Man, we’re deep in the thick of “Peak TV.” Everyone’s been calling it that for a while, and honestly? They’re not wrong. In just twenty years, TV’s gone from something you half-watched while folding laundry to this wild, sprawling universe of stories. Streaming blew the doors off—suddenly, the “small screen” feels gigantic, like it swallowed Hollywood and spat out something even more ambitious.

Just look at Walter White. Breaking Bad basically took a regular, boring chemistry teacher and turned him into the scariest dude on television. Bryan Cranston? Guy’s a legend for pulling that off. Then you’ve got Planet Earth II, which somehow made lizards outrunning snakes feel like the Super Bowl. The Wire? That show ripped the mask off city life and showed us the gritty, not-so-pretty bits people usually ignore. And Fleabag—oh man, breaking the fourth wall, getting all up in your business with those knowing glances? Pure genius. Game of Thrones basically ran the world for years… until, well, that ending. Let’s just say some wounds haven’t healed.

Now, TV’s not just dramas or sitcoms anymore. You’ve got stuff like The Office and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia—shows you can watch a million times and still find something new to laugh at. Cartoons aren’t just for kids, either. Avatar: The Last Airbender, BoJack Horseman, Rick and Morty… these shows go deep. Like, existential crisis deep. And don’t even get me started on Chernobyl or Band of Brothers. Those miniseries? Gave history class a run for its money. Meanwhile, Black Mirror makes you want to chuck your phone into the ocean, and Stranger Things somehow mixes ‘80s nostalgia with monsters and kids on bikes. It shouldn’t work, but it totally does.

So here it is: a lineup of the 25 best English-language series to come out of this streaming-fueled TV renaissance. Not just the ones critics drool over, but the ones that actually stuck with us—because they’re original, they hit hard, or you just can’t help but binge them again. Whether you’re after a good cry, a hard laugh, or the kind of show that fries your brain (in a good way), these are the heavy hitters that rewrote the rules.

25. Fargo (2014–2024) — IMDb 8.9 / RT 93%
Alright, let’s get real—Fargo sitting at the top? Honestly, it’s wild, but also… kinda makes sense. Noah Hawley took the Coen Brothers’ cult classic and just ran with it, spinning out weird, clever, pitch-black stories every season. Each chapter’s its own beast, but still dripping with that off-kilter, “Minnesota nice” menace and fate-doesn’t-care-about-you vibe.
Season 2? Absolute gem. We’re talking mobsters, messy families, 1970s paranoia, and Americans flailing in the mess. Kieran Culkin, Kirsten Dunst, and Patrick Wilson—they all go nuts.

And the UFO scene in the Season 2 finale? I mean, what?! That thing drops in out og nowhere, but somehow fits perfectly. Fans lost it. It’s so Fargo: weird, gutsy, and totally unforgettable.

Fargo never settles. It keeps flipping the script—new cast, fresh story, wild visuals, all of it. Keeps you guessing, never gets stale. Anthology TV rarely gets this bold or stylish.

Breaking Bad sets the bar for serial drama. But Fargo? It showed TV can keep reinventing itself and still blow everyone away. That’s why it’s sitting pretty at #1 here.

24. The Big Bang Theory (2007–2019) — IMDb 8.2 / RT 97%
Here’s the thing: whether you loved it or rolled your eyes, The Big Bang Theory shoved nerd culture into the mainstream and made it cool—for a hot minute, anyway. Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady basically weaponised the sitcom formula, pumped it full of comic books and physics jokes, and, poof, twelve seasons later, you’ve got Sheldon Cooper memes everywhere.
Comedy snobs grumbled about the laugh track, but let’s be real, the ratings were bonkers. At its peak, it was a total juggernaut.

By Season 2, the characters really started clicking. Penny (Kaley Cuoco) wasn’t just “the girl next door” anymore—she brought heart, sass, and balance to all the geeky chaos.

There’s this classic moment in “The Bath Item Gift Hypothesis.” Penny gives Sheldon a napkin signed by Leonard Nimoy—yeah, Spock himself. Suddenly, Sheldon, who’s basically allergic to hugs, just melts. He gives Penny the most awkward, heartfelt hug ever. It’s weirdly touching, and Leonard’s line about “a Saturnalia miracle” is just chef’s kiss.

It’s not “prestige TV,” but it’s warm, sharp, and—let’s face it—comfort food for an entire generation. That’s nothing to sneeze at.

23. The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–2025) — IMDb 8.3 / RT 81%
Margaret Atwood’s nightmare vision got a fresh shot of adrenaline with Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale. Gilead’s brutal, theocratic hellscape landed right when real-life politics felt, uh, a little too close for comfort. Elisabeth Moss? She just owns it as June, turning silent rage and quiet rebellion into something you can’t look away from.
Season 1 is still the gold standard—tight, chilling, and straight outta Atwood’s pages. Later seasons go bigger, but nothing beats that first blast of dread and defiance.

And man, that finale: June stepping into the van, not knowing if she’s doomed or about to spark a revolution. No words needed—just pure, defiant energy. That moment stuck with people, made the show a symbol way beyond TV.

Those red cloaks and white bonnets? Instant protest iconography. Sure, the show got messy in later seasons, but its impact? Unmistakable. It’s one of those rare series that actually broke out and changed the way people talk about women’s rights and resistance. That’s legacy, right there.

22. Normal People (2020) — IMDb 8.4 / RT 91%
Normal People hit some people right in the gut. When it dropped on BBC Three and Hulu, it just exploded as everybody was talking about it, and it deserved the hype. This wasn’t one of those flashy, big-money series with dragons or car chases-it’s all about the tiny moments. The way Daisy Edgar-Jones and Paul Mescal just breathe life into Marianne and Connell? Wild. It’s like they weren’t even acting, just… existing.

Forget over-the-top drama. The show does so much with so little—quiet looks, awkward silences, stuff left unsaid. It’s raw in a way most TV just isn’t. And don’t even get me started on that scene in Episode 10—Connell in therapy, finally letting it all out. It’s brutal, watching him break down, but man, it’s so real. You could almost hear every dude who’s been told to “man up” feeling seen for the first time.

College life, mental health, class issues—it’s all there, but not in a preachy way. Just messy, complicated, like real life. There’s no perfect romance, no easy answers, just two people trying to figure themselves out. That’s what makes it stick with you.

Sure, it doesn’t have the “ooh, shiny!” factor of some other series, but honestly, who cares? This show nails the little details. That’s what makes it unforgettable. Like, it gets under your skin and just stays there.

21. Modern Family (2009-2020) — IMDb 8.5 / RT 85%
Few sitcoms embodied the warmth and humour of family life in the 21st century quite like Modern Family. Created by Christopher Lloyd and Stephen Levitan, the mockumentary-style series followed three interconnected households: Jay & Gloria Pritchett's blended family, Claire and Phil Dunphy’s hectic suburban brood, and Mitchell and Cameron's journey as a same-sex couple raising a daughter. Its diverse characters and relatable humour made it one of ABC's biggest hits for over a decade, winning five consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Comedy Series.

Among its many seasons, season 2 is generally considered the most beloved, striking the perfect balance between laugh-out-loud comedy and heartfelt moments. Episodes like "Halloween" & "Treehouse" show the ensemble at the comedy peaks while deepening the family bonds that fans treasured.

One particular heart-warming moment arrives in the season 3 finale titled "Baby on Board" when Mitchell and Cameron's dreams of adopting a second child fall apart at the last minute. The scene captures the heartbreak, only to be offset moments later by Gloria revealing she's pregnant – promising new dynamics for future seasons.

Modern Family's innovative edge shone in season 6, episode 16, titled "Connection Lost", shot entirely through Claire's laptop with FaceTime calls, text, and emails driving the story. As the family scrambled online to locate Haley after a fight, the episode brilliantly captured the chaos and comedy of modern communication. Praised for its creativity and relatability, it became one of the series' standout episodes, showcasing how technology shapes both family bonds and sitcom storytelling.

With sharp writing, impeccable ensemble, chemistry, and an honest take on modern families, the show cemented itself as a classic.

20. Hannibal (2013–2015) — IMDb 8.5 / RT 93%
Bryan Fuller’s Hannibal is not just a retelling, it’s a fever dream in a velvet suit. The show grabs the old Hannibal Lecter legend, tosses it into a gothic blender, and hits “puree.” If you thought The Silence of the Lambs was unsettling, wait ‘til you see this. Mads Mikkelsen? The man oozes style and menace, playing Lecter like a smooth-talking shark in a bespoke suit. And Hugh Dancy as Will Graham—he’s hanging on by a thread, every emotion flickering across his face like a broken neon sign. The tension between those two? It’s not just cat-and-mouse, it’s cat-and-cat, both a little too fond of the chase.

Season 2 is where the show really flexes. The whole thing escalates into this twisted symphony of beauty and carnage—the finale, especially, is pure, operatic chaos. Blood everywhere, secrets blown open, and Hannibal just gliding through it all, cool as a midnight snowfall. The visuals are drenched in red, every shot almost too gorgeous to look at, even as your stomach knots up. That final scene? Haunting, mesmerising, and just a little bit sick.

Three seasons, that’s all we got! Thanks, ratings gods. But Hannibal didn’t fade quietly. The fanbase? Still hungry. The show flung open the doors for horror on network TV, made it lush and brainy, and turned violence into something almost artful. It’s proof you can make horror that’s both a gut punch and a gallery piece.

19. Mr. Robot (2015–2019) — IMDb 8.5 / RT (Season 1: 98%)
Mr. Robot wasn’t just another TV show; it was like someone cracked open the TV, shoved all their wildest ideas in, and dared you to keep up. Sam Esmail really went for it, no brakes, no apologies. Rami Malek as Elliot? The guy’s basically a walking glitch-awkward, haunted, genius, and about as stable as a house of cards in a windstorm. And Christian Slater as Mr. Robot? He’s the chaos to Elliot’s confusion, swaggering around like Fight Club’s Tyler Durden with a dash of your weird uncle at Thanksgiving.

Season 1? That was the sweet spot. You’ve got this vibe of everyone-watching paranoia, twisty unreliable narration, and a middle finger pointed straight at corporate America, all splashed across the screen with some seriously slick style. The show kept pushing, too. Single-take episodes, nutty dream logic, scenes that felt like falling down a rabbit hole right into Elliot’s scrambled headspace.

And then—bam—that big twist. Elliot’s lightbulb moment when he realises Mr. Robot is not what he thought. Talk about a reality earthquake. Suddenly, the whole story flips. No wonder people lost their minds and turned it into cult TV royalty.

The thing is, Mr. Robot was dense, sure, but it caught that millennial dread-capitalism chewing people up, surveillance everywhere, mental health on the ropes. Malek straight-up deserved that Emmy, no question. The ending? Oh, it stung, but in a good way, bittersweet and satisfying for everyone who stuck it out. Honestly, it’s not just a show—it’s a fever dream you remember long after the credits roll.

18. Stranger Things (2016–present) — IMDb 8.6 / RT 92%
Stranger Things is a show that basically took 1980s nostalgia, monster horror, and just ran wild with them. The Duffer Brothers cooked up something weirdly magical in Hawkins, Indiana, with kids on bikes, supernatural weirdness, and a portal to the “Upside Down.” It’s like they blended Goonies-style adventures with Stephen King spookiness and tossed in a dash of Spielberg wow. No wonder it blew up.

Let’s be honest, Season 1 is where the magic really hit. The whole Will Byers vanishing act, Eleven showing up with her buzzcut and nosebleeds, the Demogorgon lurking in the shadows—instantly iconic. People still geek out over that bit where Eleven flips the van with her mind. That scene’s pure adrenaline, friendship, and neon-lit suspense; the real reason fans are obsessed.

The show’s got this way of making small-town life feel epic, with all that synthy music and supernatural chaos. And the cast? Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, and Winona Ryder-they didn’t just act, they owned those roles. Suddenly, everyone’s raiding thrift stores for Eggo waffles and vintage jackets.

Stranger Things didn’t just pull in kids—it hooked their parents, too. The whole world got swept up in Hawkins mania. Now, with Season 5 looming, you just know the hype machine’s revving up again. At this point, the show isn’t just Netflix’s crown jewel; it’s a neon-soaked, monster-filled, synth-blasting pop culture phenomenon.

17. The Crown (2016–2023) — IMDb 8.6 / RT 81%
Speaking of Netflix’s crown jewel, Peter Morgan’s 'The Crown' didn’t just give us a royal family drama, it straight-up turned Buckingham Palace into prestige TV’s playground. He mapped out decades of Queen Elizabeth II’s life, from her first days on the throne to the edge of the 21st century. Wildly lush; you can almost smell the old books and fancy furniture through the screen. And those performances by Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton-each one brings their own flavour to Liz, like a royal relay race with tiaras.

Now, if there’s one season that really grabs you by the pearls, it’s Season 4. Enter Princess Diana (Emma Corrin, doing heartbreak in a single glance) and Margaret Thatcher (Gillian Anderson, basically chewing up every scene). Their stories run side-by-side: Diana’s emotional tightrope walk and Thatcher’s political slugfest. It’s tense, it’s juicy—it’s like watching two storms collide over London.

Then there’s that “Fairytale” episode. Diana’s there, rehearsing her dance for “Uptown Girl,” trying so hard to win over Charles; it’s both adorable and brutal. You see every bit of her hope and loneliness, all wrapped up in a pop song and a twirl. It’s royal life in a nutshell: surrounded by people, but somehow alone.

Sure, some folks fussed about how The Crown mixes up the facts, but it’s not a documentary; it’s a story about the cost of wearing a crown. The attention to detail borders on obsessive, and the buzz? It was everywhere. Netflix didn’t just want a hit; they wanted the world talking, and they got it. The Crown didn’t just tell a story. It crashed right into the culture, sparking debates and dinner table arguments about what it really means to be royal. That’s not just TV, that’s a phenomenon.

16. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present) — IMDb 8.8
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is TV’s most gloriously unhinged cockroach, impossible to kill, shockingly still thriving. Rob McElhenney basically unleashed his inner chaos goblin and gave us “The Gang,” a bunch of absolute maniacs running Paddy’s Pub in Philly. “Running” feels generous, honestly. It’s more like they’re setting new world records for poor life choices and questionable hygiene.

Longevity? Yeah, the show’s been around so long you’d think it’d mellow out, but no. Season 7 is where it goes off the rails in the best possible way. Frank’s “Pretty Woman” moment? Pure gold. Dee dropping her pregnancy reveal? The stuff of deranged legend. It’s like the writers threw darts at a wall covered in bad ideas and filmed whatever stuck.

But the crown jewel? “The Nightman Cometh.” That’s S4E13, for the real ones. Charlie’s musical is this beautifully awkward, fever-dream trainwreck that somehow manages to lampoon Broadway and invent new flavours of cringe. It’s so uncomfortable, it wraps right around to genius.

Here’s what sets Sunny apart: nobody learns a damn thing. Redemption? Pfft. Not in this universe. Every season, they nuke the line of good taste with jokes so sharp you’ll wince, and somehow, it’s still clever as hell. Danny DeVito showing up as Frank was like adding rocket fuel to a dumpster fire.

Quoting Sunny isn’t just a pastime-it’s practically a secret handshake. The show’s DNA is baked into every modern cringe or dark comedy that actually sticks.

15. Black Mirror (2011–present) — IMDb 8.7 / RT 83%
Black Mirror is like The Twilight Zone got chucked into a blender with your smartphone and all your worst tech nightmares. It’s a wild ride as each episode is its own fever dream, a step or two away from reality, poking at how glued we are to technology, freaking out about society, and how innovation can turn everything upside down.

The show’s highs and lows? Oh, they’re dramatic. But season 3? That’s when things got turbo-charged. Netflix swooped in, and suddenly you’ve got “San Junipero” and “Nosedive” taking the show from dark and twisty to “wait, am I actually feeling feelings right now?” The internet basically exploded-everyone had thoughts.

Let’s be real, though: “San Junipero” is the one. It tosses out all the doom and gloom for a rare shot of hope—a dreamy love story in a digital afterlife. It’s sweet and queer and made so many people ugly cry, plus it grabbed those shiny Emmy awards. Not your average Black Mirror misery-fest.

Now, “Black Mirror moment” is a thing people actually say, like when your smart fridge starts making suggestions and you wonder if it’s judging your snack choices.

Okay, sure, the later seasons wobble a bit. Not everything is gold. But Black Mirror’s got this freaky way of nailing what’s already happening, not just what could happen. The scariest part? It’s way less about the future and way more about how our present is already off the rails, just with better graphics.

14. BoJack Horseman (2014–2019) — IMDb 8.8 / RT 93%
A talking horse starring in an animated series? Yeah, that sounds totally bonkers on paper. Still, BoJack Horseman didn’t just run with it; it spun the whole thing into one of the most raw, gut-punching explorations of depression, addiction, and the messiness of redemption this decade’s seen. Raphael Bob-Waksberg took all the glitz and weirdness of Hollywood, then cranked up the existential dread while winking at the audience.

Audience calls season 4 the one season for a reason. It doesn’t just glance at family trauma and mental health; it grabs you by the collar and drags you through every awkward, painful beat. But here’s the thing: every season has these episodes that stick with you, mixing absurd jokes with sucker-punch twists that leave you staring at the ceiling.

Now, “Free Churro”? Absolute legend status. Picture this: BoJack, alone on a stage, rambling through a funeral speech for his mother. That’s it. Just him, a microphone, and Will Arnett’s voice doing Olympic-level flips between biting comedy and heartbreak. Somehow, a half hour of one dude talking turns into one of the most memorable episodes out there.

The wild part is, this show doesn’t hide behind the cartoon surface. Animation, instead of being some safety net, just makes the soul-baring moments hit even harder. Characters like Princess Carolyn, Diane, and Todd are not just quirky sidekicks-they’re painfully real, dragging all their flaws and worries into the spotlight.

And the finale? No neat little bow, no magic fix for BoJack’s mess. Just a handful of hope, a glimmer of self-awareness, and maybe—just maybe—a shot at peace. It’s a wild, weird, achingly honest masterpiece hiding behind talking animals.

13. Mad Men (2007–2015) — IMDb 8.7 / RT 94%
Mad Men isn’t just a TV show; it’s a time capsule with a twist of melancholy and a whole lot of whiskey. Matthew Weiner, that guy, sweated every detail-every bit of 1960s Madison Avenue feels so real you can almost smell the Lucky Strikes and Aqua Net. It’s nostalgia, but with teeth.

Don Draper? The guy’s an icon for a reason. Jon Hamm transforms him into this charming, disaster-prone mystery man-he’s got a smile that could sell sand in the desert, but behind it? Yikes. Don basically is midcentury masculinity: confident, broken, and hiding a million secrets under those tailored suits.

People lose their minds over Season 4 as Don’s life is unravelling after his divorce, and you just can’t look away. The pitches in this season? They’re like watching a magician pull heartbreak out of a hat—brilliant, messy, and totally unforgettable.

If you need a snapshot of what makes Mad Men so good, go back to Season 1 and that legendary Kodak Carousel scene. Don’s spinning this pitch about nostalgia that’s so powerful it practically weaponises emotion—dudes in the room are wiping their eyes. Meanwhile, we know Don’s own life is, well, a total shambles. That’s advertising for you: beautiful manipulation, polished up and sold back to us.

The show’s visuals? Come on, it’s all soft lighting, sharp suits, and clouds of cigarette smoke - every frame could be a vintage postcard. But don’t let the retro gloss fool you. Mad Men isn’t just here to make you pine for the “good old days”; it’s dissecting all the ugly stuff, too. Gender roles that box people in, racial tensions simmering beneath the surface, capitalism running wild-it’s all baked in.

And then the ending! Don’s out in California, sitting cross-legged and meditating, and suddenly the Coca-Cola “Hilltop” ad pops into his head. Is that him finding peace or just another pitch? Who knows. Mad Men leaves you with a wink and a question mark, never a tidy answer. It’s the kind of show that makes you wonder if redemption is just another product we’re all trying to buy.

12. Fleabag (2016–2019) — IMDb 8.7 / RT 100%
Fleabag is like a lightning strike-fast, jagged, impossible to forget. Phoebe Waller-Bridge just parachutes in, gives you twelve episodes of pure, chaotic brilliance, and then disappears before you even finish reeling. Two seasons, that’s it. But what a ride!! Grief, lust, the mess of just existing, all tangled up with those signature smirks and confessions straight to the camera. It’s like she’s letting you in on a secret or daring you to keep up.

Season two? That’s where things go nuclear. Enter the “Hot Priest” (Andrew Scott, looking like temptation wrapped in a clerical collar), and suddenly you can’t go online without seeing memes or think pieces. The whole thing is a tightrope walk, raunchy jokes, honest-to-God heartbreak, and this rawness that makes you feel a little too seen. That one moment in episode four, when the Priest actually *sees* Fleabag breaking the fourth wall? Chills. It’s like he’s cracked her code, and by extension, he’s cracked ours. Who knew TV could still surprise like that?

And then, just when you’re begging for more, the credits roll for good. No bloated storylines, no dragging things out. Just a clean, gutsy exit. Fleabag does what epic shows can’t. It proves that sometimes short and sharp leaves the most prominent scar. The swearing, the honesty, the way it flips storytelling on its head, it’s all just so… alive.

It’ll have you snort-laughing one minute and staring at the ceiling the next, wondering why you suddenly feel like your heart’s been mugged. And yeah, the fact that it leaves you thirsty for just one more scene? That’s precisely why Fleabag’s gonna be echoing in pop culture for ages. The show’s gone, but good luck forgetting it.

11. The Office (US) (2005–2013) — IMDb 9.0 / RT 81%
The Office didn’t just tweak sitcom DNA; it blew it up and rebuilt it with that mockumentary style. Cringe? Absolutely. But then, boom, it hits you with that weird, sneaky heart. Steve Carell as Michael Scott is a whole mood. Awkward, clueless, but sometimes he’ll say something and you’re like, “Wait, am I tearing up right now?” The cast is a lineup of icons: John Krasinski’s smirk, Rainn Wilson’s pure chaos, Mindy Kaling stirring the pot, Jenna Fischer nailing every awkward pause. Every character just… lives.

Season 2 is the sweet spot. It’s this perfect storm where you’re cackling one second and, the next, you’re desperately shipping Jim and Pam. “The Dundies” is the peak awkward award show, and “Booze Cruise” shows that Michael should never be in charge of anything with a steering wheel. These episodes are why people worship this season.

But the real magic trick is the second season's finale, "Casino Night." It is a gut-punch as Jim finally lets it all out to Pam, and suddenly this silly office comedy is serving you serious heartbreak. You thought they’d just flirt forever, but they show the real drama.

Even after Carell bounced, the show kept its weird, lovable groove. Streaming turned The Office into background noise for, like, half the planet. The quotes, the memes-if you haven’t heard "That’s what she said," you are definitely living under a rock!

It’s the perfect blend - satire, absurd stuff, then outta nowhere, you get an emotional sucker punch. Not just a sitcom anymore; it’s comfort TV. People keep coming back because it just gets them.

10. Sherlock (BBC) (2010–2017) — IMDb 9.0 / RT 78%
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss grabbed Sherlock Holmes, slapped him into modern London, and made him a high-functioning, beautiful weirdo (shoutout to Cumberbatch). Martin Freeman’s Watson is the best kind of sidekick—warm, typical, somehow hanging on through all the madness.

Season 2 is where the show goes turbo. “The Reichenbach Fall” is legendary as Sherlock’s rooftop fake-out had people screaming at their TVs and flooding the internet with theories. That leap? Iconic. Cliffhanger of the decade, easy.

The way the show throws you inside Sherlock’s brain, with those snappy visuals and word clouds and jump cuts, feels electric. And the Easter eggs, the sly jokes? Tumblr was obsessed. The fan theories, the ships—it was basically a fandom fever dream.

Yeah, some later episodes got a little wild (Season 4, you know what you did), but early Sherlock was pure fire. It made Cumberbatch a household name and proved that, with the right twist, even a dusty old detective can set the world on fire again.

9. Rick and Morty (2013–present) — IMDb 9.0 / RT 91%
Rick and Morty is chaos bottled and shaken till it explodes in your face. Imagine if crass jokes and cosmic philosophy had a bizarre baby, and then that baby blew up the universe for fun. That’s Roiland and Harmon for you, with Rick, the genius with a liver of steel, dragging poor Morty into every multiverse disaster imaginable.

Season 3’s where it really goes off the rails…in the best way. “The Rickshank Rickdemption” cracks things wide open, and then you hit “Pickle Rick.” Rick literally becomes a pickle just to get out of therapy. It’s ridiculous, but somehow, mid-mayhem, you get these gut-punch moments about family and dysfunction. Only this show could turn a pickle into a symbol for emotional avoidance and then toss you back into rat-slaughtering chaos.

Honestly, Rick and Morty is a brain-bender disguised as an animated gross-out. Every episode throws big questions about meaning, toxic family ties, and whether anything’s even real. Moreover, the pop culture references come in hot and heavy, like a trivia night with no brakes. That’s why it’s a cult classic for both meme-lords and armchair philosophers.

Unpredictability is the real star here. Rick and Morty is the series that unites the late-night stoners and the existential crisis crowd-nobody else is even trying that.

8. Game of Thrones (2011–2019) — IMDb 9.2 / RT 89%
Game of Thrones was a cultural meteor, smashing everything in its path. HBO took Martin’s fantasy fever dream and turned it into must-see, hold-your-breath television. Dragons, betrayals, and so much scheming you needed a corkboard to keep up.

Season 4 is legendary for a reason. Tyrion on trial, The Mountain vs. The Viper-just thinking about that duel gives me chills. Oberyn’s swagger, the crowd’s hope, and then—splat. One of TV’s most shocking deaths. That’s Thrones: don’t get attached, don’t get comfortable, because nobody is safe.

Sure, the monsters and magic got the headlines, but it was the spider-web of human ambition that hooked you. Thrones owned the water cooler; Monday mornings were basically recap central. Even with those last seasons dividing the crowd, the show’s fingerprints are all over pop culture-“winter is coming” and dragon memes everywhere. Plus, it flung open the doors for big-budget fantasy on TV. Now everybody wants a piece.

At its best, Thrones wasn’t just TV; it was an event. You missed an episode? You risked exile.

7. The Sopranos (1999–2007, but ran into the 2000s) — IMDb 9.2 / RT 92%
The Sopranos is the godfather of modern TV drama. Tony Soprano, mob boss with a panic disorder and a therapist on speed dial. Before this, TV didn’t dare get that messy, that real. The Sopranos smashed the rules, mixing mob hits with deep dives into Tony’s psyche.

Season 1 set the stage, but Season 2? That’s when the show really flexed. Ralph Cifaretto shows up, mob politics get gnarlier, and Tony’s life unravels in slow motion. The scene where Tony nearly collapses at his kid’s game?

Dream sequences, anti-heroes, scenes that leave you hanging - the show rewired TV. Gandolfini’s Tony is still the blueprint for tortured leads everywhere. And the finale? Cut to black, cue decades of debate. If The Sopranos hadn’t done it first, the “golden age of television” wouldn’t even get off the ground.

6. Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005–2008) — IMDb 9.3 / RT 100%
Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender isn’t just another cartoon; it’s the kind of show that makes you rethink what animation can even do. Three “books” or seasons, all following Aang as he tries to juggle saving the world and being twelve. It’s epic. The Fire Nation’s out here wreaking havoc, and Aang’s gotta master all four elements just to stand a chance.

Now, Book 2: Earth? That’s where this thing really flexes. The lore deepens, everything gets a little grittier, and Toph Beifong rolls in like, "I’m the best earthbender alive." She’s a total game-changer. The show starts asking bigger questions, getting into the weeds with its themes, way more than you’d expect from a so-called kids’ show.

But let’s talk “The Tales of Ba Sing Se.” That episode is a masterclass. It’s just little slices of life, side stories, but the Iroh bit? If you’ve seen it, you know. It’s just him, a lantern, and the memory of his son, and suddenly you’re ugly-crying in your living room. It’s honestly one of TV’s most gutting moments, animated or not.

Avatar’s world-building is nuts, be it its maps, histories, or whole cultures. It’s got jokes, killer fight scenes (seriously, the choreography would put some action movies to shame), and characters who actually grow up. Legend of Korra did some cool things, but let’s be real, the original is untouchable. It’s a TV legend for a reason.

5. The Wire (2002–2008) — IMDb 9.3 / RT 94%
Now, if you want to talk legendary TV, you have to bring up The Wire. People call it the best drama ever, and for once, the hype is justified. It didn’t pull huge ratings, but man, it dug deep into Baltimore’s bones. Every season’s a different angle, which features cops, schools, politicians, and the media, showing how broken systems mess up real lives.

Season 4 is Brutal. It follows these kids just trying to survive in schools that barely work. There’s this chess scene in Season 1 where D’Angelo is breaking it all down, turning a board game into a metaphor for street life. It’s one of those moments that sticks with you, long after you finish binging.

What makes The Wire so wild is that it refuses to sugarcoat anything—no easy villains. No melodrama. It’s just raw, honest, and weirdly patient. You gotta pay attention, but the payoff? Totally worth it. And it never won a big Emmy, which is just... typical. Now it’s required reading or viewing in college courses. It’s basically the closest TV gets to a sociology class that actually keeps you awake.

4. Planet Earth II / Planet Earth (2006, 2016) — IMDb 9.4
Before Attenborough and his squad showed up, most nature docs were just, like, fuzzy animals and sleepy commentary. Then Planet Earth hit in 2006, and suddenly, you’re seeing the world in high-def, jaws on the floor. Planet Earth II cranked everything up with drones and ultra-HD—seriously, some of those shots look fake, they’re so gorgeous.

That iguana vs. snakes scene? Iconic. The internet lost its mind. It’s like, forget horror movies-real nature is way more intense. And that’s the trick: even without “characters,” these shows make animals and landscapes feel like the stars of some epic adventure.

Planet Earth changed the whole game for documentaries. Suddenly, everyone wanted to save the planet—or at least binge-watch more lizards. That’s cultural impact with a capital “I.”

All three of these shows? They’re more than just TV. They’re world-builders, heart-breakers, and absolute game-changers in their own lanes.

3. Chernobyl (2019) — IMDb 9.3 / RT 96%
HBO’s Chernobyl is a five-part descent into chaos, stitched together with almost surgical precision and a vibe that’ll haunt you for days. Craig Mazin, the mastermind behind it, doesn’t just replay the 1986 meltdown; he drags you through every blistering moment, from the boneheaded mistakes to the thick smog of Soviet cover-ups. The whole thing hums with this eerie, muted dread, and the writing? Seriously, it cuts deep.

But let’s talk about the finale, “Vichnaya Pamyat.” That episode is a tidal wave. Jared Harris, as Legasov, stands up in court and shreds the authorities with a testimony that’s all quiet fire. His words hang in the air, warning us: lies and unchecked power are a recipe for disaster, and honestly, the echo’s hard to shake.

And those firefighter scenes, unforgettable! Watching them grab radioactive graphite with their bare hands, clueless about the invisible death swirling around them, is pure nightmare fuel. That moment just nails the horror of what you can’t see, and how ignorance can kill.

Chernobyl turned into this cultural lightning bolt, and for good reason. The realism, the mood, the urgency-it’s all there. More than just a binge-worthy show, it’s a raw history lesson and a warning: keep your eyes open, and never trust a pretty lie.

2. Band of Brothers (2001) — IMDb 9.4 / RT 97%
Band of Brothers was brought to life by Spielberg and Hanks and has claimed its spot as the war miniseries to beat. Ten episodes, all killer, no filler. It drops you straight into Easy Company’s wild ride, boot camp to battlefield, and yeah, the aftermath too. The show’s got this insane mix: sweeping shots that feel ripped from a movie, then gritty, almost documentary-style realism that’ll have you smelling the mud.

Now, if you wanna talk heavy-hitting episodes, just look at Episode 6-Bastogne, it is where it gets real, shivering-in-your-seat real. The spotlight's on Doc Roe, the company’s medic, who’s honestly just trying to keep people alive while surrounded, freezing, and running out of supplies. It’s survival on hard mode, and somehow, it still finds time for these flashes of pure humanity.

But here’s where it gets genius: those interviews with the actual veterans. Suddenly, you’re not just watching history play out—you’re hearing it, feeling it, living it. Veterans gave it their blessing, viewers couldn’t get enough, and honestly, it’s both a thrill ride and a heartfelt tribute all at once.

Bottom line? Nobody’s topped it. Band of Brothers takes the giant, messy scale of war and zooms in so close you can see every crack. That’s why it’s the MVP of miniseries.

1.⁠ ⁠Breaking Bad (2008–2013) — IMDb 9.5 / RT 96%
Vince Gilligan’s Breaking Bad doesn’t just sit at the top of TV drama; it basically planted its flag and dared anyone else to try. The show is bold, gutsy, and that character work? Wild. At the core, you’ve got Walter White (Bryan Cranston completely owning the role) starting as your standard, underpaid, overqualified chemistry teacher, and slowly morphing into the infamous Heisenberg. The transformation is nuts. What begins as desperation and a little pride spirals into something much darker, as Walt’s morals get twisted up like a pretzel.

Each season’s got its own flavour, but Season 5 is where things get absolutely savage. “Ozymandias” is the high-water mark, no question. People always toss around “best episode ever,” but this one? It earns it. That scene in the desert, Hank’s death? Gut-punch stuff. You can practically hear the sound of Walt’s world crumbling. Cranston and Aaron Paul (who gives Jesse real pain and grit) are just fire in these moments-raw, wrecked, completely unforgettable.

There’s this crazy alchemy going on: pulpy crime mixed with old-school tragedy, all wrapped in razor-sharp plotting and those “wait, did that just happen?” moments. Breaking Bad didn’t just entertain; it crashed straight into the culture. It proved TV could be as grand, messy, and powerful as any novel out there, locking down its masterpiece status for good.

The Takeaway

What do these 25 shows actually tell us about TV? For starters, TV finally shrugged off its “movie’s little brother” status and basically said, “Hey, step aside, Hollywood—I got this.” Now, with streaming everywhere (seriously, does anyone even remember cable?), shows became the new campfire. Everybody—your friend from high school, your grandma, that random guy on Reddit—watching, freaking out, and memeing *at the same time*, no matter where they are.

Look at the range here. You’ve got Game of Thrones, basically a medieval fever dream that took over the planet. Then there’s Normal People, whispering secrets and making everyone cry into their pillow. The Office? Comfort food. It’s Always Sunny? Chaos gremlins with a camera. Animations—dude, BoJack and Rick and Morty are out here having existential crises harder than most philosophy professors. Oh, and Band of Brothers, Chernobyl—stuff so gripping you forget it’s real history, not just top-tier drama.

But the real kicker? TV went wild for the anti-hero. Tony Soprano, Walter White, Don Draper—guys you’d never invite to dinner but can’t stop watching anyway. Meanwhile, Fleabag and The Handmaid’s Tale? Breaking the old rules, giving women’s stories that raw punch they deserved way back when.

Yeah, “Peak TV” sounds like there’s too much going on—and there is, not gonna lie—but it’s kinda awesome. There’s literally a show for every mood, every weird corner of your soul. Laugh, cry, hide behind the couch, whatever. These 25? Top shelf. The best of the best. The stuff people will still be talking about when we’re all holograms or whatever.

Sure, some shows vanish faster than a Snapchat, but the legends stick. You quote them at work, write papers about them, binge them when you’re supposed to be “just watching one episode.” They’re not just shows—they’re the backbone of this whole golden age.

Long story short? TV’s done playing second fiddle. It’s the big boss now, the novel of our time. Messy, epic, sometimes weird, but when it’s good, it’s unforgettable.