(CNN) – HBO had the best series of the year, “Succession,” and probably the worst, the Sam Levinson and The Weeknd collaboration, “The Idol,” which showed how boring sex and nudity (allegedly risqué) can be. .
In between, there was plenty of good television and even more mediocre television, complicated by writer and actor strikes that forced networks and streaming services to juggle to ensure programming didn't dry up.
Among the new series, both ongoing and limited, there was an eclectic list of highlights as well as some must-watch shows: Amazon's “Swarm,” Netflix's “The Night Agent,” and newcomer “Gyeongseong Creature,” to name a few to call. but they didn't make it.
The year was also full of new releases, with some of the best appearing in the first half of 2023. Here's the list in alphabetical order, plus an honorable mention for an unusually rewarding year for basketball documentaries.
Liev Schreiber, Ashley Brooke, Rudi Goodman, Amira Casar, Billie Boullet, Caroline Catz and Andy Nyman in “A Smal Light.” Photo credit: Dusan Martincek/National Geographic for Disney
“A Small Light” (National Geographic/Disney+): A heartbreaking limited series about Miep Gies (played wonderfully by Bel Powley), an ordinary young woman who mustered extraordinary courage to protect Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis. With a stellar cast, including Liev Schreiber as Otto Frank, the series made a story you thought you knew feel fresh and immersive.
Rosario Dawson in Ahsoka. Photo credit: Suzanne Tenner/Lucasfilm Ltd./Disney
“Ahsoka” (Disney+): Although the series got off to a slow start and initially suffered from somewhat clumsy writing, the live-action version of the animated character played by Rosario Dawson not only tied in with the “Star Wars” story, but also seemed to point the way to Quadrants the galaxy that the franchise can and should explore in the coming years. For those who would like to see Star Wars return to the big screen, Ahsoka served as something that could become an important bridge, a new hope if you will.
Steven Yeun and Ali Wong in “Beef.” Photo credit: Courtesy of Netflix
“Beef” (Netflix): What begins as an incident of road violence becomes one of the most twisted series of the year, with great performances from Steven Yeun and Ali Wong as two people whose excesses and rage drag them and those around them down at every turn. into the abyss again.
Daisy Jones and the Six. Photo credit: Lacey Terrell/Prime Video
“Daisy Jones and the Six” (Amazon Prime Video): This Amazon series about a '70s band that thrived and then disbanded owes a clear debt to Fleetwood Mac and captures the mood and music with Riley Keough and Sam Claflin of the era as lead singers who are simultaneously at odds and attracted to each other.
Jaz Sinclair and Lizze Broadway in Gen V. Photo credit: Brooke Palmer/Amazon Studios
“Gen V” (Amazon Prime Video): This series about college-age superheroes who want to join The Seven overcame skepticism about another spin-off from The Boys universe by cleverly drawing inspiration from the flagship series while adding its own mystery interwoven, and enough gross moments to live up to (or nay) its predecessor.
Idris Elba in Hijack. Photo credit: Apple TV
“Hijack” (Apple TV+): a “24”-style thriller starring Idris Elba as a negotiator on a hijacked flight between Dubai and London.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey in “The Last of Us,” one of the best new series of 2023. Photo credit: Liane Hentscher/HBO
“The Last of Us” (HBO): The new series of the year in terms of commercial appeal and popularity. This HBO series overcame the usual curse of video game adaptations and the challenge of making another apocalyptic thriller with Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey and several guest stars shining in this story about a shattered world's potential savior and its fierce protector.
Jason Segel and Harrison Ford in Shrinking. Photo credit: Apple TV+
“Shrink” (Apple TV+): A strong cast elevates this Apple series about a grieving psychologist (Jason Segel) and those around him, with Harrison Ford showcasing his comedic chops in a show that was, above all, genuinely funny.
Stephen Curry at a university in Tokyo in 2019. Photo credit: Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP/Getty Images
Honorable Mention: Basketball Documentaries. For some reason, 2023 produced a number of notable documentaries about NBA legends that worked individually but complemented each other very well when viewed together.
“Stephen Curry Underrated” (Apple) profiles a current player who radically changed the game with his long-range shooting, while the other three were dedicated to the great men who once dominated basketball: “Bill Russell: Legend” (Netflix), “Goliath” (Showtime), a three-part documentary about Wilt Chamberlain, who fought Russell and had a complicated relationship with him; and “The Luckiest Guy in the World,” a four-part ESPN series about the life of Bill Walton, whose career was shortened by injuries, overcame his stutter and became the basketball analyst he seems to love or hate more than anything talk, except about the game he's talking about.
Chamberlain said, “Nobody supports Goliath” (hence the title), but it's easy for sports fans to support more productions like this.