Most influential TV series in history

Game of Thrones made history by proving that TV could offer the same scale, scope, and budget of blockbuster movies, elevating television's status as a defining form of visual entertainment. It revived dark fantasy in mainstream consciousness and had a lasting impact on budgets, expectations, and global viewing habits.

This iconic sitcom transformed TV production by pioneering the three-camera setup filmed in front of a live audience, which became a standard for decades. It also broke ground by featuring a pregnant woman on screen and establishing successful off-network syndication.

The Twilight Zone reimagined storytelling for TV audiences through a blend of fiction, fantasy, and morality, using sci-fi and horror as social commentary. Each standalone episode explored imaginative scenarios that challenged viewers and made them think differently about the world and human behavior.

Star Trek was instrumental in paving the way for a world where people of various races could feature in prominent and important roles, including the first interracial kiss on television. It presented a hopeful vision of the future, explored the unknown, and inspired underrepresented groups.

Developed by Norman Lear, this sitcom broke barriers by directly addressing controversial social and political issues like racism, sexism, and homophobia through its characters' often-heated discussions, influencing many sitcoms that followed.

This miniseries depicted the horrors of slavery and the oppression African Americans faced, becoming the most successful series in television history at that point. It stoked a renewed interest in African American history and inspired many to broaden their understanding of slavery's atrocities.

The Sopranos pioneered the sensation of the television antihero, exploring complex and morally ambiguous characters in depth. It shattered the narrative mold, reinventing the art of TV storytelling and inspiring an explosion of ambitious dramas on cable.

While not the first reality TV show, Survivor is widely considered the reality competition show that completely changed the face of television, popularizing the genre and influencing countless subsequent reality competition series.

The Wire put crime into context by presenting a gritty, realistic, and complex look at urban life, institutions, and the drug trade, with multi-layered storytelling and morally complex characters that influenced subsequent crime dramas.

Lost was a groundbreaking show that took small-screen content to a new level, demonstrating that complex, serialized storylines could be told effectively in an episodic format and captivating audiences with its mysteries and mythology.

Breaking Bad popularized the antihero character type in a way not seen before, with its protagonist Walter White's transformation from a high school chemistry teacher to a drug lord. It is lauded for its tightly written story arcs and compelling, morally ambiguous characters.

Squid Game proved that non-English language shows could achieve massive global success, breaking cultural barriers and becoming a worldwide phenomenon on streaming platforms.