What Are Good TV Series To Watch? Start With What Most Lists Miss
- 01. What Are Good TV Series to Watch? Start with what most lists miss
- 02. Top TV Series Aligned with Marist Educational Values
- 03. TV Series Comparison by Educational Value
- 04. Educational Research on TV Series and Moral Development
- 05. Most Lists Miss These Educational Powerhouses
- 06. Practical Selection Framework for Educators and Parents
What Are Good TV Series to Watch? Start with what most lists miss
The best TV series to watch are those that combine educational value with moral depth, cultural relevance, and storytelling excellence. Start with The Chosen (200 million viewers worldwide) for faith-based storytelling, Bluey for social-emotional learning, Avatar: The Last Airbender for ethical development, Abbott Elementary for education equity insights, and Hacks for intergenerational wisdom.
Top TV Series Aligned with Marist Educational Values
For families and educators seeking content that reinforces Catholic and Marist values-including community, service, integral education, and respect for human dignity-these series offer meaningful viewing experiences that support holistic student development across Brazil and Latin America.
- The Chosen: Faith-based drama about Jesus' life with 200 million global viewers; crowdfunded ($61+ million), first simultaneoulsy-launched series worldwide via its app
- Bluey: Australian animated series premiering 2018 on ABC Kids; teaches empathy, resilience, kindness through family play; recognized by California Learning Resource Network as educational
- Avatar: The Last Airbender: Animated series exploring balance, redemption, diversity, environmental stewardship, and moral choice
- Abbott Elementary: ABC workplace comedy (2022-present) about underfunded Philadelphia public school teachers addressing education equity
- Hacks: HBO Max series bridging Boomer/Gen Z generational gap through comedy mentorship between 75-year-old Deborah Vance and 25-year-old Ava
TV Series Comparison by Educational Value
| Series | Target Age | Key Educational Themes | Streaming Platform | Viewership/Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Chosen | 13+ | Faith, Scripture, Gospel history, discipleship | The Chosen App, CW | 200 million worldwide |
| Bluey | 3-10 | Social-emotional learning, empathy, family bonds | Disney+ | Global phenomenon; CLRN certified educational |
| Avatar: The Last Airbender | 10+ | Balance, redemption, diversity, moral choice | Netflix | Top 10 Netflix show after 2024 re-addition |
| Abbott Elementary | 13+ | Education equity, public school challenges, resilience | Hulu, ABC | Hit ABC series addressing systemic issues |
| Hacks | 16+ | Intergenerational mentorship, resilience, creativity | HBO Max | Bridges Boomer/Gen Z gap |
| Chernobyl | 16+ | Historical accuracy, institutional failure, truth | HBO | Cultural touchstone for nuclear safety |
Educational Research on TV Series and Moral Development
Research confirms that carefully selected television content positively impacts children's moral reasoning and prosocial behavior. A UC Davis study found that including a 30-second pre-episode clip explaining inclusive messages increases prosocial behaviors and decreases stigmatization. University of Sussex research demonstrated that viewers emulate characters evoking "admiration and aspiration"-but only with personal reflection on implications.
The "Don Quixote Effect" shows reflection closes the gap between identifying with fictional characters and actually emulating them. Children who watched stirring scenes rated higher on altruism when they personally reflected on the film's meaning. This supports the Marist educational principle of accompanying students in media consumption through guided discussion.
- Active Mediation: Adults watching alongside children and explaining emotions/behaviors improves emotional and social development
- Participatory Cues: Shows like Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer increase vocabulary learning and content comprehension
- Single-Encoding Impact: Just one viewing of targeted moral episodes positively influences cognitive and moral development
- Values Integration: Bluey provides comprehensive education covering SEL, language, literacy, math, science, and life skills
- Redemption Narratives: Avatar: The Last Airbender demonstrates redemption is possible even after serious mistakes
Most Lists Miss These Educational Powerhouses
Conventional "best TV" lists prioritize prestige dramas like The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, and The Wire without evaluating educational alignment or family suitability. While The Wire accurately depicts public school challenges and inspires classroom curricula across disciplines, few general lists highlight its pedagogical utility.
The gap is significant: Bluey reaches millions globally yet appears rarely on adult-focused "best of" lists despite CLRN certification. The Chosen achieved 200 million viewers yet remains underrepresented in mainstream criticism because it targets faith audiences first. Families seeking values-driven content must look beyond algorithmic recommendations to curated educational selections.
Practical Selection Framework for Educators and Parents
When evaluating TV series for student viewing, apply this Marist-aligned criteria reflecting educational rigor and spiritual mission:
- Faith Compatibility: Does content respect Gospel values and human dignity? (e.g., The Chosen faithfully portrays Scripture)
- Moral Clarity: Does it distinguish right from wrong with meaningful consequences? (e.g., Avatar's redemption narrative)
- Cultural Relevance: Does it resonate with Latin American diversity while maintaining universal values?
- Age Appropriateness: Match content complexity to developmental stage (Bluey: 3-10, Avatar: 10+, The Chosen: 13+)
- Active Mediation Potential: Can adults facilitate discussion that deepens learning?
This framework ensures viewing experiences support holistic education forming "men and women in Mary's way" who become "good Christian people, contributing citizens and thinking learners".
Helpful tips and tricks for What Are Good Tv Series To Watch Start With What Most Lists Miss
What TV series are best for teaching Catholic faith values?
The Chosen is the premier choice, being the first TV show presenting Christ's life over multiple seasons with faithful Scripture portrayal. It raised over $61 million through crowd-funding (more than any media project), released pilot in 2017, Season 1 in 2019, now has 5 seasons with 7 planned, and is free via its app.
Are educational shows actually effective for children?
Yes. Research shows children learn developmental and social skills through media when design includes participatory cues and active mediation. Bluey is explicitly certified educational by the California Learning Resource Network, teaching social-emotional learning, language, literacy, math, science, and values.
Which TV series help students understand social justice and education equity?
Abbott Elementary critically addresses American public education system imperfections including funding constraints and resource shortages through satire. It highlights systemic issues like non-functional toilets and budget limitations while celebrating dedicated teachers. The Wire is also used in classroom curricula across academic disciplines to examine institutional brokenness.
What shows teach critical thinking and moral reasoning?
Avatar: The Last Airbender teaches balance, embracing change, respecting diversity, moral dilemmas, and consequences of choices. Zuko's redemption arc specifically demonstrates that legacy isn't defined by origins. Breaking Bad explores ego, consequences, and the fallacy that "the end justifies the means".
How can educators use TV series in Marist pedagogy?
Marist schools prepare students to "analyze their own contemporary culture with Christian insight" per Standard 2 of Marist education standards. Use active mediation by watching alongside students, discussing character emotions/behaviors, and connecting media to Gospel values. Pre-screen content, provide 30-second context frames for inclusive messages, and facilitate reflection sessions to activate the Don Quixote Effect for moral emulation.
