Best Series of the Last Decade That Redefined Television Format

Breaking Bad stands as a masterpiece of television storytelling, distinguished by its profound exploration of morality and character transformation. Its intricate script and innovative cinematography raised the bar for serialized narrative, showcasing the medium's potential for complex and mature storytelling.

• Charismatic protagonist

• Powerful

• The ending is insane

Girls stood out for its raw and realistic portrayal of young adult women's lives in New York City, tackling complex themes with humor and vulnerability. Its focus on flawed characters and everyday storylines challenged narrative conventions, offering a fresh and authentic perspective that resonated with a new generation of viewers.

• Realism, smart quips, critique and relatability

• Highlighted controversial topics

• Depicted failure and insecurities

• Groundbreaking series with personal, political and cultural impact

Mr. Robot revolutionized television narrative by exploring its protagonist's psychology in innovative ways, employing bold visual and sonic techniques to immerse the viewer in his complex reality. Its focus on hacking and social commentary, presented through a stylized and often disorienting lens, challenged the conventions of suspense and drama series.

• Excellent cinematography

• Great acting

• Good music

• Timely social commentary on capitalism

The Crown redefines the television format by presenting a meticulously researched and visually stunning historical narrative, elevating the production of historical dramas to an unprecedented cinematic level. Its focus on the psychological depth of characters and the evolution of the monarchy over decades sets a new standard for prestige television series.

• Won numerous awards

• Accurately portrays historical events

• Explores the hidden complexities of the British royal family

• Narrates the lives of the royal family within the context of global events

The Handmaid's Tale stands out for its bold exploration of dystopian themes and its impactful visual storytelling, which has raised expectations for the depth and scope of television series. Its ability to generate global conversation and its influence on television aesthetics solidify it as a work that redefined the format.

• Mirror of the dynamics of control, victimization, and abuse in contemporary society

• Social critique that continues

Black Mirror stands out in this ranking for its anthology format, where each episode is a standalone story with its own cast and narrative. This structure innovatively explored themes of dystopian science fiction and technology, challenging the linearity and continuity of traditional series.

• Turns our digital routines into plausible nightmares

• Combines wit, irony, and science fiction

• Mind-bending anthology series

• Reveals humanity's worst traits and greatest innovations

Fargo stands out for its innovative anthology structure, where each season presents a self-contained story with a different cast, yet maintains a thematic and stylistic cohesion that redefines serialized storytelling. Its ability to blend dark humor, raw violence, and deeply human characters into a complex narrative tapestry positions it as a series that expanded the boundaries of what television could achieve.

• Features intricate characters

• Offers a unique story each season

• Filled with humor and warmth

• A quietly profound morality tale

Game of Thrones revolutionized television storytelling with its epic scale, moral complexity, and shocking plot twists. Its cinematic production and ability to challenge genre conventions demonstrated the limitless potential of television.

• Broad, active, and international fanbase

• Strong ratings on IMDB and Rotten Tomatoes

• Pop culture phenomenon

• Experienced monumental season-over-season growth

True Detective stands out for its cinematic approach and ambitious narratives that raised the bar for television. Its anthology structure, with self-contained seasons and rotating casts, demonstrated a versatility that challenged the conventions of serialized shows.

• Follows pairs of tormented detectives

• Explores new cases each season

• New characters and locations each season

The Leftovers revolutionized television by tackling complex existential themes with unprecedented emotional depth. Its non-linear narrative and focus on mystery and faith challenged conventions, inviting audiences into a more introspective and reflective viewing experience.

• Takes radical chances with tone and formula

• Focuses on how people live with unanswered questions

• Enough style and substance to hook us in

• Broke HBO's longstanding production rules and reshaped prestige television