There are good TV shows, great TV shows, and then TV shows that are basically perfect. The latter are impeccable from beginning to end, with nary a negatively reviewed episode anywhere in between. In some cases, these shows just kept getting better and better from one season to the next.
Many of these almost perfect TV shows have been introduced in the last few decades, but some date back even further: one even started way back in the ‘60s. Two of the shows, meanwhile, continue with new seasons to this day, and are suspected to continue to get better with age.
15
‘Dark’ (2017–2020)
Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese
Dark is a Netflix original series of German origin, taking place in a remote town deep in the German forest. The town is host to a nuclear power plant, a subject of controversy with the local townsfolk. But this controversy only ramps up when children begin disappearing under mysterious circumstances around the plant, and weirder still, dead people from four decades prior begin appearing in the woods surrounding it.
This series of bizarre mysteries, of course, is all interconnected, prompting a group of high school students to investigate. This underrated sci-fi thriller series has been met with rave reviews, providing some of the wildest plot twists in TV history on a consistent basis. Dark never overstays its welcome, and never loses its quality or sense of direction, providing a mystifying and entertaining experience throughout. —Dawson Nyffenegger
14
‘Kingdom’ (2019–2021)
Created by Kim Eun-hee
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Kingdom is a South Korean series based on a web comic turned graphic novel. Set in the Kingdom of Joseon, shortly following the end of the Middle Ages and the Imjin War, the tyrannical Haewon Cho clan has risen to power on the Korean Peninsula by way of marriage into the royal family. The king has impregnated his new wife, but dies of smallpox before his heir can be born (which would make his adult son from a previous marriage the rightful king). Not wanting to lose their power before the Haewon Cho child is born, the clan devises a plan to resurrect the king using a mythical plant, accidentally unleashing a zombie horde in the process.
Spanning two seasons and one movie, Kingdom really is the ultimate period drama with a side of zombies. With a cast of memorable characters, great action, and a thoroughly immersive universe, Kingdom offers a real thrill ride that never loses its lustre. The series is an action-thriller, a horror, and a political drama all at once, offering a little something for everybody and a wholly unique experience that never gets boring. —Dawson Nyffenegger
13
‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)
Created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko
Avatar: The Last Airbender is the hit Nickelodeon show that made waves in both kids’ and adult entertainment, with audiences of all age groups appreciating its overarching narrative and sense of fun. The story takes place in a high fantasy world, where four nations, each representing one of the elemental powers of air, fire, earth, or water, are constantly at each other’s throats. As the Fire Nation seeks to overwhelm the rest of the land, a figure known as the Avatar emerges, who is destined to master the elements and bring harmony to the land.
In recent years, Netflix has produced a live-action adaptation of this classic cartoon, but at the end of the day, you can’t beat the original. The animated series still reigns supreme with its signature humour, valuable life lessons, grand adventure, immersive world, and stunning animation. Every frame of this iconic series is crafted with love and care, and none of it feels wasted, providing a lovable, exciting experience from beginning to end. —Dawson Nyffenegger
12
‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)
Created by Michael Schur
The Good Place is a fantasy sitcom following a group of people who have died and arrived in “The Good Place,” an alternate dimension/afterlife where people who lived their lives virtuously and selflessly are sent to enjoy eternity. Normally, sitcoms are made to be picked up and dropped at any time, with little to no continuity between episodes, but The Good Place actually has quite a complex narrative to go along with its riotous laughs and moments of gallows humor.
It’s also common for sitcoms to grow stale as their writers run out of punchlines, yet The Good Place never once lets up, delivering the exact same level of hilarity at its end as it did in its beginning. It also boasts one of the most iconic plot twists in television history, which left its audience absolutely floored. So not only does it maintain its sense of humor for the entirety of its run, but its weaving a narrative and sense of drama, too. —Dawson Nyffenegger
11
‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)
Created by Sam Esmail
Mr. Robot is a techno-thriller starring Rami Malek as Elliot, a cybersecurity engineer by day and an anarchistic hacktivist by night. Joining an online cabal of hacktivists and cyber-terrorists known as “fsociety,” Elliot and his anonymous colleagues seek to overthrow many of the major economic corporations of the world, all while Elliot struggles in many aspects of his personal life, from drug abuse to persistent paranoia.
For each of its four seasons, Mr. Robot has received near-unanimous acclaim, with every season earning high-scoring reviews without fluctuating in the slightest. Mr. Robot is a show that stays consistent through and through, never backing down or giving in to what is expected of TV dramas, and providing viewers with an eye-opening narrative about modern society and the overreliance of technology that humanity has fallen victim to. —Dawson Nyffenegger
10
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Created by Vince Gilligan
Widely named among the best shows of the last few decades, with some sources calling it the best, Breaking Bad earned Bryan Cranston a new legion of fans and respect as an actor. At that time, he was known mostly for his role as Hal in the sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, but he caught audiences by surprise when he donned a menacing glare and shaved head to play Walter White in this iconic crime drama.
It’s the character’s arc and the slow build of the story through all the excellent episodes that makes Breaking Bad such a compelling watch. White begins as a meek chemistry teacher who is seemingly just going through the motions of life, but grows into a drug kingpin. With nothing to lose and a newfound sense of the power he always craved, White can’t seem to let go of his Heisenberg persona. A sordid tale of a man’s descent into darkness, complemented beautifully by Aaron Paul’s role as his reluctant partner in crime Jesse Pinkman, Breaking Bad is as perfect as it comes.
9
‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)
Created by Matthew Weiner
When it comes to TV shows that had the best finales, Mad Men should be at or near the top of that list. The show hooked fans right from the get-go. And it ended in such a beautiful, full-circle way that it should serve as a masterclass in television writing. Don Draper (Jon Hamm) has become a cultural icon, even though he’s a fictional character. Set in the ‘60s through ‘70s, Mad Men follows the staff and partners at a successful advertising agency in Manhattan during the halcyon days of print advertising.
Draper’s compelling presentations are highlights of each Mad Men episode. He evokes so much admiration from clients for his creative thinking juxtaposed by his fractured psyche and the dark secret he’s hiding about his identity and past. He’s one of the most complex characters ever on television. With an incredible supporting cast as well, Mad Men is wonderfully acted with gripping storylines that fit with the time period and has fans either reminiscing or guessing what it might have been to live back then.
- Release Date
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2007 – 2015-00-00
- Network
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AMC
- Directors
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Michael Uppendahl, Jennifer Getzinger, Scott Hornbacher, Matthew Weiner, Lesli Linka Glatter, Tim Hunter, John Slattery, Alan Taylor, Andrew Bernstein, Jon Hamm, Barbet Schroeder, Daisy von Scherler Mayer, Ed Bianchi, Jared Harris, Matt Shakman, Lynn Shelton
8
‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)
Created by David Simon
This crime drama is one of those shows that flew under the radar when it was on the air. But looking back, The Wire was sorely underrated and is now recognized as one of the best of its genre. Lauded for being realistic and accurate, the series is set in Baltimore, Maryland and centers around how societal things like the illegal drug trade, port system, the city government and bureaucracy, education and schools, and print media intersect with law enforcement.
David Simon who created and wrote the series, was a former police reporter and based much of the story on the real story of his writing partner Ed Burns, a former homicide detective and public school teacher. The Wire is a fictional series, but it had a level of realness that hasn’t been replicated since.
7
‘The Bear’ (2022–)
Created by Christopher Storer
It’s common for a show to return with a second season that is just as good as the first. But when it comes to The Bear, the comedy-drama returned for a second season that surpassed its inaugural one, leaving fans declaring the show among the best ever on television. From the get-go, there’s a frantic pace as fine dining chef Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) returns to his hometown in Chicago to take over his late brother’s sandwich shop. It builds from there as relationships progress and Carmy’s need to prove something to himself, against all odds, creates an exciting story.
What fans love most about the show, which returns for its third season in late June, is the character development. While Carmy is at the center, every supporting character gets their due with storylines that allow them to grow and shine. Combined with a memorable flashback episode featuring a cast of A-listers led by Jamie Lee Curtis and The Bear is a tough one to top.
6
‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020)
Created by Christopher Lloyd and Steven Levitan
Earning 22 Emmy Awards throughout its run, including five for Outstanding Comedy Series, Modern Family is the most original sitcom concept to enter the TV landscape of late. While so many others are either influenced by older shows or serve as reboots, revivals, or sequels, Modern Family is just clever, witty writing with a unique story. Every great Modern Family episode follows the Pritchett family and their extended families, which includes an eclectic mix of members representative of today’s, well, modern family. That includes a patriarch with a much younger immigrant wife and a son from a previous marriage, and a gay married couple with their adopted daughter.
Delivered in a mockumentary style, the sharp humor, double entendres, and hilarious misunderstandings along with the on-camera interview sessions that provide commentary on what’s happening created such a wonderfully entertaining show. As one that can be watched with the whole family, Modern Family is in a league of its own.
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