10 Best 2010s TV Dramas, Ranked

The 2010s caused a seismic shift within the tv panorama, with the rise of big-budget collection and the early domination of streaming giants altering TV perpetually. Gone have been the low-budget sitcoms and dramas that held courtroom in office conversations, and in got here the Hollywood-esque blockbuster collection that rivaled a few of cinema’s best.

Whereas the world was discovering its toes with the brand-new look of cinema’s little display sibling, a number of iconic dramas was paving the way in which for what’s to come back, trying again on the tv that got here earlier than them and promising to improve it for a contemporary viewers. From an immersive fantasy world to a modern-day detective twist and, in fact, everybody’s favourite meth maker, the 2010s have arguably been the most effective decade for tv drama of all time. So, with that in thoughts, this is a have a look at the ten finest TV dramas of the 2010s, ranked.

10 ‘Atlanta’ (2016-2022)

Created by Donald Glover

One of many decade’s most underrated collection, Donald Glover‘s Atlanta follows Bryan Tyree Henry‘s Alfred Miles, a burgeoning hip-hop artist who seems to be to steadiness his life with a mic and his life on the streets. Nonetheless, Miles will not take this journey alone, supported by his supervisor, cousin, and confidant, Earnest “Earn” Marks (Glover).

The great thing about fashionable tv is the intent to inform quite a lot of tales from a various vary of cultures. Atlanta is a beautiful slice of life from the streets of its titular metropolis, taking themes related to the coming-of-age style and evolving them to include the harsher realities of being poor and Black in fashionable America. A winner of seven Primetime Emmys, Atlanta does not miss a single beat.

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9 ‘Sherlock’ (2010-2017)

Created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss

Everybody’s favourite deer stalker-wearing detective was due for a modern-day improve because the 2010s started, with Mark Gatiss and former Physician Who showrunner Steven Moffat taking cost. On this adaptation, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s Sherlock, performed by Benedict Cumberbatch, resides in present-day London working as a genius consulting detective and dwelling as a “high-functioning sociopath.” Alongside Martin Freeman‘s John Watson, the 2 clear up the inconceivable… so long as Sherlock finds it fascinating sufficient.

At its worst, Sherlock was a disappointing mess that even poked enjoyable at its personal followers. At its finest, Sherlock was a few of the most progressive and breathtaking tv of all time. Maybe the best adaptation of Conan Doyle’s authentic tales when at its peak, Sherlock is a superb amalgamation of the genius of Moffat’s intricate storytelling and a set of characters engrained inside British tradition. At all times prepared to drag the rug from beneath audiences’ toes, Sherlock turned a worldwide phenomenon that also attracts hundreds of thousands of viewers to today.

8 ‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014-2020)

Created by Raphael Bob-Waksberg

If the likes of The Simpsons taught the world that animation had the capability to dive into critical matters, BoJack Horseman perfected it. The collection follows the titular BoJack (Will Arnett), who was as soon as the face of a beloved 80s and 90s sitcom, “Horsin’ Round.” Nonetheless, as time has pale, so has BoJack’s stardom, with the previous superstar now a washed-up no one dwelling in a Hollywood that outgrew him.

To have the ability to steadiness being each hilarious and poignant is the kind of purpose that lots of the nice live-action dramas try for. So for an animation led by a speaking horse to the touch on probably the most human of emotions—from pleasure to guilt—while additionally being darkly comedian is nothing wanting outstanding. Certainly one of Netflix’s finest exhibits, the collection geese and weaves between grownup humor and emotional drama, by no means failing to land a punch when it desires its voice to be heard the loudest.

7 ‘The Leftovers’ (2014-2017)

Created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

Fantasy and thriller exhibits at all times purpose to craft the subsequent nice distinctive premise. Nonetheless, only a few within the 2010s can come near The Leftovers, which poses the easy but oh-so-effective query of what would occur if the world immediately misplaced 2% of its inhabitants? With a small New York group looking for solutions, simply how far will this thriller take them?

From an iconic soundtrack to an unbelievable set of ensemble performances, The Leftovers ticks each field. One way or the other, throughout three seasons, the collection solely picked up one Primetime Emmy nomination, one thing the group will doubtless look again on and squirm. From “Worldwide Murderer” to the Season 1 finale, “The Prodigal Son Returns,” The Leftovers by no means drops the ball on the way in which to an enchanting finale.

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6 ‘Sons of Anarchy’ (2008-2014)

Created by Kurt Sutter

The position that positioned Charlie Hunnam on the map, Sons of Anarchy stars the Brit as Jax, the VP of the titular motorbike membership that lives a life poised between the authorized and the felony. Intent on evolving the membership for the longer term, Jax should battle with Clay (Ron Perlman), the membership’s president, who simply so occurs to even be Jax’s stepfather.

There’s one flawed group that Sons of Anarchy falls into, and that is the group of exhibits that grow to be unbearably bingeable. If potential, it is suggested to take time when watching this collection, as it may be devilishly straightforward to burn by way of every gripping episode. From Hunnam’s star-making efficiency to a breathless penchant for motion, Sons of Anarchy is a must-see.

5 ‘Mad Males’ (2007-2015)

Created by Matthew Weiner

Mad Males may very well be arguably categorized as a noughties collection or one from the 2010s, however, with its single episode peak coming in September 2010’s “The Suitcase,” it greater than earns its cease on this checklist. Mad Males is about within the Sixties at one among New York’s most prestigious advert companies and follows the lifetime of Jon Hamm‘s Don Draper, one of many firm’s finest executives.

An inventive, pitch-perfect evaluation of a bygone period in enterprise, Mad Males by no means shies from drawing parallels with the misogyny of its day and that of at this time. From greed to energy and intercourse to gender, there is no matter out of the query for Mad Males, and it by no means explores any of those with out the utmost dedication to the central drama. Hamm is a delight, with Elisabeth Moss dazzling in her breakout position as Peggy. A winner of 16 Primetime Emmys, Mad Males greater than deserves its place on this checklist.

4 ‘Higher Name Saul’ (2015-2022)

Created by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould

Following the long-lasting Breaking Unhealthy looks like an inconceivable job, however, for a lot of followers of the franchise, Higher Name Saul is superior to its predecessor. The collection follows the titular Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk), also referred to as Jimmy McGill, the small-time legal professional who will sooner or later evolve into the corrupt lawyer of 1 Walter White (Bryan Cranston).

A tragic story supported by the perfect of the crime style, Higher Name Saul can proudly boast a 98% score on overview aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. When it was first introduced {that a} Breaking Unhealthy spinoff can be on its manner, expectations have been already excessive because of Saul Goodman’s unmissable presence within the authentic collection. Nonetheless, nobody may’ve fairly anticipated simply how far this present would push itself, attaining highs that some would see as the perfect of contemporary tv.

3 ‘Sport of Thrones’ (2011-2019)

Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss

At its peak, there was nothing extra exhilarating than Sport of Thrones. Based mostly on George R. R. Martin‘s A Music of Ice and Hearth, Sport of Thrones follows 9 households, every intent on gaining management of Westeros. Nonetheless, concern strikes on the coronary heart of the land when an historical evil threatens to rise once more.

It is nearly inconceivable to fairly summarize Sport of Thrones, such is the expanse of this immersive fantasy collection. By no means earlier than on tv had such feats been explored, with this present pushing boundaries additional than ever earlier than and giving tv a brand new repute as a real rival to Hollywood. Closing season apart, this huge epic rightfully earned numerous reward throughout its run, highlighted by a mammoth 59 Primetime Emmy wins.

2 ‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Created by Craig Mazin

To earn any kind of main accolade is actually worthy of advantage, however to win two Primetime Emmys per episode at a complete of 10 for simply 5 installments is nothing wanting unbelievable. The story, set in April 1986, follows the devastating nuclear catastrophe in Ukraine’s titular energy station and the times, weeks, and months that adopted.

Put together tissues in time for Chernobyl, as there merely will not be a dry eye in the home. To take a real-life catastrophe and do it precise justice is nigh on inconceivable, however HBO’s devastating Chernobyl has maybe come the closest in fashionable tv. From the delicate but unflinching manner it offers with the occasion itself to the intricate, emotional dive into the gutwrenchingly relatable manner lives have been affected afterward, there actually is nothing else fairly like Chernobyl.

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1 ‘Breaking Unhealthy’ (2008-2013)

Created by Vince Gilligan

Merely put, Breaking Unhealthy modified tv perpetually. The story of Bryan Cranston‘s terminally unwell Walter White, a chemistry instructor in Albuquerque, evolving right into a drug lord on the mission of constructing funds to assist his household after he dies proved unmissable. Alongside former pupil Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), the pair’s meth enterprise spirals uncontrolled because the transformation of man into insanity unfolds earlier than viewers’ very eyes.

With 16 Primetime Emmys to its identify, it is troublesome to argue in opposition to Breaking Unhealthy being the perfect drama of the 2010s. From its very first engaging episode, this freight prepare powers towards a masterful finale, selecting up an array of iconic characters alongside the way in which. Nonetheless, it’s Cranston’s career-defining efficiency as Walter White that stands as, not simply the most effective within the collection, however maybe the most effective to ever grace the small display.

NEXT: The Finest TV Dramas of All Time, Ranked