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Sitting down and enjoying a TV series is one of the favorite hobbies of millions of people worldwide. However, TV projects have taken on an entirely new dimension, especially in the last 25 years. Vast sums of money have flowed into this particular sector. Some TV series, especially in the previous few years, have a much larger budget than most films in the cinema.
The way we ingest media has also pivoted towards streaming services and a more global version. Traditionally speaking, national TV channels or platforms dominated this sector. However, a few significant suppliers in the industry now have serious financial backing and a global reputation, such as HBO.
With such a stellar reputation and frighteningly consistent output, HBO shows feature heavily in today’s article. Even some shows that don’t quite make the cut are highly acclaimed, such as Boardwalk Empire.
Showcasing the dynamic between the government and organized crime, Boardwalk Empire is set in the then-aspiring casino area of Atlantic City, New Jersey. Up to this day, Atlantic City has been attracting many tourists with its robust casino scene and seaside views. If you can’t visit the casino resort yourself, you can click here to play with BTC, which offers the newest, crypto-powered method of gambling.
With that said, let’s start our list of the most prominent TV series of all time:
Mad Men (2007-2015)
Set in the patriarchal minefield of 1960s corporate America, Mad Men perfectly depicts and deconstructs the ambiguous and conflicting nature of extensive, targetted advertising. The highly acclaimed TV series drills into the mechanisms that allowed the advertising sector to flourish vicariously through the rising age of celebrity.
With a weighted focus on how advertising stimulates growth in competitive sectors, the series was written, released, and critically acclaimed in an era many perceive to be the golden age of American television between 1999 and the mid-2010s. However, it still stands the test of time and acts as a springboard for some precociously gifted actors and actresses to project their ability to an international audience.
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
With nearly 60 Emmys, Game Of Thrones was a pop culture phenomenon. At one point in the mid-2010s, you couldn’t go anywhere without somebody talking about the show. With an extensive budget and ensemble cast, the fictitious battle for Westeros was the setting for one of the highest-rated shows of all time.
The first four seasons rival any TV show. However, as the story begins to deviate further from the books, plenty of criticism was levelled at the show’s creators for the rushed ending, which contained a lot of story flaws. Critics and fans widely criticised it. Many believe it’s soured the claim for the show to be considered the greatest ever. However, nobody can deny just how high the bar was set in the opening four, possibly six, seasons.
Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
As the highest-rated TV series of all time, according to IMDB, Breaking Bad captured the essence of the anti-hero and pushed it to its limits. Bryan Cranston’s performance as Walter White will be infamous for decades.
As a terminally ill, fledgling, and morally decrepit chemistry teacher, he encapsulates the transformation and decline of a harmless man into a terrifying villain. His performance is widely considered one of television’s most remarkable character depictions.
By the time the final series hit the screens, it was one of the most-watched cable shows in America. In addition, it brings tourists from all over the world to Albuquerque to visit some real-life locations where the iconic series was filmed.
The Sopranos (1999-2007)
James Gandolfini’s sad passing a few years after The Sopranos finale led to a flood of tributes. His performance as Tony Soprano is widely renowned as the most outstanding television performance of all time. There’s not much we can say about this show that hasn’t already been said.
Creating a path for Walter White and dozens of other shows that use The Sopranos blueprint as a successful canvas, the legacy of The Sopranos remains unmatched. Many consider the show the greatest of all time, alongside fellow HBO show, The Wire.
The Wire (2002-2008)
Despite barely any recognition during the period it aired, many critics have revisited The Wire and labelled it as the greatest television show of all time. With over two dozen deep and well-written characters, the show revolutionized ideas for TV series.
The Wire is set in the working-class city of Baltimore, Maryland, on America’s East Coast. It highlights the way different social structures brutally intertwine with each other. Yet, despite all of this, it shows how the status quo is maintained at all costs. This is the case across various social levels, including crime, politics, education, and journalism.
Nearly twenty years have passed since the initial series aired on HBO. The show has a legion of loyal fans who often comment about how the show is still as relevant as ever. It has been lauded as the most realistic portrayal of early 21st-century life. So much so it is now studied at Harvard so that students can understand American society on a deeper level.
