Most Electrifying TV Performances of 2022: Joseph Quinn, Quinta Brunson and More

Credit: Netflix

Most Electrifying TV Performances of 2022: Joseph Quinn, Quinta Brunson and More

The golden age of TV continues! From Hollywood newcomers to longtime stars, 2022 was anything but short on 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 Quinn made his debut on the supernatural drama as Eddie Munson, an eccentric Hawkins High student who befriends Dustin Henderson (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 think what makes him a hero is self-sacrifice and being in service of something other than yourself. It's an incredibly brave thing," the Catherine the Great star told Esquire in July as part 2 of the season hit 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." After filming his emotional final scenes, Quinn took the edge off. "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 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. And this season, I feel like we get to play with that range. Now we get to live in it." Scroll down for a roundup of the most talked about TV performances of 2022:

Credit: Netflix

Most Electrifying TV Performances of 2022: Joseph Quinn, Quinta Brunson and More

The golden age of TV continues! From Hollywood newcomers to longtime stars, 2022 was anything but short on 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 Quinn made his debut on the supernatural drama as Eddie Munson, an eccentric Hawkins High student who befriends Dustin Henderson (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 think what makes him a hero is self-sacrifice and being in service of something other than yourself. It's an incredibly brave thing," the Catherine the Great star told Esquire in July as part 2 of the season hit 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." After filming his emotional final scenes, Quinn took the edge off. "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 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. And this season, I feel like we get to play with that range. Now we get to live in it." Scroll down for a roundup of the most talked about TV performances of 2022:

Credit: Netflix

Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things)

The British actor previously appeared on Game of Thrones in 2017, but season 4 of Stranger Things catapulted him further into the spotlight. Quinn played Eddie Munson, president of Hawkins High's Hellfire Club, who joins Dustin (Matarazzo), Steve (Joe Keery) and more to fight the evil Vecna. 

Credit: Marvel Studios. ©Marvel Studios 2022

Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel)

Vellani was cast as the titular character in the Disney+ series — her first major TV role — in September 2020. When the show premiered two years later, the rising star proved she was a perfect fit for the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Up next, she'll reprise her character in 2023's The Marvels.   

Credit: Frank Ockenfels/FX

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear)

One of the buzziest shows of the year, The Bear follows chef Carmy (White) as he works to revitalize his family's Chicago sandwich shop in the wake of his brother's death. Carmy attempts to bring his five-star technique to the struggling dive while also learning to cope with his loss. 

Credit: Erin Simkin/Hulu

Lily James (Pam & Tommy)

Fans who previously loved James' turn in Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again were floored by her transformation for the Hulu miniseries. She stars as the Pamela Anderson to Sebastian Stan's Tommy Lee in the biographical drama, which follows the rocky couple before and after their sex tape was made public.  

Credit: Apple TV +

Adam Scott (Severance)

The Parks and Recreation alum goes dark in this Apple TV+ original, which took viewers on a wild ride throughout season 1. Scott plays Mark, a Lumon Industries employee whose work life is fully separated from his personal life after going through the company's "severance" program. His performance earned him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. 

Credit: Netflix

Caleb McLaughlin (Stranger Things)

Since Stranger Things premiered in 2016, the New York native has been an integral part of the cast as Lucas Sinclair. Season 4, however, launched him to new heights as Lucas is torn between getting in with the Hawkins jocks and helping his friends save the town. 

Credit: Tina Rowden/Netflix

Sadie Sink (Stranger Things)

The Fear Street star made her Stranger Things debut during season 2 in 2017 and has slowly taken over the spotlight ever since. Her character, Max Mayfield, is the target of season 4's terror and narrowly escapes death — but her future in Hawkins is uncertain. 

Credit: Beth Dubber/Hulu

Amanda Seyfried (The Dropout)

The Mean Girls star brought to life a true story on Hulu's The Dropout, channeling controversial Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, who lied her way to tech superstardom before her company came crashing down. The series was nominated for six Emmys, with Seyfried earning a nod for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.  

Credit: Karen Ballard/HBO Max

Hannah Einbinder (Hacks)

The California native is the daughter of Saturday Night Live legend Laraine Newman, but Hacks made her a star in her own right. Einbinder earned back-to-back Emmy nominations for her performance as Ava, a desperate writer forced to take a job with aging stand-up comedian Deborah Vance (Jean Smart). Over the course of two seasons, however, the duo gained a grudging respect for one another.

Credit: Quantrell D. Colbert/FX

Donald Glover (Atlanta)

The Community alum's acclaimed FX series has earned him plenty of praise over the years — and season 3 was no different. Glover's Earn leaves Atlanta behind as he embarks on a European tour with his cousin Alfred (a.k.a. Paperboi). The "This Is America" artist was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series at the 2022 Emmys, a trophy he previously took home in 2017.

Credit: ABC/Gilles Mingasson

Quinta Brunson (Abbott Elementary)

The Philadelphia native writes, executive produces and stars in the lighthearted ABC sitcom, which quickly became a fan favorite after its 2021 premiere. Brunson plays Janine Teagues, a bright-eyed second grade teacher who joins the jaded staff of a local public school. She became the first Black woman to earn Emmy nominations in three major comedy categories in the same year: Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series, Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.

Credit: Juhan Noh/Apple TV +

Minha Kim (Pachinko)

The Apple TV+ series was quickly renewed for a second season after it debuted in March. Based on the 2017 novel of the same name, the drama centers on a family of Korean immigrants across four generations. Kim portrays the teenage version of Sunja (Minari's Youn Yuh-Jung), and the acclaimed performance turned her into an international success.