Best Episodic TV Shows
A list of episodic shows I have watched that I feel are at worst are "good", and at best transcend their medium. I'm busy and so are you so even the "worst" shows on this list are worth the time of watching. The best shows on this list are I feel on par with the best movies ever made or the best books ever written.
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- CreatorLarry DavidJerry SeinfeldStarsJerry SeinfeldJulia Louis-DreyfusMichael RichardsThe continuing misadventures of neurotic New York City stand-up comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his equally neurotic New York City friends.Do I really have to describe this show? The brilliance of this sitcom is revealed in how many times you can rewatch it front to back and it never gets old not to mention each time you do you find something fresh and new in its commentary on the plight of the human condition. "Brilliant" is perhaps an overused word but not when describing "Seinfeld": two of the greatest minds in comedy (Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David) happened to converge in the same place at the same time and the synergy of their creative geniuses produced a work of comedy and entertainment I question will ever be matched. Seinfeld is brilliant, consistently novel and hilarious and filled with moments and one liners you'll be quoting the rest of your life.
"This was supposed to be the summer of George!" - 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.For a drama arguably the most well written show ever with a level of wit and intellectualism that puts it on a level all its own. The performance by Gandolfini as Tony Soprano is Oscar worthy (if televisions performances were eligible) and the show balances violence, humor, and personal growth (or lack of it) with the deft hand of series creator David Chase. The only other dramatic shows in its orbit as far as writing is concerned would be "The Wire" and "Mad Men". This series only false step is unfortunately, its ending.
- CreatorDavid SimonStarsDominic WestLance ReddickSonja SohnThe Baltimore drug scene, as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement.The mayor of Iceland's capital city Reykjavík Jón Gnarr once said he would not enter a coalition government with anyone that had not watched this series. "The Wire" is a case study of modern Baltimore with each season being an exercise in studying one layer of the onion that is the social fabric that comprises the city. The police, the gangs, the unions, the educational system, the newspapers...by the time you have finished the fifth season the show has created a true microcosm of an east coast American inner city. Truly an experiment in television that was not just original but also an outstanding and uncompromising success.
- CreatorDavid BenioffD.B. WeissStarsEmilia ClarkePeter DinklageKit HaringtonNine noble families fight for control over the lands of Westeros, while an ancient enemy returns after being dormant for millennia.The "Lord of the Rings" of TV this show has the highest production values of any show ever. Pretty much every episode looks like a one hour production of LOTR while at the same time it portrays a level of political cunning and sexuality that LOTR and J.R.R. Tolkien wouldn't dare touch.
Unceasingly intelligent, shocking, sensual, and graphic, this show is a tour de force of what every show should aspire to be. Having only completed three seasons as of this writing and with George R. R. Martin having only completed five of an anticipated seven books one cannot completely predict where this series is headed but if the ending lives up to the series as it stands so far, it's safe to say it could go down as one of the greatest achievements in media, not just television, in history. - 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.Perhaps the most purely entertaining drama ever made this show specialized in keeping you hooked from cliffhanger to cliffhanger. Uncompromisingly original the series is anchored by Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a former chemistry teacher turned meth cooking criminal mastermind, in what Anthony Hopkins described as the best acting performance he has ever seen. Also not to be overlooked this series has probably the best and most satisfying conclusion of any series on this list let alone in the history of television. Truly the pinnacle of addictive, binge worthy TV. A can't miss.
- 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.Created by Matthew Weiner a Sopranos alumni this show succeeds in taking the cerebral writing, wit, and political back stabbing achieved in the Sopranos (where Boardwalk Empire sometimes fails) and translating it to a 1960's fifth avenue marketing firm. The show is at times a bit too heavy handed with Don Draper's (played by Michael Hamm) alcoholism and self loathing becoming the center of attention one times too many (which is apparently a stand in for Matthew Weiner's self loathing, must suck to be well paid and at the top of your craft). Still Weiner and Co. transcend at delivering thought provoking clever episodes backed by the finest in wardrobe and set design. There are so many interesting characters here as well it can be disappointing how much time is spent with Don. Among the supporting cast it should be mentioned are a number of powerful female leads who manage to command their own attention in what is supposed to be a male dominated world. Weiner and Co. also specialize in throwing the viewer the random curve ball every once and while in that something will happen that is just pure and random for pure and random's sake while being purely delightful in it's unexplainedness and unexpectedness (negro aunt house thief I'm looking at you).
- CreatorShawn RyanStarsMichael ChiklisCatherine DentWalton GogginsDrama series following the lives and cases of dirty cop Vic Mackey and the corrupt LAPD unit under his command.I was really surprised when I watched this show. Not being on HBO or Showtime I expected something closer to network television, maybe Law & Order but a bit more grittier. Boy was I wrong. This is one of the sharpest most pulse pounding series ever created and very much like "Breaking Bad" in that it exceeds in leading you from cliffhanger to cliffhanger so that you cannot stop watching, very much the definition of binge television. Vic Mackey (played by Michael Chiklis) is one of the most badass characters in television (up there with Tony Soprano) and supporting characters such Shane Vendrell (played by Walter Goggins whom I love in "Justified" as well btw) round out the cast. Season four with Glenn Close was perhaps a misstep but all in all one of the best shows I've ever seen.
- CreatorTom FontanaStarsErnie HudsonJ.K. SimmonsLee TergesenA series chronicling the daily activities of an unusual prison facility and its criminal inhabitants.The first time you see a fully frontal nude male inmate taking a shower in this drama set in a high security prison in New York State you will be offended. The second time you see it you might be minorly amused. The third time you see it you will start to appreciate what a truly unique, uncompromising story this series it attempting to tell. This is a story about a number of inmates, all with unique background stories, attempting to survive a prison where they, and everyone else there, are the nastiest most psychopathic criminals around. The amount of graphic homosexual encounters is at first disconcerting but eventually you realize that what makes this show so original is that it wants to show you something unfiltered that no TV show before, or since, has literally had the balls to show you. Do you have the balls to watch it?
- StarsScott GrimesDamian LewisRon LivingstonThe story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day.The "Saving Private Ryan" of television this mini series succeeds even "Saving Private Ryan" in that while it has basically the same production values it's about 5x longer so by the time you, along with Easy Company (the company of soldiers you follow beginning even before D-Day and leading up until the end of the war), finish your campaign in Europe you are as tired of war as characters the actors are portraying. Landmark in that the quality of its production values had not been seen on TV before this it stands as the greatest World War II cinematic saga that has ever been produced.
- CreatorMitchell HurwitzStarsJason BatemanMichael CeraPortia de RossiLevel-headed son Michael Bluth takes over family affairs after his father is imprisoned. But the rest of his spoiled, dysfunctional family are making his job unbearable.Quirky, hilarious and zany this show was *literally* before its time in that the self referential quality of its humor requires the viewer's ability to easily watch from one episode to the next. Pity that it was released on FOX pre-Napster the show unfortunately failed to maintain its audience on network TV. Come the dawn of file sharing however the show became a cult hit and roughly ten years after it was originally cancelled after season three on FOX it was revived for a season four on none other than the mother of all legal digital downloading Netflix.
This show was such a milestone in comedy it pretty much catapulted every actor in it into the pantheon of comedic acting that it's a wonder they were even able to reassemble them all for season four they were all probably so busy. The first episode you may be intrigued but I guarantee you by the time you see the never nude Tobias Fünke (played by David Cross) covered head to toe in blue makeup as he attempts to audition for Blue Man's Group you will be hooked. - CreatorDoug EllinStarsKevin ConnollyAdrian GrenierKevin DillonFilm star, Vince Chase, navigates the vapid terrain of Los Angeles with a close circle of friends and his trusty agent.The "Sex and the City" for men - funny, and escapist.
- CreatorJames L. BrooksMatt GroeningSam SimonStarsDan CastellanetaNancy CartwrightHarry ShearerThe satiric half-hour adventures of a working-class family in the misfit city of Springfield.Would be #1 on the list if they had stopped after the first ten seasons.
- CreatorLarry DavidStarsLarry DavidCheryl HinesJeff GarlinLarry David stars as an over-the-top version of himself in this comedy series that shows how seemingly trivial details of day-to-day life can precipitate a catastrophic chain of events.If you are a fan of Seinfeld a can't miss.
- CreatorTerence WinterStarsSteve BuscemiKelly MacdonaldMichael ShannonAn Atlantic City politician plays both sides of the law by conspiring with gangsters during the Prohibition era.Series creator Terence Winter is a Sopranos alumni. The production values of 1920's prohibition America are top notch. Now entering its fifth and final season the series lags in the middle seasons but season four is one of the best seasons of any show I have ever seen. The show is finally reaching its lofty potential, now is the time to tune in.
- 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.The first two seasons are some of the best television ever made. The next three are good. After that the series jumps of a precipice with the final season being an atrocity to what came before it.
- CreatorJenji KohanStarsMary-Louise ParkerHunter ParrishAlexander GouldWhen a suburban mother turns to dealing marijuana in order to maintain her privileged lifestyle after her husband dies, she finds out just how addicted her entire neighborhood already is.Funny and smart television though the last seasons head off in a tangent that remains worth watching though nowhere near as good as the first four seasons.
- CreatorGreg DanielsRicky GervaisStephen MerchantStarsSteve CarellJenna FischerJohn KrasinskiA mockumentary on a group of typical office workers, where the workday consists of ego clashes, inappropriate behavior, tedium and romance.Some of the best and funniest characters (e.g. Michael Scott, Dwight Schrute, Jim Halpert) to grace network television.
- CreatorMichael HirstStarsKatheryn WinnickGustaf SkarsgårdAlexander LudwigVikings transports us to the brutal and mysterious world of Ragnar Lothbrok, a Viking warrior and farmer who yearns to explore--and raid--the distant shores across the ocean.By the second season this show is fantastic with the writing and character development only getting better as the series moves along. If you like GOT I highly recommend to try.
- CreatorPaul AbbottJohn WellsStarsEmmy RossumWilliam H. MacyEthan CutkoskyA scrappy, feisty, fiercely loyal Chicago family makes no apologies.An extremely dysfunctional family. William H. Macy is the alcoholic father with a slew of other supporting actors. Very dark humour and very good writing, I would call this show underappreciated. Highly recommend.
- CreatorBeau WillimonStarsKevin SpaceyMichel GillRobin WrightA Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.Intelligent and addictive political thriller. The protagonist is an unrealistic political superman but it's fun and engaging enough not to care.
- 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.One season but what a season. Look for the six minute long shot in episode four, I haven't seen anything that fantastic since "Children of Men". The writing and acting are superb, this series is a new heavyweight.
- CreatorTom KapinosStarsDavid DuchovnyNatascha McElhoneEvan HandlerA writer tries to juggle his career, his relationship with his daughter and his ex-girlfriend, as well as his appetite for beautiful women.Fun times but it's pretty much the same formula every season which starts to get old. Still hot chicks and solid laughs.
- CreatorLouis C.K.StarsLouis C.K.Hadley DelanyUrsula ParkerThe life of Louie C.K., a divorced comedian living in New York with two kids.Cerebral and innovative comedy with a touch of bittersweet melancholy from one of the best stand up comedians of all time.
- CreatorAlan BallStarsPeter KrauseMichael C. HallFrances ConroyA chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.Intense drama about a family running a funeral home. I think everyone except the protagonist (played by Peter Krause) is gay or undergoes a gay episode which becomes to be honest disconcerting eventually. It's OK to be gay but many of the characters' sexuality is treated like dust in the wind. Characters who were stoically straight for four seasons suddenly are not and sometimes it just feels like series creator Alan Ball (who is openly gay) is being too heavy handed with the message he is trying to send.
There is some seriously disturbing things in this show, one episode in particular where David Fisher (played by Michael C. Hall) is held up and his car hijacked from a would be thief comes to mind as one of the most powerful and disturbing episodes of television I have ever watched. Great show, superbly acted but disturbingly dark (which is a credit to how well written and acted the show is). - CreatorBen BestJody HillDanny McBrideStarsDanny McBrideSteve LittleKaty Mixon GreerMany years after he turned his back on his hometown, a burned-out major league ballplayer returns to teach Physical Education at his old middle school.Kind of the "Judd Apatow" or "Will Ferrel" movie of TV shows. The first season I laughed some but had problems endearing myself to Kenny Powers. As the seasons go on he and the cast, and the laughs, really start to grow on you.