Top 20 Best TV Shows of the Decade
#20: “The Last of Us” (2023-)
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If the 2020s are a turning point for actually successful video game adaptations, HBO’s “The Last of Us” is a major part of the shift. Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey team up as Joel and Ellie, survivors of a zombie apocalypse. The two must navigate the nightmarish infected and the equally monstrous living. What sounds like another take on “The Walking Dead” actually raises the bar for high-concept drama. Each episode is packed with inventive plotting, suspense, and shocking character moments. Making it even better is the input from the creators of the renowned source material. Beyond aesthetic faithfulness, the adaptation of “The Last of Us” commands its own fanbase as one of the decade’s biggest surprises on TV.
#19: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (2015-19)
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A promising young lawyer relocates to California for empowering opportunities — or so she keeps telling herself. Rebecca Bunch is actually still hung up on her summer camp sweetheart, Josh Chan. “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” serves as a twist on its titular sexist archetype by blending satire, romance, comedy, and a variety of musical numbers. What the show lacked in ratings was more than made up for in a passionate, if more niche, fanbase, as well as critical acclaim and awards. This kept it going for four increasingly bold seasons. Plus, fans can’t help but return to its songs, which keeps its cult status strong.
#18: “Severance” (2022-)
With so many shows tackling corporate politics as tragedy, thriller, or farce, few combine those genres as well as “Severance.” Lumon Industries claims to have the ideal work strategy: splitting employees’ consciousness between the office and their personal lives. But there are sinister truths lurking for the severed workers, as well as their outside selves. The show embodies peak TV’s versatility in terms of style and storytelling, combining surreal visuals with tense moments of mystery. The seasoned cast and sharp writing made “Severance” a standout for Apple TV+ after only its first season.
#17: “The Boys” (2019-)
Top 10 Best TV Shows of the Decade
In a decade arguably overrun with superhero entertainment, an adaptation of one of the most daring takes on the genre arrived on Amazon Prime Video. “The Boys” presents a world of super-powered people corrupted by capitalism, power, and celebrity. As the titular vigilante group struggles to bring down the behemoth corporation Vought International, the line between good and evil only gets blurrier. Behind the spectacular production is a diabolical mix of absurd hilarity and complex drama. Antony Starr especially dominates as the venerated Homelander, one of the most terrifying villains in contemporary television. True to its genre’s tendencies, a spin-off series of the show premiered in 2023.
#16: “Dark” (2017-20)
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A peaceful, secretive town begins to unravel over the disappearance of children. That might sound like pretty standard fare, but Netflix’s first German-language original series takes that premise so much deeper. “Dark” ties several genres into its mystery with elaborate sci-fi twists. It also gives its vast ensemble plenty of room to develop as the real heart of the show’s tension. The puzzle box narrative and compelling themes commanded a cult following throughout three seasons, with critical acclaim generally building each season. The series also helped establish Netflix’s success with non-American productions. As time has gone by, “Dark” has come out of its shadow as one of the service's most underrated shows.
#15: “Schitt’s Creek” (2015-20)
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CBC Television’s surprise international hit is an achievement in balancing sharp writing and talented comedic actors with an earnest heart. When the bulk of their fortune is stolen by their business manager, the Rose family find themselves literally up Schitt’s Creek. The unfortunately-named town helps the Roses realize the priceless values of family and community. The audience was also made to feel at home with the show’s irreverent humor and poignant character arcs. The Canadian crowd-pleaser achieved global attention a few years into its six-season run when it debuted on Netflix in 2017. From there, it captured the attention of audiences and critics, and went on to win nine Emmy Awards.
#14: “Westworld” (2016-22)
Westworld Season 2 Episode 7 BREAKDOWN - WatchClub
Michael Crichton’s theatrical filmmaking debut was already a staple of artificial intelligence cautionary tales. But Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan’s take on “Westworld” explores the familiar themes of the 1973 movie with unique, harrowing depth. The dynamic epic begins with the android “hosts” of a Western theme park gradually gaining the sentience to rise against humans. From there, the setting and characters drastically shift to explore the nature of existence, morality, and corporate ethics. The gifted cast added emotional weight to a compelling, twisty tale. However, the magic seemed to run out on the show and viewership declined; HBO pulled the plug after the fourth season. Despite this, “Westworld” still holds a legacy as one of the most ambitious AI thrillers out there.
#13: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (2017-23)
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After her unfaithful husband leaves her, 1950s housewife Midge Maisel works her emotional breakdown into an impromptu stand-up routine. From there, the audience follows her five-season path to possible stardom. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” lives up to its name with how it presents the birth of modern showbiz — in all of its fantasy and harsh reality. Most remarkable from the show's run is its snappy, laugh-out-loud dialogue. But at the same time, the many characters evolve with a depth rarely seen in straight dramas. The cast is lousy with talent, with Rachel Brosnahan as a versatile lead. It also garnered plenty of Emmy gold, winning 20 awards during its run.
#12: “The White Lotus” (2021-)
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Mike White’s interest in the tragedy surrounding privilege has never been better-timed than with television in the 2020s. It’s also never been better-realized than through HBO’s “The White Lotus.” The anthology series follows a different all-star ensemble each season, visiting iterations of a fictional luxury resort chain. The dark dramedy examines the escalating tensions of and between social classes in tourist hotspots. Intersecting themes include gender dynamics, generational divides, colonialism, and race. White builds every episode with an uncompromised control of absurdity, drama, and tension to draw viewers into the lavish disasters his characters face. As addicting as it is thought-provoking, “The White Lotus” is well-worth the trip.
#11: “Watchmen” (2019)
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One of the true masterpieces of comic book history has a complicated legacy in adaptation. Zack Snyder’s “Watchmen” received mixed reviews, but Damon Lindelof’s miniseries manages to not only stay truer to the tone of the DC Comics series, but enrich the lore. Part sequel, part remix of the original tale, the story starts with masked law enforcement in Tulsa unraveling a major far-right conspiracy. But it goes way beyond that with nonlinear twists, shifting perspectives, new characters, stylish action, and social commentary. The series was even praised for helping to bring popular attention to the real-life 1921 white supremacist attack in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Building off the themes of its source material, the new “Watchmen” story was a feat in its own right.
#10: “Twin Peaks: The Return” (2017)
Since its original cancellation in 1991, “Twin Peaks” has been hailed as one of the greatest TV series ever made. Showtime allowed David Lynch to revive it as one of the boldest. “The Return” follows FBI agent Dale Cooper’s continued experiences in the supernatural town of Twin Peaks, where he was possessed by a malevolent spirit. Technically regarded as the third season of the original show, the 18 new episodes are an epic display of Lynch’s surreal artistry. Praised for its experimental storytelling and intentional vision, the series was an achievement in exploring the avant-garde on television. While that may have challenged general audiences, many satisfied fans consider “Twin Peaks: The Return” a singular masterpiece.
#9: “Chernobyl” (2019)
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Many are no doubt familiar with the historical facts surrounding one of the world’s worst nuclear disasters. But HBO’s “Chernobyl” brings tragedy, fear, and awe to the forefront in its depiction of the event. The miniseries meticulously dramatizes multiple perspectives and the political fallout of the reactor explosion in Soviet-era Ukraine. The direction, writing, and acting portray the human element of this historical event. With its deliberate slow pace, there’s a sense of gruesome doom as people try to contain the crisis. The slow burn also allows what could have just been a detailed history lesson to evolve into an urgent allegory on disinformation and the abuse of authority. “Chernobyl” may be difficult to watch, but the spectacular production demands to be witnessed.
#8: “Barry” (2018-23)
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There’s a thin line between tragedy and farce on the stage. It's even thinner on HBO’s dramedy masterpiece “Barry.” Bill Hader plays a troubled Marine-turned-hitman who starts to question his life after catching the acting bug. Fate and his criminal associates have other plans. Barry Berkman is one of many characters driven to ruin by misguided ambition. The whole cast perfectly walks the tightrope between humor, action, and tense drama. Hader especially shows off his range as an actor, writer, and director. What he and co-creator Alec Berg achieve with “Barry” is never predictable, but always exhilarating.
#7: “Fargo” (2014-)
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There's surely no replicating Joel and Ethan Coen’s irreverent crime classic “Fargo.” No doubt realizing this, “Fargo” series creator Noah Hawley simply brings that rich personality into his own anthology of crime tales. Each season carefully composes dense plots, with each episode featuring tonal and stylistic experiments. Through it all, compelling ensemble casts keep audiences hooked on the stories of several colorful, usually tragic characters. Do Hawley’s twists of fate consistently live up to their lofty setups? That's up for debate. But it's hard to deny that FX’s “Fargo” strives to leave a similar impact on television as the Coens’ tale did on film.
#6: “The Leftovers” (2014-17)
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Three years on, the world struggles to come to terms with two percent of the human population inexplicably vanishing. “The Leftovers” starts off by following multiple characters in search of answers, or at least peace, with their new world. Damon Lindelof collaborated with novelist and series co-creator Tom Perrotta to structure a thrilling mystery with complex nonlinear storytelling. But the series also examines how humanity grapples with grief and uncertainty. That drama comes to light through characters who undergo profound journeys across three seasons. Carrie Coon particularly captivated audiences in her breakout television role. Though it didn’t achieve huge numbers in viewership, there’s no mystery as to why people are still talking about the acclaimed show.
#5: “Fleabag” (2016-19)
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Phoebe Waller-Bridge transformed her one-woman show into a brief but spirited landmark of contemporary comedy. “Fleabag” follows the awkward exploits of an unnamed Londoner trying to grapple with grief, family, and relationships. The adaptation is still very much Waller-Bridge’s show, with stylish direction serving as a vehicle for her snappy writing and singular character. Her range on either side of the camera was a revelation. Around the same time, she served as head writer on the first series of the crime thriller “Killing Eve,” helping to cement her status as a distinctive creative talent.
#4: “Atlanta” (2016-22)
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Donald Glover made perhaps the most eclectic show of the decade. Through surrealism and satire, “Atlanta” uses the premise of rapper Paper Boi’s rise in the world of hip-hop to explore a variety of themes. Touching on everything from race to stardom to existentialism to metaphysics — and playing with the intersections of these themes — the show is both experimental and often hilarious. Glover’s penchant for standalone episodes makes for an ambitious, overall empathetic show. All of this and more turned “Atlanta” into a bona fide pop culture phenomenon, garnering widespread acclaim from critics and six Emmy Awards.
#3: “Stranger Things” (2016-)
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A group of small town kids find themselves in something of a real-life game of Dungeons & Dragons when a girl with mysterious powers reveals government conspiracies and interdimensional monsters. “Stranger Things” is much more ambitious than a nostalgia trip. Certainly, there are loads of pop culture nods baked into its sweeping concept. But the Duffer Brothers use the tools of prestige TV to combine adventure with character growth. The ambitious project quickly became a generation-defining sensation. The cast combined veteran actors, some looking for a comeback, with a compelling group of young stars. The result was one of Netflix’s biggest hits ever.
#2: “Succession” (2018-23)
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The crises of megarich dynasties are no laughing matter. But HBO’s “Succession” is as darkly hilarious as it is utterly terrifying. The members of the Roy family alternate between securing the fortune of their company and competing for the unattainable favor of the patriarch, Logan. It’s a lofty opera on the mess of family, ambition, and the lunacy of American industry. Creator Jesse Armstrong and company seamlessly mingle satire with a disturbingly authentic representation of late-stage capitalism. The series also revolutionized villains as enthralling protagonists with dynamite dialogue and acting. Through its morbid mastery of humanity’s darkest side, it’s actually one of the most important dramas of its time.
#1: “Better Call Saul” (2015-22)
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Vince Gilligan had his work cut out for him with the prequel spin-off of his groundbreaking show “Breaking Bad.” However, “Better Call Saul” wound up in a league of its own. Attorney Jimmy McGill’s transformation into criminal counselor Saul Goodman allows for greater exploration of the Albuquerque underworld. The series fleshes out the stories of some of the greatest supporting characters from “Breaking Bad” while also introducing new faces. Encapsulating spine-chilling crime thrills, heartbreaking tragedies, and a wealth of comic relief, the transcendent series is led brilliantly by Bob Odenkirk. Some have called it an even better show than its predecessor — but we’ll leave that up to viewers.
