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- With the recent release of the latest season of Futurama — one of the best animated shows still streaming, making a memorable comeback after ten years — viewers may be wondering what great shows to watch while waiting for new episodes to drop every Monday. On Reddit, TV enthusiasts are happy to lend a hand and suggest a few best TV shows that certainly keep boredom at bay, from The Simpsons to Breaking Bad.
Whenever one is bored and wondering what to binge-watch, Reddit threads are ultimately a surprisingly easy way to figure out what to stream. When it comes to great TV shows, several Redditors have made their opinions clear on the platform and can not recommend these wide-ranged series enough.
From feel-good, light-hearted sit-coms that help viewers forget about everything to critically-acclaimed dramas with intense storylines, Reddit's selection of TV shows counts with several goodies. According to several users on the website, there are some that deserve to be among the top 10 best series of all time.
Updated on August 27, 2023, by Daniela Gama:
With the recent release of the latest season of Futurama — one of the best animated shows still streaming, making a memorable comeback after ten years — viewers may be wondering what great shows to watch while waiting for new episodes to drop every Monday. On Reddit, TV enthusiasts are happy to lend a hand and suggest a few best TV shows that certainly keep boredom at bay, from The Simpsons to Breaking Bad.
20 'Futurama' (1999 - 2023)
It is evident that Futurama is a fan favorite, and proof of that is how, after all these years, the series remains a very much talked-about one in the TV industry. A workplace sitcom at its core, the David X. Cohen and Matt Groening series follows the misadventures of Philip J. Fry, a slacker who is cryogenically preserved for 1,000 years and revived on December 31, 2999.
On Reddit, many users agree that "Futurama is one of the best animated shows ever created," as the now-deleted Redditor wrote. "If you asked me to pick my favorite TV show of all time, it would take me one nanosecond. Futurama, baby. You'll always be my number one," MeatShield420 commented. Featuring wry humor and memorable characters, this incredible and highly referenced show is totally worthwhile.
19 'The Simpsons' (1989 - )
One of the oldest series still running, The Simpsons is assuredly a part of many users' top 10 series of all time. The show, which hit the small screens for the first time in 1989, satirizes American life and culture by focusing on the Simpson family, consisting of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie.
Due to its massive popularity and unforgettable animation (including memorable Simpsons characters), everyone has likely already heard about the highly entertaining series. In fact, on a Reddit post, joswie makes a point to highlight that the Matt Groening show "is engrained in the popular consciousness."
18 'Lost' (2004 - 2010)
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Lost is highly regarded as a revolutionary series for the time it came out by introducing television audiences to cliffhangers and impeccable worldbuilding. In addition to this, it also influenced other TV creators that followed and revitalized ABC, as it helped reverse its fortunes. This breakthrough hit by Damon Lindelof follows a group of characters' story of survival in the aftermath of a plane crash on a mysterious island.
Easily one of the best TV series – especially in the sci-fi genre – this enthralling series is guaranteed to offer audiences a thrilling time with its absorbing mystery and compelling narrative. "Loving all the love for Lost. I feel as the show gets older and older, more people will appreciate it," SerDire wrote when a Reddit user mentioned the series.
17 'Scrubs' (2001 - 2010)
Scrubs follows intern John "J.D." Dorian's (Zach Braff) exciting journey at Sacred Heart Hospital in California, where he gets to learn about the overwhelming world of medicine. Throughout the years, this Bill Lawrence dramedy has captured many hearts and is now considered one of the finest pieces of TV of its genre.
Many Reddit users agree that the NBC series is top-tier, and simplesouvenir shares this opinion. According to them, Scrubs is "a comedy that can make you laugh as easily as it can make you cry." Indeed, there's no shortage of bittersweet episodes on the show that highlight how surprisingly complex it can be.
16 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' (2005 - 2008)
A gigantic Nickelodeon hit, Avatar: The Last Airbender exceeded expectations by delivering top-tier animation, a unique concept, and terrific execution. The storyline follows a young boy who goes on a quest to fulfill his duty as the Avatar and bring peace to the world with the help of his friends.
The Last Airbender's influence is easily noticeable; proof of that is the upcoming Netflix live-action Avatar series. Suited for all ages, this engaging show is the best way to keep boredom at bay. The show takes part in several users' lists, including in Deadhouse_Gates' comment, which reads "Avatar: The Last Airbender" in the very first place.
15 'The Leftovers' (2014 - 2017)
Based on the book by Tom Perrota, The Leftovers explores the lives of a group of people in a small town near New York post the disappearance of 2% of the global human population. Captivating and soul-stirring, the underrated 2014 series from HBO is the perfect watch for those who enjoy a mix of drama, fantasy, and thriller.
On Reddit, Damon Lindelof's acclaimed series is a part of many "best TV shows" lists. According to tonysoprano1569, there are countless great things about the show, starting from "the incredible cinematography & visuals, the opening themes, the perfect score by Max Ritcher, the amazing character & their dynamics," all the way down to the incredible performances and "top-notch dialogue & character development."
14 'Six Feet Under' (2001 - 2005)
Six Feet Under is an enthralling HBO original dramatic series created and produced by Alan Ball. Revolving around the Fishers, a very real dysfunctional family with very real responsibilities to deal with (including their small funeral business), the brilliantly-told show has several fans on multiple Reddit threads.
"Six Feet Under was the first series in which I really connected with the characters," inmynothing explains. "I loved the Fisher family, and the show is widely recognized for having one of the most memorable finales of all time." It's a series that holds up incredibly well and does an exceptional job of tackling grief.
13 'The Twilight Zone' (1959 - 1964)
The Twilight Zone is another incredibly influential series for the time it premiered. Created by Rod Serling, the classic science fiction anthology show depicts several futuristic scenarios and situations, often involving telepathy, alien invasions, dreams, life, death, and space and time travel.
On the platform, Typical_Humanoid ranks the incredible "The Twilight Zone" high on their list. No doubt, the 1959 show still holds up today as it was tremendously ahead of its time by the time it was released; the brilliant way it addresses provocative and intellectually stimulating themes plays a role in it.
12 'The Office' (2005 - 2013)
This internationally loved mockumentary focuses on a group of regular office workers, capturing their day-to-day thoughts, strikes of boredom, and inappropriate behavior. The Office is undoubtedly the "no plot, just vibes" series everyone needs in their lives, especially when looking for a good laugh.
The Steve Carrell-led show is one of the most hilarious and quotable pieces of television to date, delivering comedic elements is not the only thing the series excels at. The Office also features realistic fictional characters that are extremely easy for the viewer to connect with: "Out of every show I've seen, I've never connected to a show's characters like I have with The Office," remarks simplesouvenir.
11 'The Americans' (2013 - 2018)
This award-winning show created by Joe Weisberg is a series set in the 1980s and delves into the intricate marriage of two KGB spies (Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys) who are posing as Americans in suburban Washington D.C. during the Reagan administration.
The Americans is assuredly, and understandably, a highly regarded show, with many people praising its enthralling storyline, complex characters, and an absolutely incredible score. "Banger ass soundtrack in the series too. Episodes featured songs from Echo & The Bunnymen, Talking Heads, Roxy Music, Fleetwood Mac, The Cure, Leonard Cohen & Elton John," MediaShare2000 noted. "Loved this show & the cast!"
10 'Mr. Robot' (2015 - 2019)
It's difficult not to be captivated by Mr. Robot, a 2015 TV series starring Rami Malek as a troubled cyber-security engineer and hacker who becomes a major player in a high-stakes battle for world power. Alongside his secretive allies, he aims to dismantle the corrupt corporation where he's employed.
On the platform, there is nothing but praise for the Sam Esmail series; ImbuedChaos even names it "the best show to rewatch of all time after your initial viewing," adding that "very few shows manage to recontextualize the entire series with a series finale in a way that makes the entire thing worth watching again and again."
9 'Fargo' (2014 - 2023)
This captivating television series, based on the 1996 film with the same title, portrays stories of deceit, suspense, and homicide in the icy regions of Minnesota. Each of these narratives inexplicably connects to Fargo in some way or another.
Fargo is a massive success among critics and general audiences, with a good number of people truly considering it one of the best pieces of television ever made. "It's fantastic. Each season is so different from the last, yet the tone and all is consistent throughout," jaybeau1979 commented. "Lots of nods to the movie and the Coen Bros. movies in general, but also its own thing."
8 'True Detective' (2014 -)
True Detective is a compelling anthology series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto. It features police investigations that uncover personal and professional secrets of those involved, whether they are within or outside the law.
Although the entirety of the critically acclaimed series so far is solid, the first season seems to get the most love, and for good reason. "The chemistry between Woody [Harrelson] and Matthew [McConaughey] is incredible. The acting on a whole is so incredible and realistic from literally everyone it feels like watching a true crime documentary," Astrophlyte highlighted in their OP.
7 'Succession' (2018 - 2023)
Focusing on the wealthy Roy family, the owners of Waystar RoyCo, a global media and entertainment conglomerate, this Jesse Armstrong social commentary depicts the many family members, essentially siblings, fighting for control over the company when the family's patriarch (Brian Cox) health declines.
Having finally reached its end, it is safe to say that Succession is one of the best TV series of all time, and many Redditors agree for all kinds of reasons. As Ehollen1328 says, "The writing is so incredible. Might be overall one of the best written shows I've ever seen." Additionally, Chazzyphant highlights the show's ability to "position and reposition chess players on the same chess board multiple ways and have it manage to be just as tense and engaging as the first set up."
6 'Band of Brothers' (2001)
This American war binge-worthy miniseries based on Stephen E. Ambrose's 1992 non-fiction book of the same name is not only a fan-favorite but also a critically-acclaimed series with an incredibly talented cast. Band of Brothers is a prized drama show that follows the Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division's mission in World War II.
"The best miniseries to ever air. This show perfectly captured what it set out to. Great production value which was obvious for an HBO show. And great scenes throughout this amazing miniseries," says tonysoprano1569 on the platform, highlighting the reasons the limited series stands out from its oversaturated genre.
5 'Mad Men' (2007 - 2015)
Following Donald Draper (Jon Hamm), a very talented yet mysterious executive of a New York ad agency in the early '60s, this prestigious drama created by Matthew Weiner seems to be just as good as everyone says it is. With a highly talented cast, Mad Men is unsurprisingly one of Reddit's favorite series and is often mentioned as one of the best TV shows ever.
As Midwest__Misanthrope comments, "it's a show that lends itself to rewatch incredibly well. It’s not plot driven but character/dialogue driven. There will be scenes where I’m glued to the screen and it’s just two characters talking, and not even talking about any major story beat or anything, just a normal conversation." These frantic dialogues and memorable characters have made the series so well-loved, as proven by its still-solid fanbase on various social media platforms.
4 'The Wire' (2002 - 2008)
Often considered one of the best crime thriller series of all time, The Wire explores Baltimore's drug scene, offering an in-depth look as seen through the eyes of drug dealers, law enforcement, politicians, the media, and everyday citizens.
When Redditors were asked about their 3 top TV shows of all time, David Simon's series was mentioned in over 50 comments. "Near perfect in every aspect. From writing, themes & characters, to the technical. It's shot & edited great. And the sound mixing & editing are superb," MN-Warrior remarks.
3 'Game of Thrones' (2011 - 2019)
Although a major part of the audience was not pleased with its finale, Game of Thrones remains a highly popular series with an unmatched fanbase. One of the greatest TV shows of all time, GoT is based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin. David Benioff and D.B. Weiss' famous series depicts the fight of nine noble families who seek to control the lands of Westeros.
On Reddit, Heimersleep says, "The writing is superb, everything is. Yes, there was a drop-off and if the final season hit, it would be indisputable for me. However, it still is number 1 for me because of its impact on my life and how big a part of my life it was… and I loved every minute of being a part of the conversation while it was running."
2 'The Sopranos' (1999 - 2007)
There is hardly anyone who has yet to hear about The Sopranos, and that fact alone speaks for itself. The Sopranos was a series ahead of its time and is always present in any discussion of the best TV shows of all time – it was also HBO's most iconic "Sunday night" series. David Chase's crime drama follows the turbulent life of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) and his struggles with personal and professional issues.
An essential to almost every Redditor, the incredible TV drama receives high praise on the platform: "It's groundbreaking TV that should be watched by all," says Chazzyphant. On another post, tonysoprano1569 adds: "The show that set the precedent for TV shows going forward."
1 'Breaking Bad' (2008 - 2013)
After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, an overqualified high-school chemistry teacher (played by Bryan Cranston) turns to manufacturing and selling methamphetamine with a former student (Aaron Paul) in Vince Gilligan's critically acclaimed series.
Mentioned in over 70 lists on a single Reddit thread, Breaking Bad's legacy as one of the best television series to date endures, making it to almost everyone's top 10 TV shows of all time lists. "The BB characters aren’t particularly deep but it’s a load of fun to watch them navigate the crazy plot. I actually really hate Walter White but watching him weasel his way out of life and death situations was pure entertainment," one Redditor commented. There's also no shortage of posts like tuggertheboat's on the platform, which confidently asserts that "Breaking Bad is without a doubt the best TV show ever made" because "every actor is amazing, every scene is engaging and important to the plot, the little details that follow later into the plot." What's not to love?