Planning

Page initially created: 2025-03-02.

Trying to figure out some TV shows to stream, I came up with lists like these (* count how many times mentioned after 1):

• BBC: The 100 greatest TV series of the 21st Century [2021]; also Twenty-five TV series that define the 21st century
• Collider: The 10 Best TV Shows of the Last 25 Years, Ranked [2025]
• Rotten Tomatoes: Fall 2017 TV Survey: 40 Best TV Shows of the Past 20 Years [2017]
• Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the 50 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century (So Far) [2023]
• Screen Rant: 21 Best TV Shows of the Past 20 Years [2023]
• The Best TV Crime Shows of the 21st Century, Ranked
• Guardian: The 100 best TV shows of the 21st century [2025]
• Yardbarker: The 20 best TV shows of the 21st century, so far

Breaking out the shows mentioned. These are ones I've seen much or all of:

• American Crime Story (2016-2021): Anthology series, have seen three seasons, different stories rather arbitrarily picked, but each good in its own way. [B+]
• The Americans (2013-2018): Picked up in 2nd or 3rd season. [A-] (*)
• Babylon Berlin [D] (2017-): Seen all, so far. [B+]
• Battlestar Galactica (2003-2009): Seen all. [A-] (**)
• The Bear (2022-2024): Have seen three seasons. [A-]
• Better Call Saul (2015-2022): Seen all. Slightly more tolerable than "Breaking Bad." [B] (*)
• Big Little Lies (2017-2019): Saw first season, one episode of second. [B]
• Bojack Horseman (2014-2020): Binged later. [A-] (*)
• Borgen [Denmark] (2010-2013): I've seen this political drama, but haven't seen its sequel yet. [B+]
• Breaking Bad: Seen most, but was repulsed first season and intensely loathed what little I saw of second season. Hate-watched the last few seasons. [B-] (****)
• The Bridge (2011-2018): Which version? [B+]
• Broadchurch [UK] (2013-2017): David Tennant, Olivia Colman. Seen all (also US remake). [B+]
• The Bureau [FR} (2015-): Seen several seasons. Not sure if we're up to date. [B+]
• Chernobyl (2019): Seen all. [A-] (*)
• The Crown (2016-2023): Seen all. The monarchy is ridiculous, but the history holds some interest, even from such a twisted vantage point. [B+] (*)
• Deadwood (2004-2006) seen all, really great. [A+] (**)
• The Deuce: seen all. [A-]
• Dexter (2006-2013): L watched; I caught last couple seasons. [B+] (*)
• Downton Abbey (2010-2015): Seen all, plus two movies. [A-] (*)
• The Fall [UK] (2013-2016): Gillian Anderson. [B+]
• Fargo (2014-): Seasons vary, each with own story, but seen all, and most are this good. [A]
• Fleabag (2016-2019): Seen all. [B+] (*)
• Game of Thrones (2011-2019): Seen all. [B+] (***)
• Girls (2012-2017): Seen all (L dropped out after 2-3 seasons). [B+] (*)
• The Good Fight (2017-): Seen first season, but lost track after that. [B+]
• The Good Wife (2009-2016): Seen most, but not first couple years. [B+] (*)
• Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017): Binged all later. [A-] (*)
• The Handmaid's Tale: Saw first season. L didn't want to watch any more. [B]
• Hannibal (2013-2015): Mads Mikkelsen. Saw this. [B}
• Happy Valley [UK] (2014-): Seen all to date. [A-]
• Homeland (2011-2020): seen all (I think). [B+]
• The Honourable Woman (2014): Maggie Gyllenhaal. [B+]
• House of Cards [UK] (1990): Seen 4-episode series. [B+] (-)
• House of Cards [US] (2013-2018): Seen most, but probably not first or last seasons. [B]
• House of the Dragon (2022): Have seen all so far. Less story than Game of Thrones; more dragons. [B]
• Justified (2010-2015): Seen all, plus sequel series. [A]
• Killing Eve (2018-): Jodie Comer, Sandra Oh. Seen this. [B+]
• The Leftovers (2014-2017): Picked up in second season. [B+]
• Line of Duty [UK] (2012-2021): Adrian Dunbar, investigates corrupt cops, some in his own department. Probably seen all. [B+]
• Luther [UK] (2010-2019): Idris Elba. [B+]
• Mad Men (2007-2015): Seen all. [A-] (****)
• Mare of Easttown (2021): Seen all. [B+]
• NCIS: Seen later years, continuing to watch post-Gibbs, but goes back way before I started watching. [B+]
• The Night Of (2016): Riz Ahmed. [A-]
• Orange Is the New Black (2013-2019): Seen all. [A-] (**)
• Parks and Recreation (2009-2015): Missed first few seasons. [A-] (*)
• Patrick Melrose (2018): Benedict Cumberbatch. [B]
• Peaky Blinders (): Seen all. [A-]
• Rectify (2013-2016): Seen all. Slow but resonates. [A-]
• Reservation Dogs (2021-2023): Binged later. [A-]
• Sharp Objects (2018): Amy Adams. [B+]
• Sherlock [UK] (2010-2017): Benedict Cumberbatch. [B+]
• The Shield (2002-2008): Michael Chiklis. L watched in time; I binged later. [B+] (*)
• Show Me a Hero (2015): David Simon, about public housing in Yonkers. Saw this. [B]
• Silicon Valley (2014-): Mike Judge. Saw all of this. [B+]
• The Simpsons: Seen many episodes, mostly from scattered reruns, but probably no more than half, maybe less. [A-]
• Small Axe [UK] (2020): Saw 2 or 3 (of 5) episodes. [B+]
• The Sopranos (1999-2007) Turned off. Picked up around 3rd season, after Livia (who reminded me of my grandmother) passed, and watched to end. Watched the first seasons later. [B+]
• Succession (2018-2023): Seen all. No sympathetic characters whatsoever. [B+] (****)
• Ted Lasso (): Seen all. [A-]
• Top of the Lake (2013): Elizabeth Moss. [B+]
• Treme (2010-2013): Seen all. [B+]
• True Detective (2014-2019): Seasons vary. Have seen four. [B]
• 24 (2001-2010) Kiefer Sutherland. Watched from 3rd or 4th season on. Started because I got curious how the cultural side of the War on Terror was shaping up. [B+]
• Veep (2012-2019): Seen all. Politics is deliberately fuzzy, but almost beside the point. [A-] (*)
• A Very English Scandal (2018): Hugh Grant. [B+]
• Watchmen (2019): No-L. [B+]
• Westworld (2016-2022): I think I've seen 3 seasons, but not the 4th, as the show became increasingly incoherent. [B-]
• The White Lotus (): Have seen two seasons, but not (yet) new one. [B+]
• The Wire (2002-2008) Refused to watch when it came out, but binged many years later. [A-] (***)
• Wolf Hall (2015): Hilary Mantel book on Thomas Cromwell, played by Mark Rylance. [A-]

These are ones I've seen little or none of:

• Atlanta (2016-2022): Watched first couple episodes. (*)
• Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013-2018): I've read several of his books, and seen a couple episodes of his shows, but not sure I've seen any of this.
• Arrested Development (2003-2019): (**)
• Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-08): (*)
• Band of Brothers (2001): Steven Spielberg. (*)
• The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019) (*)
• Beef (2023): Seen first episode. Didn't care for it.
• Better Things (2016-2022)
• Big Brother (2000-2018)
• Black Books (2000-2004)
• Black Mirror (2011-)
• Blue Planet (2001/2017): David Attenborough.
• Bluey ()
• Brass Eye: Paedogeddon (2001)
• The Bridge [Denmark-Sweden] (2011-2018): The original, followed by US and UK-FR versions.
• Broad City (2014-2019} (*)
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
• Call My Agent [FR] (2015-2020): L watched; I've seen some.
• Catastrophe (2015-2019)
• The Comeback (2005-2014)
• Community (2009-2015): Watched one episode.
• Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2018): (*)
• Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-): I've seen one or two episodes. Didn't like them.
• The Daily Show (1996-): Seen some, but mostly in the later Jon Stewart years (1999-2015).
• Dark (2017-2020)
• Detectorists (2014-2017)
• Doctor Who: May have seen a couple episodes.
• Enlightened (2011-2013): Watched first episode or two. (*)
• ER:
• The Expanse (?)
• Flight of the Conchords (2007-2009)
• Frasier:
• Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000): Judd Apatow.
• Fresh Meat (2011-16)
• Friday Night Lights (2006-2011): (**)
• Friends: Seen scattered episodes, mostly in reruns.
• Garth Marenghi's Darkplace (2004)
• Gavin and Stacey (2007-2010): James Carden
• Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
• Gogglebox (2013-)
• The Good Place (2016-2020): L watched; I've seen a bit.
• The Great British Bake Off (2010-)
• Grey's Anatomy (2005-)
• The Haunting of Hill House ()
• Insecure (2016-2021)
• Inside No 9 (2014-)
• House (2004-2012)
• How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
• How To With John Wilson (2020-2023)
• I'm a Celebrity . . . Get Me Out of Here! (2002-)
• I May Destroy You (2020) (*)
• The Inbetweeners (2008-2010)
• Insecure (2016-2021)
• It's a Sin ()
• It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-): Seen one episode. (*)
• Jane the Virgin (2014-2019)
• Jett (2019)
• The Jinx (2015)
• The L Word (2004-2009)
• The Last of Us ()
• The Killing [Denmark: Forbrydelsen] (2007-2012): L watched; I've only seen the US version.
• The Landscapers (2021)
• Law & Order: Seen a few episodes. Developed an intense dislike for.
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999-)
• Life on Mars (2006-2007)
• Looking (2014-2016)
• Lost (2004-2010): (***)
• Louie (2010-2019): Saw one episode.
• The Mandalorian ()
• The Mighty Boosh (2004-2007)
• Mindhunter (2017-2019): Seen first season, not second.
• Modern Family: Seen first episode, maybe a dozen more over time, occasionally catching glimpses of reruns.
• Money Heist (2017-2021)
• Narcos (2015-2017)
• Nathan Barley (2005)
• Nathan for You (2013-2017)
• Nighty Night (2004-2005)
• Normal People (2020)
• NYPD Blue: Seen some scattered episodes, long time ago.
• The OA
• The OC
• The Office [UK] (2001-2003)
• The Office (2005-2013): American adaptation. L watched, I've seen a few bits.
• OJ: Made in America ( 2016): Saw first couple episodes.
• Peep Show [UK] (2003-2015): (**)
• Planet Earth (2006, 2016)
• Pose (2018-2021)
• The Power of Nightmares (2004): Documentary.
• Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)
• The Queen's Gambit (2020)
• Red Riding Trilogy (2009)
• Review (2014-2017)
• Rick and Morty (2013-)
• RuPaui's Drag Race (2009-) (*)
• Save Me (2018-2020)
• Scandal: Seen one or two episodes.
• Seinfeld: Seen a couple episodes, including the famous finale.
• Sex and the City (1998-2004): Seen a few episodes, plus movie. (*)
• The Shadow Line (2011)
• Shameless (2004-2013)
• Shitt's Creek (2015-2020): Seen a few episodes.
• The Sinner (2017-2021)
• Six Feet Under (2001-2005): L watched this. I've seen a couple scattererd episodes. (**)
• Skins (2007-2013)
• Snabba Cash (2021-)
• Sons of Anarchy (?)
• South Park (1997-): Seen scattered episodes, probably a couple dozen but I think there are many more.
• South Side (2019-2022)
• Spaced (1999-2001)
• Spiral [France] (2005-)
• State of Play (2003)
• Station Eleven (2021)
• Steven Universe (2013-2020)
• Stranger Things (2016-)
• Strictly Come Dancing (2004-)
• Supernatural:
• Survivor (2000-present)
• Terriers (2010)
• The Thick of It [UK] (2005-2012): "Armando Iannucci's caustic UK satire," sounds like a dry run for his US-focused Veep. Looks like we may have watched a bit.
• 30 for 30 (2009-present): Documentary series, should be broken out. I've seen some of O.J.: Made in America, but probably not all, and don't recognize anything else.
• 30 Rock (2006-2013): Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin. Seen some. (*)
• This Is England 86, 88 and 90 [UK?] (2010-2015)
• Transparent (2014-2019)
• The Trip (2010-)
• Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) (**)
• Unbelievable (2019)
• The Underground Railroad (2021)
• Utopia (2013-2014) (*)
• Veronica Mars (2004-2007,2019)
• Vida (2018-2020)
• The Vietnam War (2017): Ken Burns documentary.
• The Walking Dead:
• We Own This City (2022): David Simon. Seems like we watched one episode.
• The West Wing (1999-2006): L watched; I saw occasional episodes, and usually reacted very negatively.
• The Young Pope (2016): L watched. I saw one or two episodes.
• The X-Files: Never watched, but did see a "revival" episode.