The golden age of television continues! From Hollywood newcomers and longtime stars, 2022 was full of memorable television performances.
Stranger Things returned to Netflix for its fourth season after a long hiatus — and brought a new breakout star with it. Joseph QuinnAs Eddie Munson, an eccentric Hawkins High student who becomes friends with Dustin Henderson (the supernatural drama), he made his debut.Gaten Matarazzo) and later tags along to save the small town from Vecna’s curse. Eddie doesn’t make it out of the Upside Down alive, but Quinn couldn’t be more proud of his character’s arc.
“Well, I think it is a beautiful exploration of redemption. I believe that what makes him a hero, is his willingness to sacrifice himself and serve others. It’s an incredibly brave thing,” the Catherine the Great star told EsquireIn July, the second part of the season was released on Netflix. “I think we’re so driven by personal goals, ambition, acclaim and status. I think paying the ultimate price for something other than yourself, for other people, that’s always been considered, going back to the Bible, an incredibly brave thing. There’s a parable to Eddie’s story, really, that is poetic, powerful and beautiful.”
The misunderstood high schooler dies in Dustin’s arms, and Quinn’s bond with his costar was just as powerful as the one fans saw on screen. “Working with Gaten has been such a joyous experience. He’s a brilliant person and a wonderful actor,” the U.K. native gushed to Entertainment Weekly. “I was spoiled to have the amount of stuff that I got to do with him.”
Quinn was able to relax after filming the final scenes of his emotionally charged scenes. “I had a shot of tequila in the camera truck, and I went home and I cried my eyes out,” he recalled.
Quinn “didn’t know for certain” whether Eddie would survive the season. “I was a little gutted ’cause I thought that if I worked hard enough they might bring me back for another season, but that didn’t work,” he teased, adding that he “had a suspicion” at how his story would end since he wasn’t optioned for another season. “So, yeah, I was kind of gutted that I was only there for one season, but to be part of it in any capacity is still pretty great.”
Fans were eager for the opportunity to catch up with the Stranger Things cast, who they’ve been watching since 2016, but a few new series stole the spotlight this year. The first season of ABC’s Abbott Elementary was an instant hit — and creator Quinta Brunson isn’t ready to slow down yet.
“It’s very rare for first-season comedies [to be a success], especially on network,” the Miracle Workers alum told Newsweek in August, reflecting on her show’s 13 Emmy nominations. “I just want people to know when you come to Abbott, you get a range of things. This season, I feel like we have the chance to play with that range. Now we get to live in it.”
Scroll down to see a list of the most talked-about TV performances for 2022.