Let’s be honest—picking the greatest TV shows of the 21st century is like picking a favorite track at a music festival. There is too much greatness to select from, and what strikes one man’s heart may not do the same for another. But when you bring enough insider opinions together, read through critic lists, and find the shows that everyone just can’t shut up about, some definite standouts pop out.
From the rise of streaming to the golden age of prestige cable drama, the last two decades have completely reshaped the TV landscape. And these 10 shows? They didn’t just entertain us—they left a mark on the culture.
10. Chernobyl
HBO’s Chernobyl demonstrated that even the most catastrophic real-life tales could be adapted into riveting, unforgettable television. This gripping miniseries depicted the 1986 nuclear meltdown with nerve-wrenching accuracy and deep feeling, not pulling its punches in revealing the bureaucratic missteps that amplified the disaster. With eerie imagery and harrowing acting, Chernobyl is not only powerful—no, it’s must-see television. No wonder it’s received so many “best of” mentions from Rotten Tomatoes to Variety.
9. Fleabag
Few shows ever manage to be even vaguely original, and Fleabag is one of them. Phoebe Waller-Bridge gave us a raw, brutal, and gut-wrenchingly human tale about a woman attempting to find her way through love, death, and shame—and speaking directly to us. Its second season alone is a writing masterclass, and Waller-Bridge’s acting made her a global star. It lasted a mere two seasons, but Fleabag made an enormous impression—and didn’t waste a moment.
8. The Leftovers
If The Leftovers slipped past you, it’s high time to rectify that. This wonderfully odd show starts with 2% of the world’s population vanishing without warning—and gets more intriguing from there. Damon Lindelof’s series isn’t concerned with answers; it’s concerned with what remains. Grief, faith, and identity are all up for discussion in a show that swings for the fences and succeeds more often than not. It didn’t receive the acclaim it deserved when it was airing, but it’s now regarded as one of the most risky and emotionally charged shows of its time.
7. Game of Thrones
Whatever you think of that last season (and yes, we all have opinions), Game of Thrones revolutionized television. For most of its eight seasons, it was an international phenomenon. Its combination of politics, fantasy, backstabbing, and fire-breathing dragons enthralled millions, and it set the benchmark for what could be achieved on television. Love it or hate the conclusion, Thrones is one of the most influential TV series of the 21st century.
6. Mad Men
Few shows capture a time and place like Mad Men. Set in the slick, smoke-filled world of 1960s advertising, it was much more than retro aesthetics—it was a deep dive into identity, power, and change in mid-century America. Jon Hamm’s Don Draper became a symbol of the modern antihero, and the show’s writing, pacing, and performances helped define the prestige TV era. Mad Men is smart, stylish, and endlessly rewatchable.
5. Succession
Witnessing the Roy family destroy one another was one of the most engrossing dramas of the 2020s. Succession is equal parts family conflict, media satire, and psychological thriller—basted in some of television’s finest writing. The show’s combination of backstabbing, raw honesty, and pitch-black humor made it both cringe-worthy to watch and impossible to look away from. From its writing to its directing, Succession is television at its best.
4. The Sopranos
You can’t discuss contemporary TV without The Sopranos. David Chase’s revolutionary show tracked mob capo Tony Soprano as he coped with panic attacks, family conflicts, and plenty of gore. But underneath the mob narrative, it was an interior psychological study—and a huge inspiration for everything that followed. The Sopranos remapped what a television show could do, establishing the template for the intricate characters and extended storytelling we now assume.
3. Breaking Bad
Few programs left viewers on the brink of their seats as did Breaking Bad. Vince Gilligan’s drama following Walter White—a soft-spoken chemistry instructor turned methamphetamine lord—is a masterfully built rollercoaster of morality, ego, and devastation. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul delivered iconic performances, and the script stays as lean as it comes. The tension, character developments, and iconic moments make Breaking Bad one of the finest dramas ever constructed.
2. The Wire
Deemed by many as TV’s greatest novel, The Wire explored American life with unflinching and bold scrutiny through the prism of Baltimore’s institutions—police, schools, media, and more. But it is not a crime show. It’s a sprawling, profoundly human examination of how systems break down for people, but especially marginalized ones. As NPR’s Eric Deggans explained, it’s an anti-cop show that gets at the rot behImage Source: Bing Image. License: All Creative Commonsind the facade. The Wire didn’t receive flashy numbers or high awards when it first aired, but its impact is certain, and its acclaim only increased.
1. Why The Wire Still Reigns Supreme
So why is The Wire the number 1 show of the 21st century? It’s not so much the scope or the realism—it’s the truth it reveals. When BBC Culture surveyed critics from around the globe, The Wire repeatedly ranked at the top. Almost a quarter declared it the greatest TV show of the century. Its observations about race, power, poverty, and corruption resonate today more than ever, and its narrative is unrivaled in depth and scope. Creator David Simon has described the show as being about “two Americas”—the one that has access to opportunity, and the other that is behind. The Wire spoke up for the latter, and in doing so, revolutionized television.