20 Best Shows Of 2023 On Itunes

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Updated August 30, 2024 • Staff

If you're not one to subscribe to streaming services and would rather pay a one-time fee for something you really like, then you probably want to know what's available to rent right now. Along with Amazon and Vudu, your best bet at finding the newest shows is on iTunes. Though they helpfully line up their bestsellers and categorize titles, we're here to let you know which among the 2023 releases are truly worth tuning into.

Below you will find our recommendations for the best shows of 2023 on iTunes. These recommendations are all highly rated by viewers and acclaimed by critics. They were also watched and vouched for by one of our writers.

My Adventures with Superman

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Bright, breezy, and refreshingly unburdened by the seriousness of so many live-action Superman shows and movies, this new animated series wipes the slate clean and boils down the titular hero to his most endearing qualities. Here, Clark Kent is still learning to be more in touch with his identity and emotions—most evident in his enigmatic flashbacks to his childhood, and in his absolute nervousness around the energetic and spontaneous Lois Lane. So while the action and the intrigue in My Adventures with Superman are still somewhat ordinary for an animated series, the undeniable, bashful chemistry between its two leads is what keeps these adventures worth going on. It's a romcom and a coming-of-age story wrapped in a classic superhero adventure, where selflessness and courage are firmly at the heart of everything.

Our staff rating: 7.6/10

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Family, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Alice Lee, Ishmel Sahid, Jack Quaid

Rating: TV-PG

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19.

Undead Unluck

Undead Unluck is such a strange anime with such a strange duo. Named after their respective powers, the undead Andy seems familiar with his Deadpool-like regeneration, albeit with such a fast rate that he can shoot out body parts with such gruesome animation. However it’s the unlucky Fuuko that brings them to the most absurd comedic scenarios, including, but not limited to, surviving a giant truck crash, a lightning strike, and a whole meteor. In order to achieve their goal of dying, they have to build up a bond to maximize her unluck. As they learn more about Fuuko’s abilities, as well as the organization hunting them down, it’s likely that they’ll go through wackier situations that will escalate as the show progresses. It’s definitely something uniquely watchable, if you can handle the off-putting gore that’s part and parcel of Andy’s powers.

Our staff rating: 7.6/10

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Aoi Yuki, Kenji Nomura, Koji Yusa, Mariya Ise, Moe Kahara, Natsuki Hanae, Nobuhiko Okamoto, Rie Kugimiya, Rikiya Koyama, Yuichi Nakamura

Rating: TV-MA

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18.

Harley Quinn

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Crass, violent, and deeply unserious, this adult animated series gets around its rough edges by acknowledging its title character’s reputation. Often seen only in the context of her twisted romance with a much more recognizable villain, Harley Quinn tends to be viewed as merely victim or vixen. But this show has her break free and claim her own story, taking shots not just at her emotionally abusive ex, the Joker, but at the entire DC Comics brand and at any other moving target it can find. The result is a series that has the tendency to feel scattershot, but whose anarchic energy still leads to the catharsis of untethering oneself from an unhealthy addiction and learning to be rebuild.

And though the show’s writing and animation can get too stiff or stilted (especially in later seasons), much of it still works thanks to its bonkers sense of humor, as well as an excellent voice cast. Kaley Cuoco is exactly as brash and expressive as Harley needs to be, and supporting turns from an extensive range of actors (including Lake Bell, whose Poison Ivy eventually becomes Harley’s most important relationship) ensure that every corner of this world has something hilarious to offer.

Our staff rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Crime, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Kaley Cuoco, Lake Bell

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17.

Star Trek: Lower Decks

If you have the patience to get through its rocky first season, Star Trek: Lower Decks proves itself to be an adult animated series that's deeply committed to getting significantly better with every season. What started as a sort of budget Rick and Morty riff with grating humor and stiff animation has turned into an effortlessly witty sci-fi show with plenty of life in the way it moves. It's still mostly concerned with having silly little adventures at the end of the day, but what's striking is how complete its adventures and sci-fi ideas are in the span of its 20- to 30-minute episodes.

And as it's found its footing, Lower Decks has also gained the confidence to begin telling more overarching stories by its fourth season, with an even stronger focus on character. These kinds of animated comedies could easily avoid any profound development for its protagonists—and this show doesn't exactly have the most deeply-written crew members in Trek history—but there's real heart in how the lower decks crew reflect on the modesty of their stations and how they view themselves within a larger institution. If it doesn't seem too groundbreaking, that's part of the appeal too; smaller stories still deserve to be told.

Our staff rating: 7.7/10

Genre: Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Dawnn Lewis, Eugene Cordero, Fred Tatasciore, Gillian Vigman, Jack Quaid, Jerry O'Connell, Noël Wells, Tawny Newsome

Rating: TV-14

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16.

Secrets of the Elephants

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After delving into the secrets of giants under the sea, James Cameron and National Geographic now explores the giants above ground in Secrets of the Elephants. Natalie Portman narrates the intricate social behavior of four elephant families from around the world, as each family adapts to their specific environments, as well as living beside, and sometimes, together with, the human world. Of course, the show offers picturesque views and fun facts about these gentle giants, but it recalls the same sociological approach that defined Secrets of the Whales as they treat the elephants’ behaviors as its own human-like culture.

Our staff rating: 7.8/10

Genre: Documentary

Actor: Natalie Portman, Paula Kahumbu

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15.

Dr. Death

It’s horrifying to think that there’s a sociopathic surgeon out there who, whether intentionally or not, is screwing up spinal operations so that innocent patients are either maimed or killed. But it is a reality that Dr. Death brings to the fore with great skill and sensitivity. The pacing is brisk, making it bingeable and frankly hard to put down once you start watching it. It also rightfully divides screentime between understanding the criminal’s motives, the system that allows it, and the people who are determined to put an end to this insanity. But the real highlight is how well-casted the series is. In season 1, Joshua Jackson is unnerving as Dr. Duntsch, while Alec Baldwin and Christian Slater’s buddy cop rapport makes the show more gripping than it already is. Season 2 guns for romance with Édgar Ramírez and Mandy Moore as conflicted lovers, and Lifetime-level cheesiness aside, it actually works to deliver something equally compelling as the first season. With Dr. Death, Peacock has built a worthwhile if terrifying anthology.

Our staff rating: 7.8/10

Genre: Crime, Drama

Actor: Ashley Madekwe, Edgar Ramírez, Gustaf Hammarsten, Luke Kirby, Mandy Moore

Rating: TV-MA

Go to Itunes

14.

Mrs. Davis

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It's difficult to describe Mrs. Davis without sounding a little bit insane. It is, after all, a sci-fi series that takes on the spiritual and the technological with an irreverent tone. It's hilarious and action-packed, meta and ambitious, and it's all led by a devoted nun taking down an all-knowing AI.

Believe me when I say there’s nothing quite like it at the moment, and it gets major props for being truly out of this world. But Mrs. Davis doesn't get by on novelty alone. It's a balanced piece of work, impressively stable despite the weight of all it's trying to be, and it soars as both a satire, a thriller, and a genre show. It also keeps you guessing with each new scene, so if you like to be kept on your toes at all times, then this funny, fantastical, and wholly absurd show will surely be an enjoyable watch.

Our staff rating: 7.9/10

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Andy McQueen, Betty Gilpin, Jake McDorman

Go to Itunes

13.

The Apothecary Diaries

Part court drama, part medical procedural, and part detective mystery, The Apothecary Diaries is the sort of anime that easily handles multiple genres and does it so well. With the insatiably curious Maomao investigating certain court ailments as a poison tester, it naturally creates a new mystery of the week, all deduced from her apothecary beginnings and her life in the red light district. It’s also integrated well into the main plot, as Maomao’s whole promotion starts from her sense of justice, with each mystery carefully revealing the court dynamics, various motivations each player has, and how the overall world of this Imperial China-inspired court operates. The Apothecary Diaries ties it all together with excellent writing.

Our staff rating: 7.9/10

Genre: Animation, Drama, Mystery

Actor: Aoi Yuki, Atsumi Tanezaki, Katsuyuki Konishi, Takeo Otsuka

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12.

Oshi No Ko

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Mesmerizing as its idol, Oshi No Ko is a spellbinding adaptation of the original manga hit. Centered around an idol’s secret twin children, this binge-worthy anime brilliantly takes the reincarnation trope to tackle the Japanese entertainment industry. The premise alone is brilliant, but stunning animation and catchy tracks elevate the source material. The show isn’t afraid to go in-depth– as the twins progress through their careers, certain scenes effectively explain quirks in the industry that regular viewers wouldn’t know. However, the show remains mindful of its young characters, ensuring a careful discussion without going too far. Oshi No Ko uncovers what makes stars so captivating, without sacrificing the glitz and glamor in its explanation.

Our staff rating: 8/10

Genre: Animation, Drama

Actor: Kent Ito, Manaka Iwami, Megumi Han, Rie Takahashi, Rumi Okubo, Takeo Otsuka, Yumi Uchiyama, Yurie Igoma

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11.

Fellow Travelers

In just eight episodes, this densely packed miniseries manages to be a beautifully told queer romance, a riveting political thriller, and an important snapshot of 20th-century America. It’s nothing short of an epic. Matt Bomer and Jonathan Bailey effortlessly carry the series on their backs. Their chemistry is undeniable, but they shine just as well in their political scenes. McCarthyism and the Lavander Scare in the ‘50s, the rampant protests in the ‘60s, the carefree parties of the ‘70s, and finally the AIDs crisis in the ‘80s, where present-day Hawk and Tim live in—all are consistently compelling thanks to the actor’s powerful, decades-spanning performances and showrunner Daniel Minahan’s stable direction. The end may be (unsurprisingly) tragic, but it’s nonetheless moving because of the strong storytelling that preceded it.

Our staff rating: 8/10

Genre: Drama

Actor: Allison Williams, Jelani Alladin, Jonathan Bailey, Linus Roache, Matt Bomer, Noah J. Ricketts

Rating: TV-MA

Go to Itunes

My Adventures with Superman

Undead Unluck

Harley Quinn

Star Trek: Lower Decks

Secrets of the Elephants

Dr. Death

Mrs. Davis

The Apothecary Diaries

Oshi No Ko

Fellow Travelers

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