The 15 Best TV Shows of 2023 So Far, From “The Bear” to “Queen Charlotte”

With nine months of the year nearly behind us (and much of the TV release calendar up in the air because of the ongoing strikes), we’re looking back at some of the TV shows that have stood out from the pack in 2023. Some of them are Emmy nominees, like HBO’s “Succession” and “The Last of Us.” Meanwhile, others like “Queen Charlotte” and “Mrs. Davis” are new to the scene. And some are TV stalwarts that have been going strong for years — and yes, we do mean “Vanderpump Rules.”

Ultimately, it’s been a good year for TV; there are plenty of good and great shows that didn’t make our list that we happily spent many hours in front of this year. There are also the shows that make good background TV (a chronically underappreciated category), the reality TV competitions that we became way too invested in, and the series that inspired strong, passionate fandoms. During this time when both writers and actors are on strike, recounting the best TV shows of the year is in many ways an appreciation of their efforts. Every moment of TV magic is possible only because of writers, actors, and other members of the crew who bring them to life, many of whom are often compensated much less than their ideas are worth.

Ahead, these are our best TV shows of 2023 so far.