Ranked roundup
The best series of all time
80 ranked · updated July 2026
These essential series define the pinnacle of television by masterfully exploring the complexities of human morality, systemic power, and the absurdity of everyday life. Through unparalleled character development and narrative ambition, these shows transcend their genres to offer profound reflections on the nature of existence and modern society.
How this ranking works
Ranked by appearances across critical-consensus rankings of the greatest television, with ties broken by each title's best position among them, then mapped to the series in our catalog.
The Sopranos
David Chase
The Sopranos secures the top spot by revolutionizing the medium through its unflinching examination of existential dread and the psychological duality of its central mob protagonist.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existential Crisis, Family Dynamics.
The Wire
David Simon
The Wire earns its position for its peerless, documentary-style analysis of urban decay and the crushing weight of institutional failure upon the individual.
Explores: Systemic Corruption, Moral Ambiguity, Urban Decay.
Breaking Bad
Vince Gilligan
Breaking Bad is essential viewing for its clinical, terrifyingly precise portrayal of a man’s descent into moral darkness driven by pride and external circumstances.
Explores: Moral Decay, Man Breaking Bad, Consequences of Crime.
Mad Men
Matthew Weiner
Mad Men captures the shifting social landscape of the 1960s with a sharp, stylized focus on the hollow pursuit of identity within corporate culture.
Explores: Corporate Culture, Moral Ambiguity, Changing Social Norms.
Seinfeld
Seinfeld remains a foundational sitcom for its unique ability to elevate the minutiae of social interaction into a sophisticated, observational comedic art form.
Explores: Friendship, Dating, Urban Life.
The Twilight Zone
Rod Serling
The Twilight Zone defined the anthology format by utilizing speculative fiction as a vessel for timeless social commentary and unsettling existential inquiry.
Explores: Existentialism, Paranoia, Social Commentary.
I Love Lucy
Bob Carroll Jr.
I Love Lucy is included for its pioneering influence on the domestic sitcom and the enduring physical comedy that defined the genre’s early structure.
Explores: Marriage, Ambition vs. Domesticity, Friendship.
The Simpsons
Matt Groening
The Simpsons is a masterpiece of satire, using its iconic animated suburban setting to provide a relentless and hilarious critique of the American experience.
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Suburban Satire, Social Commentary.
Cheers
Les Charles
Cheers earns its place by perfecting the workplace ensemble comedy, centered on the universal human desire for community and a place to belong.
Explores: Friendship, Community, Finding your place.
The West Wing
Aaron Sorkin
The West Wing stands out for its high-velocity dialogue and earnest exploration of the ethical tightrope walked by those in the highest halls of power.
Explores: Presidential Administration, Moral Dilemmas, Idealism vs. Realism.
Six Feet Under
Alan Ball
Six Feet Under provides a deeply moving and singular meditation on human mortality and the complex, often dysfunctional bonds of family life.
Explores: Death and Grieving, Dysfunctional Family, Mortality.
Game of Thrones
David Benioff
Game of Thrones is recognized for its massive narrative scope, blending intricate political maneuvering with high fantasy to examine the corrupting nature of power.
Explores: Power Struggles, Moral Ambiguity, War and Politics.
Deadwood
David Milch
Deadwood is a triumph of revisionist history, utilizing dense, Shakespearean language to depict the violent, chaotic struggle between lawlessness and the birth of civilization.
Explores: Lawlessness and Order, Frontier Justice, Corruption.
Twin Peaks
Mark Frost
Twin Peaks shattered television conventions by introducing a surreal, atmospheric mystery that challenged viewers to look beneath the polished surface of small-town life.
Explores: Small Town Secrets, Doppelgangers, Good vs Evil.
Arrested Development
Mitchell Hurwitz
Arrested Development is a masterclass in comedic structure, utilizing a rapid-fire, mockumentary style to deconstruct the absurdity of a wealthy, dysfunctional family unit.
Explores: Dysfunctional Family, Wealth and Privilege, Family Business.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Joss Whedon
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Coming of Age, Good vs Evil, Female Empowerment.
The X-Files
Chris Carter
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Government Conspiracy, Skepticism vs. Belief, The Unexplained.
Friends
Marta Kauffman
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Friendship, Relationships, Coming of Age.
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Larry David
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Social awkwardness, Misunderstandings, Situational irony.
Fargo
Noah Hawley
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Small Town Crime, Moral Ambiguity, Ordinary People in Extraordinary Circumstances.
Better Call Saul
Vince Gilligan
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Transformation, Redemption.
Lost
Jeffrey Lieber
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Survival, Secrets, Moral Ambiguity.
ER
Michael Crichton
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: High-pressure environment, Moral dilemmas, Burnout.
Frasier
David Angell
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Intellectual Humor, Class Differences, Family Relationships.
Hill Street Blues
Steven Bochco
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Bureaucracy, Urban decay.
The Larry Sanders Show
Garry Shandling
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Ego, Insecurity, Celebrity Culture.
Veep
Armando Iannucci
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Political Intrigue, Incompetence, Ambition.
30 Rock
Tina Fey
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Corporate Culture, Absurd Humor, New York City.
Parks and Recreation
Michael Schur
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Small Town Politics, Government Satire, Optimism vs. Cynicism.
Friday Night Lights
Brian Grazer
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Coming-of-age, Community, Pressure.
Battlestar Galactica
Glen A. Larson
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Survival, Existential Threat, Humanity's Resilience.
Chernobyl
Craig Mazin
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Nuclear Disaster, Government Cover-Up, Sacrifice.
True Detective
Nic Pizzolatto
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Existentialism, Corruption.
The Americans
Joe Weisberg
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Identity, Deception, Moral Ambiguity.
Succession
Jesse Armstrong
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Wealth and Power, Dysfunctional Family, Corporate Intrigue.
Atlanta
Donald Glover
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Race and Identity, The American Dream, Urban Life.
Fleabag
Phoebe Waller-Bridge
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: grief, female protagonist, fourth wall breaks.
Sherlock
Mark Gatiss
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Genius detective, High-functioning sociopath, Unconventional crime solving.
The Crown
Peter Morgan
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: British Monarchy, Political Intrigue, Royal Family Dynamics.
Mr. Robot
Sam Esmail
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Hacking, Anti-capitalism, Mental Illness.
Hannibal
Bryan Fuller
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Manipulation, The Nature of Evil.
Rome
Bruno Heller
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Ancient Rome, Roman Empire, Power Struggles.
Band of Brothers
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: brotherhood, war trauma, leadership.
Oz
Tom Fontana
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Prison life, Gang violence, Survival.
The Shield
Shawn Ryan
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Police corruption, Gang violence.
Justified
Graham Yost
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Redemption, Family Loyalty.
Homicide: Life on the Street
Paul Attanasio
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Bureaucracy, Psychological Impact of Violence.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Gene Roddenberry
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Exploration, Diplomacy, Moral Dilemmas.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show
Allan Burns
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Single Womanhood, Career Woman, Friendship.
M*A*S*H
Larry Gelbart
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Dark Humor, Existentialism, Friendship During Wartime.
All in the Family
Johnny Speight
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Generation Gap, Social Issues, Family Conflict.
The Dick Van Dyke Show
Carl Reiner
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Work-Life Balance, The Creative Process, Suburban Life.
Columbo
William Link
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Cat and Mouse, Underestimation, Justice.
The Andy Griffith Show
Sheldon Leonard
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Community, Small Town Life, Widowerhood.
Sex and the City
Darren Star
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Female Friendship, Dating in the City, Single Life.
The Golden Girls
Susan Harris
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Female Friendship, Aging, Found Family.
South Park
Trey Parker
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Social Commentary, Political Satire, Child Protagonists.
Futurama
Matt Groening
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Fish Out of Water, Dystopian Society, Corporate Satire.
BoJack Horseman
Raphael Bob-Waksberg
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Existentialism, Depression, Celebrity Culture.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Michael Dante DiMartino
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Elemental Powers, Destiny, Balance of Power.
Watchmen
Damon Lindelof
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Legacy of Trauma, Masked Vigilantism, Systemic Racism.
The Leftovers
Damon Lindelof
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Grief, Loss, Faith.
Gilmore Girls
Amy Sherman-Palladino
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Mother-Daughter Relationship, Intergenerational Relationships, Class Differences.
Freaks and Geeks
Paul Feig
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Social Outcasts, High School Angst, Identity Crisis.
My So-Called Life
Winnie Holzman
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Identity formation, Parent-child alienation, Social outsider.
The Office
Greg Daniels
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Office life, Everyday life, Eccentric characters.
Black Mirror
Charlie Brooker
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Technological Dystopia, Social Commentary, Unintended Consequences.
The Handmaid's Tale
Bruce Miller
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Oppression, Totalitarianism, Religious Extremism.
Stranger Things
Ross Duffer
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Government Experiments, Telekinesis, Monsters.
Ted Lasso
Jason Sudeikis
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Optimism, Underdog Story, Cultural Clash.
The Bear
Christopher Storer
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Grief, Family Business, Working Class.
Schitt's Creek
Eugene Levy
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Fish-out-of-water, Family dynamics, Class differences.
The Good Place
Michael Schur
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Redemption, Moral Improvement, Existentialism.
Community
Dan Harmon
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Community, Friendship, Self-Discovery.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Dysfunctional Friendship, Moral Bankruptcy, Sociopathy.
Dexter
James Manos Jr.
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Moral Ambiguity, Double Life, Justice vs. Revenge.
Veronica Mars
Rob Thomas
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: High School, Class Conflict, Coming of Age.
Roseanne
Matt Williams
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Economic hardship, Family dysfunction, Parental struggle.
Cowboy Bebop
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Bounty Hunters, Moral Ambiguity, Existentialism.
Planet Earth
A standout among the best series of all time.
Explores: Biodiversity, Conservation, Natural Wonders.
Common questions
What are the best crime dramas to watch?
The top-ranked series for crime drama include The Sopranos, which focuses on mob psychology, The Wire, which explores systemic urban decay, and Breaking Bad, which depicts a chemistry teacher's moral descent into the criminal underworld.
Which sitcoms are considered the best of all time?
Highly regarded sitcoms on this list include Seinfeld for its observational comedy about urban life, I Love Lucy for its pioneering domestic humor, Cheers for its ensemble workplace dynamics, and The Simpsons for its sharp suburban satire.
Are there any good shows about politics and power?
For those interested in politics and power, The West Wing offers an idealistic look at presidential administration, while Game of Thrones provides a sprawling fantasy epic centered on brutal political struggles and the pursuit of the throne.