Mid-Year Best Of: The 10 best TV series of the year, so far

It comes as no surprise that “The Last of Us” is at the top of the list at this point in the year. What other show has matched Pedro Pascal’s moments and co-star Bella Ramsey’s rising stardom. The show’s grip on viewers spread like cordyceps from week to week, extending HBO’s reputation for creating zeitgeist-defining event television. Season 2 is in the works, but has not begun production, despite how badly we all want it yesterday.

Indian filmmaking duo Raj & DK have another massive hit on their hands with “Farzi” (the other being spy thriller “The Family Man”), which became the most streamed Indian series of all time, gripping viewers with a thrilling story of an artist-turned-counterfeiter. Shahid Kapoor (as the likable antihero) leads an ensemble cast, with scene-stealing performances from Vijay Sethupathi and Kay Kay Menon.

We didn’t have a reality prank show on our bingo card of mid-year hits, but Freevee’s hoax trial became a spring sensation, as fans flocked to watch an enthusiastic James Marsden (among other actors) go all-in on the joke. As one IMDb reviewer noted, it’s like “The Office” mixed with ‘The Truman Show.’ That shouldn’t come as a surprise, as creators Lee Eisenberg and Gene Stupnitsky were previously writers on the American version of “The Office.”

The unlikely collaboration between indie powerhouse A24 and Netflix became a big hit with IMDb users this year. Steven Yuen and Ali Wong masterfully channeled the world’s collective anxiety and frustration, fueling a dark comedy series that was as empathetic as it was petty.

Netflix scored an unlikely hit this year with this British mockumentary series, featuring Diane Morgan’s endlessly quotable musings as the series' brazenly ignorant host, Philomena Cunk (“We don’t even know if Jack the Ripper was his real name or just a nickname like 50 Cent."). Fabs ate it up, and Morgan scored a BAFTA nomination for Best Female Comedy Performance in the series, which was produced by “Black Mirror” creator Charlie Brooker.

In a media landscape littered with space battles and technological McGuffin chases, Apple TV+ has carved a unique path with its sci-fi offerings. After “Severance” became a runaway hit for the platform in 2022, genre fans were eager to test out their newest dystopian series, “Silo.” The result was an undeniable hit, with the show rocketing to the top of searches on IMDb and lead actor Rebecca Ferguson trending in the top 20 names on STARmeter. Season 2 has been confirmed, and we can hardly wait to unravel more mysteries of the silo.

Bursting with original music, period-perfect design, and compelling performances, “Daisy Jones & The Six,” drew in viewers with its dramatic story of the rise and fall of a popular rock band. Critics and fans praised the series for its effective use of the “Behind the Music”-style structure and accurate representation of the ‘70s music scene. Loosely based on the story of real-life band Fleetwood Mac, this miniseries proved that midcentury stories are still fertile ground for television.

IMDb reviewers have called this series everything from “comedy gold” to “brilliant in every way,” and we understand why. Few shows portray the heart-wrenching humor that comes along with the grieving process, but “Shrinking” delights in making audiences laugh at the painfully poignant moments in life. Thanks to the pitch-perfect performances from Jason Segal and Harrison Ford, and excellent scripts by creators Segal and Brett Goldstein, “Shrinking” proved that laughter is the best therapy.

Netflix has released several sleeper hits already this year, from “Beef” and “Cunk on Earth” to “The Night Agent” (which just barely missed making our top 10). With “The Diplomat,” audiences were treated to the perfect combination of twists, intrigue, and interpersonal drama as Keri Russell’s ambassador Kate Wyle navigated a harrowing new job while attempting to smooth out her rocky relationship with husband Hal (Rufus Sewell). With efficient storytelling and delightful banter, this “Scandal”-meets-”The West Wing” series has the potential to run for multiple seasons.

Rian Johnson’s comedic crime series took streaming by storm thanks to its unique premise and Natasha Lyonne’s charismatic lead performance. It wasn’t obvious that viewers were hungry for a return to the "Columbo"-style mystery-of-the-week format, but with the successes of 'Knives Out' and 'Glass Onion,' plus "Poker Face" becoming Peacock’s highest-rated show, it’s clear the plucky detective trope is primed for a resurgence.