2023 has been a huge year for streaming services, so much so that we’ve all likely binge-watched at least one series these past few months. From live-action adaptations of video games on Netflix and HBO to radical spin-offs on Amazon Prime, there’s more than enough content to keep viewers at the edge of their seats. Here are our top 10 streaming originals of 2023 in no particular order.
Note that we’ve included shows with current seasons that have already concluded as of the time of this writing. Sorry, Invincible and The Crown.
1. The Last of Us (HBO)
Based on the hit 2013 video game, The Last of Us stars Joel (Pablo Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey). Set in a post-apocalyptic world where cordyceps fungi have turned humans into ravenous infected, the two set out on a journey in search of the Fireflies, a faction that claims it can find a cure.
As a game, The Last of Us is lauded for its masterful storytelling. The HBO adaptation, meanwhile, manages to stay faithful to the established narrative, while also presenting new and refreshing perspectives. For instance, one episode serves as a flashback that shows the origins of the virus. Another gives you a glimpse into the tragic story of Bill and Frank, survivors who tried to build a life for themselves as the world crumbled around them.
These changes reference just minor details in the game, yet they’re fleshed out and given life on screen. This facet, along with the spectacular performances from the cast, are why we consider The Last of Us as “one of the best video game adaptations ever” in our review.
2. One Piece (Netflix)
2023 is chock-full of live-action adaptations of existing franchises that it’s a wonder how anyone can manage to deliver a riveting experience. But One Piece more than just delivers--we boldly lauded this Netflix adaptation for capturing the “sincerity, heart, and spirit of adventure” that creator Eiichiro Oda’s manga and anime are known for.
The Straw Hat Pirates, a ragtag crew comprised of Monkey D. Luffy (Iñaki Godoy), Nami (Emily Rudd), Sanji (Taz Skylar), Roronoa Zoro (Mackenyu), and Usopp (Jacob Gibson), all have their own unique charm and quirks that embody the characters they play. One Piece’s visuals, special effects, and fight scenes were also marvelously crafted and choreographed. Likewise, the story moves at a brisk pace--roughly the first 45 episodes of the anime. Since the anime has over 1,000 episodes already, we can’t wait to see what comes next.
3. Castlevania: Nocturne (Netflix)
Netflix’s Castlevania animated series first premiered in 2017. Originally featuring characters like Trevor Belmont and Sypha Belnades, the studio shifted gears this year when it released Castlevania: Nocturne. The show fast-forwards in time, as it’s set during the French Revolution, and it stars none other than Richter Belmont (voiced by Edward Bluemel) and Maria Renard (voiced by Pixie Davies).
For fans of Konami’s Castlevania games, the current series is based on Rondo of Blood and Dracula X. These monster hunters and their allies face off against new threats, such as the crafty Olrox and the devious Erzsebet Báthory, queen of vampires. A certain fan-favorite character also makes his return.
4. Jack Ryan (Amazon Prime)
Jack Ryan, a popular character from Tom Clancy’s novels, has been played by numerous actors throughout the years, from Alec Baldwin’s sole outing in The Hunt for Red October (1990) to Chris Pine’s turn in Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (2014). The Amazon Prime series, however, sees John Krasinki take the lead role.
Ryan, a US-Marine-lieutenant-turned-CIA-deputy-director now finds himself in the crossfire, both in covert operations and in a Senate investigation. After an assassination attempt puts the CIA at risk, Ryan and co. must untangle a web of conspiracies that take them from the backstreets of Croatia to the hallowed halls of Congress.
The fourth season also serves as the series finale for Jack Ryan’s run on Amazon Prime. Will we ever see President Ryan on screen, or even a faithful adaptation of The Cardinal of the Kremlin? We can only hope.
5. The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix)
Few authors other than Edgar Allan Poe have had their works transcend time, medium, and even interpretation. But that’s exactly what you can expect from Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher. The title of the horror miniseries, as well as its episodes, are all based on many of Poe’s famous works.
The Fall of the House of Usher tells the tale of a dominant pharmaceutical company and its family members. What few know is that a certain individual, Verna (Carla Gugino), may have had a hand in the corporation’s success… and all debts need to be repaid.
Apart from the hostilities among family members, what fascinates us most about the series is that each episode is filled with nods to Poe’s macabre and deviously delightful works. It has everything from unnerving deaths (The Masque of Red Death episode is a good example) to watching a satisfying comeuppance (the episode based on The Pit and the Pendulum comes to mind).
6. Gen V (Amazon Prime)
Amazon Prime’s The Boys, adapted from a gritty and satirical comic book of the same name, turned the superhero series formula on its head when it premiered in 2019. Since then, it has enjoyed significant success and is about to enter its fourth season. 2023 sure feels like a good time to have a spin-off, and that’s where Gen V comes in.
Although Gen V features younger superheroes-in-training (or in-class, rather), we’ve cited in our review that it doesn’t shy away from the “ultra-violent and ultra-bloody” content that The Boys is known for. If you ever thought that changing the setting to that of a university would lead to a mild-mannered and watered-down affair, then an exploding penis will certainly change your mind.
Gen V still succeeds in following The Boys’ established template of satirizing the superhero genre and over-the-top corporate spin machine. The difference here is that there’s an emphasis on young-adult romances, school cliques, and teenage drama, all mixed in with a dash of episodic plot twists and good ol’ conspiracies. Oh, and a bit of puppet gore as well.
7. Silo (Apple TV)
The best way to describe Apple TV’s Silo, which is based on a series of novels, is that it’s a lot like Fallout games--if said games barely let you leave the Vault. Basically, a cataclysmic event has caused humans to seek shelter underground. Society has evolved in confined spaces inside gargantuan silos hundreds of floors deep. Still, there’s always the notion that one could survive and explore the world outside.
But this isn’t as easy as it seems: People who do leave mysteriously die just mere moments after exiting the shelter, all in full view of the populace. This leads to a mystery thriller involving engineer Juliette Nichols (Rebecca Ferguson), as well as those who think that there’s a deeply guarded secret. Since we’ve already mentioned Fallout, those who’ve already watched Silo might be interested in catching the Fallout TV series once it starts streaming on Amazon Prime next year.
8. The Continental (Peacock)
The John Wick movie franchise is filled with nonstop action, rapid headshots, and “I can’t believe he killed him with that” death scenes. But what if it had a prequel, and what if that prequel were a streaming series? That brings us to The Continental: From the World of John Wick, which follows the story of Winston Scott (Colin Woodell).
Set decades before the events of the first film, the miniseries follows Winston during his life as a street-smart businessman looking to close his biggest deal. The young hustler is a lot more naive compared to the imposing figure that he would become in the films. Things take a turn for the worse when his estranged brother, Frankie (Ben Robson), arrives. Oh, and he’s also being chased by the hotel’s assassins as ordered by the current manager, Cormac O’Connor (played by Mel Gibson). Truthfully, this is the show's one misstep, though it's a massive one. Not only is hiring Mel Gibson in 2023 a questionable choice, at best, given his past, but he's also a tonal mismatch for the show. There's a bit of subtlety to this particular era of the John Wick universe. Gibson doesn't do subtlety, though. He's loud, boisterous, and cartoony in a way that sticks out like a sore thumb.
Overall, though, we found The Continental remarkable, as it manages to expand on the John Wick universe in many ways that movies simply can’t. That’s on top of thrilling bouts and brutal kills, packed in three 90-minute-long episodes. And, yes, tears were shed when we caught a glimpse of Charon. The character is played by Ayomide Adegun, though he’s portrayed in the films by Lance Reddick, who passed away earlier this year.
9. Hijack (Apple TV)
Flying on an airplane can be a stressful experience for a lot of folks, especially in a post-9/11 world. Hijack magnifies that sense of dread tenfold as a group of armed men take control of Kingdom Airlines flight KA29. The only thing standing between them and their demands is Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) who, coincidentally, is a business negotiator.
If tense standoffs between the hijackers and passengers aren’t enough, the show’s seven episodes are filled with gripping moments as police, air-traffic-control operators, and entire governments racing around the clock to ascertain what truly happened to flight KA29. From ground chases to close calls with fighter jets, it’s a series that you’ll certainly want to watch (but probably not while you’re in an airplane). Settle down, you daredevil.
10. The Bear (FX/Hulu)
In Season 2 of Hulu's breakout dramedy, The Bear, restaurant life got somehow even more chaotic, relatable, and heartfelt all at once. The show continues to be a vehicle to showcase the incredible cast's talents, and there's really no weak link across the spectrum of Chicagoan restaurateurs trying to make it through the work day without quitting on sight or stabbing their coworkers in the back--sometimes literally.
Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edibiri are remarkable as the lead performers and leaders of the titular restaurant. As the eatery gets remodeled, the entire group has to pivot to a very different atmosphere in an industry that feels hellbent on swallowing up anyone who isn't all in. The secondary characters get more time to shine in a slightly longer second season, too, including a standout episode that focuses almost exclusively on Ebon Moss-Bacharach's Richie as he seeks to rise above his status as screw-up "cousin" to White's Carmy Berzatto.
But the true highlight of this season--and one that comes just in time for the holiday season if you happen to be reading this at the end of 2023--is an hour-long episode that moves the chaos out of the restaurant and into the Berzatto home at Christmas time in a flashback episode that is so loaded with surprising guest stars, we dare not spoil them here. Seriously, it's arguably the best hour of TV released this year and, despite occurring outside of the restaurant, is every bit as tense and touching in equal measure, which has become the series' hallmark since it first debuted.
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