TV Time (a social media platform used by millions of users to log the movies and shows they watch) has revealed the show most viewed by its user base in 2022, and its winner surprisingly beat out Netflix’s hugely popular Stranger Things. Season 4 of the acclaimed show was released across two parts in summer 2022, and it became Netflix’s highest-viewed English-language show in history. Season 4 alone incredibly accumulated over one billion hours of viewership in its first 28 days of release. Season 5 will be the show’s final entry, though a release date hasn’t yet been confirmed.

The official TV Time Twitter account recently shared its top 6 most viewed TV shows of 2022, with Stranger Things coming in second place. Its surprise victor is the long-running anime series, One Piece, which is receiving its own Netflix treatment in a live-action format. A shocking omission from the list was another Netflix show, Wednesday, which has amassed huge figures comparable to Stranger Things 4 since its release. However, the late November release, coupled with only eight episodes in total, could be the reason that TV Time users spent more time with other shows. The tweet can be viewed below:

We know you're still waiting for that hot Rewind to drop, and we appreciate your patience & enthusiasm. (Did I mention we have MILLIONS of users to prep data for?!) IN THE MEANTIME, let's look at some global TV Time stats starting with the most watched shows of 2022 📺 pic.twitter.com/z6hfakZMrZ

— TV Time (@TVTime) January 3, 2023

Why Is One Piece So Popular?

One Piece is one of the most renowned manga series of all time, and since 1999, it’s been adapted into an anime of the same name – as of today, it stands at over 1000 episodes in total, with a weekly release schedule. These factors are likely why One Piece ranked first with TV Time users, with its sheer volume of content being enough to fend off fierce opposition, including Stranger Things and House of the Dragon. It must also have a large fanbase and degree of popularity to be able to ​secure the top spot​​​​​​, which likely factored in its viewership. News of the manga’s incoming conclusion, disclosed by its creator Eiichiro Oda last year, may also have encouraged a spike in popularity.

What’s In Store For TV In 2023?

2022 was a huge year for television, and 2023 looks poised to continue that trend, with both new and returning major projects hitting screens throughout the year. January alone brings a potential behemoth in the long-awaited adaptation of the highly acclaimed video game of the same name, The Last of Us, premiering on HBO on January 15. The series is perhaps the most hotly anticipated show of the year, meaning 2023 will surely be starting with a bang. Disney+ will be welcoming some newcomers of its own, including the Star Wars spinoff Ahsoka, as well as the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Agatha: Coven of Chaos.

Since Stranger Things season 5 is unlikely to return in 2023 and probably will not come earlier than 2024, the year will be an opportunity for some new names to gain unprecedented popularity. On top of new shows, returning TV juggernauts will bring some competition, including The Mandalorian season 3 and Loki season 2. There is no shortage of prime television hitting throughout the year, but as TV Time’s user base has proved, the power of re-watches shouldn’t be understated, with The Office managing the fourth position on its list. One Piece also shouldn’t be overlooked, as it won’t be ending for a few years yet.