2022 has seen excellent content worldwide, from amazing new miniseries to the premieres of great original shows which will hopefully continue for years. But nothing has been better this year than watching the turn of some of our favorite series, especially when they unleashed possibly their best seasons yet. With some of these series coming to a close, showrunners have pulled out all the stops. These were the best returning series of 2022.

16 Gentleman Jack

Suranne Jones in Gentleman Jack
HBO / BBC One

The historical drama Gentleman Jack centers around Anne Lister (Suranne Jones), an industrialist and landowner, as she engages in romantic relations with women in England during the 1830s. The series takes a look at the LGBTQIA+ community during a time when they had to hide their true selves. Although HBO has canceled Gentleman Jack after two seasons, there are rumors the show could return for another season elsewhere. Gentleman Jack is available on HBO Max.

15 The Handmaid’s Tale

Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
Hulu

Season five of Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale premiered on September 14, 2022, and continued to shock audiences with its realistic dystopian storyline. Season five was intense and was a clear setup for season six, which will be its last. Elisabeth Moss and Yvonne Strahovski were both incredible as they led the season and helped make the series still worth watching after five years. The Handmaid’s Tale is now streaming on Hulu.

14 Dead to Me

dead to me season 3 funeral
Netflix

On November 17, 2022, Netflix released the final season of Dead to Me. The dark comedy faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Christina Applegate’s multiple sclerosis diagnosis, but it was great to welcome this quirky comedy back. Applegate has received praise for her performance as realtor Jen Harding and for working through her recent diagnosis. All seasons of Dead to Me are now available on Netflix.

13 The Umbrella Academy

The Hargreeves family in The Umbrella Academy
Netflix

The Umbrella Academy returned for its third season on June 22, 2022, and brought back Aiden Gallagher, Elliot Page, and Robert Sheehan. Season three was one of the best seasons yet and found the siblings in an alternate timeline. This season also introduces audiences to Page’s trans character Viktor. Writers transitioned Vanya to Viktor so that Page would not have to dress in drag or feel uncomfortable about his character’s journey. This season is just as quirky as the last two and is an enjoyable watch. Fans will be excited to know that The Umbrella Academy has been renewed for its fourth and final season.

12 The Crown

Princess Di The Crown
Netflix

Season five of The Crown premiered on November 9, 2022, and one would imagine it made Prince William and Harry quite uncomfortable. This season, Harry Potter alum Imelda Staunton stared as Queen Elizabeth II, and the show focuses on the periods from 1991 to 1997. This season also shows Staunton delivering the Queen’s famous “annus horribilis” speech. The Crown is now streaming on Netflix.

11 Russian Doll

Natasha Lyonne in Russian Doll
Netflix

The first season of Russian Doll followed Nadia Vulvokov (Natasha Lyonne), stuck in a time loop reliving the night of her death as she tries to figure out why. Season two saw the return of Nadia and brought back the same kooky supporting characters and a similar formula but this season, instead of dying, Nadia is transported back in time, giving her a chance to right her mother’s wrongs and explore the art of letting go. Lyonne delivers another genius performance this season as does the rest of the cast. Russian Doll is available on Netflix.

10 See

Jason Momoa in See season 3
Apple TV

See returned for its final season on August 26, 2022. Season three found Jason Momoa waging war for the final time as the fierce warrior Baba Voss. This season was action-packed with brutal fight scenes, new weapons, and Momoa doing what he does best. All three seasons of See are now streaming on Apple TV+.

Related: See Is Over: Did Season 3 End it Well?

9 Bridgerton

Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran in Bridgerton
Netflix

Shondaland’s historical romance Bridgerton became one of Netflix’s most-watched series in both its freshman and sophomore seasons. Based on the Julia Quinn novels, the second season follows the head of the Bridgerton family Anthony (Jonathan Bailey) as he tries to find a bride during the social season. This season also features newcomers Simone Ashley and Charithra Chandran who are both beautiful to watch and add tremendously to the series. With Bridgerton being renewed for seasons three and four, fans are excited to see what the series will bring for the rest of the Bridgerton clan. Bridgerton is streaming on Netflix.

8 Euphoria

Zendaya in Euphoria
Warner Bros. 

One of HBO’s most-watched shows, Euphoria, came back this year with its sophomore season. The show follows Rue Bennett (Zendaya) as she struggles with her addiction and figures out high school. Zendaya is surrounded by an incredible cast, including Sydney Sweeney and Colman Domingo, as they deal with serious issues in a teenage setting. Euphoria has been nominated for multiple Emmy Awards and continues to receive praise for its cinematography and storyline. Although Barbie Ferreira says she won’t be returning for season three, other cast members have high hopes for the future of the series. Euphoria is now streaming on HBO Max.

7 Peaky Blinders

Cillian Murphy in Peaky Blinders
Endemol Shine Group
Netflix

Peaky Blinders premiered its final season in February to fans' excitement. This season saw the Shelbys dealing with political and family drama while grieving the loss of their matriarch Polly, played by the late Helen McCrory who passed in 2021.

Related: Some of the Best Cinematography in Television of the 2010s, Ranked

Although this season felt the loss of Polly, it was everything fans expected from Peaky Blinders. As always, this season did not disappoint with its cinematography, and it gave us a good lead-up to the Peaky Blinders movie which has not yet released a premiere date. Peaky Blinders is now streaming on Netflix.

6 The Boys

The Boys
Amazon Studios

Eric Kripke’s The Boys brought their most graphic season yet this year with season three. This season brings back our favorite characters as they continue their quest to stop the superhero empire, Vought International. The Boys did not disappoint this season as they continued with the perfect mix of action and comedy. Fans should not have to wait long for season four as they have now started production. The Boys is available on Amazon Prime.

5 Only Murders in the Building

Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin in Only Murders in the Building
Disney Platform Distribution

Steve Martin and Martin Short reunite for the crime thriller comedy Only Murders in the Building. Selena Gomez, who also stars in the series, is a great addition to the SNL alums and mixes in wonderfully with the comedy duo. Season two follows the same formula as the first with the hilarious trio trying to solve a murder in the Arconia. With the way season two ended it will be interesting what plays out in season three. Only Murders in the Building is available on Hulu.

4 Raised by Wolves

Amanda Collin in Raised By Wolves
Warner Bros. Discovery
Interactive Entertainment

Raised by Wolves is a science fiction drama about two androids tasked with raising human children on a new planet to save humanity. With Ridley Scott as an executive producer, the show takes you on a wild ride as the characters battle the nature of humanity, with the series exploring the nature of religion and mythology along the way. Although HBO canceled Raised by Wolves after its second season, fan petitions and one of the show’s stars, Abubakar Salim, might bring it back. All episodes of Raised by Wolves is now streaming on HBO Max.

3 Reservation Dogs

Cast in Reservation Dogs
Disney Platform Distribution

Reservation Dogs is the first series to feature all Indigenous writers and directors as well as having an almost entirely Indigenous cast and production team. This season brings back the Rez Dogs as they continue to grieve the loss of their best friend and figure out how to cope with their feelings as they begin to reach adulthood. The critically acclaimed half-hour dramedy series, created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, has received multiple awards and nominations including the Peabody Awards and the Golden Globes. Reservation Dogs is available on Hulu.

2 The Last Kingdom

Alexander Dreymon in The Last Kingdom
Netflix

Uthred (Alexander Dreymon) and The Last Kingdom returned for its fifth and final season. This season was filled with awesome battle scenes, stunning landscapes, and the wrap-up to some of our favorite storylines. This great season also saw brand-new storylines start in preparation for the highly anticipated feature-length film, Seven Kings Must Die. The Last Kingdom is streaming on Netflix.

1 Stranger Things

The Cast of Stranger Things
Netflix

Netflix’s flagship science fiction series, Stranger Things, has only gotten better over the years as season four has proven. The Duffer Brothers arguably had their best season yet with their use of music to drive their story, their audience stand-in Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), and the perfect timing of their big bad, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). With their fifth season renewed, fans have multiple theories for what the final season will bring. Strangers Things is streaming on Netflix.