Top 5 TV Shows of 2022

5. We Need to Talk About Cosby

In 1965, Bill Cosby was already a successful stand-up comedian and was just about to become the first Black man in American history to star in the lead role of a nationally-broadcast television drama. He was also already a sexual assaulter.

By the time the accusations against the man who would become known as “America’s Funniest Father” came to light in 2014, Cosby had committed at least 60 instances of rape, drug-facilitated sexual abuse, sexual battery, child sexual abuse, and sexual misconduct. He had even terrorized young women who appeared on his massive hit sitcom, The Cosby Show, women those of us who grew up in the 1980s still remember seeing on TV.

In short, Bill Cosby was a monster.

In W. Kamau Bell’s documentary series for SHOWTIME, we learn the man’s history of violence, but we also learn the ways he contributed to the growth and development of Black America. Bell tells the full story in all its complexity, showing why Bill Cosby really is, as Philadelphia Magazine described him, “Dr. Huxtable and Mr. Hyde.“

This is what documentaries were invented for. Bell doesn’t provide any easy answers. His series shows that humans are messy and complicated and can simultaneously contain the worst and best of our nature.

He was right. We need to talk about Cosby, which is why you need to watch this show.

4. The Bear

My wife is from the suburbs of Chicago. I’m from the suburbs of Boston. The first time our families met was at our college graduation party. Her father prepared Italian beef for everyone. After tasting it for the first time, my brother said (not within earshot of my future father-in-law), “Meh. It tastes like Steak-ummms.”

And thus was declared the regional war between Boston-style roast beef and Chicago-style Italian beef.

For the record, I love them both.

I also loved The Bear, FX’s anxiety-inducing series focused on the story of a world-renowned chef who inherits an Italian beef joint in Chicago after its owner, his older brother, kills himself. The series focuses on his attempts to make changes to the restaurant while also respecting its traditions and the people who work there, most of whom he’s known since he was a kid.

But more than just a workplace dramedy, The Bear explores panic and grief as the main character, his sister, and crew deal with the loss of the brother and boss who inspired, angered, protected, and loved them.

The casting is perfect, with no weak link among them, and the pacing of the episodes is fantastic, giving viewers just enough of each character to sense their heart and humanity without (d)evolving into an anthology show (see Atlanta).

Should you watch The Bear if you haven’t yet? Yes, chef.

3. The Legend of Vox Machina

Despite being a die-hard Dungeons & Dragons player and dungeon master (sometimes playing in three different games per week and going on five or six years of using D&D in the classroom with my students), I do not listen to or watch Critical Role, the most successful D&D-focused podcast on the Internet with Twitch episodes that regularly draw in half a million viewers per week.

Despite not knowing anything about the world or storylines of Critical Role, I thoroughly enjoyed their animated series, The Legend of Vox Machina, on Amazon Prime.

You probably know the basic plotlines of a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign. A small group of adventurers go on a quest to kill a dragon, find a jewel, save a princess, stop the goblin king, etc. They use special abilities and weapons to overcome their foes, solve mind-bending puzzles, and avoid death-inducing traps. Plus, there’s magic.

But unless you’ve played a game of Dungeons & Dragons, you might not know the experience is typically wildly chaotic and filled with obscene language, rampaging violence, and a dragon’s hoard of double-entendres. On the other hand, players often care deeply about their characters, and they’ll genuinely wrestle with certain decisions, such as whether to sacrifice their character for a compatriot or go against their principles to avoid betraying a friend.

The Legend of Vox Machina does a fantastic job of recreating what it feels like to sit down at a table with some of your funniest and weirdest adult friends and play a game of Dungeons & Dragons. Combine its perfect tone with talented voice actors, a massively experienced dungeon master, and high-quality animation, and you’ve got an almost perfect show.

I can’t wait for Season Two.

2. Severance

First, it’s just nice to see Adam Scott working. I’ve been a fan since the 2007 HBO series Tell Me You Love Me (canceled after one season) and became an even bigger fan thanks to 2009’s Party Down (canceled after two seasons). When he showed up as a regular on NBC’s Parks & Rec in 2010, I thought the same thing I thought in 2022: It’s nice to see him working.

What’s better, though, is to see him working on something so good. Adam Scott’s comedy chops ingratiated him in the Adult Swim universe, which is fine but not something I watch much. His affability also led to a stint as a game show host.

But to see him as the lead character on a high-concept, expertly written, wonderfully cast, sci-fi-influenced, suspenseful drama that kept viewers surprised all season long was just a pure delight.

Of course, there was more to Severance than Adam Scott. He was joined onscreen by the always incredible John Turturro, whose character enjoys a heartwarming relationship with a character played by the surprisingly delightful Christopher Walken. The other two main characters — played by Britt Lower and Zach Cherry — round out our heroes, and each of them is given enough focus to make it a true ensemble. Then we get Patricia Arquette as one antagonist and the incredible Tramill Tillman as the other, both of whom brought so much tension to the screen.

Season One ended on a huge cliffhanger. I’m excited to see how its creator will surprise us next.

1. Reservation Dogs

This is simply the best show on television right now.

Every episode hits just right. Some of them make you laugh. Others bring tears to your eyes. Most of them do both. Each of the four main characters is perfect, and every supporting character makes you want a spin-off show that focuses exclusively on them.

Whether it’s an episode about a reservation police officer being accidentally dosed with acid and stumbling upon a secret society of fish-fuckers out in the woods or a bottle episode where the entire community rallies around a teenage girl whose grandmother and lone caretaker is dying in her bed, this series about four Native American teenagers dealing with the suicide of their leader and best friend is as good as it gets.

Several times during the season, my wife or I would ask the other, “Which character is your favorite?” And every single time, it’s an impossible question to answer. Each one is so freakin’ good and played so freakin’ well that to choose an answer would be disrespectful.

For example, one of the episodes this season focused on Cheese. His uncle (whom he lived with) got arrested for growing weed, so the state sent him to a boy’s home run by Marc Maron. Each of the characters in the boy’s home, including Marc Maron’s, was played perfectly by the actors, and they each explored the humor and the pathos of their small parts. Meanwhile, the actor who plays Cheese nailed every scene. The character is lovely and sweet without being cloying or losing his edge (gotta love a character who is thoughtful enough to introduce himself with his pronouns while also wearing a GWAR shirt) that at the end of the episode, it only makes sense to say Cheese is my favorite character.

But then in another episode, the actress who plays Elora pulls off a single moment — the moment when she realizes her grandmother has died (note the change in her expression at 1:07) — with such subtlety, grace, and…well, truth…that I made my wife rewind the scene and watch it again. How could she not be my favorite character?

But then there’s Willie Jack, whose depth, loyalty, and “realness” are unparalleled, not to mention Uncle Brownie, Big, Mose & Mekko, and all the wonderful aunties. How can a person choose a favorite from this incredible bounty of talent?

I will say, however, that I find myself giddy whenever we get a scene with the spirit guide.

I love this show, these characters, and these actors so much. And you should too.