Tag: The Last of Us

Ranking my Top 10 Television Shows of 2023: Which Shows Made The Cut?

It’s that time of year again! As we get closer and closer to approaching 2023, I thought it would be the perfect time to count down my Top 10 TV Shows of 2023. 

While some returning shows continued strong, others fell off slightly. Meanwhile, some other new shows completely captivated my attention, paving their way into my top 10.

Without any further delay, let’s get to my list!

My Top 10 Television Shows of 2023 are:

10

Who Is Erin Carter?

Image courtesy of Netlix

I love guilty pleasure thrillers and this series checked off all those boxes and then some. It was so addicting and a binge-watcher’s dream. If you’re looking for a soapy action-packed series with tons of twists and turns, this one is for you!

9

Poker Face

Image courtesy of Peacock

While I personally feel that this series started off a lot stronger than it finished, Natasha Lyonne was absolutely fantastic in this one. Her quirky, dry humor really elevated things and I really liked the vignette style with each episode. 

8

A Murder at the End of the World

Image courtesy of FX on Hulu

A fantastic and modern whodunnit that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end. Every reveal was so well crafted and I liked the flashbacks just as much as the present day mystery, making this a layered and thought-provoking series worth checking out.

7

School Spirits

Image courtesy of Paramount+

A delightful and charming surprise that I absolutely fell in love with. A clever mix of Ghosts and Veronica Mars, featuring a major twist that really elevated this show into something spectacular.

6

Yellowjackets (season 2)

Image courtesy of Showtime

One of my favorite shows of last year stayed strong with season 2, providing us with darker and more shocking moments than ever before. Yellowjackets is so addicting and doesn’t hold anything back, bringing two timelines together seamlessly in a disturbing, but fascinating series.

5

Found

Image courtesy of Peacock

Another big surprise was how quickly I became addicted to this series. It started off like your standard crime series and then it presented us with an insane twist that hooked me completely and didn’t stop there. Each week reveals more pieces of the puzzle and Shanola Hampton and Mark-Paul Gosselaar are dynamite on screen!

I can’t wait for new episodes to return in the new year!

4

The Horror of Dolores Roach

Image courtesy of Prime Video

This series was an absolute gem for horror fans and Justina Machado killed it! The bite-sized episodes made this one extremely easy to binge-watch and the plot channeled Sweeney Todd in a clever way.

I’m really disappointed that this series was canceled because it was so fresh and spectacular. I’m hoping another platform picks it up, but either way, you can still enjoy the first season. That cliffhanger is still bugging me though…

3

The Last of Us

Image courtesy of Max

Probably the best video game adaptation I have seen on the small screen. The Last of Us has been a long time coming and it delivered with powerful moments and performances on screen.

2

The Night Agent

Image courtesy of Netflix

The most addicting series of the year for me. The Night Agent was jam packed with insane twists and plenty of action to keep you anxiously pressing play on the next episode until the very end. More series like this please!

Honorable Mentions:

Full Circle

Based on a True Story

Class of ’07

You (season 4)

The Witcher (season 3)

The Summer I Turned Pretty (season 2)

Harlan Coben’s Shelter

Justified: City Primeval

Only Murders in the Building (season 3)

Nancy Drew (final season)

Drum roll please…

1

The Fall of the House of Usher

Image courtesy of Netflix

An eloquent and deliciously dark masterpiece from start to finish. This series was everything I hoped for and more with powerful characters, stand-out performances, and beyond shocking moments, making this my favorite series of the year by far! I loved every second of it!

I hope you enjoyed the list and feel free to post some of YOUR favorite television shows of 2023. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing in the new year!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

 

 

Spoiler-Free Review of “The Last of Us” on HBO Max: A Solid Start

*This is a spoiler-free review so feel free to read on!*

“You are all that matters…”

The Last of Us released on HBO Max on January 15th 2023 with the premiere episode. There will be nine episodes in total that will air weekly. Based on the video game of the same name, the post-apocalyptic drama stars Pedro Pascal, Bella Ramsey, Gabriel Luna, and Anna Torv. Each episode runs for approximately 45-80 minutes.

Joel embarks on a dangerous journey across post-outbreak America with a girl named Ellie.

Here is the trailer:

The Last of Us is a worthy video-game adaptation filled with dangerous threats and heart-wrenching emotions. Is it worthy of your next watch? Let’s find out…

The Pros:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Exceptional cast.

I’m a fan of Pedro Pascal and already he is leading this show in such a powerful way. His character has plenty of layers and trauma to deal with, making him a character to root for and then some. His bond with other characters is also effective as well, bringing us plenty of emotional moments that were actually really believable in a series premiere, which is not always easy to do when the audience hasn’t fully connected to everything yet.

I was super excited to see Fringe’s Anna Torv in this, who is no stranger to playing a complete bad-ass so I’m excited to see more.

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Bold start.

I love a series that is not afraid to do something unexpected and shocking (even though fans of the video game will understand what is going on from the start). Either way, I thought this was such a strong premiere and it did plenty to keep fans of the video game franchise happy, while still providing enough content for viewers who may not be as familiar with the plot.

The Cons:

Images courtesy of HBO Max

Jam-packs in a lot.

From time jumps to new characters to everything in-between, the premiere is really overstuffed with so much and felt like more of a movie at times. The series needs to be careful otherwise it may start to feel like every other post-apocalyptic show that has aired already. I think that it has enough heart and content to separate itself for now, but we’ll have to see how this develops as the episodes continue.

So am I in or out?

Images courtesy of HBO Max

I’m in!

It’s been a while since I saw such a strong premiere episode for a television series and it’s safe to say that The Last of Us is heading in the right direction!

I hope you enjoyed the review and feel free to post your own thoughts and theories on The Last of Us in the comments section below. Thanks so much for reading and happy viewing!

Best,

Amy Koto, TV Fanatic Girl

THIS COMPETITION IS KILLER…

When former friends, Shay and Adriana team up to participate in a Halloween scavenger hunt with a cash prize, they temporarily put their differences aside to outsmart their opponents. However, they soon start to realize that a dangerous threat is playing their own version of the game, stalking them during each hunt.

Winning is now a necessity as their lives are at stake. As old wounds and memories re-surface, Shay and Adriana attempt to unmask the threat before the night is over, but soon learn that Scream Hunt is not done with them just yet…

Scream Hunt is available here!

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