I’m going to be honest: I was worried that reality television wouldn’t escape the last few years unscathed. Survivor’s all-winners season was painful to watch, Real Housewives sacrificed entertainment for drama, and new series incorporated so many twists that most tied themselves into knots. Was I really going to be doomed to watch Too Hot to Handle forever?

2022, though, has been a light in the darkness. And okay, sure, we owe a lot of that to competitions that have learned to embrace their better aspects. But I can’t overlook the impact those few have had on the greater landscape. (Case in point: Taylor Hale’s Big Brother victory singlehandedly restored my faith in the franchise—and made up for all the unrelated white nonsense some other shows have subjected us to.) We’re getting drama. We’re getting friendships. We’re getting people we can root for.

We’re getting reality TV that’s fun again.

So, if you’re looking for something to watch as the year comes to an end but don’t have the mental energy to commit to a mystery, scandal, or foreign world, fear not. There are certainly some alternatives worth your time. Please enjoy my very favorite reality TV of 2022, for your binging pleasure.

Big Brother 24 (CBS)

I’m sorry I spoiled it above, but Big Brother 24 is a unique case in that it’s worth watching because of its winner. The first few weeks of footage are hard to get through for how uncomfortable they are. Taylor Hale, a stylist and former Miss Michigan, suffers microaggressions and bullying at the hands of the other houseguests. She’s ostracized, targeted, and mocked. But Hale never rolls over; soon, an alliance of outcasts forms around her. I don’t want to say too much about the 12-week journey that takes her from the edge of eviction to finale night, so I won’t. Just know that Hale is worth tuning in for and rooting for along her journey. (As is Joseph Abdin. See above.)

Survivor 42 (CBS)

The “new era” of Survivor isn’t perfect, but Survivor 42 nearly was. This show is at its best when the gameplay resembles psychological warfare. I want blindsides, I want tears, I want a crisis (or two) of faith. 42 delivers, then takes that to new heights by showing us a cast that becomes a family. Lindsay Dolashewich and Jonathan “Every Day Is Leg Day” Young’s alliance-turned-friendship evolves into something like a sibling rivalry as she fights to get out from his shadow. Hai Giang toes a thin line with his clever, cut-throat strategizing. Mike Turner has a heart of gold at war with his desire to win. And Maryanne Oketch, well, has a love for the game that’s infectious. If you’re looking to dip your toes in for the first time—or fell off somewhere around Pearl Islands—this is the season to watch.

The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip (Peacock)

The second season of Peacock’s Real Housewives spin-off brought a group of “ex-wives” to Dorinda Medley’s Berkshires manor and delivered what may have been the most entertaining drama of the year. Lest you be scared off by the franchise’s sheer size, I promise you do not need to have seen the shows these women once starred in. Ultimate Girls Trip does a surprisingly good job in establishing context for their preexisting relationships and, in some meta moments, fills in the gaps with commentary, flashbacks, and memes. Brandi Glanville’s inability to filter her thoughts and Eva Marcille Sterling’s perpetual cool are an unrivaled combination. One of the season’s biggest fights is over the etiquette of eating in bed—what more could you want?

MasterChef: Back to Win (FOX)

The 12th season of MasterChef executed one of my favorite gimmicks, the all-star reunion, flawlessly. Twenty former contestants returned to take on their ghosts for a second chance at winning the show. Friendships, rivalries, and, yes, old grudges are sprinkled throughout, and surprise eliminations made for some of the most jaw-dropping—and heartbreaking—cooking drama of the year. Take Emily Hallock and Shanika Patterson, for example. Back in season nine, Hallock had the choice to save herself or take on Patterson in a one-on-one elimination challenge. She chose the latter… and lost. Naturally, they’re both back, as are best friends Bri Baker and Fred Chang, MasterChef Junior competitors Dara Yu and Shayne Wells, and the inimitable Tommy Walton. Back to Win is a pressure cooker in and of itself—and impossible to look away from.

Legendary (HBO Max)

Pour one out for my dear, sweet Legendary. The HBO Max series is one of the most tragic victims of the streamer’s end-of-year slaughter; it blended ballroom culture with dance competitions and the results were electrifying. Every episode offered genuinely awe-inspiring performances and touching backstories alike. The inimitable Keke Palmer joined Leiomy Maldonado, Law Roach, and Jameela Jamil on the judging panel for its third (and final) season, and guests as extraordinary as Bob the Drag Queen and Dominique Jackson lent their unique charm to a show already overflowing with heart. If only I could go back in time, I’d offer my Gag Flag to keep it around for years to come. 

The Kardashians (Hulu)

I don’t think any of us knew what to expect when the Kardashian clan left E! for Hulu. Kris Jenner and her five daughters are all credited as executive producers on the new show, so it was easy to assume that The Kardashians would be more polished, more curated than Keeping Up With the Kardashians ever was. And while the second, more business-oriented season certainly feels more like a 10-episode ad than a reality show, the first season was a reminder of why—and how—this family became the cultural phenomenon it is. Plus, even ads can be fun to watch, right?

Now, I’m not saying you’ll love this show If you’re someone who doesn’t enjoy the Kardashians’ whole… everything. It’s not groundbreaking, and it won’t change your mind. But, at one point, Kris admits that she “forgot” she has a Beverly Hills condo. She enlists Martha Stewart’s help to get Khloé a peacock. While Kim prepares to host Saturday Night Live and retake the bar exam, she’s forced to deal with an ad for her sex tape being served to Saint on Roblox. Kendall, so often the peacemaker in the past, has a surprising fight with Scott Disick. In one of my favorite moments, Kylie joins her mom to go grocery shopping in an effort to feel “normal.” This is entertainment, pure and unfiltered. I’ll never say that I need another 20 seasons of television documenting their lives, but, for now, I will be watching as soon as the next one drops.

The Real Housewives of Potomac (Bravo)

While the women of Beverly Hills fight with their claws out and Jen Shah fights, well, “for her life,” the shifting allegiances and petty drama of The Real Housewives of Potomac are a breath of fresh air. Why did Candiace Dillard Bassett go on Instagram Live to complain about her castmates while on vacation with them? Will Robyn and Juan Dixon ever get married? What logic led Ashley Darby to consider buying a house with the man she’s in the process of divorcing? These are just some of the questions raised by Potomac’s seventh season, and drinks are thrown on the quest for answers. So, if you’re tired of Housewives digging their Louboutins in and ganging up on one another, consider the show that VF’s own Chris Murphy calls “a glimmering light” for a franchise in its flop era. Ready to dive in? We know exactly where you should start.