2022: a recap of the best of the year
This was a fine year for entertainment. For every film or TV series I saw, there were at least a half dozen I didn’t see that would be worthy of inclusion. So if you look down this list and you don’t see one of your favorites, don’t take it personally. Do feel free to email me and tell me what I missed and why I shouldn’t continue to miss it.
I’ll start with series that are returnees. I’m more likely to watch such based on the fact that I liked the previous season(s), and while that’s often a recipe for disappointment, this year proved much better than average.
1. For All Mankind – despite an utterly terrible first episode, the series recovered and is the best alternate history series on television.
2. The Boys – not slowing down one bit as it roars into its final season next year.
3. Ozark – Ended this year. The best family crime show since The Sopranos. Ruth will be missed.
4. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – Still the funniest show on television
5. Only Murders in the Building – Great chemistry amongst the three leads makes this lovable.
6. Russian Doll – a bit rushed because of the pandemic, but still a great time-travel yarn.
7. Stranger Things – feeling a bit overblown and the actors are aging. Still worth while, though.
8. Cobra Kai – keeps working despite itself. Now the most successful “comeback” series ever.
9. Outlaws – riotously funny British caper series, still strong in year 2.
10. Upgrade – like Doll, rushed and a bit truncated. Marvelous post-life concept carries it.
Special mention: His Dark Materials Season 3 has come out, but too late for review for 2022. I’ve little doubt it would have been well up on this list.
Best movies of 2022.
1. All Quiet on the Western Front – brilliant adaptation of the Remarque novel
2. The Banshees of Inisherin – dark, challenging, fantastic acting
3. Nope – genuinely scary UFO yarn. Jordan Peele just keeps getting better and better.
4. Pinocchio – so does Guillermo del Toro. This monumental stop-action feature was a labor of love.
5. This Corner of the World – superior anime showing life in Japan during WW2.
6. Pearl – Mia Goth is establishing herself as the best new face in movies.
7. X – It’s a slasher/porn movie. It is superior, largely due to Mia Goth.
8. Cyrano – Dinklage shows his acting chops. A superior remake.
9. West Side Story – Spielberg. Dancing. Urban sets. Need I say more?
10. The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent – fires in all directions, and hits targets every time.
11. The Sea Beast – truly engaging animated pirate yarn.
11. Troll – who can do trolls better than the Norwegians? Nobody.
13. I Think We’re Alone Now – a dystopian near-future powered by a reclusive Peter Dinklage.
14. Ghostbusters – closer to the spirit of the original than any of the other sequels.
15, Prey – Part of the “Predator” franchise, flashback to 18th century plains, native tribe deals with the monster.
Best animated series of 2022
1. Arcane – Hard to believe a computer-game-based show could be this good.
2. Lost Ollie – heartfelt yarn about a toy seeking his human friend.
3. Exceptional – surprisingly solid SF sensibilities back up this first contact yarn.
4. Vox Machina – a D&D based series that doesn’t feel like a D&D series.
5. Rick and Morty – Rick is the ultimate Libertarian. Rick needs to die.
6. The Great North – warm, funny family sitcom, with elements of Twin Peaks
7. Oni – superior retelling of the Japanese legendary monsters.
8. Diabolical – animated spin-off of The Boys. Hilarious and appalling.
9. Primal – Genndy Tartakovsky, of course. Samurai Jack meets Alley Oop.
10. The House – Thoughtful animated triptych of a haunted house.
Special mentions: Super Mansion – several years old, but I just came across it this year. Best comedy about a group of dysfunctional superheroes around. Also: Little Demon, with Danny DeVito as Satan. Worth a nod just because of the gibbering and howling response it drew from the fundies.
Best new TV series 2022 (presented in reverse order in a pathetically contrived attempt to build tension):
15. Peripheral – Eerie alternate time story in which London gets more landmarks
14. Midwich Cuckoos – good interpretation of the 50’s classic
13. Wednesday – Tim Burton’s engaging reinterpretation of America’s most popular psycho
12. She-Hulk – Tatiana Maslany only has two roles here, but makes the best of it
11. Night Sky – JK Simmons finds portal to another dimension, draws unwelcome attention
10. Korean Odyssey – humorous retelling of the legend of Monkey and other misbehaving gods.
9. Viking: Valhalla – spinoff from Vikings. If you liked the original you’ll like this.
8. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds – closest in both spirit and in time to the original show.
7. Reacher – They got the right guy for the role, and makes it engaging.
6. Serpent Queen – Catherine was not a very nice Queen. And Mary was a religious nut.
5. Paper Girls – time travel story in which four adolescent girls get sent into their own futures. Considerable fun.
4. Andor – resembles the rest of the Star Wars franchise in much the same way that MacBeth resembles the Wizard of Id.
3. The English – Solid portrayal of the west in the 1890s, with great acting.
2. Sandman – They said the Gaiman series couldn’t be filmed. But it was, brilliantly.
1. Extraordinary Attorney Woo – the best series of the year. Warm, compassionate, deeply human, and engaging and amusing.