BENJAMONSTER NEWSLETTER: December 22, 2023

Welcome to my final newsletter of 2023. My weekly newsletters will resume on January 1, 2024. I didn't get caught up on as much as I hoped to so it's a pretty short newsletter. This week, I am looking at my Top 10 Shows of the Year, The Crown and A Murder at the End of the World.

YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP 10 SHOWS

I already counted down my Top 10 Episodes and Top 10 Performances. Now, here is my final countdown for 2023 - my Top 10 Shows of the Year! This was a tough list to make!

10. Fargo (FX)

Fargo is back in form for its fifth season. The show got back to basics and seems to be doing everything that made it a beloved show in the first place. Anchored by strong performances including Juno Temple, Jon Hamm and Jennifer Jason Leigh, I can't wait to see how the season ends.

9. What We Do in the Shadows (FX)

I was sad to hear the upcoming sixth season of this comedy will be the last. It felt like a show that could go on forever with the wild antics of the vampires. I am rarely a fan of genre shows but the humor and characters have won me over.

8. Schmigadoon (Apple TV+)

Schmigadoon followed up its underrated first season with a more self-assured second season, set in "Schmicago." Very clever and high quality parodies of 60s and 70s musicals peppered the entire season. I hope this gets a third season so it can head to the 80s and 90s!

7. Jury Duty (Freevee)

I was late to the Jury Duty train but I'm so glad I gave it a chance. What could have been such a gimmicky show turned out to have incredible heart (and of course very funny). There was nothing else quite like Jury Duty on TV this season.

6. The Last of Us (HBO)

As mentioned, I'm not often into genre shows but there were two I loved in 2023. The Last of Us worked for me because it was about so much more than zombies. It had heart, it had vision, it had stunning production values. It's quite possibly the best video game adaptation ever.

BENJAMONSTER NEWSLETTER: December 11, 2023

Welcome to my Monday newsletter. This week, I am looking at My Top 10 Episodes of the Year, Mr. Monk's Last Case, Frasier, Fargo, For All Mankind and more!

YEAR IN REVIEW: TOP 10 EPISODES

Last week, I took a look at my Top 10 Performances of the year. This week, I am taking a look at my Top 10 Episodes of 2023!

10. Fargo "The Tragedy of the Commons" (November 21, 2023)

The first episode of the new season of Fargo showed us that the series was back in form with an outrageous action sequence and the perfect mix of dark comedy and just plain darkness.

9. What We Do in the Shadows "Urgent Care" (August 10, 2023)

One of many delightful summer episodes from an always reliable laugh factory, the episode in a supernatural urgent care was just so inventive and funny.

8. Abbott Elementary "Educator of the Year" (April 5, 2023)

Of the first season and a half of the show, this episode probably best depicted what it's like to be a teacher, especially when dealing with an angry parent.

7. The Bear "Fishes" (June 22, 2023)

The holiday instant classic with guest stars galore and stress and tension that would rival any action or thriller movie. Jamie Lee Curtis was of course a standout.

6. Poker Face "Dead Man's Hand" (January 26, 2023)

The pilot of Poker Face showed us what kind of show this was going to be and set up the season extremely well while also giving us substantial time with Natasha Lyonne's great character.

BENJAMONSTER NEWSLETTER: December 4, 2023

Welcome to my Monday newsletter. This week, I am counting down my Top 10 Performances of 2023 plus looking at Obliterated, Fargo, For All Mankind and more!

OBLITERATED

I've watched the first four episodes of Netflix's new action comedy Obliterated. The show is trashy for sure, but I would categorize it as "trashy fun." It has a throwback feel to the action comedy films of the 90s and makes great use of its Las Vegas setting to also draw comparisons to The Hangover. I really thought the setup was funny: a special ops team finishes a mission and gets trashed in Vegas. But when they find out the nuclear bomb they neutralized was fake, they had to go back into the field, while drunk, to finish their mission.