My 2023 Year-End Lists

Movies, series, books, music, and everything entertainment.

My new living room setup.

This year’s most momentous event has been having a baby. Accompanying that event has been and should be a decline in media consumption! It’s ok though, I plan on making up for it in future years! Of what I was able to consume, typically super early in the morning or later at night once the kiddo is asleep, here is what’s noteworthy for me.

Also, if you’re reading this, most likely you’re one of my close friends who are interested enough — can’t wait to discuss & debate with you! But if you’ve stumbled across this page and we share a movie mojo, feel free to check out my previous years' reviews: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022.

Top 10 Movies

Looking at this year’s list… it seems lackluster. Maybe in part, this is the long-term repercussion of the pandemic (I.e. lack of movies) and my having a baby. Either way, seems like I had a perchance for straight-up action flicks this year, maybe as a form of absolute escapism. Don’t judge.

1. Creed 3
2. John Wick: Chapter 4
3. Extraction 2 (Netflix)
4. Glass Onion: A Knives Out (Netflix)
5. Black Phone
6. Free Spirit (Netflix)
7. Leave the World Behind
8. The Covenant
9. Dungeons and Dragons
10. The Killer (Netflix)

Top 10 Series

When it comes to a series, it’s obvious to me which ones rise to the top because it causes me to binge-watch, which is a rare thing. If in movies my theme is straight-up action flicks, then in series, I’m leaning into my Asian roots with several shows highlighting the culture. What can I say, I guess I’m learning more about myself thru shows… just the way I like it.

1. Blue Eyes Samarai (Netflix)
2. Silo (Apple+)
3. Star Trek Strange New Worlds (Paramount+ S2)
4. Alice in Borderland (Netflix, S2)
5. Foundations (Apple+ S2)
6. Last of Us (HBO)
7. Physique: 100 (Netflix)
8. Giri Huri (Netflix)
9. Star Trek Picard (Paramount+ S3)
10. BEEF (Netflix)

Top 8 Books

I don’t have enough for a top 10, so here are the 8 that I can support. When it comes to books, my defining quality to make it on this list is if made a lasting impact on me, not necessarily if it was a page-turner. Rarely, a book will have both qualities and that’s why I’m a huge fan of Harari’s stuff. All others made a fundamental difference in my personal life approach, hence they’re mainly non-fiction.

1. 21 Lessons for the 21st Century by Yuval Noah Harari
2. A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
3. Cribsheet by Emily Oster and Babywise by Robert Buckman and Gary Ezzo
4. How to Be Perfect: the Correct Answer to Every Moral Question by Michael Schur
5. The Good Life: Lessons from the World’s Longest Scientific Study of Happiness by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz
6. Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Peter Attia
7. Breaking the Age Code by Becca Levy
8. The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

Music

Just a couple of songs I highly enjoyed this year.

Used to Be Young by Miley Cyrus resonated with my mid-life status.

Creep by Yuna gave a nice, slow, cover throwback to TLC’s original Creep.

Lie to Me by No Guidnce incorporated some of the melodies from PM Dawn and added some sweet lyrics, loving the vibe.