2022: The Good, The Bad, The Surprising, & The Disappointing
Time to look back on the year when the deuces teamed up on the zero, and for a moment, it felt like the world might be returning to normal. Below are my personal picks for the best and worst Movies, TV Shows, and Books I experienced in 2022.
Once again, the Video Games category is mostly absent—because, once again, I didn’t play many. That said, I did play God of War: Ragnarök, and it was incredible. So let’s just call that my Best Game of the Year by default.
Just like last time, this list isn’t about what came out in 2022, but what I watched or read during the year. Some of these were released long before, but I finally got around to them now.
And with that... drumroll, please—
MOVIES | TV SHOWS | BOOKS | EVENT
Movies
BEST
Top Gun: Maverick
This was the blockbuster the world needed. Top Gun: Maverick pulled off the rarest of cinematic feats: not only living up to the legacy of the original, but arguably surpassing it in every way. The film needed two miracles to work—and somehow, it delivered a third by helping to breathe life back into the movie theater industry post-pandemic.
Unlike so many sequels that coast on nostalgia, Maverick refuses to be a typical legacy sequel. Instead, it earns its place with stunning aerial combat sequences, a more mature and defined story, and almost perfect cinematography. It might just be one of the greatest sequels ever made. Regardless how you feel about him personally, Tom Cruise might just be the last true movie star.
Honorable Mentions
RRR
RRR had no business living up to the hype—and yet, it somehow exceeded it. Long before it hit U.S. screens, the buzz was deafening. People weren’t just recommending it—they were preaching it.
“Just. Go. See it.” | “It might be the best action movie ever made.” | “It’s literally perfect.”
With expectations that high, disappointment felt inevitable. But RRR sidesteps that by cranking everything to 11—tragedy, comedy, heroism, danger, sacrifice, spectacle, song, and dance. It’s a full-throttle, no-holds-barred cinematic thrill ride that never takes its foot off the gas.
The Northman
Easily the apex of the Viking craze that's currently all the rage in pop culture. The Northman stands tall as a brutal, mesmerizing spectacle. It’s been said before, but it bears repeating—this is a stone-cold epic in every sense of the word
WORST
The 355
The 355 is a clear reminder that an action movie can’t rely solely on being female-led to stand out. There’s nothing inherently wrong with centering women in the genre, but representation alone isn’t enough if the film itself is just a watered-down remix of better movies.
At its core, this is a generic action flick dressed in a fresh marketing angle. The characters are indistinguishable from one another—cookie-cutter "badasses" with no real depth or individuality. And the action sequences? We've seen it all before, and done far better—especially in the Bourne series. For a movie that had the potential to break new ground, The 355 settles for mediocrity.
Dishonorable Mentions
The Man from Toronto & Me Time
In 2022, Kevin Hart stuck to his familiar formula: the high-strung, fast-talking, insecure everyman thrown into chaos he's completely unprepared for. Predictably, that chaos leads to personal loss—usually his family—which he then tries to win back by diving deeper into the mess he helped create. At this point, it feels like the only character he knows how to play.
Me Time falls flat on every front, never managing to be genuinely funny or engaging. And The Man from Toronto might’ve been forgettable overall, but it earns a special kind of infamy for featuring one of the worst oners I’ve ever seen.
MOST SURPRISING
Everything Everywhere All at Once
This movie is bonkers!
The Sci-Fi Kung-Fu Action-Comedy Existential Family Drama that reimagines every one of those genres.
Honorable Mentions
Prey
The best Predator film since the original, Prey strips the franchise back to what made the creature iconic in the first place: he's not a character, he's a monster—and that's exactly how it should be.
A great movie monster doesn’t need depth or nuance. They’re not there to be understood—they’re there to test the limits of the human characters, forcing them to evolve, survive, and rise. In Prey, the Predator is just that: a relentless, terrifying force of nature. Brutal. Savage. Unstoppable.
And it’s awesome.
Cosmoball
This isn’t a surprise hit, a hidden gem, or even what most would call a good movie. It’s a foreign B-movie through and through—cheesy, over-the-top, and rough around the edges.
But despite all that, Cosmoball ended up being way more entertaining than I expected. It’s not on this list for its quality—it’s here because it was a fun, unexpected ride.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
Carter
An action movie that gambled everything on being a single, continuous take—and paid the price. The filmmakers were so obsessed with the oner concept that style completely overshadowed substance.
The edits, where scenes are awkwardly cut and stitched together, stand out painfully. Meanwhile, the repetitive “walking-into-place” camera moves become distracting, especially during the overly chaotic action sequences. In trying to be innovative, Carter ends up feeling more frustrating than thrilling.
Dishonorable Mentions
Shadow in the Cloud
This one almost took the top spot. The reason it didn’t is because for 90% of its runtime, it’s genuinely fantastic. A tight, minimalistic paranormal action-thriller with a sharp script, strong direction, and a gripping sense of claustrophobic tension. It doesn’t make a point of highlighting that its protagonist is a woman—it’s simply an action movie that stars one. And honestly, that’s the most effective kind of representation: it feels organic and integrated into the story rather than being emphasized as a statement. (But hey, what do I know—I’m a guy.)
Then the final 10% happens. Out of nowhere, the film swerves hard into full-blown feminist power fantasy territory. Not just thematically, but tonally, it feels like a completely different movie. After such a tightly crafted and compelling ride, I couldn’t help but ask: “What does this have to do with anything I just watched?”
It’s a frustrating ending to an otherwise standout film.
Thor: Love & Thunder
Taika Waititi’s signature eccentricity is on full display here—maybe too much so. His offbeat humor, which some find charming, often feels grating and overbearing in this installment. With what seems like complete creative freedom, he leans so heavily into self-aware absurdity that the film barely resembles the Thor we once knew.
At this point, the MCU is starting to feel like a parody of itself, and Love & Thunder is its most exaggerated example yet. The movie treats even its most serious moments with a wink and a punchline, undercutting any emotional weight or narrative stakes. It borders on being disrespectful to its own mythology—never quite grounded, and never fully sincere.
The Gray Man
While The Gray Man isn’t a bad movie, it definitely should’ve been better. With its massive budget, A-list cast, and big-name directors, it had all the ingredients for a standout action thriller. Instead, it landed with a shrug. It’s the kind of movie people remember with, “Oh yeah... that happened.” Flashy and loud, but surprisingly forgettable.
Chris Evans brings energy and flair as a delightfully unhinged villain, but he’s stuck opposite Ryan Gosling’s stoic, emotionless lead—so restrained he borders on lifeless. With a more compelling protagonist, this could’ve been something special. As it stands, The Gray Man feels like a missed opportunity.
TV Shows
BEST
The Expanse
I watched the first season back when it premiered on Syfy, but it didn’t quite hook me—so I dropped it. Fast forward several years, after it had been canceled, revived, gained a loyal following, and finally concluded, I decided to give it another shot and watch the entire series.
And I’m glad I did.
The Expanse absolutely gets better as it goes, evolving into the sweeping space opera I’ve always wanted. What started as a slow burn grew into one of the most ambitious and satisfying sci-fi epics ever put to screen.
Honorable Mention
Food Wars
If any show can spark a passion for cooking—even in the most kitchen-averse viewer—it’s Food Wars. This anime takes “food porn” to a whole new level, with characters reacting to dishes so explosively delicious that their clothes practically fly off in sensory ecstasy.
Beyond the over-the-top reactions lies a surprisingly compelling and high-stakes culinary competition. Like the best sports anime, Food Wars proves that no matter how niche the subject, anime can turn any competitive arena into must-watch entertainment.
WORST
Resident Evil
Under a different name, this might have found some traction as a quirky, teen-centric zombie dramedy aimed at Gen Z audiences. But as a Resident Evil adaptation, it completely misses the mark.
Like so many recent IPs, it feels less like a faithful continuation and more like a vehicle for modern writers to impose their own vision—one that bears little resemblance to the source material. Sluggish pacing and baffling narrative choices only make things worse. At this point, it’s clear: the live-action Resident Evil franchise doesn’t need another sequel—it needs a full reboot.
Dishonorable Mention
Ms. Marvel
I'm very aware that I’m not the target audience for this show—but it's the MCU, so of course I watched it. The writing is bad, the story is weak, the jokes aren't funny, it's overly predictable, and lacks direction. But most importantly, it's BORING!
MOST SURPRISING
NFL: Week 15
Okay, sure—I’m stretching the definition of a “TV show.” But come on, the NFL is essentially a weekly, seasonal epic, and Week 15 was one for the ages.
First, December 17: Colts @ Vikings. The Colts led 33–0 at halftime. Final score? 39–36, Vikings. The biggest comeback in NFL history. Absolutely unreal. See highlights.
Then, December 18: Patriots @ Raiders. An ending so bizarre, so jaw-droppingly chaotic, it made the World Cup final feel like a footnote. You have to see it to believe it. See highlight.
Honorable Mentions
Inside Job
Yes, it’s essentially Netflix’s answer to Rick and Morty—but among the many imitators, Inside Job stands out as one of the best. Sharp, irreverent, and surprisingly clever, it carves out its own identity while still scratching that same chaotic sci-fi comedy itch.
Halo
It’s far from perfect, and it’s definitely no Halo: Landfall, but the series turned out to be more intriguing than expected—despite only featuring one truly memorable scene of classic Halo-style action.
The decision to remove Master Chief’s helmet was a big risk, one I feared would undercut the character’s iconic mystique. But Pablo Schreiber turned out to be a great casting pick. And Cortana was surprisingly well-integrated, adding a welcome touch of authenticity to the adaptation.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
House of the Dragon
When it comes to legacy sequels, House of the Dragon is a textbook example—created first and foremost to keep the Game of Thrones cash machine running. While it boasts impressive production value and familiar lore, there’s a complete lack of direction, and the writer’s inability to tell a coherent story. It’s very easy to question what this show is even about.
Dishonorable Mentions
The Terminal List
For this, I'm just going to take a line from WhatCulture's review, simply because they hit the nail on the head, and I honestly can't think of a better way to put it.
"At once complicated and uninteresting, action-packed and unengaging, The Terminal List is monotonous, visually flat and too long, overstaying its welcome within the first hour and failing to serve up even the slightest hint of excitement or originality." - WhatCulture.
How I Met Your Father
The biggest issue with How I Met Your Father is its reluctance to stand on its own. It leans heavily on nostalgia for How I Met Your Mother, but fails to capture the original’s awareness and charm. Instead of carving out a unique voice, it re-treads almost all the same territory—just with far less interesting characters. Rather than building something new, it mostly serves as a reminder of just how special the original series was.
Books
BEST
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This book is a MASTERPIECE! The only book to ever make me fight back tears and is a strong contender for what might be my favorite love story of all-time. A perfect love letter to the LGBTQ+ community. See full review.
Honorable Mention
Leviathan Wakes (The Expanse, Book 1) by James S. A. Corey
After watching—and absolutely loving—the show, I finally decided to dive into the books. And I’m loving them just as much, for all the same reasons. Honestly, I’m just wondering why it took me so long to start this series.
WORST
Need to Know by Karen Cleveland
(Selected by default.)
I didn’t read anything this year that was outright terrible, but out of everything I picked up, this was probably the least enjoyable.
MOST SURPRISING
Columbus Day (Expeditionary Force, Book 1) by Craig Alanson
R. C. Bray just had to be the best narrator in the business. Nay, the best performer in the business. Every book he reads is elevated by his very presence. That unusual blend of raspy and nasally is somehow one of the most beautiful, easy to listen to voices ever. The audiobook is the ONLY acceptable way to experience this series. See full review.
Honorable Mention
Our War by Craig DiLouie
Once you realize with it's actually about, it's highly enjoyable. It's not the story of a revolution, but rather the story of a child soldier. The tale of a young girl's personal journey trying to survive a modern civil war. See full review.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
Forever Red (Black Widow, Book 1) by Margaret Stohl
Somewhere along the way, the MCU softened the edges of Black Widow’s origin—her past as a cold, calculated assassin largely faded into the background. Forever Red follows that same formula, leaning into the MCU version of the character rather than embracing the darker, grittier roots that made her so compelling. Instead of exploring the depth of her backstory, the book serves mostly as a reminder of the truly badass origin story we’ll likely never see.
Dishonorable Mention
Spaceside (Planetside, Book 2) by Michael Mammay
I’m not quite sure why this series is still labeled as military science fiction. Most of the book follows Butler in a corporate security role at a tech company, with little to no actual military presence. If anything, it’s a corporate espionage thriller dressed in sci-fi gear—compelling, but not what the genre label promises.
Event of the Year
Russia invades Ukraine
From the widespread devastation and human suffering to the far-reaching effects on global supply chains and international relations, the war in Ukraine stands as one of the most defining conflicts of the 21st century. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership in the face of overwhelming odds has drawn global admiration—and rightly so. His efforts to rally his people and defend his country have earned him every accolade he’s received. In 2022, he received:
Order of the White Lion, First Class from the Czech Republic
Commander of Grand Cross of the Order of Viesturs from Latvia
Order of Vytautas the Great with the Golden Chain from Lithuania
Jan Karski Eagle Award from Poland
State Award of Alexander Dubček from Slovakia
Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Award from the United Kingdom
Ronald Reagan Freedom Award from the United States
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award from the United States
Philadelphia Liberty Medal from the United States
Ripple of Hope Award from the United States
Honorable Mention
US Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade
Arguably one of the most consequential and controversial court decisions of this millennium. Beyond the deeply personal and moral debates surrounding a woman’s right to choose, the reality is that abortions will not disappear—they will simply become less safe. It’s a ruling that risks a resurgence of back-alley abortions, and a crime rate that's going to skyrocket 15 to 20 years from now.
