The 41 Best TV Shows of All Time to Binge-Watch

The ultimate binge-watch

Compiling an “all-time” best-of list of anything isn’t easy, but TV shows? That’s a fool’s errand. So, we, the fools at CableTV.com, have come up with 41 of what we believe to be the most excellent series to binge-watch ever. Also, this collection is going to grow, so bookmark this page and check back.

30 Rock (2006–2013)

Only a small fraction of the then-topical jokes and references in 30 Rock haven’t held up over time—since the average 25-minute episode contained about 1,000 (give or take), there’s still plenty of funny left. Tina Fey seemingly did it all as 30 Rock’s creator, producer, co-writer, and star, but she also let the cast (including Alec Baldwin, Jane Krakowski, and Tracy Morgan) shine in this fleetly inside-baseball satire of corporate TV. The series even gave us a much-needed holiday mascot: Leap Year William.

Where to watch 30 Rock

Arrested Development (2003–2019)

The Netflix revival seasons aside, Arrested Development delivered as perfect an anarchic comedy arc as has ever been achieved on mainstream TV. The Ron Howard-produced (and dryly narrated) series about the perpetually dysfunctional Bluth family introduced a new level of storytelling sophistication to network television during its first three seasons on FOX. Arrested Development was also instantly meme-able before memes were even a thing (go ahead and search “I’ve made a huge mistake”).

Where to watch Arrested Development

Atlanta (2016–2022)

It began as the straight-ahead story of Earn (show creator Donald Glover) managing the career of his rapper cousin “Paper Boi” (Bryan Tyree Henry), but Atlanta grew into something else entirely over the course of four wild, emotional seasons. Glover cited Twin Peaks as an influence on Atlanta, and the series lived up to it with surrealist tangents that regularly veered from comedy but always stayed on point. That point: Racism is, unfortunately, still very much alive and unwell in America (and Holland).

Where to watch Atlanta

Barry (2018–2023)

When Cleveland hitman Barry (show co-creator Bill Hader) heads west for a job in Los Angeles, he accidentally discovers that becoming an actor might be a better outlet for his wartime PTSD than killing people for money. The constant tension between trying to leave the contract-killer life (not that easy) and keeping his secret from his new theater-student friends (surprisingly easy) hangs over Barry like a dark cloud—in the unexpectedly funniest ways. Barry is a pitch-black comedy for the ages.

Where to watch Barry

Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995)

Batman: The Animated Series lies somewhere between the vintage style of Fleischer Studios’ Superman and the brooding allure of Tim Burton’s Batman. Each episode is dark, like a 1940s film noir, and visually vibrant, like an Art Deco painting. What makes it a binge-worthy series is how episodes unfold like mini-movies, with self-contained stories and unique narrative structures, which means you can jump into any episode anytime without feeling the pressure of an overarching continuity. But that’s not to say you should avoid the larger DC Animated Universe that started with BTAS. —Taylor Kujawa, CableTV.com Sports Editor

Where to watch Batman: The Animated Series

Battlestar Galactica (2003–2009)

Few believed that a dramatic reboot of 1978’s cheeseball Star Wars ripoff Battlestar Galactica could be done, but writer/producer Ronald D. Moore proved them all wrong when his take dropped like a bomb in 2003. This Battlestar Galactica is as much about politics and class divides as it is about space battles and robots (though it also has plenty of those), and the dark, gritty atmosphere is far removed from the usual utopian treks. Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) and Six (Tricia Helfer) remain feminist sci-fi icons today.

Where to watch Battlestar Galactica

The Bear (2022–present)

Everything you’ve read and heard about The Bear is true—good, bad, and otherwise. Is it a comedy? A drama? An anxiety-triggering documentary for anyone who’s ever worked in the service industry? Yes, yes, and “Yes, Chef!” Carmy “The Bear” Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) initially returned to Chicago to manage his family’s sandwich shop following the death of his older brother but soon seized upon his dream (and nightmare) of transforming the eatery into a Michelin-star-worthy restaurant. Watch it on a full stomach.

Where to watch The Bear

Better Call Saul (2015–2022)

The origin story of Breaking Bad’s Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) seemed an unlikely spinoff at first, but Better Call Saul instantly established itself as an equal series—or superior, depending on who you ask. Successful “criminal” lawyer Goodman began as Jimmy McGill, a small-time Albuquerque attorney living in the shadow of his older brother and local legal legend Chuck (Michael McKean). Better Call Saul burns slowly but intensely until it dovetails into the events of Breaking Bad in heartbreakingly funny fashion.

Where to watch Better Call Saul

Better Things (2016–2022)

She was the voice of Bobby on King of the Hill back in the day and gained further recognition as Louis CK’s foil in a couple of 2000s live-action shows, but Pamela Adlon’s Better Things is the solo album that left all of those shows in the dust. The semi-autobiographical dramedy follows L.A. actress Sam (Adlon), a single mom raising three daughters of wildly different temperaments (Mikey Madison, Hannah Alligood, and Olivia Edward). Better Things feels all of the feels, deeply; keep the tissues handy.

Where to watch Better Things

Boardwalk Empire (2010–2014)

In the best role of his long career, Steve Buscemi flipped the script on the “mob boss” role as Nucky Thompson in the HBO epic Boardwalk Empire: More brains, less brawn. Not that there’s no violence in this 1920s-set Atlantic City crime drama, but the machinations of Nucky and the show’s other well-drawn characters (played by Michael Shannon, Kelly MacDonald, and Shea Whigham, among many others) are mostly academic. Bonus: Boardwalk Empire looks as expensive as House of the Dragon does today.

Where to watch Boardwalk Empire

Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

Mad Men may have put AMC on the map, but Breaking Bad smoked the cable TV landscape when it premiered its writers’ strike-shortened first season in 2008. In just seven episodes, showrunner Vince Gilligan lays out the tragic tale of cancer-stricken chemistry teacher Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) this-can’t-end-well partnership with dirtbag dealer Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to become New Mexico meth kingpins. Breaking Bad maintained its menace over five seasons, right up to its inevitable end.

Where to watch Breaking Bad

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997–2010)

Joss Whedon missed the mark with his 1992 movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but everything fell perfectly into place for his eventual TV series on The WB. With an agile young cast (including Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy) and whip-smart comedy-meets-horror-meets-teen-drama writing that influenced a generation of TV and movies, Buffy the Vampire Slayer established a deep, rich Sunnydale universe over 144 episodes. It also spun off a worthy companion series in Angel, but the O.G. Buffy can’t be topped.

Where to watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Community (2009–2015)

Greendale, a thoroughly mid Colorado community college, is home to a study group that rarely accomplishes any actual studying. Joel McHale, Gillian Jacobs, Donald Glover, Alison Brie, Danny Pudi, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Chevy Chase comprise one of the greatest comic ensembles of all time (Rick & Morty comes close, but they’re cartoons), and Community creator Dan Harmon hasn’t topped this rapid-fire meta-pop-cultural tour de force yet. Six seasons have been accomplished, next comes the movie.

Where to watch Community

Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024)

As one of the forefathers of “cringe” comedy, Larry David stands tall (but slightly hunched over) with his shouty masterpiece Curb Your Enthusiasm, which ran for an unlikely 12 seasons on his own whims. David’s perpetually cranky “Larry David,” an exaggerated version of the Seinfeld creator, runs roughshod over faux-polite Los Angeles society with his New York City bluster, aided by an equally game cast of costars (including later-series addition J.B. Smoove). Seinfeld was bigger, but Curb cuts deeper.

Where to watch Curb Your Enthusiasm

Deadwood (2004–2006)

It only lasted three seasons, but David Milch’s poetically profane Deadwood established itself as one of—if not the—best Western dramas of television eterna. With a sprawling cast headed by Ian McShane at the peak of his bastard powers, the 1870s gold-rush town of Deadwood came to rich, grimy life as the place where civility and innocence go to die. The 36-episode series (and one 2019 movie) also bears the distinction of pushing the language limits of even HBO with nearly 3,000 F-bombs to its credit.

Where to watch Deadwood

Dexter (2006–2013)

For eight seasons, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) thrilled audiences with his highwire serial-killer exploits. Is the plot of Dexter unbelievably improbable? Of course. But witnessing the Bay Harbor Butcher evade capture while analyzing blood splatters for the Miami Metro Police Department is not just impossibly dramatic, it’s funny as hell. Did we mention that Dexter’s stepsister, Debra (Jennifer Carpenter, Hall’s wife at the time), is a homicide detective? Mmmm, juicier than the blood orange from its iconic title sequence. —Mike Strayer, CableTV.com Managing Editor

Where to watch Dexter

Firefly (2002)

Joss Whedon’s Firefly didn’t even finish its first and only season on network TV, but it became a cult favorite on DVD in the pre-streaming days and earned a big-screen movie sendoff in 2005’s Serenity. A swashbuckling space Western with the comedic sensibilities of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Firefly glides on a crackling cast (including Nathan Fillion, Morena Baccarin, Alan Tudyk, Summer Glau, and Jewel Staite) as a disparate spaceship crew working to survive on the outskirts of society and the law in just 14 episodes.

Where to watch Firefly

Futurama (1999–present)

Simpsons creator Matt Groening and writer David X. Cohen probably never imagined that their Futurama would last this long. (What if it actually makes it to the 31st century when it’s set?) The animated sci-fi comedy began with pizza-delivery guy Fry (voiced by Billy West) being accidentally cryo-frozen in 1999 and revived in 2999, but has since expanded well beyond that setup. Fry, Leela (Katey Sagal), and robot icon for the ages Bender (John DiMaggio) are still cruising on an inexhaustible tank of misadventures.

Where to watch Futurama

Game of Thrones (2011–2019)

The most impressive aspect of HBO’s George R.R. Martin adaptation isn’t its epic setting, violent battles, or even the dragons: Game of Thrones boasts a cast of over 100 across eight seasons, a mind-blowing stat that’s only slightly tempered by the fact most of them eventually die brutal deaths. The war for the Iron Throne is largely driven by Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), Jon Snow (Kit Harrington), Cersei Lannister (Leana Heady), and Tyrion Lannister (Peter Dinklage), all delivering career-peak performances.

Where to watch Game of Thrones

It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present)

Most comedies can only sustain one terrible, horrible, no good, very bad main character. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia has served up five for 16 record-setting seasons (and the side characters are reprehensible, too). Dennis (Glenn Howerton), Sweet Dee (Kaitlin Olson), Mac (Rob McElhenney), Charlie (Charlie Day), and Frank (Danny DeVito) have rarely not seized upon a lousy idea or sketchy scheme that results in dark hilarity, leading TV critics to label Sunny as “Seinfeld for Satanists” (OK, just me in 2005).

Where to watch It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia

The Leftovers (2014–2017)

When 140 million of the world’s population mysteriously vanishes instantly, those remaining learn to cope—or not. Was it “The Rapture”? Or was it unexplainably random? Neither answer soothes the left behind, including Kevin (Justin Theroux), Laurie (Amy Brenneman), Meg (Liv Tyler), and Nora (Carrie Coon in her breakout role). The Leftovers, created by Damon Lindelof (Lost) and Tom Perrotta (who wrote The Leftovers novel), is an emotional journey that gets even better over its three seasons.

Where to watch The Leftovers

Lost (2004–2010)

Universally hailed as “the greatest TV series of all time,” Lost is also one of the most divisive dramas ever. Fans still argue to this day over the meaning of it all, and it’s the go-to rewatch for mystery buffs who think they’ll discover a new angle (and they usually do). A passenger jet crashes on a Pacific Ocean island, leaving the survivors to deal with challenges like The Others (people who were already there), polar bears (weird), and a “Smoke Monster” (really weird). Endless psychological dissection awaits.

Where to watch Lost

Mad Men (2007–2015)

In 2007, AMC was just another faceless cable channel running old movies and infomercials. Then came the HBO-rejected Mad Men, which AMC took on as its first original series, which instantly became a pillar of the Golden Age of Television (aka Peak TV). The series about a hard-drinking, chain-smoking, serial-womanizing group of 1960s Madison Avenue advertising execs is led by Don Draper (Jon Hamm), who’s as talented as he is troubled. Mad Men is a fascinating slice of Americana that holds up well.

Where to watch Mad Men

Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020)

Before WandaVision, Moon Knight, and even Daredevil, there was Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Don’t let all the Marvel branding fool you: This show exists in its own little pocket universe of Marvel continuity, and you don’t need to put together a watchlist of other films to understand it. It’s just a fun sci-fi show with time travel, evil robots, blue aliens, and the occasional nod to the MCU. —Olivia Bono, CableTV.com Staff Writer

Where to watch Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

The Office (2005–2013)

Anyone who’d already seen Ricky Gervais’ cringe-tastic (and imminently watchable) original version of The Office believed the British series would be impossible to Americanize for stateside audiences. Showrunner Greg Daniels proved them wrong with a wobbly but workable pilot episode that led to a fully realized ensemble comedy for the meme-able ages. The daily drudgery of the Dunder-Mifflin paper company translated to high comedy, thanks to the legendary Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) and crew.

Where to watch The Office

Once Upon a Time (2011–2018)

If you missed this TV phenomenon from the 2010s, Once Upon a Time was Disney’s attempt to combine its fairy-tale characters in one simple, connected story. And by simple, I mean extremely convoluted. Viewers never quite knew what to expect with this show about a little boy in Maine who dreams of his family and neighbors having magical, secret pasts. It ran for seven seasons and covered most classic Disney properties, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Peter Pan, and controversially, Frozen. —Olivia Bono, CableTV.com Staff Writer

Where to watch Once Upon a Time

Orphan Black (2013–2017)

Tatiana Maslany plays 14 (!) different characters in the sci-fi thriller Orphan Black, a Canadian series about the moral, ethical, and technical connotations of human cloning. It’s a heavy show, but Orphan Black regularly lightens things up with comic flourishes from the many Maslanys, a skill she’d later put to great use in She-Hulk. The series also manages to make its dense plotting easy to navigate, even when the clone and character counts get overwhelming. Spinoff Orphan Black: Echoes is also worth a stream.

Where to watch Orphan Black

Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)

Like The Office before it, mockumentary comedy Parks and Recreation got off to a shaky start in its debut season, but it eventually, arguably, surpassed its paper-company predecessor. The indomitable Leslie Nope (Amy Poehler) leads a stellar cast of characters with no weak links as they work to keep Pawnee, Indiana, green and great. Parks and Recreation could even restore your faith in government, even though show-stealer Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) is TV pop culture’s preeminent anti-bureaucrat.

Where to watch Parks and Recreation

Reservation Dogs (2021–2023)

Indigenous teens Elora (Devery Jacobs), Bear (D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai), Cheese (Lane Factor), and Willie Jack (Paulina Alexis) work to earn (or steal) enough money to leave their rural Oklahoma reservation and travel to California. Reservation Dogs, created by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Watiti, is full of oddball characters and subtle life lessons about friendship and loss. It’s the kind of show you’d like to run forever, but you know these kids will have to grow up and move on. Three seasons, 28 episodes—a great ride.

Where to watch Reservation Dogs

The Sopranos (1999–2007)

Prestige TV began in 1999 with HBO’s The Sopranos, the north star for every drama that followed. New Jersey mobster Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) looked to be a one-note tough guy but instead was revealed to be a far more nuanced character. (What kind of wiseguy sees a therapist to treat his anxiety?) The Sopranos is loaded with script flips on gangster culture, but the series also leans heavily into violence and malfeasance when needed. Also, the menacing theme song is utterly unskippable.

Where to watch The Sopranos

Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)

Imagine a once-wealthy family falling from grace and landing in a quirky, charming small town they once bought as a joke—welcome to Schitt’s Creek. David Rose (Dan Levy) mixes sarcastic wit, high fashion, and biting humor, often missing the mark on financial realities. Moira Rose (Catherine O’Hara), the flamboyant, eccentric former soap star with an elaborate vocabulary and made-up accent, leads to plenty of laughs. Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy), the grounded dad, stays patient and supportive, always committed to his family’s well-being, often serving as the voice of reason amidst their antics. —Chantel Buchi, CableTV.com Senior Staff Writer

Where to watch Schitt’s Creek

Six Feet Under (2001–2005)

Bombastic, morose, and at times hilarious, the Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning HBO series Six Feet Under features an all-star ensemble cast that includes Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Peter Krauss (9-1-1), and Patricia Clarkson (Sharp Objects). Its series finale is also frequently touted as the best of all time. Whether or not the finale lives up to the hype (I don’t think it does), you can’t go wrong with five heavenly (or hellish?) seasons abounding in oddities like a lime-green Hearse, a haunted family-owned funeral home, and some destructive sibling romantic tension. —Mike Strayer, CableTV.com Managing Editor

Where to watch Six Feet Under

Succession (2018–2023)

Just as The Sopranos made you sympathize with criminals, Succession just might make you feel sorry for the super-wealthy. Well, probably not, because aging media mogul Logan Roy (Brian Cox) and his hungry-for-the-throne children (Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, and Alan Ruck) are just the worst. Succession is a tense, extended power struggle levied with some of the darkest humor and most scathing quips ever committed to the screen. There’s no one to root for here, but you will, anyway.

Where to watch Succession

Trailer Park Boys (2001–2018)

Canadian mockumentary Trailer Park Boys is an endearing and eminently binge-able comfort show on par with The Office. The instantly recognizable theme music is like a dreamy lullaby that activates nostalgia for Sunnyvale Trailer Park and its utterly nutso residents. You want to be with Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles et al. growing dope, committing petty crimes, hassling Randy and Lahey, looking out for Samsquanches and diabolical puppets, kidnapping Canadian royalty (Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson), and petting kitties. Obviously, we can’t be there, but we do get to enjoy 105 episodes of belly laughs and parasocial friendships. —Randy Harward, CableTV.com Senior Staff Writer

Where to watch Trailer Park Boys

Twin Peaks (1990–1991; 2017)

Twin Peaks begins with the now-famous question: “Who killed Laura Palmer?” What follows is a descent into the bizarre, often terrifying town of Twin Peaks, Washington. The first two seasons parody a soap opera, while the third season (released 26 years later and dubbed The Return) leans into classic Lynchian horror. The throughline of it all is the quirky FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), a character so odd yet endearing, it’s worth watching just to hear him say “Diane …” into his tape recorder for the hundredth time. So, who wants some damn fine coffee? —Logan Jones, CableTV.com Junior Staff Writer

Where to watch Twin Peaks

Veep (2012–2019)

Thanks to Kamala Harris’ recent turn from vice president to POTUS nominee, Veep has enjoyed a streaming resurgence. No one should mistake the bitterly dysfunctional White House of Veep for an aspirational model of government—this is pitch-black comedy as a cautionary tale (but probably closer to reality than we’d like to think). As Vice President, Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is relegated to the sidelines but slowly makes her way up the power chain, aided semi-competently by her staff (including Anna Clumsky, Reid Scott, and Timothy Simons). Veep’s F-bomb count is second only to Deadwood’s.

Where to watch Veep

Weeds (2005–2012)

It may seem quaint in America’s current chill-about-marijuana times, but Jenji Kohan’s dramedy Weeds was downright subversive in 2005. Recently widowed suburban mom Nancy (Mary-Louise Parker) becomes a weed dealer to support her family, but her hustle soon grows into a small empire with big problems. The Feds want to shut her down, larger drug cartels want a piece of the action, and Nancy barely has time to finish an iced coffee before the next fire has to be put out. Each Weeds season is wilder than the last—strap in and toke up.

Where to watch Weeds

The West Wing (1999–2006)

Throughout the conservative George W. Bush presidency, Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing provided an alternate-reality escape for liberals with Democrat POTUS Jed Bartlet (Martin Sheen) and his ideals-driven staff in the Executive Branch. As with his later series The Newsroom (also a good binge-watch), Sorkin filtered real-world issues and events through his prism of fast storytelling and faster dialogue delivered by a deep bench of gifted actors. It may be fantasy, but Bartlet’s America seems legit.

Where to watch The West Wing

What We Do in the Shadows (2019–present)

Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi’s What We Do in the Shadows, both the FX TV series and the 2014 movie, are the funniest vampire comedies since Twilight. Centuries-old Euro vamps Laszlo (Matt Berry), Nadja (Natasia Demetriou), and Nandor (Kayvan Novak) live together in Staten Island, somehow passing as humans despite their hilariously over-the-top pomp. The series’ upcoming sixth season will be its last, but there are 50 episodes to enjoy before the Halloween season premiere of Shadows’ final run.

Where to watch What We Do in the Shadows

The Wire (2002–2008)

It’s the crime drama everyone has heard of but not many have seen for a reason: The Wire isn’t always easy to watch, but it is ultimately rewarding. David Simon’s acclaimed series covers a different aspect of Baltimore in each season, from local police to the school system to the media, with constant characters and plotlines. The Wire also features dozens of actors who later went on to bigger things, including Wendell Pierce, Dominic West, Idris Elba, Michael K. Williams, Lance Reddick, and Amy Ryan.

Where to watch The Wire

The X-Files (1993–2001; 2016–2018)

It produced a couple of so-so theatrical movies and a doomed spinoff series (The Lone Gunmen), but The X-Files TV series is the undisputed sci-fi cult phenomenon of all time. FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson), the believer and the skeptic, respectively, investigate paranormal cases in a weirdness-of-the-week crime procedural fashion. This is underpinned by a vast conspiracy that runs throughout its 200+ episodes. The X-Files’ 2016–2018 revival proved that Mulder and Scully still have it.

Where to watch The X-Files