Best TV shows of the last year, according to TV critics’ top 10 lists

Apple TV+ Over the past year, TV lovers have had no shortage of new content to enjoy. Acclaimed series like “Derry Girls” and “Better Call Saul” aired their eagerly anticipated final seasons. Meanwhile, streaming juggernauts such as HBO’s “Euphoria” and Netflix’s “Stranger Things” returned after long, pandemic-induced hiatuses, plunging their characters into the life-or-death perils of high school once more. Meanwhile, new series set within beloved fictional worlds breathed new life into familiar territory–just look at the success of “House of the Dragon,” “Andor,” and “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.” Of course, plenty of exciting original new series took the TV landscape by storm, like Apple TV’s “Severance” and Hulu’s “The Bear.” But what recent shows are the best of the best, according to critics? To find out, Stacker looked at data from Metacritic’s year-end round-up of TV critic top 10 lists from their verified publications and highlighted the top 30. Shows received three points if they placed #1 on a list, two points if they placed #2, one point if they placed #3-10, and half a point if they placed on an honorable mentions list between #11-20. Points were then tallied, and shows were ranked by most points. Metascore, which represents how it was received when it was released or throughout the year, is included for context. All in all, 122 individual critics’ lists were considered in the points calculation for this article. Counting down from #29, here are the best TV shows of last year, according to TV critics’ top 10 lists. You may also like: 50 best sci-fi shows of all time #29. The Sandman (tie) Netflix – Total points: 10 — 1st place votes: 0 — 2nd place votes: 0 — Other place votes: 10 – Metascore: 66 – Network: Netflix Neil Gaiman’s beloved comic series “The Sandman” was transformed into a Netflix series of the same name with a budget so big that the streamer reportedly might not renew it for a second season. Set in an array of strange dream worlds, the show follows Dream (Tom Sturridge), the younger brother of Death, as he embarks on a quest to find objects that give him powers after escaping imprisonment from a glass bottle. “The Sandman” received generally favorable reviews, with the Rotten Tomatoes consensus suggesting that while the first season of “The Sandman” could offer some surprises for fans of the comic, it “satisfyingly adapts an allegedly unfilmable classic.” #29. The Patient (tie) FX Networks – Total points: 10 — 1st place votes: 0 — 2nd place votes: 7 — Other place votes: 10 – Metascore: 74 – Network: FX/Hulu Created by FX for Hulu, the limited series “The Patient” stars Domhnall Gleeson as Sam, a serial killer who kidnaps therapist Alan Strauss (Steve Carell) in hopes of curing his murderous tendencies. Consisting of 10 episodes clocking in at 30 minutes or less, the psychological thriller was created by Joel Fields and Joseph Weisberg, who previously executive produced the hit FX series “The Americans.” In his review for Financial Times, writer Dan Einav described “The Patient” as “a two-hander that is both incisively written and exquisitely performed.” #29. Derry Girls (tie) Hat Trick Productions – Total points: 10 — 1st place votes: 0 — 2nd place votes: 10 — Other place votes: 10 – Metascore: 86 – Network: Netflix The beloved Irish coming-of-age comedy “Derry Girls” returned for a third and final season in 2022. Inspired by writer Lisa McGee’s upbringing, the latest installment once again followed a group of teenage friends growing up in the Northern Ireland town of Derry during a violent 1990s era known as “The Troubles.” Season 3 earned a 100% Rotten Tomatoes Critics Score, with Pajiba’s Isabel Parigi writing that “the final season of ‘Derry Girls’ did not disappoint and surely solidifies the show’s place in television history.” #27. Industry (tie)