The Best Television Series Of All Time Reconsidered
- 01. The Best Television Series of All Time: Definitive Ranking You Need to Know
- 02. Top 5 Greatest TV Series Based on Critical Consensus
- 03. Comprehensive Rankings Table: Best TV Series of All Time
- 04. Why Breaking Bad Holds the Top Position
- 05. The Sopranos: The Show That Changed Television Forever
- 06. The Wire: Most Accurate Portrayal of American Institutions
- 07. Essential Viewing: Top 10 Episodes to Watch First
- 08. Notable Mentions Beyond the Top 5
- 09. Streaming Availability for Top Series
The Best Television Series of All Time: Definitive Ranking You Need to Know
The best television series of all time is Breaking Bad, which holds the #1 position on Rotten Tomatoes' critics list of the best TV shows of the past 25 years with a 96% Tomatometer score. This AMC crime drama premiered January 20, 2008, and concluded September 29, 2013, after five seasons and 62 episodes, earning 16 Primetime Emmy Awards and widespread critical acclaim for its writing, performances, and character development.
Top 5 Greatest TV Series Based on Critical Consensus
Following Breaking Bad, the top-ranked series according to major critic surveys include The Sopranos, The Wire, Mad Men, and Succession. These five shows represent what critics call the gold standard of television dramas from the past 25 years.
- Breaking Bad (2008-2013) - 96% Tomatometer, 16 Emmys, IMDb rating 9.5
- The Sopranos (1999-2007) - 92% Tomatometer, 21 Emmys, premiered January 10, 1999
- The Wire (2002-2008) - 94% Tomatometer, created by David Simon, premiered June 2, 2002
- Mad Men (2007-2015) - critically acclaimed throughout run, premiered 2007, finale drew 3.3 million viewers
- Succession (2018-2023) - ranked #5 on Rotten Tomatoes list, multiple Emmy winner
Comprehensive Rankings Table: Best TV Series of All Time
| Rank | Show Title | Years | Network | Tomatometer | Key Awards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breaking Bad | 2008-2013 | AMC | 96% | 16 Emmys, 2 Peabody |
| 2 | The Sopranos | 1999-2007 | HBO | 92% | 21 Emmys, 2 Peabody |
| 3 | The Wire | 2002-2008 | HBO | 94% | Peabody, multiple Emmys |
| 4 | Mad Men | 2007-2015 | AMC | 93% | 16 Emmys, 4 Golden Globes |
| 5 | Succession | 2018-2023 | HBO | 91% | 19 Emmys, 4 Golden Globes |
| 6 | The Leftovers | 2014-2017 | HBO | 89% | Critics' Choice nominations |
| 7 | Game of Thrones | 2011-2019 | HBO | 88% | 59 Emmys |
| 8 | Twin Peaks: The Return | 2017 | Showtime | 94% | Critics' Choice Award |
| 9 | Lost | 2004-2010 | ABC | 86% | Peabody, 1 Emmy |
| 10 | Six Feet Under | 2001-2005 | HBO | 90% | 14 Emmys, 2 Golden Globes |
Why Breaking Bad Holds the Top Position
Breaking Bad's status as the greatest television series stems from its transformative character arc of Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with terminal cancer who turns to making methamphetamine. Bryan Cranston won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor four times, while Aaron Paul won three times for Supporting Actor.
The series finale, broadcast September 30, 2013, drew over 6 million US viewers and received widespread critical praise for its closure. Critics commended showrunner Vince Gilligan's masterful storytelling and the show's consistent quality across all five seasons.
The Sopranos: The Show That Changed Television Forever
The Sopranos premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999, following mob boss Tony Soprano as he balanced family life with crime family leadership. Created by David Chase, the show was rejected by all major networks before HBO picked it up, yet it became a game-changing series that launched the Golden Age of Television.
James Gandolfini's portrayal of Tony Soprano earned three Emmy Awards, and the series won 21 Emmys total plus two Peabody Awards. The show ran for six seasons and 86 episodes, concluding June 10, 2007.
The Wire: Most Accurate Portrayal of American Institutions
The Wire premiered June 2, 2002, on HBO, examining Baltimore's drug scene through perspectives of drug dealers, law enforcement, government bureaucracy, schools, and news media. Creator David Simon, a former police reporter, crafted what critics call the most comprehensive examination of urban America.
Along with The Sopranos, Deadwood, and Six Feet Under, The Wire was part of a quality revolution in television during the early 2000s. The series ran for five seasons until 2008 and maintains a 94% Tomatometer score.
Essential Viewing: Top 10 Episodes to Watch First
- Breaking Bad - "Felina" (Series Finale, Season 5, Episode 16)
- The Sopranos - "Made in America" (Series Finale, Season 6, Episode 21)
- The Wire - "Rule of Game" (Season 1, Episode 7)
- Mad Men - "Person to Person" (Series Finale, Season 7, Episode 14)
- Breaking Bad - "Ozymandias" (Season 5, Episode 14)
- The Sopranos - "Pine Barrens" (Season 3, Episode 11)
- The Wire - "Sentencing" (Season 1, Episode 13)
- Succession - "All the Bubbles Say" (Season 4, Episode 10)
- Chernobyl - "Vichnaya Pamyat" (Episode 5, May 6, 2019)
- Fleabag - "Episode 6" (Season 2 Finale)
Notable Mentions Beyond the Top 5
Chernobyl, the 2019 HBO miniseries about the 1986 nuclear disaster, premiered May 6, 2019, and became the highest audience-rated TV series in history on IMDb with over 100,000 votes. The five-part series achieved universal acclaim with a Metascore of 82 and user score of 9.1.
Other critically acclaimed series include Fleabag (91% Tomatometer), Better Call Saul (91%), Ted Lasso (92%), and Stranger Things (90%). The BBC Culture survey of 206 television specialists from 43 nations determined the top TV series of the 21st century, validating these rankings.
Streaming Availability for Top Series
Most top-ranked series are available on major streaming platforms. Breaking Bad and The Sopranos stream on AMC+ and HBO Max respectively. The Wire, Succession, and Chernobyl are available on HBO Max. Mad Men streams on AMC+ and Netflix in certain regions.
These elite television series represent the pinnacle of storytelling, character development, and cinematic quality that defines the Golden Age of Television. Whether you're introducing someone to quality television or revisiting classics, this ranking provides the definitive guide to the best television series of all time.
Expert answers to The Best Television Series Of All Time Reconsidered queries
What is the number 1 best TV show of all time?
Breaking Bad is the number 1 best TV show of all time according to Rotten Tomatoes' critics list, holding a 96% Tomatometer score and ranking above The Sopranos and The Wire.
Which TV series has the most Emmy Awards?
Game of Thrones holds the record with 59 Emmy Awards, followed by Breaking Bad with 16 Emmys and The Sopranos with 21 Emmys.
When did The Sopranos premiere on HBO?
The Sopranos premiered on HBO on January 10, 1999, and ran for six seasons until June 10, 2007, totaling 86 episodes.
What makes Breaking Bad the greatest TV series?
Breaking Bad's complete character transformation, consistent quality across five seasons, 16 Emmy wins, and Bennen Cranston's four acting Emmys establish it as the greatest TV series.
Which HBO shows dominate the best TV lists?
HBO dominates with The Sopranos (#2), The Wire (#3), Succession (#5), The Leftovers (#6), Game of Thrones (#7), and Six Feet Under (#10).
