With some of our favorite shows like Peaky Blinders and The Last Kingdom coming to an end, it makes room for new scripted series to take their places. With only a little over four months left in 2022, it is time to take a look back at some of the best-scripted series that have premiered this year, new shows that will hopefully continue to capture our attention (and hearts) for multiple seasons to come.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
10 The Gilded Age
NBCUniversal Television Distribution
The Gilded Age follows Marian Brook (Louisa Jacobson) as she enters the elite society of 1880s New York. The Gilded Age takes place during the boom of the Gilded Age which leads to gorgeous costuming and beautiful settings. The show has received positive reviews for its cast and their performances, specifically Carrie Coon, who plays Mrs. Bertha Russell. The Gilded Age is now streaming on HBO Max.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
9 The Old Man
Disney Platform Distribution
Jeff Bridges stars in The Old Man, a drama thriller based on the 2017 novel by Thomas Perry. The series follows Bridges, a former CIA operative who has been living off the grid as he is forced out of hiding due to his past coming back to haunt him. Bridges and John Lithgow are both incredible in this new series that has already been renewed for season two by FX.
8 Severance
Apple Inc.
Severance is a science fiction psychological thriller created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle. Adam Scott is amazing as Mark, an employee of Lumon Industries who is a part of the “severance” program, which separates his work memories from his non-work memories. With one of the best season finales of the year, the series has been praised for its cinematography, musical score, plot, and its incredible cast, which includes Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, and Christopher Walken. Severance received 14 Emmy nominations leading Apple TV+ to renew it for its second season.
7 Becoming Elizabeth
Starz
Becoming Elizabeth follows the young Elizabeth Tudor (Alicia von Rittberg) as she navigates the treacherous waters of court after the death of her father, King Henry VIII. The drama series, created by Anya Reiss, is a visually stunning representation of Tudor England and the reign of Edward VI. The cast includes Tom Cullen (Knightfall) as Thomas Seymour and Bella Ramsey (Game of Thrones) as Lady Jane Grey. The full season of Becoming Elizabeth is available on Starz.
6 Dark Winds
AMC
Dark Winds is a psychological thriller about two Navajo police officers, Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), investigating a double homicide in the 1970s Southwest. The show, created by Graham Roland, is based on the novel series Leaphorn & Chee by Tony Hillerman, with the first season following Hillerman’s first two books. The show stands out for its depiction of Navajo culture and its beautiful landscapes, so it is no surprise that Dark Winds has been renewed for season two, which will premiere in 2023. The entire series is available on AMC and AMC+.
5 Vikings: Valhalla
MGM Television and Digital Distribution
Vikings: Valhalla is a sequel to History’s Vikings, taking place about 100 years after the close of the original series. The show follows new characters Leif Erikson (Sam Corlett), his sister Freydís Eiríksdóttir (Frida Gustavsson), and Harald Sigurdsson (Leo Suter) as they deal with the changing world as the Viking era ends. Fans of Vikings have fallen in love with Vikings: Valhalla for the same reasons they were obsessed with the first: the characters are interesting, the battles are fantastic, and the Irish landscapes are breathtaking. With the show scoring 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, Netflix has already renewed the series for two more seasons.
4 Slow Horses
Gary Oldman delivers another fantastic performance as Jackson Lamb in Apple TV’s Slow Horses. The spy thriller, based on the 2010 novel by Mick Herron, follows disgraced MI5 agent River Cartwright (Jack Lowden) as he is transferred to the administrative purgatory for service rejects, Slough House, under the miserable direction of Jackson Lamb. This show is witty, entertaining, and a very British breath of fresh air as it focuses on the misfits of the MI5 program instead of their typical elite agents like in James Bond movies. Apple TV+ has already announced the renewal of Slow Horses through season four, with a second season coming near the end of 2022.
3 The Bear
Hulu
The Bear centers around a young fine dining chef coming back home to Chicago after his older brother’s suicide in order to run the family’s sandwich shop. Jeremy Allen White has his best performance yet as Chef Carmen Berzatto and shines out amongst the great cast. The FX on Hulu series, created by Christopher Storer (Dickinson), has received critical acclaim for its storyline and portrayals of the inner workings of a small kitchen. The Bear has been renewed for season two and can be streamed on Hulu.
2 The Sandman
Netflix
Premiering on August 5, 2022, The Sandman is a beautiful adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s DC comic of the same name. Developed by Gaiman, David S. Goyer, and Allan Heinberg, the series floundered in development purgatory for years before finally being picked up by Netflix in 2019. The series follows Morpheus (Tom Sturridge), the King of Dreams and one of the seven Endless, as he tries to restore his realm, The Dreaming. Fans have praised the series for its accuracy to the source martial and Sturridge portrayal of Dream as well as the stunning visuals. With The Sandman landing a fresh rating, it will be curious to see if Netflix will renew the series for another season.
1 Peacemaker
WarnerMedia Direct
James Gunn’s Peacemaker is everything fans of The Suicide Squad had hoped for. The series takes place after the film, with John Cena reprising his role as the jingoistic killer Peacemaker. Cena along with the rest of the cast, which includes Danielle Brooks and Robert Patrick, are incredible and hilarious, leading to a ridiculously entertaining series. Although there has been no word on season two, Gunn assured fans that Peacemaker’s future was safe amid DC’s cancellation of Batgirl.
With over four months left in 2022, it will be interesting to see what will top the shows that have already premiered. But with highly anticipated shows like House of the Dragon and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power audiences can guarantee that they will have plenty to watch throughout the remaining year.
