TV has really become something else in the past couple of decades! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the greatest shows that began their run in the good ol’ 2020s.
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest shows that
00:10began their run in the good old 2020s.
00:13Limited series will not be included.
00:2210.
00:23House of the Dragon
00:29Say what you will about the age of prequels, sequels, reboots, and whatever Velma is, but
00:36this Game of Thrones franchise series seriously holds its own.
00:39With such an expansive world with deeply intricate lore, it's no surprise that there's plenty
00:44of story left to be told.
00:45Focusing solely on the Targaryen lineage, the show is able to dig its claws into themes
00:49of power and loyalty with a more familial focus.
00:56There's a ton of drama and plot twists to keep both fans and newcomers to the George
01:04RR Martin universe on the edge of their seats, and we would be remiss if we didn't highlight
01:14the obvious.
01:169.
01:17Shogun
01:18This
01:372024 drama from Hulu took the world by storm.
01:40As an adaptation of the novel of the same name, Shogun perfectly represents the political
01:44complexities of feudal Japan.
01:58The writing of this series especially shines.
02:00Each character is fully realized, with no sacrifices made to plot or historical accuracy.
02:05Of course, this is still a fictional tale, but Western audiences in particular can expect
02:09to be educated as they're entertained.
02:21So if you're a fan of historical fiction, and you haven't added this show to your watch
02:24list, we seriously suggest you do so as soon as possible.
02:288.
02:29Abbott Elementary
02:30Who said the sitcom was dead?
02:39We certainly didn't.
02:40Led by the magnificent Quinta Brunson both on screen and behind the scenes, this mockumentary
02:45is equal parts heart and hilarity.
02:57While educators can definitely expect to relate to both the frustration and hijinks that ensue
03:01at Abbott Elementary, everyone can enjoy the series' quick wit and cleverly crafted situations.
03:07Despite being a fictional comedy, you can't help but feel as if each character is taken
03:10straight from reality, plus you'll come away from each episode with a little more
03:26appreciation for the teachers that had to put up with our, uh, we mean, lovingly impacted
03:31our lives.
03:327.
03:33The Rehearsal
03:34Nathan Fielder doesn't miss.
03:46An opportunity to make us cringe.
03:48Drawing from his experiences creating Nathan for You, Fielder's sophomore series highlights
03:52how nothing in life can truly go as you expect, even if you rehearse it.
03:56And by rehearse, we mean actual lights, camera, action-level rehearsing, filled with his signature
04:01awkward interactions, and truly hilarious how-is-this-not-scripted moments, the show
04:05is one you simply have to see to believe.
04:18But beyond his comedic elements, the rehearsal poses philosophical questions about human
04:22nature, how we connect with one another, and interrogates the artificial nature of
04:25television.
04:38The latter is a theme that Fielder builds on in his 2023 series, The Curse, a bizarre
04:42but fascinating drama co-starring Emma Stone and Benny Safdie.
04:576.
04:59Yellowjackets
05:00There's plenty of survival dramas out there to enjoy, but this series has stood out amongst
05:04the rest.
05:17It's nearly impossible not to become engrossed in the mystery and horror that Yellowjackets
05:21delivers.
05:22Following a soccer team stranded in the woods, we watch two parallel storylines unfold, their
05:26present conditions, and its future repercussions.
05:30Yellowjackets is thrilling and thought-provoking, exploring the limits of human behavior, an
05:34unpacking the collective trauma the women experience.
05:43With such a powerful female-driven ensemble, each individual performer still excels and
05:47masterfully brings depth to their character.
05:52While audiences, hopefully, can't relate to their experiences in the wilderness, their
06:00stories still resonate with anyone with challenging histories of its own.
06:105.
06:12Arcane
06:19This is the only animated series to make this elite list, and anyone who's seen Arcane
06:23will have no questions as to why.
06:25Set in the universe of the video game League of Legends, the series is visually stunning,
06:29impact-packed, and super-emotionally compelling.
06:36While it's not the first video game-to-television adaptation, it certainly redefined expectations
06:48and raised the bar as far as what was possible in the genre.
06:57Those who aren't familiar with the franchise can enjoy learning the story of the cities
07:01of Piltover and Zaun, while loyal fans can revel in the faithful and masterful recreation
07:06of the lore.
07:074.
07:08The White Lotus
07:09A murder mystery, a satirical commentary on class and privilege, and an all-star ensemble
07:22dramedy rolled into one?
07:24This series has it all!
07:25Oh, and of course, it has Jennifer Coolidge.
07:40The White Lotus doesn't hit you over the head with its cultural critiques.
07:43It's written flawlessly by writer and creator Mike White.
07:46He utilizes the unique character dynamics and illustrious settings to underline his
07:50message about the often-overlooked costs of wealth in our society.
08:08But beyond being brilliant, the show is so quotably funny and rewatchable.
08:21Plus, being an anthology series, there's no shortage of stories to be told in the White
08:23Lotus universe, so we imagine many seasons in our future.
08:273.
08:28The Last of Us
08:36When discussing breakout series of the 2020s, it only makes sense that a pandemic-centric
08:40drama would top the charts.
08:42Another incredible television adaptation of a video game, The Last of Us is a heart-wrenching
08:46post-apocalyptic tale that puts its characters' relationships front and center.
09:00The two lead actors, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, deliver incredibly nuanced performances,
09:05conveying the grief and peril that they endure as they journey across the country together.
09:09While the first season in its entirety is sensational, the series' third episode,
09:13Long Long Time, is one of the greatest television episodes in, well, a long, long time.
09:262.
09:29Severance
09:30If we were ranking the best television opening credit sequences, Severance would be number
09:44one.
09:45This sci-fi thriller has one of the most original, fascinating concepts we've seen on television
09:49in a long time.
09:59A tech company, Lumen Industries, makes its employees undergo a procedure in which their
10:03work selves and their out-of-work selves are severed from one another.
10:07With no knowledge of each other's lives or emotions, the conspiracies at the company
10:11unfold, led by Adam Scott's character, Mark, and the stakes keep getting higher and higher
10:16until the series' explosive season one finale.
10:18No spoilers here, we wouldn't want to rob you of the experience of watching it for yourself.
10:283.
10:29Ted Lasso
10:30Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:37Ted Lasso.
10:38This heartwarming comedy scores with lovable characters, positive vibes, and teamwork.
10:52Reservation Dogs, a fresh, unique coming-of-age story that brings indigenous experiences to
10:56the forefront.
11:04Hacks
11:05Smart and Einbinder are an unstoppable duo in this sharp, generation-bridging comedy.
11:20Andor
11:21Star Wars fans can revel in this magnificent dive into the origins of the Rebel Alliance.
11:33Squid Game, a cultural moment of a series with gut-wrenching twists and class-conscious
11:37themes.
12:041.
12:05The Bear
12:062022's hottest Halloween costume just became a new hit show.
12:24We're kidding.
12:25No one thought that Halloween costume was hot.
12:27The Bear is an instant classic dramedy series, realistically portraying the high-stress energy
12:32of a restaurant back-of-house, interlaced with a raw, intense family dynamic.
12:37With a slew of standout performances, each scene is completely captivating, whether it
12:41has you wracked with anxiety or shedding some tears.
12:53While there are certainly some dark moments, ultimately, the series is hopeful, heartwarming,
12:58and inspirational.
12:59Even with a short tenure, The Bear has made a lasting impact on the television scene.
13:07What's the best series you've binged in the 2020s?
13:09Let us know in the comments below.