When we come to the end of a year we would probably like to rank the shows and movies with our close ones. Now we have come to the end of this wonderful decade. This decade was so special that it saw the growth of the streaming services, shows that are constantly mixing the genres and the start of the bidding war for the creative teams. And now we have more character-driven shows than ever. So it goes without saying that it is one of the most difficult lists to make.
Each show is important in its way as they have their role in creating the TV landscape but as always there are only a few that stood taller than the others in that landscape. And this is purely my opinion, so feel free to share your rankings down below in the comments.
Note: The only criteria for a show to be in this list is that it should have aired at least half of the show’s season in this decade. So shows like Madmen, 30 Rock and The Office(US) won’t be on this list. Who could even forget a show like Over the Garden Wall? But I have not included any limited series in this list as we can have another list for that.
16. Good Place:
Can anyone make a philosophy class (Ahh...yawn) a fun-filled journey? Michael Shur did not only make that fun but also special. All those Jermey Bearimy we spent with these lovable douchebags are forking worth it.
15. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia:
No award nominations except for the stunt department for a series running this whole decade check, winking at this situation on and off the show check, continuously reinventing the genre to make us laugh check, check and check. This social satire got into its terms through the years. They have dealt with some complex problems in this decade and also handled them perfectly. Though they had some misses, their hits made them one of the classic sitcoms of all time.
14. Atlanta:
The show Atlanta is another proof that nothing is impossible for the lead Donald Glover that includes him playing a creepy old guy. As a show about a rapper and his cousin, the show played its cards well and became one of the most relatable shows. The episodes like FUBU, Teddy Perkins and B.A.N proved that this show can touch any topic and make it pure gold. As I have mentioned earlier it is one of those shows which blended the genres so well.
13. Barry:
This shows’ one-line description will be as absurd as it is intriguing. With this one line, the crew has given us two really good seasons, especially a golden second season. This dark comedy had every possibility of falling into the tropes of Breaking Bad but now it starts to look like it has every possibility of becoming the next Breaking Bad. It also made it possible for us to hear the acceptance speech of the legend Henry Winkler after all these years.
12. Community:
I am the guy who cannot come out of the grounds of Greendale to enjoy Rick and Morty as I still want that one movie. The best thing the show did was to make even the bottle episodes excellent. The behavior of every character was so refreshing, so new to the industry and the network television. Packed with so many wonderful moments like the paintball fights, the video game, the remedial chaos theory and a diorama episode telling the real meaning of Christmas in just under 22 minutes is an epic feat. Their meta-comedy, the pop culture references and the way that ensemble cast made it come to life is just cool, cool, cool, cool. #andamovie.
11. Brooklyn Nine-Nine:
When Fox continuously changed the timings of season five all we could hope for was to see another episode. Now even before season seven has aired we have another season in the bag. Noice. Incorporating important social issues and comically dealing with them has never been an issue for them. Every one of those super fun Halloween shows is special and making its way into the fun-filled holiday-themed episodes.
10. Mr. Robot:
The ride we took along with this team was so thrilling, exhilarating and even confusing at times. But Sam Esmail did not let us down. He gave us a satisfying finale which stayed true to the show. Do not forget the fact that this also had its hand in pushing its star into superstardom.
09. Parks and Recreation:
Just as the wise man likes to keep it simple, it is just enough to say that this show is 'pretty awesome'. Because “I can do what I want”.
08. Game of Thrones:
The show that everyone loves so much that they cannot move past without mentioning its final season or the crazy stories of what they did to binge this without getting spoilt. These stories never get old, the same as the one that GRRM gave us. One seriously can’t remove this wonderfully scripted show from existence just because of one small mishap. Everyone wanted a water-cooler show like Lost. Everyone’s wish was granted as we got a show whose final season is as divisive as the former. We have to thank D&D for their wonderful adaptation.
07.Breaking Bad:
This gritty and often pretty dark tale just got better and better with every passing season. The show was so good that it made everybody write tons of stuff leaving me nothing else to say new. Though it sounds cliche I thank them for making this decade a breaking bad decade for us all.
06.Better Call Saul:
Vince Gilligan achieved a rather tough feat with this show. This show proved that a prequel can be as interesting as the original one even if not better. These comparisons are inevitable when you are telling the stories in an already popular universe. Many good characters were introduced all the while feeding us nostalgia through small cameos. Though slow at times it makes up with the complex character study. And I am hopeful that it will not be only me who says that this is greater than its predecessor.
05.BoJack Horseman:
Hands down the most brilliant animation series of all time. As we have binged through the final episodes, it is the perfect time to say that we have witnessed one fine show this past decade. This show never shied away from being topical. When dealing with so many personal problems one would forget this just started as an odd comedy show with some animal puns. But it all changed in the episode named Downer Ending. No other show has given so much time and arc for the characters other than the title character. An episode like Free Churro is just a blast.
04. Fleabag:
Fleabag proved that the right amount of episodes is always the best amount on TV. Coursing through the awards season by sweeping all major awards was just another feather in the cap for this incredible cast and crew. In this era of making comedies into a half-hour dramedy, Phoebe Waller-Bridge introduced us to a new type of comedy called the melancholy comedy. The most rewatchable tv show of the decade also takes home the best comedy show of the decade.
03. Fargo:
A well-connected anthology is the one that sits at the third position on this list. A series has truly won when fans and critics debate over their choice of the best season among the lot( when every season is pure gold). As I have already mentioned, this show by Noah Hawley is a perfect companion material for the Coen brothers' 1996 drama. Even the goofy scenes like UFOs flying through the cities are memorable. They have carved a niche for themselves as a series that gives consistent spine tickling villains throughout all the seasons. Hoping for this trend to continue in this decade too.
02. The Americans:
Big hats off to the network, which has a bad reputation for canceling the shows mid-way, for sticking till the end. A family drama during the cold war is a more befitting description of the show than a spy thriller. Slow burn gives such satisfaction when it is too good and this show excels in it. The end was spellbinding and it left me speechless, completely heartbroken and satisfied in a single scene - as no amount of words can suffice what this series meant to me you can add a superlative of your choice here. The best series ending ever to grace our screens.
01. The Leftovers:
There is no denying that this Damon Lindelof created show is one of the best shows of all time. A near-perfect show in every way imaginable. Separate, isolated views and episodes were perfectly handled making every season’s final hour a truly memorable conclusion. “Let the Mystery Be” was cleverly incorporated in the second season’s title credit to lay rest to the wild and crazy theories. Apart from having a little fantasy element attached to it, it was grounded all the way. The score by Max Ritcher is hands down the best soundtrack in the TV lore. Thank you, HBO for letting them finish this wonderful show on its terms. It was a series that registered that Damon Lindelof is one of the best in the industry and made me a crazy Lindelof fan.
Honorable Mentions:
Succession, Crown, Billions, Master of None, Watchmen, Daredevil, Big Little Lies, This is Us, GLOW, Westworld, Peaky Blinders.
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