Saying a TV show will change your life is a big claim, but these series are emotional and have something moving to discuss about the world we all live in. While it’s easy to talk about prestige television and thebest crime drama TV showsthat are considered must-watch series, the world of TV is expansive. From surprisingly gripping reality programming to sci-fi miniseries, every genre has something unforgettable to offer. Whenthe writing and acting come together to craft a near-perfect show,it doesn’t take long for critics and audiences alike to come together to recognize a show’s quality.
A few of these are considered some of thebest TV shows of all time. However, it isn’t the critical acclaim that will stay with viewers long after they’ve finished watching; it’s the themes and messages of the stories. When done wrong, it’s easy to let high-minded conversations about death, morality, and the meaning of life be a little too cringy to take seriously. However, this makes it all the more impactful when shows like these take the time to impart their messages with nuance and create a safe space for viewers to feel their lessons deeply.
10Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012)
Bourdain Will Encourage You To Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone In New & Exciting Ways
As food and chef-oriented media have become more popular in recent years, it’s important to pay tribute to the man who first sparked the food revolution: Anthony Bourdain. Before he led the more polishedParts Unknown, Bourdain was traveling all over and stumbling into everything from high-class restaurants to family homes inAnthony Bourdain: No Reservations. It might sound a little trite to say thatBourdain inspired generations to get out of their comfort zones and travel.However, it’s as true today as it was when his first book,Kitchen Confidential,was released.
It’s worth it to take his advice and put yourself out there because the world is a much bigger place than most people realize.
Many have tried and failed to capitalize on the vibe and atmosphere that allows Bourdain to fit into any environment he finds himself in. TheA24 Anthony Bourdain biopicTonyis officially in the works, and it will be interesting to see how the film grapples with the legacy of such an iconic figure. While few of us will travel with the ease of Bourdain inNo Reservations, it’s worth it to take his advice and put yourself out there because the world is a much bigger place than most people realize.
9The Leftovers (2014–2017)
Kevin & Nora’s Story Chronicles An Incredible Emotional Journey
Often described as the spiritual successor toLost,The Leftoversisn’t always an easy watch. Each character is wracked with grief and often leans on self-destructive tendencies to cope. However, asThe Leftoversprogresses, it turns out the audience can learn a lot from these imperfect characters, as they learn a lot from each other. Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon take center stage as Kevin and Nora, two people struggling to relearn how to live in the wake of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the world’s population.
It’s a strange tragedy, as 2% might not seem world-ending at first, but it soon becomes clear that everyone’s life was permanently altered by the event, even if their loved ones remained. Everyone deals with the fallout differently, butThe Leftoverstakes pains to remind the audience that people have more in common than they typically believe.Just three seasons long,The Leftoversis a quick watch, but it’s one that will stay with you forever. It’s an ambitious project, but is near-perfect from beginning to end.
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8Fleabag (2016–2019)
Each Season Of Fleabag Tells A Unique Yet Richly Imagined Story
Created by, written by, and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge,Fleabagmakes a decent case for auteur television, but Waller-Bridge doesn’t anchor the series alone. Based on her one-woman show, Waller-Bridge expanded the world ofFleabagand seamlessly brought it to life onscreen, making it clear it was always meant to end up there. The first season is a test of endurance and tragedy, as the audience watches the hero, Fleabag, have to come face-to-face with the kind of person she’s become.
In some ways,Fleabagseason 2 is an even more unforgettable season of TV.
Fleabagseasons 1 and 2 serve different purposes, taking the audience on the character’s complete journey as she evolves considerably by the final episode. In some ways,Fleabagseason 2 is an even more unforgettable season of TV, as Waller-Bridge is joined by Andrew Scott as the Hot Priest, and their love story is one for the ages. Sad, funny, and surprisingly uplifting,Fleabagwill break your heart, but make sure to give you a glimmer of hope to keep struggling through the impossibility of living in the world.
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7Pose (2018–2021)
While The Look & Feel Of Pose Will Capture Your Attention, You’ll Stay For The Characters
Most audiences might have first been introduced to the history of LGBTQ+ Ball culture in 1980s New York City through the documentaryParis Is Burning. However,Posewas a vital successor to the film, giving the subjects of the story a voice of their ownand telling this history on their terms. Though the characters inPosemight be fictional, they represent very real individuals who created one of the most influential cultural scenes of the time that continues to steer fashion, art, and storytelling.Posetakes the time to get to know its characters, making them vividly real.
Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, and Indya Moore lead the ensemble castas three trans women navigating the discrimination they receive from others as well as the community and joy they find within Ballroom. While it’s a character-driven show,Poseis also visually stunning, making the balls as colorful and jaw-dropping as possible, drawing the viewer into the characters' world. WhilePosedeserved many more seasons, the three-season run is one of the tightest in recent history, which is one of the many reasons everyone should be watchingPose.
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6The Good Place (2016–2020)
The Good Place Makes It Fun And Poignant To Think About Life After Death
A high-concept comedy likeThe Good Placecould’ve easily come and gone without finding its place on television, but luckily, audiences saw the the merits of the series quickly.Incorporating discussions of moral reasoning and examining how to be a “good” personin the modern age,The Good Placewas packed with twists and turns that delivered these complex conversations with ease. It helps that the central cast, led by Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, and Ted Danson, among many other stellar comedians, has incredible chemistry.
AsThe Good Placeprogresses, audiences will find peace with their mortality and place on Earth alongisde the characters.
ThoughThe Good Placedoesn’t shy away from getting complicated and delving into the big questions about theology and what happens after we die, the tone never strays too far away from comedic. Each character represents a different type of morality and interest in goodness, allowing them to have unique journeys on their way to self-actualization. AsThe Good Placeprogresses, audiences will find peace with their mortality and place on Earth alongisde the characters.
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5Six Feet Under (2001–2005)
Though It’s At The Forefront Of Each Episode, Six Feet Under Is About More Than Just Death
Created by Alan Ball, the mind behind some of the best TV shows of the 2000s,Six Feet Underhas an offbeat premise, but the audience comes to find solace in its darkness. Following the Fisher family, who run a funeral home,Six Feet Underbegins almost every episode with a death, connecting this back to the interpersonal dramas of the central family. Considered one of the most iconic TV series of all time,Six Feet Underfeatures some of thebest quotes from HBO TV showsas the story gets heady and philosophical.
Though there are some aspects ofSix Feet Underthat seem a little dated today,the series is still fresh and able to discuss taboo subjects like death with nuanceand empathy. However, saying thatSix Feet Underis just about death would be a mistake. The most pressing questions of the time were explored inSix Feet Under, and while it’s difficult not to view the series through an existentialist lens, it ends on a hopeful note thanks to the unforgettable series finale.
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4Station Eleven (2021–2022)
The End Of The World Isn’t Quite So Bleak In Station Eleven
Based on the book by Emily St. John Mandel,Station Elevenis a different kind of post-apocalyptic drama,more hopeful than most additions to the genre. Full of nostalgia for the past but balanced by the desire to keep pushing forward against impossible odds,Station Elevenvalues community, art, and storytelling. Though there is violence and terror to be found within the world ofStation Eleven, the potential for rebuilding is never far away, and there’s something to be learned from the grief the characters grapple with.
Mackenzie Davis is at her best as Kirsten, supplying enough vulnerability and toughness to communicate the strange existence of having experienced the world before it ended while seeing that memory slowly slip away. The differing ideologies about how best to remake society come to a head inStation Eleven, forcing the audience to consider what they would hold onto as the world becomes unrecognizable. However, the show reminds us thatsome things will remain, even when the structures we’ve created start to crumble.
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3Reservation Dogs (2021–2023)
A Landmark Show That Does Coming-Of-Age Better Than We’ve Seen In A Long Time
While it’s true thatReservation Dogsshould be heralded for filling a gap in representation and storytelling on television, it should be noted thatthe show is an amazing coming-of-age dramedy that will hit homewith viewers of all kinds. Packed with incredible performances from the lead cast, especially from the series breakout, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai,Reservation Dogswill take viewers back to adolescence in a good way. It’s easy to spend time with the core group of characters. By the end, you’ll wish there were more seasons of the show.
While the characters' connection to their past and their culture is always at the forefront ofReservation Dogs, this focus is sharpened in the groundbreaking final season. The feelings of being lost, isolated, and wanting to tap into something bigger than yourself are keenly felt by the characters and will strike a chord with audiences. While the response toReservation Dogsspeaks for itself,the best way to experience the show is to turn it on and get lost in the dramas, big and small, of charactersyou’ll instantly fall in love with.
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2Enlightened (2011–2013)
Long before Mike White made waves withThe White Lotusor Laura Dern stepped into the role of Renata inBig Little Lies, the pair teamed up for the criminally underratedEnlightened. When watching the show today,it’s hard to believe thatEnlightenedcame out over ten years ago,as it speaks to the dissatisfaction with corporate life that many people experience today. Dern’s character, Amy Jellicoe, suffers a series of devastating life changes and eventually returns to the company that hurt her to reclaim her old life, but with a vastly different perspective.
Though critically acclaimed, too few audiences have discovered the wonders ofEnlightened.
Touching upon corruption and harm in the corporate workplace and presenting a seething critique of capitalism, which would become a theme in White’s work,Enlightenedis even more relevant in the modern era. Dern’s lead performance is moving and hilarious at the same time, making a strong case for revisiting this underrated series. Though critically acclaimed, too few audiences have discovered the wonders ofEnlightened. While the series might make you want to quit your job, it also boasts great character development and comedy gold.
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1BoJack Horseman (2014–2020)
This Animated Series Will Hit Harder Than Anything You’ve Ever Seen
What started as an offbeat sitcom about anthropomorphic animals soon became one of the most nuanced TV shows of all time. Featuring a stellar voice cast led by Will Arnett as the titular character, BoJack Horseman,the series pokes fun at Hollywood, taking the cost of fame to an absurdist levelthat often turns out to be more real than audiences might realize. In his desire for attention and endless quest to fill the void inside him, BoJack turns to darker and darker means of satisfaction, but it’s impossible to look away from the show, even when it’s troubling.
BoJack Horsemansucceeds because it makes all the characters viscerally flawed and problematic while keeping us invested in their stories and interested in seeing where they end up. BoJack’s life is filled with people who are struggling just as much as he is, and the series doesn’t shy away from portraying their absolute lowest points. However,BoJack Horsemanisn’t pure drama or tragedy, asthe show lays the groundwork for a path forward out of the darknessif the characters are willing to take it.
