The New York Times "Best TV Shows of the 21st Century" List

[hoponlilmama]

So I just read through the NYT list. Their write up can be found here at this link.

The list from this site because it appears you need to sign in to view the page above:
Digging into The New York Times "Best TV Shows of the 21st Century" List

So, friends, what do we think of the below? Agree with the rankings? How many shows have you seen or are planning to watch?

• 100. Scandal (2012–2018)
• 99. Gilmore Girls (2000–2007)
• 98. The OA (2016–2019)
• 97. Community (2009–2015)
• 96. Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017)
• 95. House (2004–2012)
• 94. The Diplomat (2023–present)
• 93. Station Eleven (2021–2022)
• 92. The Night Of (2016)
• 91. Catastrophe (2015–2019)
• 90. Eastbound & Down (2009–2013)
• 89. Baby Reindeer (2024)
• 88. Dexter (2006–2013)
• 87. Reservation Dogs (2021–2023)
• 86. Shogun (2024–present)
• 85. The Great British Baking Show (2010–present)
• 84. Planet Earth (2006)
• 83. Justified (2010–2015)
• 82. Better Things (2016–2022)
• 81. The Queen’s Gambit (2020)
• 80. How to with John Wilson (2020–2023)
• 79. The Good Wife (2009–2016)
• 78. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present)
• 77. Modern Family (2009–2020)
• 76. Somebody Somewhere (2022–2024)
• 75. Ted Lasso (2020–present)
• 74. The Bear (2022–2026)
• Barry (2018–2023)
• 72. Squid Game (2021–2025)
• 71. Beef (Season 1, 2023)
• 70. The Shield (2002–2008)
• 69. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012)
• 68. Ozark (2017–2022)
• 67. The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–2025)
• 66. The Rehearsal (2022–present)
• 65. Mare of Easttown (2021)
• 64. Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013–2018)
• 63. The Thick of It (2005–2012)
• 62. Slow Horses (2022–present)
• 61. RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009–present)
• 60. Peep Show (2003–2015)
• 59. PEN15 (2019–2021)
• 58. Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006)
• 57. I Think You Should Leave (2019–present)
• 56. Nathan for You (2013–2017)
• 55. Insecure (2016–2021)
• 54. The Bureau (2015–2020)
• 53. Stranger Things (2016–2025)
• 52. Downton Abbey (2010–2015)
• 51. The Good Place (2016–2020)
• 50. Parks and Recreation (2009–2015)
• 49. Normal People (2020)
• 48. House of Cards (2013–2018)
• 47. Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
• 46. Broad City (2014–2019)
• 45. Happy Valley (2014–2023)
• 44. BoJack Horseman (2014–2020)
• 43. Peaky Blinders (2013–2022)
• 42. Hacks (2021–2026)
• 41. Louie (2010–2015)
• 40. Adolescence (2025)
• 39. Watchmen (2019)
• 38. Homeland (2011–2020)
• 37. Battlestar Galactica (2005–2009)
• 36. The Pitt (2025–present)
• 35. True Detective (Season 1, 2014)
• 34. Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020)
• 33. Enlightened (2011–2013)
• 32. Andor (2022–2025)
• 31. Survivor (2000–present)
• 30. Severance (2022–present)
• 29. Key & Peele (2012–2015)
• 28. Band of Brothers (2001)
• 27. Better Call Saul (2015–2022)
• 26. Black Mirror (2011–present)
• 25. The Leftovers (2014–2017)
• 24. Deadwood (2004–2006)
• 23. The Comeback (2005–2026)
• 22. Lost (2004–2010)
• 21. The White Lotus (2021–present)
• 20: The Crown (2016–2023)
• 19: Chernobyl (2019)
• 18: I May Destroy You (2020)
• 17: The Americans (2013–2018)
• 16: The Office (U.K.) (2001–2003)
• 15: Six Feet Under (2001–2005)
• 14: Friday Night Lights (2006–2011)
• 13: Girls (2012–2017)
• 12: Arrested Development (2003–2019)
• 11: The Office (U.S.) (2005–2013)
• 10: Atlanta (2016–2022)
• 9: Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024)
• 8: 30 Rock (2006–2013)
• 7: Veep (2012–2019)
• 6: Game of Thrones (2011–2019)
• 5: Fleabag (2016–2019)
• 4: Succession (2018–2023)
• 3: Mad Men (2007–2015)
• 2: The Wire (2002–2008)
• 1: Breaking Bad (2008–2013)

 

[wolfheart]

Many of the list i did not watch or not cared enough to watch...

 

[silvermoon]

I didn't watch very many of these. I did like some of Six Feet Under. The Gilmore Girls, but no Buffy? Are they serious? That show was beyond annoying lol

 

[AlphaFoxtrot]

So, basically the entire output of HBO, the TV series that AMC of all networks managed to produce, and the quirky sitcoms that nobody watched when they aired? It's a defensible list.

Only change I would make is move Watchmen up the list, since the sheer hubris involved in making a sequel to Watchmen is something that shouldn't be encouraged, nor should setting a a sequel thirty years after the fact.

 

[twoslayers]

Well let's see...

• 100. Scandal (2012–2018) NEVER SEEN IT
• 99. Gilmore Girls (2000–2007) NEVER SEEN IT
• 98. The OA (2016–2019) NEVER SEEN IT
• 97. Community (2009–2015) NEVER SEEN IT
• 96. Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017) NEVER SEEN IT
• 95. House (2004–2012) Like a little bit
• 94. The Diplomat (2023–present) Like a little bit
• 93. Station Eleven (2021–2022) NEVER SEEN IT
• 92. The Night Of (2016) NEVER SEEN IT
• 91. Catastrophe (2015–2019) NEVER SEEN IT
• 90. Eastbound & Down (2009–2013) NEVER SEEN IT
• 89. Baby Reindeer (2024) NEVER SEEN IT
• 88. Dexter (2006–2013) NEVER SEEN IT
• 87. Reservation Dogs (2021–2023) NEVER SEEN IT
• 86. Shogun (2024–present) Like this
• 85. The Great British Baking Show (2010–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 84. Planet Earth (2006) NEVER SEEN IT
• 83. Justified (2010–2015) Seen a little, not keen
• 82. Better Things (2016–2022) NEVER SEEN IT
• 81. The Queen’s Gambit (2020) NEVER SEEN IT
• 80. How to with John Wilson (2020–2023) NEVER SEEN IT
• 79. The Good Wife (2009–2016) NEVER SEEN IT
• 78. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 77. Modern Family (2009–2020) NEVER SEEN IT
• 76. Somebody Somewhere (2022–2024) NEVER SEEN IT
• 75. Ted Lasso (2020–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 74. The Bear (2022–2026) NEVER SEEN IT
• 73. Barry (2018–2023) NEVER SEEN IT
• 72. Squid Game (2021–2025) NEVER SEEN IT
• 71. Beef (Season 1, 2023) NEVER SEEN IT
• 70. The Shield (2002–2008) Seen a little, not keen
• 69. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations (2005–2012) NEVER SEEN IT
• 68. Ozark (2017–2022) NEVER SEEN IT
• 67. The Handmaid’s Tale (2017–2025) Quite like this, especially seasons 1-4.
• 66. The Rehearsal (2022–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 65. Mare of Easttown (2021) NEVER SEEN IT
• 64. Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013–2018) NEVER SEEN IT
• 63. The Thick of It (2005–2012) Like this one.
• 62. Slow Horses (2022–present) Like this one.
• 61. RuPaul’s Drag Race (2009–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 60. Peep Show (2003–2015) NEVER SEEN IT
• 59. PEN15 (2019–2021) NEVER SEEN IT
• 58. Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006) NEVER SEEN IT
• 57. I Think You Should Leave (2019–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 56. Nathan for You (2013–2017) NEVER SEEN IT
• 55. Insecure (2016–2021) NEVER SEEN IT
• 54. The Bureau (2015–2020) NEVER SEEN IT
• 53. Stranger Things (2016–2025) Seen this, watchable but overrated
• 52. Downton Abbey (2010–2015) NEVER SEEN IT, but hate the genre
• 51. The Good Place (2016–2020) NEVER SEEN IT
• 50. Parks and Recreation (2009–2015) Seen some of this, its watchable
• 49. Normal People (2020) NEVER SEEN IT
• 48. House of Cards (2013–2018) Seen some of this, its overrated. The BBC 1990s version is better if you like believable political drama.
• 47. Twin Peaks: The Return (2017) NEVER SEEN IT
• 46. Broad City (2014–2019) NEVER SEEN IT
• 45. Happy Valley (2014–2023) NEVER SEEN IT
• 44. BoJack Horseman (2014–2020) NEVER SEEN IT
• 43. Peaky Blinders (2013–2022) Seen this, its watchable.
• 42. Hacks (2021–2026) NEVER SEEN IT
• 41. Louie (2010–2015) NEVER SEEN IT
• 40. Adolescence (2025) NEVER SEEN IT
• 39. Watchmen (2019) Seen this, pretty good.
• 38. Homeland (2011–2020) Now we're talking. This is a bit of a favorite.
• 37. Battlestar Galactica (2005–2009) Seen some of this, its okay but hard to watch. I find all the shaky camera work pulls me out.
• 36. The Pitt (2025–present) NEVER SEEN IT - but I do want to
• 35. True Detective (Season 1, 2014) NEVER SEEN IT
• 34. Schitt’s Creek (2015–2020) NEVER SEEN IT - a relative told me its garbage
• 33. Enlightened (2011–2013) NEVER SEEN IT
• 32. Andor (2022–2025) Seen this, pretty good, though a little slow for my tastes.
• 31. Survivor (2000–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 30. Severance (2022–present) Have seen this, worth seeing, but one of those shows that once the novelty wears off there's not a lot left.
• 29. Key & Peele (2012–2015) NEVER SEEN IT
• 28. Band of Brothers (2001) Seen this, pretty good.
• 27. Better Call Saul (2015–2022) Seen a couple of episodes, didn't like it.
• 26. Black Mirror (2011–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 25. The Leftovers (2014–2017) NEVER SEEN IT
• 24. Deadwood (2004–2006) Seen some of this, its okay.
• 23. The Comeback (2005–2026) NEVER SEEN IT
• 22. Lost (2004–2010) Seen some of this, too confusing for me.
• 21. The White Lotus (2021–present) NEVER SEEN IT
• 20: The Crown (2016–2023) NEVER SEEN IT - not my genre really
• 19: Chernobyl (2019) Seen this, quite liked it.
• 18: I May Destroy You (2020) NEVER SEEN IT
• 17: The Americans (2013–2018) Seen some of this, didn't make much of an impression.
• 16: The Office (U.K.) (2001–2003) I do love this one.
• 15: Six Feet Under (2001–2005) Seen some of it, one of the worst shows I've ever seen.
• 14: Friday Night Lights (2006–2011) NEVER SEEN IT. It half want to as I like coming of age shows, but not really a football fan so on the fence.
• 13: Girls (2012–2017) NEVER SEEN IT
• 12: Arrested Development (2003–2019) NEVER SEEN IT
• 11: The Office (U.S.) (2005–2013) NEVER SEEN IT
• 10: Atlanta (2016–2022) NEVER SEEN IT
• 9: Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000–2024) Seen a couple of episodes, didn't like it.
• 8: 30 Rock (2006–2013) NEVER SEEN IT
• 7: Veep (2012–2019) Quite like this one.
• 6: Game of Thrones (2011–2019) Seen some of this. Its okay I guess but don't really see the appeal.
• 5: Fleabag (2016–2019) NEVER SEEN IT
• 4: Succession (2018–2023) NEVER SEEN IT
• 3: Mad Men (2007–2015) NEVER SEEN IT
• 2: The Wire (2002–2008) Seen some of it, not my thing.
• 1: Breaking Bad (2008–2013) NEVER SEEN IT, but don't think I'd like it.

Bottom line, I tend to prefer shows before about 2005 or so and mostly like genre shows that are well written and have substance. My list would have included Firefly, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Mandalorian, Daredevil, 24, and For All Mankind.