Sometimes you just want to watch a show where you knock everybody’s name. This year featured many of our favourite shows returning with stronger sophomore seasons while others aired for the very last time.

Here are our picks for the Best Returning Series of 2023.

5. Schmigadoon!: Season 2

After a good first season, the musical comedy Schmigadoon returned with an expanded cast, a seemingly bigger budget and a new inspiration from 70s and 80s musicals. Though Keegan Michael Key and Cecily Strong returned as Josh and Melissa, the rest of the cast took up new roles in the town of Schmicago and they all took this opportunity with both hands. If you’re a fan of musicals or musical comedy, then Schmigadoon!: Season 2 is a must-watch.

– Ashley

4. Ted Lasso: Season 3

Ted Lasso was well-beloved in its first season but seems to have had a loss of fans turning up to cheer it on as the next two seasons are released. This latest, in particular, was very mixed, but I know we loved it here at Explosion Network. Although messy and messy, leaving you wondering what the direction was for most of the season, it was always a super enjoyable watch, and the season finale, if anything, stuck the emotionally fulfilling ending straight into the back of the net. 

– Dylan

3. Succession: Season 4

Everything the show had been building came to a head this season as each of the Logan children plus many others battled for control of Waystar Royco, but not in the way that we expected. With so much history and baggage to each of these characters and their relationships, it could have easily gotten bogged down, but this season just flies by with banger episode after banger episode. A beautiful modern-day Shakespearean tragedy.

– Ashley

2. The Bear – Season 2

As one of 2022’s most beloved shows, it was questionable if The Bear could return with as much intrigue and character enthusiasm for its second season, but the show more than delivered as Carmy and the crew worked on re-shaping their futures and making the dream of “The Bear” into a reality. With more than a couple of episodes on our ‘Best Episode’ shortlist, The Bear Season 2 was a massive return for 2023. 

– Dylan

1. The White Lotus: Season 2

The first season of The White Lotus was a huge success and one of my favourite shows of the previous year. But it was also made as a limited series at the time, so I was tired when getting excited for the new season. However, Mike White is not only delivered with a bunch of new characters visiting a White Lotus hotel but also the continued adventures of Tanya, the Jennifer Coolidge award-winning character who steals the show every time she’s on the screen. 

– Dylan