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100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century: Printable List

The 100 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century: A Printable List

Introduction: The Golden Age of Modern Television

The Evolution of 21st-Century TV Storytelling

Television in the 21st century transitioned from disposable, episodic broadcast content into high-investment, cinematic serialized art. The standard 22-episode network model traditionally relied on procedural resets and syndication-friendly structures. Cable networks such as HBO, FX, and AMC disrupted this format by prioritizing creator-driven visions, morally ambiguous antiheroes, and continuous narrative arcs spanning multiple seasons.

The expansion of broadband internet and direct-to-consumer streaming services accelerated this transformation. Platforms including Netflix, Max, Hulu, Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video eliminated rigid timeslot programming and linear broadcast constraints. Production budgets expanded to rival major studio feature films, drawing premier cinematic directors, screenwriters, and actors to long-form episodic storytelling.

Audiences gained immediate access to global productions, non-linear releases, and ambitious genre narratives. High production values, experimental structural formats, and nuanced character psychology established modern television as a dominant medium for contemporary narrative art.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                        EVOLUTION OF MODERN TELEVISION                         |
|                                                                               |
|  20th Century Network Era                21st Century Golden Age              |
|  - 22-episode procedural resets          - 8 to 13-episode serialized arcs    |
|  - Syndication-driven constraints        - Creator-driven auteur projects     |
|  - Rigid linear broadcast schedules      - Global on-demand streaming access  |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Ranking Criteria and Selection Methodology

This curated ranking identifies the 100 defining television programs broadcast between January 1, 2001, and the present. Selection follows four core metrics:

Critical Acclaim: Aggregate review scores across major industry databases, contemporaneous professional criticism, and enduring scholarly analysis.
Cultural Impact: Measurable influence on popular discourse, viewing habits, television production standards, and cross-media storytelling.
Narrative and Visual Innovation: Formal experimentation in non-linear plotting, cinematography, sound design, editing, and thematic depth.
Structural Consistency: Sustained creative execution across a full run or the complete delivery of a self-contained limited narrative.

Eligible titles must have broadcast the decisive majority of their run after January 1, 2000. Programs originating in the late 1990s qualify only if their primary narrative impact and season majority occurred within the 21st century.

Printable Checklist and Viewing Guide

Complete 1–100 Checklist (Printable Grid Format)

Use this reference table to track your viewing progress across the century’s top-rated series.

Rank	Show Title	Release Year	Original Network / Platform	Total Seasons	Genre	Watch Status
1	The Wire	2002–2008	HBO	5	Crime / Drama	[ ]
2	Breaking Bad	2008–2013	AMC	5	Crime / Drama	[ ]
3	The Sopranos (Seasons 3–6)	2001–2007	HBO	4 (of 6)	Crime / Drama	[ ]
4	Mad Men	2007–2015	AMC	7	Period Drama	[ ]
5	Succession	2018–2023	HBO	4	Satire / Drama	[ ]
6	Better Call Saul	2015–2022	AMC	6	Crime / Legal Drama	[ ]
7	The Leftovers	2014–2017	HBO	3	Mystery / Drama	[ ]
8	Fleabag	2016–2019	BBC / Prime Video	2	Comedy / Drama	[ ]
9	Atlanta	2016–2022	FX	4	Surreal Comedy / Drama	[ ]
10	Twin Peaks: The Return	2017	Showtime	1	Surreal Mystery	[ ]
11	Deadwood	2004–2006	HBO	3	Western / Drama	[ ]
12	The Americans	2013–2018	FX	6	Espionage / Thriller	[ ]
13	Severance	2022–Present	Apple TV+	1+	Sci-Fi / Thriller	[ ]
14	Band of Brothers	2001	HBO	1 (Miniseries)	War / Drama	[ ]
15	Chernobyl	2019	HBO	1 (Miniseries)	Historical Drama	[ ]
16	BoJack Horseman	2014–2020	Netflix	6	Animated / Tragicomedy	[ ]
17	Fargo	2014–Present	FX	5	Crime / Anthology	[ ]
18	The Shield	2002–2008	FX	7	Crime / Drama	[ ]
19	Lost	2004–2010	ABC	6	Sci-Fi / Mystery	[ ]
20	Game of Thrones	2011–2019	HBO	8	Fantasy / Drama	[ ]
21	Curb Your Enthusiasm	2000–2024	HBO	12	Comedy	[ ]
22	Parks and Recreation	2009–2015	NBC	7	Sitcom / Mockumentary	[ ]
23	The Office (US)	2005–2013	NBC	9	Sitcom / Mockumentary	[ ]
24	Veep	2012–2019	HBO	7	Political Satire	[ ]
25	Arrested Development (Seasons 1–3)	2003–2006	FOX	3	Sitcom	[ ]
26	30 Rock	2006–2013	NBC	7	Satire / Sitcom	[ ]
27	Battlestar Galactica	2004–2009	Sci-Fi Channel	4	Military Sci-Fi	[ ]
28	Dark	2017–2020	Netflix	3	Sci-Fi / Mystery	[ ]
29	Station Eleven	2021–2022	Max	1 (Miniseries)	Dystopian / Drama	[ ]
30	Watchmen	2019	HBO	1 (Miniseries)	Sci-Fi / Drama	[ ]
31	Rectify	2013–2016	SundanceTV	4	Drama	[ ]
32	Justified	2010–2015	FX	6	Neo-Western / Crime	[ ]
33	Boardwalk Empire	2010–2014	HBO	5	Period Crime	[ ]
34	Six Feet Under	2001–2005	HBO	5	Drama	[ ]
35	The Bear	2022–Present	FX on Hulu	3+	Comedy / Drama	[ ]
36	Barry	2018–2023	HBO	4	Dark Comedy / Crime	[ ]
37	Nathan for You	2013–2017	Comedy Central	4	Docu-Comedy / Satire	[ ]
38	Peep Show	2003–2015	Channel 4	9	Sitcom	[ ]
39	The Office (UK)	2001–2003	BBC Two	2	Sitcom / Mockumentary	[ ]
40	Community	2009–2015	NBC / Yahoo!	6	Comedy	[ ]
41	It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia	2005–Present	FX / FXX	16+	Sitcom	[ ]
42	Halt and Catch Fire	2014–2017	AMC	4	Period Drama	[ ]
43	Hannibal	2013–2015	NBC	3	Psychological Thriller	[ ]
44	Mindhunter	2017–2019	Netflix	2	Psychological Crime	[ ]
45	The Crown	2016–2023	Netflix	6	Historical Drama	[ ]
46	Peaky Blinders	2013–2022	BBC / Netflix	6	Period Crime	[ ]
47	Stranger Things	2016–Present	Netflix	4+	Sci-Fi / Horror	[ ]
48	True Detective (Season 1)	2014	HBO	1	Crime / Anthology	[ ]
49	Mare of Easttown	2021	HBO	1 (Miniseries)	Crime / Drama	[ ]
50	The Queen’s Gambit	2020	Netflix	1 (Miniseries)	Period Drama	[ ]
51	Squid Game	2021–Present	Netflix	1+	Thriller / Drama	[ ]
52	Arcane	2021–2024	Netflix	2	Animated / Fantasy	[ ]
53	Avatar: The Last Airbender	2005–2008	Nickelodeon	3	Animated / Fantasy	[ ]
54	Rick and Morty	2013–Present	Adult Swim	7+	Animated / Sci-Fi	[ ]
55	What We Do in the Shadows	2019–2024	FX	6	Mockumentary / Comedy	[ ]
56	The Good Place	2016–2020	NBC	4	Fantasy / Comedy	[ ]
57	Broad City	2014–2019	Comedy Central	5	Comedy	[ ]
58	Girls	2012–2017	HBO	6	Comedy / Drama	[ ]
59	I May Destroy You	2020	BBC / HBO	1 (Miniseries)	Drama	[ ]
60	Pose	2018–2021	FX	3	Drama	[ ]
61	The Knick	2014–2015	Cinemax	2	Period Medical Drama	[ ]
62	Borgen	2010–2022	DR1 / Netflix	4	Political Drama	[ ]
63	Babylon Berlin	2017–Present	Sky One / Netflix	4+	Historical Crime	[ ]
64	Gomorrah	2014–2021	Sky Atlantic	5	Crime Drama	[ ]
65	Money Heist (La Casa de Papel)	2017–2021	Antena 3 / Netflix	5	Heist / Thriller	[ ]
66	Call My Agent! (Dix pour cent)	2015–2020	France 2 / Netflix	4	Comedy / Drama	[ ]
67	Lupin	2021–Present	Netflix	3+	Mystery / Thriller	[ ]
68	Pachinko	2022–Present	Apple TV+	2+	Historical Drama	[ ]
69	Andor	2022–Present	Disney+	1+	Sci-Fi / Spy Thriller	[ ]
70	The Mandalorian	2019–Present	Disney+	3+	Sci-Fi / Space Western	[ ]
71	The Boys	2019–Present	Prime Video	4+	Satirical Superhero	[ ]
72	Invincible	2021–Present	Prime Video	2+	Animated / Superhero	[ ]
73	Samurai Jack (Season 5)	2017	Adult Swim	1	Animated / Action	[ ]
74	Primal	2019–Present	Adult Swim	2+	Animated / Adventure	[ ]
75	Over the Garden Wall	2014	Cartoon Network	1 (Miniseries)	Animated / Dark Fantasy	[ ]
76	Friday Night Lights	2006–2011	NBC / 101 Network	5	Sports / Drama	[ ]
77	Line of Duty	2012–2021	BBC	6	Police Procedural	[ ]
78	Broadchurch	2013–2017	ITV	3	Crime / Mystery	[ ]
79	Happy Valley	2014–2023	BBC One	3	Crime Drama	[ ]
80	Luther	2010–2019	BBC One	5	Psychological Crime	[ ]
81	Sherlock	2010–2017	BBC One	4	Mystery / Crime	[ ]
82	Downton Abbey	2010–2015	ITV / PBS	6	Period Drama	[ ]
83	The Expanse	2015–2022	Syfy / Prime Video	6	Hard Sci-Fi	[ ]
84	Fringe	2008–2013	FOX	5	Sci-Fi / Procedural	[ ]
85	Person of Interest	2011–2016	CBS	5	Sci-Fi / Crime	[ ]
86	Orphan Black	2013–2017	Space / BBC America	5	Sci-Fi / Thriller	[ ]
87	Utopia (UK)	2013–2014	Channel 4	2	Conspiracy Thriller	[ ]
88	Top of the Lake	2013–2017	BBC Two / Sundance	2	Mystery / Drama	[ ]
89	Show Me a Hero	2015	HBO	1 (Miniseries)	Political Drama	[ ]
90	Olive Kitteridge	2014	HBO	1 (Miniseries)	Drama	[ ]
91	When They See Us	2019	Netflix	1 (Miniseries)	Biographical Drama	[ ]
92	Unbelievable	2019	Netflix	1 (Miniseries)	Crime Drama	[ ]
93	Small Axe	2020	BBC / Prime Video	1 (Anthology)	Historical Drama	[ ]
94	The Underground Railroad	2021	Prime Video	1 (Miniseries)	Historical Fantasy	[ ]
95	The Rehearsal	2022–Present	HBO	1+	Docu-Comedy	[ ]
96	Review	2014–2017	Comedy Central	3	Mockumentary / Comedy	[ ]
97	Documentary Now!	2015–Present	IFC	4+	Mockumentary / Satire	[ ]
98	Catastrophe	2015–2019	Channel 4 / Prime	4	Comedy / Romance	[ ]
99	Silicon Valley	2014–2019	HBO	6	Tech Satire / Comedy	[ ]
100	Schitt’s Creek	2015–2020	CBC / Pop TV	6	Sitcom	[ ]

How to Use the Watchlist Tracker

Print the list using browser commands (Ctrl+P on Windows or Cmd+P on macOS). Select Save as PDF or send directly to a printer on Letter/A4 format.

Use the checkbox column to track completed series. Sort your viewing by tier to prioritize foundational modern classics, or filter by platform to align with active streaming subscriptions.

Tier 1: The Modern Masterpieces (Ranks 1–20)

Prestige Dramas That Defined the Era (Ranks 1–10)

Tier 1 highlights series that redefined narrative structures, cinematography, and character development across the medium.

The Wire (HBO): David Simon’s analytical exploration of Baltimore deconstructs institutional decline across law enforcement, narcotics, labor, municipal politics, public education, and print journalism.
Breaking Bad (AMC): Vince Gilligan’s character study maps Walter White’s moral transformation into a narcotics kingpin, elevating serialized pacing and visual symbolism.
The Sopranos (HBO, Post-2000 Seasons): David Chase’s flagship series established the template for prestige television through psychological subtext, dream logic, and narrative ambiguity.
Mad Men (AMC): Matthew Weiner’s period drama examines postwar American consumerism and identity through advertising executive Don Draper.
Succession (HBO): Jesse Armstrong’s boardroom drama dissects dynastic wealth, corporate media consolidation, and familial trauma.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                    CORE THEMATIC PILLARS OF TIER 1 DRAMAS                     |
|                                                                               |
|   The Wire          -> Institutional decay and systemic social failures       |
|   Breaking Bad      -> Moral corruption and deterministic consequences        |
|   The Sopranos      -> Subconscious guilt, modernity, and psychoanalysis      |
|   Mad Men           -> Identity, consumerism, and mid-century alienation      |
|   Succession        -> Dynastic trauma, wealth insularity, and media power    |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Game-Changing Visionaries (Ranks 11–20)

Better Call Saul (AMC): Transforms Jimmy McGill’s legal decline into a deliberate, visually precise study of ethics and personal consequence.
The Leftovers (HBO): Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta explore existential grief and belief systems in the wake of an unexplained global disappearance.
Twin Peaks: The Return (Showtime): David Lynch and Mark Frost expanded television boundaries through avant-garde pacing, surrealism, and intricate sound design.
Atlanta (FX): Donald Glover’s series blends afrosurrealism, economic reality, and sharp social satire.
Fleabag (BBC/Prime Video): Phoebe Waller-Bridge modernized direct-address narration to examine intimacy, guilt, and modern vulnerability.

Tier 2: Acclaimed Dramas, Thrillers, and Sci-Fi (Ranks 21–50)

High-Concept Sci-Fi and Mystery (Ranks 21–35)

This tier highlights ambitious world-building, high-stakes plotting, and existential genre concepts:

Severance (Apple TV+): Explores corporate alienation through a surgical procedure that bifurcates workplace and personal memories.
Dark (Netflix): Germany’s landmark time-travel series combines multi-generational family drama with rigid causal loops.
Lost (ABC): Redefined appointment viewing through serial cliffhangers, community theory-building, and character flashbacks.
Battlestar Galactica (Sci-Fi Channel): Rebuilt space opera conventions into a post-9/11 allegory on military ethics, civil liberties, and artificial intelligence.
Stranger Things (Netflix): Blends 1980s genre nostalgia, practical horror craft, and ensemble dynamics into a global streaming benchmark.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                      HIGH-CONCEPT SCI-FI AND MYSTERY                          |
|                                                                               |
|   Series            Primary Premise               Core Narrative Device       |
|   -------------------------------------------------------------------------   |
|   Severance         Bifurcated workplace memory   Corporate psychological lab |
|   Dark              Multi-generational time loops Deterministic causal logic  |
|   Lost              Island plane crash survival   Character flashbacks        |
|   Battlestar Gal.   Cylon fleet survival pursuit  Political allegory          |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Crime, Law, and Historical Epics (Ranks 36–50)

Deadwood (HBO): Uses heightened dialogue to chronicle the transition from frontier lawlessness to institutional governance.
The Americans (FX): Uses Cold War espionage to dissect the complexities of marriage, ideology, and identity.
Fargo (FX): Adapts the Coen Brothers’ cinematic tone into Midwestern crime anthologies driven by distinct moral fables.
Boardwalk Empire (HBO): Details the rise of organized crime during Prohibition with elaborate period detail.
Peaky Blinders (BBC/Netflix): Follows the rise of the Shelby crime syndicate across post-WWI industrial Britain.

Tier 3: Comedies, Dramedies, and Animation (Ranks 51–75)

Groundbreaking Comedy and Satire (Ranks 51–65)

The 21st century saw single-camera mockumentaries, satirical writing, and cringe comedy replace traditional multi-camera sitcoms.

The Office (UK & US): Popularized mockumentary storytelling by capturing mundane workplace dynamics with observational humor.
Parks and Recreation (NBC): Balanced political satire with civic optimism and strong ensemble chemistry.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (HBO): Elevated situational irony and social friction into long-form comedic arcs.
Veep (HBO): Deconstructs bureaucratic inefficiency and political ambition through razor-sharp dialogue.
What We Do in the Shadows (FX): Integrates mockumentary filmmaking into supernatural horror-comedy.

Animated Innovations and Genre Benders (Ranks 66–75)

BoJack Horseman (Netflix): Uses animated satire to deliver a candid examination of depression, addiction, and accountability.
Arcane (Netflix): Set new standards for video game adaptations through rich world-building, class conflict, and digital hand-painted animation.
Rick and Morty (Adult Swim): Merges theoretical science fiction with cynical family satire.
The Bear (FX on Hulu): Balances culinary operational intensity with generational trauma and workplace dramedy.
Barry (HBO): Explores violence and narcissism through the lens of a contract killer pursuing an acting career.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                 COMEDIC AND DRAMATIC STRUCTURAL INNOVATIONS                   |
|                                                                               |
|   Format               Key Pioneer Series           Key Structural Innovation |
|   -------------------------------------------------------------------------   |
|   Mockumentary         The Office / Parks & Rec     Direct camera address     |
|   Dark Tragicomedy     BoJack Horseman / Barry      Sudden tonal transitions  |
|   High-Paced Satire    Veep / Silicon Valley        Ensemble insult density   |
|   Cinematic Animation  Arcane / Primal              Painterly digital craft   |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Tier 4: Masterclass Limited Series and Global Breakthroughs (Ranks 76–100)

Definitive Miniseries and Anthology Runs (Ranks 76–88)

Limited series offer concise narrative arcs without serialization bloat.

Band of Brothers (HBO): Sets the standard for WWII dramatizations through historical fidelity and grounded combat realism.
Chernobyl (HBO): Craig Mazin’s procedural miniseries chronicles the 1986 nuclear disaster and the societal cost of systemic deception.
Watchmen (HBO): Explores structural racism and vigilante mythologies by expanding upon the original graphic novel.
Station Eleven (Max): A post-apocalyptic narrative highlighting art, memory, and community resilience.
Mare of Easttown (HBO): Grounds the small-town murder mystery in authentic regional grief and character relationships.

+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
|                          LIMITED SERIES BENCHMARKS                            |
|                                                                               |
|   Chernobyl         -> Procedural accuracy and systemic accountability        |
|   Band of Brothers  -> Historical combat realism and company camaraderie      |
|   Watchmen          -> Historical revisionism and institutional power         |
|   Station Eleven    -> Art, endurance, and post-crisis rebuilding             |
+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

International Phenomena (Ranks 89–100)

Streaming distribution dismantled regional barriers, bringing non-English masterworks to global audiences:

Squid Game (South Korea): A high-stakes survival thriller that became a global phenomenon with its sharp allegories on economic inequality.
Dark (Germany): A celebrated time-travel narrative noted for its intricate, internally consistent causal logic.
Money Heist (La Casa de Papel, Spain): Reinvigorated the heist genre through dynamic pacing and cliffhanger-driven plotting.
Babylon Berlin (Germany): Lavish Weimar-era noir exploring interwar politics, extremism, and civic corruption.
Call My Agent! (Dix pour cent, France): Satirical agency comedy delivering an insider look at European film culture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What qualifies a series for the 21st-century list?

A show must have premiered on or after January 1, 2001, or broadcast the decisive majority of its total run and cultural footprint within the 21st century (e.g., The Sopranos aired four of its six seasons between 2001 and 2007).

Why are limited series included alongside multi-season shows?

Limited series represent an essential pillar of prestige television, attracting cinematic creators, delivering closed narrative arcs, and competing in primary industry awards categories.

Where can I stream these 100 shows?

Most selections are available on major platforms including Max, Netflix, Hulu, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, and Apple TV+, subject to regional distribution rights.

How was the ranking order determined?

Rankings were established by weighing aggregate critical reception, narrative innovation, industry influence, production quality, and consistency across full runs.

How do I print the checklist format efficiently?

Press Ctrl+P (Windows) or Cmd+P (macOS) in your web browser. Under printer settings, select Save as PDF or send to a connected printer. Choose “Fit to Printable Area” or “Fit to Page” for an organized physical checklist.

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