John’s top 10 TV shows of 2022
2022 television: The landscape of TV is being flattened – fewer episodes, but more shows. That makes narrowing this list to a mere 10 quite a challenge.
Netflix
Craig’s Blanc joins a newly loaded cast for ‘Glass Onion’
Movie review: Rian Johnson continues with what worked on “Knives Out” in this twisty romp of a mystery that gets a little overblown by the end.
Flanagan goes YA for ‘Midnight Club,’ but never fear – it’s still good
TV review: The switch to young-adult source material doesn’t mean Mike Flanagan’s high bar has been lowered. This is another artistic mix of heart and horror.
‘Mr. Harrigan’s Phone’ not quite great, but worth picking up
Movie review: In this year of telephone-based psychological thrillers from Stephen King’s family, this Netflix film beats “The Black Phone.”
Griffith earns Silver medal for ‘Cobra Kai’ Season 5
TV review: Thomas Ian Griffith gives an outstanding villainous turn as Season 5 focuses on the adults, then re-centers on the kids for an epic final battle.
‘Devil in Ohio’: Horror miniseries as comfort food
TV review: Adapting her own book, Daria Polatin delivers a safe and tame devil-worshiper saga. But it’s boosted by the excellent Madeleine Arthur.
‘Camp Cretaceous’ Season 5 is Spielbergian, Crichtonian, great
TV review: The “Jurassic World” cartoon nicely wraps its exploration of makeshift family and animal rights … with a dino battle royale.
‘Adam Project’ adds Reynolds’ riffing to kiddie plot
Movie review: Ryan Reynolds’ charm is in place, but the time-travel plot is so basic one wonders if this was conceived as a kids’ film.
‘Don’t Look Up’ (2021) sets ’em up, knocks ’em down
Movie review: Adam McKay satirizes almost everything about modern culture in a film that’s watchable but not consistently hilarious.
‘Texas Chainsaw Massacre’ still has meat on its bones
Movie review: This third try at a direct sequel to the 1974 classic is a smart mix of old-school horror grit with the current zeitgeist.