More and more, everyday consumers come to acknowledge just how many shows are produced and released by studios. Due to prevailing systems, outdated practices, and the complexities of marketing, commercial success and critical acclaim are not guaranteed. Furthermore, internal processes such as complex world-building, behind-the-scenes revisions, and the prioritization of inclusive, riveting storytelling can also complicate a show’s production and their subsequent success. In spite of such events, avid fans of actors, directors, screenwriters, and producers have and continue to predict the quality of a series based on the people involved. However, any event could steer a show in the opposite direction.
Despite the complications in series production, the chaos of creation is not completely detrimental. Instead, it may result in some of the most compelling forms of entertainment available to the masses or a sizable, profitable niche. It may be difficult to believe that shows recognized and revered at the sound of their title alone wereonce doomed for cancelation.
Perhaps all it took was the dedication of curious viewers, or a successful word-of-mouth campaign, but these shows experienced a new level of success that appeared to have come overnight. Some of these titles might bring a smile to the reader, while others might finally succumb to their curiosity and begin their adventure into a new world.
10Stranger Things
After the revolutionary success of shows such asOrange Is The New Black, Netflix bloomed with a combination of new original series and favorite mainstays of the ’90s, the 2000s, and the 2010s. It was only a matter of time until they stumbled upon their next huge hit. However,Stranger Thingsmay not have been what the executives had in mind.
The series follows a group of children living in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana during the 1980s. Proud nerds before the rise of fandom, the group of friends bond over Dungeons and Dragons among other forms of fantasy, sci-fi, and horror content. However, after the mysterious disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), the entire town becomes enveloped in a bizarre, horrifying chain of events that hasspanned for over four seasons.
Related:Stranger Things: Millie Bobby Brown’s Best Moments as Eleven, Ranked
With a focus on children and nerd culture, the Duffer brothers saw their creation rejected by over fifteen networks untilStranger Thingswas presented to Netflix. Since its premiere in 2016, the series earned mass acclaim and has broken a series of streaming records. Going from debuting with 14 million adult viewers 30 days after its premiere to garnering over 40 million during its third season, their success is nothing short of iconic. Consequently, the ensemble cast, including Millie Bobby Brown, Joe Keery, Caleb McLaughlin, and David Harbour, have gone onto enjoy superstar status due to their contribution to the series as well as their subsequent projects.
9Breaking Bad
If an average person in 2008 were asked about the seriesBreaking Bad, it is highly unlikely to find a passionate fan of the series. The current legacy of the series is so prominent that someone could completely avoid the series but recognizable characters like Walter White (Bryan Cranston) or actors like Aaron Paul.
Introduced as a chemistry teacher suffering from Stage III Lung cancer, Walter White embarks on a truly captivating story arc. In hopes for financial security, Walter begins creating and selling meth. Working alongside his former student Jesse (Aaron Paul), the duo begin producing a rare form of meth that is highly valuable but the double life Walter assumes begins complicating his relationship with his family and also attracts attention from federal agents and drug cartels.
Prior toBreaking Bad, Bryan Cranston was most known for his role as Hal in the sitcom Malcolm In The Middle and the AMC network only had the success ofMad Mento its credit. Nevertheless,Breaking Baddebuted to fairly positive reviews. It wasn’t until the second season, however, that the show garnered critical acclaim and cemented its legacy as one of the strongest television dramas to air. On Metacritic, aggregated scores for the series rose each season, with the initial season earning a score of 79 with 27 reviews and thefinal earning a score of 99 with 22 reviews.
8Doctor Who
Quite possibly the most iconic sci-fi series to debut on television,Doctor Whooriginally debuted in 1963, introducing audiences wit the idiosyncratic and intelligent Time Lord with a unique charm and a genuine care for stability throughout the universe. Throughout the series, viewers watch the Doctor and his companion solve mysteries spanning several galaxies, preventing devastating calamities while also learning of a seemingly esoteric but universal truth.
In spite of the interesting premise, the series was thirteen episodes into its first season when BBC considered scraping the show altogether. However, the introduction of the Daleks proved to be alluring enough to extend the series run until 1990 when the show was canceled.
The show was famously revived in 2005, initially tapping actor Christopher Eccleston for the role of the Doctor before including actors like David Tennant, Billie Piper, Matt Smith, andnow Ncuti Gatwa(Sex Education)to their extensive roster.
7The X-Files
Intrinsically tied to the entertainment of the 20th Century,The X-Filessaw actors David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson lead its audiences into a world of mystery, fascinating technology, and a startling conspiracy. The imaginative yet skilled Fox Mulder (Duchovny) found companionship in the skeptical and analytical Scully (Anderson) after they were paired, and the duo would embark on an iconic run of monster-hunting, supernatural investigations, andeye-opening missionsthat audiences would find exciting.
Pairing the ever-so lingering interest in conspiracy theories with the mistrust of government institutions laid the foundation for a successful series, putting a curious audience into the shows of those with the power necessary to figure out the unadulterated truth. However, the series was initially rejected by Fox. Creator Chris Carter then fleshed out the premise and in a few weeks, presented what would becomeThe X-Filesto the network, who readily accepted.
The show debuted on screens everywhere in 1993 and enjoyed nine seasons until its initial conclusion in 2002 before being revived for two more seasons in 2016.The X-Filesis one of the first shows to cultivate a fandom, growing from a devoted fanbase to a fully grown audience of dedicated viewers. The captivating plot and the characterization of both protagonists impressed audiences and critics alike, with Scully’s characterization being reviewed as an innovative depiction of women in science-fiction and the show as a whole being revered as one of the most prolific Fox channel dramas.
Prior to the premiere ofMad Men, the AMC network was just that, the American Movie Channel. When news of a period drama circulated, many studios initially rejected the idea. After losing out deals with both HBO and Showtime,Mad Menfound a home in AMC and debuted on the network in 2007.
The series followed the life of accomplished advertising executive Don Draper (Jon Hamm). A war veteran turned success story, Draper was the ideal of American masculinity in the postwar period. With a family to come home to and a fulfilling job, Draper seems like he has won at life. In spite of such hallmarks, Draper’s shiny veneer is quickly peeled off and viewers get a closer look at the sleazy, arrogant protagonist they have grown to find entertaining.
While audiences enjoy the series' in-depthexploration of the advertising industry and 1960s fashion, the real gems ofMad Menare the many personalities of the show’s respective universe. The characters are intriguing on their own but through their dialogue and action, audiences get a look at how workplace bonds, familial relationships, and friendships were affected by misogyny, greed, racism, and substance abuse.
After seven seasons ofMad Men,the series earned praise from contributors at The Guardian and awards ceremonies like the Emmys. Furthermore,Mad Menrevitalized an interested in the ’60s, with fedoras and suits being purchased at a remarkable rate.
5The Sopranos
The Sopranosis considered by many as one of the best television series to debut. A series that appeals to a uniquely American obsession with the mafia, family drama, and charismatic yet compromised protagonists sounds like a guaranteed success today. Nonetheless,The Sopranoswas not the ideal by any means. Characters like Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) strayed far from the typically upbeat protagonists of most shows. The villain in the lives of many other souls, Tony is a horrible person and yet, the show nor Tony himself attempt to circumvent said truth. Instead, it depicts the complex and perilous life of a mob family.
Rather than glamorizing the experience,The Sopranosdoes a remarkable job at painting the difficulties of a life dedicated to performing a dangerous interpretation of masculinity. The inclusion of therapy sessions conducted by Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Bracco) adds a somewhat relieving component to the series, offering Tony a healthier outlet and an escape from the blood-filled, shadowy work as the mob leader. Melfi’s presence, however, also complicates his work and contributes to a plenty ofunforgettably great storylines.
Since then, the series has been commemorated for its quality and has been credited for being the show that gave HBO the prestigious reputation it currently enjoys.
4Game of Thrones
Even with current opinions onGame of Thronesbeing rather mixed, most critics would concede that HBO’s infamous fantasy series revitalized the genre for television watchers everywhere. Based on George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Fire,audiences are introduced and enveloped in the dark, gritty, expansive world of Westeros and lands beyond, the series pushed boundaries as it pertained to nudity and violence. Unheard of to most audiences, the series understandably garnered criticism. However, by the end of the third season,Game of Thronesmade television history.
The aforementioned kingdom of Westeros is a ticking time bomb, with the ambitious House Lannister lurching in the background and the seemingly honorable House Stark hoping to protect their interests while anxious about events in the south. In the continent of Essos, across The Narrow Sea, lays the remnants of banished House Targaryen. Comprised of an heiress at the center of a prophecy andher older, power-hungry brother, the two siblings attempt to muster all the might they can in hopes of reclaiming their glory.
Not unlike a political drama, the series expertly highlighted the motivations between various characters, some overlooked until the very end while others won the hearts of their constituents and the viewers. At its best, the series created captivating heroes, alluring villains and intriguing morally grey characters out of Martin’s masterpieces.
3Mr. Robot
Prior toMr. Robot,The USA Network was known primarily for series such asMonk, Psych,andIn Plain Sight. While the network enjoyed successes in its own right, the riveting drama thriller starring Rami Malek, Christian Slater, and Carly Chaikin made the channel appear as a worthy competitor to Showtime, HBO, and FX.
The series focuses on the enigmatic Elliot Alderson (Malek), a cybersecurity engineer who deals with social anxiety, clinical depression, and dissociative identity disorder. Constantly combating paranoia and delusion, he finds difficulties with interpersonal relationships, bonding with others through hacking. The constant conflict between the online world and the interpersonal world is a major dynamic that is not only explored in its four seasons but is the series' most compelling component, touching on concepts many outlets and online users are just now understanding.
Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, sought inspiration from hacker culture, the Arab Spring, and social media activism at large which were all contemporary conversations at the time of the show’s conception. However, the excellent examination of a correlation between online activity and experiences with abuse along with strong character development was what ultimately madeMr. Robotfondly remembered and revered by audiences to this day.
2Succession
Looking back onSuccessionafter its monumental finale aired, it feels fulfilling to find that such an excellently executed series produced grew from a small series overshadowed by the likes ofWestworldto being one of the most important series of the last five years. Characters like the cold Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the unserious yet determined Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong), and his devious siblings Shiv (Sarah Snook) and Roman (Kieran Culkin) have inspired articles and discourse aboutwealth, familial trauma gone unaddressed, and betrayal.
Focusing on the declining health of the aging CEO of Waystar Royco, the Roy siblings show initial concern before their true motivations are uncloaked. The show examines their various ambitions for the company as well as their troubling relationship dynamics. Additional characters like older brother Connor (Alan Ruck), Kendall’s ambitious close friend Stewy (Arian Moayed), and Shiv’s scheming husband Tom (Matthew MacFadyan) provide stellar performances that enrich the series as a whole.
Related:Why Succession Fans Need to Watch Mr. Robot
While the first season received strong, positive reception,Successionbloomed into popularity by the years and by its third season, with the now-unforgettable finale bringing in over 1.7 million viewers across all platforms and record acclaim.
1Abbott Elementary
Since the advent of streaming, network television found difficulty with producing content worthy of competition. With companies like Hulu and Netflix producing successful sitcoms of their own, while hosting cable comedies, the future looked bleak.
Nevertheless, Quinta Brunson’sAbbott Elementaryhas been credited for bringing viewers back to network television.A witty mockumentaryin the vein ofThe Officebut with the unique grasp of the zeitgeist, the wholesome series follows the personal and professional journeys of teachers and students at an inner city, Philadelphia school.
Echoing the sitcoms of the ’80s, ’90s, and the early 2000s, the series includes both hilarious scenes, serious conversations, and heartfelt resolutions, none of which fall flat. The ensemble cast, which includes Brunson herself, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and Tyler James Williams, brings a pleasant brightness to entertainment. Not because of any saccharine storylines but because of the genuine drive to craft a reflection of society with the powerful combination of comedy, fiction, and the pursuit of improvement.
