5 Best British PBS Shows of 2022

The phrase "Peak TV" was first coined in 2014 during a Television Critics Association panel with FX head John Landgraff. He used the term to refer to the growing slate of high-end TV shows. However, since then, the proliferation of streaming services and the gaping maw of content have driven it to mean the simply overwhelming amount of series arriving daily. PBS had its own "Peak TV" year in 2022, after the pandemic-induced light schedule of 2021 with 14 British shows from Masterpiece, Walter's Choice, and PBS. But life is short, and Peak TV is vast, so let's highlight the best of the bunch.

The sheer volume means that some shows that would have in other years made this list had to take a backseat for one reason or another. In another year, for instance, we could have overlooked Grantchester's abrupt marriage ending, for example, or highlighted COBRA for the sheer bonkers madness of furniture chewing it provides. We're also sorry that neither Miss Scarlet Season 2 nor Sanditon's return made the cut. The former felt too much like one half of a season that continued into Season 3 (ineligible despite arriving early on PBS Passport). As for the latter, let's hope Charlotte's suitors improve in the final round, shall we?

Here are the top five shows of 2022 that did make our list.