Top TV Series - The Best of the Golden Age
As we roll through the Golden Age of television, as it has been variously described by many, here's what I believe are the top TV series. They're mostly from 2000 onwards, with a few small exceptions. This list is entirely subjective based on my ideals of quality. It's in no chronological or hierarchical order. I think they're all worthwhile, and well written/acted/directed; dramas and comedies alike.
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- 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.The series that defined how TV could stand head and shoulders above the rest and compete with whatever was on the big screen during its long and well deserved run. James Gandolfini lives on as the legendary gangster Tony Soprano. Iconic.
- CreatorDavid SimonStarsDominic WestLance ReddickSonja SohnThe Baltimore drug scene, as seen through the eyes of drug dealers and law enforcement.David Simon raised the bar in writing for TV and secured a place for himself in the pantheon of the Gods. The stories and characters and performances are unforgettable. Dominic West went on to many great things, but will not be soon forgotten as McNulty. Wendell Pierce and Lance Reddick were terrific. Dominick Lomardozzi, Michael Kenneth Williams and Andre Royo all created unforgettable characters. Iconic.
- CreatorAlan BallStarsPeter KrauseMichael C. HallFrances ConroyA chronicle of the lives of a dysfunctional family who run an independent funeral home in Los Angeles.One of the originals. Alan Ball is one of the godfathers of modern TV, alongside David Simon and David Chase and Matthew Weiner. This was his calling card, and it was memorable and remains a much missed cornerstone of must-watch TV. Iconic.
- CreatorBeau WillimonStarsKevin SpaceyMichel GillRobin WrightA Congressman works with his equally conniving wife to exact revenge on the people who betrayed him.One of the darkest series on TV, the most frightening thing was the idea in everyone's head after watching: how fictional is this?
Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright give career defining performances. - 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.Matthew Wiener's iconic view of the 50s golden age of advertising. So many great characters. So many great performances. So many outstanding moments in direction and production design. And the writing is as good as it will ever get. Iconic.
- 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 TV series of our times. Most watched. Most talked about. Most awarded. Impossible to ignore. Epic in every sense of the word.
The young leads delight - Nicolas Coster-Waldauj, Lena Headey, Maisie Williams, Peter Dinklage, Aiden Gillan, Kit Harrington, Emun Elliott, Pedro Pascal etc.
Some of the best turns are from the cast of seasoned players (Diana Rigg, Max Von Sydow, Jonathan Pryce, Iain Glenn, Ciaran Hinds, Liam Cunningham, Charles Dance, Sean Bean, Ian McShane) - CreatorLiz BrixiusEvan DunskyLinda WallemStarsEdie FalcoMerritt WeverPaul SchulzeA drug-addicted nurse struggles to find a balance between the demands of her frenetic job at a New York City hospital and an array of personal dramas.Edie Falco followed her memorable run as Carmela Soprano with a tour de force performance as Jackie Peyton. She will be remembered as delivering one of the best performances of our time. She was justly rewarded during the run of this show about a drug-addicted NYC nurse and how her addiction unravels her life.
- CreatorSally WainwrightStarsSarah LancashireSiobhan FinneranJames NortonYorkshire-based crime drama centering on the personal and professional life of Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood.Sally Wainwrights best work yet. Sarah Lancashire elevates her character to memorable heights.
- 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.Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan are mesmerizing.
- StarsMaggie GyllenhaalStephen ReaLubna AzabalCenters on Nessa Stein, a woman who inherits her father's arms business and finds herself in an international maelstrom as she continues to promote the reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.Maggie Gyllenhaal gives a career defining performance. One of the highlights of 2015 on TV.
- CreatorJoey SolowayStarsJeffrey TamborAmy LandeckerGaby HoffmannAn L.A. family with serious boundary issues have their past and future unravel when a dramatic admission causes everyone's secrets to spill out.Groundbreaking TV. Telling stories never told before is a hard thing to do on TV. Jill Soloway does this in the most touching way and Jeffrey Tambor deserves every award he has won for his performance.
- CreatorNoah HawleyStarsBilly Bob ThorntonMartin FreemanAllison TolmanVarious chronicles of deception, intrigue, and murder in and around frozen Minnesota. All of these tales mysteriously lead back one way or another to Fargo, North Dakota.Noah Hawley recreates the magic originally found in the Coen brothers film, and takes it in a complex and compelling direction. The jump between seasons and timelines is half the fun. The A-list cast delivers in every episode. Priceless.
- 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.A nation was glued to the TV set to see David Tennant and Olivia Colman solve the "who killed Danny Latimer" mystery in this gripping English murder mystery.
- CreatorDavid FarrStarsTom HiddlestonHugh LaurieElizabeth DebickiThe night manager of a Cairo hotel is recruited to infiltrate an arms dealer's inner circle.This limited series has been the TV highlight of 2016 with no serious contenders. Hugh Laurie, Olivia Colman and Tom Hiddleston create the perfect Bermuda triangle (albeit mostly in Mallorca Spain) of villain, spy handler and reluctant spy. Catapulted from the original setting in John Le Carre's novel from the Cold War to the Arab Spring, it's update serves it well. Gripping writing/directing/acting. A winner all around
- CreatorAnn BidermanStarsLiev SchreiberEddie MarsanDash MihokRay Donovan, a professional "fixer" for the rich and famous in Los Angeles, can make anyone's problems disappear except those created by his own family.Liev Schreiber has created one of the most memorable gangsters in modern TV. The supporting cast is uniformly strong, including Jon Voigt as the black sheep father.
- CreatorAbi MorganStarsRomola GaraiBen WhishawDominic WestA behind-the-scenes drama and espionage thriller in Cold War-era England that centers on a journalist, a producer, and an anchorman for an investigative news programme.On the big screen, Abi Morgan's writing speaks for itself (Shame, The Iron Lady, Suffragette). On TV this is her star turn with the perfect cast to carry forward her precision scripts. Dominic West, Ben Whishaw, Romola Garai, Peter Capaldi and Anna Chancellor are at the top of their game.
- CreatorJon Robin BaitzWalter F. ParkesStarsBrian CoxMelissa GeorgeLucas HedgesA once happy family suddenly begins to fall apart following a seemingly minor incident in which a man slaps another couple's misbehaving child.Admittedly I never saw the Australian original, but this American remake takes the raw story and gives it to a very talented cast who make more of it than was there on the page. This is an ensemble like we are not likely to see again for a while. A-List.
- DirectorArmando IannucciStarsTom HollanderPeter CapaldiJames GandolfiniA political satire about a group of skeptical American and British operatives attempting to prevent a war between two countries.Armando Iannucci's claim to fame, and Peter Capaldi's best role ever. As the foul mouthed Malcolm Tucker, Capaldi outshone and out-cussed everyone around him, to brilliant comedic effect. Epic.
- CreatorArmando IannucciStarsJulia Louis-DreyfusTony HaleAnna ChlumskyFormer Senator Selina Meyer finds that being Vice President of the United States is nothing like she hoped and everything that everyone ever warned her about.Armando Iannucci is the television comedy godfather of our time. First he gave us, In The Thick Of It. Then with a graceful leap across the pond, Julia Louis-Dreyfus' star turn as Selina Meyer in Veep. Television will never be the same.
- CreatorStephen FalkStarsChris GeereAya CashDesmin BorgesCenters on two toxic, self-destructive people who fall in love and attempt a relationship.In very broad strokes, the comedy shines through when two relationship-phobic people meet, fall in love, and try desperately not to give into it.
- CreatorZander LehmannStarsMichaela WatkinsTommy DeweyTara Lynne BarrA comedy series about a bachelor brother and his newly divorced sister living under one roof again. Together, they coach each other through the crazy world of dating while raising her teenage daughter.Jason Reitman and Zander Lehmann are the masterminds behind this sharply satirical look at dating relationships and family today. The modern love dilemma never seemed more complex and confusing - and rarely has it been told with such humour and grace.
- StarsFrances McDormandRichard JenkinsAnn DowdA middle-school math teacher Olive and her marriage with Henry which spans 25 years.Frances McDormand and Richard Jenkins lead a formidable cast. Lisa Cholodenko proves once again she's at the top of the best director's list.
- StarsSharon HorganRob DelaneyMark BonnarAmerican man Rob gets Irish woman Sharon pregnant when they hook up for a week while he is on a business trip in London.Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney have magical comedy chemistry that doesn't come along very often. They have comic timing down pat in two unlikely but lovable characters.
- CreatorDaisy CoulamStarsRobson GreenTessa Peake-JonesAl WeaverA Cambridgeshire clergyman finds himself investigating a series of mysterious wrongdoings in his small village of Grantchester.The vicar and the copper solves crimes in Cambridge. What's not to like. James Norton balances cute, cool and clever in equal measure.
- DirectorMichael SucsyStarsDrew BarrymoreJessica LangeJeanne TripplehornThe lives of Edith Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith, aunt and cousin of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.This limited series took inspiration from the Broadway play based on the Mayles brothers' iconic documentary. Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange are a revelation.
- CreatorHeidi ThomasStarsVanessa RedgraveLaura MainJenny AgutterChronicles the lives of a group of midwives living in East London in the late 1950s to late 1960s.What first appears as a docile TV show, takes advantage of the long-form story telling to chronicle the many issues and advances both medical and social in the years following the second world war. Tackling some heavy subjects in a very gentle and accessible way, it's a document to how the midwives and nuns of Nonatus house toiled daily to improve the lives of women and families in the impoverished east end of London.
- CreatorBill GallagherSarah BartonSarah BrownStarsJoanna VanderhamEmun ElliottStephen WightThe story of a young woman who works in a department store and gets caught up in the charms of the modern world.Another docile seeming show which beautifully tells the story of the slow revolution of the department store in turn of the century England. Emun Elliott is a standout.
- CreatorDavid CraneJeffrey KlarikStarsMatt LeBlancStephen ManganTamsin GreigA couple of British TV producers move to Hollywood to export their most popular series, and find it is not what they expected.Hilariously funny comedy which plays heavily on the old British/American tension between the imported writers and their domestic bumbling cast and producers.
- CreatorJohn AltschulerMike JudgeDave KrinskyStarsThomas MiddleditchT.J. MillerJosh BrenerFollows the struggle of Richard Hendricks, a Silicon Valley engineer trying to build his own company called Pied Piper.Funny in a nerdy way. if you've never worked with computer programmers, a lot of this humour may be hard to catch. If you have, you'll love it.
- CreatorMichael LannanStarsJonathan GroffFrankie J. AlvarezMurray BartlettThree best friends living in San Francisco share the nuances and complexities of contemporary gay relationships as they explore a variety of options, both in love and in life.Many years after the original British Queer As Folk, this series had something new to say about the lives of three gay men in San Francisco. Loved it.
- StarsRussell ToveySarah SolemaniJoe WilkinsonAn acutely observed, forensically honest, warts-and-all look at a working-class couple in their mid-20s.Finding humour in the mundane lives of a slothful group of Londoners is a gold mine of comedy.
- 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.With ten seasons and a rabidly loyal fan base, Jenji Kohan's sweeping comedy/drama about a drug peddling suburban mom surprised everyone, and kept them watching. Every turn had twists no one saw coming, but everybody loved.
- 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.You have to applaud the bravery to tell two very different sides of the same story. It gets a bit lost after season one, but the first year was near-perfect.
- CreatorCynthia MortStarsMichelle BorthTim DeKayAislinn PaulA drama about three couples and the therapist they share.One of the best written series of all time. The writers rule and the cast delivers without a flaw to be seen. Love this show.
- CreatorJ.J. AbramsAlex KurtzmanRoberto OrciStarsAnna TorvJoshua JacksonJohn NobleAn F.B.I. agent is forced to work with an institutionalized scientist and his son in order to rationalize a brewing storm of unexplained phenomena.One of the best sci-fi TV series ever.
- 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.Buddy comedy. It is what it is, so don't expect more. Jeremy Piven as Ari Gold is the main reason to watch this show. A classic character of one of the most hyperbolic amped up agents of all time.
- CreatorDarren StarStarsSarah Jessica ParkerKim CattrallKristin DavisFour female New Yorkers gossip about their sex lives (or lack thereof) and find new ways to deal with being a woman in the late 1990s.Again, one of the few series that deserve the description ground-breaking. The emancipation of women on TV started with Diane Carrol and Marlo Thomas and Mary Tyler Moore, years before. It exploded with Carrie Bradshaw and her band of liberated ladies.
- CreatorMichelle AshfordStarsMichael SheenLizzy CaplanCaitlin FitzGeraldDrama about the pioneers of the science of human sexuality whose research touched off the sexual revolution.All the right ingredients to make this crisply written and brilliantly acted series one of the best things to come along.
- CreatorJohn EnbomDan EtheridgePaul RuddStarsAdam ScottKen MarinoRyan HansenA group of actors move to Los Angeles to make it big, but end up working as caterers.One of the funniest things on TV - ever.
- StarsStephen TompkinsonJack DeamAndrea LoweTenacious and stubborn DCI Alan Banks unravels disturbing murder mysteries aided by his young assistants, DS Annie Cabbot and DI Helen Morton.Stephen Tompkinson makes DCI Banks unforgettable.
- CreatorJulian FellowesStarsHugh BonnevillePhyllis LoganElizabeth McGovernA chronicle of the lives of the British aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the early twentieth century.Landmark costume drama with the unforgettable Maggie Smith as the Dowager Countess. Beginning with the sinking of the Titanic, and ending as World War II dawns, it charts the heights and eventual demise of the aristocracy amidst the social change and upheaval of the early 20th century.
- StarsChiwetel EjioforMatthew GoodeJoanna VanderhamSet in the 1930s, a black Jazz band rises in fame and popularity while becoming entangled in an intricate web of intrigue, mystery and suspense with the elite of London society.A top notch cast, led by Chiwetel Ejiofor and Matthew Goode. This drama, set in the 1930s, about a black Jazz band who become entangled in an intricate web of intrigue, mystery & suspense with the elite of London society.
- 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.Everything pivots on the axis of Idris Elba as he creates the mystery around the main character and all his flaws.
- CreatorMark GatissSteven MoffatStarsBenedict CumberbatchMartin FreemanUna StubbsThe quirky spin on Conan Doyle's iconic sleuth pitches him as a "high-functioning sociopath" in modern-day London. Assisting him in his investigations: Afghanistan War vet John Watson, who's introduced to Holmes by a mutual acquaintance.Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. A brilliant re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes, in a modern way.
- CreatorHank SteinbergStarsAnthony LaPagliaPoppy MontgomeryEnrique MurcianoSeries about the special FBI Missing Persons Squad that finds missing people by applying advanced psychological profiling to reveal the victims' lives.Anthony LaPaglia led this strong cast with well written storylines each week. Enrique Murciano and Poppy Montgomery went on to other TV successes after this show ended.
- CreatorJonathan NolanStarsJim CaviezelTaraji P. HensonKevin ChapmanAn ex-CIA agent and a wealthy programmer save lives via a surveillance AI that sends them the identities of civilians involved in impending crimes. However, the details of the crimes, including the civilians' roles, are left a mystery.If everything is recorded and your every whereabouts can be known by the mastermind super-computer....can impending risk to life be averted? Only if your number comes up and they find you in time. A great premise, from Jonathan Nolan, this is well acted/written/directed TV at its best. Taraji P. Henson became a household name because of this show. Jim Caviezel is great as John 'the suit' Reese and Michael Emerson's quirky super nerd is fun.
- 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.Well written espionage and terrorism. Heart pounding spies and villains, domestic and imported.
- 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.The art direction / production design, is the third most important character in this series. How to make something so horrific, appear slick and polished - this is mastering the craft in the most striking juxtaposition of ugly and beautiful. Cooking shows will never be the same. Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy do the cat and mouse. In this instance the cat, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, wreaks havoc before being uncovered as the infamous monster he is. Gruesome and terrifying. Not for the faint of heart.
- StarsTchéky KaryoAnastasia HilleJames NesbittTony and Emily Hughes' vacation turns into a nightmare when their 5-year-old son Oliver disappears from a large celebrating crowd in Northern France.Heartbreaking and well written. James Nesbitt and Frances O'Connor as the parents torn apart by the abduction of their 5 year old while on holiday in France, are mesmerizing.
- 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.Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman survive a seemingly endless grey sky and constant downpour in the perpetually dismal Seattle setting. Both are stellar and the mystery unfolds at a gratifying pace.
- CreatorKevin WilliamsonStarsKevin BaconJames PurefoyShawn AshmoreA brilliant, charismatic, and psychotic serial killer communicates with other active serial killers and activates a cult of believers who follow his every command.Kevin Bacon and James Purefoy duel it out in one of the most gruesome TV outings since Hannibal. Not for the faint of heart, it has some gut-wrenching gore and chilling psycho-predator cult leader shock and awe.
- StarsBrenda BlethynJon MorrisonRiley JonesWith her caustic wit and singular charm, DCI Vera Stanhope leads her team as they face a series of captivating murder mysteries set against the breathtaking Northumberland landscape.Brenda Blethyn takes the cantankerous detective model to new heights. A master class in how to take a formula and make it seem fresh in every episode. 90-minute installments don't force the narrative to wrap it up quickly, and allow plenty of breathing room for character development and more nuanced crime procedural.
- CreatorSally WainwrightStarsAnne ReidDerek JacobiSarah LancashireAfter 50+ years apart, Celia (Anne Reid) and Alan (Derek Jacobi) are reunited and decide to marry.Sally Wainwright's exceptional skills were proven here, pre-Happy Valley success. Derek Jacobi is his usual genius self. Sarah Lancashire is amazing and has the character who changes the most throughout the course of this story. Nicola Walker, the beloved Ruth from Spooks, does not disappoint as Gillian, whose successive series of bad choices is central to her character's dilemma. Anne Reid has the toughest job as the most unlikeable character, but whose breakthrough pushes everything ahead and keeps the tension rolling.
- CreatorSue BirtwistleSusie ConklinStarsJudi DenchImelda StauntonJulia McKenzieIn the 1840s, Cranford is ruled by the ladies. They adore good gossip, and romance and change is in the air, as the unwelcome grasp of the Industrial Revolution rapidly approaches their beloved rural market-town.Judi Dench was never better. At the dawn of the industrial revolution, the advancing tides of change rock a small English town and its residents.
- StarsDaniela Denby-AsheRichard ArmitageTim Pigott-SmithNorth and South is a four-part adaptation of Elizabeth Gaskell's love story of Margaret Hale, a middle-class southerner who is forced to move to the northern town of Milton.Costume drama rich. If this is your cup of tea, the angst of period morals and dilemmas won't disappoint.
- CreatorRussell T. DaviesStarsAidan GillenCraig KellyCharlie HunnamA groundbreaking gay adult drama which chronicles the lives of Stuart and Vince, as well as 15-year-old Nathan, who is in love with Stuart.Shattering taboos and tearing down multiple barriers on how you could tell a story on TV at the end of the century, it delivered non-stop-shock-action, and unforgettable characters. This is one of the few series that deserves the description ground-breaking.
- CreatorMarshall HerskovitzEdward ZwickStarsTimothy BusfieldPolly DraperMel HarrisSeven tricenarians living in Philadelphia struggle with everyday adult angst.Groundbreaking series of friendship, relationships and all the complicated parts in between. Ken Olin went on to a long career producing and directing following this seminal series from the 80s.
- CreatorJenji KohanStarsTaylor SchillingDanielle BrooksTaryn ManningConvicted of a decade-old crime of transporting drug money, ordinarily law-abiding Piper Chapman is sentenced to 18 months behind bars and quickly discovers the realities of life-changing prison time.Jenji Kohan's gear shift is no less captivating than her decade long stewardship of Weeds. Her talents soar again, and the cast is brilliant.
- CreatorJane CampionGerard LeeStarsElisabeth MossDavid WenhamPeter MullanObsessed with the disappearance of a 12-year-old pregnant girl near a freezing lake in New Zealand, a brave detective will find herself up against small-town secrets and a side of herself that was meticulously kept at bay.Jane Campion's riveting mystery with Elizabeth Moss in an outstanding lead performance. Proving Mad Men wasn't a one-off for Moss and Campion can thrill on the small screen as well as in film.
- StarsShaun EvansRoger AllamJames BradshawSet from 1965 into the 1970s, the show follows Endeavour Morse in his early years as a police constable. Working alongside his senior partner DI Fred Thursday, Morse engages in a number of investigations around Oxford.In the 1960s, the show follows Inspector Morse in his early years as a police constable.
- CreatorAdam PriceStarsSidse Babett KnudsenBirgitte Hjort SørensenSøren MallingA political drama about a prime minister's rise to power, and how power changes a prime minister.Epic Danish series about the intrigues of government and media in contemporary Denmark.
- CreatorMaya IlsøeStarsTrine DyrholmMarie Bach HansenCarsten BjørnlundThe death of a matriarch brings forgotten secrets out into the open and causes a prolonged battle for the family inheritance.Danish series about the aftermath following the death of a famous Danish artist, her legacy and estate, and the impact on her four adult children.
- CreatorMåns MårlindHans RosenfeldtBjörn SteinStarsSofia HelinRafael PetterssonSarah BobergWhen a body is found on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, right on the border, Danish inspector Martin Rohde and Swedish Saga Norén have to share jurisdiction and work together to find the killer.The original Danish/Swedish co-production. Spawned two remakes (French/British, and American/Mexican).
- StarsStephen DillaneClémence PoésyCédric VieiraA prominent French politician is found dead on the border between the U.K. and France, and two agents must work together on behalf of their respective countries to find the murderer.French/British version of the Danish/Swedish original.
- CreatorElwood ReidBjörn SteinMeredith StiehmStarsDemián BichirDiane KrugerThomas M. WrightTwo detectives work together to take down a serial killer operating on both sides of the Texas-Chihuahua border.American/Spanish (Mexico) version of the Danish/Swedish original series from 2013.
- CreatorDavid WolstencroftStarsPeter FirthHugh SimonNicola WalkerThe missions of MI-5, the UK's domestic intelligence organization.A decade of spy cloak-and-dagger intrigue, unforgettable characters and the launchpad of many of its bright stars. Richard Armitage, Rupert Penry-Jones and Matthew McFadyen would all go on to greater leading roles on screens small and large.
- CreatorRichard WarlowStarsMatthew MacfadyenAdam RothenbergMyAnna BuringThe streets of Whitechapel are the haunt of Detective Inspector Edmund Reid and his team of officers, who aim to maintain law and order in a place once terrorized by Jack the Ripper.Fans of Spooks will love Matthew MacFadyen's leading turn as Edmund Reid. The interesting thing is the historical origins woven in for many of the normalcies of policing today: blood spatter; photographing crime scenes; finger prints; detailed autopsies; and saving forensic evidence from the crime scene.
- CreatorBen CourtCaroline IpStarsRupert Penry-JonesPhil DavisSteve PembertonA fast-tracked inspector, a hardened detective sergeant, and an expert in historical homicides investigate modern crimes with connections to the past in the Whitechapel district of London.In the streets where Jack The Ripper once reigned terror, present day homicide detectives investigate modern crimes with connections to the past in the Whitechapel district of London. Fans of Rupert Penry-Jones from Spooks, will barely recognize him in this twitchy anxious character.
- CreatorRobert DohertyStarsJonny Lee MillerLucy LiuAidan QuinnA crime-solving duo that cracks the NYPD's most impossible cases. Following his fall from grace in London, eccentric Sherlock escapes to New York where his father forces him to live with his worst nightmare - a sober companion, Dr. Watson.The chemistry between Johnny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu holds this show together. Modern Sherlock (in recovery) partners with former surgeon Joan Watson, to help the NYC police solve crimes. Does not disappoint.
- StarsChris O'DowdRichard AyoadeKatherine ParkinsonThe comedic misadventures of Roy, Moss and their grifting supervisor Jen, a rag-tag team of IT support workers at a large corporation headed by a hotheaded yuppie.A lovable cast of IT nerds, makes comedy gold. Chris O'Dowd's career launcher.
- CreatorRodrigo GarcíaHagai LeviNir BergmanStarsGabriel ByrneUzo AdubaDianne WiestA psychotherapist questions his abilities and gets help by reuniting with his old therapist, whom he has not seen for ten years.Gabriel Byrne makes what could have been a slow burn into an eminently watchable series which rarely moves off his couch. Riveting.
- StarsMark RylanceDamian LewisClaire FoyAfter the downfall of Cardinal Wolsey, his secretary, Thomas Cromwell, finds himself amongst the treachery and intrigue of King Henry VIII's court and soon becomes a close advisor to the King, a role fraught with danger.Taking on Hilary Mantel's award winning work and turning it into watchable TV is no easy feat. Mark Rylance is unforgettable in the lead role as Thomas Cromwell.
- CreatorGlenn KesslerTodd A. KesslerDaniel ZelmanStarsKyle ChandlerBen MendelsohnLinda CardelliniA family is forced to face their past secrets and scars when the black sheep returns home.Kyle Chandler and Sissy Spacek lead a terrific cast in this family drama set in the Florida Keys. Ben Mendelsohn steals the show as the black sheep son who returns to wreak havoc.
- 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.Titus Welliver brings Michael Connelly's character to life and breathes energy into it.
- CreatorMatthew GrahamTony JordanAshley PharoahStarsJohn SimmPhilip GlenisterLiz WhiteAfter a near-fatal car accident, smart, savvy, sharp-suited detective Sam is mysteriously transported back to 1973. Confused by his new surroundings, Sam tries to return to the present, but the police force of long ago needs his help.Back to the Future meets Starsky and Hutch....sort of.
Main character gets catapulted through time and instead of a police officer in present day, it's the swinging sixties London. It takes him a while to adjust. - CreatorRobert PopperStarsTamsin GreigSimon BirdPaul RitterTwo siblings share their Friday-night dinners at their parents' home and, somehow, something always goes wrong.So, so, so very funny. Tamsin Grieg and Paul Ritter are the parents. Simon Bird and Tom Rosenthal are the sons who return weekly every Friday night for dinner. Comedic gold.
- CreatorDarlene HuntStarsLaura LinneyOliver PlattGabriel BassoA suburban mother faces her cancer diagnosis while trying to find humor and happiness as well.Laura Linney created one of the most memorable of characters, going through a sadly all too common set of milestones as a cancer patient. The balance between comedy and drama alone, deserves respect in a difficult line of storytelling. How do you not make this a complete downer? Oliver Platt, Gabriel Basso, John Benjamin Hickey round out the cast and some amazing cameos made this tragi-comic series unforgettable for all the right reasons.
- CreatorColette BursonDmitry LipkinStarsThomas JaneJane AdamsCharlie SaxtonA former high school sports legend, turned middle-aged high school basketball coach, finds a way to benefit from his biggest asset.Former high school coach, down on his luck, turns his greatest asset to work as a male prostitute. So many funny moments. Thomas Jane is terrific.
- CreatorBob LowryStarsHank AzariaPaget BrewsterAnton YelchinPsychiatrist Craig Huffstodt (Azaria) experiences his own midlife crisis.Hank Azaria was memorable as the lead. Paget Brewster, Blythe Danner, Oliver Platt and Anton Yelchin were an amazing supporting cast. Loved this show.
- CreatorChris ChibnallStarsRobert GlenisterJack RothLuke EvansA two-part drama which portrays The Great Train Robbery of 8 August 1963, firstly from the point of view of the robbers and then from the point of view of the police who set out to identify and catch the robbers.An earlier effort from Chris Chibnal, who went on to create the breakthrough series Broadchurch. In The Great Train Robbery Jim Broadbent, Luke Evans and Paul Anderson stand out in this great two hander. Part 1: from the thieves' perspective. Part 2: from the cops' perspective. A great tale told well. What's not to like?
- CreatorMitch GlazerStarsJeffrey Dean MorganOlga KurylenkoSteven StraitCenters on Miami mobsters and other characters from Miami Beach in the late 1950s.Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Danny Huston were never better and have yet to top these two roles in their careers. This very stylized Miami in the '50s gangster tale is slick, polished and substantial in the writing and the performances. It's a shame it didn't last longer than the two seasons.
- CreatorToby WhithouseStarsLenora CrichlowRussell ToveyAidan TurnerA werewolf, a vampire, and a ghost try to live together and get along.A ghost, a werewolf and a vampire share a house. Scary stuff happens.
- 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.Subtle, scary, fascinating, mysterious, and thrilling. The French don't often produce riveting TV that exports well out of France. This is a terrific exception to that rule.
- CreatorJonathan AmesStarsJason SchwartzmanZach GalifianakisTed DansonA well-meaning but struggling writer decides to lead a sort of double life by pretending to be a private detective using the methods he read about in old detective novels.Creator Jonathan Ames, a very funny American humorist and author who's in the same league as David Sedaris, Mindy Kaling, Aziz Ansari, and Amy Schumer, built a very funny premise in this show. Bumbling amateur sleuth and his buddies get into scrapes - hilarity ensues. The trio of Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis are terrific and take the material to places it would never have reached in comedy, in the hands of lesser pros.
- CreatorAziz AnsariAlan YangStarsAziz AnsariEric WareheimLena WaitheThe personal and professional life of Dev, a 30-year-old actor in New York.Aziz Ansari has successfully transitioned from a stellar turn as part of the Parks & Recreation alumni, and jettisoned himself to the front of the funny-man line. This observational humour series is a thinly veiled re-interpretation of his life experiences maximized to humorous effect in his alter ego. Love it.
- CreatorGreg DanielsMichael SchurStarsAmy PoehlerJim O'HeirNick OffermanThe absurd antics of an Indiana town's public officials as they pursue sundry projects to make their city a better place.Amy Poehler and the cast spun comedy gold in every episode. Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Nick Offerman, Aziz Ansari, Rashida Jones, Adam Scott and Rob Lowe all deserve the heaps of praise piled upon them for consistently over-delivering on scripts and characters that are unforgettable. Legendary TV comedy.
- CreatorLouis C.K.Zach GalifianakisJonathan KriselStarsZach GalifianakisMartha KellyLouie AndersonAfter failing at a prestigious French clowning college, Chip Baskets looks to keep his dream of becoming a professional clown alive.The creative tri-fecta of Louis C.K., Zach Galifianakis and Jonathan Krisel have created one of the most original and odd-ball comedies on TV. Its' surreal premise and crazy storylines don't disappoint. Louie Anderson's award winning turn as the mother is an equal match for Galifianakis' home runs in every episode, delivering comedy consistently from both of the twin brothers. Hilarious.
- CreatorKurt SutterStarsCharlie HunnamKatey SagalMark Boone JuniorA biker struggles to balance being a father and being involved in an outlaw motorcycle club.You either get this show, or you don't. If you're one of the loyal die-hard fans of creator Kurt Sutter's seven season epic story of the SAMCRO crew's trials and tribulations, you know what I'm talking about. Once you're hooked you'll forgive Sutter's periodic storytelling hiccups and the uneven casting. I imagine legions of motor cycle enthusiasts watching this show and then hopping on to their bikes in the after glow of all that blood sweat and murder. It's shocking stuff, and definitely wipes away any romantic illusions anyone had of what being in a bike gang is. That said everyone was always rooting for the bikers. The cops never looked so foolish or despicable (sometimes both) on TV.
- CreatorByron BalascoStarsFrank GrilloKiele SanchezMatt LauriaA retired MMA fighter turned trainer juggles keeping his mixed martial arts gym running and keeping his family united.Like Sons of Anarchy, you either get the groove of this show, or you don't. An inside view of the hard scrabble world of MMA fighting and the characters it draws into its sphere. Flawed characters kick, punch, scream, fight, play and love hard. Another view into a lifestyle few could survive but many find fascinating.
- CreatorJonathan LiscoStarsShawn HatosyBen RobsonJake WearyCenters on a Southern California family, whose excessive lifestyle is fueled by their criminal activities.Based on the 2010 Australian movie, this taught surfer-gangster family drama does a good job of recreating the tensions of the film. Ellen Barkin, Scott Speedman, Nick Jonas, Finn Cole and a sinister Shawn Hatosey round out the cast.
- CreatorDonald GloverStarsDonald GloverBrian Tyree HenryLaKeith StanfieldEarn and his cousin, Alfred, try to make their way in the world through Atlanta's rap scene. Along the way they come face-to-face with social and economic issues touching on race, relationships, poverty, status and parenthood.Donald Glover has created an amazing thing with this show. Ground-breaking, insightful, funny, socially relevant - all without sacrificing pure entertainment. The cast has some of the best chemistry I've seen on a TV series in years. Everyone brings their A-game.
- CreatorIssa RaeLarry WilmoreStarsIssa RaeYvonne OrjiJay EllisFollows the awkward experiences and racy tribulations of a modern-day African-American woman.Issa Rae is one of the most brutally honest and raw voices on TV and each episode packs a punch. The dialogue is more authentic than 90% of what's on TV and the topics are searing. She is a brave new voice and this show is a game-changer. Telling stories and illuminating the experience of one person that feels fresh, and never before seen on TV.