Since it is January 1st, we now have to start to accept that 2023 is in our collective rearview mirror. So, like I did last year, I now want to look at which articles, reviews, lists, or the like were the most popular with my readers. Specifically, below you’ll see my blog’s ten most-read 2023 written output. Let’s have a look at what caught your eye in the last twelve months.
#1 – REVIEW: The Last of Us – “Long Long Time”
At no. 1, we find the first of three The Last of Us episode reviews to be found in this top ten. It says a lot about the popularity of the HBO adaptation that even on my blog, you can tell how widely seen it was. It makes me so happy that my reviews of the live-action adaptation of my favorite video game ever made are some of the most popular things I’ve written in the past year. In addition to that, my tweet about this very episode also went viral last year. So, I’m so grateful for the response to my coverage of the HBO adaptation, and, please, consider checking back for the second season.
From my review of The Last of Us: Long Long Time:
“It is one of the most beautiful post-apocalyptic stories ever told. Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlett give phenomenal, unforgettable, career-best performances. The episode is a reminder that when things go to hell, you can still keep living and loving.”
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#2 – The Nun II (2023) | REVIEW
From my review of The Nun II:
“Michael Chaves’ The Nun II is a bloated mixed bag. It is spookier than the first film and includes some well-set-up scares, but it is also unevenly paced and tends to cut away from the horrific payoffs too quickly. Sections of the film feel seriously drawn-out, and it takes way too long for the main character to get to where she is inevitably going. It certainly isn’t one of the best films in the Conjuring cinematic universe, but there is no denying that it definitely clears the low bar set by the original spin-off, and, for some, that will be more than enough to justify checking it out.”
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#3 – REVIEW: The Last of Us – “Look for the Light”
From my review of The Last of Us: Look for the Light:
“A video game has never been adapted this well. A true masterwork of a season and a really strong season finale that hits hard and true on all the proper themes to which the show is deeply connected. “
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#4 – Take Care of Maya (2023 – Documentary) | REVIEW
From my review of Take Care of Maya:
“The filmmakers manage to communicate the nightmare in a way that gets right under your skin. One of these ways is by showing you text messages between medical professionals discussing their patient, Maya, and the family’s matriarch in ways that shocked and infuriated me, but also by letting us hear how coldly a certain judge denied the family what they needed. It’s such a tough and draining watch, but it is also such an important story to tell. “
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#5 – REVIEW: The Last of Us – “When We Are In Need”
From my review of The Last of Us: When We Are In Need:
“You might’ve gotten tired of me mentioning it above, but this episode was very much like the first game. The episode, which was directed by Holy Spider director Ali Abbasi (Holy Spider is a true crime film about a female reporter investigating a serial killer who sees himself as a holy warrior), is undoubtedly the episode of the series thus far that is the most faithful to the source material. “
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#6 – Bastarden (2023) | REVIEW
From my review of Bastarden:
“It represents a sharp and entertaining return to form for Arcel after his less-than-ideal time in Hollywood, but it is also somewhat of an achievement in Danish cinema, as this film about climbing the social ladder (and being faced with your own humanity along the way) is a skilfully-made Danish spin on the Western genre. Though, as a Western, it feels more distinctly Danish than the more traditional Danish western The Salvation, from director Kristian Levring, which took place in America but was shot in South Africa (and which also starred in Mads Mikkelsen). Time will tell if it can break through the tough competition at the Oscars like A Royal Affair (or En Kongelig Affære) once did, but, in my opinion, Bastarden is at least as good as Arcel’s 2012 effort, if not better. “
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#7 – ‘Hijack,’ ‘The Crowded Room,’ ‘Ted Lasso,’ ‘Silo,’ ‘Jury Duty,’ and ‘Black Mirror’ (2023) | Bite-Sized Reviews
From the bite-sized review:
“In this edition of Additional Bite-Sized Reviews, I take a look at six series or seasons that I recently finished, four of which are Apple TV+ releases. The outliers are Netflix’s latest season of Black Mirror and the Amazon surprise hit of the year titled Jury Duty, but the remaining four series do a good job of showcasing how Apple’s series library is growing rapidly.”
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#8 – Ahsoka: Season One (2023) | REVIEW
From my review of Ahsoka: Season One:
“Dave Filoni’s love for his animated series creations is infectious here. This will be enough for some, but I suspect that the fact that it is steeped in animated lore makes it something that some people would rather not become invested in. At some point, though, Lucasfilm — and Marvel, for that matter — needs to consider how to lower the barrier for entry. Eventually, audiences just won’t want to engage with entertainment that requires a ton of homework.”
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#9 – ‘Servant,’ ‘Your Honor,’ ‘Love and Death,’ and ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’ (2023) | Bite-Sized Reviews
“This year, some of my favorite recent shows — like Succession and Barry — have come to an end. Both of their final seasons were tremendous, and they are both arguably the best seasons of their series. Since those shows have ended, I thought it would be fitting to fill you in on my thoughts on four other series that ended this year. Two of these are limited series, and the remaining two are ongoing series. Are any of them worth your time? Well, let’s have a look.”
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
#10 – Nattevagten – Dæmoner Går I Arv (2023) | REVIEW
From my review of Nattevagten: Dæmoner Går I Arv:
“Occasionally there are indications that this film could’ve been more of a cultural dialogue between generations and had a little bit more to say, but it stops just short of fully carrying out that idea. Rather, Bornedal has followed a relatively fool-proof legacy sequel formula in order to deliver a modern update on the original film by way of a nostalgic sequel about generational trauma, but also the new generation’s attempt to confront the past and extinguish its harmful flame.”
Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
And that’s that. I should clarify — in case it wasn’t already clear — that the above ten are specifically the most-read articles and/or reviews that I wrote in 2023. In actuality, the most-read piece of written output in 2023 was actually my review of BoJack Horseman: Season Six. For whatever reason, that is a review that people keep on returning to, even though I wrote it back in 2021 (about a season that was released in 2019 and 2020).
I am so grateful for every view, every click, and every comment that I get. And it means so much to me that you have chosen my articles for 2023. I desperately hope that the written word stays around, and those of you who have decided to check out my writing help to make me believe that some people still appreciate the written word, as well as what I bring to the table. So, thank you so much, and please stick around next year. Because I’m not going anywhere.
– Article Written by Jeffrey Rex Bertelsen.
I'm Jeffrey Rex 