Another great year on the small screen! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the greatest scripted series to hit the small screen in 2023!
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00:00 "I have time for this."
00:01 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest scripted series
00:06 to hit the small screen in 2023.
00:08 "Who's gonna believe that?"
00:13 New and returning shows are fair game, but we're sticking to live action only.
00:17 "We must go there immediately!"
00:20 Number 10.
00:21 Gen V Season 1.
00:23 In a world where many superhero franchises have become less and less, well, super, the
00:28 boys fans can relish in the fact that this spin-off is an absolute delight.
00:33 "I'm super focused."
00:34 "I'm super inclusive."
00:37 "I'm super curious."
00:39 In Gen V, we follow a crew of up-and-coming heroes attending the God Yu School of Crime
00:43 Fighting as they vie for one of the school's top spots as part of The Seven.
00:47 "Where did you find that kind of courage?"
00:50 "I'm superhuman, right?
00:52 I'm made of steel."
00:54 The show does a great job of differentiating itself from its predecessor, exploring similar
00:58 ideas of the moral responsibilities of power with a fresh and relatable coming-of-age lens.
01:04 "So what's your angle?"
01:05 "My angle is that sometimes people don't have an angle.
01:11 Sometimes they're just actual human beings."
01:14 It's gross.
01:15 It's fun.
01:16 It's weird.
01:17 It's everything young adulthood is, but with superpowers.
01:20 What more could you ask for?
01:22 "Being a hero is, uh...
01:27 It's not what you think."
01:28 Number 9.
01:29 The Righteous Gemstones Season 3
01:32 Danny McBride, you've done it again.
01:34 "Hopefully maybe Judy and Kelvin could help out.
01:36 Seeing as how I do every other goddamn thing around here lately."
01:40 Season 3 of The Righteous Gemstones continues to deliver the same balance of suspense, action,
01:46 and absurdity, all while staying grounded in its core themes of family and corruption.
01:50 "You keep 'em here, you keep 'em safe.
01:53 You're their uncle!"
01:54 Not to mention the dialogue, and each character's one-of-a-kind delivery of it remains some
01:58 of the sharpest and funniest on television today.
02:01 "Dr. Gemstone, I don't take advice from you a no-mo.
02:04 At this moment, I am not in the mood to discuss this any further.
02:09 Perhaps we can make an arrangement sometime in the future."
02:11 "What are you looking at?"
02:13 "I'm not talking to him anymore."
02:15 "Okay."
02:16 Despite The Gemstone family's often strange and abhorrent behavior, the series still manages
02:21 to find heart and sympathy for its leads at every twist and turn.
02:25 Oh, and Walton Goggins as Baby Billy is the performance of a lifetime.
02:30 We said what we said.
02:31 "You haven't seen the last of me."
02:33 Number 8.
02:34 Star Trek - Strange New Worlds Season 2
02:37 Trekkies unite!
02:38 While the Patrick Stewart-led series Star Trek Picard wrapped up with its third installment
02:42 in 2023, Strange New Worlds makes our list as it continues to impress fans in its second
02:48 season.
02:49 "You gonna say it?
02:50 Your thing?"
02:51 "My what?"
02:52 "Your thing.
02:53 You know, everyone in the chair has their thing."
02:57 The prequel series sticks to its guns, or should we say its phasers, by embracing the
03:01 classic Star Trek's episodic nature, focusing on unique individual storylines and general
03:07 character arcs over the course of the season.
03:09 "Captain, I'm reading a transporter signal.
03:11 The Orions have beamed up the portal."
03:13 "Captain Cross, care to explain?"
03:15 But even if you're not a diehard fan of the OG franchise, you can still enjoy this
03:19 out-of-this-world sci-fi romp across the galaxy for its lighthearted tone, adventure-filled
03:24 plots and even, spoiler alert, a musical number.
03:27 "Eternal torture is every Klingon dream.
03:30 You know what I mean.
03:32 Make 'em all scream!"
03:35 Number 7.
03:36 Beef Season 1
03:37 Who hasn't got such bad road rage that they literally plotted to ruin the other person's
03:42 entire life?
03:43 Right?
03:44 "Come, come, come, come, come, come, come!"
03:46 Well, regardless, that's the hook that thrusts us into the Netflix original Beef, starring
03:51 powerhouse performers Ali Wong and Steven Yeung.
03:54 "Thank you for meeting me."
03:56 "So what?
03:57 Waving the white flag, huh?"
03:59 The whole concept is undoubtedly fresh and daring, taking the extremely human experience
04:04 of suppressed emotion and using it as a vehicle to investigate the lives of its two lead characters
04:09 and their mutual hatred for one another.
04:11 "I don't want anything from you, okay?
04:13 I don't want anything to do with you.
04:15 You are sick.
04:16 You're a disease."
04:17 "Okay, so you think you're better than me now, huh?
04:20 Is that it?"
04:21 Plus, all the artful symbolism used throughout the series makes it a perfect rewatch contender.
04:26 Not that we didn't get it the first time.
04:28 We totally got it.
04:30 Number 6.
04:31 The Fall of the House of Usher
04:33 Speaking of symbolism, where are our Edgar Allan Poe fans?
04:37 "Lo, death has reared himself a throne in a strange city, lying alone."
04:46 This Mike Flanagan miniseries has everything.
04:49 Big Pharma, Acid Rain, a series of brutal and mysterious deaths, and uh, Mark Hamill.
04:55 "We thought maybe you could try a couple common combinations, see what it wants."
05:01 "But it isn't hers."
05:02 "I understand.
05:05 Maybe try anyway."
05:06 It's a fantastically spooky watch, coalescing a variety of Poe tales to create a new narrative
05:11 about a wealthy family's dark history and gory downfall.
05:15 The story spans generations and digs into each character's literally fatal flaws, all
05:20 within the larger context of a criminal investigation and confession by the Usher patriarch Roderick.
05:25 "I'll tell you how my children died."
05:28 It's difficult to truly capture the scope of this gothic drama.
05:32 You'll just have to watch and see for yourself.
05:34 "Hell rising from a thousand thrones shall do it reverence."
05:41 Number 5 - Poker Face Season 1
05:44 We'd likely be entertained listening to Natasha Lyonne read the phone book.
05:48 But nobody owns phone books anymore, so we'll just watch Poker Face instead.
05:51 "I figured out I could do this thing and it worked, so I did it for a while."
05:54 Rian Johnson directs this next generation Columbo, as we watch central character Charlie
05:59 investigate murder mysteries across the country while on the lam.
06:02 Oh, and she has a secret skill in her back pocket.
06:06 She is a human lie detector.
06:08 "Tell him to take a look at his dash cam footage from last night.
06:11 The cops are gonna want to see that it's gonna prove they got the wrong lady sitting in a
06:14 jail cell right now."
06:16 Every episode has a different setting and vibe, but one is as incredibly entertaining
06:20 and genuinely intriguing of a whodunit as the next.
06:23 "Hey, now you listen to me."
06:26 Unfortunately, Lady Gaga does not make an appearance.
06:30 Maybe season 2.
06:31 "Buckle up, kid."
06:32 Number 4 - Barry Season 4
06:35 In its final season, everyone's favorite hitman turned actor Barry continues to attempt to
06:39 forge a path towards redemption despite his increasingly villainous behavior throughout
06:44 the run of the show.
06:45 "Well, that's a sign."
06:50 Not only is Barry one of TV history's most captivating and irredeemable antiheroes, the
06:54 entire cast of this dark comedy - emphasis on the dark - carries the series with defining
07:00 performances.
07:01 "This is not a good guy, bad guy story.
07:04 It goes way deeper than that.
07:07 So much deeper."
07:08 The show has never faltered, always masterfully blending high-stakes tension and just enough
07:13 levity to keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
07:16 "Hey, man.
07:17 I've got two people here who want to say hi to you."
07:20 We won't spoil the finale for you.
07:22 We'll just say that each character meets satisfying ends and that you'll have to see it for yourself.
07:27 "I don't think that's what God wants for me."
07:30 Number 3 - The Bear Season 2
07:33 Every guy in their 20s' favorite Halloween costume is now a hit TV series.
07:36 Okay, kidding.
07:37 "It's just not fun for me."
07:39 The Bear followed up on its mega-popular first season with another banger of season 2, a
07:43 feat that many shows are unable to accomplish.
07:46 We dig deeper into the Berzotto family history, all while Carmi and Sidney begin to turn the
07:51 restaurant from a small-time sandwich shop into what they hope will become a Michelin
07:55 star spot.
07:56 "You want a star?"
07:57 "I think it'd be nice, yeah."
07:59 "Godspeed."
08:00 "Thank you."
08:01 What continues to impress about the series is how incredibly raw and human each character's
08:05 story is, both impeccably written and acted as such.
08:09 "Yo, I know you sent me there to get rid of me."
08:11 "To get rid of you?"
08:12 If that doesn't convince you to give it a watch, there are some star-studded cameos
08:16 that might.
08:17 "That is a fact."
08:18 "And you go around rolling ass on me."
08:20 "That is also a fact."
08:21 "I'm caught up."
08:22 Number 2 - The Last of Us Season 1
08:24 This post-apocalyptic series was adapted from the mega-popular video game, and has been
08:29 a hit with existing fans and new audiences alike.
08:32 "Do you trust me?"
08:33 We wonder why pandemic-centric content might appeal to so many people.
08:37 Sorry, too real?
08:39 Anyway, the story of infection survivor Joel and immune teenager Ellie is as thrilling
08:43 as it is emotionally taxing.
08:45 "Look, it's me.
08:47 It's me."
08:49 Seriously, this is not a series you can watch without the tissues at arm's length.
08:53 But it's these intricately crafted, heart-wrenching moments that are what make The Last of Us
08:57 so impactful, instead of becoming just another gory outbreak show.
09:01 "I'm old.
09:03 I'm satisfied.
09:05 And you were my purpose."
09:12 We can't wait for the seasons to come.
09:15 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
09:19 Reservation Dogs Season 3
09:21 We delve deeper into the Rezdogs' histories in the final season of this coming-of-age
09:25 dramedy.
09:26 "You stole that?"
09:27 "Yeah, I do."
09:30 Loki Season 2
09:31 Tom Hiddleston gives us a fantastic performance in a story filled with exciting twists.
09:36 "Uh, do I know you?"
09:38 "Yes, in the future.
09:40 Well, it's your future.
09:41 My present.
09:42 It's complicated."
09:43 Abbott Elementary Season 2
09:45 Janine and company continue to bring us joy and shed light on the realities of the education
09:50 system.
09:51 "You guys ever seen that movie Into the Wild?"
09:52 "For the eighth time, Janine, no."
09:53 "Janine, that movie's nuts.
09:54 I need all teachers in the library in two minutes.
09:55 We're gonna decide who's gonna get those tickets."
10:00 The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5
10:03 The curtains close on Miriam's story as we see her road to stardom finally unfold.
10:07 "They say ambition is an unattractive trait in a woman.
10:11 Maybe.
10:12 But you know what's really unattractive?
10:15 Waiting around for something to happen."
10:17 One Piece Season 1
10:19 An enjoyable, super-fan-approved, live-action adaptation of the fantasy-adventure anime.
10:24 "Yeah, you're a crew."
10:26 "Nope, not a crew."
10:27 "Not together."
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10:45 The Idol Season 1
10:47 Obviously topping our list is the hottest HBO series that everyone will be talking about
10:52 for years to come.
10:53 Just kidding.
10:54 "Because it's like stupid and I hate it and you're gonna hate it too."
10:58 "You hate it?
10:59 How can you put out something you hate?"
11:02 Succession Season 4
11:03 Ah, corporate America.
11:04 "Well, I wanted to say something."
11:06 "Yeah?
11:07 You're gonna go through the sale?
11:08 No surprises there.
11:09 Unless you do it to the tune of 'Girl From Ipanema'."
11:13 The Roy children have been clawing for the top spot at Waystar Royco, and in the show's
11:17 final season, we finally see the winner take it all as a succession actually takes place.
11:22 "Rom."
11:23 "What?"
11:24 "You promised me.
11:25 You promised me you wouldn't do this.
11:26 You promised me you wouldn't change your mind on this."
11:28 But before that, we're taken on a rollercoaster of major business deals, a presidential election,
11:33 and Connor's wedding.
11:35 If you know, you know.
11:36 "It's okay.
11:37 I love you.
11:38 Um, and, and, and, and I love you, uh."
11:42 There's no denying that this show deserves all the praise it's received by critics and
11:47 audiences alike.
11:48 It's a fascinating look into the world of incomprehensible wealth and power, where our
11:52 key players could not be more childlike and dysfunctional.
11:55 "I love you, but you are not serious people."
12:05 You'll laugh, you'll cry, and you'll never get that theme song out of your head.
12:18 Did we miss your number one show of the year?
12:21 Let us know what series topped your list in the comments.
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12:35 [music]