TV’s top 10 in 2023: The No. 1 show debuted 36 years ago ... sort of

I’m not going to argue that my pick for the best TV series of 2023 was the most original, the most dramatic or the funniest — but it was the series that most obsessed me and brought me the most joy.

1. “Star Trek: Picard” (Paramount+) • Yes, I’m more inclined to like this because I’m a Trekker, dating back to the original series. But the fact is that this “Trek” series has never gotten the respect it deserves.

Here’s the thing: After two seasons that tried very hard not to be just “Next Generation” sequels, “Picard” embraced that in Season 3. Twenty-nine years after “Next Gen” aired its final TV episode — and 21 years after the last “Next Gen” movie — the cast reunited for what was billed as a final adventure. Picard (Patrick Stewart) and his crew saved the galaxy one more time in 10 episodes that included multiple blasts from the past and too many callbacks and Easter eggs to count.

And it worked remarkably well. The story was familiar, yet, at the same time, surprising. The effects were outstanding — the best space battles in “Star Trek” history. And the resolution of this storyline was incredibly satisfying.

It’s hard enough to make a satisfying ending to a beloved TV series when the show wraps up after several seasons on the air. To make one almost three decades later is nothing short of miraculous.

And in total Trekker mode, don’t forget “Star Trek: Strange New Worlds” (Paramount+). It tried too hard to be funny in Season 2, but it’s still looking like one of the best “Trek” series ever. (Maybe this is No. 1-A on the list?)

2. “Succession” (HBO) • The decision to end this series after four seasons was proven correct, because the quality remained high through all 40 episodes. Among the most remarkable things about “Succession” is that a show without a single character to root for — they were all deeply flawed and/or reprehensible — could keep viewers engaged. This was a tragedy with a lot of laughs (really), and a frightening, parallel universe look at America today. The damage the fictional Roy family and their fictional cable news network did to fictional America is not far removed from what the Murdochs and Fox News have done to real America.

3. “The Last of Us” (HBO) • To be honest, I had zero expectations for this show. I burned out on all the zombie shows on AMC years ago, and the fact that “Last” is based on a video game did not inspire optimism. But — surprise! — this is an engrossing, post-apocalyptic drama with characters that suck you in and action that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey) are the ultimate odd couple as they travel across decimated America with a possible cure for the zombie apocalypse, and try to save each other. But just when you’d think you could see where “The Last of Us” was going, there was an unexpected, often brilliant twist.

4. (tie) “The Gilded Age” (HBO) and “Julia” (Max) • These two series each transported viewers to another time, introduced us to delightful characters and thoroughly entertained us.

“The Gilded Age” would be worth watching for Christine Baranski’s performance as Aunt Agnes alone, but there’s so much more to the series. Yes, it’s a big soap opera — so was “Downton Abbey,” which also came to us from writer/producer Julian Fellowes. But it’s excellent soap opera, mixing romance and family drama with actual events, actual people and characters inspired by actual people from the 1880s, along with class war, race relations and the first sparks of feminism. Plus, from the sets to the costumes to the locations, this opulent series is just gorgeous to look at.

The first season of “Julia” was an utter delight — the (mostly) true story of how Julia Child (Sarah Lancashire), a 6-foot-2 woman with a funny voice, sort of forced her way onto public television and became a cooking sensation. And, somewhat surprisingly, Season 2 was also excellent. Not only did it document Julia’s burgeoning fame and a few secrets behind it, but there was plenty for the supporting characters to do. (The stellar cast includes David Hyde Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, Fran Kranz, Fiona Glascott, Judith Light, Isabelle Rossellini, Adriane Lenox and Rachel Bloom, just to name a few.) Here’s hoping it’s renewed for a third season.

5. (tie) “Heartstopper” (Netflix) and “Fellow Travelers” (Showtime) • These two series about gay boys and men could hardly be more different, but they each excelled at what they set out to do.

“Heartstopper” continued the story of shy, awkward Charlie (Joe Locke) and school jock Nick (Kit Conner), who navigate their new romance through a few challenges. This show is not about sex, it’s about love — Charlie and Nick have not gone beyond kissing. (Although some of their friends, who play larger roles in Season 2, have done more than just kiss, there’s nothing even remotely graphic onscreen.) This is a charming, uplifting, lovely show.

“Fellow Travelers,” on the other hand, is about as graphic as any American series when it comes to gay sex. It’s the tragic tale of Hawk (Matt Bomer) and Tim (Jonathan Bailey), who meet and fall in love in the 1950s, when being gay could not only cost you your job and your family but land you in jail. Their story is intertwined with Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s efforts to root out both communists and homosexuals, and heartbreak and tragedy continue through the battle to try to force the government to do something to help those with AIDS in the 1980s. The story is fictional, but the circumstances reflect reality — which is appalling.

6. “Welcome to Wrexham” (FX) • I came to this show late — I watched both Seasons 1 and 2 this fall, as Season 2 was airing. And I quickly became obsessed, watching 16 episodes one Sunday. This is an underdog story of actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney buying a Welsh soccer club that has fallen on hard times and trying to turn it around. But it’s so much more than that. It’s about a town, the fans and the players. Some episodes are barely about soccer at all. And you don’t have to understand the game — Ryan and Rob certainly didn’t when they bought the team — to love the show.

7. “Perry Mason” (HBO) • The first season of this reboot/prequel was outstanding; the second season was even better. Perry (Matthew Rhys) gets pulled into a murder case that is not only an intriguing whodunnit, but a fascinating character study. And the amazing re-creation of 1930 Los Angeles is gritty and gorgeous. The only bad news about this incarnation of “Perry Mason” is that HBO canceled it after two seasons — which is regrettable and aggravating.

8. “American Born Chinese” (Disney+) • Based on the graphic novels, this series perfectly (and improbably) blended teenage angst with fantastical, mythical elements. Jin Wang (Ben Wang) is a high school kid who wants to be popular but is ignored, except when he’s mocked for his ethnicity. And his home life isn’t great. His immigrant parents want him to be traditional Chinese and he just wants to be an average American. Things take a sudden turn when the new kid at school, Wei-Chen (Jimmy Liu) — who is not what he seems — enlists Jin’s help to defeat the forces of evil and save the world. It’s fun, entertaining and thought-provoking.

9. Reservation Dogs (FX on Hulu) • This series about four indigenous, teenage friends growing up on an Oklahoma reservation got even better in its third and final seasons. It was full of surprises — not the least of which was that the four main characters, Bear (D’Pharoah Woon-A-Tai), Elora (Devery Jacobs), Cheese (Lane Factor) and Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis), who traveled to California at the end of Season 2, stayed there for much of Season 3. Their adventures were funny, heartfelt and often kind of crazy. It’s sad to say goodbye to them after just three seasons and 28 episodes (the creator/producer’s decision), but the ending was just what it should be.

10. “What We Do in the Shadows” (FX) • This vampire comedy was hilarious when it debuted in 2019, but it seemed sort of like a one-joke wonder. But five seasons and 50 episodes later, it’s still a hoot. It’s over the top and absurd, but that’s the show’s charm. And there’s nothing on TV with more laugh-out-loud moments.

Honorable mentions: “Abbott Elementary” (ABC), “All Creatures Great and Small” (PBS), “The Amazing Race” (CBS), “A Small Light” (Nat Geo), “The Bear” (FX on Hulu), “Beef” (Netflix), “The Crown” (Netflix), “Dark Winds” (AMC), “Dead Ringers” (Amazon), “The Diplomat” (Netflix), “Fargo” (FX), “Frasier” (Paramount+), “Ghosts” (CBS), “Hijack” (Apple TV+), “Jimmy Kimmel Live” (ABC), “Jury Duty” (Freevee), ”Justified: City Primeval” (FX), “The Late Show with Steven Colbert” (CBS), “Little Bird” (PBS), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (Amazon), “Mrs. Davis” (Peacock), “Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu), “The Other Two” (Max), “Painkiller” (Netflix), “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” (Disney+), “Poker Face” (Peacock”), “Schmigadoon!” (Apple TV+), “Somebody Somewhere” (HBO), “Survivor” (CBS), “Will Trent” (ABC), “Yellowjackets” (Showtime) and “Young Sheldon” (CBS).

Notes

• This list is, by necessity, drawn from the shows I actually watched in 2023. No one has time to view or review everything — there were 599 scripted series this year, plus sports, news, documentaries, reality shows …

• Limiting a list to 10 is nearly impossible. (OK, this list has 13 with the ties.) I considered swapping in a lot of the shows listed as honorable mentions.

• I probably forgot something that deserved at least an honorable mention. No slight was intended.

Editor’s note • This story is available to Salt Lake Tribune subscribers only. Thank you for supporting local journalism.