Rotten Tomatoes Ranks The Top-Rated Shows That Dominated The Year
For many people, a year is busy enough to seemingly shoot by so fast that people only realize it's about to pass at the last minute. And since it's so busy, it's very easy for them to underestimate how much they have missed amidst all the craziness.
Considering how viewers have more choices in what they want to watch than ever, this is especially true in the world of pop culture. Indeed, since TV shows are often a bigger time investment than most other forms of media, they're the most likely to get left behind when a year is wrapping up. Fortunately, Rotten Tomatoes is not only showing what viewers have missed in 2023 but which TV shows are the most worthwhile to catch up on!
Happy Valley: Season 3 - 100% Fresh
Although Happy Valley premiered in 2014, it's definitely established itself as a British crime drama whose creators take their time because its third season only arrived in 2023. However, the results have apparently proved worth the wait because the series won a British Film and Television Award for Best Drama Series in 2015 and re-earning that accolade alongside a Best Leading Actress and Best Writer award in 2017.
But in case anyone was concerned that the newest season following one Yorkshire detective's challenging cases and messy personal life would lose the luster of its previous seasons, that doesn't seem to be the case. That's because the latest season — available through the BBC and AMC+ — has achieved a coveted 100% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
A Small Light - 100%
Available through the National Geographic Channel and Hulu in the United States and Disney+ elsewhere, A Small Light is a miniseries that follows the life of Miep Gies. Gies was not only credited for bravely hiding the Frank family in an Amsterdam attic during the Holocaust but also for keeping Anne Frank's diary secret after the family was discovered.
A Small Light achieved a 100% positive critical consensus on Rotten Tomatoes, which was earned by Bel Powley's haunting performance as Gies and creators Tony Phelan's and Joan Rater's sensitive handling of Gies's heroic actions. At the same time, the story feels lived-in and doesn't come off like a highlight reel of Gies's most significant moments.
Reservation Dogs - 100%
An edgy but uproariously funny and heartfelt story of delinquent teenagers living on a reservation in Oklahoma, Reservation Dogs was a joint creation of Sterlin Harjo and Jojo Rabbit auteur Taiki Waititi. Although the show had amassed wide acclaim after debuting on the FX Network and Hulu in 2021, Harjo elected to make its third season its final one this year.
And while it's likely critics wouldn't have minded seeing another season grace their screens, they praised the final season for ending on a satisfying note and seeming like its writing team wasn't even close to running out of ideas by the time the finale aired. Indeed, its final season has the show coming to a truly organic ending, as opposed to a premature finale forced by cancellation.
Foundation: Season 2 - 100%
An ambitious sci-fi series on Apple TV+, Foundation follows a group who were exiled by a galactic empire but who now must save humanity in the midst of that empire's fall. It's based on a book series by legendary science fiction author Isaac Asimov, who took inspiration from Edward Gibbon's The History Of The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire.
Although critics enjoyed the show's first season, they saw a massive improvement in its second season. As they see it, their 100% fresh rating was earned by the show's rewarding the viewer's patience with the complicated worldbuilding the writers had to get out of the way in Season 1.
Drops Of God: Season 1 - 100%
On its face, Drops Of God has an unusual premise. A recently deceased public figure who built his reputation from his taste in wine leaves his extensive collection to his estranged daughter. However, the catch is that she can only claim it by demonstrating she has more refined senses than her father's protégé.
Although this may not sound like the highest-stakes story, critics credit the series for its intelligent exploration of the cutthroat competition that follows. This 100% Fresh-rated series is available via Apple TV+.
Cunk On Earth: Season 1 - 100%
In this celebrated spin-off of Charlie Brooker's hilarious and incisive Newswipe series, Diane Morgan reprises her role as the perpetually ignorant Philomena Cunk. This time, she's attempting to explain the history of the world through her typically confused lens in this hilarious parody of anthropological documentaries.
And in a similar fashion to Da Ali G Show, Cunk On Earth makes uproarious hay out of bewildering genuine experts with its main character's misconceptions. The BBC series is also available on Netflix, and critics praised Morgan's comedic timing and ability to feign ignorance convincingly.
Primo: Season 1 - 100%
Available through Amazon Freevee and HBO Max, Primo is a semi-autobiographical coming-of-age comedy created by Shea Serrano. It follows a San Antonio teenager as he tries to figure out his life's direction amid the expectations of his mother and five opinionated uncles.
In their 100% Fresh consensus, critics praised Serrano's strong authorial voice and Primo's home-like atmosphere. They also credited Serrano for his balanced and tender handling of his adult characters, particularly in how funny each of the uncles is.
The Other Two: Season 3 - 100%
The Other Two first aired on Comedy Central but has subsequently appeared on HBO Max. It's the story of two siblings who try to find their place in the entertainment industry in the wake of their younger brother's overnight internet fame.
Described as a somewhat affectionate parody of the world of pop culture, The Other Two followed up two highly acclaimed seasons with a 100% Fresh-rated Season 3 that continues to spin the two siblings' struggles into sharp comedic success.
Deadloch: Season 1 - 100%
Deadloch premiered on Amazon Prime Video on June 2, 2023, and has been achieving some impressive accolades ever since. Described as a feminist noir comedy, the Australian series sees creators Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan bring a fresh, irreverent spin on the overcrowded world of police procedurals.
Critics credited the new series for mixing its laughs with a genuine sense of mystery that invites comparisons to Hot Fuzz. And while the mystery elements of the show legitimately keep viewers guessing until the season's end, its 100% Fresh rating is based on how addictive Deadloch's overall viewing experience is.
For All Mankind: Season 4: - 100%
For All Mankind is an ambitious Apple TV+ series that explores an alternate history where the Soviet Union beat the United States to the Moon. As the series progresses, the consequences of this change are that the Space Race never ends, and NASA remains as much a focal point for American consciousness as it was during the Cold War.
The series follows the lives of NASA astronauts, engineers, and their families as the viewer navigates this new reality. After a decent but shaky start, For All Mankind has either achieved or approached a 100% Fresh consensus with each new season. Critics praised the show for its thought-provoking plots and inspirational tone that stops short of being excessively sentimental.
Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai - 100%
Although the HBO Max series Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai reintroduces both the Gremlins universe and its signature character, Gizmo, there's a world of difference between this and the original '80s movie. Not only is the animated series in a completely different medium, but it follows a completely different friendship as Gizmo embarks on a journey through 1920s China alongside ten-year-old Sam Wing.
Although the series has more of a distinctly family-friendly tone than the original movies, critics nonetheless praised it for its blend of chaos and cuteness. Although Gremlins: Secrets Of The Mogwai might not feature the '80s excesses of the original, it at least seems to maintain its heart.
The Bear: Season 2 - 99%
Available on the FX Network and Hulu, The Bear follows a young fine-dining chef as he's forced to return home to Chicago and run his family's more modest sandwich shop following his brother's sudden passing. Although his new kitchen staff clash with his exacting standards at first, the comedy sees them brought together in surprisingly wholesome ways.
Critics were 100% on board with The Bear when it debuted in 2022, and all but 1% believed that it admirably kept up its momentum in Season 2. They praised the show for smartly giving its characters new challenges without reinventing what makes the experience work.
Star Trek: Picard Season 3 - 98%
When Star Trek: Picard hit CBS All Access and Paramount+, there was a massive gulf between how fans and critics received the show. While critics largely enjoyed a slower-paced story that centered around Jean Luc Picard's command 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis, fans considered the show a boring and cynical retread of the franchise's past glories.
However, it seems both fans and critics have much more praise for Picard's final season, as it's better at blending its nostalgic casting choices into a legitimate adventure that finds a sense of fun. As Ed Power wrote for The Daily Telegraph, "It's wonderful. It’s also officially the end. Trekkies will be overjoyed – and then devastated the fun is over almost as soon as it has begun."
Beef: Season 1 - 98%
Although promotional details on this series are sparse enough to encourage viewing the Netflix series with fresh eyes, it's appropriately summarized as the story of two unsatisfied people who hold a destructive grudge against each other after a road rage incident. As their feud spirals out of control, it jeopardizes both their lives and those of everyone around them.
There are many ways that a story like this could be told from a tonal perspective, but critics praised Beef for its abrasive, surreal comedy and its compelling portrait of obsession. Both the writing and the performances boldly explore multiple facets of pettiness.
Poker Face: Season 1 - 98%
Starring Natasha Lyonne as a fugitive amateur detective with an uncanny ability to tell when others are lying, Poker Face is a charming and funny mystery series that blends serialized and episodic elements. While the overall plotline of the main character, Charlie pushes her nomadic lifestyle forward, she has a new mystery to solve in every episode.
In their 98% Fresh-rated consensus, critics noted that the show leans heavily on Lyonne's charisma but executes its mysteries in a compelling way and shows restraint in its small scope. Poker Face is available to watch on Peacock.
Gen V: Season 1 - 97%
The Amazon Prime Video series Gen V comes as a spin-off of the popular superhero subversion show The Boys. But while the flagship series follows a scrappy anti-superhero vigilante squad, this one follows a group of heroes-in-training after they've learned the corporate secret behind their powers.
Although some fans didn't appreciate how much Gen V departs from the atmosphere of The Boys, critics praised Gen V for expanding on that universe and matching its gruesome, challenging ambitions. As Lorraine Ali wrote for The Los Angeles Times, "Stands on its own as a sharp, snarky commentary on the billion-dollar business of hero worship."
Succession: Season 4 - 97%
This year saw the cultural juggernaut that is HBO Max's Succession complete its final season, and by and large, critics and fans alike were impressed with how the show stuck its landing. Not only did viewers finally discover who would succeed Logan Roy and take over his media empire, but they were treated to a series of twists and engaging interpersonal drama along the way.
Although a small minority of critics chastised the show's repetition, the overwhelming majority felt the tension kept building right up to the bitter end and ended on a narrative high note. As such, Succession's final season achieved a 97% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Schmigadoon!: Season 2 - 97%
Although its title is a bit of a mouthful, Schmigadoon! is a clever and inventive comedy series that sees a couple stumble upon an otherwordly town that works exactly like a traditional musical. Not only does that mean the Apple TV+ series's cast sings and dances at every available opportunity, but it also means the show is loaded with theater in-jokes and references.
Critics found Schmigadoon! a breath of fresh air when it debuted in 2021, but largely believe that the show has only gotten better in its sophomore season. In their eyes, Schmigadoon! refined its absurdist tone, found inspiration among a more interesting crop of musicals, and is even working with better music.
The Last Of Us: Season 1 - 96%
Given the spotty track record that video game adaptations have among fans and critics alike, both palpably breathed sighs of relief when the HBO series based on the acclaimed survival horror game The Last Of Us captured the atmospheric, character-driven substance that made the game stand out.
The lore of the zombie apocalypse that surrounds Joel and Ellie's journey is intact, as is their humorous, difficult, and heartwarming chosen family. And with how perfectly Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey inhabit the game's flagship characters, the show's enviable 96% Fresh rating was all but vouchsafed from the first episode.
Only Murders In The Building: Season 3 - 96%
Leaning heavily on the chemistry between its three leads, Only Murders In The Building has long established a critical reputation as a funny and insightful look at what happens when true crime enthusiasts find themselves with a real murder on their hands.
Although Season 3 didn't quite achieve the unanimous positive consensus among critics that its debut season on Hulu in 2021 did, it's still largely being praised for its humorous touch and the intricacies of its central mysteries. The decision to set this season in a theater was also considered a prudent move to keep the series fresh.
I'm A Virgo: Season 1 - 96%
In a story befitting The Coup rapper and Sorry To Bother You auteur Boots Riley's surrealist tastes, I'm A Virgo is the imaginative story of a young, 13-foot-tall man named Cootie who escapes his sequestered life to experience the joys and absurdities of the real world.
Critics were stunned by I'm A Virgo's debut season on Amazon Prime Video, which they characterized as sharply satirical, beautifully tender, and captivatingly strange. As Michael Phillips wrote for The Chicago Tribune, "I'm a Virgo is a fairy tale -- polemical, blunt, subtle, often astonishingly funny, sweet, tough, angry, sad and stubbornly hopeful."
Barry: Season 4 - 96%
Although HBO Max's Barry has always been a deeply dark story of a hitman trying to escape his life of crime via the Los Angeles theater scene, that darkness has largely been balanced by comedy throughout its first three seasons.
While this compelling blend has always made Barry a hit with critics, it managed to retain their favor through a risky shift toward total bleakness in its fourth and final season. Impressed with the ambition behind this gamble and compelled by its execution, the overwhelming majority of critics contributed to the season's 96% Fresh rating.
Heartstopper: Season 2 - 96%
After bursting on the scene to immense critical fanfare in 2022, Netflix's heartwarming teen romance Heartstopper has maintained its stride as it continues to follow grammar school classmates Charlie and Nick while their friendship and eventual romantic relationship blossoms.
Heartstopper's earnestness comes off as affirming and relatable to some and saccharine to others, but the overwhelming majority of critics are assuredly in the first camp. They credit the new season's writing and acting for keeping Heartstopper's balance on the tightrope between genuine charm and sickening sweetness.
Scott Pilgrim Takes Off: Season 1 - 96%
Airing on Discovery Force alongside its simultaneous release on Netflix, Scott Pilgrim Takes Off retells the story explored in the cult Edgar Wright movie with the stylistic freedoms afforded by animation. Better yet, the series sees the movie's original cast reprise their roles.
While some critics dismissed the series as overly reliant on material from the Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World movie, far more critics feel that it ultimately comes together in a fun, breezy, and visually stunning package. And while it may borrow from the movie, it also retains its dynamic vibe.
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel: Season 5 - 96%
Since its explosive debut in 2017, the Amazon Prime Video series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has captivated audiences and critics with its vibrant visual style, humorous writing, and the compelling performance of Rachel Brosnahan in the titular role. Yet, like a surprising number of shows this year, the series wound down with its final season.
Although the critical perception of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel dipped during the show's third season, it rebounded with critics after that stumbling block and kept up its momentum in time to culminate in a satisfying ending. In particular, the show was praised for emphasizing the banter between Maisel and manager Susie Myerson, played by Alex Borstein.
Our Flag Means Death: Season 2 - 96%
This charming HBO Max series emerged as one of Taika Waititi's many eccentric pursuits, this time following a classic British gentleman who essentially becomes a pirate captain as part of a midlife crisis. As expected from Waititi, the resulting swashbuckling adventures are loaded with both charm and humor.
And as far as the critics aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes are concerned, that remains true for the second season of Our Flag Means Death. However, they also noted that the show kept things running more or less the same as in its previous season, which puts it at risk of diminishing returns.
Telemarketers: Season 1 - 96%
Telemarketers is a documentary series following two friends and call center coworkers as they discover their workplace's unscrupulous fundraising practices despite their work purporting to benefit charities. Armed with this knowledge, the two set out on a 20-year mission to expose the entire telemarketing industry.
And while much of their in-office behavior alongside their simply dogged coworkers is humorous, the severity of their findings keeps the series engrossing for critics. As Steve Murray wrote for Arts ATL, "The friends' sloppy, do-it-yourself chutzpah carries the day and keeps you watching."
I Think You Should Leave: Season 3 - 96%
Tim Robinson took the world by surprise in 2019 with his absurd, unpredictable, and uniquely awkward Netflix sketch comedy series, I Think You Should Leave. And while it's remained similarly energetic, bizarre, and endlessly quotable in its following two seasons, Robinson's style feels more familiar and unlike the complete ambush it was when the series debuted.
Still, critics believe that Robinson's unorthodox blend of secondhand embarrassment and maddeningly clever lines continue to work even after the shock factor has been blunted by repeated viewings. As Nick Allen wrote for Roger Ebert's legacy website, "I Think You Should Leave is continuous in its oddly brilliant ways."
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story Season 1 - 95%
Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story is a spin-off prequel to the immensely popular Netflix series Bridgerton and explains how the societal shift that makes the flagship's unique vision of Regency-era England possible came to be in the first place. It also explores how the strong-willed Queen Charlotte ascended to the throne.
For the majority of critics, the romance was believable enough, and the performances were strong enough — particularly in the case of India Amarteifio and Golda Rosheuvel, who play Charlotte at various ages — to carry the show past its shortcomings.
Party Down: Season 3 - 95%
Party Down is a dramedy airing on the Starz network that follows six aspiring actors who find they have to make ends meet as caterers. But even before they addressed the quality of the third season, critics marveled at the fact that it existed at all. After all, the second season aired all the way back in 2010.
However, most critics were immensely pleased to see that the show hasn't lost any of the magic that powered its early momentum and remains as hilarious and heartfelt as before. As Alsion Herman wrote for The Ringer, "The 2023 version of Party Down is less wrenching than its recession-era predecessor, but no less funny."
Fellow Travelers - 95%
This ambitious Showtime miniseries follows two political staffers who embark on a volatile romantic relationship that spans multiple decades. Given that their love first blooms during the Lavender Scare of the 1950s and continues well into the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, they find that their relationship must stay fiercely guarded from the public eye.
Although some critics found the expansive plotlines in this series meandering, they were gripped by Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey's performances and fascinated by their complex, flawed characters. As such, Fellow Travelers scored a 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Afterparty: Season 2 - 95%
Although there is no shortage of murder mystery TV shows in vogue at the moment, the Apple TV+ series The Afterparty stands apart from the pack with a unique twist. Not only is the story told from each suspect's perspective, but their respective tales are filtered through entirely different cinematic styles.
Although many critics felt that the show's first season strained to pack in more laughs than it could manage, the fascinating premise gave the series the leeway it needed to find its footing. Although 90% of critics aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes were willing to sing The Afterparty's praises when it debuted in 2022, more have been converted in the year that followed.
What We Do In The Shadows: Season 5 - 95%
Based on Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi's 2014 film of the same name, What We Do In The Shadows is a comedic if gruesome mockumentary series that follows the lives of a group of vampires. And since the show debuted on the FX Network and Hulu in 2019, it's shown some impressive longevity for critics.
And their consensus on Rotten Tomatoes makes clear that it's not just because the series has lasted as long as it has. Indeed, critics have marveled that What We Do In The Shadows has managed to stay as hilarious and creatively macabre as when it started.
The Traitors: Season 1 - 95%
The Traitors is a reality show that was likely born from the current popularity of mystery shows as well as the rise of social deduction games like Among Us, which hit a fever pitch in popularity in 2020. In this case, host Alan Cumming takes contestants from various reality shows and challenges them to figure out which three among them are the traitors.
Although some critics felt the minds behind The Traitors were a little too impressed with themselves for creating it, most felt that it was a surprisingly tense and endearing watch with more twists than they would have expected. The Traitors is available to watch on the BBC and Peacock.
Transatlantic: Season 1 - 95%
It's unclear whether Transatlantic will remain a limited series or attain a second season, but what exists of it can be described as the chronology of a little-known initiative called the Emergency Rescue Committee. This saw American journalists Varian Fry and Mary Jayne Gold work with a team of allies to grant safe passage out of German-occupied France to over 2,000 refugees during World War II.
Considering what tense material inspired Transatlantic, critics were impressed with how it was able to inject enough levity into the subject matter to keep it from being dour while not overdoing it to the point of being disrespectful. That delicate balance and its visual beauty earned the Netflix series a 95% Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
Yellowjackets: Season 2 - 94%
In 2021, Yellowjackets emerged as a fascinating and wildly popular Showtime series that took clear inspiration from Lord Of The Flies for its teenage psychological horror and wilderness survival, but with the ambitious idea to follow the tribalist high school soccer stars when they become adults.
But while there was always a rift between the show's reception among critics and audiences, the gulf is now particularly wide after the release of Season 2 in 2023. While critics were willing to patiently follow its more angular plot and wait for answers in the coming seasons, audiences are more of the opinion that Yellowjackets' plot is simply becoming jumbled.
American Born Chinese: Season 1 - 94%
At first glance, American Born Chinese may seem like a fairly standard coming-of-age story in which a young man juggles his responsibilities and navigates the complexities of existing between American and Chinese spaces. But while all of that certainly happens, the twist is that a chance meeting with a new student leads him to literal encounters with gods from Chinese mythology.
Critics credited the ABC and Hulu series for its relatability and grounding itself with likable characters while also using its supernatural element to bring fresh and creative flourishes to its storytelling. As Robert Levin wrote for Newsday, "It's ideal family viewing: Thought-provoking and fun, without one element compromising the other."
The Curse: Season 1 - 93%
This series started airing on Showtime and Paramount+ this year and follows a young married couple as they try to navigate the moral complexities of running their HGTV show while working under an eccentric producer. But as the title suggests, their efforts are complicated even further when one performative good deed subjects them to a mysterious curse.
Although The Curse is stylized as a dark comedy, there's a major difference in opinion between critics and audiences on whether it's actually enjoyable on that level. Although the majority of critics found its lingering discomfort incisive, other viewers merely cringed at this aspect of what they otherwise saw as a boring show about unlikeable characters.
Platonic: Season 1 - 93%
Building off their chemistry in the Neighbors series, Platonic sees Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne play former best friends reconnect as they reach middle age. As they try to heal the rift that drove them apart in the first part, their attempt at rekindling their friendship ends up throwing chaos into their lives.
In their 93% Fresh consensus aggregated by Rotten Tomatoes, critics admit that this is nothing long-time viewers of Rogen's work haven't seen before. However, its acting, pacing, and clever writing made it an enjoyable watch for them anyway. As Rachel Syme wrote in a review for The New Yorker, "The show really belongs to Byrne, who is at her best when she plays a woman severely in need of a good time."
Lucky Hank: Season 1 - 93%
Based on the semi-autobiographical novel Straight Man by Richard Russo, Lucky Hank sees Bob Odenkirk star as a disgruntled English professor in a neglected Pennsylvania college while in the midst of a midlife crisis. Despite this bleak setting, the AMC+ series is more of a dramedy than an entirely serious drama.
Although the stakes of Lucky Hank may not be the highest, most critics attest that this doesn't make it any less of a heartfelt, funny, and frustratingly true-to-life viewing experience. As Eric Deggans put it in an NPR review, "There is no one who plays the exasperated everyguy like Bob Odenkirk."