In television, each season builds upon what came before it. When the result is exceptional, it triggers a chain reaction that influences everything that follows. Some series have demonstrated extraordinary quality, while other productions in the same genre have failed to garner critical acclaim or viewer support.
The best TV series of recent years have overshadowed other productions that relied on repetitive stories and characters. These shows have become predictable and a consequence of the high bar set by the excellent series that preceded them.
Here, we present a selection of series that are truly unsurpassed, thanks to their stellar acting, compelling scripts, unexpected plot twists, and gripping narratives.
17. ER
ER sort of ruined all the other medical shows.
16. The Leftovers
Nothing can compare to this masterpiece.
15. Secrets of The Hidden Temple
No show can live up to that kind of awesomeness.
14. Dexter
Dexter is crazy good.
13. Line of Duty
Line of Duty set the bar impossibly high.
12. Arcane
Arcane has ruined everything else.
11. The Shield
The Shield was awesome. Less believable but still brilliant.
10. Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under probably has the best character development out of any show and the ending is easily the best ending out of any show.
9. Homeland
Homeland is so suspenseful everything else pales in comparison.
8. Dark
Dark was such a mind shattering and unique and brilliant series.
7. Lost
No first episode came so close.
6. The OA
Go into it with an open mind. The story is amazing.
5. Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul, nothing else is close.
4. Lucifer
If you take shows like CSI and Criminal Minds for example, the formula is the same. Each episode a crime has been committed and the crime is usually contained by the end.
3. The Bear
It’s extraordinary that most of the episodes are only 30 minutes long.
2. Mayor of Kingstown
The camera work, the script , the acting and the action all hits hard the grittiness of inside and outside prison life.
1. The Wire
The Wire perfectly captured the grey areas in law enforcement in such a believable way that when other cop shows try it, it feels completely forced.
