As 2022 ends, “best of” lists start

Films, shows and music ranked for the year

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Anisa Kahin

As the 2022 year ends, entertainment rankings for the year’s best music, films and TV series come out. Here are some of my favorite films, shows, albums and singles from 2022. 

My top two films of 2022 are “Black Panther: Wakanda Forever” and “Don’t Worry Darling.” While both these movies were some of the most anticipated ones of this year, they did not fail to steal hearts. 

“Black Panther: Wakanda Forever is a story about grief and the damage it can do to a person. It is also about acceptance and new beginnings. In the film, we’re introduced to Namor (Tenoch Huerta) who is the god of the Atlantic kingdom known as Talokan, he is also the first mutant introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. As the movie ends, the post-credit scene sends many home with questions. 

Next, ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ had us all gripping our seats in suspense about what would happen to the main character, Alice (Florence Pugh). As the movie starts, we are shown a happy couple, Jack (Harry Styles) and Alice, who live in this beautiful and perfect town. As things start to spiral, Alice starts to notice that everything isn’t as it seems. She realizes that she isn’t living her life but is living a simulation. As she starts to question things and take action, she starts breaking down barriers of her memory that were blocking her from seeing the real picture. This movie kept me on my toes throughout the entire time and kept me coming up with theories.

Runners-up are “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery” and “The Batman.”

My top two shows of 2022 are “Stranger Things” and “Euphoria.” Both of these shows came out with new seasons earlier this year and they did not disappoint.

“Stranger Things” started with a ton of new characters and murders. While in Hawkins, many people were looking for the cause of the issue, while the crew from season two had a sense of what was going on. There is a continuous arc with the upside down and its connection to the main character, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown). I have been in love with this show since its first season aired. Now that it is coming to an end, season four shocked us all. What took me by surprise was the fact that the Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) suit wasn’t CGI but actually had the actor in it. 

While “Stranger Things” is about an underground world colliding with the current world, “Euphoria” is about the darkness and struggle in teenagers’ lives. In “Euphoria,” season two starts with the new year. Many relationships have ended in season one and new ones start to form. We also see the main character, Rue (Zendaya), come to an end with her drug abuse and start to form a healthier life for herself and those around her. 

My runner-up for favorite 2022 TV series is “Moon-Knight.”

My top albums of 2022 are “Laurel Hell” by Mitski and “Gemini Rights” by Steve Lacy. “Laurel Hell” was released earlier in the year but quickly became one of my most listened to albums throughout 2022. Being Mitski’s sixth studio album, she continued exceeding expectations. The album starts with the song “Valentine, Texas” which is parallel to “Texas Reznikoff” from her album “Bury Me at Makeout Creek.” It then ends with the song “That’s Our Lamp,” which is about Mitski reflecting on a relationship and coming to the realization that her partner doesn’t love her like they used to.

Meanwhile, “Gemini Rights” starts with the song “Static” that’s about a reflection on someone not seeing their true worth and wasting their life away. It then ends with the song “Give You the World” that’s about the love Lacy has for a person. What sparked “Gemini Rights” even higher up in the charts was when one of its songs, “Bad Habits” grew popular quickly on TikTok. Both of these albums are beautifully written and are sung with true emotion, which kept people drawn to them for months.

My top singles of 2022 are “Out of Time” by The Weeknd and “Xtasy” by Ravyn Lenae. “Out of Time” is about The Weeknd taking time off for himself to get better for those he loves but when he’s ready to be with his person again, he is out of time. The thing that makes “Out of Time” so addictive is the chorus. But with “Xtasy,” the flowy beat mixed with Lenae’s intoxicating voice is what keeps listeners drawn into the song. Both of these songs being upbeat and having passionate voices singing the lyrics are what make them my top singles. 

Runners-up are “Selfish Soul” by Sudan Archives and “PRICE OF FAME” by Brent Faiyaz.