From Philadelphia bar owners to Pawnee government officials, from New York ad men to Russian
spies, TV has only kept getting better over the past decade. It's hard to narrow down
the best offerings, but we stand by these as the best television shows airing during
the 2010s.
A show about five deadbeat lowlifes running a bar in South Philadelphia doesn't exactly
sound like a comedic goldmine right off the bat, but for better or for worse, It's Always
Sunny in Philadelphia has defied all the odds for years. After it got off to a relatively
inconspicuous and super-cheap start in 2005, the show continued through the entire following
decade, truly becoming a comedy staple of the 2010s. When it was renewed for its 14th
season, it officially tied with The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet as the longest-running
live action sitcom of all time, which might be the only way those two shows can be compared
to each other.
"Take a look at yourself: you can't do backflips, you don't know karate, you're white trash!"
"You're white trash, too, dude, look at those shorts are white trash!
"Do not call the shorts white trash!"
So how exactly has Sunny stayed so fresh over nearly 15 years? Thanks to brilliant scripts
by co-creators Rob McElhenney, Glenn Howerton, and Charlie Day, who also play Mac, Dennis,
and Charlie, respectively, this totally bizarre sitcom has kept things new and exciting even
as it enters the 2020s. From its innovative approach to current issues to insane board
games, ill-advised child beauty pageants, the best plane trip of all time, "The Gang"
always keeps things interesting, and the series even manages to hit its emotional beats without
seeming inauthentic. At the end of the show's 13th season, Mac came out to his father in
a gorgeously choreographed dance, proving that Always Sunny will always be relevant,
no matter how long it's on the air.
As the spiritual successor to The Office, NBC's other workplace mockumentary Parks and
Recreation had huge shoes to fill. Ultimately, it succeeded by creating an entirely different
show and relying on pure positivity rather than cringe humor. The story of a small government
department in Pawnee, Indiana, led by the intrepid and overly intense Leslie Knope in
an arguably career-defining role from Amy Poehler, Parks & Rec taught audiences that
they could achieve anything they wanted, even if your life takes some unexpected turns.
With a supporting cast rounded out by future stars like Chris Pratt, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey
Plaza, and Adam Scott, alongside established stars like Rob Lowe and Rashida Jones, the
show always survived on sheer optimism, even as it repeatedly faced cancellation.
Throughout its run, Parks & Rec remained one of the most cheerful and sunny shows on television,
letting its characters fail, learn, succeed, and grow in realistic ways that rewarded its
fans as well as its talented cast. From its many standout moments to its pitch-perfect
finale, it's a show that earned its place in television history without having to stand
in the shadow of The Office at all.
Zombies were all the rage during the 2000s, and in 2010, AMC took advantage of the trend
with the series premiere of The Walking Dead. Based on a comic book series written by Robert
Kirkman, the show opens on Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln in a role about as far from
Love Actually as he could get, as he wakes up from a coma only to discover that the world
has fallen into ruin. After wandering through a desolate Atlanta, he eventually finds other
survivors and must join forces with them to fight against hordes of the undead.
Throughout ten seasons, The Walking Dead has gifted audiences with unforgettable heroes
like Rick, Michonne, and Glenn. It's also given us formidable villains like Negan, played
with sadistic glee by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Together, they paint a bleak, and yet somehow
optimistic portrait of humanity as they face down the most terrifying threat possible.
Thanks to creative storytelling and impeccable action, The Walking Dead has earned a place
as one of the most unforgettable shows of the 2010s, and it seems poised to continue
for years to come.
Ever since The Silence of the Lambs swept the Academy Awards in 1992, audiences have
been fascinated with author Thomas Harris' elegant cannibal, Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Showrunner
Bryan Fuller capitalized on the fictional serial killer with his critically adored series
Hannibal, which ran for three seasons between 2013 and 2015. With Mads Mikkelsen as the
title killer and Hugh Dancy as an FBI investigator Will Graham who finds himself caught up in
Hannibal's tangled web of mind games and dark indulgences, the show was adored by its fans.
"How does one politely refuse a dish in circumstances such as these?"
"One doesn't."
Thanks to Fuller's trademark visual flourishes and creative storytelling, Hannibal made its
mark on television as a whole. Despite the fact that it was canceled by NBC due to low
ratings, it's still regarded as one of the best shows of the modern era. Its legion of
"Fannibals" still pine for more, even though the series finale brought the complex relationship
between its protagonists to a perfect crescendo.
Spy thrillers have always been popular, and in 2013, FX struck gold with The Americans.
This Cold War thriller focused on two Russian spies, Elizabeth and Philip Jennings, played
by Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, masquerading as everyday Americans during one of the most
fraught and tense periods in American history. Aside from hiding their true identities from
their friends and neighbors, they must also keep their terrible secret from their children,
who were born as American citizens. It doesn't help that their neighbor and good friend Stan
Beeman happens to be an FBI agent.
Throughout six gripping seasons, The Americans perfectly encapsulated the turmoil of the
Cold War while telling the personal story of the Jennings, their undercover colleagues,
and their friends.
"She's trained for this. So am I."
"We'll die before we'll talk."
"And we know how to do that."
The show features powerhouse performances by Russell and Rhys, whose onscreen chemistry
led to the two of them striking up a romance on set and having a child together in 2016.
It also boasts incisive writing and direction, especially in its final season, landing it
firmly on the list of the best shows of the 2010s.
In the opening moments of The Good Place, the audience meets Eleanor Shellstrop, played
by Kristen Bell. She has just been given some good news and some bad news by Michael, played
by Ted Danson: she recently died, but on the upside, she made it into the afterlife called
"The Good Place." As she spends more time in paradise, Eleanor starts to realize that
something just isn't right, and eventually, she confesses to her "soulmate" Chidi that
there's been some sort of mistake, and she actually doesn't belong here.
"I'm not supposed to be here."
"Wait, what?"
That's just the first twist of The Good Place's debut season, and anyone who sits down and
watches this innovative show will be rewarded through every unbelievable twist and turn
it takes. Alongside TV veterans like Bell and Danson, the cast is mostly made up of
fresh faces. including William Jackson Harper costars as the critically indecisive Chidi.
Manny Jacinto, plays "Florida dirtbag" Jason, who himself sometimes masquerades as a silent
Buddhist monk. In her breakout role, D'arcy Carden plays Janet, and all-knowing sort of
human Alexa device, and British television presenter Jameela Jamil, plays the oblivious,
name-dropping socialite Tahani. Though it might feel like you're in the Bad Place when
you hear that The Good Place is calling it quits with the end of its fourth season in
2020, Schur and his team certainly know what they're doing. With sharp writing and what
seems like a new twist every episode, they've gifted audiences with one of the most inventive
sitcoms in recent memory.
One of the defining dramatic shows of the entire 21st century thus far has been AMC's
Mad Men, which starred Jon Hamm as the enigmatic and mysterious Don Draper, a suave, smooth-talking
New York City ad man with secrets to hide. Led by a showrunner who was a veteran of The
Sopranos, the rest of Mad Men's cast was rounded out by talented performers like Elisabeth
Moss, January Jones, John Slattery, Christina Hendricks, and more. The end result was a
group of extraordinary actors playing characters who were each given their own complex emotional
journeys.
Ultimately, the series covered all of the 1960s, recreating moments like the moon landing,
the assassination of JFK, and more, all set against Don Draper's extraordinarily turbulent
life. By the end of the show, Don's life is in tatters. After betraying his second wife
Megan, he finds himself alone in California and seemingly contemplating ending it all,
but just as the series ends, he takes a turn thanks to a tranquil seaside resort. In the
story's final moments, we see Don sitting alone on a cliffside, meditating quietly,
and then breaking into a mysterious smile...followed by one of Coca-Cola's most famous real-world
ads, insinuating that Don himself came up with it. Finding capitalist inspiration during
meditation would be a classic Don move, and though the ending is largely ambiguous, it's
a perfect finish for Mad Men's overall journey, cementing it as a classic of the decade.
When it premiered in 2011, Game of Thrones probably seemed like an unlikely success for
HBO. An adaptation of George R.R. Martin's sprawling fantasy series A Song of Ice and
Fire, the show, named after the first book in the series, stuck faithfully to Martin's
narrative. Set in the fictional region of Westeros, Thrones spent most of the decade
telling the story of its most powerful players, all of whom spend the entire series fighting
for the Iron Throne. From the Dragon Queen, Daenerys Targaryen to the power-hungry Cersei
Lannister to the conflicted but noble Jon Snow, the Iron Throne was up for grabs to
any number of qualified candidates, and for years, diehard fans tuned in to see who would
win the game in the end.
"When people ask you what happened here, tell them the north remembers."
As it turned out, Game of Thrones ended not with a bang, but with a whimper. Thanks to
a poorly plotted final season and an unsatisfying inheritor of the throne, fans flocked to the
internet to express their extreme displeasure. Still, a disappointing final season doesn't
undo Thrones' legacy. As one of the last great examples of a show that everyone had to make
time for each week, Thrones changed TV for the better, and it remains one of the most
impressive accomplishments on television in recent memory.
There have been plenty of political television shows throughout the years, but few of them
have been as cruel, incisive, and hilarious as Veep. The series was led by Julia Louis-Dreyfus
as the titular Vice President, Selina Meyer, whose political dreams were crushed at the
beginning of the series as she was relegated to the second-place spot alongside an unseen
president. Through it all, Veep never shied away from showing the dark underbelly of Washington
D.C., from underhanded deals to vicious insults to destructive policies.
"They're calling you the 'No B.S. V.P.'."
"Damn right they are! I mean, I lied and everything, but it sounded true, at least."
Selina is aided and abetted by her equally corrupt team, including "bag man" and eternally
loyal right hand man Gary, Chief of Staff Amy, communications expert Dan, speechwriter
Mike, and arrogant White House liaison Jonah. Unfortunately, they can't stop her constant
gaffes, as she makes political fumbles over and over again. Despite the odds, she ends
up serving as president of the United States multiple times. Thanks to a tour-de-force
performance by Louis-Dreyfus, some of the sharpest writing on television, and a pitch-perfect
supporting cast, Veep hit all the right notes, even while it made you concerned about the
state of American politics.
Animated series for adults filled the airwaves during the first two decades of the 21st century,
and though there are plenty of excellent examples, a standout series was Netflix's BoJack Horseman,
created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg. Set in a surreal world populated with normal humans
as well as anthropomorphic talking animals who act exactly like humans, the show followed
its title character, voiced by Will Arnett. Bojack is a washed-up sitcom star who is constantly
trying to regain celebrity, having starred in the once-popular series Horsin' Around.
As he plans his return to the public eye, BoJack works with Diane Nguyen, played by
Community and GLOW star Alison Brie, a ghostwriter he hires to help write his autobiography.
Through it all, he haggles with his cat agent Princess Carolyn and butts heads with his
sitcom nemesis, Mr. Peanutbutter.
"I have nothing to show for the life that I've lived, and I have nobody in my life who's
better off for having known me."
"That isn't true."
"Isn't it though?"
Despite the seemingly ridiculous premise, Bob-Waksburg and his impeccable voice cast
use their platform to address issues like clinical depression and marital strife, proving
that there's so much more to BoJack Horseman than initially meets the eye.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge's one-woman show turned television sensation Fleabag only ran for
two seasons, but it made an undeniably explosive impact during that short amount of time. The
first season of this bleak half-hour comedy stars Waller-Bridge herself as "Fleabag,"
a single, depressed, and uninhibited London woman with little direction in her life. The
main character struggles with her best friend's untimely death while she tries to maintain
relationships with her difficult family and series of boyfriends. Throughout the show,
she constantly breaks the fourth wall, treating the viewer like a best friend from whom she
hides absolutely nothing. Waller-Bridge was originally reluctant about a second season,
but audiences are lucky she went for it; in 2019, the showrunner released a thoughtful,
emotional, and beautifully crafted second season, in which Fleabag forms a confusing
relationship with a priest, played by Andrew Scott.
"This is a love story."
Between its engaging storytelling, its talented roster of series regulars and guest stars,
which includes everyone from Olivia Colman to Kristin Scott Thomas, and Waller-Bridge's
beautifully unique voice, Fleabag is one of the best-reviewed shows to hit the airwaves
in years. At the 2019 Emmys, it dominated the conversation, even taking the top prize
from the final season of Veep. Waller-Bridge says she's definitely done with the character
now, and while that might be disappointing for some fans, it also means that Fleabag
can remain impeccable, unchanged, and endlessly rewatchable.
Ever since his time on Community, Donald Glover has been a talent to watch. He proved himself
on the small screen once again in 2016 with FX's Atlanta, in which he stars as well as
writes, directs, and produces. Glover plays Earn, who's trying to make his way in Atlanta
when he realizes that his talented cousin Alfred, who raps as "Paper Boi," might have
what it takes to make it. If Paper Boi can make it with Earn's help, then Earn might
be able to reunite with his daughter and estranged girlfriend.
Over just two seasons, Atlanta has become one of the most talked-about shows of the
decade, earning universal praise for Glover's performance and behind-the-scenes work. In
the show's second season, subtitled "Robbin' Season," Glover took even more risks, and
they've paid off handsomely with things like the creepy, riveting, and unforgettable "Teddy
Perkins" episode.
"You're actually the first person to be in here. Feel free to Twitter or Blogspot any
of it."
"Uhhh you know what? Actually, I'm kind of in a rush."
Glover even became the first African American artist to win an Emmy for directing a comedy
series, so as long as Glover wants to stay in Atlanta, fans and critics alike will definitely
tune in, and anyone who's watched the show just can't wait to see what he does next.
Netflix has produced plenty of hugely successful original shows, but few have been as heavily
discussed and stirred up as much excitement as Stranger Things, a show from the Duffer
Brothers that first hit the streaming service in 2016. Set in the seemingly sleepy town
of Hawkins, Indiana, Stranger Things introduced viewers to the frightening dimension of "the
Upside Down" and monsters like the Demogorgon. Its story began with the sudden disappearance
of young Will Byers and the efforts by his friends and family to find him. As they delve
deeper into the unexpected and sinister world that lies beneath Hawkins, Will's friend Mike
befriends a mysterious girl who goes by Eleven, and who turns out to have surprising special
powers.
Stranger Things has earned praise and adoration for its clever plotting, hearty sense of humor,
and outstanding young cast, all of whom have skyrocketed to fame since the show debuted.
Alongside this new generation of actors, veterans like Winona Ryder, Sean Astin, and David Harbour
deliver excellent performances as well, making sure that the adults of Stranger Things are
just as compelling as the kids. After dominating the second half of the decade, Stranger Things
shows no signs of slowing down, especially after a cliffhanger capped off its third season
in 2019.
There are too few shows that chronicle the pure joys of female friendship, but in 2014,
creators and showrunners Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer gifted the world with Broad City.
This laugh-out-loud comedy is an unflinching exploration of the highs and lows of the particularly
intense relationship between its stars' fictional counterparts, also named Abbi and Ilana. The
two comedians met while studying at New York City's Upright Citizens Brigade, and after
they produced Broad City as a web series, UCB founder Amy Poehler took notice. Before
long, the comedy star was serving as executive producer alongside Jacobson and Glazer when
the series moved to Comedy Central to begin its official run.
From romantic mishaps to counterfeit bags to outlandish outfits, Broad City covered
every possible part of Abbi and Ilana's lives, relationships, and enduring friendship, leaving
no stone unturned, no matter how grotesque. Broad City always pushed the limits, but it
also provided honest, emotional moments, giving it a dynamic unlike any other show that aired
in the past ten years.
Adapting a beloved classic film into a television show can definitely be a tricky endeavor and
lead to middling results, but thanks to excellent scripts and a revolving door of talented actors,
showrunner Noah Hawley succeeded with 2014's Fargo. The show is adapted from the award-winning
1996 Coen Brothers film of the same name, and the Academy Award-winning duo also lent
their names to the project as executive producers, giving it even more prestige.
An anthology series that airs on FX, Fargo features a different cast and focuses on a
different story for each season, but it cleverly includes some overlap between the stories
to make sure each one is connected. Of course, every season features plenty of sly Coen references
for their diehard fans. With a cadre of incredible actors like Ewan McGregor, Jean Smart, Billy
Bob Thornton, Martin Freeman, and more, audiences will definitely remain riveted by Fargo for
however long Hawley keeps the show going.
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