The Best TV Shows of All Time – My Personal Top 50 Ranked

As someone who’s borderline obsessed with great television, I’ve spent way too many hours (no regrets) watching shows across genres and eras. From gripping dramas to hilarious sitcoms and everything in between, these are the 50 best TV shows of all time—at least in my opinion.

If you're looking for a quality series to binge next, this list is a great place to start.

🥇 My Top 10 Favorite TV Shows of All Time

1. Breaking Bad

I don’t think any show has pulled me in like Breaking Bad. Walter White’s journey from a mild-mannered teacher to a feared drug lord is storytelling perfection.

2. Game of Thrones

Yes, the final season let a lot of people down, but the ride? Unmatched. The scale, the characters, the tension—GoT was a global phenomenon for a reason.

3. Chernobyl

This one hit hard. It’s intense, haunting, and beautifully shot. I was glued to the screen from start to finish.

4. Silicon Valley

This one absolutely deserves a spot in my top 5. It’s funny, sharp, and painfully accurate if you’ve ever worked in tech. The writing is clever, the cast is brilliant, and the satire is on point.

5. Band of Brothers

An emotional rollercoaster. I felt so connected to the characters and couldn’t stop thinking about it for days after finishing.

6. The Wire

Raw, real, and incredibly well-written. It paints such a powerful picture of urban America—I understand why critics always put it at the top.

7. Better Call Saul

Somehow, this prequel lives up to (and sometimes surpasses) Breaking Bad. Jimmy McGill’s story is heartbreakingly good.

8. Stranger Things

It’s nostalgic, creepy, and has a lot of heart. The kids are fantastic, and the 80s vibe is just perfect.

9. Sherlock

Cumberbatch was born for this role. Clever plots, snappy dialogue, and that addictive Sherlock/Watson chemistry.

10. Peaky Blinders

Stylish, intense, and so damn cool. I never knew I could get so emotionally attached to a gangster family in 1920s Birmingham.

🎬 TV Shows I Also Love (Spots 11–30)

11. The Twilight Zone – Old-school brilliance. So many of its themes still hit today.

12. Fleabag – Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a genius. Raw, funny, emotional—what more could you want?

13. Fargo – Dark humor, strange characters, great storytelling.

14. House – Hugh Laurie’s sarcasm + medical mysteries = the perfect mix.

15. Friends – The comfort show of all comfort shows. Never gets old.

16. Dark – This German sci-fi series melted my brain in the best way.

17. The Office – Quirky, awkward, and full of heart. I've rewatched it too many times to admit.

18. Succession – The rich are awful, and it’s so fun to watch them implode.

19. Battlestar Galactica – It’s not just spaceships—it’s deeply human and philosophical.

20. Freaks and Geeks – Short but iconic. I still wish there was a Season 2.

21. Mad Men – It’s slow but rich. Don Draper is fascinating to watch.

22. Narcos – Pablo Escobar's rise and fall kept me hooked.

23. Mindhunter – One of the best crime shows I’ve ever seen. Wish Netflix hadn’t canceled it.

24. Mr. Robot – Wildly smart and visually stunning.

25. Black Mirror – Creepy tech futures that feel uncomfortably close to reality.

26. Heartstopper – Sweet, heartfelt, and refreshingly honest.

27. Severance – Totally unique. Blew my mind with every twist.

28. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – The most ridiculous, chaotic humor out there.

29. The Boys – Superheroes, but brutal and very real.

30. Seinfeld – A classic for a reason. The everyday nothingness is genius.

📺 More Favorites (Spots 31–50)

31. Peep Show – Weird, hilarious, and painfully relatable.

32. The Last of Us – Beautifully adapted. One of the rare game-to-screen wins.

33. When They See Us – Gut-wrenching, powerful, unforgettable.

34. The Mandalorian – Star Wars done right. Baby Yoda forever.

35. Lost – Yes, it got messy. But the mystery and characters kept me hooked.

36. Line of Duty – Smart writing, constant twists, addictive.

37. Deadwood – Shakespeare in the Wild West.

38. Mare of Easttown – Gritty small-town drama done right. Kate Winslet is amazing.

39. Hannibal – Disturbing, beautiful, and totally unique.

40. The Bear – Stressful but so real. Kitchen chaos meets emotional storytelling.

41. Boardwalk Empire – Underrated period crime drama.

42. Atlanta – So smart and so strange. Donald Glover’s mind is brilliant.

43. Vikings – Brutal, epic, and visually stunning.

44. Twin Peaks – Still the weirdest and most iconic show I’ve seen.

45. The Shield – Dark, dirty cop drama that keeps escalating.

46. Happy Valley – Tense and emotional British drama with a strong female lead.

47. True Detective – Especially Season 1. Dark, moody, unforgettable.

48. The Haunting of Hill House – Scary and surprisingly emotional.

49. The Americans – So underrated. Cold War espionage with real emotional weight.

50. Justified – Cool characters, sharp writing, and good old cowboy justice.

🧠 Why I Love These Shows

These aren’t just popular shows—they’ve made a lasting impression on me. Some made me think, others made me cry, and a few just made me laugh out loud. If you’re looking for shows that leave a mark, this list is filled with gems worth your time.

✅ What Are Your Top Shows?

Did I miss any of your favorites? Let me know what you’d add to this list!