2022's best in show

Some of the best entertainment we saw in 2022

There’s an insane amount of content out there, and if you’re anything like me you want to make sure you spend your time consuming the best of the best across formats – books, podcasts, music, movies, and television.

With all of this choice, where do you begin? My guess is that you probably scroll through “New on Netflix” more than actually watching Netflix, and end up just rewatching something you’ve seen a million times already. By the way, research backs me up on this guess – there’s even a nifty moniker for it (with an accompanying book): The Paradox of Choice.

So let me simplify things for you a bit. Here’s a sample of my best of the best that I saw/heard/read in 2022. When you’re next faced with that dreaded question, “what should I watch?” – give these a go and make one less decision that day ??

Check out my complete list of critically acclaimed entertainment for 2022 here.

Movies

1.?CODA

Apple Studios knocked it out of the park with this Oscar-winner for Best Picture. CODA is short for ‘Child of Deaf Adults’, and offers viewers a snapshot into a life rarely seen on-screen. Performances are fantastic across the board – Emilia Jones is stellar (and her rendition of Joni Mitchell’s Both Sides Now – sheesh!) alongside Troy Kostur (who won an Oscar for his performance) and Marlee Matlin. The nuances in the soundtrack and cinematography add to a movie that comes out of nowhere and punches you straight in the gut, in all the best ways possible.

2.?Dune

Dune was always going to be on my list. The book is one of my all-time favourites. Timothée Chalamet is one of my all-time favourites. Hans Zimmer is one of my all-time favourites. On the surface, Dune is a sci-fi epic about space travel and scarce resources, but it’s so much more than that. Political intrigue, family dynamics, organized crime, drugs, murder – Dune blends all of my favourite elements into one spicy cocktail (I couldn’t not go there).

3.?Drive My Car

Left-field here, but hear me out. Drive My Car is an adaptation of Haruki Murakami’s short story of the same name. It left me with an undercurrent of unease for days after watching it – thoughts spinning, trying to untangle the austere emotions of the fantastic cast. Hidetoshi Nishijima is the embodiment of gaman (enduring the seemingly unbearable with patience and dignity) as he goes through wave after wave of life-shattering events. The cinematography, the cast, the story, all of it is beautiful.

TV

1.?Mare of Easttown

This limited series follows Mare, a stoic detective in small-town America compellingly brought to life by Kate Winslet, as she returns to an unsolved disappearance from years ago, brought back to Easttown by a similar crime. A must-see for crime lovers, and keep an eye out for Evan Peters in a slew of scene-stealing performances.

2.?The Rings of Power

I have waited for this show for many years, and let me tell you: I was not disappointed! Amazon’s interpretation of Tolkien’s world gave me everything I wanted – the music, the lore, the visuals, the plot. Just a fantastic reimagining. Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel brims with emotion – I can’t wait to see how she develops throughout the upcoming seasons – and figuring out who Sauron is kept me on my toes all season long. Don’t miss it!

3.?I May Destroy You

Michaela Coel wrote, co-directed, executive produced and played the starring role in this provocative limited series dealing with some serious issues with a frankness I found refreshing. It’s a wild ride, with a memorable cast and raw, unfiltered emotions – a rare find in a sea of shows that can often feel pandering or contrived. I didn’t think this would be my kind of show; I’m so glad I took a chance on this. I’ll be thinking about it for a long time.

Books

1.?Bewilderment – Richards Powers

Okay, so this book. It’s been a while since I encountered a book that brought so many emotions up. Bewilderment is the story of a father and his young son, and how they cope with grief and loss in a world that can be so cruelly overwhelming. It was shortlisted for the 2021 Booker Prize and included in too many best-of lists to recount. All I’ll say, is read it. ?

2.?Young Mungo – Douglas Stewart

Stewart made a name for himself when his debut novel, Shuggie Bain, won the Booker Prize in 2019. More or less a year later, he published Young Mungo – a heart-breaking glimpse into working-class struggles in Scotland. The protagonist, Mungo, is endearing and infuriating; one the most delightful characters to make their way into my imagination in a long time. Brace yourself for this one – it’s not a comfortable read. There’s a lot of pain, a lot of shame, and crucially, the promise of change.

3.?Heaven – Mieko Kawakami

Kawakami has relentlessly been etching out a unique space in the publishing world for herself in the last couple of years. Heaven cements her position as a storyteller who can elicit so much emotion and nuance with sparse prose and soft allusion to events not told. The book is written from the point-of-view of a 14-year old boy who is bullied incessantly for his lazy eye – it explores how we respond to violence and trauma, and how we can find meaning and solace in a world that feels like it was built to destroy us.

Check out this template for my full list, including podcasts and music, and follow along! I’ll be sharing my 2023 list in the near future – keep an eye out for it.

You’re asking yourself “why is this publishing guy writing about entertainment? This isn’t buzzfeed!”. Here’s the thing: to me, knowing what content is being published and consumed successfully is a crucial part of my job. Publishing doesn’t happen in a vacuum; there’s an entire world of likes and trends and commentaries and causes that needs to catch what we publish.

Share your recommendations in the comments!