Editorial Issue 10: Pi Media's Best of 2023

Photo Courtesy: Diliff, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

As an early gift to our readers before the holiday season begins, the editorial team at Pi Media Online have democratically voted on the following ‘Best of 2023’ categories: Film, TV Show, Album, Pop Culture Moment and Political Moment.

Film of the Year

After the successes of last year’s films such as Everything Everywhere All At Once and The Whale, it was hard to imagine an equally successful consecutive year. The Writers Guild and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which forced Hollywood to a halt, gave more credence to these concerns. Nonetheless, audiences embraced the conception of ‘Barbenheimer’, as they returned to cinemas in droves for the blockbuster movies of the summer. Meanwhile, other lower budget but similarly popular films such as Saltburn, Bottoms, May December and Poor Things revived people’s appetite for the outlandish and the scandalous. 

Below are Pi Media’s nominees and winner for this year’s best film.

  • Barbie

  • Bottoms

  • WINNER - Oppenheimer

  • The Hunger Games - Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

  • Saltburn

Photo Courtesy: HBO

TV Show of the Year

Television has also experienced changes alongside the cultural lexicon, as Disney+ continues to face mounting criticisms of overproduction through its numerous ‘spin-off’ and sequel television shows. Instead, general audiences opted for more sombre and introspective storylines as shows such as The Bear tensely explored family dynamics impacted by mental health. The premier of Successions’ finale episode was by far the most hotly anticipated of the year and cemented its status as a defining series of the 2020s. Overall, 2023 was a year of television shows that explored human relationships and our psyches; no matter the time period, environment or situation.

Below are Pi Media’s nominees and winner for this year’s best TV show.

  • BEEF

  • WINNER - Succession

  • The Bear

  • The Last of Us

  • Top Boy

Photo Courtesy: Interscope Records

Album of the Year

This year in music saw artists continue to evolve and expand their horizons. Taylor Swift’s Midnights saw her return to synth-pop in a softer manner than her last pop album, Lover; whereas Olivia Rodrigo’s sophomore album GUTS shifted away from the pop princess mould as she continued to lean towards a more alternative sound inspired by the likes of Alanis Morisette and Avril Lavigne. Troye Sivan’s drag music video for One of Your Girls continued a winning streak for queer pop music, as artists like Chappell Roan (The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess) also gained popularity on TikTok. But it was Lana Del Rey’s ninth studio album that truly impressed, as she traded in her artfully curated persona for a career-defining exploration of what it means to love and be sexual in today’s America.

Below are Pi Media’s nominees and winner for this year’s best album. 

  • Desire, I Want To Turn Into You - Caroline Polachek

  • WINNER - Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd - Lana Del Rey

  • GUTS - Olivia Rodrigo

  • Something to Give Each Other - Troye Sivan

  • the record - boygenius

Photo Courtesy: Miss Universe

Pop Culture Moment of the Year

In terms of pop culture, 2023 has perhaps become most memorable for the ‘Barbenheimer’ phenomenon and decade-defining Renaissance Tour (Beyonce) and Eras Tour (Taylor Swift). Similarly, Rihanna’s long-awaited Super Bowl Halftime show reaffirmed her status as a legendary entertainer and musician. On the other hand, Prince Harry’s memoir SPARE was a topic of intense dissection across newspapers and social media - one of which was controversially rebranded to ‘X’ under Elon Musk’s equally controversial leadership. Ultimately, it was the representative of France introducing herself at Miss Universe who thoroughly entertained and left us all wondering how the year flew by.

Below are Pi Media’s nominees and winner for this year’s best pop culture moment.

  • Barbenheimer

  • WINNER - Miss Universe: ‘France!’

  • Rihanna’s Super Bowl Halftime show

  • The Renaissance World Tour

  • Twitter’s rebrand to ‘X’

Photo Courtesy: U.S. House Office of Photography, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Political Moment of the Year

In a year full of incredible entertainment, none could compare to the political events of 2023. From Kevin McCarthy’s ousting from the House of Representatives to Nicola Sturgeon’s shocking arrest, both sides of the pond did not fail to produce controversy. Suella Braverman was a topic of contention throughout the year, with numerous defining moments including her sacking and homophobic statements made during the Rwanda policy campaign - yet none as symbolic of her career as when she stood on a guide dog’s tail. And as sweet as the news of Henry Kissinger’s death was, the expulsion of George Santos from Congress that untangled his web of lies and birthed his Cameo videos was the highlight of the year for us at Pi Media.

Below are Pi Media’s nominees and winner for this year’s best political moment.

  • David Cameron’s shock return to government

  • WINNER - George Santos expelled from Congress

  • Henry Kissinger’s death

  • Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest

  • Suella Braverman standing on a guide dog’s tail

EditorialTricia Teopop culture, TV and Film, Music, Entertainment, Politics, UCL, Pi MediaComment