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There’s nothing like the annual “best of” lists to remind you of all the things you didn’t get to in the year that was. That’s especially true with television, a medium that is more crowded than it has ever been. There are network procedural, cable reality shows, streaming anthologies, and every other combination and iteration of genre and format that you can think of all vying for our attention 24/7. There’s not enough space in our brains, let alone our DVRs or bank accounts, to grant us access to everything we’d ever want to watch. There’s just too much good stuff to watch!
That’s why here at Decider we like to close out the year with a list devoted to all of the shows and movies that we loved but feel that you may have missed. You’ve probably seen Nope and Severance — our movie and show of the year, respectively — but what about I Love That For You or Darby and the Dead? You may have watched RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14, but are you watching We’re Here Season 3? And did you catch Murderville in the midst of Netflix’s nonstop blast of content? These weren’t the biggest hits of the year, but they could be the best thing that you missed out on in 2022.
Below you’ll find a whole bunch of movies and shows that Team Decider adored in 2022, and we think you just might like them too. And if you’ve somehow seen it all, you can always check our 2021 and 2020 lists for more hidden gems.
'Fresh'
Fresh is one of the most innovative films of 2022. Starring the charismatic dream team of Daisy Edgar-Jones and Sebastian Stan, this cannibal comedy thriller (I know, I know) is imbued with a jaunty vitality it unleashes on an unsuspecting audience. Fresh radiates confidence, effortlessly leapfrogging genres before settling in on the flavorful main course. “Fresh offers a slick version of cannibalism, Decider’s Anna Menta writes, “not unlike Christian Bale’s version of a serial killer in American Psycho.”
Team Decider loved it, and you will too. — Josh Sorokach
'Somebody Somewhere'
Somebody Somewhere just may be the most universal show on TV right now. The series stars Bridgett Everett as Sam, a 40-something woman who returns to small town Kansas after a family tragedy and tries to find her voice again. If that’s not truly relatable after the last three years, or at least reminiscent of scenarios that you’ve played out extensively in your head, I don’t know what is. And that’s the beauty of Somebody Somewhere; the struggles — annoying coworkers, disagreeable relatives, parents who you have to parent — are all so small but so potent. Add in Everett and Jeff Hiller’s poetic, natural, and hilarious chemistry and you have one of the best TV friendships of the past decade. Somebody Somewhere is a quiet watch, but it’s also a resonant watch. — Brett White
'Murderville'
Netflix’s exploration into improv has been a success. 2020’s Middleditch & Schwartz remains one of the funniest shows you can watch on the platform, and the streamer’s 2022 offering, Murderville, is an unpredictable celebration of all things “yes, and.”
The innovative series stars Will Arnett as Senior Detective Terry Seattle (terrific name), a homicide detective who attempts to solve various murder cases with an array of celebrity guests. The catch? The guest stars aren’t given a script. Featuring appearances by Annie Murphy, Conan O’Brien, Ken Jeong, Kumail Nanjiani, Marshawn Lynch, and Sharon Stone, Murderville is a wild comedic journey worth taking. — Josh Sorokach
'We're Here'
HBO’s drag docuseries We’re Here just gets better and better. What started out as a traveling makeover/drag show has risen to meet terrifying occasions every single season, from a presidential election to a pandemic to a wave of anti-LGBTQ hysteria. But We’re Here persists in its mission, giving small town queer communities the confidence to say “we’re here.” That means getting down and dirty with all of the zealots, protestors, Facebook bullies, and all the Karens, but We’re Here manages to find the light in even the darkest of circumstances. And as if enacting important and meaningful social change weren’t enough, every episode concludes with the most sickening drag performances ever seen on TV. We’re Here matters, so don’t miss out. — Brett White
'Black Bird'
Severance and Ted Lasso receive heaps of (well-deserved) praise, but don’t sleep on one of the most compelling Apple TV+ shows of 2022: Black Bird.
Based on the autobiographical novel In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption, the six-episode miniseries follows Jimmy Keene (Taron Egerton), a charismatic drug dealer sentenced to 10 years in prison who cuts a deal with the FBI to befriend and obtain a confession from suspected serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser). The riveting game of cat and mouse is amplified by the dynamic performances from Egerton and Hauser.
Also starring Greg Kinnear, Sepideh Moafi, and Ray Liotta, the captivating crime drama has been met with near-universal acclaim, currently boasting a Certified Fresh 97% Tomatometer score on Rotten Tomatoes. — Josh Sorokach
'I Love That For You'
In I Love That For You, Bayer plays Joanna Gold, a childhood leukemia survivor who lies about having cancer as an adult to snag a hosting job on her favorite home shopping channel, the Special Value Network (SVN). Alongside her new boss (Jenifer Lewis), and colleagues played by Molly Shannon and Matt Rogers, she sets out to become a star while protecting her massive secret. In its first season, I Love That For You has more than proven itself as a compelling, original gem packed with consistently superb performances and jokes that don’t miss. The underrated comedy’s first season ended with a slew of shifting relationship dynamics, an intriguing cliffhanger, and the promise of “oh so much” more chaos to come. — Nicole Gallucci
'Icons Unearthed: The Simpsons'
Did you know there was a Simpsons docuseries? If you did, awesome! But be cool about it. If you didn’t, allow me to introduce you to Icons Unearthed.
The second season of Vice TV’s enjoyable series sets its gaze on the trailblazing animated program. Featuring interviews with writers, showrunners, and various Simpsons historians, the docuseries explores the seminal sitcom’s origins and details the unique story of how The Simpsons went from a renegade show on an upstart network to TV’s most influential animated series. Essential viewing for any Simpsons fan, all six episodes are streaming on Vice TV’s website. — Josh Sorokach
'Raised By Wolves'
You’d think a big budget sci-fi show on HBO Max executive produced by Ridley Scott would be the farthest thing from a hidden streaming gem. And yet, that’s exactly what Raised by Wolves, which was canceled after two seasons, was. Maybe it was too weird, maybe too thoughtful. But whatever the reason, over the course of 18 episodes creator Aaron Guzikowski told an epic tale of two androids tasked with saving humanity on a deadly, barren planet — that may be neither as deadly nor as barren as they were led to believe.
Filled with iconic performances, particularly from Amanda Collin as Mother and Abubakar Salim as Father (the aforementioned androids), and batshit insane plot points (a snake baby, anyone?) Raised by Wolves stands as one the boldest unfinished works of science fiction in recent memory. — Alex Zalben
'A League of Their Own'
Prime Video’s A League of Their Own is more than just a great TV show. It’s the purest and most powerful example of why we need reboots. Why? Because the real story was not able to be told in 1992. The world was not ready for an earnest and unflinching tale of queer women and queer people taking over America’s favorite pastime during World War II — even though that is exactly what happened. This is a story that needed to be retold, and co-creators Abbi Jacobson and Will Graham stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. They created a multi-faceted and intersectional show about people not only existing in spaces that were hostile to them, but finding the wherewithal to thrive. Yeah, it’s a sports dramedy and it comes with all of the tropes we love from that genre — but beyond that, A League of their Own was the subversive queer masterstroke we needed in 2022. — Brett White
'Darby and the Dead'
In the Oscar-race and Christmas movie madness, this little supernatural teen comedy is in danger of slipping through the cracks. But I’m here to report that Hulu’s Darby in the Dead is excellent, and you don’t want to miss it.
Directed by Silas Howard, with a screenplay by Wenonah Wilms and Becca Greene, this refreshing and hilarious teen comedy is a mash-up of Mean Girls and The Sixth Sense. Protagonist Darby Harper (Riele Downs) is a loner goth queen who sees dead people. When the most popular girl in school (Auli’i Cravalho) dies, she agrees to undergo a popular transformation in order to help the dead girl achieve her final wish. Downs is perfect as the sarcastic, witty outsider and Cravalho slays as the Gen-Z Regina George. Don’t sleep on this one. — Anna Menta
'Deadstream'
Vanessa and Joseph Winter’s unpredictable found footage horror film Deadstream is an absolute blast. A textbook example of a hidden gem, this innovative movie centers on a disgraced YouTube personality (Shawn, played by Winter) who tries to win back his followers by live streaming one night alone in a haunted house. When Shawn disturbs a vengeful spirit, his big comeback event becomes a real-time fight for his life.
A deft mix of silly, smart, and gory that horror fans will enjoy, this “Gen Z version of The Blair Witch Project” is a 2022 charmer you don’t want to miss. — Josh Sorokach
'The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks'
The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks is appointment streaming for comedy nerds. The two-part documentary is an absorbing deep dive that examines the many highs and lows of the iconic Canadian sketch troupe. Through never-before-seen footage and interviews with all five members of the group, the honest yet often tender film celebrates the Kids while also delving into the real-life acrimony that once splintered the troupe.
“The Kids in the Hall is a love story,” Dave Foley says in the compelling doc. “It’s the four worst people you could ever be forced to love for 40 years.” Comedy Punks is an immensely entertaining documentary that both longtime fans and Kids in the Hall newbies will enjoy. — Josh Sorokach
'Catherine Called Birdy'
Lena Dunham may be bad at tweeting, but she’s very good at filmmaking. Catherine Called Birdy, Dunham’s second feature film this year, is a medieval coming-of-age tale based on the children’s book of the same name. 13-year-old Lady Catherine, who goes by Birdy, is all too aware of the fact that becoming a woman means nothing good—especially when her father, Lord Rollo (a delightfully messy Andrew Scott), is eager to marry her off. So Birdy decides to hide her blood-soaked rags from her periods and sabotage her meetings with potential suitors.
Dunham, who also adapted the script, presents Birdy’s adventures with an impish, childlike joy, complete with a pitch-perfect modern soundtrack, quippy on-screen text, and a hilarious performance from Game of Thrones alum Bella Ramsey. This funny, smart, heartwarming tale will inspire generations of young girls for years to come. — Anna Menta
'NewsRadio' & 'Playing House'
Wait a second. NBC’s mid-nineties workplace comedy NewsRadio and USA’s 2014 sitcom Playing House on a 2022 end-of-the-year list?! What is this madness?! Great question. This list not only celebrates the best of the best, but it’s also a terrific way to help you find something new to stream over the holiday season.
Both NewsRadio — a zany ensemble comedy fans of Community and/or Scrubs will love — and Playing House — a sweetheart of a show created by and starring Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair that effortlessly combines heartfelt moments with laugh-out-loud dialogue — have bounced around various services. Finally, these two feel-good charmers are available to stream, with all five seasons of NewsRadio on Prime Video and Playing House available to watch on Roku. — Josh Sorokach
