Honestly, TV has not been just about entertainment for a while now. It is the place where culture is formed, challenged, and changed. Through TV, people have heated discussions in their group chats, become aware of social issues, and sometimes even changed their perspective about the world. However, with so many new shows coming to TV every week, which ones are still talked about? We are looking back at 10 television programs that merely did not break the mold but actually dug a new one. Historic representation, brave storytelling, these shows did all that and more, setting the new standard and redefining what TV could achieve.
10. Echo
In a world awash with superheroes, Echo is different. Focusing on Maya Lopez, a deaf, Indigenous woman played by Alaqua Cox—who is also deaf and Native American—this Marvel series is a big deal. Not only is it the first Marvel show fronted by a disabled actress, it’s also a testament to the fact that representation isn’t just strong—it’s necessary. Maya’s journey combines action with personal and cultural richness, showing that superhero narratives can be about real people, too.
9. Little Bird
This powerful Canadian drama sheds light on a little-known bit of history: the Sixties Scoop, when Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to white households. In Bezhig Little Bird’s quest to find her roots, the series doesn’t merely recount one woman’s life—it faces a nation’s past. Truthful, heartbreaking, and restorative, Little Bird is a masterclass in how television can teach while bringing us to tears.
8. Dark Winds
Crime dramas are a dime a dozen, but Dark Winds offers something unique. Based in the 1970s Southwest, the show is about Navajo police officers solving crimes that are bound up in local mythology and culture. Featuring an ensemble cast and crew largely comprised of Navajos, Dark Winds provides authenticity as well as suspense. It’s not just a show about mysteries—it’s also a cultural immersion packaged in compelling storytelling.
7. Spirit Rangers
Children’s television is seldom burdened with this level of cultural significance. Spirit Rangers, developed by Karissa Valencia of the Chumash Nation, introduces three Native brothers who defend their national park by shifting into animal spirits. Its Indigenous cast, writers’ room, and creative staff make it a Netflix animation first—and it’s enjoyably entertaining. Outside of its fantasy framework, it educates children about nature, community, and cultural pride without ever condescending to them.
6. Reservation Dogs
If you’re looking for raw, uncensored, and truly real storytelling, search no more. Reservation Dogs, written by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, is the first show featuring a completely Indigenous writers’ room, cast, and crew. Through four teens living life in rural Oklahoma, it’s half comedy, half coming-of-age drama. The show explodes stereotypes and delivers an honest, vibrant glimpse into contemporary Native life—without ever sacrificing its humor or heart.
5. Pose
Few series have spoken as loudly as Pose. In the kaleidoscopic ball culture of ’80s and ’90s New York, the show boasted the biggest-ever cast of trans performers in a scripted series and centered the trans women of color in its narrative. Through Blanca and Pray Tell, among others, Pose infused primetime with joy, struggle, resilience, and raw authenticity. Its influence continues to be felt—both within the entertainment industry and beyond.
4. Roots
Roots not only broke the record when it was first aired in 1977, but it also forced the United States to confront its past. It was based on the book of the same name by Alex Haley and told the story of the journey of Kunta Kinte, an African who was forcibly taken to America and enslaved. It was a phenomenon of the culture, and the audience numbered in the millions who watched it for eight consecutive nights. It ignited a national discourse about race and history. People did not have the idea of watching a series one after another (binge-watching), but Roots was proof that television could be both gripping and impactful.
3. Steven Universe
Don’t be misled by the Cartoon Network moniker—Steven Universe is among the most progressive and emotionally astute shows ever produced. The brainchild of Rebecca Sugar, the network’s first nonbinary creator, the show addressed topics such as love, gender identity, trauma, and forgiveness through the eyes of an adorable boy and his magical alien protectors. It was revolutionary, particularly for children who saw themselves represented on television for the first time.
2. Heartstopper
Thanks to its genuine, heart-warming depiction of teen queer love, Heartstopper showed you don’t have to suffer to convey a strong LGBTQ+ message. Adapted from Alice Oseman’s graphic novels, the series follows Charlie and Nick as their friendship turns into romance. It is sweet, happy, and pleasantly free from drama. Above all, it provides queer young people with an opportunity to realize that their narratives deserve love, happiness, and exposure—just like anybody else’s.
1. The Wire
You’ve probably heard the hype—and it’s all true. The Wire didn’t just raise the bar for television drama; it redefined what TV could do. Set in Baltimore, the series unpacked the tangled web of institutions—police, schools, politics, media—and showed how they intersect, fail, and sometimes, survive. Praised for its depth, realism, and moral complexity, The Wire is more than a show—it’s a sociological study disguised as fiction. No wonder it’s regularly referred to as the greatest series of the 21st century.
These aren’t programs—they’re cultural milestones. They cracked open doors, sparked conversations, and established that television can be more than mere something-to-view—it can be something to feel, something to learn from, and something to carry with you well after the credits have rolled.