Great shows influence a greater audience and some TV shows have an endless global appeal. While audiences are attracted to films, there are a multitude of TV shows that have left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment.
In this piece, we will explore the greatest shows of all time which not only have the best ratings but proved to be binge-worthy through their wide range of genres, exciting plots, and an amazing cast. Read below to find out the best 20 TV shows!
1) Breaking Bad
The show is as unique as its name—the story of a high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, who's cancer-stricken and transforms himself into a formidable drug kingpin. The more ruthless and unstable Mr.White became, the more he injected excitement among fans and viewers.
From its writing, directing, and wider themes, Breaking Bad emerged as an all-rounder. Another key element in making the TV show as good as it is was the casting of Bryan Cranston as Walter White and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman (Walter's former student turned drug partner).
The crimelord's obsession and unexpected moves in Breaking Bad always kept fans on the edge, and to date, Breaking Bad is commended for its exceptional story.
2) Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones' name is inevitable when mentioning highly acclaimed and globally recognized shows. Soon after it hit HBO, Game of Thrones emerged as the most successful show on the streamer. The unavoidable rivalries and war over the Iron Throne kept fans engaged throughout the seasons.
On an official video podcast titled Inside The Episode #10 on the Game of Thrones Youtube channel, while talking about the story of Game of Thrones, co-creator David Benioff said "It's about people of good intentions who come into conflict with each other because they have very different views of the world."
And he was absolutely right! The show perfectly blended civil war, personal conflicts, thrust for power, and love in one show.
3) The Sopranos
Next in line, we have The Sopranos, a show that remains to be one of the most intriguing crime drama series of all time. Despite airing in the late '90s, The Sopranos remarkably featured a massive cast and became a huge success.
Created by David Chase, the show mainly focuses on Tony Soprano (played by James Gandolfini) who's struggling to balance his mobster and family life.
While The Sopranos showcased several ruthless gangsters, it also highlighted Tony's struggles and conflicts with family members. The Sopranos aired on HBO from 1997 to 2007, having six seasons.
It is also recognized for having initiated the Second Golden Age of Television and won multiple accolades including Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe Awards.
4) Band of Brothers
Hollywood's two highly regarded figures Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks developed one of the best miniseries of all time. Band of Brothers is set during World War II and based on historian Stephen E. Ambrose's 1992 non-fiction book of the same name.
From unparalleled visual effects of the explosions to commendable casting and direction, Band of Brothers immediately became a fan-favorite series.
5) The Wire
It's not your average American crime drama. The Wire even intrigued former US president Barack Obama who once invited David Simon, the creator of The Wire to the White House and said "I think it's one of the greatest, not just television shows, but pieces of art in the last couple of decades." on The Obama White House official YouTube page.
While the show features the process of justice, it mainly focuses on the war on drugs.
The Wire has significantly highlighted Baltimore, Maryland with notable visuals and talented cast members. Initially, the show didn't gain insane views, but gradually it entered the list of great shows.
6) Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul successfully satisfied fans by becoming a deserving successor of Breaking Bad. From its compelling story, ever-engaging plot twists, direction, writing, and cast, Better Call Saul has it all!
It is set before Breaking Bad and features Jimmy McGill (played by Bob Odenkirk), a clever lawyer and former con artist turned unethical criminal defense attorney Saul Goodman. The cinematography and intense conflicts in Better Call Saul earned the shoe critical acclaim in no time.
7) Stranger Things
Created by the Duffer brothers, Stranger Things emerged as a huge success on Netflix. The series is based on unimaginable supernatural events occurring in a small town soon after a boy vanishes and a strange girl emerges with distinct powers.
Stranger Things revolves around Eleven (played by Billie Bobby Brown) and her friends fighting against the villainous and dangerous Vecna. Currently, Stranger Things has four seasons on the streamer, with the fifth and last season on the way to TV screens.
8) Sherlock
This TV series has Marvel star Benedict Cumberbatch playing the iconic detective Sherlock Holmes, who's busy solving various mysteries in London. Sherlock is probably one of the best modern approaches to the book that was set in the 19th century, and if you're craving something puzzling and highly engaging, then do watch Sherlock.
9) Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is incomplete without Cillian Murphy's crime boss Tommy Shelby, whose street gang's mission and manslaughters take all the attention. It is based after the end of the First World War and features a family of mixed Irish and Romani people.
Peaky Blinders became a huge success amongst viewers. The series earned Cillian Murphy a massive fan base and is still commended for its writing, acting, direction, and screenplay.
10) The Twilight Zone
A perfect mixture of ordinary people's struggles, unexpected occurrences, time travel, and everything unique in between. The Twilight Zone is a 1959 sci-fi TV series that focuses on the life struggles of different people while they explore unusual things.
With each new episode of The Twilight Zone, viewers were encouraged to explore new and exciting things in their lives, and always think out of the box.
11) Fleabag
Since we're exploring the 20 best TV shows of all time, Fleabag is worth adding to the list! It is considered one of the most entertaining comedy series featuring a dry-witted woman named Fleabag.
There are multiple reasons why Fleabag emerged as a genius TV series, some of which are the fine acting, incredible writing, and how can we not talk about the heart-wrenching emotional scenes?
After watching Phoebe Waller-Bridge in the titular role, you won't be able to think of someone else playing the role. The actress went above and beyond to make her character as interesting as possible and significantly contributed to the show's success.
12) Fargo
Initially, when it was announced that FX was all set to craft a new version of the Coen Brothers' classic film Fargo, many raised eyebrows thinking it was a bad idea.
However, after Fargo came out as a new show, fans and viewers couldn't stop acknowledging the dark humor, intense themes, and unavoidable violence in the show.
13) F.R.I.E.N.D.S
Though F.R.I.E.N.D.S doesn't need any introduction, it is worth noting that despite airing years back, fans and viewers never get bored of rewatching the iconic sitcom.
Many dedicated fans grew up with Joey, Ross, Phoebe, Rachel, Monica, and Chandler. Their friendship was so iconic that to date, F.R.I.E.N.D.S remains a trending and all-time favorite show of the older and younger generation.
14) Dark
This German sci-fi thriller caught fans' eye through the mysterious town of Winden. Though it has been compared with Stranger Things multiple times, believe us Dark is different. It's more complex, revolving around family dynamics and time travel in several dimensions.
With each episode, Dark piques curiosity over what will happen next in the town, and considering its mysterious nature, it's always the bombshell cliffhangers and interesting plot twists.
15) The Office (US Version)
The US version of The Office is another TV show you must not ignore. It's far from a usual office drama, covering not only the intriguing life of the manager Michael Scott (played by Steve Carell) but also features the humorous interactions with his colleagues.
The Office also gave fans one of their favorite couple Pam (John Krasinski) and Jim (Jenna Fischer), whose love life became the central part of the show.
16) Succession
Featuring the wealthy and powerful Roy family, whose aging patriarch Logan Roy has to find the best successor for Waystar Royco out of his four children. All of Logan's children are adults and have a different way of how their company must grow and they encounter major rivalries among them.
The show is well-written and fans often commend the writing style of Jesse Armstrong who never failed to impress viewers. Succession also revolves around ever-changing family dynamics, life struggles, and the thrust to take over Waystar Royco.
17) Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV Show)
This 2004 series was made to improve the older version which was released in 1978 and didn't make it to the list of highly acclaimed TV shows. However, when the new TV series was released, fans were convinced that the remake of Battlestar Galactica was indeed commendable.
It revolves around the people living in Twelve Colonies (twelve different planets) and how humanity works in each colony. Battlestar Galactica explores settings of survival, conflicted themes, and compelling visuals.
18) Freaks and Geeks
Created by Paul Feig and Judd Apatow, Freaks and Geeks majorly attracted the younger generation, emerging as super relatable when it comes to school life and the struggles of students associated with it.
The show features Lindsay Weir (played by Linda Cardellini) who joins a group of friends called the "freaks", while her younger brother is navigating through his own high school problems.
The show is often lauded for its humourous storyline and engaging characters. The diverse characters in Freaks and Geeks added to the show's success, making it a binge-worthy show.
19) Mad Men
If you're curious about American society in the 1960s, then do watch Mad Men. The show is a mix of mature and adult themes, revolving around the lives of employees in an NYC advertising agency.
What makes Mad Men a great show is the depiction of social and cultural issues in society and how deeply they affect an individual. The show also highlighted substance abuse and personal struggles in the corporate world.
20) The Last of Us
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Adapted from the highly popular video game, HBO series The Last of Us in an Emmy Award-winning show. Featuring the incredible Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us showcases the consequences and outcomes of a deadly fungal infection, which transforms its host into a frightening zombie-like creature.
The visuals of The Last of Us are worth the attention and the success of the video game made the show even more engaging.
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