10 Essential TV Dramas Everyone Should See At Least Once

2 days ago 3

There are shows that some people watch, shows that no one watches, and shows that everyone watches. When it comes to the latter category, that doesn’t always include everyone. There’s always that one person who admits to never having seen one of the biggest shows on television. Some even wear it like a badge of honor that they have managed to avoid the perceived peer pressure and steered clear of a show people can’t stop talking about.

Despite this mindset, there are a few essential dramas that supersede such beliefs. These are ones that everyone should watch at least once just to be able to join the conversation, even if they didn’t like the show. But chances are these quality series will make the top 10 personal list.

10 'Breaking Bad' (2008-2013)

Created by Vince Gilligan

Jesse and Walter arguing, face to face in Breaking Bad.

Breaking Bad follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a quiet family man and chemistry teacher who is just getting by. When he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis, he is determined to ensure that his wife and two children are cared for when he’s gone. So, he stoops to desperate measures to leave them a nest egg: making and selling drugs. As it turns out, however, his product is good, really good. He lists the help of small-time drug dealer and former high school student Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to help him sell it. But what happens next turns White into an unrecognizable man drunk with power and living out a wrath that has been bubbling to his surface for years.

Admittedly, Breaking Bad is slow to start. It almost seems like fans are aching for something to happen throughout much of the first season. But that moment when White stands in front of his bathroom mirror and shaves his head is a pivotal turning point. Sticking with the show up to that point pays off in spades because every season of Breaking Bad is better than the last.

Release Date January 20, 2008

Rating

Seasons 5

Creator

Website

Network AMC

Franchise(s) Breaking Bad

Showrunner Vince Gilligan

9 'Mad Men' (2007-2015)

Created by Matthew Weiner

Jon Hamm as Don Draper in 'Mad Men' sitting in a chair in his office with a cigarette in his hand.

A glimpse into the inner workings of the advertising world of the ‘50s with tons of timely references and compelling characters and parallel storylines, Mad Men is a delight to watch from start to finish. Back then, it was all about newspaper print advertising, and eventually, TV commercials. The plot centers around the partners and employees at the Sterling Cooper agency, notably Don Draper (Jon Hamm), a creative director with a mysterious past who is astonishingly good at his job but, personally, he’s a mess.

There’s a lot about the show that wouldn’t hold up today, but that’s par for the course for that time period. The story follows other characters as well, including secretary Peggy (Elisabeth Moss), who proves she has much more to offer in the male-dominated working world than just answering phones and opening mail. She eventually sees Draper as both a mentor and a friend. With one of the best series finales ever on television, the seven seasons take you through to the ‘70s, and it’s a wild and exciting ride all the way through.

Mad Men

Release Date July 19, 2007

Main Genre Drama

Seasons 7

Creator Matthew Weiner

Studio AMC

8 'The Sopranos' (1999-2007)

Created by David Chase

James Gandolfini sits in a chair in Dr. Melfi's office smiling in The Sopranos episode Big Girls Don't Cry

It’s easy to forget that Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) is a fictional character, not a real gangster. But Gandolfini embodied the character so well that it almost seems like The Sopranos was a true story. He’s an Italian American mobster who tries to balance his criminal life with being a loving family man. He seeks help from his psychiatrist, Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco), but this doesn’t stop Tony from doing what needs to be done to further his position and influence.

The Sopranos is widely considered to be one of the best shows ever on television with many episodes that are downright perfect. It solidifies the careers of many established and up-and-coming actors. Even for those who have already read all the chatter about the open-ended finale, it’s still worth seeing how the entire story plays out over the show’s six seasons.

Release Date January 10, 1999

Main Genre Drama

Seasons 6

Creator David Chase

Studio HBO

7 'Dexter' (2006-2013)

Created by James Manos Jr.

Arthur and Dexter stand face to face in the Miami PD office

One of the most compelling characters on television, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) in Dexter, is a serial killer who drugs, taunts, kills, and dismembers his victims. But he’s also intensely likable. He lives by a code, taught to him by his father as a way to save his son from a terrible existence. He only kills people he deems deserving to die, like child abusers, rapists, and other awful humans. It doesn’t hurt that he’s a blood spatter analyst for the local police, so he has access, credibility, and knowledge to carry out his murders.

Even die-hard fans will advise that the first four seasons of Dexter are the best ones. The show took a dip in its quality, writing, and characters after that. But it’s still a worthwhile watch for the back half as well. That’s especially to catch up with the many new spin-offs past and present, including the 2020 limited series sequel Dexter: New Blood (designed to right the wrongs of the horrendous series finale) and the upcoming prequel Dexter: Original Sin and sequel Dexter: Resurrection. Knowing the original showrunner is back for these shows, it’s worth watching the original to dive into this devious world of serial killing.

Dexter

Release Date October 1, 2006

Main Genre Crime

Seasons 8

Studio Showtime

6 'Game of Thrones' (2011-2019)

Created by David Benioff, D.B. Weiss

Lord Varys (Conleth Hill) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) on a beach in Game of Thrones.

There are groups of people who pride themselves in never having jumped on the Game of Thrones bandwagon. There are others who started watching late and got into the conversation that continues to occur to this day. The series, based on the George R. R. Martin novels (for its first several seasons), is set in the fictional continent of Westeros where various factions and families are fighting for the Iron Throne. Who really deserves to sit there doesn’t matter, many believe it’s theirs, and they will fight to the death to win. But then, there’s also the threat of the Night King ready to attack because, as the show advises, “Winter is coming.”

There’s still time to catch up on Game of Thrones, even after knowing some of the key things that occur with the characters and story. From the tremendous cast, the intriguing stories, and character development, there’s a lot to love, especially with all the best episodes. The drama is not for the faint of heart, with some extremely violent scenes. But Game of Thrones has spawned an entire franchise, and it’s worth seeing how it all first played out on screen.

Release Date April 17, 2011

Main Genre Drama

Seasons 8

Creator

Website

Studio

Story By George R.R. Martin

Writers D.B. Weiss , George R.R. Martin , David Benioff

5 'Lost' (2004-2010)

Created by Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof

Jack and Sawyer looking at each other and arguing in Lost

Lost is the kind of show fans loved watching twice to pick up on subtle nuances and potential different ways to interpret pivotal scenes and events. It all begins when a plane crashes on a mysterious island and the survivors must struggle for shelter and food until they are eventually rescued, or so they hope. With clashing personalities, supernatural events, and other strange people (or beings) on the island, the show is sci-fi, adventure, and drama, all rolled into one.

For those who love mythology and shows that require a lot of thought, processing, interpretation, and analyzing, Lost fits the bill. It’s creative, smart, and exciting, and one of those shows fans still talk about to this day.

Release Date September 22, 2004

Main Genre Mystery

Seasons 6

Creator(s) J.J. Abrams , Damon Lindelof , Jeffrey Lieber

Network ABC

Showrunner Damon Lindelof , Carlton Cuse

4 'The Walking Dead' (2010-2022)

Created by Frank Darabont

Andrew Lincoln as Rick Grimes fighting Jadis' armored and spiked walker in The Walking Dead.

It started as a little small screen interpretation of a popular comic book series and has exploded into a massive franchise that includes numerous spin-offs, several still airing to this day. The Walking Dead is set in a post-apocalyptic world whereby the planet has been overtaken by a deadly virus. Everyone is infected and as soon as someone passes or is bitten, they turn into a flesh-eating zombie.

What’s so wonderful about The Walking Dead, as any loyal fan will say on repeat, is that it isn’t about the walking dead. It’s about the survivors in a perilous situation, the difficult decisions they must make, the unlikely friendships they form, and the way each person adapts. While the series took a dip after its seventh season, it’s one of those rare shows that picked back up and got even better. While there are 11 seasons and 177 episodes, that seems like a massive undertaking, it’s still easy to power through it all in a few months' time, then dive into all the other spin-offs.

Release Date October 31, 2010

Seasons 11

Studio AMC

3 'Supernatural' (2005-2020)

Created by Eric Kripke

Jensen Ackles & Jared Padalecki as Dean & Sam Winchester looking confused in Bobby's house on Supernatural

Supernatural is one of those shows that was easy to pass over, not realizing just how good it is. The show is about two demon, ghost, and monster-hunting brothers, Sam Winchester (Jared Padalecki) and Dean Winchester (Jensen Ackles) who dedicate their lives to ridding the world of these heinous creatures. It’s a great show for those who love urban legends and buddy shows.

Created by Eric Kripke, the same man behind shows like The Boys, Supernatural is a much tamer option for those who find The Boys to be too vulgar and gory. The chemistry between the two main characters is what truly makes this show a watchable one worth checking out, even now almost 20 years after it started.

Release Date September 13, 2005

Rating

Seasons 15

Creator

Studio

2 'The Bear' (2022-)

Created by Christopher Storer

Jeremy Allen White as Carmy and Ayo Edebiri as Sydney side by side in the kitchen in Season 3 of The Bear.

For those who haven’t yet watched this multi-award-winning series, chances are there’s at least a bit of curiosity about what the fuss is all about. The psychological comedy-drama focuses on the journey of Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White), a talented chef who moves back home to Chicago to run his brother’s flailing sandwich shop following his untimely death. Carmy is met with a lot of push back but as he grows closer to the staff and encourages them to trust him, they all grow leaps and bounds, as does the restaurant.

The personal lives of the characters in The Bear and all the trauma they deal with is as captivating as the frantically paced storylines that take place in the kitchen. The third season, which was met with polarizing views, really explores that for each character. There’s a lot to love about the show, however, with all its loud, anxiety-fueling, harsh, emotional episodes that cut right to the core.

Release Date June 23, 2022

Main Genre Drama

Seasons 3

Story By Christopher Storer

Writers Christopher Storer

Streaming Service(s) Hulu , Disney+

Directors Christopher Storer

Showrunner Christopher Storer

1 'Shogun' (2024-)

Created by Rachel Kondo, Justin Marks

Mariko kneeling on the ground, another woman mirroring her in the background in Shogun.

A massive success right out of the gate, Shogun is a historical drama based on the 1975 James Clavell novel. The second adaptation following the 1980 miniseries, Shogun kicks the visuals and story up several notches, and is a worthy follow-up. It tells the story of three individuals whose worlds collide, including a shipwrecked English sailor, a powerful daimyo, and a highborne woman with unique skills.

While each character is based on real people from history books and rooted in fact, the story itself is fictional. That allows for plenty of drama, fabulous fight scenes, and compelling dialogue to draw viewers in. With just 10 episodes and second and third seasons already in development, Shogun won’t disappoint.