What truly constitutes the “best” TV shows of the year? Is it the storytelling, or maybe the performances? Or is it simply determined by what moves you the most? In the midst of our end-of-year list frenzy, we have highlighted so many unique and interesting shows, each of them holding different meaning to each individual person tasked with voting in our overall Top 25 or our Under-the-Radar 15. And for us, humble Paste TV Editor Anna Govert and Assistant Editor Elijah Gonzalez, our individual Top 10 lists similarly reflect all the varying facets that make up some of the best series to grace our screens this year.
Below, we’ve listed our personal favorite TV shows of the year; the series that moved us, the series that made us laugh, and, ultimately, the series that we found time to watch in the deluge of content from throughout the year. And along with our Top 10 shows lists, Eli rounded up his 10 favorite anime series, while I listed out my 10 favorite episodes of the year.
Surprisingly, there are only a few overlapping series between our two lists, so I hope you can find something new and engaging in the shows that we recommend below.
Without further ado, here are the Paste TV Editors’ favorites of 2023:
Anna Govert’s Top 10 Shows:
10. Lessons in Chemistry
9. My Adventures With Superman
8. Class of ’07
7. Only Murders in the Building
6. Gen V
5. Riverdale
4. Schmigadoon!
3. Poker Face
2. The Fall of the House of Usher
1. The Last of Us
Top 10 Episodes:
10. “Jumanji,” Gen V
9. “The People vs Saskia,” Class of ’07
8. “CH3COOH,” Lessons in Chemistry
7. “The Golden Age of Television,” Riverdale
6. “Ramona Rents a Video,” Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
5. “The Raven,” The Fall of the House of Usher
4. “Famous as Hell,” Schmigadoon!
3. “Sitzprobe,” Only Murders in the Building
2. “Long, Long Time,” The Last of Us
1. “The Orpheus Syndrome,” Poker Face
Elijah Gonzalez’s Top 10 Shows:
10. The Last of Us
9. Cunk on Earth
8. Star Wars: Visions
7. The Curse
6. I’m a Virgo
5. Blue Eye Samurai
4. Scavengers Reign
3. The Fall of the House of Usher
2. Star Trek: Strange New Worlds
1. The Bear
Top 10 Anime Series:
10. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
9. The Magical Revolution of the Reincarnated Princess and the Genius Young Lady
8. Oshi No Ko
7. Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury
6. Bang Dream! It’s MyGo!!!!!
5. The Apothecary Diaries
4. Skip and Loafer
3. Frieren: Beyond Journey’s End
2. Pluto
1. Vinland Saga
Anna Govert is the TV Editor of Paste Magazine. For any and all thoughts about TV, film, and her unshakable love of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you can follow her @annagovert.
For all the latest TV news, reviews, lists and features, follow @Paste_TV.