The Thorney TV Review of 2023

[TheThorne]

Will start by saying noone can or has watched everything, there are shows that I heard were so bad that I didn't even watch the pilots hello Willow and National Treasure for two, although Willow is technically 2022, it did come out last xmas. These are all shows that I pretty much stuck with to the end. Although there are some in the worst of the year lists that I had to drop. I will also have forgotten some stuff but hopefully this list is pretty comprehensive 

There will be four lists . Best New Shows, Best Continuing Shows, Worst New Shows and most disappointing/worst continuing shows.

Will start with maybe the least controversial

My Top 10 New shows of 2023

Honorary mentions


1899 - Netflix



Sadly axed just as it looked like it was going somewhere fascinating. From the creators of Dark, real shame this story won't carry on.


Black Knight - Netflix



Post apocalyptic show from South Korea about a world that has to survive with unbearable pollution. It should get a second season.

[TheThorne]

10 Shrinking - Apple TV


Not the best year for new comedy but this show is so sharply written with a great cast and characters and a MVP of Harrison Ford basically being Harrison Ford.

[TheThorne]

9 The Last Of Us - Sky/Max/Now TV



A tricky one this, there are flaws, casting choices and decisions that I am not super happy with but for making a TV show that bring you totally into the Last Of Us world it succeeds in spades.

[TheThorne]

8 The Terminal List - Amazon Prime



Nothing super original, it is basically The Punisher with a twist but I don't care one of the best action thrillers of 2023.

[TheThorne]

7 Gen V - Amazon Prime



I had struggled to get into The Boys, been creeping through it for years but I totally loved this and it inspired me to carry on and blast through the remaining Boys episodes, I am now totally up to date. a real antidote to Disney Marvel. Don't watch with your parents or kids hehe

[TheThorne]

6 Lockwood & Co - Netflix



A real shame this has been axed as well. One of the best family shows of 2023. For fans of Harry Potter for sure, so much fun and a great young cast. If only Dr Who was this good still.

[TheThorne]

Ok will take a break before the top 5

[Hupin]

I really enjoyed Shrinking and The Last Of Us.
I haven't watched the other three

[o]

1899 was excellent, me and my daughter loved it, and the ending! Cant believe there's not another season!
Last of us was also excellent, if a little depressing, but the end of the world isn't a cakewalk I guess
Lockwood & Co I found a bit teenage.
I always mean to keep a list of shows I like through the year and then forget, maybe this year, if enough shows pique my interest.

[TheThorne]

5 One Piece - Netflix



They said it couldn't be done but Netflix made a live action show that lives up to the Anime.  Perfect casting, just a fun feel good exciting show. More of the same please.

[TheThorne]

4 The Night Agent - Netflix



Another kind of show that we have been missing lately certainly from the US. If you love 24 or Bourne Identity you have to watch this.

[TheThorne]

3 Daisy Jones And The Six - Amazon Prime



This was a very unexpected show. A show about an up-and-coming band dealing with success in the 70s. More to it than just that, it has parallels with Fleetwood Mac and the music written for the show is excellent. Probably the most emotional show I watched in 2023.

[TheThorne]

2 Poker Face - Sky,Peacock



Sky is not a goto place to find great shows these days or I dunno they just don't get the attention they used to. This though was a real word of mouth find and what a gem. If you love shows like Breaking Bad, Justified or Fargo, you need to watch this.  Every episode you just don't know what is coming, loved it.

[TheThorne]

My favourite new show of 2023

Silo - Apple TV



This show could go many ways, yes it could be  another 'Lost' show or it could be a brilliant futuristic show that blows your mind. At this point it can still go either way but I am still there for the journey. Amazing atmosphere and effects, great cast and a mystery that just sucks you in. 

[TheThorne]

The top 10 worst/most disappointing/least favourite shows/seasons of 2024

Lol quite a title but you know what I mean. These are all shows that are not brand new that have maybe been gradually getting worse or really hit a bad season in 2023 or maybe I just gave up.

10 All American - All4/The CW



A CW show I started watching during Covid as I was running out of stuff, it's all about American Football and inner city life in LA. It was fine but it has gradually been getting worse to the point that I cannot bear it anymore. It is on season 5 and will have one more before ending this year.

[TheThorne]

9 Foundation - Apple TV



The second season from the Sci-fi epic. The show is gorgeous, has some huge ideas but as many have said more the decades this story is unfilmable. They have tried their best and Season 1 worked as a kind of Dune type show even had a bit of GoT about it. But the actual main story the Foundation itself is total nonsense, it is super confusing, has no direction and you feel they just don't know where they are going either. This season was built up to end with a big war but I was done at Ep6. a shame as it could have been amazing but they have taken on too much.

[TheThorne]

8 Frasier - Paramount Plus



Was not sure what list to put this in as it is a revived show but this is the place I think. First of, I will start of by saying it is not bad. I watched the first 3 episodes but I just didn't really care, maybe one laugh an episode. Others make love this it was just nothing special.

[TheThorne]

7 Loki - Disney Plus



The best Marvel TV show of 2023 but that is not saying a lot. Again it is not bad, think it is slightly better than season 1, personally I would binge through it as fast as possible and you will get something out of it. Or maybe watch the first two and the last one, which is by far the best episode.

[TheThorne]

6 Doctor Who - BBC/Disney Plus



This had to be here as it is both disappointing and an improvement at the same time. Yes all episodes are better than 90% of Jodie era but at the same time, they all pale in comparison to the original Tennant run. Yes nice to have people back, nice having a budget and improved effects. But the stories and ideas so far not all working for me. Still looking forward to where the fantasy spin is going to go.

[TheThorne]

Back later with the top 5