The Year So Far: Not-So-Mid Year Emmys

Before we dive into the highlights and lowlights of 2023 so far, allow us to begin with a disclaimer: we here at The Couch understand that over half a year has passed by now, and mid-August might be a strange time to do a status check on the pulse of the year. But between the happiness of summer dayz, big vacations, and big life changes, we got a little behind. So sue us! It may just about be the end of #hotgirlsummer, but it's not quite #thotumn, so I think a mid-year check in is still in order.

Besides, in case you haven't heard, actors and writers are now all striking, Boo. It may be a while yet before we get new television and movies-- and if that's what it takes, so be it! Pay them what they deserve!! All this to say, maybe this series can fill the little void between now and whenever these disputes are settled and the fall sports schedule really swings into full gear.

I ideally would like like to publish "midyear" pieces in, you know, the actual middle of the year. So, some time around late June or early July. This year-- much like last year -- life craziness rendered that impossible. However, for this piece in particular, the timing worked out well; summer saw the finales of several different acclaimed shows, as well as entire seasons of other buzzy ones.

What's more, no one arena of entertainment has been more affected by the SAG and WGA strikes than television. Some shows were halted in the middle of their season, others their likely release dates delayed. At this point, it's not entirely clear whether we'll get new seasons of our favorite shows before the end of the year, so don't be shocked if my year-end list has a lot of the same names listed in this checkpoint article. Regardless, for now, enjoy a brief, only partially-informed take on the state of television thus far:

BEST SERIES, "Final Season" Category:

Succession

If you spend time on Twitter but have never watched this show, this is the most obnoxious answer possible. I get it, I do. But to quote a real-life president that the fictional Roy family would probably support, "sorry to the haters and losers." No matter how tired you may be of hearing about Succession, I promise you it deserves the hype. Much is made about how shitty the central cast of characters is to its core, but the fact of the matter is, this show has always been about spectacular writing, and note-perfect acting. True to form, the remarkable writing staff seemed hell-bent on reminding its loyal fans just how bad these people they devoted their Sunday nights to were, and every last actor and actress portrayed it to perfection. In its 4 seasons, Succession brought various twists and turns, but it saved its biggest twist yet for its final season-- and boy, what an episode of television it produced. I could not conceive of a better, more realistic, more thought-out end to the story we were introduced to five years ago. Give this show every last damn award while we still can.

Honorable Mention: Barry

BEST SERIES, "Non-Final Season" Category:

The Bear

I say that with confidence, and I would be gutted if Season 2 somehow ended up the final season of The Bear-- or Abbott Elementary, for that matter. But if it were, honestly, what a way to go out. FX's high-octane "dark comedy" (read: every bit as much Drama as Comedy, if not more so) centering around an elite chef and his drive to preserve and restore his deceased brother's restaurant in Chicago was always going to have a hard time building on its debut season. It was an unlikely sensation when its first season premiered in Summer 2022, taking the Twittersphere by storm and delighting critics and awards shows alike. Similar to other shows that will be referenced in this article, I wondered if it would stop at one season; it was such a phenomenal season, with a natural conclusion to its story, where they could possibly go from there? All over, it turns out. Carmy and co. are dedicated to making this refurbished restaurant the very best in all Chicago, and as such, the titular Bear sends his kitchen staff to every corner of the city, to culinary school, even to Copenhagen, all in the pursuit of greatness. We the viewers were treated to a chance to see this show on a macro scale, as well as the introduction of a love interest, all done without losing the very Chicagoan heart, or being untrue to the character arcs presented in Season 1. If it would have just done away with the countless Coach K and Taylor Swift references, it would have been another perfect season. Alas, it's only 99% perfect.

Honorable Mention: Abbott Elementary

BEST NEW SERIES:

Shrinking

I begrudgingly have to tip my hat to my friend Alex on this one, whose pop culture opinions I typically take such joy in lording over. He put me on to this delightful little Apple TV+ comedy in the Spring, and I think I consumed the entire season in about 3 days. It's not particularly surprising, I suppose, that the creative brains behind Scrubs and Ted Lasso and a cast of Jason Segel, Harrison Ford and the hysterical Jessica Williams was a winning formula. But still, I did not expect to laugh so hard and feel so deeply from this new show. Segel's protagonist, a therapist working to process his grief over his late wife and simultaenously win back the respect of his teen daughter and repair his various relationships,is so easy to root for. But so too are his various foils: Ford as his curmudgeonly father figure, Williams his dynamic coworker and confidant, Lukita Maxwell his snarky but sharp daughter, Michael Urie his longtime best friend that you can't help but love and be annoyed at in equal measure, Christa Miller his aggressively nosy neighbor with a deceptively big heart... the list goes on and on. It's a feel-good comedy, with a huge heart, to be sure, but don't be surprised by how much you genuinely laugh out loud as well. One of the shows whose future I'm most excited to see.

Honorable Mention: Poker Face

BEST SOPHOMORE SEASON FROM AN APPLE TV COMEDY:

The Afterparty

This category I came about simply because I realized how hilarious it is that there were not one, but two Apple TV+ originals I had watched that aired their second seasons this year, and both were fun comedies that I liked, but didn't love in the first season. The musical parody-comedy Schmigadoon! was loads of fun again, and this time I think had even more engaging and cohesive overall storyline. But the glow-up from Season 1 to Season 2 of The Afterparty was much more drastic, in my opinion. The inaugural season was a lot of fun, but nowhere near as funny as I felt it could have and should have been, considering the absolute all-star cast of comedic talent it boasted. In the second season, apart from a couple fun cameos, only a few select members from the original cast return, chief among them Sam Richardson of I Think You Should Leave and Detroiters fame, and Tiffany Haddish of general fame. The dynamic between the two of them is once again crisp and hilarious, and this time, the "whodunit" in question is a bit more engaging, thanks to a more realized storyline that requires slightly less suspension of belief. It also, imporantly, is more often laugh-out-loud funny than its predecessor was. Special shout out to Elizabeth Perkins, who has perfected the art of playing the wealthy and withdrawn 'mother-in-law,' and whose feature episode sent me into conniptions.

Honorable Mention: Schmigadoon!

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT FROM A BELOVED SHOW:

Ted Lasso

This category, more than all the others, has by far the biggest gulf between winner and runner-up. My "disappointment" with Season 3 of Tim Robinson's I Think You Should Leave was very mild, more of the "Eh, I was so excited for this and think this was probably the weakest/least memorable season yet, but overall, still hilarious and wonderful!" variety.

I wish I could say I felt that mildly about Ted Lasso's Season 3, which may or may not have been the show's farewell season. When my sister Catherine finally got around to watching the show's near-flawless 1st season a couple years back, she offered up a then-hot take that the show should just call it there. Her logic was that the premier season, which debuted in the midst of the pandemic, was so timely, so self-sustained as a storyline and quite simply couldn't be improved upon. I wasn't sure I agreed then, and wasn't sure I agreed after a 2nd season that started rough, but ended incredibly strong. At the tail-end of Season 3, which seemed hell-bent on undoing all the progress each individual character had made and every last interesting storyline presented in Season 2? Which turned every female character into romance-obsessed girlies instead of the boss bitches they'd proven to be? Which was chock full of ridiculously corny dialogue, heavy-footed moralizing, and weird narrative choices (such as just...not showing most of the major events that happen in the show's world)? Yeah, I think Catherine was right to wish they would stop while they were ahead. Now, am I being harsh? Sure, maybe a little- there were bright spots here and there, the "Amsterdam" episode being one clear example, and the season (or series?) finale rediscovered some of the charm, nuance and big heart that the universally adored first season had in ample supply. But those few highlights hardly made the ride worthwhile, and at this point I can't decide if I more want the show to release more seasons-- or a spin-off --in order to right the ship, or just be over so that they can't wreck said ship any more.

Honorable Mention: I Think You Should Leave