{"id":17700,"date":"2022-12-09T10:06:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-09T08:06:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/?p=17700"},"modified":"2022-12-09T10:06:15","modified_gmt":"2022-12-09T08:06:15","slug":"showmax-the-best-series-of-2022-as-picked-by-the-worlds-top-critics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2022\/12\/09\/showmax-the-best-series-of-2022-as-picked-by-the-worlds-top-critics\/","title":{"rendered":"Showmax : The Best Series Of 2022, As Picked By The World&#8217;s Top Critics"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Showmax_black.jpg?ssl=1\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/Showmax_black.jpg?w=750&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3061\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Euphoria S2, The Rehearsal S1, Barry S3, House of the Dragon S1, Hacks S2 &amp; much more<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Euphoria Season 2 Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes TV\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0BG3c1ika48?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EUPHORIA S2 <\/strong>| #1, <em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario picked HBO\u2019s 18LSDVN teen series <em>Euphoria<\/em> as his best TV series of 2022, saying, \u201c<em>Euphoria<\/em> would be television\u2019s most overconfidently made series, if it didn\u2019t somehow, every time, find its way to sublimity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This year, Zendaya became the Emmys\u2019 youngest ever two-time acting winner for her lead performance as teen addict Rue. <em>Euphoria<\/em> was joint second overall at the Emmys, behind <em>The White Lotus S1<\/em>, with additional wins for Outstanding Guest Actor (Colman Domingo), Picture Editing, Choreography, Cinematography and Contemporary Makeup (Non-Prosthetic).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO has already renewed<em> Euphoria<\/em> for a third season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>Euphoria S1-2<\/em> on Showmax: <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/f9yitlkr-euphoria\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/f9yitlkr-euphoria<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Rehearsal | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/2fjPFt8cpic?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE REHEARSAL S1<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| #1, <em>Indiewire<\/em>\u2019s Ben Travers&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Indiewire<\/em>\u2019s Ben Travers named HBO\u2019s <em>The Rehearsal<\/em> his best TV series of 2022, praising its \u201csurprising twists, savvy construction, and deep, full-throated laughs.\u201d <em>Time Magazine\u2019s <\/em>Judy Berman placed it second on her Top 10.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The Rehearsal<\/em> explores the lengths one man will go to to reduce the uncertainties of everyday life. With a construction crew, a legion of actors and seemingly unlimited resources, Nathan Fielder (2022 Emmy nominee <em>How To With John Wilson<\/em>) allows ordinary people to prepare for life\u2019s biggest moments by \u201crehearsing\u201d them in carefully crafted simulations of his own design. When a single misstep could shatter your entire world, why leave life to chance?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO has already renewed <em>The Rehearsal<\/em> for a second season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>The Rehearsal S1<\/em> on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/at5fqoxh-the-rehearsal\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/at5fqoxh-the-rehearsal<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE Trailer (2022)\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rT3k7UHPSTM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE GIRL FROM PLAINVILLE <\/strong>| #2, <em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario picked <em>The Girl From Plainville<\/em> as his best \u201cripped-from-the-news series\u201d of 2022, and his second best TV series of the year overall.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Co-created by Emmy nominee Liz Hannah (<em>The Dropout<\/em>) and Patrick Macmanus (<em>Dr. Death<\/em>), <em>The Girl From Plainville<\/em> sees 2022 Emmy nominee Elle Fanning (<em>The Great<\/em>) play Michelle Carter, the teenager at the centre of the unprecedented \u201ctexting suicide case\u201d following the death of her boyfriend, Conrad Roy, in 2014.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cFanning\u2019s work here deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Sydney Sweeney\u2019s on <em>Euphoria<\/em>, as both actors push themselves into frightening emotional terrain in search of a rigorous honesty amidst chaos; Chlo\u00eb Sevigny, too, playing Conrad\u2019s bereaved mother, has rarely been sharper,\u201d says D\u2019Addario.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>The Girl From Plainville<\/em> on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/cu44pyaf-the-girl-from-plainville\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/cu44pyaf-the-girl-from-plainville<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Somebody Somewhere Season 1 Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes TV\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9xKZZ8iVDN8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SOMEBODY SOMEWHERE S1 <\/strong>| #3, <em>Vulture<\/em>\u2019s Kathryn VanArendonk and Jen Chaney<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Vulture<\/em>\u2019s Kathryn VanArendonk and Jen Chaney both picked HBO\u2019s<em> Somebody Somewhere<\/em> as their third best TV series of 2022.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As VanArendonk says, \u201cEvery year brings new examples in the storied genre of \u2018comedian\u2019s life transmuted into a biographically inspired TV comedy\u2019\u2026 but Bridget Everett\u2019s <em>Somebody Somewhere <\/em>is the best of them in 2022 \u2014 and among the best of them period.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Somebody Somewhere<\/em> centres on Sam (Everett), a 40-something woman grappling with loss and acceptance as she fields a mid-life crisis following her sister\u2019s death. Sam returns to her hometown but struggles to fit into its mold, until she finds her saving grace in singing, and a community of outsiders who don&#8217;t fit in, and don&#8217;t give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As Chaney says, \u201cEvery episode will make you laugh and cry \u2014 often at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO has already renewed <em>Somebody Somewhere<\/em> for a second season.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge<em> Somebody Somewhere<\/em> <em>S1<\/em> on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/914iw2d1-somebody-somewhere\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/914iw2d1-somebody-somewhere<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"We Own This City | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Ig9BcW7gXvE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>WE OWN THIS CITY <\/strong>| #3, <em>Entertainment Weekly<\/em>\u2019s Darren Franich<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Entertainment Weekly<\/em>\u2019s Darren Franich ranked <em>We Own This City <\/em>as his third best TV series of 2022, saying, \u201c\u2018Impressively hopeless\u2019 is a weird way to describe a show I love, but this miniseries demands attention by refusing any easy (or even difficult) answers to the problems of our American age.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Co-created by David Simon (<em>The Wire <\/em>&#8211; still \u201cthe greatest TV series of the 21st Century\u201d, according to a 2021 BBC Culture Critics\u2019 poll<em>)<\/em> and George Pelecanos (Simon\u2019s co-creator on <em>The Deuce<\/em>), <em>We Own This City <\/em>chronicles the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department&#8217;s Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption and moral collapse that befell an American city in which the policies of drug prohibition and mass arrest were championed at the expense of actual police work.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green (<em>King Richard), <\/em>the six-part series stars BAFTA-nominated Nigerian actress Wunmi Mosaku (<em>Lovecraft Country<\/em>, <em>Loki<\/em>), Screen Actors Guild Award nominee Jon Bernthal (<em>The Walking Dead<\/em>) and Emmy nominee Josh Charles (<em>The Good Wife<\/em>), alongside a number of alumni from <em>The Wire<\/em>, including Jamie Hector, Darrell Britt-Gibson, and Domenick Lombardozzi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>We Own This City <\/em>on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.nylas.com\/t1\/312\/ehwa0l7h0gout55w4jiye8g60\/7\/cdecc81530f14e17bcddc510205a25e8e828e36e5c5f1211fc570346c9549375\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/6w8i1552-we-own-this-city<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=yx6AS0zzfGM\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>BARRY S3 <\/strong>| #4,<em> AVClub <\/em>staff consensus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>AVClub <\/em>picked <em>Barry<\/em> as its fourth best TV series of 2022, saying, \u201cBill Hader, much like his eponymous hitman protagonist, never misses. At least that\u2019s what it\u2019s starting to feel like\u2026 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.nylas.com\/t1\/312\/ehwa0l7h0gout55w4jiye8g60\/9\/bbe609abc15263640625e836043dccaf82ef6d8bb4cb762523deeea8e08b9705\"><em>Barry<\/em><\/a><em> <\/em>has firmly established itself as a modern classic. Upping the ante on the story of everyone\u2019s favorite killer-turned-aspiring-actor and throwing plenty his way in a bigger and bolder season (Bike gangs! Panthers! Press junkets! Too many double-crossing MF-ers to count!), <em>Barry<\/em>\u2019s 2022 return was well worth the wait.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 3 of <em>Barry <\/em>won three Emmys from 14 nominations: Outstanding Stunt Coordination, Picture Editing, and Sound Editing. Spare a thought for co-creator Hader, who lost all five of the Emmy categories he was nominated for: Outstanding Comedy, Leading Actor, Directing, Writing and Guest Actor (for his cameo on <em>Curb Your Enthusiasm S11<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO has already renewed <em>Barry<\/em> for a fourth and final season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>Barry<\/em> <em>S1-3<\/em> on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/1kqppt2q-barry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/1kqppt2q-barry<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Hacks Season 2 Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes TV\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XcvoAapLeMA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HACKS S2 <\/strong>| #4, <em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Caroline Framke<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Caroline Framke named <em>Hacks <\/em>S2 her fourth best TV series of 2022, hailing it as \u201ca season that I was surprised to like even better than the first.\u201d She wrote that the first season\u2019s strengths remained &#8211; like \u201cJean Smart and Hannah Einbinder\u2019s chemistry, the absurdity of Hollywood, the toxic dreamland that is Las Vegas\u201d &#8211; but S2 added new joys, like \u201cthe nuances of bringing a stand-up set on the road, the terrible adrenaline rush of risking failure, Carl Clemons-Hopkins\u2019 ability to unravel in equally terrible and hysterical ways&#8230;\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2022, Smart took home the Emmy for Outstanding Actress In A Comedy for the second year running for her performance as legendary Las Vegas comedian Deborah Vance. <em>Hacks <\/em>S2 also won Emmys for Outstanding Guest Actress (Laurie Metcalfe from <em>The Big Bang Theory<\/em> and<em> Lady Bird<\/em>) and Contemporary Costumes from its 17 nominations, which included Best Comedy.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO Max has already renewed <em>Hacks <\/em>for a third season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>Hacks S1-2 <\/em>on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/e3rwk3dl-hacks\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/e3rwk3dl-hacks<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Industry Season 2 Trailer\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uTHlEugozrY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>INDUSTRY S2 <\/strong>| #4, <em>Complex <\/em>staff consensus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Complex<\/em> named <em>Industry <\/em>S2 the fourth best TV series of 2022, praising \u201can all-killer, no-filler batch of episodes that expanded the world of the show in fascinatingly complex ways,\u201d as well as \u201cone of the most excitingly talented groups of young performers in recent memory\u201d and the way the 18LSDN HBO series is \u201ckinetically shot and brilliantly written.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Created by former bankers Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, <em>Industry <\/em>follows new bankers Harper (Myha\u2019la Herrold), Yasmin (Marisa Abela) and Robert (Harry Lawtey) as they forge their identities within the sex- and drug-fuelled pressure cooker environment of Pierpoint &amp; Co&#8217;s London office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Season 2, they can no longer hide behind their graduate status. The market is ripping and Pierpoint&#8217;s back-to-work-or-else mandate has the post-COVID trading floor more charged up and paranoid than ever. New US management will be gasoline on the flames &#8211; an injection of cross-Atlantic energy that lights a fire under each and every employee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO has already renewed<em> Industry<\/em> for a third season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge<em> Industry S1-2<\/em> on Showmax: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/kj9456uk-industry\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/kj9456uk-industry<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Peacemaker | Official Trailer | HBO Max\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WHXq62VCaCM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>PEACEMAKER S1 <\/strong>| #4, <em>Polygon <\/em>staff consensus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Polygon<\/em> named <em>Peacemaker<\/em> their fourth best series of 2022, praising the way James Gunn (<em>Guardians of the Galaxy<\/em>) showed the superhero \u201cin all his human glory: flawed, intense, wounded, caring, an impeccable dancer, bisexual, Vigilante\u2019s best friend\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>John Cena reprises his <em>The Suicide Squad<\/em> role as Peacemaker, fighting for peace at any cost \u2013 no matter how many people he has to kill to get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among other accolades, <em>Peacemaker<\/em> was nominated for an Emmy for its stunt coordination, while Cena was up for Best Comedic Performance at the 2022 MTV Movie + TV Awards for the role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO Max has already renewed<em> Peacemaker <\/em>for a second season. As <em>Polygon<\/em> says, \u201cHere\u2019s to many more eagle hugs.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>Peacemaker<\/em> S1 on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/cnrxd8fz-peacemaker\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/cnrxd8fz-peacemaker<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"House of the Dragon | Official Trailer | Max\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/DotnJ7tTA34?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>HOUSE OF THE DRAGON S1 <\/strong>| #5, <em>Polygon <\/em>staff consensus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Polygon <\/em>named <em>House of The Dragon<\/em> their fifth best TV series of 2022. As they say, \u201cThere\u2019s any number of metrics by which you can measure <em>House of the Dragon<\/em>\u2019s success: In the fantasy show showdown with <em>The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, <\/em>it reigned supreme as a more thoughtfully plotted prequel; it pulled in a record number of viewers for HBO; it got people excited about blonde people in <em>Game of Thrones<\/em> again, in 2022. These are not nothing! Fortunately these all matter less than the best part of the show: It\u2019s just plain good. At its most basic form, <em>House of the Dragon <\/em>is great TV, grounding every twist of the knife in nuanced, thoughtful characters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on parts of George R. R. Martin\u2019s novel <em>Fire &amp; Blood<\/em>, <em>House of The Dragon<\/em> traces the war for succession within House Targaryen at the height of its power, 172 years before the birth of Daenerys Targaryen.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Princess Rhaenyra Targaryen is portrayed at different ages by breakout stars Emma D&#8217;Arcy and Milly Alcock, while Teen Choice nominee Olivia Cooke (<em>Ready Player One<\/em>, <em>Sound of Metal<\/em>, <em>Slow Horses<\/em>) and Emily Carey (<em>Casualty, <\/em>12-year-old Diana in <em>Wonder Woman<\/em>) play Alicent Hightower. The ensemble cast also includes BAFTA winner Paddy Considine (<em>The Outsider<\/em>), Emmy nominee Matt Smith (<em>The Crown<\/em>, <em>Doctor Who<\/em>), BAFTA nominee Rhys Ifans (<em>Spider-Man: No Way Home<\/em>, <em>Notting Hill<\/em>), BAFTA Scotland winner Bill Paterson (<em>Fleabag<\/em>), and Graham McTavish (Dwalin in <em>The Hobbit<\/em> trilogy).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>House of The Dragon <\/em>has already been renewed for a second season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>House of the Dragon<\/em> on Showmax from 15 December 2022: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.nylas.com\/t1\/312\/ehwa0l7h0gout55w4jiye8g60\/16\/303924dd3d9f3bd0d70b71ca811ce8567efc17bef3c1effd1678ca44b3f6cb2c\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/hfapvja2-house-of-the-dragon<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Vow Part II | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ctXck_xCtV4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE VOW PART TWO<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| #6, <em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Variety<\/em>\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario picked <em>The Vow Part Two<\/em> as his sixth best series of 2022, saying, \u201cThis continuation of the documentary series about the NXIVM cult, one that branded and starved women, is a potent and elegantly constructed investigation of culpability, harm, and what it means to atone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Five years after Keith Raniere\u2019s arrest in Mexico, amid rumours of a secret sex sorority within his self-help company NXIVM, <em>The Vow Part Two<\/em> follows the legal and emotional journeys of the group\u2019s founders, supporters, and defectors as new evidence and stunning revelations come to light, while federal prosecutors and defense attorneys engage in a trial in the national spotlight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Directed by Emmy-winning and Oscar-nominated Jehane Noujaim (<em>The Square<\/em>), <em>The Vow Part Two <\/em>features chilling testimony from the trial, exclusive phone interviews with Keith Raniere from prison and extensive access to co-founder Nancy Salzman, who wrestles with her role in the rise of NXIVM, her relationship with Raniere and her involvement in growing an organisation accused of fostering predatory behaviour and criminal activity. South African Mark Vicente, an outspoken former member, again features prominently this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge<em> The Vow S1-2 <\/em>on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/hgqjn6vo-the-vow\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/hgqjn6vo-the-vow<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=l4t-XP1Xrh0\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE RIGHTEOUS GEMSTONES S2 <\/strong>| #7, <em>TVGuide<\/em>\u2019s staff consensus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>TVGuide<\/em> listed <em>The Righteous Gemstones <\/em>as its seventh best TV series of 2022, praising the way the show \u201ctreats humour like an art form\u2026 mimicking the sincerity of a prestige drama by zeroing in on small details that give the series its richness\u2026\u201d and \u201calways finds the beating heart amid the absurdity.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 2 finds the mega-famous televangelist Gemstone family threatened by outsiders from both the past and present who wish to destroy their empire.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Oscar nominee Eric Roberts (<em>The Expendables<\/em>, <em>The Dark Knight<\/em>) joins the cast this season, while multi-award-winner Danny McBride (who also created, wrote and executive produces the show), Emmy winner John Goodman, Teen Choice Award winner Adam Devine, Edi Patterson, Skyler Gisondo, and Emmy nominee Walton Goggins all return to what <em>Collider<\/em> hails as \u201cone of the greatest ensembles in comedic television.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO Max has already renewed <em>The Righteous Gemstones <\/em>for a third season. Brothers and sisters, can we get a Hallelujah?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>The Righteous Gemstones S1-2<\/em> on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/sqx57jcz-the-righteous-gemstones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/sqx57jcz-the-righteous-gemstones<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The White Lotus Season 2 | Official Trailer | HBO\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Baflc_0XVfY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THE WHITE LOTUS S2 <\/strong>|#8, <em>The Ringer<\/em>\u2019s Alison Herman and Miles Surrey<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>The Ringer<\/em>\u2019s Alison Herman and Miles Surrey listed Season 2 of<em> The White Lotus<\/em> as their eighth best series of 2022, praising \u201cstandout turns from Aubrey Plaza, F. Murray Abraham, Meghann Fahy, and more\u201d as well as the change of scenery to Sicily and theme to sex.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Season 1 was the most awarded show at the 2022 Emmys, winning 10 awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Directing and Writing &#8211; and Supporting Actress for Jennifer Coolidge as Tanya, who returns in Season 2 opposite Teen Choice nominee Jon Gries as her husband Greg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HBO has already renewed <em>The White Lotus<\/em> for a third installment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>The White Lotus S1-2<\/em> on Showmax from 12 December 2022: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/u2h3ff0r-the-white-lotus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/u2h3ff0r-the-white-lotus<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"This Is Going To Hurt | Trailer - BBC\" width=\"750\" height=\"422\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/v4h8xbc0cPg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>THIS IS GOING TO HURT S1<\/strong><strong> <\/strong>| #9, <em>Vulture<\/em>\u2019s<em> <\/em>Jen Chaney&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Vulture\u2019s<\/em> Jen Chaney named <em>This Is Going To Hurt<\/em> her ninth best TV series of 2022, saying, \u201cThere are roughly a million medical shows, but few are as unsparing, authentic, and urgent as this one.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Emmy winner Ben Whishaw (<em>Mary Poppins Returns, <\/em>Q in the last three <em>Bond <\/em>films, and the voice of <em>Paddington<\/em>) stars as real-life NHS doctor Adam Kay, whose bestselling memoir of the same name was based on his diaries, scribbled in secret after endless days, sleepless nights and missed weekends, telling the unvarnished truth of life as a doctor working in obstetrics and gynaecology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Time Magazine<\/em>\u2019s Judy Berman listed it as her fifth best TV series of 2022, praising its \u201cbiting humour\u201d and Whishaw\u2019s performance as \u201ca brash, prickly young gay man with one foot out of the closet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>This Is Going To Hurt<\/em> on Showmax: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/vjgu7411-this-is-going-to-hurt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/vjgu7411-this-is-going-to-hurt<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-embed-handler wp-block-embed-embed-handler wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\nhttps:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mX22D65TqAs\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>YELLOWJACKETS <\/strong>| #10, <em>AVClub <\/em>staff consensus<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>AVClub <\/em>picked <em>Yellowjackets<\/em> as their 10th best TV series of 2022, describing it as \u201ca lesbian cannibal suspense story\u201d and a \u201cgrisly blend of a teen show and survival drama.\u201d As<em> AVClub <\/em>says, \u201cNothing will get you more hooked than wondering who the goddamn Antler Queen is. Now that\u2019s how you build suspense.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Nominated for seven Emmys, <em>Yellowjackets <\/em>did even better at the 2022 Critics Choice Super Awards, where it was named Best Horror and Melanie Lynsky won Best Actress: Horror. Lynsky also took home Best Actress: Drama at the 2022 Critics Choice Awards for her performance as Shauna, a now-adult survivor of a plane crash that stranded her wildly talented high school girls\u2019 soccer team deep in the Canadian wilderness in 1996.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Showtime renewed<em> Yellowjackets<\/em> for a second season before the first had even concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Binge <em>Yellowjackets S1<\/em> here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/jwcvinlt-yellowjackets\">https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/jwcv<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/jwcvinlt-yellowjackets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">i<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.showmax.com\/eng\/tvseries\/jwcvinlt-yellowjackets\">nlt-yellowjackets<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>SPECIAL MENTIONS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>MetaCritic<\/em> is compiling all the main critic lists in one place here: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metacritic.com\/feature\/tv-critics-pick-10-best-tv-shows-of-2022\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.metacritic.com\/feature\/tv-critics-pick-10-best-tv-shows-of-2022?ref=hp<\/a>. Other critical darlings cracking Best of the Year lists there include <em>Sex and the City<\/em> spinoff<em> And Just Like That; <\/em>feminist porn comedy <em>Minx<\/em>; Elena Ferrante adaptation <em>My Brilliant Friend<\/em>; the lesbian period romance <em>Gentleman Jack<\/em> S2; British true crime series <em>Landscapers<\/em>; strip club drama <em>P-Valley S2<\/em>; and <em>The Offer,<\/em> a dramatisation of the making of<em> The Godfather.<\/em> Everything mentioned above is only streaming on Showmax in Africa.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>EVERYTHING ON SHOWMAX IN DECEMBER 2022<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To see everything on Showmax in December 2022, including rugby documentary <em>Rassie<\/em>, from the creators of the award-winning <em>Chasing The Sun<\/em>; Steven Soderbergh\u2019s techno-thriller<em> Kimi<\/em>, starring Zo\u00eb Kravitz; and the animated Julia Donaldson adaptation <em>Superworm<\/em>, helmed by South Africans Sarah Scrimgeour and Jac Hamman, click <a href=\"https:\/\/stories.showmax.com\/what-to-watch-on-showmax-in-december-2022\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Euphoria S2, The Rehearsal S1, Barry S3, House of the Dragon S1, Hacks S2 &amp; much more EUPHORIA S2 | #1, Variety\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario Variety\u2019s Daniel D\u2019Addario picked HBO\u2019s 18LSDVN teen series Euphoria as his best TV series of 2022, saying, \u201cEuphoria would be television\u2019s most overconfidently made series, if it didn\u2019t somehow, every time,&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/blog\/2022\/12\/09\/showmax-the-best-series-of-2022-as-picked-by-the-worlds-top-critics\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Showmax : The Best Series Of 2022, As Picked By The World&#8217;s Top Critics<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97],"tags":[110],"class_list":["post-17700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-online","tag-showmax","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17700"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17700\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.samdb.co.za\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}