It's hard to believe we're a quarter past 2022. The first three months of the year have passed, and despite your best efforts, we suspect you haven't been able to keep up with the best TVs. 2022 deals so far.
This is where we come in. We've rounded up the six best new shows you might have missed earlier this year, with exclusive TV series from Netflix, Disney Plus, and Apple TV Plus below.
However, before you dive in, there are a few conditions. First, we're not including shows that started airing in late 2021 and didn't become popular until after the turn of the year, so TV series that include Yellowjackets aren't included. We've also ruled out comic book or superhero-centric TV shows, such as Moon Knight and Peacemaker, as Marvel Phase 4 projects and DCEU spin-offs remain surefire hits for Marvel and Warner Bros. respectively.
Ultimately, we decided not to include shows whose final season was released in 2022. Ozark and Euphoria fans may be upset about this, but we only wanted to include shows that debuted this year on our list. The purpose of this article is to introduce you to programs that you may not be aware of, hence their omission from your watch list.
Here are the six best new TV shows of 2022 you need to stream on Prime Video, HBO Max, and more.
the after party
Where to stream it: Apple TV Plus
Fans of thrillers and thrillers have enjoyed plenty of good (and not-so-good) murder mystery productions in recent years, including Knives Out and Death on the Nile.
The Afterparty, however, is an Apple TV Plus show that breaks new ground for the detective-oriented fiction genre. Like Knives Out, it focuses on both comedy and its murder mystery-fueled story, but it's The Afterparty's character-driven episodic format that sets it apart from similarly styled projects.
From the mind of Christopher Miller (Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, The Lego Movie), The Afterparty stars Tiffany Haddish (Girls Trip, Tuca & Bertie) as Detective Danner, a police officer investigating the murder. by Xavier Duckworth Jr (21 Jump Street's Dave Franco) during a high school reunion.
The show's synopsis seems pretty routine, but it's the way The Afterparty's narrative unfolds that sets it apart from other thrillers. Each episode is told from the perspective of a different character, such as Ben Schwartz's Yasper or Sam Richardson's Aniq, whose embellished memories of the day before will keep you guessing who the real culprit is.
Each character's version of events creates brilliantly exaggerated comedic moments, shocking twists, and an intriguing insight into ancient culture and the flourishing of life (or lack thereof). Afterparty has been renewed for a second season, so there will be more comedy-focused murders for viewers to try to solve in the future. In the meantime, be sure to check out Season 1.
Archives 81
Where to stream it: netflix
If you've seen with Moon Knight on Disney Plus, and why wouldn't you if you're a fan of the MCU? – You may have noticed how creepy and creepy it is compared to previous Marvel Studios projects.
Part of its creepy vibe, jarring tone, and haunting aesthetic is down to co-directors Aaron Moorhead and Justin Benson, who also brought their penchant for psychological thrillers and horror movies into one of Netflix's biggest TV hits of 2022: Archive 81. .
Based on the podcast series of the same name, the Netflix show Supernatural stars Mamoudou Athie as Dan, an archivist hired by a mysterious firm to restore a collection of damaged videotapes from the 1990s. in question belongs to a filmmaker. - Dina Shihabi's Melody Pendras - who disappeared while investigating a sinister cult. As Dan delves deeper into the mystery behind Dina's disappearance, it isn't long before the same dangerous forces are after him and he finds his own life in danger.
Archive 81 has been acclaimed for its mix of supernatural horror and film noir, hair-raising jumps, and unsettling plot. Unfortunately, Netflix shockingly canceled the show at the end of March, guaranteeing the end of the hugely popular series after just one season. Still, it's worth taking the time if you haven't already.
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Our flag means death
Where to stream it: Max HBO
There have already been plenty of high-profile HBO Max shows this year, but Our Flag Means Death is one of those truly amazing hits that no one saw coming.
And honestly, he deserves all the applause he received. The period rom-com show is wonderfully endearing, brilliantly witty, and features a breakout performance from Taika Waititi (Thor: Love and Thunder, Free Guy) as the infamous pirate known as Blackbeard. Who doesn't want to see that? Oh, and at just 30 minutes each, you can enjoy all 10 episodes of the first season in a single afternoon if you want.
Set in the XNUMXth century, Our Flag Means Death stars Rhys Darby (Flight of the Conchords, Jumanji: The Next Level) as Steve Bonnet, a world-weary real-life aristocrat who trades his life for comfort and fortune in return. adventures in the However, his incompetence as a pirate captain prevents Bonnet from gaining the trust of the dysfunctional crew he assembles. That is, until a chance encounter with the legendary Blackbeard and his band of bloodthirsty pirates sends Bonnet and his company into all sorts of comedic adventures.
What makes the success of Our Flag Means Death so surprising is the lack of fanfare surrounding its release and the fact that it is an original IP. Despite its humble beginnings, Our Flag Means Death was the most requested show worldwide at the end of March, not bad for a brave pirate captain and his underdog crew. Put this on your "things to see" list ASAP.
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(*6*) pam and tommy
Where to stream it: Disney Plus (UK); Hulu (USA)
If horror or comedies aren't your thing, how about watching a TV drama based on the biggest celebrity scandal of the mid-'90s? That's what you'll get with Pam and Tommy, a fictionalized retelling of the so-called "greatest love story ever sold."
Set in the late XNUMXth century, when the internet was in its infancy, Pam and Tommy depicts the tumultuous marriage between Baywatch superstar Pamela Anderson (Lily James) and Motley Crew drummer Tommy Lee (Sebastian Stan). Charting the rise and fall of their whirlwind three-year romance, the series serves as the backdrop for the theft of the couple's infamous sex tape, which was stolen and distributed online by disgruntled worker Rand Gauthier (Seth Rogen). ), who was fired. by Lee for allegedly shoddy work he did on renovating Lee's house.
In our spoiler-free review, we called Pam & Tommy "a gripping, dramatic, and surprisingly tender story about the trappings of fame. Its infamous story and brilliant cast will grab you at first, but its karma-focused parable, humanizing its Intimate characters and moments are what make it shine as a show."
It may not be to everyone's liking, it certainly wasn't from Anderson, who, unsurprisingly, declined to be involved in producing it. But, for a show whose plot centers heavily around the world's inaugural sex tape, it's a Hulu series (and Disney Plus TV offering) that's far more fun, dramatic, and deeply moving than it seems on the screen. surface.
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Reach
Where to stream it: First video
We could have included several Prime Video shows here, like The Boys: Diabolical or The Legend of Vox Machina. But, considering Reacher gave Ozark a serious run for its streaming crown in late January and early February, it seemed like an obvious choice to include.
Based on the first book in Lee Child's best-selling Killing Floor series of mystery novels, Reacher stars Alan Ritchson (Titans) as Jack Reacher, a former military policeman turned drifter who is framed for murder in a fictional country town. Determined to clear his name for a crime he didn't commit, Reacher agrees to help Police Chief Oscar Finlay (Malcolm Goodwin) and Officer Roscoe Conklin (Willa Fitgzerald) find the real culprit and unravel the biggest crime. conspiracy at stake.
Critics praised the Prime Video TV adaptation's fidelity to the Child novels, which isn't necessarily true of Tom Cruise's Jack Reacher movie iteration. Prime Video's Reacher is also hugely entertaining, with its mix of action, mystery suspense and dry comedy helping it become the first Amazon Studios production to top Nielsen's acclaimed streaming list (according to Variety). Thanks to this success, it will come as no surprise to learn that a second season of Reacher has already been greenlit.
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RUPTURE
Where to stream it: Apple TV Plus
You may have heard colleagues, family, friends, or other social media users mention a program called Severance in passing. And there's a very good reason, several in fact, why you should check to see if you've fallen asleep at all. You know, apart from Ben Stiller being the director.
The psychological sci-fi workplace thriller stars Adam Scott (Parks and Rec, The Good Place) as Mark, an employee at a company called Lumon Industries. The biotech company is famous for its "separation" program, a medical procedure whereby employees' non-work memories are separated from company-time memories. As the story progresses, Mark gradually uncovers a massive conspiracy at the heart of Lumon Industries, one that has major repercussions for those hired by the sinister company.
Severance's supporting cast includes a plethora of household names, including Christopher Walken, Patricia Arquette and John Turturro, so it had the makings of a fine watch. Still, there are very few industry insiders who could have predicted the unprecedented success and critical acclaim Severance has garnered, with many praising the performances of the cast, the production design, the bizarre and suspenseful plot. , the cinematography, the musical score and the thematic resonance of the work. employee conditions around the world.
Peaky Blinders Season 6 and Better Call Saul Season 6 (both rated 100%, though the latter won't release until April 18) are the only shows with top review scores (from review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes) than the 98% "certified fresh" review of Severance. For an original series created by first-time writer Dan Erickson, that's no small feat, and the series' renewal is just the reward for its excellent performance. Also expect Severance to be up for several gongs on the 2023 awards circuit.