The ten best series from 2022

This series year has offered everything from rich bastards in luxury hotels, a Korean family that hits the heart, raucous and raw cooking in Chicago and not least a wild fantasy autumn, with fire-breathing dragons on one streaming service and rings forged from fire on another.

There have been reunions with old favorites and newcomers who have become instant favourites. In addition, there have been gratifyingly many Norwegian goodies on the series front.

1. “Pachinko” (Apple TV+)

This South Korean series gets the first place because it is a series that hits the heart and soul and stays under the skin for a long time.

The dramatic story of an entire people is told through three generations in one family, and a sparkling script takes us seamlessly back and forth in time.

There are wonderful actors and a story that just keeps getting bigger and bigger. And most importantly: These are people we really like! Who are complex people we believe in, who make both right and wrong choices in life. Everyone’s paths are interesting to follow, whether we are with Sunja in Tokyo in the 20s or Sunja’s grandson Solomon in Tokyo in the 80s. “Pachinko” is an extremely engrossing, beautiful, poignant and interesting story.

2. “The White Lotus”, Season 2 (HBO Max)

Season 1 was great, season 2 is even better. It is still a series that rules wildly with the rich, and that hits with razor-sharp and clever satire. We are going back to the luxury hotel “The White Lotus”, but this time it is in Sicily.

It is full of good stories and good characters, and even if everything is drawn out, there are recognisable, human challenges. The series follows several stories that are all very entertaining, with caricatured and at the same time believable characters.

Uncertainty, betrayal, greed and morality are themes, and it’s nice to see how the glossy luxury slowly but surely unravels throughout the season, helped by a soundtrack that really plays along with the action.

3. “The Bear” (Disney+)

An energetic, hectic and exhausting series. Still rock solid. The series manages to place us IN THE MIDDLE of the action, we are present in the kitchen of the sandwich bar in Chicago.

“The Bear” is probably not equally palatable for everyone, but if you fix the high tempo, you will eventually be rewarded through the series with warmth, hurt and huge amounts of wildly good music. Beyond the episodes, things actually calm down a bit in the kitchen, and when the breaks come and we land, it becomes extra close and touching.

You really like and get irritated by the characters, who are interesting in a row. One of the most intense things I’ve seen and the series feels wildly authentic.

4. “Euphoria” (HBO Max)

It is painful to follow Rue, Cassie, Maddie and the other youngsters in this hurtful, painful, violent and believable universe.

“Euphoria” is full of good characters, who in season 2 we get to know even better through various backstories, and even if we jump from one to the other, everyone’s stories are compelling and interesting.

The suggestive music of Labrinth manages to hit the mood perfectly, without being too intrusive. The actors convince violently as insecure and hard in the tough high school environment. Season 2 is even darker and more shocking than the first season, and almost as good.

5. “Severance” (Apple TV+)

“Severance” is an interesting, strange and deeply fascinating series.

What happens to your personality when you are deprived of your memory? We get an insight into that when we join a company where the employees have divided their personalities into a work personality and a home personality, where they have no idea about the other.

It may take a couple of episodes for the series to hit the mark, but eventually it just gets more and more interesting and exciting. The series creators have managed to create an environment that feels believable in all its cooking heat, very well helped by sparkling production design.

6. “Andor” (Disney+)

“Andor” is the best series from the Star Wars universe. Cassion Andor’s journey to how he became a rebel hero is incredibly fun to follow, because on the unpredictable path we get to join new, exciting worlds.

The series deals with interesting themes such as how a tyranny works, what it’s like to live in an oppressive society, and how to find the courage to start a rebellion. In addition, there are good interpersonal relationships and a good spy drive.

This is one of the more “adult” Star Wars series, which is really engrossing after a while.

7. “Pørni”, seasons 2 and 3 (Viaplay)

Series creator Henriette Steenstrup meets again and again with the teenage mother Pørni and all the everyday challenges that arise.

Season 1 was one of last year’s best series, and seasons 2 and 3 are not far behind.

“Pørni” is funny, hurtful, riveting, brave, smart and very entertaining. The series describes being a parent incredibly well, because even though the series is thick, it is always recognisable. Good actors and a smart and sure-fire script make “Pørni” the best Norwegian series this year.

8. “House of the Dragon” (HBO Max)

Expectations have been sky high for this prequel to Game of Thrones.

It starts a bit tough, but really picks up when the characters get settled and the conflicts are sharpened.

It’s a convincing world-building, with wildly fierce dragons and characters who are just the right amount of power-hungry, badass and sleazy. The political game is central, where much is dialogue-driven, but with such a good script you can stand it, and suddenly it bursts into wildly intense action scenes, with dragons blowing you off the field.

“House of the Dragon” has become an engrossing series that looks really good.

9. “The English” (Prime Video)

The drama western series “The English” is violent and beautiful, with a story that takes twists and turns that are impossible to predict.

Emily Blunt is raw as Lady Cornelia Locke, and her development and journey through 1890s America is really exciting to follow.

It is bloody, brutal and wildly beautiful, with landscape motifs that take your breath away. However, the strongest thing in “The English” is the friendship that develops between Lady Locke and the war veteran Eli.

In a particularly rough environment, they experience deep racism and misogyny, and the series gives a far from romantic picture of how America was actually built up to what it is today.

10. “Abbott Elementary” (Disney+)

A light and entertaining situation comedy from an elementary school in Philadelphia.

We follow the everyday working life of Janine and her teaching colleagues, a lovable and varied bunch, who all have different approaches to the challenges they face. And the challenges are many in an underfunded public school.

Although the series is super light, it has a sting in all the situational comedy and gives a stab at the challenges of the American school system. In addition, there is a fun group of teachers to hang out with in short half-hour episodes.