The most disappointing TV shows of the year, Starz’ surprisingly solid programming, and more from the week in TV

Fargo recap: A cruel, cynical twist justified by fantastic storytelling

A guy with a cool eyepatch named Danish Graves once said: “We have our own reality.” That, more than anything, might be Fargo season five’s mission statement. For weeks, we’ve watched Dorothy bob and weave past threats and kidnappings. She’d had to explain herself to those increasingly desperate to, if not help, then at least understand her. But Dorothy’s a survivor in constant survival mode: Simply getting past whatever’s in front of her is the aim. Figuring out what to do after that, well, that comes after. – Tom Philip Read More

The 10 most disappointing TV shows of 2023

This was a landmark year for television. We devoured some excellent final seasons (Succession, Barry), remarkable returns like The Bear and Heartstopper, and smashing debuts (Beef, The Last Of Us). At the same time, we were subject to some dismaying offerings. It’s not that they belong on a worst-of-the-year list. However, these 10 shows do fall under the most disappointing banner. Some couldn’t meet the high expectations placed on them (ahem, Ted Lasso), while others arrived with negative baggage. And let’s not forget Amazon’s waste of a cool $300 million. Without further ado, here are our top 10 most disappointing TV shows of the year, presented in alphabetical order. – Saloni Gajjar Read More

Marvel’s What If…? season two review: A fun, familiar return

Season one of Disney+’s What If…? was a somewhat rare bit of general joy from Marvel Studios—not much more than good times and Easter eggs for MCU fans who like the idea of seeing familiar characters and storylines remixed into something fresh. So it’s fitting the show’s second season is airing around the holidays (premiering on December 22, new episodes drop through December 30). It features a Die Hard-inspired Christmas episode in which Jon Favreau’s Happy Hogan turns into a Hulk, and yes, they do call him Hulk Hogan, because this series remains a nice little gift for the Marvel zombies out there…though the actual Marvel Zombies from season one only get a little cameo this time. – Sam Barsanti Read More

Starz was sneakily 2023's best cable network. Then it canceled Shining Vale

Goddamnit, Starz, you had it kind of good this year. With Power-house franchises, the return of a cult classic, Outlander’s latest season, and rescuing Minx, the premium cable network sneakily delivered an outstanding year of TV, even if it sadly canceled some of its notable gems. Another blow came recently with the topical horror comedy Shining Vale, led by an excellent Courteney Cox. It returned in October with a twisted, resonant, and funny second season. The finale aired on December 1, and just three weeks later, the show was canceled. To make it worse, Starz will remove it from the platform at the end of 2023 so no one else can catch up to it. It’ll probably never get the chance to find its audience. – Saloni Gajjar Read More

Mandy Moore on exploring genres with Dr. Death after a career-defining This Is Us role

The actor: Mandy Moore has been a part of a lot of legacy projects. Can it get any better than the iconic The Princess Diaries as your movie debut? But then, she topped that with an unforgettable performance in the sweet A Walk To Remember, fun YA movies, even more rom-coms, surprising thrillers, and, of course, voicing a Disney princess in Rapunzel—all while fleshing out her music career. Yet, her career-defining role arrived with 2016's This Is Us. Moore was the evocative anchor in NBC’s six-season drama. She left no acting stone unturned in playing Rebecca Pearson beautifully across generations (it’s the Television Academy’s loss for not giving her that damn Emmy award). – Saloni Gajjar Read More

Honorable mentions: 19 other TV shows we loved in 2023

At the start of the month, we unveiled our 30 favorite TV shows of 2023, which included sendoffs like Succession and Reservation Dogs, worthy returns such as The Bear and Heartstopper, and the confident debuts of Poker Face and Beef. But you know what? There was a lot of great television this year. Here, in alphabetical order, are 19 other gems released in 2023—everything from sharp dramas and under-the-radar comedies to riveting true-crime docuseries—that also deserve a bit of the spotlight. – Saloni Gajjar Read More