2023: The Good, The Bad, The Surprising, & The Disappointing
It’s time to look back on the year that’s a century away from being OCD-approved. These are my personal picks for the best and worst Movies, TV Shows, Books, and Video Games I watched, read, and played in 2023. (Yes, I actually played some games this time!)
Just like previous years, this is NOT the best and worst of what was released in 2023, but of what I personally experienced in 2023. Many of these may have come out years prior, but I just now got around to them.
And now, drumroll…
MOVIES | TV SHOWS | BOOKS | VIDEO GAMES | EVENT
Movies
BEST
Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse
At last—a multiverse movie that fully embraces what a multiverse should be, instead of lazily swapping color palettes between worlds. Across the Spider-Verse might just be the most visually stunning film ever made. Into the Spider-Verse was already a visual marvel, but this sequel makes the original feel like it was playing it safe.
What truly sets this film apart isn’t just its art style, but the sheer artistic variety. The filmmakers let their imagination run wild, with each universe feeling uniquely alive and visually distinct from the last.
But this isn’t just a visual roller coaster—the story hits just as hard emotionally. Somehow, the movie balances jaw-dropping spectacle with genuine heart, and it does so perfectly.
Honorable Mentions
Extraction 2
Action fatigue is real, but the cure is deceptively simple: pacing, momentum, and variety. Extraction 2 nails all three, delivering set pieces that kept me fully engaged. The 20-minute oner, in particular, was so thrilling and well-executed that I genuinely didn’t want it to end.
Tetris
This was so much better than it had any right to be. Who would’ve thought the story behind the creation of Tetris could be this engaging, nuanced, fast-paced, and genuinely thrilling?
WORST
Saaho
RRR spoiled me last year. In comparison, Saaho feels like a chaotic mess. The editing is so disjointed it borders on incomprehensible, and the musical sequences appear out of nowhere with no connection or context to the main story.
Dishonorable Mention
Expend4bles
I have to give The Expendables credit for waiting until the fourth film before losing its identity.
MOST SURPRISING
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves
This movie did not deserve to flop. It's the pure fantasy adventure fun we've always wanted, combined with the comedic charm Marvel always aims for. And, low-key, some of the best choreographed fight scenes in years.
Honorable Mentions
They Cloned Tyrone
Shadow-dropped on Netflix on the same day that Barbie and Oppenheimer took over theaters and social media, They Cloned Tyrone is an outstanding, stylish blend of comedy, science fiction, blaxploitation, and thriller—all wrapped into one unforgettable experience.
The Eight Hundred
This might be one of the most insanely chaotic war films you’ll ever see—it’s China's Black Hawk Down.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
Rebel Moon: Part One - A Child of Fire
You know those fun, fast-paced montage scenes in heist movies where the lead goes around recruiting their team? Now imagine if that montage wasn’t fun, wasn’t fast, and wasn’t even a montage. That’s Rebel Moon. Nearly the entire runtime is spent gathering a crew, Mass Effect 2-style, only for them to stand around and do almost nothing.
The film barely justifies its sci-fi setting, and after all that buildup, it climaxes with a painfully underwhelming fistfight featuring only the main character.
What really sank Rebel Moon, though, was the year-plus of hype surrounding it. This was supposed to be Zack Snyder’s grand comeback after losing the DCEU—a bold, original epic. Instead, it just… wasn’t.
Dishonorable Mention
Fast X
Vin Diesel’s refusal to share the spotlight is killing this franchise. With an ever-expanding ensemble cast—and writers unwilling to let characters stay dead—the rest of the crew constantly gets sent on pointless side quests just to keep them busy. Meanwhile, the action is nosediving lower than Vin Diesel’s signature mumble-growl.
I’m all for ridiculous, over-the-top action, but the problem with the Fast franchise is that the action has become pointless. Take the fight between Letty and Cipher, for example. Sure, they have some bad history, but there's no reason for them to be fighting in that moment, and when it's over, nothing is solved or changed when it comes to the narrative. That scene perfectly sums up the series at this point: because action.
MOVIES | TV SHOWS | BOOKS | VIDEO GAMES | EVENT
TV Shows
BEST
The Last of Us (Season 1)
Yes, video game adaptations can be good—great, even. Who knew all it really takes is staying faithful to the source material? What truly sets The Last of Us apart, though, is how effortlessly it appeals to everyone. You don’t need to be a fan of the game, or even of zombies, to appreciate just how well-crafted this show is.
Honorable Mention
Mythic Quest
The best sitcom no one’s talking about. Mythic Quest is an absolute hidden gem—clever, sharp, and genuinely hilarious. That’s all I’m going to say. I'm only going to tease it because I want you to go watch it.
WORST
Secret Invasion
This show is further proof that Marvel and Disney are relying too heavily on 15 years of established lore while being too afraid to take the necessary risks with their MCU series. Echo was the perspective shift too afraid to innovate; The Falcon and the Winter Soldier was the fight against terrorism too afraid to be violent; and Secret Invasion is the political thriller too afraid to actually tackle politics.
More than anything, the whole thing just felt pointless. It didn’t push the MCU narrative forward in any meaningful way, and at this point, it’s clear fans are mostly watching the Disney+ shows out of obligation, not excitement.
And then there’s Maria Hill. After years of being underutilized, Marvel finally had a chance to give her the spotlight—but instead, they killed her off in the first episode.
Dishonorable Mention
Citadel
One of the most painfully generic and forgettable spy thrillers you’ll ever see—and it definitely wasn’t worth the $300 million spent on it. With that bloated budget, thanks to extensive reshoots, you can’t help but wonder what ended up on the cutting room floor.
MOST SURPRISING
Silo (Season 1)
A fresh take on the conspiracy thriller, a new spin on class warfare, and a reimagining of the post-apocalyptic underground—Silo breathes new life into genres you’ve probably grown numb to. It’s a slow burn that builds to a genuinely surprising cliffhanger.
One of the standout moments comes in Episode 3, "Machines", where the characters must repair the generator that powers the entire silo. It’s a masterclass in tension and suspense—easily one of the best episodes of the season.
Honorable Mention
Twisted Metal (Season 1)
The lighthearted tone is a surprising departure from the dark, violent, and vulgar humor of the games—but it actually works.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
The Mandalorian (Season 3)
Somehow, The Mandalorian has already run out of steam just three seasons in. The story has become completely aimless, the visual effects are subpar, and the action is horribly choreographed and instantly forgettable. The show has become increasingly unnecessary to watch—a chore, even—as every subplot drags on, desperately trying to justify its own existence within the larger Star Wars universe.
Dishonorable Mentions
One Piece (Season 1)
Yes, it was good—better than I expected—but as a huge fan of the anime, I can’t help feeling disappointed by the opportunities the show didn’t take. Key moments were missing, like Luffy’s signature yelling and his all-out attack mode, along with impactful visual choices, such as the powerful imagery of Bellemere’s execution and Shanks losing his arm.
But my biggest issue is with the casting of Iñaki Godoy as Luffy. His accent is far too off-putting, and his performance is way too stiff for such a larger-than-life character. I honestly think the show could have been significantly better with a different lead.
National Treasure: Edge of History
National Treasure: Edge of History falls short of capturing the charm and intrigue that made the original films so memorable. It leans heavily on contrivance, with a protagonist conveniently equipped with all the skills and connections needed to propel the plot. Layered over this is Disney’s unmistakable, heavy-handed infusion of its modern messaging that feels more like branding than storytelling.
MOVIES | TV SHOWS | BOOKS | VIDEO GAMES | EVENT
Books
BEST
Light Bringer (Red Rising, Book 6) by Pierce Brown
From awe-inspiring space warfare to bone-chilling showdowns—and Darrow delivering speeches that make your blood roar—Light Bringer doesn’t just raise the stakes, it redefines them. It's easily one of the standout entries in the entire saga.
Honorable Mention
Fourth Wing (Empyrean, Book 1) by Rebecca Yarros
Yes, it was massively overrated. Yes, it was tedious at times. And yes, it dives head first into the pool of YA fantasy tropes. But even though it's just giving you more of what you already like while offering nothing new, it somehow manages to still be good. SEE FULL REVIEW.
WORST
Mars One by Jonathan Maberry
If you’re hoping for a YA spin on The Martian, you’re in the wrong orbit. The entire first half has the characters merely preparing to board the ship to leave Earth—but not in an interesting, tech-heavy, or training-focused way. Instead, it’s a drawn-out farewell tour filled with teenage angst and melodrama that drags on far too long. The twist is stupidly predictable, and—ironically—for a book titled Mars One, we never actually do anything on Mars. It ends the moment they arrive.
Dishonorable Mention
From Princess To Pornstar by Tasha Reign
Turns out Tasha Reign's life isn't as interesting as one might expect. The book leans heavily on her having grown up in Laguna Beach and Orange County, California to make her experiences seem more glamorous than they really are. Worst of all, it epitomizes the annoyance of privileged people whining about their privilege. SEE FULL REVIEW.
MOST SURPRISING
The Never-Ending End of the World by Ann Christy
When I saw the protagonist was 17, I braced myself for another dose of YA dystopian déjà vu—the kind that’s suffocated a once-imaginative genre. But then… it wasn’t. SEE FULL REVIEW.
Honorable Mention
Velocity by Chris Wooding
An interesting blend of Mad Max and Battle Angel Alita.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
Iron Flame (Empyrean, Book 2) by Rebecca Yarros
Bloated by nearly 200 unnecessary pages, this sequel is a prime case of second book syndrome at its worst. It tries to do so much and fails at every turn. The biggest question is: how can a book have so much happening and yet go absolutely nowhere? SEE FULL REVIEW.
Dishonorable Mention
When Women Stood by Alexandra Allred
Beyond its misleading title, the book is simply disrespectful in its complete lack of recognition for one of its own: Fabiola “Fabby” da Silva. SEE FULL REVIEW.
MOVIES | TV SHOWS | BOOKS | VIDEO GAMES | EVENT
Video Games
BEST
Spider-Man 2
Once again, Spider-Man swings in as the undisputed king of superhero gaming. But with expectations sky-high, the real question wasn’t if this game would be good—it was how much better it could be than what came before. The answer? Yes.
Everything’s been scaled up: the open world is larger and more alive, traversal is more fluid and varied, enemy encounters are more diverse, and the combat is richer than ever. Set-piece moments hit harder, MJ sequences are finally worth looking forward to, and switching between Peter and Miles brings a dynamic rhythm to both gameplay and story—with each character given the space to shine in their own emotionally layered arcs.
If you’re looking for a sequel that doesn’t just rest on webbed laurels, this one delivers.
Honorable Mentions
Starfield
It’s essentially Fallout in space—a critique often thrown its way, but also exactly what many fans were hoping for, whether they admit it or not. Familiar mechanics, expansive exploration, and that signature Bethesda flavor—it may not reinvent the galaxy, but it delivers the comfort of cosmic chaos in a well-worn (space) suit.
Spider-Man: Miles Morales
Though more compact than its predecessor, this spin-off packs a serious punch. It’s a must-play for any Spidey fan, delivering a story that’s not only tightly woven but emotionally powerful—proving that smaller scale doesn’t mean smaller impact.
WORST
The Day Before
The Day Before was a disaster of epic proportions that failed in every way possible—a textbook case in how not to launch a game. The full scope of the missteps is too vast to unpack here, so I’ll point you to my earlier deep dive: The Day Before: From Epic Hype to Unprecedented Disaster.
Dishonorable Mention
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum
The Lord of the Rings: Gollum was a bad idea from the moment it became an idea. The only expectation this game had was to be a failure, but nobody anticipated just how epic that failure would be. No one was clamoring for a game centered around the franchise’s least heroic, most grating character, and what we got felt like a relic from the early 2000s: clunky animations, muddy visuals, sluggish pacing, uninspired writing, and gameplay so lifeless it bordered on punishment. It was less a tribute to Tolkien and more an affront.
As if the design sins weren’t enough, the game shipped with so many game-breaking bugs critics had to delay their reviews because they couldn't play the game without it crashing. Even after being patched, it remained barely playable.
Adding insult to injury, the game was so bad that developer Daedalic Entertainment issued an apology online, and shortly after, closed its development division. But Daedalic didn't actually write the apology; they revealed that publisher Nacon released it without consulting them—and that it was auto-generated using ChatGPT.
MOST SURPRISING
Power Wash Simulator
It’s just extremely satisfying.
MOST DISAPPOINTING
Redfall
The game not even the developers wanted to make. Believe it or not, many developers at Arkane were quietly hoping the game would be scrapped after Microsoft’s acquisition. Why? Because Arkane’s identity has long been tied to acclaimed single-player experiences—not multiplayer shooters. The lack of enthusiasm for Redfall’s direction sparked a mass exodus: by the end of development, around 70% of the original team had left. As a result…
Problem #1: The studio was perpetually understaffed, with less than 100 employees working on a genre they barely had experience in..
Problem #2: Redfall wasn't bad because it was undercooked—it was bad and undercooked. It was yet another game released in a woefully unfinished state. Whether it's the textures, the collision-detection, the atrocious enemy AI, or being locked at 30fps on consoles (including Xbox Series X), no aspect of this game is without fault. But even if all of its technical issues were fixed, you're still left with tedious gameplay, unimaginative world design, bland characters, an unrewarding loot system, and a game that just isn't fun.
Dishonorable Mention
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3
What was once a defining force in the FPS genre now feels like a shadow of its former self. Modern Warfare 3 stands as a stark reminder of just how far the franchise has drifted. It's the worst-rated game in the series' history, it’s hard not to see it as a symptom of a creative well run dry.
MOVIES | TV SHOWS | BOOKS | VIDEO GAMES | EVENT
Event of the Year
Damar Hamlin goes into cardiac arrest on Monday Night Football
I was going to give my normal explanation, but nothing I can say would do justice to how unprecedented and frightening the situation was as much as this video from Nonstop.
Honorable Mention
OceanGate’s Titan submersible implodes
Not the implosion itself, but the aftermath: the absurd rescue efforts and media coverage, especially when compared to other maritime disasters. The investigations exposed numerous cut corners and ignored safety concerns that led to the incident—and ultimately cast a spotlight on an industry that, for the most part, remains unregulated.
