Over 30 shows featured on our shortlist this year, showcasing how much good television was put out in 2022. With a lot of big franchise shows coming out this year, we also had some really great surprises and said goodbye to one of the best shows of all time.

Here are the Explosion Network’s official Top 10 TV Shows of 2022.

10.) Euphoria: Season two

Created by: Sam Levinson

The second season of Euphoria see’s Rue dive headstrong into her substance abuse like never before and leave everyone around her as collateral. Her relationship with Jules hangs on a thread as she attempts to hide her drug issues with her new friend, Elliot. Zendaya again gives a phenomenal performance as Rue, and in one episode, in particular, breaks my heart as she tears Jules and her mother to pieces as her life spirals.

But the standout and surprising character focus of the second season for me was Maude Apatow’s Lexi getting a much bigger focus, alongside the downward spiral of Sydney Sweeney’s Cassie, giving her all in an under-appreciated performance from 2022. The second season disappointingly leaves some characters to the side and puts a more significant focus on some backstories than was necessary, but it’s still more of Euphoria, and it’s utterly engrossing television.

– Dylan Blight

9.) The Witcher: Season two

Created by: Lauren Schmidt

The second season of The Witcher was a completely different beast to the first season which released in late 2019. Shedding the multiple timelines which featured in season one, this season saw a more linear storyline with an increased focus on Ciri as well as an increased budget which is on fully display..

With the introduction of Vesemir and the other witchers of Kaer Morhen we got to see another side of Geralt, while Yennifer travelled the continent in the wake of her actions at the end of season one. While the first season featured a number of shorter stores, this second one grew the world of The Witcher greatly which raises our hopes for what could happen in season 3.

– Ashley Hobley

8.) The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of power

Created by: Patrick McKay, John D. Payne

When Amazon announced that they’d secured the rights to make a Lord of the Rings series for Prime Video, I was trepidatious like anyone else. But they’ve managed to produce something that stands on its own for anyone who has never watched the Jackson films before, as well as a complimentary series to the trilogy. 

Set thousands of years before the trilogy of films and a hobbits’ journey to take one ring to the fires of Mount Doom, The Rings of Power focuses on a time without evil — or so we’re led to believe. The notion that Sauron is moving in the background keeps you on your toes all season, guessing who he could be or where he could be. While seeing known characters like Galadriel come into their own and Elron forming friendships are some of the show’s best moments. 

– Dylan Blight

7.) Stranger Things: Season 4

Created by: The Duffer Brothers

After an extended break where we were left to wonder what happened to Hopper, Stranger Things returned with their best season since the original. With an antagonist with layers in Vecna, brought to life by Jamie Campbell Bower, there was a credible threat for our band of misfits to deal with. The ongoing mystery of who and how of the killings across Hawkins was enjoyable to watch unfold while the new additions to the backstory only enhanced what came before.

While most of the cast was separated, this gave an opportunity for Sadie Sink and Caleb McLaughlin to do their best work in the show so far along with the fun addition of Joseph Quinn as Eddie. The show justified its two supersized final episodes and has set things up for a potentially epic ending to this series. 

– Ashley Hobley

6.) Better Call Saul: Season 6

Created by: Vince Gilligan, Peter Gould

Making a prequel to one of the most celebrated shows in recent memory was either a brave or calculated decision from Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould. Fans of Breaking Bad were happy to see fan-favourite supporting cast-member Bob Odenkirk return as Saul Goodman, but you couldn’t have predicted that six years later, in its last season, Better Call Saul would have surpassed Breaking Bad in every way.

A show that is built upon its multi-layered, deeply flawed characters, Better Call Saul: Season Six tied to the figurative noose on Jimmy McGill and officially saw the light of Saul Goodman take a stand over law. A turn that years ago you felt excited to see and now dread every moment. A swerve into an alternative history may have even been appreciated. Still, we all knew what direction Jimmy/Saul was always headed, and it was made that much harder to watch thanks to the brilliant performance of Odenkirk and co-star Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, who, in her own way, became the true star and hero of the series. 

I’ve been voting Better Call Saul into the Explosion Network’s Top 10 list in some fashion each year since we started this website, and as a loud supporter of the show on Twitter and our content here, it is sad to write about it one last time in our best of lists. If you haven’t watched this show yet — please correct that. It is amazing. 

– Dylan Blight

5.) Abbott Elementary

Created by: Quinta Brunson

The success of Abbott Elementary is one of the best stories of the year. Created by Quinta Brunson, who was inspired by her mother who worked as a teacher for 40 years, the series quickly became a ratings success on network TV, proving to be a show for the whole family.

The mockumentary following the teachers of an underfunded Philidelphia elementary school deserves every bit of success it gets because of its wholesome energy, delightful cast and its very funny episodes. Everyone gets a chance to shine and there is little to no mean-spirited humour, which is a rarity. The second season is airing now and is just as good. I look forward to seeing what antics the staff of Abbot Elementary get up to for many years to come.

– Ashley Hobley

4.) Severance: Season One

Created by: Dan Erickson

Taking the idea of a work/life balance to the umpteenth degree, Severence literally has characters leaving their home life brain at the door when coming to work. The show starts as a dark comedy but moves into a dramatic exploration of trauma, big business, and how seeing “keep your work life “separate isn’t always a good thing.

A stellar cast, including Adam Scott and Brit Lower, lead the flood of workers who have no idea what their job is or if what they’re doing affects anything. John Turturro and Christopher Walkin’s surprising relationship adds heart to the series, but the constant revelations and cliffhangers keep you hooked from episode to episode.

– Dylan Blight

3.) House of The Dragon: Season One

Created by: Ryan J. Condal, George R.R. Martin

After the much-maligned (Emmy-award-winning) final season of Game of Thrones, many thought that they would never again be interested in returning to the world of Westeros. But with The House of the Dragon, people returned to King’s Landing and beyond in droves.

Set 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen, House of the Dragon centred on the reign of the Targaryens. The show quickly fell into the groove of the best seasons of Game of Thrones, with a stellar ensemble cast constantly providing memorable, brutal or heartbreaking moments. The full force of HBO was behind this project ensuring it is one of the best-looking shows on television with some incredible imagery and those amazing-looking dragons. The most exciting part is that this season mostly serves as a prelude to the war that is set to break House Targaryen. The next season can’t come soon enough.

– Ashley Hobley

2.) The Rehearsal: Season One

Created by: Nathan Fielder

As someone with an aversion to being in and watching awkward situations, The Rehearsal should not have hooked me like it did. Nathan is an incredibly awkward guy who proceeds to put him into a bunch of incredibly awkward situations and conversations, but this is a show that I just had to watch each week.

Initially, the premise is that Nathan is going to help people prepare for certain situations they are anxious about in the hope to make it easier for them. This simple premise quickly spirals out of control and proceeds to take many incredible tangents. It’s safe to say you will not see anything coming as the lines between what is real and what is a performance quickly blur and never ever separate. What Nathan Fielder and his team have done hear, with their crazy sets and even crazier characters is mind-boggling and an astounding achievement in television.

– Ashley Hobley

1.) Andor

Created by: Tony Gilroy

If you’re shocked that a Star Wars series is our pick for the Best TV Show of 2022, don’t worry, we are just as confused. Sure, The Mandalorian is good most of the time, but the other Disney+ series have left us wanting a lot more.

Rogue One is a Great War movie that introduces Cassian Andor before killing him off moments before Vader begins his mission to track down Princess Leia. Cassian isn’t a character you’d think would get a spin-off, but Tony Gilroy has crafted a thrilling and emotionally gripping show that explores Cassian’s eventual commitment to the rebel and spy we meet in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. What he goes through to get there is imprisonment, beatings, loss of loved ones and all-manner of Imperials, with his mother being the one to ignite the fire of rebellion within him.

I haven’t even touched on the tremendous supporting cast, which includes Genevieve O’Reilly finally getting a chance to explore Mon Mothma, what makes her tick and how her life leads to her as the leader of a rebellion.

Andor is great because each character is written as actual multi-layer humans (or aliens), not toys to play with inside the Star Wars universe. The themes of Andor resonate in our current society, the drums of rebellion beating without our planet to stand up for what’s right. Andor is the best thing we’ve had out of Stat Wars since The Last Jedi, and I cannot wait until the next season

– Dylan Blight

Dylan Blight and Ashley Hobley compiled this Top 10 list. The TV shows nominated must release between November 15th 2021 – November 15th 2022 and have been released in Australia via network TV, VOD or a streaming platform.