Paradoxically, this terrible war year was very rich in good TV shows. I picked you eight of the best series and mini-series, but in fact there were just a lot more very good tv series stories in 2022. This is solely my personal top of the top and with one single exception, the series are arranged in no particular order. So.

The series "Peacemaker" begins immediately after the events of the film "Suicide Squad: Mission Through". For his directorial serial debut, James Gunn took a third-rate villain from the DC Universe and made a surprisingly informative entertainment series about him. And a touching drama about the difficult relationship of a son who survived a terrible tragedy with a racist father, and a sharp satire on modern America and a cheeky comedy about superheroes. A bonus - the best serial screensaver is not even a year, but a decade.

After the suicide of his brother, the cook of the best restaurant in New York, Carmen "Carmi" Berzatto, returns to his native Chicago to save the family diner from ruin. The series "Bear" of the FX channel is the story of a talented chef who wants to try to build the work of a tiny eatery according to the rules by which the kitchen of a restaurant with Michelin stars functions. But it is not easy to do this, because not all team members are ready for change and want to learn new things. A powerful human drama, filmed in places as a Guy Ricci action movie and at the same time a story about an all-consuming love for deliciously cooked food.

Time to Win: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (HBO) begins in 1978. Jerry Bass - millionaire, playboy and best friend of Hugh Hefner - decides to buy himself a basketball club "Los Angeles Lakers". It seems to the whole world that Bass has gone crazy: basketball is unpopular, why spend money? "Time to Win" is a fascinating series about how Bass made superstars out of the Lakers, de facto made basketball the main sport of America and what it cost him. The story revolves around a new Lakers player, the promising Erwin "Magic" Johnson. A 19-year-old boy from a poor family suddenly finds himself in the world of big sports, big money and very high expectations. The first series was directed by Adam McKay ("Don't Look Up"), and the role of Jerry Bass was played by John C Riley and this is perhaps his best role.

The mini-series "It Will Hurt" is an adaptation of the autobiographical book of the same name by Adam Kay. A story about the life and work of the resident of the maternity ward of a large London hospital. "It Will Hurt" is not like the usual tv series about doctors, it is not a procedural about hospital life, but a sharp and dramatic story of Adam. His work, his complicated relationship with his mother, with his boyfriend, with colleagues in the hospital. Sometimes desperately sad, and sometimes to tears funny series and a terrific role of Ben Whishaw.

"Sherwood" outside the UK few people noticed, but in vain. It is both a brilliant detective story and a meaningful conversation about historical memory. In a small town near sherwood Forest, the body of a man is found: someone shot him with a crossbow. And this is only the first victim of a serial killer. The investigator is convinced that the murder is connected with the events of 40 years ago, when England was paralyzed by a national strike of miners. Some of the villagers joined the strikers, but some became strikebreakers. The further the investigation progresses, the more secrets the detective discovers in a seemingly sleepy English town.

The series "Karamora" is made in one of the most difficult genres of pop culture: the genre of alternative history. The beginning of the XX century, a revolutionary named Karamora learns that Russia is ruled by vampires. The entire ruling class, from the sovereign and below, are bloodsuckers in the truest sense of the word. One of them - Count Runevsky - kills Karamora's beloved and now he is obsessed with a thirst for revenge. "Karamora" is a rare case of a perfectly made genre Russian series. Very beautifully, very coolly shot, perfectly played - a terrific role in Philip Yankovsky, but also in Danila Kozlovsky himself, who in "Karamor" demonstrates that he is actually an excellent director, in the series a very unusual role. And the finale: the most suitable for this year and the most anticipated by all of us finale.

After Wednesday Adams released a piranha into the school pool, her strict mother transfers the girl to a school for unusual children. Nevermore Academy is attended by werewolves, gorgon jellyfish, sirens and other teenagers with a variety of fabulous superpowers. And Wednesday is waiting for the most unusual adventures. From the series "Wednesday" of the Netflix platform, no one expected special miracles, the original film about the "Adams Family" was too good and it raised the bar too high, but suddenly "Wednesday" turned out. Six of the eight episodes were shot by Tim Burton and this is a story with a very recognizable "Burtonian" intonation, a beautifully invented object world and an amazing atmosphere. The best series of the year that can be watched with children.

In 1995, Motley Crew drummer Tommy Lee did not pay a carpenter named Gauthier to renovate his home. The insulted carpenter in retaliation stole Tommy's safe, which, in addition to weapons and jewelry, contained a videotape with a home video of Tommy Lee and his wife Pamela Anderson. The mini-series "Pam and Tommy" begins as a very funny and beautifully played comedy, Seth Rogen plays an insulted carpenter in the best feelings, Tommy Lee consults with his own whether he should marry Pamela, but pretty quickly the story from the comedy becomes a drama. A drama about two ruined human lives, about a destroyed marriage, about how differently society treats a man and a woman from the same sex tape. At the same time, "Pam and Tommy" is essentially a mini-series about the birth of the modern Internet and how one seemingly insignificant event determined the vector of development of an entire era.

A cheeky drug dealer is imprisoned for 13 years, not even his father, a policeman, saves him. There is no chance of early release, but then an FBI agent appears with an offer that is difficult to refuse: we transfer you to a maximum security prison, where you need to make friends with a serial killer. The FBI knows he's a murderer, but he doesn't know where the bodies are and if they aren't found, the villain will be free. If you help the investigation, you are a free man. The most important thing to know about this year's best thriller, apple TV+'s Black Bird miniseries, is a true story. Very scary, very tense and incredibly exciting.

Ambulance worker Vanya has a talent - he knows how to "dig up" drug addicts and alcoholics in delirium so effectively that the heroes, who a minute ago caught devils on the ceiling, come to the hospital already sober. The head doctor of the clinic where Vanya works invites him to monetize his talent. It's completely illegal, but that's why it's very profitable. Vanya's teammates are stuffed with a one-armed taxi driver-prankster and together they begin to work. The third main character of the mini-series "Dropper" is the tiktokersh Alko, whom Vanya meets at her first paid visit. The "dropper" series is amazing: it is a serious conversation about the chthony of Russian life, packed into a wrapper of bright and optimistic comedy. Very sad, very funny, incredible main character, but, probably, the main thing in the series "Dropper" is that it offers viewers a new hero of our time. Danilo Bagrov is a "healthy person". If Danila said that the power is in the truth, then the dropper Vanya offers an alternative: the strength is in compassion. In empathy and in the desire to help, even if you have to do it at the cost of your own benefit.

The main character of the series Apple TV+ "Separation" is called Mark, in the past he is a university professor, and now - an employee of Lumen Industries. When Mark is in the office, he doesn't remember anything about his life outside of work. Maybe he's married? Or not. Does he have children? Who are his parents? Where does he live? Until Mark takes the elevator down to the first floor of the Lumen Industries building, he doesn't know the answer to any personal question. And when he leaves the building, he won't remember what he was doing inside. Like other Lumen employees, Mark went through a "separation" and now lives two parallel lives: one at work and the other outside. The story begins with the fact that a girl suddenly appears in Mark's department, who is not satisfied with this state of affairs - she wants to remember who she really is and gradually other employees are involved in her rebellion. "Division" is the strangest and infinitely talented series of the year. At the same time, a sharp satire on corporate life and capitalism as a phenomenon, a touching drama about relationships and a witty comedy about office life. Of the additional bonuses - a wonderful love story of the heroes of John Turturo and Christopher Walken.

The year is 1963. A high-ranking British intelligence spy, Nicholas Elliott, learns that his best friend of recent decades, his partner, with whom they fought the Nazis together during the war, and just his closest person, Kim Philby, had worked for the KGB for the past three decades. The series "Spy among friends" begins with an interrogation: an employee of Mi5 is trying to understand: Elliot deliberately allowed a friend to escape to the USSR, or was it a tragic accident? And isn't he hiding something important from the British authorities? In parallel, the series tells the story of Kim Philby, who, once in Moscow, unexpectedly learns that communism in theory and communism in practice are two big differences. "Spy Among Friends" is one of the best classic spy thrillers of recent years and a cool drama about a deceived hero who gradually realizes that his whole life was a mistake and all the sacrifices he made were in vain. The best roles of Guy Pearce and Damien Lewis in the last couple of years.

In 1717, British nobleman Steed Bonnet sold almost all of his possessions, built a ship, and went to the Caribbean to be a pirate. The pirate from it is worthless, because Steed is a cute do-gooder who does not meet the requirements of the profession as much as possible. And it is likely that his pirate career could have ended quickly and tragically, but he meets the legendary Captain Blackbeard. An unexpectedly funny Englishman is liked by a stern pirate and they agree: Bonnet will teach Beard etiquette and the realities of gentlemanly life, and Blackbeard will explain to him how to be a real storm of the seas. From this freely-interpreted true story, Taika Waititi and screenwriter David Jenkins made a marvelous series called "Our Flag Means Death." A touching and charming comedy about the vicissitudes of human destinies, about piracy, and about love.

1974, President Richard Nixon is eager to get re-elected and is willing to do anything for it. His longtime friend John Mitchell decides to help the president and sends a group of crooks to put eavesdropping devices at the Watergate Hotel. Crooks are caught and with their capture a scandal begins, which will end with the first and so far the only impeachment of the US president in history. In the center of the mini-series "Gaslit" is the story of Martha Michtell, the wife of US Attorney General John Mitchell. The socialite is sharp on her tongue, a big drinker - it was Martha who first told the truth about what happened in Watergate. But no one believed her. "Gaslit" is an amazingly shot and played mini-series, with wonderful roles of Julia Roberts, Sean Penn and the wonderful Dan Stevens.

The Apple TV+ miniseries The Harvey Sisters Conspiracy is an abusive story. The story of the cruel manipulator John Paul, who subordinated his wife Grace to his will, deprived her of independence, personal space, turned her whole life exclusively into the service of her own interests. And like many victims of emotional abuse, Grace does not see him, but only sincerely loves her husband. But John Paul's bullying of Grace is seen by her sisters and decides to act. The only way to save your beloved sister is to kill John Paul. Since the story begins with the funeral of John Paul, we understand that they managed to do it: but to whom and how? The viewer will know the answers to these questions only in a beautiful finale. Series about domestic violence are traditionally filmed in the genre of drama, and "The Conspiracy of the Garvey Sisters" is a comedy. Very black, very dashing and in places playing on the verge of a foul, but comedy. One of the best mini-series of the year and a very relevant and important story.

In the series "Andor" there are no lightsabers, Jedi knights, there is no concept of Force in the sense of "may the Force be with you", there is no wary planet Tatooine and endless sandy deserts and there is not even a motley gallery of exotic alien creatures. And yet, it's the best series in the Star Wars universe. Even, honestly, a lot of the best most movies. Formally, "Andor" is a prequel to "Rogue One", the story of how Cassian Andor from a petty crook stealing spare parts from imperial ships, became one of the leaders of the resistance. In fact, it is a ten-part story of the final formation of the fascist repressive empire and the birth of resistance. The main advantage of "Andor" - the series finally brought moral ambiguity to a galaxy far, far away. On the side of the empire are not devils with horns, but very understandable and even by Russian viewers well-recognized "little people" who have a "burning plan", who need to be promoted, who have grumpy mothers who do not believe in their success. The rebels here are not wars of light, not knights without fear and reproach, but cynical idealists who understand that revolution is possible only when suffering is unbearable and therefore at this stage the goal is to make the suffering of civilians unbearable. "I longed to be a savior from injustice without thinking about the price, and by the time I looked down, there was no land under my feet. What is my sacrifice? I am doomed to use my enemy's weapon to defeat him. I threw away my honor in the name of someone else's good. I'm burning my life for a sunrise that I won't catch," says Stellan Skarsgård's character, one of the behind-the-scenes puppeteers of the future Resistance, in one of the show's best scenes. "Andor" is so understandable and recognizable that for Russian viewers the series needs trigger warning, especially the stunning finale, in which on the planet Ferrix residents will go to an unauthorized rally and will prevent the passage of citizens. In addition, "Andor" is incredibly beautifully shot, stunningly written - several episodes were written by the author of "House of Cards" - and also incredibly played. The perfect balance of important content and entertaining packaging and the best TV series of 2022.