After a long week of work, stress from traffic, and rambunctious kids that won’t settle down, sometimes you just want to unplug and watch some good ol’ television. Viewing habits have certainly changed, with more and more people opting for streaming services instead of cable or broadcast TV. This has given rise to more binge-able epic dramas, with longer episodes and weaving plots that are better suited to a format withou television interruptions and 23-minutes of runtime. Given the variety of streaming services and programming options, we’ve curated a list of some of our favorite-ever programs from the past couple of decades, which are corroborated by many top-100 lists that are around the internet.
The Wire
HBO’s The Wire is thought of by many to have been the greatest television program ever produced. It follows various storylines in urban Baltimore in five different seasons, with different sets of characters that are loosely tied together. The show chronicles America’s drug war, the impacts of globalization, political bureaucracy, our school system, and the media, and all of their impacts on one another. It was created by a former police reporter, and explores the interconnectedness of people, bureaucracies, and society.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad gripped the nation for five years, catapulting Malcolm in the Middle’s Bryan Cranston to international fame, inspiring a spinoff program with Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul, and bringing the AMC network to the forefront of HBO-style television dramas. It follows the story of a high school chemistry teacher with cancer Walter White, who turns into a high-level narcotics kingpin. The show is a thrilling drama, replete with murder, double-crossing, and a look at all of the things people will do to survive and thrive in life. It spawned numerous pop culture references, from sidekick Jesse Pinkman’s favorite way of saying a bad word (which we will let you look up yourself), to his trademark 1980s Toyota Tercel.
Mad Men
Mad Men follows the saga of Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and his associates at the advertising agency Sterling Cooper. A sometimes depressing look at the American Dream, life in the suburbs, the meanings of life, and one man’s evolution from an abusive childhood being raised by his stepmother to becoming a high-flying advertising executive that works on Madison Avenue in New York City. One of the show’s breakout stars was Elisabeth Moss, who was sucked into the dark world of advertising executive debauchery as Peggy Olson, and now stars on the hit show The Handmaid’s Tale.
Game Of Thrones
For fans of the fantasy genre and the likes of J.R.R. Tolkien, HBO’s adaptation Game of Thrones is an adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire. While the books are still being written, the HBO series is over, jumping to the conclusion of the fictional medieval country on the continent of Westeros and its civil war. Spawning endless pop culture references to the likes of the Lannister family and the fact that “winter is coming,” you’ll want to catch up on the eight seasons of Game of Thrones if you don’t want people to think that you live under a rock.
The Righteous Gemstones
This bonus addition to our list is neither a drama nor is it multi-season. But if you need a good laugh while still devouring some smart programming, check out HBO’s The Righteous Gemstones. The show follows the story of the Gemstone family, televangelists who might be likened to false prophets, spreading the word of God while enriching their personal wealth along the way. Starring John Goodman of Roseanne fame and Danny McBride, The Righteous Gemstones does not disappoint when it comes to sharp societal commentary, hilarious situations, and cringe-worthy scenes.