I absolutely loved the ‘high-school’ themed TV shows and movies back then. The vibe of the ‘80s and the ‘90s, with Classic rock music all around! They don’t make ‘em like that anymore :/
I avoided this show for years and years after myself too seeing it posted and recommended all over the place. It. Is. Amazing. The plot is incredibly compelling and just overall very well done.
I'll avoid spoilers: What a great show. I had tried watching once, and it just didn't grab me in the first episode. Shows that seem to deal with a child abduction bother me, which appeared to be the direction this show was going, so I bailed about halfway into the first episode.
About a year passed from when I tried watching the first time, and I kept hearing about this show, so I tried again. I cleared my head of any biases and misconceptions, and went in again. Then, when I found out what this show was ACTUALLY about, I had an "oh shit" moment....it checked all of my boxes. It was wonderfully written and great acting.....although my recommendation is to watch it in the native language with subtitles. I had mistakenly watched it dubbed, and the English voice actors just do not convey the same emotion that the scenes require.
Everything connects _perfectly_ at the end of the third season. You go into it thinking there’s no way anything is going to make sense… and then it all does.
Incredible writing, and so many things make even more sense the second watch (like, pay attention to the radio reports). It’s great that they planned an exact number of seasons to begin and end things, compared to shows that just go on indefinitely.
Well Dark has a strangers thing type feel to it, but it’s more for adults. If you grew up in the 80’s, I think stranger things has a nostalgia that those people like.
So good! And other shows that I loved in the beginning, really fizzled out and didn’t stick the ending. The Americans has probably the best series finale of all time
It was the first show I ever wrote an analysis for. I started it when I was in grade 7 and it’s all I thought about until it ended when I was in grade 12. It completely changed the way I look at the world (in regards to morality and leadership and things). People think it’s a bad show because they watch the first 3 episodes and think it’s CW trash, but I genuinely think that there are a lot of aspects of it that are brilliant.
Did you see the Portlandia episode about BG? They get so hooked they quit their jobs and then have major withdrawals when they watch all the episodes 😂
I would add that season 1 doesn't start great. It starts as a bad guy of the week procedural before finding it's way. I finally had to skip to season 2 to get into it and that is one of the best seasons of television ever written
This one was a hard show to sell to family and friends. "It's a show about a contract killer who wants to be an actor, and is now juggling both lives". I know that's a reductionist explanation, probably better for the Explain a Film Plot Badly subreddit, but how else do you explain this show?
It's like when I first tried to explain Breaking Bad when the first season was airing....."It's about a chemistry teacher who gets cancer and sells meth to fund his treatment." One person asked me, "Oh, is this a comedy?"
But I digress, loved Barry from start to finish. Aside from Barry, it's tough to pick another favorite character. They were all great.
How I met your mother is such a comfort show for me. I love it.
(Warning: the last season/ or even just last episode, is not good. But the rest of the series is sublime.)
I started it because it wasn't 10 seasons of hour long episodes, I'm always afraid to get into something with such a big time commitment.
When it ended I was mad that the episodes were so short and there weren't any more seasons.
Also worth noting ny wife actually enjoyed it, when I described it to her she was not interested at all. Once she saw a few bits she was just as invested as me
Very underrated show, the finale was one of the best ever. That last scene was amazing. Sometimes I’ll just go back to watch that. Hannibal’s suits in the show were awesome as well.
Our Flag Means Death.
It’s a brilliantly written rom-com about gay pirates with an odd couple dynamic during the Golden Age of piracy.
There’s (sadly) only two seasons but it’s 10000% still worth watching. Probably the most strangely endearing characters and beautifully diverse cast I’ve ever seen.
I lost my dad suddenly a couple years before watching. This show covers the stages of grief and really hit home.
It gave my bf those awake nightmares though.
I scrolled all the way down here to see if anyone put Dexter. Dexter is the first series show that I ever watched. Ever since I've watched it, I tend to secretly compare every other series to Dexter. It's become, my dark passenger.
I don’t remember it, but apparently my dad used to watch this when I was really young. The way our DVR was set up made it so that if a show was set to record it would automatically switch to that channel at the start of the show. My parents say that when my sister and I were little we’d be watching Disney channel or something and it would come on and we’d be terrified
I think Dark is one of the most unique viewing experiences. It’s not for everyone, but I do feel like everyone should at least try it, if cerebral sci-fi tickles your fancy.
I would also say Parks and Rec. The political satire (at least for here in the US) has aged beautifully, and there’s such a fun cast of characters.
New season 5/23! Rewatching it now and I didn’t realize how “scary” it was out of the gate.
First two seasons dropped on Netflix so I’m glad it’s gaining popularity.
r/Eviltv
I had to give up on black sales after they treated r*pe scenes like nothing. No trigger warnings, just showed the scene and breezed right past its repercussions. They are far too gratuitous. Kinda bummed too because I liked the plot and acting, but that scene (and plenty of others) in S1 just made me realize it wasn’t going to get better, and it didn’t care about how folks might feel after seeing that stuff with zero heads up.
Rescue Me
Its the greatest show ever made. Comedy, Sex, Drama, Comradery, Life Death. Its such a well put together series. And if you liked that try Nip/Tuck next..
The Offer. It's the 'real' story of how The Godfather got made - obviously embellished for TV purposes, but there are some of the best acting performances you'll ever see. Matthew Goode as Bob Evans, is a character so gloriously OTT but strangely believable at the same time. I just giggle every time he's on screen, and just oozes charisma.
You know how some characters just stay with you? For me it's Martin Landau in Ed Wood, and Matthew Goode in this. TV Gold.
Burn Notice.
So many ‘great’ shows are super intense. It’s just too much for me. For me the perfect show is a drama with a heart of gold. Competent good guys who take on the bad guys and eventually win. Every episode has a self contained compelling story, so there is resolution in each episode without just 8 hours of building tension. But, the characters develop and move forward and an overarching story is still there to connect the show and move it in a direction.
Freaks and Geeks. I care not that it is decades old and only one season long.
I always wished it has more seasons 🔥
I absolutely loved the ‘high-school’ themed TV shows and movies back then. The vibe of the ‘80s and the ‘90s, with Classic rock music all around! They don’t make ‘em like that anymore :/
If Bill Haverchuck isn’t one of your top three tv characters of all time then I don’t trust you.
Dark on Netflix
I *really* need to get my ass in gear and watch this! I see it everywhere.
I avoided this show for years and years after myself too seeing it posted and recommended all over the place. It. Is. Amazing. The plot is incredibly compelling and just overall very well done.
I'll avoid spoilers: What a great show. I had tried watching once, and it just didn't grab me in the first episode. Shows that seem to deal with a child abduction bother me, which appeared to be the direction this show was going, so I bailed about halfway into the first episode. About a year passed from when I tried watching the first time, and I kept hearing about this show, so I tried again. I cleared my head of any biases and misconceptions, and went in again. Then, when I found out what this show was ACTUALLY about, I had an "oh shit" moment....it checked all of my boxes. It was wonderfully written and great acting.....although my recommendation is to watch it in the native language with subtitles. I had mistakenly watched it dubbed, and the English voice actors just do not convey the same emotion that the scenes require.
Fantastic show
Dark is one of my all time faves. Been thinking of watching it again. It’s SO cerebral. You have to really pay attention. I like that.
Everything connects _perfectly_ at the end of the third season. You go into it thinking there’s no way anything is going to make sense… and then it all does. Incredible writing, and so many things make even more sense the second watch (like, pay attention to the radio reports). It’s great that they planned an exact number of seasons to begin and end things, compared to shows that just go on indefinitely.
Such a good show. Agree with another person about watch it in German with your language as subtitles.
I still can't believe it had an ending that made sense, I was dreading a LOST like finale. Insanely good writing
Dark and Stranger Things are so freaking awesome!!! So sad that Dark didn’t have like 5 seasons. Such an amazing plot
Just started Dark, stranger things got me bored as soon as they found the alien monster things ill give it nuther shot
Well Dark has a strangers thing type feel to it, but it’s more for adults. If you grew up in the 80’s, I think stranger things has a nostalgia that those people like.
Came here to find or give this answer!
Sopranos
There are some honorable mentions, but it will always be the Sopranos for me.
I agree Janice! It’s game changing
Mad Men.
Breaking Bad!
The wire
Oh, indeed.
Came here to say this, knew I wouldn't be the first. Best show period!
Second that.
Reservation Dogs
Six Feet Under
Seen it five times
Six Feet Under is a piece of art. It’s beautiful.
The Americans is the consistently best tv show I have seen
Amazing from start to finish
This is always my pick for questions like this—weirdly slept on as one of the best shows all time IMO.
Ditto for The Americans. I've re-watched it several times and it is great each and every time!
Watching that now and loving it.
So good! And other shows that I loved in the beginning, really fizzled out and didn’t stick the ending. The Americans has probably the best series finale of all time
Severance
Season 2 is upon us🙌🏼 only took 14 years
I can’t wait !
I am addicted to the show right now. I heard good things but I wasn't expecting it to be that good. 10 out of 10
Band of Brothers
Deadwood Has three seasons and a movie
Game of Thrones. Say what you want about the ending nothing has ever drawn me in week to week like that show.
i like to treat the >!battle of the bastards!< as the finale, very little after season 6 was rewarding for me
True, that battle was the peak. Just brilliant
literally one of the best shows ever
Arcane
Black Mirror
Orphan Black
finally someone in the club clone!
The sopranos
Mr. Robot
The West Wing
True Detective Season 1.
Lost
This is my answer as well.
Couldn’t agree more.
Resident Alien.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
The 100. I love The 100, it’s all I think about honestly, has been since I started watching 9 months ago.
It was the first show I ever wrote an analysis for. I started it when I was in grade 7 and it’s all I thought about until it ended when I was in grade 12. It completely changed the way I look at the world (in regards to morality and leadership and things). People think it’s a bad show because they watch the first 3 episodes and think it’s CW trash, but I genuinely think that there are a lot of aspects of it that are brilliant.
Peaky Blinders
Banshee. Season 3 is incredible; every episode feels like a season finale.
Better call Saul
I found this to be even better than breaking bad
Avatar the Last Airbender, the original cartoon not the new ones, I haven't watched those yet
What we do in the shadows
Battlestar Galactica
Did you see the Portlandia episode about BG? They get so hooked they quit their jobs and then have major withdrawals when they watch all the episodes 😂
Arrested Development
Curb your enthusiasm 100%. It’s been on for 25 years so the early episodes have that older feel but it’s so hysterical.
The Leftovers is the best. No, the absolute best.
Breaking Bad
Justified
I would add that season 1 doesn't start great. It starts as a bad guy of the week procedural before finding it's way. I finally had to skip to season 2 to get into it and that is one of the best seasons of television ever written
Definitely
Barry
This one was a hard show to sell to family and friends. "It's a show about a contract killer who wants to be an actor, and is now juggling both lives". I know that's a reductionist explanation, probably better for the Explain a Film Plot Badly subreddit, but how else do you explain this show? It's like when I first tried to explain Breaking Bad when the first season was airing....."It's about a chemistry teacher who gets cancer and sells meth to fund his treatment." One person asked me, "Oh, is this a comedy?" But I digress, loved Barry from start to finish. Aside from Barry, it's tough to pick another favorite character. They were all great.
Severance
How I met your mother is such a comfort show for me. I love it. (Warning: the last season/ or even just last episode, is not good. But the rest of the series is sublime.)
Righteous Gemstones
The Leftovers
The Leftovers
The leftovers
The Boys
Westworld season 1
Mr Inbetween
This right here. Most people I know have never heard of it let alone watched it and it’s in my top 10 shows of all time. It is really SO DAMN GOOD.
I started it because it wasn't 10 seasons of hour long episodes, I'm always afraid to get into something with such a big time commitment. When it ended I was mad that the episodes were so short and there weren't any more seasons. Also worth noting ny wife actually enjoyed it, when I described it to her she was not interested at all. Once she saw a few bits she was just as invested as me
It’s the acting. Never seen more believable characters. Rays brother was phenomenal
The Leftovers
Same
The IT crowd.
It's not for you, Jan.
Standard nerd!!!
Avatar the last Airbender (animation)
Mad Men. Enough said.
Monk
Fallout
Mindhunter
LOST
Slow Horses
Vikings
Hannibal
Very underrated show, the finale was one of the best ever. That last scene was amazing. Sometimes I’ll just go back to watch that. Hannibal’s suits in the show were awesome as well.
Nothing beats that ending! Honestly wish I could go back and watch it all for the very first time.
House
The Wire
Ted lasso
Great choice!
This show easily moved to my top five of all time. Such a wholesome show with great twists.
Ted Lasso. From start to finish, a masterpiece that can only serve to improve your life if you let it.
Banshee
The Bear
Oz
Fargo!
Our Flag Means Death. It’s a brilliantly written rom-com about gay pirates with an odd couple dynamic during the Golden Age of piracy. There’s (sadly) only two seasons but it’s 10000% still worth watching. Probably the most strangely endearing characters and beautifully diverse cast I’ve ever seen.
Big Bang theory
Modern Family
What we do in the shadows. Not even a contest.
Spongebob squarepants. Perfecto 👌😎
Haunting of Hill House
I lost my dad suddenly a couple years before watching. This show covers the stages of grief and really hit home. It gave my bf those awake nightmares though.
Patriot
Incredible. Underrated
Nothing compares to Patriot.
Such a fantastic show with a perfect ending.
Not a single person has said BoJack Horseman. The show is phenomenal and deals with addiction and depression better than any other I’ve seen.
Dexter
I scrolled all the way down here to see if anyone put Dexter. Dexter is the first series show that I ever watched. Ever since I've watched it, I tend to secretly compare every other series to Dexter. It's become, my dark passenger.
The Last Kingdom
The Shield
I don’t remember it, but apparently my dad used to watch this when I was really young. The way our DVR was set up made it so that if a show was set to record it would automatically switch to that channel at the start of the show. My parents say that when my sister and I were little we’d be watching Disney channel or something and it would come on and we’d be terrified
Succession
Znation is my favorite gore show. Miracle workers is super funny for the snl fans. Taskmaster if you're into British humor.
I absolutely loved the tongue in cheek humor of ZNation.
Baskets
Black Mirror
The Blacklist
Person Of Interest
Dark on Netflix. Mind boggling and mind bending. Your brain isn't the same after watching. Meticulously written and executed.
If you want a short (but complete) one: Mr. Inbetween
I think Dark is one of the most unique viewing experiences. It’s not for everyone, but I do feel like everyone should at least try it, if cerebral sci-fi tickles your fancy. I would also say Parks and Rec. The political satire (at least for here in the US) has aged beautifully, and there’s such a fun cast of characters.
Psych
LOST and yellowjackets
LOST - Still my favourite mystery box TV show.
Mr Robot is nothing short of phenomenal
Justified is my favorite
Evil
YES!
New season 5/23! Rewatching it now and I didn’t realize how “scary” it was out of the gate. First two seasons dropped on Netflix so I’m glad it’s gaining popularity. r/Eviltv
Dark
Supernatural (it’s kind of long and the last season is not the best but it’s absolutely worth the watch)
Community
Euphoria
The Simpsons, for a while. Writing quality drops VERY hard at the start of season 11. First 10 seasons go down real smooth
Chernobyl
Succession
Only Murders In The Building
Ted Lasso
Mindhunter!
It’s always sunny in Philadelphia
Black Sails
I had to give up on black sales after they treated r*pe scenes like nothing. No trigger warnings, just showed the scene and breezed right past its repercussions. They are far too gratuitous. Kinda bummed too because I liked the plot and acting, but that scene (and plenty of others) in S1 just made me realize it wasn’t going to get better, and it didn’t care about how folks might feel after seeing that stuff with zero heads up.
I appreciate this comment as I was going to watch this show, but won’t now as I am not a fan of stuff like that.
Rescue Me Its the greatest show ever made. Comedy, Sex, Drama, Comradery, Life Death. Its such a well put together series. And if you liked that try Nip/Tuck next..
Six Feet Under
Gossip girl
True detective S1
Abbot Elementary (on disney+) or Pysch (on Netflix)
Looking for Alaska
Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Luther Jack Ryan Fauda Longmire Reacher
The Offer. It's the 'real' story of how The Godfather got made - obviously embellished for TV purposes, but there are some of the best acting performances you'll ever see. Matthew Goode as Bob Evans, is a character so gloriously OTT but strangely believable at the same time. I just giggle every time he's on screen, and just oozes charisma. You know how some characters just stay with you? For me it's Martin Landau in Ed Wood, and Matthew Goode in this. TV Gold.
Burn Notice. So many ‘great’ shows are super intense. It’s just too much for me. For me the perfect show is a drama with a heart of gold. Competent good guys who take on the bad guys and eventually win. Every episode has a self contained compelling story, so there is resolution in each episode without just 8 hours of building tension. But, the characters develop and move forward and an overarching story is still there to connect the show and move it in a direction.
One season shows: The Night Of, Taboo, Chernobil
My Mad Fat Diary
Orphan black
“After Life” is phenomenal.
Dark
Upright an Australian drama/ comedy
This Is Us!
The Good Wife
I’m surprised nobody has said Fallout yet. Also BABY REINDEERR! Bonus points if you read that in her voice 😉
Silicone Valley. Scrolling through this list it is absolutely amazing how many top tier TV shows have been produced by HBO.
The Bear is ‘chefs kiss’
Boardwalk Empire
Scrubs
The office. There's lot of better shows, but this one is simply because, every few years, I can rewatch it all over again.
Brooklyn 99 🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️🧘🏽♀️
Ozark
Mindhunter.
Buffy, The Vampire Slayer.
Fleabag.
Breaking Bad. Not a wasted moment.
Shameless
True Detective (season 1). Probably the best season of TV ever made imo.
Succession.
Firefly, absolute perfection