2023 provided a wide range of different TV series with varying success and ratings, each of which left its mark on the minds of viewers. They were excited by the different stories and characters but at the same time disappointed by the lack of creativity and consistency in the long-awaited sequels to hit tapes.
It's hard to ignore the influence that HVO's "The Idol" had on pop culture; whether it was good or bad, there was a time when everyone had an opinion of him. "The Idol" put the spotlight on the ugliest parts of Hollywood in the wrong way, Business Insider said.
Synopsis: Jocelyn (Lily-Rose Depp) tries to regain her role as a mega-pop star in light of her recent mental health breakdown, while sociopath Tedros (Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye) tries to derail her second chance at fame.
Critics stated that the series was touted as a critique of Hollywood, but ended up devolving into its laziest and sleazy tropes.
"He's not in on the joke. He IS the joke," Hugo Rifkind wrote for The Times.
Like "The Idol," HBO's "Scooby-Doo" spinoff "Velma" has received an outpouring of criticism on social media.
Summary: In this modern take on Scooby-Doo, young Velma (voiced by Mindy Kaling) navigates the trials, tribulations and mysteries of high school.
"Velma" strives to do something different, but critics say it made too many mistakes along the way.
"His edginess comes at the expense of his characters and punishes the audience for choosing to watch him," wrote Shirley Lee for The Atlantic.
"The Witcher" has faced a lot of controversy this year, most notably the loss of its main character Henry Cavill. It also met with a lot of criticism from fans, mostly due to its apparent divergence from the plot of the original books. The third season of "The Witcher" received mixed reviews from critics.
Summary: In the third season of "The Witcher", Geralt (Henry Cavill), Yennefer (Anya Chalotra), and Ciri (Freya Allen) seek a safe haven in the far reaches of the continent.
Although the second season of "The Witcher" received praise, the latest installment lost a large number of critics and fans.
"Although the season as a whole is easy to watch, some of the individual episodes tend to get repetitive," wrote Federica Bocco for Fansided.
"You" is one of Netflix's biggest hits right now, and it seems like it's become a master at keeping an audience's attention. The fourth season of Netflix's "You" has critics clamoring for another one.
Summary: In the fourth installment of the Netflix series You, Joe Goldberg (Pen Badgley) tries to disguise himself as a professor and stop a stalker in London.
Although critics feel that the series sometimes leans towards a soap opera, they still think that it is as comfortable to watch as ever.
Michael Hogan writes for the British edition "The Telegraph": "The intrusive dialogue borders on self-parody." "Yet, with his charisma and salesman bravado, Badgley somehow makes it addictively watchable."
“Yellowjackets” managed to attract an even bigger audience with its latest season. There was hardly anyone on social media who didn't want to discuss the horrifying and inspiring events that took place in his latest installment. The second season of "Yellowjackets" on Amazon Prime created high expectations for the third installment.
Synopsis: The second season of "Yellowjackets" takes a flashback between the teenagers caught in the wasteland and their adult counterparts running from their past.
Some critics took issue with certain plot points, but "Yellowjackets" hooked most of them and made them look forward to a third season.
In an op-ed for The Washington Post, Lily Loughborough stated that the series "manages to bend genres, juggle wildly different tones and upend familiar tropes."
"The Last of Us" conquered the world and managed to become an instant megahit: everyone was talking about it. The success of the popular video game adaptation left audiences wanting more. HBO's adaptation of "The Last of Us" simply blew away critics.
Synopsis: Joel (Pedro Pascal) reluctantly tries to save young Ellie (Bella Ramsay) as he traverses the harsh landscape of a near-future apocalypse.
Critics said the series, which is based on a video game franchise, expanded on the original material without losing its core.
In an article for The Straits Times, Alison de Souza said: "You don't have to be a fan of the game or zombies to appreciate this tense but gentle thriller."
While HBO suffered some losses with "Velma" and "The Idol," the final season of "Succession" was a huge success. It has garnered a very large following and inspired numerous internet trends. The fourth season of "Succession" marks the end of an era for the hit HBO series.
Synopsis: Kendall (Jeremy Strong), Shiv (Sarah Snook), and Roman Roy (Kieran Culkin) come together to create a future for themselves beyond their father's (Brian Cox) legacy.
Critics said the fourth and final season of "Succession" was as overwhelming as ever, joining the ranks of other high-profile TV dramas.
"Throughout its four seasons, 'Succession' has given viewers the thrill of being with them on a unique and deeply felt journey," wrote Katie Baker in a review for The Ringer.
"The Bear" had an explosive start, managing to hook everyone from the very first episode. The raw, stressful, and emotional setting of the second season left the audience waiting for more. The second season of Hulu's "The Bear" featured some of the best episodes of the series.
Synopsis: In the second season of "The Bear", Carmi (Jeremy Allen White), Richie (Ebon Moss-Bakrach), Sidney (Ayo Edebiri), and the rest of the team are desperate to open their restaurant before their money runs out.
According to critics, the second season of "The Bear" built on the aspects of the series that they already liked and showcased the best performances of the actors.
"The second season is kind of an example of Murphy's Law about what needs to be done before opening a restaurant," Hannah Brown wrote for the Jerusalem Post. "It also deepens the stories of many of the characters."
"Abbot Elementary" is the fresh sitcom we've been desperately needing. It gained huge popularity and support, even during the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes, while the series participants actively walked out during the protests to fight for better working conditions for themselves and their colleagues.
ABC's "Abbot Elementary" is proof that sitcoms aren't dead, critics said.
Synopsis: In the second season of "Abbott Elementary," Janine (Quinta Branson), Gregory (Tyler James Williams), and the rest of the teachers try to get the new school year off to a good start, but life has other plans.
"Abbott Elementary" has been highly praised by all critics, receiving a perfect score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Writing for The Age, Craig Matheson wrote that the American sitcom "hit the top ten in its second season, with creator and star Quinta Branson deftly adding to viewers' understanding of the comic cross-section of teachers who uphold the system". /BGNES
Katerina Taneva, editor in the International Department of BGNES Agency.
