This year didn’t take long to get itself in order when it comes to TV. (Or movies!) The content carousel never stops turning, so it’s up to you to grab what you want off of it as it makes its rounds. Which means you have a lot of opportunities to grab some dicks this year: Euphoria and Pam and Tommy so far, plus looking forward, the inevitable circus of penises that will roll out when this year’s Game of Thrones prequel premieres.
All jokes aside however, the first two months of 2022 have offered up a dazzling number of series to choose from for premium watching. Ozark made its big Netflix return, Amazon has offered us a beautiful look into the lives of three young adults on the autism spectrum, and ABC (yes, A-B-C, the network) has turned out the best comedy of the year. If this all serves as any indication for the rest of the year, it’s not going to be a matter of whether or not there’s any good television but whether you have the time to watch it all.
To stay ahead of things, we’ve chosen the eight best series that you should get in your queue. With a Lord of the Rings spinoff, a confirmed third season of Ted Lasso, and an upcoming installment of The Crown, theres no time to waste.
Here are the 8 series we at Esquire are most excited about so far in 2022.
1
Abbott Elementary
Every time someone says network is dead a series like Abbott Elementary comes along. The half hour comedy from creator (and star) Quinta Brunson isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it keeps things simple, and in doing so has become one of the funniest feel-good series in years. Set in an elementary school in Philadelphia, it follows a crew of primary school teachers just trying to get by on what little the government will give them. It also doesn’t help that they have a objectively terrible principal (played to perfection by Janelle James) standing in their way at almost every turn.
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2
Severance
If there’s a show that’s perfectly nailed the surreal vibes of 2022, it’s Severance. Following an office where your work memories are separated from your personal memories upon arrival and dismissal—sounds like perfect corporate strategy, right?—the show explores the many ways in which we split ourselves in half, especially the parts that refuse to stay put.
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3
Somebody Somewhere
It’s hard to put Somebody Somewhere into words. It’s less like watching a story and more like watching an experience. Bridgett Everett shines as a woman who is trying to find grace and acceptance amid a ton of grief and sadness. Raw and unfiltered, the series is part comedy, part drama, and entirely too realistic for anyone who has ever had dreams of leaving their hometown. (Bonus: the star-making turn from Jeff Hiller takes the series from a 10 to an 11.)
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4
Euphoria
After a long hiatus, Euphoria‘s glorious, if not extremely stressful, return is proof that the series it not a one season wonder. Picking up after Rue’s Season One relapse, the series from Sam Levinson has moved at a breakneck pace, with Sydney Sweeney giving a particularly notable performance. Do you want dicks in the foyer? This season has it. Do you want hot tub vomit? Got that, too. And then of course, there’s the “how long you been fucking Nate Jacobs?” heard round the world. Don’t even get us started on the play.
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5
As We See It
Jason Katims, how dare you. The new series from the Friday Night Lights and Parenthood creator debuted on Amazon earlier this year, following three autistic young adults as they wade out into the world with the assist of their aid, played by Sosie Bacon. The series has heart, honesty, and a willingness to bring the world of life on the spectrum into the mainstream. That the three leads are all played by autistic performers makes the point perfectly.
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6
1883
Yellowstone may have been what broke ground in the Taylor Sheridan TV universe, but it’s 1883 that offers the most nuance. Acting as an origin story of sorts, the western follows the Dutton family as they make their way west to what will eventually become the homestead fans of the original series know. Rooted by performances from Sam Elliott, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, and Isabel May, the series is one hell of a watch.
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7
Pam & Tommy
There are several intriguing things about Pam and Tommy. The CGI penis, obviously. Also, the subject matter of a stolen sex tape makes the show feel a bit icky and exploitive, as well. But damn if Lily James and Seabstian Stan don’t go all in as the titular characters, resurrecting an era of 90s sensationalism—not to mention a scandal that defined the 30 years that followed.
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8
Ozark
On a lot of these “best of” lists, you’ll see miniseries, new shows, and the occasional long-running favorite, but it’s hard to keep a series fresh season after season. That’s what makes Ozark so special. Now on its fourth batch of episodes, the series starring Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and the incomparable Julia Garner, has continued to reinvent itself and offer some of the best television on any platform.
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