Famous Series To Watch Before You Die (Seriously)
- 01. These Famous Series Deserve Your Time Right Now
- 02. Top 10 Famous Series for Educational & Values-Based Viewing
- 03. Educational Impact Comparison Table
- 04. 3-Step Guide to Selecting Series for Educational Settings
- 05. Why Educational Series Matter for Marist Pedagogy
- 06. Next Steps for School Leaders
These Famous Series Deserve Your Time Right Now
The most famous series to watch right now include Breaking Bad (IMDb 9.5/10), Chernobyl (HBO miniseries, 10 Emmys), The Sopranos (IMDb 9.2/10), Sesame Street (4,500+ episodes since 1969), The Crown (Netflix historical drama), and Schitt's Creek (values-driven comedy). These shows combine critical acclaim, educational merit, and cultural impact-making them ideal for students, educators, and families seeking content aligned with holistic education principles.
Top 10 Famous Series for Educational & Values-Based Viewing
For school administrators, educators, and parents in Brazil and Latin America seeking Marist-aligned content, these series offer rigorous storytelling with spiritual, social, and intellectual depth.
- Breaking Bad (2008-2013, 5 seasons) - IMDb 9.5/10; explores moral decay, consequences of choices, and ethical decision-making
- Chernobyl (2019, 5 episodes) - Won 10 Emmys including Outstanding Limited Series; teaches truth, accountability, and scientific integrity
- The Sopranos (1999-2007, 6 seasons) - IMDb 9.2/10; 21 Primetime Emmys; examines family dynamics and moral complexity
- Sesame Street (1969-present, 4,500+ episodes) - Reaches 150+ countries; proven impact on school readiness for disadvantaged children
- The Crown (2016-2023, 6 seasons) - Netflix; extensive research library of 1,000+ books; explores leadership and historical responsibility
- Schitt's Creek (2015-2020, 6 seasons) - Emmy sweep; teaches compassion, community acceptance, and personal growth
- Babylon Berlin (2017-present, 4+ seasons) - Weimar Republic history; used in university courses for cultural-historical analysis
- Wednesday (2022-present, Netflix) - Affirms Latinidad and immigrant family allegory; explores belonging and identity
- The Last of Us (2023-present, HBO) - Examines parent-child relationships and resilience (TV-MA, adult audiences)
- Game of Thrones (2011-2019, 8 seasons) - 19.3M viewers finale; 12 Emmys for Season 8; explores power and leadership (controversial finale)
Educational Impact Comparison Table
| Series | Years | Key Educational Value | Rating/Awards | Marist Values Alignment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sesame Street | 1969-present | Literacy, numeracy, social skills, diversity | 4,500+ episodes; 150+ countries | High: Respect, inclusion, holistic development |
| Chernobyl | 2019 | Truth, scientific integrity, accountability | 10 Emmys including Limited Series | High: Truth, service to common good |
| Schitt's Creek | 2015-2020 | Compassion, community, authentic self | All 7 Comedy Emmys 2020 | High: Love, acceptance, joy |
| Babylon Berlin | 2017-present | Weimar history, pre-Nazi political conditions | Germany's most-w-viewed after GoT | Medium: Cultural-historical analysis |
| The Crown | 2016-2023 | Leadership, historical responsibility | 21 Emmys; 1,000-book research library | Medium: Duty, service (historical fiction) |
3-Step Guide to Selecting Series for Educational Settings
- Assess age appropriateness - Sesame Street for preschoolers (Proven school readiness impact); Chernobyl for high school/college (historical ethics); Breaking Bad for university-level moral philosophy
- Align with curricular goals - Babylon Berlin for Weimar Republic history courses; The Crown for modern European history; Wednesday for Latin American identity studies
- Evaluate values alignment - Prioritize series promoting compassion (Schitt's Creek), truth-seeking (Chernobyl), diversity (Sesame Street) over purely entertainment-focused content
Why Educational Series Matter for Marist Pedagogy
Marist education emphasizes hol formation-integrating intellectual rigor with spiritual and social mission. Series like Sesame Street demonstrate measurable educational impact: children with early access showed better elementary school performance and were more likely to start school on time. The show teaches respect, gender equality, and de-stigmatization-core to Marist community engagement principles.
Chernobyl's focus on "truth over government propaganda" resonates with Catholic education's emphasis on veritas (truth) and moral courage. Schitt's Creek's message of unconditional acceptance mirrors Marist commitment to accompanying every student regardless of background.
Next Steps for School Leaders
Integrate these series into curriculum innovation by creating optional viewing lists for parents, incorporating clips into ethics/history lessons, and hosting facilitated discussions on values alignment. Document measurable outcomes through student reflection essays and community engagement projects to strengthen your school's Marist pedagogy documentation for accreditation.
Expert answers to Famous Series To Watch Before You Die Seriously queries
Are these series appropriate for elementary students?
Sesame Street is explicitly designed for preschool/elementary (ages 3-8) with proven literacy and numeracy outcomes. Schitt's Creek is TV-PG and suitable for ages 10+ with family discussion. Chernobyl, Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and The Last of Us are TV-MA and appropriate only for adults or university-level study.
Which series best teaches Latin American cultural identity?
Wednesday explicitly affirms Latinidad and serves as an allegory for immigrant families, with showrunner Miles Millar and Al Gough drawing on Addams Family's outsider status. Plaza Sésamo (Sesame Street's Latin American version) has reached millions across Latin America with localized content on health, wellness, and social interaction.
Do these series have documented educational research?
Sesame Street has extensive peer-reviewed research: NBER working papers confirm improved school readiness, particularly for boys and economically disadvantaged children. Brookings Institution case studies document Sesame Workshop's impact across 150+ countries as the world's largest informal educator. Chernobyl's educational value is confirmed by university courses analyzing its "high informational and educational value".
Where can educators access these series legally?
Sesame Street streams on HBO Max and Paramount+; Schitt's Creek on Netflix; Chernobyl, The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, The Crown, and The Last of Us on HBO Max; Babylon Berlin on Netflix (with subtitles); Wednesday on Netflix. Institutional licenses available through educational streaming platforms.
How do these series align with Catholic educational values?
Series emphasizing truth (Chernobyl), compassion (Schitt's Creek), dignity (Sesame Street), and community (Wednesday) align with Catholic social teaching's focus on human dignity, solidarity, and the common good. The Vatican's 1995 "greatest hits" cinema list included films exploring moral complexity-similar to The Sopranos' examination of family and morality.
