These Must-Watch Drama Shows = Proof We Exist in the Golden Age of Television
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No shade to reality TV—or sitcoms, or fantasy shows—but I think we can all agree that if you only watch one genre of television, it's got to be drama. What makes a good drama, you ask? Compelling characters and stories are a good place to start, but it's no guarantee of greatness. To be one of the best drama shows of all time, a show has to be hopeful, heartbreaking, and funny; it has to present something new to the TV landscape—maybe even something groundbreaking.
Narrowing down a list of the 30 best drama TV shows of all time is no small task in the era of prestige television. So, for clarity, I tried to keep subgenres (fantasy, supernatural, sexy, etc) to a minimum. I also included only TV dramas that either already have more than one season or have been picked up for further seasons. In other words, all of these shows are binge-watch ready, and they'll have you imagining yourself in a screaming match with Kendall Roy in the Waystar Royco boardroom or operating alongside McDreamy at Grey Sloan Memorial in no time.
Succession
While many shows romanticize the lives of the rich and famous, Succession made it look like a nightmare. Sure, watching the Roy family travel on private jets and live in outrageously luxurious New York City apartments was appealing. But seeing how Roman (Kieran Culkin), Shiv (Sarah Snook), Kendall (Jeremy Strong), and Connor (Alan Ruck) made themselves sick trying to please their father, dictator/CEO Logan (Brian Cox) was enough to make me thankful for my subway commute.
Succession ended in 2023 after four highly acclaimed (and rewarded) seasons, but I have no doubt it will stand the test of time, if for no other reason than as an explainer for how the Trump family or Fox News came to power.
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Peaky Blinders
For those who prefer their television dramas with a healthy side of violence, Peaky Blinders is an absolute must. The drama is about an Irish and British family of gangsters living in post-WWI England. Led by Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the gang struggles to establish a stronghold in Birmingham amidst political upheaval and constant threats from law enforcement and rivals. The period show ran for gripping seasons, but fair warning: Americans might want to watch it with subtitles. Those accents are STRONG.
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Friday Night Lights
If you love football and teenage drama, you will love Friday Night Lights. If you love drama and hate football...you will still love Friday Night Lights. The show takes place in the small Texas town of Dillon, where high school football is the main event. It features a good mix of adult storylines and teen drama, none of which feels too forced or over-the-top (Season 2 ending not included). And the actors are phenomenal.
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The Americans
What's the best way to infiltrate the American government during the Cold War? Turns out, it's as a married couple with two kids! This was the premise of The Americans, a thriller starring Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys as Soviet spies raising ordinary American children and working as travel agents by day while spying and sabotaging the United States by night. The six-season show is a true slow burn, both in terms of romance and intrigue, with constantly shifting allegiances and relationships. It's highly regarded as a real showcase for Russell and Rhys, as well as the makeup and hair department, which created countless wigs and disguises for the pair. They were spies, after all.
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ER
I like to think of ER as Grey's Anatomy's more realistic older sibling. While Grey's was rooted in romantic drama and absurd cases, ER was focused on showing the true chaos of an emergency room. The show absolutely changed television when it premiered in 1994, if only by giving the world George Clooney's unforgettable hot pediatrician, Dr. Ross, one of TV's most lusted-after characters. Clooney aside, the show featured a great main cast and impressive guest stars, with early appearances by a young Kirsten Dunst and a pre-Law & Order: SVU Mariska Hargitay. If you like The West Wing's famous "walk and talks," then you'll love ER, which features some crazy long takes but with medical jargon and props.
Of course, the show also followed the very messy personal lives of the hospital staff, giving audiences one of television's most iconic deaths (RIP Dr. Greene) and an iconic couple (Doug and Carol forever).
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Grey's Anatomy
Who knew the sex and professional lives of doctors could be so... dramatic? What began as a show about five surgical interns desperate to build careers in a competitive field ended up including multiple affairs, love triangles, surprise siblings, a plane crash, a near-drowning, miscarriages, weddings, divorces, and deaths. There's literally nothing this show hasn't done. (Musical episode? Check. Visits from the afterlife? Check. Ghost sex? Check.)
Now twenty seasons in, Grey's Anatomy is still just as relevant as it was when it premiered in 2005. Officially the longest-running medical drama on television, the show helped change the face of television thanks to its diverse cast and the prominent profile of creator Shonda Rhimes. Historic significance aside, Grey's Anatomy is still here because of its perfect blend of soapy drama and comedy and its insatiable fanbase.
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Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad's dark story of a high school chemistry teacher turned drug dealer made anti-hero Walter White a household name. The show's unique premise and charming leads—Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul—made the show a hit. Of course, it wasn't without controversy, mostly thanks to fans, who bought into Walter White's self-mythologizing so much, they hated Breaking Bad's Skylar (Anna Gunn), Walter's law-abiding wife. Toxic fandom drama aside, the show's legacy remains one of near-perfect television. It even inspired a sequel film, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, and a widely beloved spin-off series, Better Call Saul.
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Parenthood
Friday Night Lights creator Jason Katims followed up the teen drama with Parenthood, which was severely underrated during its six-season run. Loosely based on the 1989 movie of the same name, Parenthood followed the lives of Camille (Bonnie Bedelia) and Zeek Braverman (Craig T. Nelson), their four adult children, and many grandchildren. Complex family dynamics abound!
As far as family television dramas, Parenthood might be the very best. This was thanks in large part to its amazing cast, including a post-Gilmore Girls Lauren Graham, Erika Christensen, Dax Shepard, and Peter Krause, and the show's ability to explore many facets of family life, from divorce to surprise children. You'll end the show loving every single Braverman, and feeling an undeniable urge to call your mother.
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The Wire
Ask anyone what their top 10 television dramas are, and you'll hear about The Wire, a crime drama focused on the local drug trade in Baltimore. Each season tackled a different sector of the city that interacted with law enforcement and drug dealers, including the port system, local government, public schools, and local journalism. The show painted a gritty picture of modern American life without completely villainizing any one group. The show also helped make Michael K. Williams, Idris Elba, and Michael B. Jordan household names.
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The West Wing
The West Wing is often described as a moderate-liberal's dream. The show is about a Democratic President and his mostly liberal staff, making deals across the aisle, rooting out bigotry, and calling out religious extremism on the right. The show was already an idealized view of American government when it aired from 1999-2006. Now, it feels almost like science fiction.
The show had its faults (not enough diversity or female characters), but it also gave us classic Aaron Sorkin monologues, and the infamous walk-and-talk, where characters have long conversations while walking down hallways, always filmed in one take. At times, the show felt like a mix between television and theater, which made it stand out on network television. If you ever need a show to boost your faith in the democratic process, this is it.
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The Sopranos
The Sopranos is largely credited with changing how we watch television. The hour-long HBO drama about Tony Soprano, a mob boss juggling the mafia and his family, ushered in the golden era of television we now enjoy. The show was nominated for 111 Emmys during its six-season run and won 21, including awards for Best Lead Actor for James Gandolfini, Best Lead Actress for Edie Falco, and multiple awards for writing and directing, and made HBO a must-have network for TV lovers everywhere.
Without The Sopranos, there is no Wire, no True Detective, no White Lotus, and for that, we are forever grateful.
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Gilmore Girls
Gilmore Girls raised an entire generation of television watchers and taught them to talk a mile-a-minute while walking around with a bottomless cup of coffee. As a millennial, I can't tell you the amount of times I have bonded with other women over Gilmore Girls. It's a cultural touchstone across generations. Some watched it when it originally aired on The WB (RIP), others caught on later when it was streaming on Netflix. The show was so popular even after it went off the air that it returned for the highly controversial Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, a 4-episode mini-series in 2016, nearly a decade after the original show ended.
I'll let you argue about Team Jess, Team Dean, and Team Logan amongst yourselves.
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Felicity
There aren't a lot of television dramas that actually manage to portray an authentic college experience. Many have tried—Dawson's Creek, Gilmore Girls, Saved by the Bell: The College Years—but none have succeeded quite like Felicity, a coming-of-age drama that ran from 1998 to 2002. The show starred Keri Russell, a girl who, on a whim, decides to go to college in New York City, essentially following her high school crush.
Don't be fooled by the premise; the show is about way more than just one young woman's love life. It's about growth and relationships, the hardships of creating a home away from home. And, yeah, there is also a love triangle, but come on, what else did you expect?
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Pachinko
Based on the book by Min Jin Lee, Pachinko follows Sunja (played by Minha Kim and Youn Yuh-jung) from childhood into adulthood as she starts an affair with a rich businessman, becomes pregnant, and moves to Japan to raise her family. Sunja's journey is far from easy, and her life as a young mother is juxtaposed with her grandson's life (Jin Ha).
Pachinko is a historical drama that tackles themes of generational trauma, identity, and belonging, all while delivering the most gorgeous images and tear-jerking performances I've seen on television in years. The show is currently gearing up for a second season, so you better catch up!
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Law & Order: SVU
Law & Order: SVU is the longest-running drama on network television, and while the quality varies season by season, it deserves a place on this list because of its truly incredible longevity and how it shaped culture. A spin-off of Law & Order, SVU premiered in 1999 and hasn't stopped airing since. Star Mariska Hargitay has 25 seasons under her belt, making her character Olivia Benson the longest-running female character on TV. She's so popular that Taylor Swift named a cat after her.
Given how long it's been on the air, there's no denying that it's had some problematic eras, and, yes, it glorifies the police. That said, the show also changed the way viewers talk about sexual assault and helped many feel seen in a way they never had on television. By validating survivors, Law & Order: SVU helped change the mainstream conversation about assault, making it one of a kind.
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The X-Files
It's impossible to talk about supernatural television without at least mentioning The X-Files. The show defined the genre for nine years during its original 1993-2001 run and continues to be the benchmark by which any supernatural procedural is judged. The drama follows two mismatched FBI agents, Scully (Gillian Anderson) and Mulder (David Duchovny), who investigate the X-Files, aka mysterious cases no one else wants. Scully is a scientist who doesn't believe in aliens, but Mulder is determined to find proof that they exist, putting them at odds. The show itself doesn't immediately embrace the supernatural, which heightened the tension between Scully and Mulder, who eventually became one of TV's most iconic will-they-won't-they couples.
The show was so popular it inspired two movies and returned for two short seasons—one in 2016 and the other in 2018.
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The Crown
Netflix's The Crown reignited our obsession with royalty just in time for us all to watch Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's relationship, eventual engagement, marriage, and sudden move to the U.S. Fans got to watch a fictional Prince Charles and Princess Diana deal with the pressures of a royal courtship and wedding on The Crown while reading real-life headlines about how the royal family wasn't getting along with Meghan and Harry. A wild time, for sure.
Of course, The Crown is notable for more than royal family gossip. The show is known for attracting A-list actors and helping launch the careers of Claire Foy and Emma Corrin, both of whom received multiple nominations for their work in the series. Six seasons in, and The Crown has earned 21 Emmys, including wins for actors and Outstanding Drama Series.
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Big Little Lies
Technically, Big Little Lies began as a mini-series, but it was such a hit that HBO brought it back for a second season, turning into a full-fledged TV show. Now, we can debate whether or not season 2 was good enough to land a spot on this list, but there's no denying how big this show, about a group of mothers living in a small California beach town who bond over tragedy, was. Fans everywhere were glued to the screen watching Nicole Kidman, Laura Dern, Reese Witherspoon, Shailene Woodley, and Zoë Kravitz deal with abusive or distant partners, PTA drama, and small children. In the "Women Are Not Okay" genre, Big Little Lies is Queen.
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Six Feet Under
Six Feet Under was another hit for HBO. The off-beat family drama starred Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Lauren Ambrose, and Frances Conroy as the Fishers, a somewhat dysfunctional family who own a funeral home and must come together in the aftermath of the death of their patriarch. The show ruminated on death and the afterlife and sometimes blurred the lines between realism and the supernatural, creating a show that made death both beautiful and funny. If you want to ease yourself into more stressful HBO dramas (see: The Wire), Six Feet Under is the perfect starting point.
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The White Lotus
The White Lotus is another show that straddles the line between mini-series and multi-season television. Each season of the show takes place at a different extravagant White Lotus resort, showcasing the privileged lives of characters staying there, as well as the monotony of the resort's employees. The first season took place in Hawaii, the second in Italy, and season 3 of The White Lotus will take place in Thailand. The show offers a sharp look at privilege, wealth, and the dangerous and unpredictable nature of human connections, but it might be best known for Jennifer Coolidge's scene-stealing performance as a ridiculous and very rich heiress named Tanya.
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The Good Wife
Remember that era of the 2000s when it felt like every other politician had some kind of secret affair scandal? In The Good Wife, creators Michelle and Robert King used these famous missteps as inspiration for a show about a woman (Julianna Margulies) who goes back to work upon learning that her state's attorney husband (Chris Noth) was cheating...and corrupt. Though she had been a lawyer for a bit before becoming a politician's wife and stay-at-home mom, she's a fish out of water when she returns to the court room over a decade and one major scandal later. Part legal procedural, part family drama, The Good Wife made a significant impression because of it's all-star cast, including Alan Cumming, Archie Panjabi, and Josh Charles, and by pulling off one of the most shocking twists in network TV history.
The show inspired two spin-offs. The first, The Good Fight, streamed on Paramount Plus for six seasons and starred Christine Baranski and Audra McDonald. The second, Elsbeth, premiered in 2024.
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Mindhunter
As far as drama TV shows go, it doesn't get darker or grittier than Mindhunter, Netflix's 2-season series about two FBI agents who are on a mission to understand the psychology of serial killers. The eerie show, based on the 1995 book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, incorporated true events and characters inspired by very real killers, resulting in some of the most off-putting interrogation scenes I've ever seen. Season 2 was released in 2019, and fans are still hoping for a season 3.
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Mad Men
Mad Men is more than a show, it's a vibe. The period drama takes place in the '60s and revolves around the lives of employees at Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce, an ad agency. It's a place where men drink, smoke cigars, and are generally very dismissive of their few female colleagues and secretaries (when they're not sleeping with them). The show, bolstered by impeccable costumes and set design, was everywhere when it premiered in 2007. And it made stars Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, and January Jones household names.
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Scandal
As TV content has shifted from network to cable to streaming, the era of appointment television is on the decline. Yet, fans around the world tuned into Scandal every week to live-tweet with the cast and crew. If you missed an episode, you had to avoid social media because whatever major twist happened (and there was always at least one) would 100% be spoiled. Kerry Washington starred in the show as Olivia Pope, a Washington D.C. fixer who also happens to have had an affair with the President.
The show pushed the boundaries on how hot a network show could be, and was one of the few TV dramas with a Black female lead. It was so ubiquitous, it even influenced how we speak. The next time you hear someone confidently say, "It's handled," thank Shonda.
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True Detective
True Detective might be the most uneven show on the list. When season 1 premiered in 2014, it reinvigorated prestige television with its atmospheric storytelling and lengthy, rambling monologues. The show originally focused on two detectives, played by Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, and the impossible case they've spent their lives trying to solve. It was a deeply creepy, confusing, and fascinating piece of television that helped boost the McConaissance.
Unfortunately, seasons 2 and 3 of the anthology series failed to live up to the hype. But, the show got new life in season 4 thanks to new writer and director Issa López and stars Jodie Foster and Kali Reis. And the excellent season proved that, though True Detective might not be the most consistent drama, it's still one of the best.
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Game of Thrones
There is not a television watcher on this earth who does not know about Game of Thrones. HBO's fantasy epic, based on the book series by George R.R. Martin, made it cool to be obsessed with dragons, sword fights, and...incest? The show made stars of Sophie Turner, Maisie Williams, Kit Harington, Emilia Clarke, Pedro Pascal—the list is truly endless. It might have failed to stick the landing (Team Daenerys for life), but it also gave us the prequel series House of the Dragon, so it balances out.
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Luther
The dark British crime show Luther stars Idris Elba as Luther, an impulsive detective who, in investigating a murder case, becomes oddly entangled with his number one suspect, Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson). The murder mysteries are super engaging and disturbing, but the real draw here is the chemistry between Elba and Wilson, who seem to delight in playing a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. The show went on for five seasons and inspired a sequel film, Luther: The Fallen Sun.
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Orange Is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black spent years insisting it was a comedy, but real ones knew the truth: this is a D-R-A-M-A. One of the first Netflix original shows to become a hit, OITNB followed Piper (Taylor Schilling), a woman who must go to prison for a crime committed decades earlier. Doesn't sound very funny, huh? Somehow, the show managed to explore female sexuality, societal inequalities, and the justice system while also making audiences laugh. And because the show was female driven, it gave previously unknown actresses a real chance to shine, resulting in breakout roles for Dascha Polanco, Danielle Brooks, Uzo Aduba, and Laverne Cox.
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Pose
It's not hyperbole to say that when Pose changed the face of mainstream television when it premiered in 2018. The show, about ball culture in '80s and early '90s New York, was one of the first to feature a main cast of LGBTQ+ actors of color, including Billy Porter, Angelica Ross, Indya Moore, and Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, who became the first trans actor to win a Golden Globe. Sadly, the Ryan Murphy drama only lasted three seasons.
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Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer might be considered more of a supernatural show, what with it being about a teenage girl destined to fight vampires and demons until she dies, but its more dramatic moments were what made the show great. Audiences might not have been able to relate to Buffy's (Sarah Michelle Gellar) nightly walks in the cemetery, but they could relate when she struggled to keep up in school and lost her virginity to a man who turned evil as soon as the deed was done. If that's not top tier drama, then I don't know what is.
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