Our 10 favourite TV series of 2022 (so far)

Have you seen them all?

Here are our favourite picks from the first half of the year.

We're over halfway through the year, so it's time to take a look back at some of our favourite TV series from 2022.

Like every year that rolls past, this has been quite a substantial year for TV addicts once again. We've seen the return of some very beloved shows after years of hiatus, we've been taken by surprise by some brand new originals, and we've enjoyed a warm hug from some adaptations that were previously only in book format.

For this list, we decided not to include series that are currently still yet to release new episodes, so that means the likes of 'Better Call Saul', 'Only Murders In The Building' and 'Westworld' aren't up for contention.

In the hopes that you might discover a little gem to switch on, here's our 10 favourite TV series from 2022 - so far.

'Stranger Things' Season Four

Let's get the most obvious release out of the way first, shall we? Still riding high on Netflix's Top 10 titles being streamed right now, we don't actually think we were ready for the impact 'Stranger Things' season four would have on the world this summer. Were our defences down going into the season, after three years without Eleven and her friends running around in The Upside Down? Or perhaps it was the Kate Bush track making a huge comeback, blasting us with a fresh dose of nostalgia? Or maybe even it was just the pure and simple knowledge of returning back to Hawkins? Whatever the reason, we (and the rest of the world) were hooked.

'Pachinko'

Apple TV+ has quietly been releasing some of the best TV series of late (for the most part at least), and if you missed 'Pachinko' after its initial release in March, you now have all of the heavenly episodes to watch one after the other. Intimate and heartwarming, the time-hopping story spans decades, showcasing snapshots of different moments of a South Korean woman and her family. Weaved with incredible tenderness and stunning visuals, the series has the incredibly difficult ability of leaving an impact on you after watching. There's even a second season on the way, which is music to our ears.

'Euphoria' Season Two

If you love yourself some over-the-top teen drama, then chances are you were hooked on 'Euphoria' season two at the beginning of the year when all was quiet on the television front. The return of Zendaya as the troublesome Rue unfolded many new storylines for the series, as new friendships were formed, some were tested, and some sadly came to an end. While the series has created a number of meme-able moments, there's a heaviness and a loneliness to 'Euphoria' that makes it an intoxicating watch.

'The Boys' Season Three

We honestly didn't think 'The Boys' could get any wilder, but then again we should have seen it coming. Season three of the Prime Video series took the level of debauchery to spectacularly traumatising new heights, with the episode called 'Herogasm' alone being all sorts of inappropriate. It'll be interesting to see how big the series can go from here, but for now, we're basking in the realisation that yes, Homelander (Antony Starr) could quite possibly be the most f***ed up antagonist on the small screen ever.

'Hacks' Season Two

If you haven't been watching 'Hacks', then you need to fix that right now. Go on, get watching! The first two series are available to watch on Prime Video, and follows Deborah Vance (Jean Smart), a well-known stand-up comic whose star profile is beginning to dim just ever-so-slightly. She's begrudgingly paired up with a young TV writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder) to get some juicier material for her predictable routine, which leads to a lot of cat and mouse antics between them and their egos. Season two sees the group hit the open road as Deborah goes on tour, including a gig on a gay cruise, which goes just about as badly as you'd imagine.

'The Staircase'

We've all seen the documentary (available on Netflix), we've heard the bizarre theories, and we've followed the story to its decidedly underwhelming conclusion. So what better way to revisit the story over 20 years later than by having Hollywood give it a dramatisation with Toni Collette and Colin Firth as the two leading subjects? Thankfully, 'The Staircase' from HBO works, giving us a more in-depth look into the lives of the Peterson household both before and after that faithful day in 2001 when their lives were upended forever.

'This Is Going To Hurt'

If you're not in the medical profession, and you've always wondered what it's like to be a doctor, nurse or anyone within that line of work, 'This Is Going To Hurt' will give you the answer, and it's not going to be sugar-coated. Ben Whishaw's dry humour as the perpetually overtired and overworked junior doctor should be enough to hook you in, but there are also a lot of surprisingly tender moments that'll catch you off-guard too. If you can track down this BBC title, then add it to the top of your list.

'Heartstopper'

Cute, adorable, endearing, and overwhelmingly sweet, there just aren't enough lovable adjectives to describe 'Heartstopper'. The eight-episode series had a mind-blowing following online before its release on Netflix, thanks to the webcomic series of the same name by Alice Oseman, and now the franchise is bigger than ever. An all-round relatable tale about the intricacies of young love, and finding one's place in the world at such a young age, there really aren't enough pure and naive series such as this on our screens.

'Derry Girls' Season Three

There were a few cultural phenomenons on our screens this year, but one that make a huge impact for all of the heartwarming reasons was the final season of 'Derry Girls' on Channel 4. Admittedly, season three didn't pack in as many laughs as the previous two entries, but every single week it was a pure joy to tune in to see what over-the-top scenario the five characters had gotten themselves caught up in. And don't even get us started on all of those cameo appearances. It's always sad to see a favourite TV show come to an end, but it's even better happily knowing that it didn't overstay its welcome.

'Severance'

What happens when you put Adam Scott, Christopher Walken, John Turturro and Patricia Arquette into a TV show together? Surprisingly, you get a little bit creeped out. Apple TV+'s original concept series 'Severance' might have slipped under your radar (again, because Apple TV), but it's definitely worth your precious time, especially with these Hollywood heavy-hitters leading the series. Already renewed for a second season, if mind-bending hits like 'Black Mirror' and 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind' are your jam, then you're going to eat this up.