It’s the end of the year, and that means it’s superlative awards season. The following list is Write Through the Night’s top 25 best TV shows of 2022. To be eligible, at least one episode of the season had to have been released this year, and it has to be the most recently completed season as of the end of 2022. Ratings were done by Aakanksha, Vania, Chinwe and myself in order to give you the best possible recommendations. All shows were watched by at least one member of the staff and given at least a 4 Star rating. We broke ties by looking at the number of people who watched the show, whether it had been reviewed on the blog, and through group discussion, in that order.
We watched a total of 47 shows, and 10 of them were watched by more than one person, so we did our best to get you all the best!
25. First Kill
Genre: Teen Supernatural / Romance
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 3.5 stars
- Jocelyn: 3.5 stars
- Vania: 4 stars
TV shows centering lesbian characters are so rare (and when they do exist, they get canceled immediately). While this show’s plot wasn’t necessarily revolutionary, it was cute and I would have enjoyed watching Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hook) and Calliope’s (Imani Lewis) relationship develop. —Jocelyn
I am still completely upset that once again they have canceled a sapphic show. I can’t believe they keep taking away our precious series and the characters that we love. —Vania
This show had so much potential, and like Vania, my frustration at Netflix keeps growing as they keep cancelling shows featuring lesbian protagonists. I liked the star-crossed lovers and would’ve loved to see their relationship develop against all odds. —Aakanksha
24. Never Have I Ever
Genre: Teen Romance / Drama
Season: 3
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4 stars
- Chinwe: 3.5 stars
Ah, I sure do love anti-hero characters. Devi (played by the fantastic Maitreyi Ramakrishnan) is a teenager who constantly toes the line between oblivious-and-self-absorbed, and sincere-and-sweet. This is my favorite season so far, largely because of how it expands Devi’s understanding of herself and her world, as well as Devi’s relationship with her mother Nalini (Poorna Jagannathan). I especially appreciate how the show continues tackling grief and its lingering impact. —Aakanksha
This show goes up and down for me. I found the third season to be slightly better than the second but neither were close to the first for me. At times it felt repetitive but was still fairly enjoyable. I think because of the crazy hype this show gets I just expected a little more- still a solid show. -Chinwe
23. Moon Knight
Genre: Superhero / Drama
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 3.5 stars
- Vania: 4 stars
Moon Knight is an amazing story. The powers, cinematography and cinematography make this show really enjoyable. Oscar Isaac really shows how good an actor he is. —Vania
I’d honestly watch anything Oscar Isaac stars in because he’s so good at making you root for his characters (even the morally grey ones). He’s mainly why, despite some issues with pacing and character development, Moon Knight is enjoyable and even thought-provoking at points. I also love that we have a mainstream show centered around non-Western mythology—Egyptian gods, in particular. —Aakanksha
22. The Summer I Turned Pretty
Genre: Teen Coming-of-age Drama
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4 stars
- Jocelyn: 4 stars (Read the Review)
The Summer I Turned Pretty was so much fun! I loved the book back in the day, and the TV show most definitely lived up to my expectations. I felt like I was right back in high school again watching it. —Jocelyn
High school me would have eaten this up. I love newcomer Lola Tung as Belly, a lovable and messy teenager. If you like love triangles and angsty drama set at a beach town in the summer, this is the show for you! —Aakanksha
21. Bridgerton
Genre: Historical Romance
Season: 2
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4 stars (Read the Review)
- Jocelyn: 3.5 stars
- Vania: 4 stars
I know my rating for Bridgerton was slightly lower than Aakanksha’s and Vania’s, but this is mostly because I thought it wasn’t as well done as season 1. That being said, Simone Ashley gave a wonderful performance. —Jocelyn
The new season of Bridgerton is full of crackling chemistry, longing and withholding. I’ve fallen for this period drama and its cinematography. I absolutely loved the relationship between Anthony and Kate. —Vania
Two words: Simone Ashley. I’m kidding (sort of) but really, even if you’re reluctant, watch it for her! Ashley’s character Kate Sharma made Bridgerton all the more interesting for me—she is a no-nonsense, caring woman who cares much more about her family than she does rigid norms. I love how this season weaves in a different culture without exotifying or undermining it (even though there was definitely room for improvement). Also, I don’t always like Anthony, but I appreciated his character development and I loved his chemistry with Kate. —Aakanksha
20. Bad Vegan
Genre: Documentary Series
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars (Read the Review)
Not for one single second did I guess where this limited series documentary was going. It was so well done and made me obsessed with yet another scammer. I was unaware of any of what happened before watching, and I have more questions than ever. —Jocelyn
19. The Rehearsal
Genre: Documentary Comedy
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
Nathan Fielder is such an interesting mix of character and human being. It’s unclear where one stops and the other begins. The Rehearsal is the greatest evidence of this yet, following Fielder as he creates elaborate scenarios to “practice” before they happen in real life. I love the way we don’t ever know the truth. I cannot stop watching. —Jocelyn
18. Abbott Elementary
Genre: Sitcom
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars (Read the Recap)
(Aakanksha recently started Abbott Elementary and loves it so far!)
Abbott Elementary is just so good! The jokes are perfectly timed, the cast is hilarious, and I’ve loved every episode. It’s one of the better sitcoms I’ve ever watched. —Jocelyn
17. Paper Girls
Genre: Teen Suspense / Drama
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4.5 stars
I really wish streaming platforms would stop cancelling sapphic shows—Paper Girls surpassed my expectations and I hope it gets picked up by someone else. I’d only read the first volume of the Paper Girls graphic novels, but that was enough to intrigue me. The story is about four young girls who meet on their paper delivery route and unexpectedly become friends when they get stuck in the middle of a war between time-travelers. A wild, fun ride! —Aakanksha
16. The Wilds
Genre: Drama
Season: 2
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars (Read the Review)
The first of many ultimately heartbreaking cancellations this year was The Wilds. While season 1 was incredible and female focused, season 2 focused on a nearly all male cast with mixed results. It would have been great to see where it ended up, but alas we’ll never get there! —Jocelyn
15. White Lotus
Genre: Satirical Drama
Season: 2
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
While season 1 of White Lotus was slow at times, season 2 made up for that with how incredibly enjoyable it was. The fact that it was released weekly and the general public was able to have conversations and discussions about it on Twitter most definitely added to my enjoyment. Not to mention, every single actor was hot and the behind-the-scenes cast photos added to the fun. —Jocelyn
14. The Bear
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Chinwe: 4.5 stars
Beatiful, Intense, Intimate. Jeremy Allen White was phenomenal and seeing his transformation as an actor from Shameless has been a gift. The writing was emotionally heavy in its own subtle flavor with a splash of wit – my favorite. Ebon Moss-Bachrach was incredible as Richie and Ayo Edebir is a treasure. I hope to see them both in a lot more projects. -Chinwe
13. Only Murders In The Building
Genre: Mystery / Comedy / Drama
Season: 2
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 4.5 stars
- Jocelyn: 4 stars
It took me a while to get into the first season, but by the time I started season 2 I was fully invested in the characters. This is the definition of a cozy murder mystery to me. —Jocelyn
Unlike the OMITB protagonists, I generally have zero interest in true crime. So you can imagine my surprise when I was almost instantly gripped by a show about true crime aficionados! Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steven Martin are an unexpected trio but a witty, sharp, and lovable one. 10/10 would recommend! —Aakanksha
12. Love Island UK
Genre: Reality Dating
Season: 8
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars
Yes, I understand that putting a reality TV show on this list is somewhat ridiculous, especially one that has been on air for as long as Love Island UK. HOWEVER, with how disappointed I’ve been in other reality TV franchises lately, it’s nice to see a show that still cares about romance and human connection. —Jocelyn
11. Batwoman
Genre: Action / Superhero
Season: 3
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars
I don’t often watch shows on the CW, but when I heard that Batwoman was a queer Black woman battling villains and the sexual tension between her and the head of Crows security, I had to watch. Although Batwoman has since been canceled, it’s still worth the watch. —Jocelyn
10. The Sex Lives of College Girls
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
- Vania: 4.5 stars
It’s so rare that a character-centered show comes out that truly brings me joy. The Sex Lives of College Girls is told in a style reminiscent of Sex and the City, but with a younger, more diverse cast at an Ivy League university. If this doesn’t keep getting renewed I will be truly devastated. —Jocelyn
The Sex Lives of College Girls is literally one of my fav shows now. This show is more than what the title offers; it’s feelings, self-discovery and friendship. I absolutely love the character development that we get to see during this season, exploring the girls’ side of college, struggling with experiences in different areas. —Vania
9. Hacks
Genre: Comedy / Drama
Season: 2
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars
The relationship between Deborah (Jean Smart) and Ava (Hannah Einbinder) in this show is absolutely incredible. The two have so much chemistry in the way they portray their often fraught sort-of-coworkers, sort-of-friends dynamic. Women centered comedies are always in short supply, and this one exceeded expectations! —Jocelyn
8. High School
Genre: Coming of Age
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars
High School is the TV show rendition of pop star sisters Tegan and Sara Quinn’s joint memoir. The two of them would alternate chapters, each giving their own (sometimes different) perspective, and this show did a great job of capturing these often contradictory perspectives on screen. —Jocelyn
7. Yellowjackets
Genre: Mystery / Horror
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars
If you’re squeamish, this show is most definitely not for you. However, as a lover of horror and a sucker for the dynamics that play out between women when men aren’t around, this reverse Lord of the Flies television series was pure perfection. —Jocelyn
6. The Flight Attendant
Genre: Mystery / Thriller
Season: 2
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars
I didn’t expect to love The Flight Attendant, but it only took one episode for me to fall in love. Maybe because I binged it during an otherwise terrible week or maybe because of Kaley Cuoco’s performance as alcoholic Cassandra Bowden doing her best to keep her life together, but this show was everything I needed. Bonus points for the fact that everyone was incredibly hot. —Jocelyn
5. Our Flag Means Death
Genre:
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Aakanksha: 5 stars
Queer pirates go on adventures, support each other (when they’re not bickering), and grow as people in the process. Based on a real-life “Gentleman Pirate,” Stede Bonnet (Rhys Darby) decides to abandon his upper-crust life so he can pursue his dream of living on the high seas. What follows are shenanigans featuring Stede’s crew-turned-found family and an unexpected bond with the notorious Blackbeard (Taika Waititi). Everyone is so funny, unique, and endearing, so I loved watching the dynamics between the crew as well as Stede and Blackbeard. I also appreciate the show’s biting and hilarious social commentary on norms at the time. My description can’t do it justice, so please go watch it! —Aakanksha
4. A League of Their Own
Genre: Historical Drama
Season: 1
The Ratings:
- Jocelyn: 5 stars (Read the Review)
A League of Their Own, a TV show with the same title as the 90s movie, is a new take on the women’s baseball league that started up during World War II. In a change that makes it far more historically accurate and inclusive than the original, this show is super gay and also tells the story of how black women got involved in baseball. Each of these characters were so incredibly well crafted that I cried nearly every episode. —Jocelyn
3. Russian Doll
Genre: Mystery / Comedy Drama
Season: 2
The Ratings:
- Chinwe: 5 stars
- Jocelyn: 4.5 stars
I started watching this TV show because of my deep love of Natasha Lyonne, and it certainly did not disappoint. The mystery in season 1 was excellent and I worried that season 2 wouldn’t be able to live up to the magic of the first one. My fears were for nothing, because Russian Doll did an incredible job of making season 2 different while maintaining the magic of season 1. —Jocelyn
Natasha Lyonne has never failed to amaze me, and without giving too much away this show is simply a must watch. One of the things that sets this show apart for me is it’s sharp writing. It is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally satisfying. The build on of the plot and new characters were appended perfectly and I can’t wait to see how else this show expands. – Chinwe
