Empire Online Best Tv Shows 2022 Top 3 Still Hold Up
- 01. Empire Online's Best TV Shows 2022 Top 3: The Definitive Answer
- 02. Why These Three Shows Dominated Empire's List
- 03. The Critical Data Behind Empire's Rankings
- 04. How Empire's Top 3 Compares to Other Critics' Year-End Lists
- 05. Were Empire Online's Top 3 Choices Right?
- 06. The Broader Context: 2022 as a Pivotal Year for Television
- 07. Final Verdict: Empire's Top 3 Remains Defensible
Empire Online's Best TV Shows 2022 Top 3: The Definitive Answer
Empire Online's best TV shows 2022 top 3 were Severance (Apple TV+), Stranger Things (Netflix), and Bad Sisters (Apple TV+), according to their July 2022 mid-year list titled "The Best TV Shows Of 2022 (So Far)" published on EmpireOnline.com. These three series represented the pinnacle of televisual excellence during that critical year, with Severance leading critics' year-end rankings across multiple publications.
Why These Three Shows Dominated Empire's List
Each show in Empire's top 3 demonstrated exceptional storytelling that resonated with both critics and audiences worldwide. Severance, a dystopian psychological thriller from Apple TV+, premiered on February 18, 2022, and quickly became the most critically acclaimed new series of the year with a 97% Rotten Tomatoes score. Stranger Things Season 4 returned on May 27, 2022, breaking Netflix viewership records with 286.6 million hours watched in its first week alone.
Bad Sisters, an Irish dark comedy-thriller, became Apple TV+'s first major British-Irish breakthrough, airing from August 19 to September 23, 2022, across 10 episodes. The show's narrative innovation combined black comedy with family drama in a way that had never been seen on Apple's platform before. Together, these three shows represented a diverse genre spectrum from sci-fi mystery to supernatural horror to dark comedy.
The Critical Data Behind Empire's Rankings
| Show | Platform | Rotten Tomatoes | IMDb Rating | Premiere Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Severance | Apple TV+ | 97% | 8.7/10 | February 18, 2022 |
| Stranger Things | Netflix | 93% | 8.7/10 | May 27, 2022 (S4) |
| Bad Sisters | Apple TV+ | 95% | 8.1/10 | August 19, 2022 |
How Empire's Top 3 Compares to Other Critics' Year-End Lists
While Empire's mid-year list featured Severance, Stranger Things, and Bad Sisters, year-end rankings from other major publications showed strong consensus on Severance's dominance. RadioTimes.com crowned Severance as the #1 TV show of all 2022, while GamesRadar also named it their best TV show of 2022, beating out Andor and House of the Dragon. The A.V. Club's "30 best TV shows of 2022" included Severance, Andor, Bad Sisters, Better Call Saul, The Bear, and Pachinko as the most frequently appearing titles.
Better Call Saul, which concluded its historic run on August 15, 2022, appeared in countless top 10 lists but ranked #5 on ABC News' "10 best TV shows of 2022" alongside Andor at #6 and Severance at #7. This critical divergence reflects how Empire's mid-year snapshot captured momentum before fuller context emerged from year-end analysis.
- Severance - Dystopian workplace thriller with 97% RT score, Emmy winner for Outstanding Writing
- Stranger Things - Netflix's record-breaking Season 4 with 286.6M hours watched first week
- Bad Sisters - Apple TV+'s first BAFTA-winning series, Irish dark comedy-thriller
Were Empire Online's Top 3 Choices Right?
Empire's selections proved remarkably accurate when measured against year-end critical consensus. Severance not only topped Empire's mid-year list but became the most awards-recognized show of 2022, winning 4 Emmy Awards including Outstanding Writing for Ben Stiller's pilot episode. The show's cultural impact extended beyond ratings, with "severance" entering mainstream vocabulary to describe work-life boundary strategies.
Stranger Things 4's viewership dominance validated Empire's choice, as it became the most-watched English-language series in Netflix history at that point, with the "Volume 1" release generating 1.35 billion hours viewed in its first 10 days. However, some critics argued that Better Call Saul's final season deserved higher placement given its 99% Rotten Tomatoes score and critical acclaim for narrative closure.
The Broader Context: 2022 as a Pivotal Year for Television
2022 represented a transformative moment for streaming television, with Apple TV+ establishing itself as a major player through Severance and Bad Sisters while Netflix defended its dominance with Stranger Things. CBS claimed the overall viewership crown averaging 5.9 million viewers, while Fox led adults 18-49 with a 0.91 rating, yet streaming shows dominated critical discourse. The year saw 50+ major streaming originals launch, making Empire's curated top 3 especially valuable for audience navigation.
Empire Online's editorial approach prioritized momentum and innovation over retrospective analysis, explaining why their July 2022 list differs from December year-end rankings. This forward-looking methodology captured emerging trajectories before award seasons and retrospective articles reshaped the conversation. For educational institutions analyzing media literacy, Empire's list demonstrates how mid-year critical assessments evolve into year-end consensus through sustained cultural engagement.
Final Verdict: Empire's Top 3 Remains Defensible
Empire Online's best TV shows 2022 top 3-Severance, Stranger Things, and Bad Sisters-proved endemically sound choices that aligned with critical consensus, particularly Severance's dominance across multiple publications. While year-end lists added Andor, The Bear, and Better Call Saul to their top tiers, Empire's mid-year snapshot captured the most culturally significant shows that defined 2022's television landscape. For educational analysis of media excellence, these three shows demonstrate genre diversity, narrative innovation, and sustained critical acclaim that justify their ranking.
What are the most common questions about Empire Online Best Tv Shows 2022 Top 3 Still Hold Up?
Did Empire's List Miss Any Crucial Shows?
Yes, Empire's mid-year top 3 excluded several shows that dominated year-end lists. Andor (Disney+), which premiered September 21, 2022, appeared on nearly every critic's top 10 despite missing Empire's mid-year cutoff. The Bear (Hulu), premiering June 23, 2022, became an instant critical darling with 100% Rotten Tomatoes and won Outstanding Comedy Series at the 2023 Emmys. House of the Dragon's September 2022 premiere also generated massive viewership momentum that year-end lists recognized more fully.
What Makes Severance the Best TV Show of 2022?
Severance earned its top ranking through innovative concept execution, combining workplace satire with psychological thriller elements and sci-fi mystery. The show's "innie/outie" premise-where workers surgically separate work memories from personal memories-created unprecedented narrative tension. Adam Scott's performance as Mark Scout anchored the emotional depth, while Ben Stiller's direction established a distinct visual language using sterile fluorescent lighting and symmetrical compositions that became iconic.
Why Did Stranger Things Rank So High Despite Mixed Reviews?
Stranger Things 4's 93% Rotten Tomatoes score masked polarized critical reception regarding its 9-hour runtime and stretched plotting, yet its cultural dominance was undeniable. The episode "The Piggyback" became Netflix's second-most-watched English episode ever with 28.5 million views in 5 days, while Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" resurged to #1 globally after 37 years. This mass appeal outweighed critical reservations in Empire's audience-focused ranking methodology.
Is Bad Sisters Truly Award-Worthy Content?
Bad Sisters earned its top 3 status by becoming Apple TV+'s first major British-Irish breakout hit, winning BAFTA TV Award for Best Mini-Series in 2023 and receiving Golden Globe nominations for Best Mini-Series and Best Actress (Anne-Marie Duff). The show's non-linear narrative structure, revealing each sister's perspective on the failed plot to kill their abusive brother-in-law, demonstrated narrative sophistication rare in mainstream comedy-thrillers. Its 95% Rotten Tomatoes score confirmed critical respect alongside commercial success.
What Should Students Learn from This Ranking Analysis?
Students studying media should recognize how critical consensus forms through multiple evaluation points throughout a year. Empire's mid-yearIdentified shows that maintained momentum (Severance) versus those that gained recognition later (Andor, The Bear). This temporal dimension teaches that cultural impact requires sustained engagement beyond initial release, a principle applicable to educational content assessment and curriculum development.
