10 Best TV Dramas of the Last 25 Years, Ranked

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Although it was once considered to be a somewhat “lesser” medium that wasn’t worthy of the same respect as cinematic films that were released in theaters, prestige television has become the first place audiences look to when it comes to adult entertainment. Given that mainstream Hollywood blockbusters tend to be dominated by superheroes, prequels, remakes, and reboots, the best drama shows in recent memory have been where the industry’s greatest talent has been able to do their best work.

There are some shows that have been strong thus far, but haven’t quite been airing enough episodes to be considered all-time greats; after a few years, it is possible that recent hits such as Andor, The White Lotus, The Last of Us, The Bear, and Industry among others could be in contention. Nonetheless, here are the ten best TV dramas of the last 25 years, ranked.

10 ‘The Americans’ (2013-2018)

6 seasons

Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as Elizabeth and Philip Jennings in disguise, in 'The Americans'

The Americans proved to be one of the most interesting stories about spycraft that has ever been told, as it examined the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union from the perspective of the KGB Agents Elizabeth (Keri Russell) and Phillip Jennings (Matthew Rhys), who are forced to disguise themselves as an average American couple in Washington, D.C.

The Americans analyzed how holding different identities can impact a relationship, and surprisingly had just as much to say about the daily battles that go into maintaining a marriage as it did about the divisive political events that dominated the decade. A show’s decade is often determined by whether or not they can stick the landing, and thankfully, The Americans had a damn-near perfect series finale that satisfied all of the questions that fans had developed over the course of six great seasons.

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In the midst of the Cold War, Elizabeth and Phillip Jennings appear to be an average American couple, living out the American dream in their house in the suburbs with their two children, Paige and Henry. In truth, though, Elizabeth and Phillip are Soviet agents, working under deep cover for the KGB.

Release Date January 30, 2013

Finale Year November 30, 2017

Seasons 6

Story By joseph weisberg

Writers Joseph Weisberg

Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Dis

Directors Chris Long

Showrunner Joseph Weisberg

Watch on Hulu

9 ‘Six Feet Under’ (2001-2005)

5 seasons

Six Feet Under is one of the greatest family dramas ever made, as virtually anyone who has had a tough relationship with a brother, father, or sibling can have something in the series that they can relate to. Although the series focuses on a family that owns and operates a funeral home, it was often quite charming in highlighting the unusual aspects of this profession; the dark comedy inserted helped to add more authenticity, and reminded audiences that real life can have just as many laughs as it does tears.

Six Feet Under also has one of the greatest series finales ever due to an amazing sequence that flashed through the life of several main characters. It’s the type of bold, imaginative storytelling that is only possible after viewers have learned to trust that the showrunners know what they are doing.

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A chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.

Release Date June 3, 2001

Finale Year November 30, 2004

Seasons 5

Story By alan ball

Network HBO Max

Streaming Service(s) Dis , Hulu , MAX

Watch on Max

8 ‘Breaking Bad’ (2008-2013)

5 seasons

Skyler and Walter White looking down at a pile of money in a storage unit in Breaking Bad.

Breaking Bad crafted the ultimate modern version of William Shakespeare, as the story of how the kindly chemistry teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) became the ruthless drug kingpin known as “Heisenberg” feels like a classical tragedy; each of Shaekspeare’s plays have five acts, and they correspond to the five excellent seasons of Breaking Bad that wrapped up in 2013.

Breaking Bad is an epic crime saga that allowed Cranston to give one of the best performances in the history of the medium, but the series had an amazing supporting cast as well. Aaron Paul’s soulful performance as Jesse Pinkman served as a reminder of the costs that Heisenberg’s actions had on victims, and Giancarlo Esposito’s menacing turn as the drug kingpin and chain restaurant business owner Gus Fring is certainly one of the scariest villains in the entire history of television.

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Release Date January 20, 2008

Creator

Cast Bryan Cranston , Aaron Paul , Dean Norris , Betsy Brandt , Anna Gunn , RJ Mitte , Bob Odenkirk , Jonathan Banks , Giancarlo Esposito , Steven Michael Quezada , Charles Baker , Christopher Cousins , Matt Jones , Michael Shamus Wiles , Lavell Crawford , Jesse Plemons , Ray Campbell , Tina Parker , Carmen Serano , Emily Rios , Krysten Ritter , Laura Fraser , Jeremiah Bitsui , Mark Margolis , Ian Posada , David House , David Costabile , michael bowen , Kevin Rankin , Aaron Hill , Harry Groener , Patrick Sane , Daniel Moncada , Luis Moncada , Marius Stan , Bill Burr , Todd Terry , Jessica Hecht , Tait Fletcher , Rodney Rush , Kaija Roze Bales , Matt Metzler , John de Lancie , Tom Kiesche , Jere Burns , Maurice Compte , Morse Bicknell , Nigel Gibbs , Tess Harper , Raymond Cruz , Max Arciniega , Cesar Garcia , Jesus Jr. , Michael Bofshever , Julie Dretzin , Mike Seal , Christopher Dempsey , Javier Grajeda , Mike Batayeh , Chris Freihofer , Louis Ferreira , Gonzalo Menendez , Jason Douglas , Adam Godley

Rating

Seasons 5

Character(s) Walter White , Jesse Pinkman , Hank Schrader , Marie Schrader , Skyler White , Walter White Jr. , Saul Goodman , Mike Ehrmantraut , Gus Fring , Steven Gomez , Skinny Pete , Ted Beneke , Badger , ASAC George Merkert , Huell , Todd , Tyrus Kitt , Francesca , Carmen Molina , Andrea Cantillo , Jane Margolis , Lydia Rodarte-Quayle , Victor , Tío Salamanca , Brock Cantillo , Dr. Delcavoli , Gale Boetticher , Uncle Jack , Kenny , Jock , Dr. Chavez , Frankie , Leonel Salamanca , Marco Salamanca , Bogdan Wolynetz , Kuby , SAC Ramey , Gretchen Schwartz , Lester , Combo , Kaylee Ehrmantraut , Matt , Donald Margolis , Clovis , Group Leader , Gaff , Declan's Driver , APD Detective Tim Roberts , Mrs. Pinkman , Tuco Salamanca , Krazy-8 , No-Doze , Gonzo , Mr. Pinkman , Pamela , Rival Dealer #1 , Hospital Medic , ER Doctor #1 , E.M.T , Juan Bolsa , Dennis Markowski , Dan Wachsberger , Declan , Detective Kalanchoe , Detective Munn , Elliott Schwartz

Website

Story By Vince Gilligan

Writers Peter Gould , Gennifer Hutchison , Vince Gilligan , George Mastras , Moira Walley-Beckett , Sam Catlin , Thomas Schnauz

Network AMC

Franchise(s) Breaking Bad

Directors Vince Gilligan , michelle maclaren

Showrunner Vince Gilligan

Watch on Netflix

7 ‘Better Call Saul’ (2015-2022)

6 seasons

Chuck and Jimmy McGill looking at legal documents in Better Call Saul

Better Call Saul is one of the great prequels ever made, as it examines the backstory of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk) before he became the slimy lawyer known as “Saul Goodman” that appeared on Breaking Bad. While Odenkirk was often utilized as a source of comic relief in Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul showed that he had been an underdog for all of his life, and decided to cheat his way to get ahead when he felt bullied and humiliated by his brother, Chuck (Michael McKean).

Better Call Saul was able to intertwine with events that take place after Breaking Bad, and tied the two shows together in an interesting way. Although it started off as a straightforward legal thriller, Better Call Saul evolved into a deep character study that asked existentialist questions, and may have even marked an improvement on its critically-lauded predecessor.

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Release Date February 8, 2015

Finale Year November 30, 2021

Cast Adam Dorn , Bob Odenkirk , Jonathan Banks , Peter Gould , Rhea Seehorn , Stacy Keach , Thomas Golubić , Thomas Schnauz , Vince Gilligan , Dave Porter , Junior Brown , Rob Estrada , Gordon Smith , Michael McKean , Patrick Fabian , Michael Mando , Tony Dalton , Giancarlo Esposito , Stoney Westmoreland , Alex Désert , Elisha Yaffe , Chris Mulkey , Jim Beaver , Raymond Cruz , Teddy Eggleston

Seasons 6

Character(s) Self - Songwriter , Self - Mike , Self - Showrunner , Self - Kim , Narrator (voice) , Self - Music Supervisor , Self - Co-Executive Producer , Self - Showrunner / Songwriter , Self - Composer , Self - Musician , Police Officer , Self - Writer , Gus Fring , Officer Saxton , Officer Baker , Lance , Billy Gatwood , Lawson , Tuco Salamanca , Mrs. Siemasko

Producers Bob Odenkirk , Mark Johnson , Robin Sweet , Diane Mercer , James Powers , Alison Tatlock , Princess O'Mahoney , Stewart Lyons , Gennifer Hutchison , Nina Jack

Studio

Story By Peter Gould

Writers Ann Cherkis , Marion Dayre , Ariel Levine , Jonathan Glatzer

Network AMC

Franchise(s) Breaking Bad

Directors Vince Gilligan , Thomas Schnauz , Peter Gould , Michael Morris , Adam Bernstein , Colin Bucksey , John Shiban , Michelle MacLaren , Melissa Bernstein , Larysa Kondracki , Terry McDonough , Gordon Smith , Minkie Spiro , Jim McKay , Daniel Sackheim , Andrew Stanton , Norberto Barba , Rhea Seehorn , Scott Winant , Michael Slovis , Keith Gordon , Deborah Chow , Giancarlo Esposito , Bronwen Hughes

Showrunner Peter Gould

Watch on Netflix

6 ‘The Sopranos’ (1999-2007)

6 seasons

James Gandolfini and Edie Falco in "Mr. and Mrs. John Sacrimoni Request" in 'The Sopranos'

The Sopranos is often referred to as “The Godfather” of television, and it is not just because both are highly focused on the inner workings of a mafia family. The Godfather proved that gangster stories could be powerful dramas about family and the American dream, and The Sopranos indicated that the same was possible of prestigious television shows that aired on networks like HBO.

The Sopranos created one of the greatest anti-heroes of all-time in Tony Soprano, as James Gandolfini was so committed to his performance that audiences were forced to have some sympathy for him, despite the fact that he frequently proved himself to be a terrible person. Although the series finale was quite divisive because of the ambiguous way that it ended, The Sopranos has many classic episodes like “Pine Barrens,” “Sopranos Home Movie,” “Whoever Did This,” “College,” and “Whitecaps.”

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New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life that affect his mental state, leading him to seek professional psychiatric counseling.

Release Date January 10, 1999

Creator

Finale Year November 30, 2006

Seasons 6

Studio

Writers David Chase

Network HBO Max

Streaming Service(s) M

Showrunner David Chase

Watch on Max

5 ‘The Wire’ (2002-2008)

5 seasons

Lawrence Gilliard Jr. as D'Angelo Barksdale on the phone in The Wire

The Wire is both an amazing, multifaceted drama show and an important piece of journalism, as it examined the ways in which the “war on drugs” led to systematic inequalities within America’s cities. Showrunner David Simon was a former reporter who researched the complex relationship between law enforcement, trading docks, public education, local government, and the press, and created a tapestry that examined why violence was so common in cities like Baltimore. The themes that The Wire touched upon continue to be relevant to this day.

The Wire was a truly unpredictable show, as its twists and turns were nearly impossible to predict. Although the series has certainly been interpreted as a piece of political activism, it also has an amazing cast that brought memorable characters to life, including Idris Elba, Dominic West, Michael K. Williams, Michael B. Jordan, and Aidan Gillen among many others.

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Release Date June 2, 2002

Creator

Finale Year November 30, 2007

Rating

Seasons 5

Story By David Simon

Network HBO Max , BBC

Streaming Service(s) Hulu , MAX

Watch on Max

4 ‘Mad Men’ (2007-2015)

7 seasons

Don Draper sits in a dimly lit ward wearing a light brown coat in 'Mad Men' Season 2, Episode 5 "The New Girl" (2008).

Mad Men was the ultimate series about the passing of time, as it examined the experiences of the employees at a prestigious advertising agency over the course of the 1960s. By showing how real world events were interpreted by those trying to sell products to consumers, showrunner Matthew Weiner was able to unpack major events such as the Apollo 11 moon landing, the rise of anti-authoritarian movements, and the assassinations of political leaders like President John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Few characters in television history have been as charismatic as Don Draper, as Jon Hamm’s performance is simply astonishing. Although viewers end up learning a lot about the tragic events in Draper’s past that shaped him into the man that he became, there is still an aspect of his personality that is purposefully left to be ambiguous.

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Mad Men

A drama about one of New York's most prestigious ad agencies at the beginning of the 1960s, focusing on one of the firm's most mysterious but extremely talented ad executives, Donald Draper.

Release Date July 19, 2007

Main Genre Drama

Seasons 7

Network AMC

Streaming Service(s) AMC+

Watch on AMC+

3 ‘Mr. Robot’ (2015-2019)

4 seasons

Rami Malek as Elliot Anderson in the final episode of Mr. Robot.

Mr. Robot is one of the most stylistically unique shows within the 21st century, as creator Sam Esmail crafted a thriller mystery series that felt very reminiscent of cult classic films like Pi, Taxi Driver, Blade Runner, Videodrome, The Matrix, and Fight Club among others. Since the entire series took place over the course of a few key months in the end of 2015, it offered an interesting parallel to real life.

Mr. Robot has been praised for its depiction of mental health, as the protagonist Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek) deals with issues such as isolation, depression, bipolar disorder, and childhood trauma. A key episode in the last season explained the relationship between Elliot and his father, Edward (Christian Slater), in a way that viewers may have never expected to be so devastating. Malek’s performance was an interesting twist on the anti-hero that felt representative of those that don’t always see themselves reflected in media.

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Release Date June 24, 2015

Rating

Seasons 4

Character(s) Self - Mr. Robot , Self - Tyrell Wellick , Shayla Nico , Self - Elliot Alderson , Self - Creator , Self - Actor/Superfan/Founder - The Nerd Machine , Herself - Production Designer , Self - Darlene , Self - Writer/Technical Consultant , Self - Joanna Wellick , Self - Editor-in-Chief at The Verge , Dominique DiPierro , Whiterose , Irving , Phillip Price (voice) , Angela Moss (voice) , Harry , Bartender , Man , Angry Woman , Sharon Knowles , Scott Knowles , Doctor Rodensky , Dwight , Jeremy

Story By Sam Esmail

Writers Sam Esmail

Network USA

Directors Sam Esmail

Showrunner Sam Esmail

Rent on Amazon

2 ‘Twin Peaks: The Return’ (2017)

Limited series

Twin Peaks: The Return may be the single greatest legacy sequel ever made, as David Lynch was able to return the transfixing world of Twin Peaks after the series was shockingly (and unfairly) cancelled by ABC at the end of its second season in 1991. Although Lynch had been able to continue the narrative with his 1992 prequel film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, the eighteen-episode series he made for Showtime got into much darker, weirder, and more emotional places than the franchise had ever been before.

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me explored the existential battle between good and evil that was critical to the original show, but also examined lasting trauma and an overreliance on nostalgia. Since it seems unlikely that Lynch will never make another project on this scale ever again, Twin Peaks: The Return serves as an appropriate calling card to the legendary director behind classics like Blue Velvet and Mullholland Drive.

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An idiosyncratic FBI agent investigates the murder of a young woman in the even more idiosyncratic town of Twin Peaks.

Release Date May 23, 1990

Main Genre Mystery

Seasons 2

Story By david lynch

Writers David Lynch

Network Showtime , ABC

Watch on Showtime

1 ‘Succession’ (2018-2023)

4 seasons

Succession was easily the best written series on television during its run, as it pulls off the nearly impossible task of creating incredibly compelling characters who are not likable in the slightest. Although the series does examine the sinister forces of capitalism and facism that have begun to affect American infrastructure, it is at its heart a richly compelling family drama about a struggle for power.

Succession offered parallels to recent events that were shocking, but also held a very dark sense of humor that made the story still feel engaging. Although viewers may have been split on which of the characters that they chose to align themselves with, the brilliant finale “With Open Eyes” sent each of them off on a compelling next step. Given the constraints put on television now and how hard it is to market ideas that are wholly original, it seems unlikely that there will ever be a show like Succession ever again.

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The Roy family is known for controlling the biggest media and entertainment company in the world. However, their world changes when their father steps down from the company.

Release Date June 3, 2018

Creator

Finale Year November 30, 2022

Cast Hiam Abbass , Alan Ruck , Sarah Snook , Kieran Culkin , Natalie Gold , Nicholas Braun , J. Smith-Cameron , Matthew Macfadyen , Peter Friedman , Brian Cox , Arian Moayed , Jeremy Strong , Rob Yang , Dagmara Dominczyk

Rating

Seasons 4

Creator(s) Jesse Armstrong

Story By jesse armstrong

Writers Jesse Armstrong

Network HBO Max

Directors Mark Mylod

Showrunner Jesse Armstrong

Watch on Max

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