Series to Have Watched: 2022

Series to Have Watched: 2022


By DQ
December 15, 2022

Ones to Watch

DQ looks back over the past year of television to pick out 10 series that were worth tuning in for, from a fresh police procedural and a dazzling period adaptation to a cultural phenomenon and a kitchen nightmare.

Borgen: Power & Glory
From: Denmark
Original broadcasters: DR (Denmark), Netflix (worldwide)
Producer: Sam Productions
Distributor: DR Sales
Starring: Sidse Babett Knudsen, Birgitte Hjort Sørensen and Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
They say: Birgitte Nyborg is Denmark’s newly appointed minister for foreign affairs when a drilling company suddenly discovers oil in Greenland – an event that marks the beginning of an international struggle for power in the Arctic. In addition, it means the otherwise so experienced politician Nyborg must repeatedly accept that despite Denmark’s ‘big brother’ relationship with Greenland, when it comes to the international superpowers, it is Denmark that’s the minor player.
We say: Ten years after Borgen ended its original three-season run, the Danish political drama was back, and as intriguing and brilliant as ever. Reuniting showrunner Adam Price with many of the original cast and some new additions, the series didn’t miss a beat, with former prime minister Nyborg (Knudsen) becoming embroiled in conflict at home and abroad.
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Cheaters
From: UK
Original broadcaster: BBC
Producer: Clerkenwell Films
Distributor: BBC Studios
Starring: Joshua McGuire, Susan Wokoma, Callie Cooke and Jack Fox
They say: The story of a chance meeting after a cancelled flight that leads to an unlikely night of drunken airport-hotel sex between Fola (Wokoma) and Josh (McGuire), who both later admit they are with other people – and then arrive home to discover they are neighbours.
We say: With 18 bite-sized episodes running to 10 minutes each, Cheaters is a funny and dramatic bingeable feast that put shortform drama firmly in the spotlight this year.
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DI Ray
From: UK
Original broadcaster: ITV
Producer: HTM Television
Distributor: Hat Trick International
Starring: Parminder Nagra
They say: Set in Birmingham, DI Ray introduces us to Leicester-born Rachita Ray, a police officer who takes on a case that forces her to confront a lifelong personal conflict between her British identity and her South Asian heritage.
We say: A second season is on the way for this crime drama starring ER’s Nagra, which put themes of identity and racism at the heart of a story about the search for a killer.
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Heartstopper
From: UK
Original broadcaster: Netflix
Producer: See-Saw Films
Starring: Kit Connor, Joe Locke, William Gao, Yasmin Finney, Corinna Brown and Kizzy Edgell
They say: When gentle Charlie and rugby-loving Nick meet at secondary school, they quickly discover that their unlikely friendship is blossoming into an unexpected romance. Charlie, Nick and their circle of friends must navigate the ever-relatable journey of self discovery and acceptance, supporting each other as they learn to find their most authentic selves.
We say: Heartstopper was nothing more than one of the television events of the year, bringing to life showrunner Alice Oseman’s web comics with sweetness and charm, some animated flourishes that perfectly highlighted moments of deep emotion, and a cast of stars in the making. Netflix duly ordered two more seasons.
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Life After Life
From: UK
Original broadcaster: BBC
Producer: House Productions
Distributor: BBC Studios
Starring: Thomasin McKenzie, Sian Clifford, James McArdle, Jessica Brown Findlay and Jessica Hynes
They say: Ursula Todd (McKenzie) is born to Sylvie and Hugh (Clifford and McArdle) one night in 1910, but dies before she draws her first breath. On that same night in 1910, Ursula is reborn and survives. Time and time again, living and dying in different circumstances, Ursula is reborn into a new, alternative iteration of life.
We say: This four-parter is a beautifully designed period drama based on Kate Atkinson’s novel that always finds new ways to keep the show’s rebirth motif engaging, surprising and shocking.
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Maryland
From: UK
Original broadcaster: BBC
Producer: Century Films
Starring: Hayley Squires, Zawe Ashton and Daniel Mays
They say: Ashton and Squires play the lead roles of two individual Marys who meet at a police station in the aftermath of their respective sexual assaults. They are supported by a cast of furies who rail against the injustices the women face both in the events of the play and in the wider world.
We say: Based on Lucy Kirkwood’s play, which was written in response to the normalisation of violence against women, this is a thought-provoking and ultimately vital piece of television that blends humour and horror with production design and staging reminiscent of its original theatrical setting.
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Pachinko
From: US/Korea
Original broadcaster: Apple TV+
Producer: Media Res and Blue Marble Pictures
Starring: Soji Arai, Jin Ha, Inji Jeong, Minha Kim, Lee Minho, Kaho Minami, Steve Sanghyun Noh, Anna Sawai, Junwoo Han, Eunchae Jung, Jimmi Simpson, Yuna and Yuh-Jung Youn
They say: A sweeping saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and the US to tell an unforgettable story of war and peace, love and loss, and triumph and reckoning.
We say: An epic drama across continents and timelines, Pachinko comes from showrunner Soo Hugh, whose take on Min Jin Lee’s bestselling novel is a captivating feat supported by outstanding performances.
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Sherwood
From: UK
Original broadcaster: BBC
Producer: House Productions
Distributor: BBC Studios
Starring: David Morrissey, Lesley Manville, Robert Glenister, Kevin Doyle and Claire Rushbrook
They say: Two shocking and unexpected murders shatter an already fractured community, leading to one of the largest manhunts in British history. To solve the murders, two police inspectors must bury a rivalry as the tragic murders threaten to inflame historic divisions sparked during the miners’ strike that tore families apart three decades before.
We say: Quiz and Brexit: An Uncivil War writer James Graham cemented his status as one of the UK’s top screenwriters with this state-of-the-nation, character-driven ensemble piece that explores the controversial use of ‘spycops’ and examines the frayed social and political fabric of modern-day, post-Brexit Britain against the backdrop of a marginalised community.
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The Bear
From: US
Original broadcasters: FX on Hulu (US), Disney+ (worldwide)
Producer: FX Productions
Distributor: Disney Platform Distribution
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Abby Elliott, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Edwin Lee Gibson and Matty Matheson
They say: Fine dining chef Carmen ‘Carmy’ Berzatto (White) comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after a heartbreaking death in his family. There, he must balance the soul-crushing realities of small-business ownership, his strong-willed and recalcitrant kitchen staff and his strained familial relationships, all while grappling with the impact of his brother’s suicide.
We say: A complex study of grief through the lenses of food and family, The Bear mixes humour, heart and unbearable tension through eight tasty half-hours.
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The Lazarus Project
From: UK
Original broadcaster: Sky
Producer: Urban Myth Films
Distributor: NBCUniversal Global Distribution
Starring: Paapa Essiedu, Charly Clive, Anjli Mohindra, Tom Burke, Caroline Quentin and Rudi Dharmalingam
They say: When George (Essiedu) finds himself reliving a day from months ago, he is drawn into the Lazarus Project – a secret organisation that has harnessed the ability to turn back time every time the world is at threat of extinction. But when he loses someone close to him, George must choose to stay loyal or go rogue.
We say: Written by Giri/Haji’s Joe Barton with his usual humour and wit, this action thriller uses its central time-travel conceit to emotional and satisfying effect in an explosive series that sees the end of the world again and again… and again.
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