Epic Television Shows You Can't Miss
This is a working list of my top favorite television shows. I pick based on storytelling, creativity, music, cinematography and acting. I weigh the storytelling the most. Sure, you'll see I stick to some specific genres the most, but I promise you will be entertained. These will make for epic binge-watching weekends or rainy days.
Got any shows recommendations? Post them at the bottom of the page! Thanks!
Got any shows recommendations? Post them at the bottom of the page! Thanks!
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- CreatorFrank DarabontStarsAndrew LincolnNorman ReedusMelissa McBrideSheriff Deputy Rick Grimes wakes up from a coma to learn the world is in ruins and must lead a group of survivors to stay alive.Never has a sci-fi television show captivated so many. Gripping storyline, great special effects, awesome make-up and tons of stomach-churning moments. You'll be hooked.
- CreatorJ.J. AbramsJeffrey LieberDamon LindelofStarsJorge GarciaJosh HollowayYunjin KimThe survivors of a plane crash are forced to work together in order to survive on a seemingly deserted tropical island.I loved watching this web of mystery and suspense come together. Great characters, beautiful location, and a great watch!
- CreatorVeena SudStarsMireille EnosJoel KinnamanBilly CampbellA police investigation, the saga of a grieving family, and a Seattle mayoral campaign all interlock after the body of 17-year-old Rosie Larsen is found in the trunk of a submerged car.Amazing characters, beautiful cinematography, tear-jerking storyline, and awesome soundtrack make this show one of the best.
- CreatorPeter BergStarsKyle ChandlerConnie BrittonZach GilfordA drama that follows the lives of the Dillon Panthers, one of the nation's best high school football teams, and their head coach Eric Taylor.It's the small town community that you've always wanted to be a part of. You never want it to end.
- CreatorRay McKinnonStarsAden YoungAbigail SpencerJ. Smith-CameronDaniel Holden must put his life back together after serving 19 years on Georgia's Death Row before DNA evidence calls his conviction into question.Wow. Each season gets better and better and proves that episode count does not matter. Cable TV should shudder at what is being done on other networks. And, no, you don't need sex, shock and drugs to make one heck of a memorable story. I match the writing on the level of Friday Night Lights, but deeper. If you thought the emotion of Bloodline was thick, allow the first few seasons of this show to prove you wrong. I wanted Season 3 to be the end of Rectify because it was just so good. I have seen mighty shows fall due to writers losing their way. I hope this show does not see the same fate.
- CreatorJames Manos Jr.StarsMichael C. HallJennifer CarpenterDavid ZayasHe's smart. He's lovable. He's Dexter Morgan, America's favorite serial killer, who spends his days solving crimes and nights committing them.Everytime I watch this I feel my world is getting darker and more sinister. Dexter is amazing!
- CreatorDamon LindelofTom PerrottaStarsJustin TherouxAmy BrennemanChristopher EcclestonThree years after the disappearance of 2% of the global human population, a group of people in a small New York community try to continue their lives while coping with the tragedy of the unexplained nature of the event.Unique concept but possibly too drawn out and too depressing.
- CreatorVince GilliganStarsBryan CranstonAaron PaulAnna GunnA chemistry teacher diagnosed with inoperable lung cancer turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student in order to secure his family's future.One of the best shows I have ever seen. So many shocking moments, cliffhangers and plot twists that kept you on edge. So many great season finales and one epic series finale.
- CreatorSally WainwrightStarsSarah LancashireSiobhan FinneranJames NortonYorkshire-based crime drama centering on the personal and professional life of Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood.The story is so suspenseful and the raw violence is nothing like I have ever seen.
- CreatorBeau WillimonStarsKevin SpaceyMichel GillRobin WrightA Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.Well done first season. Great cast and great characters. Can't wait for the second season.
- CreatorPeter MorganStarsClaire FoyOlivia ColmanImelda StauntonFollows the political rivalries and romances of Queen Elizabeth II's reign and the events that shaped Britain for the second half of the 20th century.Breathtaking. Cinematography. Acting. Story. Music.
Watched: 11/16 - CreatorBruce MillerStarsElisabeth MossYvonne StrahovskiAnn DowdSet in a dystopian future, a woman is forced to live as a concubine under a fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship.Like no other dystopian show or movie out there. Phenomenal casting and story with eerie soundtrack to back it.
Watched: Summer 2017 - CreatorÁlex PinaStarsÚrsula CorberóÁlvaro MorteItziar ItuñoAn unusual group of robbers attempt to carry out the most perfect robbery in Spanish history - stealing 2.4 billion euros from the Royal Mint of Spain.
- CreatorGlenn KesslerTodd A. KesslerDaniel ZelmanStarsKyle ChandlerBen MendelsohnLinda CardelliniA family is forced to face their past secrets and scars when the black sheep returns home.Excellent casting and story. I loved that this is set in Florida, making it different from other shows set in California, New Mexico, New York and the other usual places. The cinematography was good, not True Detective great, but a step up from most crime TV shows. Every role was perfectly casted and I think all did an outstanding job. I could rave about Chandler, Spacek or Cardellini, but I believe everyone did just as good as each other. I've seen many shows about dysfunctional families and they usually are not believable, but this is a believable story. Not all families are perfect and there are some secrets that don't always come out till later in life. It is compelling to watch those secrets unravel on this show. I was also happy to see that because the show is not tied to standard 45 minute show times, the episodes were crafted to be as long or short as needed to tell a specific story within the whole season. The one thing I am not so sure about it the ending. In my opinion it was a little weak and while a shocker, was a little cliche. But the pros outweigh the cons and I think Netflix has put a show on the same par as House of Cards.
- CreatorLisa JoyJonathan NolanStarsEvan Rachel WoodJeffrey WrightEd HarrisAt the intersection of the near future and the reimagined past, waits a world in which every human appetite can be indulged without consequence.Original. Superb cast. Amazing cinematography.
- CreatorBryan FullerStarsHugh DancyMads MikkelsenCaroline DhavernasExplores the early relationship between renowned psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter and a young FBI criminal profiler who is haunted by his ability to empathize with serial killers.WOW. To think this comes on a major network like NBC. Amazing acting and I loved Season One's storyline. Season Two took everything to a different level and made me even more of the writing, soundtrack, cinematography and acting of the main cast.
Season Three: How quickly the mighty can fall. Canceled on NBC. The show has become weird and not in a good way like the first two seasons. The first half was a confusing disappointment and based on where the second half may go, should have been left on the cutting room floor. Also, they did a horrible re-cast of Mason Verger (good actor, wrong role). - CreatorZal BatmanglijBrit MarlingStarsBrit MarlingJason IsaacsScott WilsonHaving gone missing seven years ago, the previously blind Prairie returns home, now in her twenties with her sight restored. While many believe she is a miracle, others worry that she could be dangerous.12/16 - Brilliant original story with surprising twists. The season one ending was frustrating, but leaves one hoping for a second season with resolution. It just feels like there is still so much more to discover.
- CreatorMatt DufferRoss DufferStarsMillie Bobby BrownFinn WolfhardWinona RyderWhen a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.A classic playing off of the classics.
- CreatorNeil CrossStarsIdris ElbaDermot CrowleyMichael SmileyJohn Luther is a brilliant homicide detective with a knack for getting inside the minds of murderers. Unfortunately, his unconventional methods and personal demons put him at odds with his team.I love Luther and the storyline is great.
- CreatorNic PizzolattoIssa LópezStarsVince VaughnColin FarrellRachel McAdamsAnthology series in which police investigations unearth the personal and professional secrets of those involved, both within and outside the law.WOW. Great mystery and thriller show with top-notch casting.
- CreatorAlan BallStarsAnna PaquinStephen MoyerSam TrammellTelepathic waitress Sookie Stackhouse encounters a strange new supernatural world when she meets the mysterious Bill Compton, a southern Louisiana gentleman and vampire.Perfect setting, cast, storylines. Sometimes does get a little cheesy and drawn out.
- CreatorChris ChibnallStarsDavid TennantOlivia ColmanJodie WhittakerThe murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart.I love thrillers and mysteries and this one was well done.
Watched Season One: July 2013
Watched Season One & Two: November 2017 - CreatorAllan CubittStarsGillian AndersonJamie DornanJohn LynchA seemingly cold but very passionate policewoman goes head to head with a seemingly passionate father who is in fact a cold serial killer in this procedural out of Belfast. The only thing they share is their common complexity.The first two seasons are good. Each character has a flaw or damaged side. Can people not just be good? Each season, or series, does not really end with a cliff-hanger that makes you really want to watch the next season. I also was pretty disappointed in the heavy feminist and sexist agenda this show displays. They really make it seem that there really is no hope for love, peace, trust and actual good. However, both Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan are amazing in their roles. The fleshing out of their characters could have been done a little better but it seems that season three may solve this. Will I watch the next season? Probably only due to the fact that I enjoyed the main actors so much.
- CreatorFabrice GobertStarsAnne ConsignyClotilde HesmeFrédéric PierrotIn a small French mountain town where everyone knows each other, the dead begin to inexplicably return as if their death never happened. Forcing the townsfolk to confront their difficult past as they seek to understand this phenomenon.
- CreatorDavid KajganichMax BorensteinAlexander WooStarsJared HarrisDerek MioTobias MenziesSupernatural, semihistorical, horror anthology series, where each season is inspired by a different infamous or mysterious real life historical tragedy.
- CreatorAbi MorganStarsStellan SkarsgårdNicola WalkerAdeel AkhtarJohn River is a brilliant police inspector whose genius lies side-by-side with the fragility of his mind. He is a man haunted by the murder victims whose cases he must lay to rest.
- CreatorJoe PenhallStarsJonathan GroffHolt McCallanyAnna TorvIn the late 1970s, two FBI agents broaden the realm of criminal science by investigating the psychology behind murder and end up getting too close to real-life monsters.
- CreatorDavid SimonStarsDominic WestLance ReddickSonja SohnThe Baltimore drug scene, as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement.Awesome show, but slow paced. In Season Two so far.
- CreatorMatthew WeinerStarsJon HammElisabeth MossVincent KartheiserA 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.I love shows that depict eras that I was not around in. This show is so fun and has a great cast. Perfect character development and catch storylines keep me coming back for more.
- CreatorJulian FellowesStarsHugh BonnevillePhyllis LoganElizabeth McGovernA chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early twentieth century.Soundtrack, storyline, beautiful cinematography and amazing cast! Could you ask for anything more?
- CreatorDavid ChaseStarsJames GandolfiniLorraine BraccoEdie FalcoNew 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.Well-written. Amazing cast. Original. One of the best.
- CreatorAaron SorkinStarsJeff DanielsEmily MortimerJohn Gallagher Jr.A newsroom undergoes some changes in its workings and morals as a new team is brought in, bringing unexpected results for its existing news anchor.
- CreatorDrew GoddardStarsCharlie CoxVincent D'OnofrioDeborah Ann WollA blind lawyer by day, vigilante by night. Matt Murdock fights the crime of New York as Daredevil.Fun and everything I want out of a superhero show.
- CreatorAlex GansaHoward GordonStarsClaire DanesMandy PatinkinDamian LewisA bipolar CIA operative becomes convinced a prisoner of war has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning to carry out a terrorist attack on American soil.It's 24, but with nudity and profanity allowed! Claire Danes, Damien Lewis and Morena Baccarin are above par actors. While some of the scenarios on the show are a little "out there", this show is a little more believable than 24.
- CreatorBrad FalchukRyan MurphyHalley FeifferStarsLady GagaKathy BatesAngela BassettAn anthology series centering on different characters and locations, showcasing different aspects of horror.It's so creepy that it is good.
My Favorite Seasons by Rank: 1,3,2,6,4,5 - CreatorLeslie BohemStarsJeffrey DonovanKaDee StricklandAngus SampsonCharlie is a scammer with a small chain of fortune-telling storefronts and contracts building tricks for a family that controls the business in the greater chunk of LA.It's the new Breaking Bad.
- CreatorPaul T. ScheuringStarsDominic PurcellWentworth MillerAmaury NolascoA structural engineer installs himself in a prison he helped design, in order to save his falsely accused brother from a death sentence by breaking themselves out from the inside.Never seen a storyline carried through multiple seasons so well. Excellent cast and as addicting as 24, but more believable. Closest I've seen to a movie created as a tv series.
- CreatorAnthony CiprianoCarlton CuseKerry EhrinStarsVera FarmigaFreddie HighmoreMax ThieriotA contemporary prequel to Psycho, giving a portrayal of how Norman Bates' psyche unravels through his teenage years, and how deeply intricate his relationship with his mother, Norma, truly is.Great cast, fun plot twists, amazing cinematography and creepy.
- CreatorGlenn KesslerTodd A. KesslerDaniel ZelmanStarsGlenn CloseRose ByrneTate DonovanA law school graduate becomes the protégée of a successful high-stakes litigator.I've watched the first three seasons. There are parts of the show that are so captivating and then there seems to be parts that are just a bunch of filler. I love the cast. I wish there was a little more character development of some of the lead cast past and present (ie. Ellen and Tom). Great storylines and cool flashbacks and flashforwards. If I had to pick my seasons in order, they'd be 3,1 and 2. Can't wait to watch 4 & 5.
- CreatorVince GilliganPeter GouldStarsBob OdenkirkRhea SeehornJonathan BanksThe trials and tribulations of criminal lawyer Jimmy McGill in the years leading up to his fateful run-in with Walter White and Jesse Pinkman.Great first season and satisfying for all Breaking Bad fans.
- CreatorHagai LeviSarah TreemStarsDominic WestRuth WilsonMaura TierneyA struggling novelist and a young waitress strike up an extramarital relationship that promises to forever change the course of their lives.I love the idea of each show being two parts, one Noah's perspective and one Allison's perspective. As the show went on their perspectives became vastly different and at times a little confusing as two who is actually telling the truth. The writers may have made a mistake in how season one ended. People want answers and the cliffhangers of both perspectives left me unfulfilled and less likely to want to watch the second season. There is so many ways the could have gone and they chose a less likely and less enjoyable route.
- CreatorDebbie HorsfieldStarsAidan TurnerEleanor TomlinsonJack FarthingRoss Poldark returns home after the American Revolutionary War and rebuilds his life with a new business venture, making new enemies and finding a new love where he least expects it.
- CreatorAlex TimbersRoman CoppolaJason SchwartzmanStarsGael García BernalLola KirkeSaffron BurrowsLove, money, ambition and music intertwine in Mozart in the Jungle, a half hour comedic drama that looks at finding yourself and finding love while conquering New York City. A brash new maestro Rodrigo stirs up the New York Symphony as young oboist Hailey hopes for her big chance.
- CreatorCharlie BrookerStarsWunmi MosakuMonica DolanDaniel LapaineFeaturing stand-alone dramas -- sharp, suspenseful, satirical tales that explore techno-paranoia -- "Black Mirror" is a contemporary reworking of "The Twilight Zone" with stories that tap into the collective unease about the modern world.
- CreatorDavid E. KelleyJonathan ShapiroStarsBilly Bob ThorntonNina AriandaTania RaymondeA disgraced lawyer, now an ambulance chaser, gets a case that could bring him redemption or at least revenge on the firm which expelled him.
- CreatorRichard PriceSteven ZaillianStarsRiz AhmedJohn TurturroBill CampAfter a night of partying with a woman he picked up, a man wakes up to find her stabbed to death and is charged with her murder.With American Crime and American Crime Story being cable television hits, HBO needed one for themselves. I found the actors to be the best part of a slow and non-rewarding 8-part series. I really think the writers missed making the show more dramatic and suspenseful. I got to the last few episodes and was thinking that it just felt like they didn't fully flesh this out.
- CreatorBaltasar KormákurStarsÓlafur Darri ÓlafssonIlmur KristjánsdóttirBjörn Hlynur HaraldssonIn a remote town in Iceland, police desperately try to solve a crime as a powerful storm descends upon the town.
- CreatorRobert CochranJoel SurnowStarsKiefer SutherlandMary Lynn RajskubCarlos BernardCounter Terrorism Agent Jack Bauer races against the clock to subvert terrorist plots and save his nation from ultimate disaster.Believe me, I want to rate this show better than a 10. But I go based on storytelling, acting, soundtrack, cinematography, ect. While this show was definitely gripping and suspensful and had memorable characters, when it comes to how I rate the other shows on the list, it just doesn't meet par. In terms of just looking at cable television shows, this one would rate higher.
- CreatorSoo HughStarsLily RabeBarry SloaneMilo VentimigliaAn unseen force is manipulating society's most innocent--our children--to act in favor of its cause. As the kids unwittingly help this unknown enemy, the clock counts down in this suspenseful race to save humanity.Reminds me of the X-Files.
- CreatorJohn RidleyStarsFelicity HuffmanRegina KingTimothy HuttonSeasonal anthology series. Season 1: The lives of the participants in a trial with significant racial motives are forever changed during the legal process.Interesting story. Had a few shocking moments.
- CreatorStephen ChboskyJosh SchaerJonathan E. SteinbergStarsSkeet UlrichLennie JamesAshley ScottA small town in Kansas is literally left in the dark after seeing a mushroom cloud over nearby Denver, Colorado. The townspeople struggle to find answers about the blast and solutions on how to survive.This series ended too soon. It had a good cast and great potential.
- CreatorGuillermo del ToroChuck HoganStarsCorey StollDavid BradleyKevin DurandA mysterious viral outbreak with hallmarks of an ancient and evil strain of vampirism ravages the city of New York.Season One: "One of the best horror shows I have ever seen on TV. It may even be grosser than Walking Dead."
Season Two: What the heck were the producers thinking? Horrible writing, cheesy acting, bad recast of the kid. How could they let this happen? - CreatorEric Ellis OvermyerStarsTitus WelliverJamie HectorAmy AquinoAn L.A.P.D. homicide detective works to solve the murder of a 13-year-old boy while standing trial in federal court for the murder of a serial killer.I watched all ten episodes of the first season and got to the end not satisfied. The cinematography, soundtrack and cast are top-notch, but the plot was bland. I think maybe my hopes were too high for Amazon to produce something along the lines of BBC's Luther, Happy Valley, and Broadchurch or AMC's The Killing. It was drawn out over ten episode and could have only been 6 or less with compelling content. Also, just when the show starts to reveal more depth in a character it suddenly goes back to shallow character interactions. I want to know Bosch better, but all I got from this season was a man with a bad childhood and who is apathetic to life. Some episodes ended with no real draw to watch the next one. I hope that Amazon does a better job with Season Two, which I know will happen due to the high ratings that come from people who just viewed the pilot or who have read the book series. I am not sure I will watch future episodes unless somehow between now and then I have a sudden change of heart.
- CreatorCris ColeStarsBen ChaplinMichael ImperioliRomany MalcoA group of guys travel to Belize to see an old friend, when things take an unexpectedly dark turn.Mad Dogs does not really get you invested as other shows out there. I believe the whole show is meant to be unbelievable, sort of a “Hangover” TV series of a bunch of guys who just can’t get a break. I’ve also been seeing a trend of drama shows from Amazon that just don’t let you get real invested in the main characters. I love the actors of the show, but don’t like the characters they play (which is probably the point). In fact, I actually felt more invested in the supporting cast (Rochelle, The Cat, Aaron, Milo, Sophia and Eric. Epic acting on their part!
The cinematography is great and the music is perfect. The actors play their part well, but the writers did a horrible job with the script. In my opinion, the show would have been better with less episodes. I stuck till the end, but I was not attentive. It is one of those shows where I skipped ahead on some parts because it was so predictable and I just wanted to catch the main points.
There will be a second season. Why? Because Amazon does it different then cable. They’ve got their Prime subscribers and almost 5 star ratings (the ratings mainly come from a stellar pilot and not really representative of the season as a whole), so it is almost guaranteed. But I think it is a realization on my end that all things that Amazon produces won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. I wish this one had been. - CreatorTony AyresLouise FoxStarsPatrick BrammallEmma BoothSean KeenanSeven people return from the dead with no memory and attempt to unveil what brought them to the grave in the first place.I got to the end of the series and was like, "wait...what?" Weird plot and frustrating romances with main characters.
- CreatorAdam HorowitzEdward KitsisStarsGinnifer GoodwinJennifer MorrisonLana ParrillaA young woman with a troubled past is drawn to a small town in Maine where fairy tales are to be believed.Great idea for a show, just horribly written and way too many cheesy lines. Currently struggling through Season 3.
- CreatorRobert RodriguezStarsD.J. CotronaZane HoltzJesse GarciaA Texas Ranger is in hot pursuit of the infamous Gecko brothers and their hostages. They all end up trapped in a desert bar secretly run by vampires and discover a vampire conspiracy.If you have seen the movies, most likely you will like the series. The first few episodes were amazing. And then it got weird (as it does in the movie). But with the weirdness came strange plot twists, horrible writing and an ending that was confusing as to if it was a series ending or an attempt to keep the door open for another season.
- CreatorJason RothenbergStarsEliza TaylorBob MorleyMarie AvgeropoulosSet 97 years after a nuclear war destroyed civilization, when a spaceship housing humanity's lone survivors sends 100 juvenile delinquents back to Earth, hoping to repopulate the planet.
- CreatorChad HodgeStarsSiobhan Fallon HoganToby JonesShannyn SossamonA Secret Service agent goes to Wayward Pines, Idaho in search of two federal agents who have gone missing in the bucolic town. He soon learns that he might never get out of Wayward Pines alive.
- CreatorBill GallagherStarsIndira VarmaRobert GlenisterDino FetscherThe murder of a female GP in a rural playground in front of numerous witnesses draws a group of detectives into an ever-darkening mystery that takes them across Europe, aided by mysterious notes sent by the "Ghost Detective".
- StarsSteinunn Ólína ÞorsteinsdóttirMagnús JónssonBirna Rún EiríksdóttirA smart lawyer whose drinking and recklessness send him on a path of self-destruction finds new purpose investigating a teenager's apparent suicide.
- CreatorMelissa RosenbergStarsKrysten RitterRachael TaylorEka DarvilleFollowing the tragic end of her brief superhero career, Jessica Jones tries to rebuild her life as a private investigator, dealing with cases involving people with remarkable abilities in New York City.
- StarsSarah GadonEdward HolcroftRebecca LiddiardGrace, an Irish immigrant in 19th-century Canada, is convicted of the murder of her employer. However, things take a different turn when a psychiatrist arrives to analyze her mental state.
- CreatorBaran bo OdarJantje FrieseStarsLouis HofmannKaroline EichhornLisa VicariA family saga with a supernatural twist, set in a German town where the disappearance of two young children exposes the relationships among four families.
- CreatorDerek SimondsStarsBill PullmanJessica HechtDohn NorwoodDetective Ambrose employs some unusual tactics and a deep capacity for empathy to solve his cases. His boundless dedication is driven by his dark past, leading him into powerful and often dangerously intimate bonds with his suspects.
- CreatorTony BasgallopStarsLauren AmbroseToby KebbellNell Tiger FreeA Philadelphia couple are in mourning after an unspeakable tragedy creates a rift in their marriage and opens a door for a mysterious force to enter their home.