I don’t know if this is hard to believe or not, but I spent even more time in front of my television watching shows this year – 781 episodes from 75 different series to be exact. A lot of them were great, so you’re getting a top fifteen!
KinnPorsche The Series La Forte – Actually, this one was so good that I watched it twice! The Youtube algorithm really proved itself to me when it kept putting a longform teaser for this series on my main feed every day. After some time I finally relented and I’ve never looked back! This both introduced to me and set the bar so high for Thai BL dramas. None have dethroned it from the top spot yet and that’s probably because it had action, drama, bits of comedy, and a few steamy romances to top it off. It had a soap opera flair to it at times, but I wasn’t mad about it.
Bad Sisters – This series knocked my socks off! I believe it was the first show I watched in 2023, so the fact that I am still thinking about it means it’s good stuff. The show focuses on four sisters who make it their mission to kill their other sister’s husband. I’m sure that sounds bleak, but he deserves it. He is so despicable, he gives the cast of Succession a run for their money. This show also blends drama, thrills, and big laughs seamlessly. Please watch this if you haven’t already!
Ghosts (UK) – While I am fond of the US’s version of this show, the original British version just has something a little bit extra going for it. Maybe the fact that a majority of this cast have been creative partners for years helps, but everyone works off of each other hilariously. I still watch the bloopers when I want to smile for seven minutes straight.
Platonic – Who says men and women can’t be best friends? Almost all of popular media, that’s who. In this Seth Rogan comedy, he re-teams with Rose Bryne, but this time as strictly platonic best friends who’ve reconnected after many years apart. I really like that they never even hint at anything romantic between these two, as that would definitely have cheapened the show somehow. Though they are both adults, they have some serious emotional growing to do. Both are seemingly at a crossroads in their lives, and though reconnecting is a huge amount of fun, their honesty with each other eventually drives important change.
The Bear – I mean, was I expecting the second season of this show to be bad? No way. Was it great? Hell yeah. This season finds the kitchen being gutted. Everyone is committed to turning this old restaurant into The Bear, a Michelin-star restaurant. Of course there are a multitude of challenges along the way. Carmy and Sydney can’t seem to get out of their own way, though that is largely the problem of all of these characters. The most growth comes from cousin Richie in my favorite episode of the season, though “Fishes” would like a word. That episode tied with Uncut Gems for how anxious I felt after watching it, but the guest cast was a dream!
Beef – I had some serious reservations about watching this show, and I wasn’t even really sold after the first episode, but as this story went on, the more bonkers it got, the more invested I became. Amy and Danny encounter each other in a bout of road rage that soon turns into one-upping each other in their revenge plots. Their personal lives couldn’t be more different on the outside, but by the time we’re through with the last episode it’s clear how alike they are. I am actually really interested to see what a second season has to offer.
The Other Two – I am very sad that some behind the scenes drama are what likely ended this show with a third season, but gosh was it a good one! In the never ending saga of Cary and Brooke trying to find and cling onto fame after the huge successes of their younger brother and now mother, they just can’t seem to get anything right. When fame actually and finally does come knocking at their door, I’m not surprised that they both fumble it. I always forget how much I like this show until I find myself cackling with delight in every episode. Check it out please!
Letterknenny – Sigh, a special episode and a final (unexpected) season end the romp that is Letterkenny and I still find myself a little depressed about it. The last six episodes were top-notch though, and you find out who your real friends are. The final shots of the series to me means there is no coming back, but never say never, I suppose. There is also the chance we get some more spin-off series, too. Either way, if you haven’t watched this show yet – pitter patter.
Ted Lasso – I suppose if this is truly the last season of Ted Lasso, and it sure looks that way to me, then I’m pretty pleased with the outcome. Nate’s betrayal and villain arc were probably the most muddy of the show, but they would have been foolish not to redeem him. Heck, I feel this show is mainly about second chances. Just look at any of the main cast to understand what I’m talking about. Nothing filled my heart with more joy though than watching Brett Goldstein and Phil Dunster get to play on-screen together all season long. I love a good bromance, and they delivered.
The Night Logan Woke Up – Again, Xavier Nolan is an incredible artist, and this being his first series is kind of incredible. At its core, it’s a deep, sticky drama, but it’s presented in the fashion of a thriller and I loved every second of it. All the members of the Larouche family have secrets, and a lot of them have been buried deep for far too long. It’s when their matriarch dies that all the dirty details come to the surface.
Vice Versa – I will say, most of the Thai BLs I’ve watched this year (and it’s really a lot given how late into the year I started watching them) were pretty good. A spare few were rough, but one of the last ones I checked out this year floated right to the top! They took the concept of the multiverse and coupled it with a rom-com and it couldn’t have worked better. It helps that they didn’t make this alternate universe too outrageous, and also that the leads had incredible chemistry. I’d put the pair’s latest show on this list, but it’s still in the midst of airing. Look out for that one on the list next year!
XO, Kitty – Another show I liked so much that I watched it twice. I don’t believe that has ever happened, and here we have two shows that I cycled through again?! Crazy. This rom-com follows the youngest Song-Covey sister, Kitty, from the To All the Boys film franchise, and follows her on her own romantic journey. What was supposed to be a surprise to her long-distance boyfriend Dae, turns into a tumultuous time at KISS. She also finds that maybe her love isn’t as straight forward as she thought it was. I am impatiently waiting for a second season of this gem.
One of Us is Lying – It is a dirty, dirty shame that this show couldn’t hold on for another season. I just don’t think Peacock is the place people are going to find shows, nor do I think enough was done to advertise. Sure, a murder mystery involving teens is going to appeal to a very narrow audience, but this show was good! There were certainly differences from the novels the show was based on, but everyone involved did a damn good job of making this a nail-biter to the end. Even though there was a bit of a cliffhanger at the end of the second, and final season, it’s still very much worth tuning into.
Somebody Somewhere – The second season of this comedy drama did just what the first one did. It brought me a strange comfort. It’s still just a show about a really small town, Manhattan, Kansas, and this core group of friends. They are not what you’d call “normal,” but their love for each other is so strong it makes you wonder if you have that yourself. The challenges this year though include Sam being almost jealous of her best friend Joel. They also handled the real life death of Mike Hagerty with grace. I cannot wait until we get a third season!
Love in the Air – What can I say, I like ’em smutty? Truly. That’s really what these Thai BLs are about. Maybe not smut all the time, but romance at least. In this series though, they took the maturity level and tried to almost match KinnPorsche. I think they did in different ways. They storytelling here was also unique. For the first half of the season we follow the relationship of Payu and Rain. It’s a classic bad-boy meets shy-boy, but their love is intense. The latter half follows Rain’s best friend Sky and his avoidance of love with Prapai. I give the edge to this pair, as it’s clear how much Prapai loves Sky in almost no time at all. Definitely made me a little hot under the collar, and I’m sure it will do the same for you.