The 20 best TV shows of the 21st century, so far

Considered by many to be the best television show of all time, Breaking Bad set the bar for television drama in an unprecedented way. The series follows chemistry teacher Walter White, who is diagnosed with cancer and begins cooking meth to provide for his family. However, his priorities change, and he eventually becomes a feared drug kingpin. Thanks to its masterful writing, character arcs, visual storytelling and genius twists, Breaking Bad is television at its very best. 

Based on Ricky Gervais’ U.K. series, the American remake of The Office is one of the most beloved comedies in television history. The mockumentary-style show is set at a paper company, following the everyday antics and personalities within the office, especially their eccentric boss Michael Scott. The Office created a unique brand of cringe humor that many shows have been influenced by while also giving viewers lovable characters to follow and root for despite their quirks.

Based on George R. R. Martin’s book series, Game of Thrones is the fantastical epic that took the world by storm and became a pop culture phenomenon like no other. Set in the mythical world of Westeros, nine noble families fight for the Iron Throne as an ancient enemy known as the White Walkers return to threaten the existence of men. GOT set new heights for prestige television, with the entire world captivated by gruesome deaths, explicit sex scenes, wild twists, and of course, dragons. 

It’s the show that’s been sweeping the Emmys and every other awards show, since its release, and for good reason. Inspired by the Murdoch empire, Succession follows the Roy family, who own the world’s biggest media company. When patriarch Logan Roy steps down, his children fight amongst themselves to take his place. It’s a scathing look at the greedy and unethical personalities of the corporate world, with pitch-perfect writing and masterful performances. 

Despite being one of the best TV shows of the 21st century, HBO’s The Wire remains severely underrated. The series is set within the Baltimore drug scene and follows both law enforcement and drug kingpins. With ridiculously good storytelling and complex characters, The Wire laid out the foundations for subsequent shows like Breaking Bad. Despite a weaker final season, it is some of the best dramatic television in years. 

One of the hottest shows of the moment is The Bear , the culinary-set comedy drama that looks at the trials and tribulations of working in the kitchen. Jeremy Allen White plays Carmy, a young chef from the world of fine dining who takes over his late brother’s sandwich shop. The show is a brilliant exercise in tension, as personalities in the kitchen clash and Carmy deals with his troubled family. With characters that are easy to root for, The Bear is one of the best shows on TV right now.

Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso is the delightful surprise hit that won the hearts of audiences everywhere. The comedy follows Ted Lasso, an optimistic American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team despite knowing nothing about the sport. It’s an unabashedly wholesome show that features positive messages and extremely likable characters. While it is hilarious, it also features many moving moments and balances its dramatic and comedic tones superbly.

Over the years, animated television has slowly gained the same respect as live-action, and rightfully so, with Nickelodeon’s Avatar: The Last Airbender ranking higher in acclaim and popularity than a lot of live-action series. The show follows four elemental nations at war with each other, with only the Avatar being able to restore peace. The series is set to be adapted into a live-action series for Netflix in 2024 but will have to do a lot to live up to the thrilling action and storytelling of the original.

HBO has produced several acclaimed miniseries over the years, but their standout is undeniably 2019’s Chernobyl. It is a dramatic retelling of the deadly explosion that occurred at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, devastating lives at the scene and in the years following. The series captures the horrific impact of the explosion on people’s lives and is eerily haunting to watch. With only five episodes, it manages to pack in so much and pull a real punch. 

Children have grown up watching and learning from shows like Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood and Sesame Street, but the current show that has connected with kids and families all over the world is Bluey. The Australian series follows Bluey, an imaginative Blue Heeler puppy who goes on adventures with her family and younger sister Bingo. Resonating with kids and adults, Bluey is educational and emotionally intelligent and isn’t afraid to spotlight difficult issues children face.

It’s always a risk when creating a sequel or prequel to a great show, and for many, Breaking Bad is the greatest of all time. However, Better Call Saul isn’t far behind. The series follows sketchy lawyer Jimmy McGill, and explores how he became Breaking Bad’s Saul Goodman. It offers a fascinating character study and adds more complex layers to Saul’s character through his turbulent backstory. Tying into the Breaking Bad series and featuring other characters from the show, it is a rare brilliant spin-off.

As the longest-running live-action American sitcom, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia holds a special place in sitcom history. Set in Philadelphia, the show follows five egotistical and selfish friends who run an Irish pub. The toxic relationships, narcissistic characters, and wrongdoings make for hilarious viewing, elevated by tight writing and fantastic performances. Many long-running sitcoms start to lose their steam after a while, but It’s Always Sunny remains consistently funny.

Curb Your Enthusiasm sees Seinfeld co-creator Larry David play an exaggerated version of himself, as he gets into various situations and misadventures with friends and celebrities. First airing in 2000, the series took a six-year break and returned in 2017. With its sharp and intelligent observational humor that creates chaos out of the mundane, Curb Your Enthusiasm further proves the genius of Larry David and features some of the best and craziest celebrity cameos in any sitcom. 

Adult animation has soared within the 21st century, thanks to hits like Big Mouth, Rick and Morty, and Family Guy. One of the most revered adult animated series from the last ten years is Netflix’s BoJack Horseman. It is set in a world of humanoid animals coexisting with humans and follows BoJack Horseman, a washed up actor living in Hollywood who decides it's time for a comeback. The show’s dark humor and comedic take on serious topics has deeply connected with viewers. 

The advancement of technology in our society is larger than we ever could have imagined, and anthology series Black Mirror brings our worst technical fears to life. Each episode is set in a dystopian version of our modern world and highlights the dark side of technology and its side-effects. Each episode is vastly different in tone and story, but the best episodes of the series have managed to shock viewers to their core, eerily reminiscent of the way our world is headed. 

Before Cillian Murphy starred in Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster Oppenheimer, he famously played English gangster Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders . Tommy leads the Peaky Blinders, a family gangster organization who control the city of Birmingham. Tommy is a ruthless leader who will do anything to expand his empire and will not let anybody get in the way. It is an epic odyssey of crime, power and politics, with incredible performances from actors like Murphy, Tom Hardy, and the late Helen McCroy. 

Mad Men is a period drama set in the world of advertising and follows Don Draper, a charismatic and slick ad executive working at one of New York’s most prestigious ad agencies in the 1960s. The series captures the aesthetics and attitudes of the time period perfectly and is celebrated for its production elements, depiction of changing times, and astounding ensemble cast. Jon Hamm won multiple awards for his portrayal of Draper, creating an iconic American character.

Stranger Things is undoubtedly Netflix’s biggest series of all time, thanks to its mix of heart, sci-fi, and nostalgia. Set in the town of Hawkins in the 1980s, the show follows a group of young friends who discover supernatural forces and government exploits when they meet a mysterious girl called Eleven. Along with its thrilling twists and endearing characters, Stranger Things captures the innocence of a bygone era and pays homage to the work of Stephen King and other classic science fiction. 

Donald Glover, a.k.a Childish Gambino, is one of the most esteemed modern artists and creative voices in the industry today, and he builds on his reputation with the unique series Atlanta. Glover plays Earn, who, along with his cousin Alfred, navigate their way through Atlanta’s rap scene. Through Earn and Alfred’s journey, Glover touches on important issues like race, poverty, parenthood, and relationships and does so through a wickedly sharp sense of humor and intriguing surrealism. 

Before Walter White, there was Tony Soprano. HBO’s epic mafia series The Sopranos follows the Italian-American mob boss in New Jersey as he struggles to balance his family and criminal life. As Tony seeks professional help by confiding in his psychiatrist, the show offers a darkly funny and realistic look into this violent and complicated family. The late, great James Gandolfini brought to life one of the most defining TV characters of all time and has left a mark on dramatic television.