Best of 2022, TV Episodes

 


We've come to the end of 2022, and that means it's time for me to give my best of the year. It starts today with TV Day! In the first of two posts, I'll be looking at my favorite episodes of the year. It was a rich year for TV, and below are 10 episodes that caught my attention.

10. "Blood Atonement," Episode 1.07 Under the Banner of Heaven (First Aired June 2, 2022)
About: Under the Banner of Heaven was a difficult show to watch at times, but it was buoyed by a great performance from Andrew Garfield. It's a difficult and sad story. Perhaps the most emotional hour was the last one. Garfield was great in the role and gives his all in this episode that haunted me for a while after the credits rolled.

9. "Polaris," Episode 3.01 For All Mankind (First Aired June 10, 2022)
About: I love the series For All Mankind, and its third season didn't disappoint. It didn't reach the heights of the previous seasons but it had some outstanding moments. That begins with this pilot that moves the series forward, provides an incredible action set piece and plenty of drama for our characters. It sets things in motion and grabs your attention right away.

8. "The Black Queen," Episode 1.10 House of the Dragon (First Aired October 23, 2022)
About: I didn't love the first season of the Thrones prequel. It was uneven and dry at times. But the final episodes picked up the pace. The first season finale featured some interesting action and set the stage for the wars to come. It was not only the strongest episode of the season, it was one that sold me on the series.

7. "What You Want & What You Need," Episode 1.01 The English (First Aired November 11, 2022)
About: The English was a riveting new series, and it all starts with this crackling pilot that was one of the best first hours I've seen. Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer do an amazing job and the action here sets the stage and pulls you into what's to come.

6. "Braciole," Episode 1.08 The Bear (First Aired June 23, 2022)
About: The Bear was a series that pulled me in and hooked me. It dropped in the middle of summer and I remember tearing through it in about a day. The finale, "Braciole," brings to a head all the storylines throughout the season, creating a searing and emotional episode that is the best of the first season.

5. "Unbroken Circle," Episode 1.10 Station Eleven (First Aired January 13, 2022)
About: This was the rare show that shifted over two years, but the finale aired in January. This finale episode tied the threads together in a rich, emotional payoff. Station Eleven was a riveting and engaging show and this episode was the series' best.

4. "Dear Billy," Episode 4.04 Stranger Things (First Aired May 27, 2022)
About: The uneven fourth season of Stranger Things had two great episodes, both of which aired in the first half of the season. This one, "Dear Billy," was perhaps the most emotional. It features a great performance from Sadie Sink and a truly emotional arc that pulled me in. I loved it.

3. "All Those Who Wander," Episode 1.09 Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (First Aired June 30, 2022)
About: Paramount+ has made a lot of its name by investing in original Star Trek series. The best of those is Strange New Worlds, which offered a wonderful and engaging first season. In this penultimate episode, the crew is forced to face their greatest fears. I loved the way the episode was put together, the emotion of it and the storytelling.

2. "Return of the Mandalorian," Episode 1.05 The Book of Boba Fett (First Aired January 26, 2022)
About: I guess we'll call this a bottle episode since the main characters don't even appear, which is strange. But this one gives us a complete focus on The Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal), which is delightful. The journey was fun and engaging and worth the wait.

1. "The We We Are," Episode 1.09 Severance (First Aired April 8, 2022)
About: Severance was a fascinating series for Apple TV+, but one that was something of a slow build. The cast, led by Adam Scott, is great. And the direction from Ben Stiller is also strong. This finale crackles, building to a moment that's been coming all season. I can't wait to see where it goes next.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve
Read more