Team YP’s picks for the best music, movies and TV shows of 2023: from the beauty of ‘Past Lives’ to why we loved ‘The Bear’

Best song: Honestly, I’m really bad at listening to new music – most of my playlist consists of songs I have loved since I was 16. But I really liked “Boy’s a Liar Pt.2” by PinkPanthress feat. Ice Spice. It’s a poppy, upbeat throwback to the early 2000s.

Best movie: I would probably have to go with Killers of the Flower Moon. It was so engrossing that you didn’t even realise how long it was, and I was amazed by how much emotion Lily Gladstone was able to convey just using facial expressions. It was beautifully shot, and it really did the book justice.

Best TV show: There was a lot of great TV this year. Of course, I teared up watching The Last of Us. Poker Face, from the writer and director of Knives Out and its sequel, Glass Onion, was a refreshing throwback to ‘episode of the week’ TV detective shows. Star Natasha Lyonne really shined as a woman with the uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying who always ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Best book: I read a lot of non-fiction, and my favourite release this year was The Angel Makers: Arsenic, a Midwife, and Modern History’s Most Astonishing Murder Ring by Patti McCracken. This wonderfully researched novel tells the story of a midwife in a small village in Hungary in the 1920s who leads a group responsible for the deaths of at least 160 men. An anonymous note brought the case to light in 1929, and media from around the world flew to Hungary to cover the case.

Best pop culture moment: John Oliver, host of the comedy/news show Last Week Tonight, putting up billboards around the world to encourage people to vote for the puteketeke as New Zealand’s Bird of the Century. It was just really weird.

Best song: Alina Baraz consistently releases top-notch R&B and soul songs, and her latest single, Don’t Buy Me Roses, lives up to her smooth, relaxing discography. Packed with emotion, Baraz’s lyrics always match the mood of her songs. She often describes the nuances and intricacies of love and loss. This most recent song is no exception and includes breathtaking lyrics like I cared for you more than you’ll ever know / Needed your rain, you wouldn’t let me grow / I – I let you go.

Best movie: When I walked into the cinema at IFC last month to watch The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes, the movie adaptation of the prequel to The Hunger Games, I admit my expectations were very low. But by the end of the film, I was left wanting more! The movie expertly laid out the history of the Hunger Games, showing its origins and development while giving depth to the character of Coriolanus Snow, who will eventually become the tyrannical dictator in the main series. Also, the musical numbers in the movie were untouchable.

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Best TV show: Although only a few episodes have been released so far, I already know that Percy Jackson and the Olympians is set to be my favourite TV show in a long time. As a child, I devoured the book series, only to be sourly let down by the 2010 movie adaptation, which was, quite frankly, an embarrassment. I had high hopes when I heard that the author, Rick Riordan, would be working closely with Disney+ to portray the book accurately. With realistic animation and expert casting, on top of closely following the book’s plot, the show is exactly what I had hoped for.

Best book: R.F. Kuang continues to shake up the publishing industry, this time with Yellowface, a literary fiction novel about the publishing industry. Having read each of Kuang’s books, I can vouch for her storytelling abilities and prose. Yellowface is unlike any of her other works – it is a satire following a main character whom you will absolutely despise. Honestly, all the characters in this book were quite annoying, but in the best way. The message behind the book details the inherent racism within the publishing industry and how this affects authors of colour.

Best pop culture moment: I am really enjoying the celebrity memoirs being released as of late. They give a unique and authentic perspective into the lives of our favourite icons. Brittany Spears, Prince Harry, John Stamos and Jada Pinkett Smith were among the celebrities to release a memoir this year. Some of my favourites in past years include The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting by Evanna Lynch, I’m Glad my Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy and Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing by Matthew Perry.

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Best song: “Spinning Globe” by Kenshi Yonezu. It was the theme song for Hayao Miyazaki’s latest film, The Boy and the Heron. The lyrics tell a person’s life story, starting from the day they were born, and explain the choices and dreams they encounter growing up, encouraging people to reflect on the kind of life they want to live.

Best movie: Time Still Turns the Pages is a heavy movie that explores the topic of student suicide and the impact it has on those left behind. The film delves into themes such as academic pressure, family trauma, and parental expectations, which could resonate with many Hongkongers who grew up in a high-pressure education system. The unexpected twist in the movie deeply moved me, and I found myself shedding tears in the cinema.

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Best TV show: Daily Dose of Sunshine. I watched this K-drama on a random afternoon without reading the description because it made it to the top 10 TV shows. It did a great job telling the personal stories of patients with mental health issues, not only focusing on the downsides but also on how they find their way out with help from family and professionals.

Best book: Bloodline Murderer. I received this Chinese book from a Hong Kong author as a Christmas gift. It’s not your ordinary detective novel; it features many Hong Kong elements, such as the indigenous inhabitants of the New Territories and the social atmosphere after the 2019 unrest, with unexpected plot twists.

Best pop culture moment: Blackpink’s Born Pink world tour in Hong Kong. I became a Blink after watching the concert with my friend (this was also my first concert in three years after Covid!) and their performance was amazing, especially Lisa! The thing that surprised me the most was that there were many young Blinks – primary school students watching the show with their parents. Some even printed out song lyrics so they could sing along, which was cute.

Best song: Olivia Rodrigo’s second album Guts did not disappoint. Apart from her usual heartbreaking ballads, in this new album, we are treated to more fun, sarcastic tracks such as “All-American B*tch”, a satire of the idealistic expectations imposed on American women.

Best movie: Past Lives. Recommended by my colleague, I watched this film on a plane and it blew my mind for how beautiful it is. It follows two childhood friends, Nora and Hae-song, who grew apart after Nora immigrated to the US. It isn’t a story about a heated romance, but a lingering love that leaves us wondering about the intricate connections with those we encounter in life. The aesthetics of the film also reminded me of Hong Kong director Wong Kar-wai, known for his atmospheric craft and camera work.

Best TV show: Yes, chef! Season Two of The Bear is the only TV show I rewatched. It has some of the best character arcs I’ve seen (the episode “Forks” is the best). While it’s a nerve-racking show about the grind of running a restaurant (my brain melted like Syd seeing those order tickets coming in), it is easy to get emotionally invested in the characters even though they appear unlikeable most of the time.

Best book: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Listening to my parents recount their life story is one of my most cherished memories. This fiction novel situates you on a family cherry farm in northern Michigan, where Lara tells her three daughters the story of her romance with an actor with whom she used to share a stage. The audiobook is narrated by Meryl Streep, which definitely adds depth to the story. Another absolute favourite is Piranesi by Susanna Clarke – I wish I could read it for the first time again.

Best pop culture moment: It has to be Barbenheimer.

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Best song: I am the sort of person who will listen to the same song over and over again, so to be honest, my playlist is fairly limited. One song I could not stop listening to in 2023 was Kylie Minogue’s Padam Padam. For an artist who has been relevant for more than 30 years, Kylie’s latest reminds us that she IS pop music.

Best movie: Directed by Ben Affleck, Air is the story of the origins of Air Jordans, the immensely popular Nike shoes. It moved me to see how much thought was put into the shoe’s design and how Micheal Jordan inspired them.

Best TV show: Trial by Fire is an Indian show on Netflix based on the true story of two parents who lost their children in a fire at a cinema in New Delhi in 1997. There was zero accountability from the culprits of this man-made tragedy and a hushed agreement between the cinema owners and management. The parents go through a long battle as they fight for justice in a system where nothing can change overnight.

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Best book: Pulitzer winner Matthew Desmond’s Poverty, by America talks about how the US spends big on social programmes that give the most money to those who need them the least. The book tells us how more affluent Americans disproportionately benefit from subsidised retirement and college savings plans. Desmond believes poverty in America is not simply the result of actions taken by Congress and corporate boards but the millions of decisions we make each day.

Best pop culture moment: The one where we all lost a friend – it may not have been the “best” moment, but Matthew Perry’s death showed us how popular the show still is across languages and cultures, years after going off the air. Friends managed to touch a cord universally, and people around the world grieved his death.

Best song: I don’t really have one top song, but the top two artists that I listened to most this year were K-pop girl group NewJeans and J-pop duo Yoasobi – I got to see the latter live at Clockenflap, which was a dream come true!

Best movie: Past Lives. It’s a simple story about meeting a childhood best friend as an adult, but the directing and acting brought so much depth and life to this phenomenon of meeting your younger self again. It’s a beautiful movie, and I’ll definitely watch it again.

Best TV show: Reservation Dogs is about a group of Native American teenagers going through grief and growing up together. There aren’t many shows about Native Americans, and this one is done with a healthy mix of humour, drama and reality. It’s also one of the few shows I’ve seen that wrapped up well from beginning to end.

Best book: This wasn’t released in 2023, but it was one of the few books that I had time to read this year: Ken Liu’s Speaking Bones. It is the fourth book in a giant silkpunk series that explores a fantastical world with lore that makes you think about society without punching you in the face with a certain message or idea. It’s a fantastic series that made me rethink how I see the world, and I highly recommend it.

Best pop culture moment: It was impossible for me not to notice the sociopolitical movements that were a big part of pop culture this year. From actors and writers striking in solidarity for job security and fair payment for their work to the many trying to take a stand against Israel’s attacks on Palestinians, the real world has bled into pop culture, and those were the biggest moments that stood out to me.

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Best song: Jer Lau’s “Ocean Boy (大海少年)”. This recently released song emphasises the significance of companionship and sharing during difficult times. It carries a healing quality that resonates deeply with me.

Best movie: To Be Continued, a Hong Kong documentary that delves into the fight to preserve the State Theatre in North Point and uncovers the forgotten life of its founder, Harry Odell. From the Japanese occupation to pop singer Hins Cheung, it revives Hong Kong’s cultural legacy and reveals its cosmopolitan spirit. Nostalgic yet spirited.

Best TV show: The Bear Season 2 on Disney+. As a cooking enthusiast, I was instantly captivated by Season 1 of the show, with its gripping storyline centred around a restaurant team facing significant challenges and showcasing the intense workings of the kitchen. This year, Season 2 promised an even more uplifting, team-focused, and magnificent experience.

Best book: The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward by Daniel H. Pink. The book explores how regret, something we all experience, can have a positive effect on decision-making, performance, and discovering our purpose.

Best pop culture moment: When content creators used AI-generated vocals from Hong Kong cult icon Wan Kwong and blended them with pop hits like “Solitude” by Terence Lam Ka-him and “My Dear Friend” by Keung To from Mirror. Beyond being a humorous experiment, it highlights the exciting possibilities AI holds for music creation.

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Best song: Ed Sheeran’s Eyes Closed is possibly my favourite song of 2023. The heartfelt tune is about the singer’s struggles with loss after the passing of a close friend. I thought the blue monster in the music video aptly reflects how even though sadness is something that follows us around, life has to go on. In a strange way, it reminded me not to dwell on things that make me unhappy and treasure my loved ones more.

Best movie: Evil Does Not Exist. This Japanese film takes place in a small village outside Tokyo, where a single father lives with his daughter. Their quiet life is rudely disrupted when a company decides to build a luxurious glamping resort around their village. It perfectly captures the promises of capitalism and the cost of exploitation.

Best TV show: I really liked Doctor Cha. In this series, Cha Jeong-suk, a former doctor turned housewife, defies expectations by re-entering medical school in her late 40s. It is a lovely show about finding new purpose and second chances later in life.

Best book: The most entertaining book I read this year was Everything You Know About Animals is Wrong by Matt Brown. The title pretty much says it all! I learned lots of new things about animals, such as that ostriches don’t bury their heads in the sand when they are scared and that bulls are colourblind.

Best pop culture moment: I couldn’t agree more with Kelly about Barbenheimer!