Everyone has their list of favoriteTV shows. Some are classics from decades past, others are new series that they have fallen in love with. These are the types of shows that viewers love to watch again and again and will sing the praises of to anyone who will listen. I have a selection of shows that fall into this camp, and they’re ones that I would personally defend at all costs.
Some people feel these shows are overrated, not great at all, or fall short in one way or another. But I would argue that these series, ranging fromsitcomstodramas, are not only worth watching, but are among the best in their genres.
Created by Vince Gilligan
You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn’t think thatBreaking Badis a television masterpiece. The series is widely considered to be one of the best crime dramas of all time, not to mention one of thebest television shows ever, period. Earning numerous awards and spawning a prequel seriesBetter Call Sauland the sequel movieEl Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, it’s one of those shows that’s fantastic from start to finish.
Admittedly, however, the series starts slow, which has some naysayers questioning why it’s so popular. It isn’t really until that pivotal moment when Walter White (Bryan Cranston) stands in front of the mirror and shaves his head that the show takes a fascinating turn. But from the character development to the compelling story, the talented cast, and the incredible ending, one of the best TV shows endings ever,Breaking Badisn’t a show you can say anything negative about even if you try.
Breaking Bad
9’Dexter' (2006–2013)
Created by James Manos Jr.
As a die-hardDexterfan, even I can admit that the back half of the crime drama is much weaker than the first four seasons, with season four featuring Trinity Killer (John Lithgow) being the best. But I will still defend the show at all costs.Dextermanages to present a serial killer (Michael C. Hall) who drugs, taunts, kills, and dismembers his victims, yet makes him deeply likable. That’s largely because he fashions himself a vigilante, living by a code whereby he only murders heinous individuals he can prove have committed disturbing crimes.
Hearing Dexter’s inner monologue as he justifies his actions and comments on his opinions of “regular” people, and seeing his struggle with trying to seem normal, draws you into every episode and story. You love him but can’t understand why, and sort of feel bad about it. Spawning a limited series sequelDexter: New Blood,to make upfor the lackluster finale,Dexterhas a second life now with the prequel seriesDexter: Original Sin, which has been renewed for a second season, and the upcoming sequel seriesDexter: Resurrection. I will continue to promote the show to anyone who will listen.
Created by Matthew Weiner
The show that made bothJon HammandElisabeth Mosshousehold names,Mad Menis a period drama about the world of advertising in the ‘50s and ‘60s. Centered around a group of employees in a prestigious New York City ad firm, it’s filled with dated references from the time, including men smoking and drinking in the office, women holding down administrative jobs, and print ad campaigns that were considered cutting-edge for the time.
It’s tough not to loveMad Men, a reflection of a foregone era with a compelling story centered largely around Don Draper (Hamm), a suave and talented creative mind with a dark secret.Mad Menhas one of thebest TV series finales ever, providing a big payoff in the end for those who stick through its seven seasons.
7’Married…With Children' (1987–1997)
Created by Michael G. Moye, Ron Leavitt
Measured by today’s standards,Married…With Childrenwould seem inappropriate, one of those ‘80s shows that wouldn’t fly today. But at the time, it was downright hilarious, and arguably still is for those willing to take its humor for what it is. The main characters are a lower-class family, including shoe salesman husband, lazy housewife, rebellious teenage daughter, and awkward teenage son. They’re an unconventional family that almost despises one another, even though it’s clear there’s real love beneath the harsh, insulting surface.
As they deal with everyday challenges, plenty of insulting jokes fly, mostly by husband Al (Ed O’Neill) mocking everyone from overweight female customers in the shoe store to the sexuality of his neighbor Marcy (Amanda Bearse). It’s all in good fun, and anyone who saysMarried…With Childrenis unfunny or takes things too far doesn’t understand its style of humor and takes it far more seriously than the show does itself.
Married… With Children
Created by Frank Darabont
The Walking Deadstarted off strong, but many fans abandoned the series in season seven during the controversial drawn-out Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) storyline and that gruesome death scene of two fan-favorite characters. But I stuck with the post-apocalyptic horror drama through to its bitter end, and it paid off because the series got great again through to its 11th and final season. What’s more, remaining on board allowed me to enjoy various spin-offs to the fullest, including the latest ones,The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon,The Walking Dead: Dead City, andThe Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live.
Sure, a lot of people feel likeThe Walking Deadoverstayed its welcome. But I will continue to defend the series as one of the best post-apocalyptic zombie shows ever made. Re-watching the entire series a second time only solidified my opinion, and reinforced that it’s also one of the most underrated showswith underrated performances, too.
The Walking Dead
5’The Big Bang Theory' (2007–2019)
Created by Chuck Lorre, Bill Prady
People typically fall into two camps: those who lovedThe Big Bang Theoryand those who despise it. I fall into the former, a fan of the sitcom that took heavily scientific jargon and quirky characters and made it bitingly funny. With fantastic chemistry among the cast of actors, who at one point were the highest-paid actors on television, the storylines were relatable to anyone who has ever felt like an outcast. The show gave a voice to self-professed nerds, making them cool in their own unique way.
The Big Bang Theorycoined plenty of catchphrases like “Bazinga!”, earned tons of awards, and became a voice for a generation. One of the best ensemble sitcoms, the series has since spawned two successful spin-offs,Young SheldonandGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
The Big Bang Theory
4'13 Reasons Why' (2017–2020)
Created by Brian Yorkey
13 Reasons Whyisn’t an easy watch, but it’s an essential one for any parent of teenagers, and arguably older teenagers themselves. Some found the show too raw, emotional, and graphic. But the teen drama was intentionally so, designed to help encourage parents to talk with their teens and open a dialogue about tough topics like bullying and suicide.
The premise in the first season centers around a young high schooler who dies by suicide, but leaves behind a series of cassette tapes, each addressed to a different person she says played a role in her tragic decision. As the show progresses, it deals with additional coming-of-age issues, including drug use, bullying, and even school violence. Despite thecontroversy that stemming from theshowrequiring warning messages to appear before episodes, I truly believe13 Reasons Whyis a crucial show to encourage education about mental health, anxiety, and depression.
13 Reasons Why
3’Friends' (1994–2004)
Created by David Crane, Marta Kauffman
Friendsis arguably the best sitcom of the ‘90s, one that defined a generation. It would be a challenge to find someone who hasn’t watched at least one episode of the show. Even the younger generation is becoming acquainted with it via streaming, decades after it ended. The series centers around a group of six friends in their 20s navigating single life in New York City. The witty dialogue, hilarious jokes, and relatable characters all come together to deliver hearty laughs, emotional storylines, and fun hijinks.
Friendsinspired so many other ensemble sitcoms that have come since, fromHow I Met Your MothertoNew GirlandHappy Endings. The series arguably ushered in its own type of ensemble singles sub-genre, and anyone who doesn’t like it is missing out on the fun.
2’How I Met Your Mother' (2005–2014)
Created by Carter Bays, Craig Thomas
The disappointing final season and series ending sullied the reputation ofHow I Met Your Mother, which through its run had been one of the most popular sitcoms on television. But all that aside, it was the journey to get there that made the show so entertaining, even if the payoff wasn’t what fans had hoped.
The story is framed around Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), who, in the future (voiced byBob Saget), is telling his teenage kids the story of how he met their mother. The story, however, ends up being more about the antics of him and his group of friends. As he meets and dates various women, fans are left to guess which woman might end up being the mysterious mother. The characters, their interactions, and the fun scenarios and running gags all makeHow I Met Your Motherso incredibly funny and rewatchable.
How I Met Your Mother
1’Black Mirror' (2011–)
Created by Charlie Brooker
Black Mirrordoesn’t need much defending, since the high-profile British anthology series has a large legion of fans since it began on Channel 4 in the U.K. then moved to Netflix. But some feel that it’s too disturbing, too emotionally draining and can’t stomach it. However, I appreciate how every episode serves as a cautionary tale for technology taken too far, the discomfort rooted in education and social commentary that it’s important not to shy away from. It’s topical at a time when we rely so much on technologies like robots, AI, virtual reality, and social media.
As one of the best shows of this generation,Black Mirrorisn’t the type of series you may watch in one sitting. It’s best to watch an episode or two each night and let it digest before diving into the next. But each story is its own compartmentalized tale. While it’s possible to watch in any order, skipping episodes, there isn’t a bad episode among the bunch.
Black Mirror
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