Top 10 Best Disney+ Series Of 2023
With 2023 coming to an end, it’s a good time to look back at some of the best series released on Disney+, and I’ve picked out my top ten shows, in no particular order, that I’ve enjoyed the most, which have been released on Disney+ and Hulu.
Here are my Top Ten shows of 2023:
Loki – Season 2
Without a doubt, the best Marvel series of 2023 was the second season of “Loki”, which picked up in the aftermath of the shocking season finale when Loki finds himself in a battle for the soul of the Time Variance Authority. Along with Mobius, Hunter B-15 and a team of new and returning characters, Loki navigates an ever-expanding and increasingly dangerous multiverse in search of Sylvie, Judge Renslayer, Miss Minutes and the truth of what it means to possess free will and glorious purpose.
Tom Hiddleston is simply fantastic in the role of Loki, and the show had an ending I certainly never saw coming. It’s got plenty of humour in there, especially with Owen Wilson being Owen Wilson, though it was a bit of a shame Sylvie’s role seemed to be drastically reduced. Also, Miss Minutes easily becomes the most terrifying villain in the series, showcasing the many issues of AI! Which is a theme throughout 2023!
Extraordinary
This British superhero series was released at the start of the year and is easily one of the funniest shows I’ve seen for a long time, and I can’t wait for the second season to arrive in 2024. The series follows Jen, a painfully self-aware 25-year-old woman, still waiting to get hers. She’d take anything at this point. Adrift in a big, confusing world and armed with nothing but a bit of hope, a lot of desperation and her flatmates, Jen begins her journey to find her maybe-superpower. But in doing so, she might discover the joy of being just kind of ok.
While Superhero fatigue became a real issue for Hollywood, as audiences began to become bored with a constant stream of DC and Marvel films and shows, this British comedy offers something unique, mixing “The Boys” and “Derry Girls” together in a marvellous concoction that I really loved.
The Bear
This FX series is all about a young chef from the fine dining world who comes home to Chicago to run his family sandwich shop after a heartbreaking death in his family. A world away from what he’s used to, Carmy 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. As Carmy fights to transform both the shop and himself, he works alongside a rough-around-the-edges kitchen crew that ultimately reveals itself as his chosen family.
“The Bear” fully deserves a chef’s kiss, and this year saw the second season’s release. As someone who used to run a family sandwich shop for two decades, this series hits very differently and more personally than it might do for others. This show is able to capture the emotions of a small family business, where you all want to kill one another, but love each other and need each other to get through the day. A truly fantastic series.
Only Murders In The Building – Season 3
One of the funniest comedies returned for a third season this year and saw Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, investigate a murder behind the scenes of a Broadway show. Ben Glenroy (Paul Rudd) is a Hollywood action star whose Broadway debut is cut short by his untimely death. Aided by co-star Loretta Durkin (Meryl Streep), our trio embarks on their toughest case yet, all while director Oliver desperately attempts to put his show back together.
This show has an all-star cast that delivered big time. It is a fantastic series and continues to showcase the variety of content that’s been heading to Disney+ and Hulu over the past year.
Ahsoka
After many years, we finally have a live-action version of “Star Wars: Rebels”, and this series didn’t disappoint. The series is set after the fall of the Empire, “Star Wars: Ahsoka” follows the former Jedi Knight Ahsoka Tano as she investigates an emerging threat to a vulnerable galaxy.
I absolutely loved watching a new episode of this show the moment I got up. This is one of my favourite shows of the year, and for any fan of “Rebels”, it’s a must-watch. It’s not perfect, but finally seeing Thrawn on the screen after reading countless novels, was certainly a highlight of the year.
Culprits
This British original series kicks off where most crime stories end: after a high-stakes heist, when the crew of elite criminals have gone their separate ways and have tried to leave their old lives behind. Past and present collide when a ruthless assassin starts targeting them one by one. Why are they being stalked, who is behind the mayhem, and will they be able to find one another in time to protect themselves and the people they love?
“Culprits” is another great British drama series that I utterly loved watching this year. The flipping backwards and forwards in the story, the global locations and a fantastic cast just pushed this one into my top ten of the year. A worthy recommendation.
Brawn – A Impossible F1 Story
Keanu Reeves hosts this documentary and tells the remarkable story of how Ross Brawn, in 2009, competing in the most expensive and technologically advanced racing series on Earth, made the impossible happen. His understaffed, underfinanced, and independent team won the World Championship, taking on the biggest titans of the industry – all after purchasing the team for just £1.
I’ve had zero interest in Formula One, but this four-part documentary was captivating for me, and I binged the entire show in two nights. I found the combination of the business side of the story, along with the pure feel-good nature of a team, overcoming all the odds. Never would have thought this was one of my favourite shows of the year, but it just felt wrong not to include it!
Moving
The Korean original series tells the story of a group of South Korean special agents working to protect their super-powered children from harm and exploitation at the hands of malicious government agencies. Initially recruited because of their extraordinary abilities to fly, instantly heal and use their enhanced senses in the field, the agents disappeared without a trace after being tasked with carrying out increasingly dubious missions. But with their children now exhibiting similar abilities and a dangerous assassin rapidly picking off super-powered individuals, the parents must leave their peaceful lives behind to become the “monsters” they once were.
Much like with “Extraordinary”, superhero fatigue is often thrown around when it comes to why a new Marvel or DC film/show underperforms, but there are still some fascinating stories that can be told, and I’ve loved watching the Korean drama series, “Moving”. It’s got a cute love story between two awkward teenagers, who have to come to terms with not just their superpowers, but with each other, plus a rather sinister storyline involving the government. Really recommend this show.
The Mandalorian
The poster boy for Disney+ returned this year for a third season. In the third season, the journeys of the Mandalorian through the Star Wars galaxy continue. Once a lone bounty hunter, Din Djarin has reunited with Grogu. Meanwhile, the New Republic struggles to lead the galaxy away from its dark history. The Mandalorian will cross paths with old allies and make new enemies as he and Grogu continue their journey together.
There’s just something about “The Mandalorian” that I just love, and a personal highlight for me of 2023 was at the Star Wars Celebration event in London over Easter. I got to watch the penultimate episode of the series on a huge screen, with thousands of other Star Wars fans, along with the cast and creators of the show. It was a magical moment.
A Small Light
This National Geographic series tells the inspiring, real-life story of Miep Gies, who played a critical role in hiding Anne Frank and her family during the Nazi occupation in Amsterdam. This series is a fantastic addition to the Disney+ lineup in 2023. If you haven’t already seen it, to pop it on your watchlist. It deals with some tricky and difficult situations, especially when you know this isn’t just some made-up story. This happened, and I hope National Geographic is able to continue making shows of this calibre in the future.
Here are some other honourable mentions:
- “Percy Jackson and The Olympians” is so refreshing, and I’m really enjoying it, but having only seen a couple of episodes, it doesn’t feel right putting it on the main list.
- “Welcome To Wrexham” had another fantastic second season, and considering I don’t like soccer, this documentary’s story is fabulous.
- “American Born Chinese” was another standout show for being something completely different that I enjoyed and is worth checking out.
What show did you enjoy most in 2023? Let us know on social media!
Roger Palmer
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