[Ben Hocking]

What is your favourite TV show of all time?

You might think subjective taste might make consensus on a question like this quite difficult, but the BBC has attempted it and narrowed down the top 100 TV shows of the 21st century.

It achieved the feat by polling 206 TV experts from 43 countries and the list is quite impressive.

Coming in at No.1 spot is US crime drama The Wire, which I would have as my number one as well, ahead of Mad Men (a show which I never persevered with after attempting a couple of times). In this place is Breaking Bad, a show that I would have in second place on my own list.

The top 100 looks like this:

THE TOP 100

1          The Wire (2002-2008)
2          Mad Men (2007-2015)
3          Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
4          Fleabag (2016-2019)
5          Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
6          I May Destroy You (2020)
7          The Leftovers (2014-2017)
8          The Americans (2013-2018)
9          The Office (UK) (2001-2003)
10        Succession (2018-)
11        BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
12        Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
13        Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
14        Atlanta (2016-)
15        Chernobyl (2019)
16        The Crown (2016-)
17        30 Rock (2006-2013)
18        Deadwood (2004-2006)
19        Lost (2004-2010)
20        The Thick of It (2005-2012)
21        Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-)
22        Black Mirror (2011-)
23        Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
24        Veep (2012-2019)
25        Sherlock (2010-2017)
26        Watchmen (2019)
27        Line of Duty (2012-2021)
28        Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
29        Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
30        Girls (2012-2017)
31        True Detective (2014-2019)
32        Arrested Development (2003-2019)
33        The Good Wife (2009-2016)
34        The Bridge (2011-2018)
35        Fargo (2014-)
36=      Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
36=      Band of Brothers (2001)
38        The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-)
39        The Office (US) (2005-2013)
40        Borgen (2010-2022)
41        Schitt’s Creek (2015-2020)
42        Peep Show (2003-2015)
43        Money Heist (2017-2021)
44        Community (2009-2015)
45        The Good Fight (2017-)
46        Homeland (2011-2020)
47        Grey’s Anatomy (2005-)
48        Inside No 9 (2014-)
49        The Bureau (2015-)
50        Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017)
51        Small Axe (2020)
52        This is England 86, 88 and 90 (2010-2015)
53        Call My Agent! (2015-2020)
54        Happy Valley (2014-)
55        The Shield (2002-2008)
56        The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
57        The Young Pope (2016)
58        Dark (2017-2020)
59        The Underground Railroad (2021)
60        House of Cards (2013-2018)
61        Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
62=      The Good Place (2016-2020)
62=      Pose (2018-2021)
64        Detectorists (2014-2017)
65        Orange is the New Black (2013-2019)
66        Mare of Easttown (2021)
67        RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009-)
68        Stranger Things (2016-)
69        24 (2001-2010)
70        Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)
71        Enlightened (2011-2013)
72        Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
73        Planet Earth (2006)
74        Utopia (2013-2014)
75        Babylon Berlin (2017-)
76        Rick and Morty (2013-)
77        American Crime Story (2016-)
78        The Killing (Denmark) (2007-2012)
79        Mindhunter (2017-2019)
80        House (2004-2012)
81        OJ: Made in America (2016)
82        Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
83        Insecure (2016-2021)
84=      Normal People (2020)
84=      Narcos (2015-2017)
86        How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
87        The Comeback (2005-2014)
88        The OA (2016-2019)
89        Dexter (2006-2013)
90        It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-)
91        Westworld (2016-)
92        Show Me a Hero (2015)
93        Treme (2010-2013)
94        Louie (2010-2015)
95        Luther (2010-2019)
96        Catastrophe (2015-2019)
97        Hannibal (2013-2015)
98        Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019)
99        Steven Universe (2013-2020)
100      The Queen’s Gambit (2020)

What do you think of this list? What would you have in your top 10 TV shows of the 21st century?

[patti]

I’ve only watched about 15 of them, and some of the shows I would pick are not even on there. For e.g. I rate New Amsterdam and Chicago Med as better medical dramas than Greys Anatomy. But that’s me…..

[Leon Della Bosca]

Love New Amsterdam

[Sue Ridge]

We recently binge watched Line of Duty and rate it very highly. Rating shows 1 to 10 is certainly a very personal choice and it would be fair to say that very, very few lists would be identical. My husband and I can’t agree on number 1 let alone another 9.

[BillW41]

I watched about eight of those. Most I’ve never heard of and am disappointed at the small number of sci fi and historical series, e.g. ‘Babylon 5’ (only some 21st century) and ‘The Last Kingdom’. ‘Line of Duty’, ‘Spooks’ and ‘Shetland’ were very good. Anything from ‘Star Trek’ franchise is entertaining.

[Suze]

Bill

” Anything from ‘Star Trek’ franchise is entertaining. “

I am a fan too 🙂

[Alan]

Spooks and Shetland.  How good were they!  A new series of Shetland is about to start.   

[Leon Della Bosca]

Surprised ‘Justified’ isn’t on this list. A lot of filler in this top 100, IMO.

[Alan]

Agree with both your comments Leon.

 

Justified was a very good show and there has to be a lot of filler here.

[Garry]

If shows like Foyle’s War, Longmire and Shetland cannot make a list of 100 best TV shows, then I am utterly amazed.

Garry

Hobart

[Farside]

well , you are amazed. For what it’s worth I would have had no trouble find room for those on the list.

[Bushbaby]

I’ve never heard of most of those on the list. But then, I seldom watch any TV lol.

[Farside]

if you seldom watch tv then I guess it’s not really surprising you have not heard of some of them.

[Anonymous]

Dunno about the best but the worst low intelligent rating shows should be for the reality shows, the wives of wherever, big brother, the farmer wants a sex slave, all these lowest common denominator audiences need to get a life, whenever there are adverts for theses show we take note of the ads for selling something that go with them and never buy their products.,

The same is the ads for sports betting, dumb, dumb, dumb. Glad we record most stuff we want to watch and fast out the ads.

Next on the list is the footbrawl shows and games, they are supposed to be roll models for the younger generation but all they do is teach about domestic violence, drug taking, brawling, drinking to excess and getting free trips to Chinesland and Annie dollarcheck welcomes them with open arms. Why is the lowest common denominator Aussie so set on this stupid overated sport, it’s not a sport its a money making drug.

Wake up Ausralia.

[undead]

don’t let fear hold you back oxleigh, you must be hyperventilating over that game they play in mexico  ha ha

[HOLA]

I would like to add to the list of Dumb Shows, Batchelorette Australia, I had no idea that there were so many bimbos on that show, Males and Females also Love Island Australia. Who wants to watch couples swapping partners all the time? I hope their poor parents were cringing watching the antics. These shows should not be shown on prime time television. Put them on after 11pm. when the young ones should be in bed.  Definitely a no go in my household. 

[Justsane]

 

 

I would add Friday Night Dinner.  So funny.  I agree with “The Crown”, superb acting and characterisation.

 

 

[Author]

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