Netflix and its sagging subscriptions, Warner Bros. Discovery with anti-art tyrant David Zaslav at the helm, Disney’s Bob-for-Bob change in leadership. With cancellations, guttings, and a sprinkling of corporate tumult, 2022 seemed to find the streaming apparatus in dire straits. But even amidst the chaos and fumbles, this year’s television was an embarrassment of riches: from a Game of Thrones revival and Better Call Saul’s final bow to new stunners such as Severance and Pachinko, it seemed like great TV was around every corner. I didn’t get to review as much television as I would have liked in 2022, but here were some of my favorites of the year:

The streaming wars have all but killed the traditional release model for television, but the fall season continues to house the biggest surges in new shows and season premieres. I spent the last week catching up on the biggest TV releases of the past month to parse what’s worth your time and what isn’t. Here are some quick reviews of Cowboy Bebop, Hellbound, Yellowjackets, Dexter: New Blood, Invasion, and Chucky. Minor spoilers ahead…

Clever and imaginative, Disney Plus’ latest Marvel series - Loki - brings the beloved scoundrel back to life. This new story takes the God of Mischief out of his element on a rousing, time-hopping, sci-fi adventure, diving deeper into his mercurial psyche while also expanding the weirder corners of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Two episodes watched for review. Minor spoilers ahead…

Having been rescued from its SyFy cancellation in 2018, The Expanse returns for its penultimate season on Amazon Prime Video. Based on the novels by Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck (under the pen name James S.A. Corey), the series is quickly solidifying its legacy as one of the best genre shows out there with its meticulous world-building, gripping political intrigue, and hard science fiction. The Expanse’s fifth season finds its winning streak unbroken, with its tight pacing and deep character work on full display as it careens towards its endgame. Nine episodes watched for review, not including the season finale. Minor spoilers ahead…

The digital flood of true crime continues - this time, with the Netflix revival of a 90s cult favorite, Unsolved Mysteries. Helmed by the original series’ creators, John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer, this new series attempts to toe the line between nostalgia and freshness, but often comes up short in delivering either. Minor spoilers below…

Introducing “The Hannibal Files,” the third season of “The Strange Harbors Podcast.” Hosted by Derek Wong, Jeff Zhang, and Amir Touray, “The Hannibal Files” returns our podcast to its series-centric roots with a look at Bryan Fuller’s NBC serial-killer drama, Hannibal, now streaming on Netflix. Gross, gorgeous, and one the best television series of the last decade, “The Hannibal Files” aims to dive deep into the worlds of Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham, exploring the show episode-by-episode.

As we practice social distancing and quarantine during this new age of COVID-19, there’s only so much to do when stuck at home. Luckily, for all the cinephiles and TV buffs out there protecting themselves from coronavirus, we have our streaming services to keep us company. Today, at Strange Harbors, I’ll be recommending some of my personal favorites across all platforms that you can stream while self-isolating. Without further ado, here’s the official Strange Harbors quarantine streaming guide…

The second Star Trek series to debut on the CBS All Access streaming platform, Star Trek: Picard warmly welcomes Jean-Luc Picard back into the fold of Starfleet politics. Despite a slower start and some lopsided pacing, its episodes are elevated by Patrick Stewart’s gravitas and charisma, making a comeback almost 20 years after the events of Star Trek: Nemesis. Picard pushes farther into the final frontier in interesting ways, even if it takes awhile to get there.

Introducing The Strange Harbors Podcast, a weekly discussion of film and television. With the future of HBO’s Watchmen in a state of uncertainty, we’ve decided to pivot to a more general discussion of cinema and pop culture. Join me, Derek Wong, and new host Amir Touray every week as we dive deep into big blockbusters, indie favorites, and under-seen hidden gems. Hopefully, the same insight and analysis we brought to Watchmen will translate over to your favorite films and television shows.