later this year, Harrison Ford fans are in for a blast to say the least.
This past summer was the year where audiences got prequels to both Star Wars and Star Trek. Amazing, right? I had caught many of the Strange New Worlds episodes earlier as press screeners but Tuesday nights were the nights to stay up late and go to bed with Obi-Wan Kenobi. But as much as Kenobi is nostalgic, it isn’t even the best Star Wars television of 2022. No, this honor belongs to the first season of Andor. While the series started off as a slow-headache-inducing burn because of TIFF-tired and the 200 point font email address watermark, it got better over the next several episodes. While series creator Tony Gilroy put in a Death Star cameo in there at the end, the series does not depend on cameos. It makes for an exciting series!
On the comedy front, the murder mystery is back in the best way possible. Glass Onion was the headlining event but audiences had a number of comedy series to keep them on their feet and guessing who the killer is. Speaking of Rian Johnson, Poker Face is coming out soon on Peacock. Only Murders in the Building returned for another season of absolute perfection. Phil Lord and Chris Miller brought The Afterparty to Apple TV+. Thankfully, they’re bringing Sam Richardson back for season 2 because Sam Richardson needs to be in everything. Give him all the awards, please. Series composer Daniel Pemberton is one of the year’s MVPs because he is not only composing a theme song and all the episodes but they have him doing scores for several different genres.
Outside of Daniel Pemberton, other composers getting an honorable mention include Nicholas Britell (Andor), Natalie Holt/John Williams (Obi-Wan Kenobi), and Brian Tyler/Breton Vivian (1883/1923).
I still need to watch Yellowstone but I’m waiting until after 1923 finishes its run. This speaks to just how much programming exists right. Movies are my primary beat but I fit TV into my schedule where possible.
Drama Series: Andor
Comedy Series: Only Murders in the Building
New Comedy Series (Tie): The Afterparty, Reboot, The Bear
Limited Series: Obi-Wan Kenobi
Marvel Series: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law
Star Trek Series: Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
Chicago Series: The Bear
Taylor Sheridan Limited Series: 1883
New Taylor Sheridan Series Where We Have To Wait And See: 1923
Animated Series: Star Trek: Lower Decks
Talk Show: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Hair: Pike’s Peak, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (Anson Mount)
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