Ever wondered which TV series hit the pinnacle of greatness? A list that has tried to rank the top 50 TV shows ever, based on all-star ratings from IMDb, Rotten Tomatoes, and Metacritic, was supposed to answer that question. But oh boy, did it stir up a storm instead!
Some viewers totally blasted the list as ‘horrible’ and even ‘a joke’. And it’s not hard to see why when you look at the fiery debates over the top five:
Snatching a spot in the elite circle, HBO’s Band of Brothers, a gripping drama about a US Soldiers unit in World War II, boasts a stellar Rotten Tomatoes critic rating of 96 percent. It’s a series that transforms the classic war film genre into a riveting mini-series experience.
The Sopranos, another HBO masterpiece, redefined the mafia film genre over its epic six-season run. Its infamous ambiguous finale still has people buzzing, questioning the fate of its iconic character, Tony Soprano.
HBO’s Chernobyl, a dramatic re-enactment of the tragic nuclear disaster, gripped audiences and critics alike, reflected in its high Rotten Tomatoes scores of 95 percent from critics and 97 percent from audiences.
Game of Thrones, a modern TV behemoth, enjoyed massive popularity through its eight-season stretch. Despite its divisive conclusion, it still snagged a top spot on the rankings.
Breaking the HBO streak, AMC’s Breaking Bad takes the crown. Even a decade after its conclusion, this crime drama continues to captivate new and returning fans, spawning successful spinoffs like Better Call Saul and the Netflix film El Camino.
While the list is rooted in statistics, it sparked fierce debates online after going viral on X (formerly Twitter). Fans shared their hot takes on the top five and beyond.
“That top two is a joke. One took two seasons to get going and the other had one of the most underwhelming endings in the history of television,” one user exclaimed, advocating for The Sopranos as the rightful leader. Another dismayed fan remarked, “The Sopranos being #4 and The Wire being #6 tells me all I need to know about this horrible list.”
Even further down the list, debates raged, with Friends at #15 outranking other beloved sitcoms like The Office (#17), It’s Always Sunshine in Philadelphia (#28), and Seinfeld (#30).
Here’s the controversial top 50 in full:
50/ Justified (2010)
49/ The Americans (2013)
48/ The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
47/ True Detective (2014)
46/ Happy Valley (2014)
45/ The Shield (2002)
44/ Twin Peaks (1990)
43/ Vikings (2013)
42/ Atlanta (2016)
41/ Broadwalk Empire (2010)
40/ The Bear (2022)
39/ Hannibal (2013)
38/ Mare of Easttown (2021)
37/ Deadwood (2004)
36/ Line of Duty (2012)
35/ Lost (2004)
34/ The Mandalorian (2019)
33/ When They See Us (2023)
32/ The Last of Us (2023)
31/ Peep Show (2003)
30/ Seinfeld (1989)
29/ The Boys (2019)
28/ It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005)
27/ Severance (2022)
26/ Heartstopper (2022)
25/ Black Mirror (2011)
24/ Mr Robot (2015)
23/ Mindhunter (2017)
22/ Narcos (2015)
21/ Mad Men (2007)
20/ Freaks and Geeks (1999)
19/ Battlestar Galactica (2004)
18/ Succession (2018)
17/ The Office (2005)
16/ Dark (2017)
15/ Friends (1994)
14/ House (2004)
13/ Fargo (2014)
12/ Fleabag (2016)
11/ The Twilight Zone (1959)
10/ Peaky Blinders (2013)
9/ Sherlock (2010)
8/ Stranger Things (2016)
7/ Better Call Saul (2015)
6/ The Wire (2002)
5/ Band of Brothers (2001)
4/ The Sopranos (1999)
3/ Chernobyl (2019)
2/ Game of Thrones (2011)
1/ Breaking Bad (2008)