The Official "Best TV Show" Thread

[Joshin U]

These are the shows that are often considered the best (drama) TV shows of all time.  Obviously, taste is subjective, but which of these do you think is the BEST TV Show (not necessarily your favorite) you've seen?

Feel free to recommend others to add if you feel another option is a viable contender 

[Adami]

Deadwood.


Though either The Wire or Soprano's is going to win this.

[Joshin U]

Deadwood.


Though either The Wire or Soprano's is going to win this.

Good call. Added.

[BlobVanDam]

I don't watch any of these. I saw the first season or so of Lost then gave up, and I saw the first episode of GoT and never continued. Never saw the rest.

[KevShmev]

I still need to see The Wire.  Same for Dexter, which I am shocked isn't an option here.

Of those I have seen, The Sopranos has been my number 1 without question, but Breaking Bad is now pretty damn close.

[RuRoRul]

The Shield.

It is close between it and The Wire but The Shield is my personal favourite.

Great selection by the way  Only one of these I haven't seen and have no intention of watching is Mad Men; I've got Deadwood on DVD but haven't watched it yet...

[Joshin U]

I still need to see The Wire.  Same for Dexter, which I am shocked isn't an option here.

Of those I have seen, The Sopranos has been my number 1 without question, but Breaking Bad is now pretty damn close.

I don't watch Dexter either, but from what I heard, that last few seasons have been subpar.  Just my line of thought.

[RuRoRul]

I still need to see The Wire.  Same for Dexter, which I am shocked isn't an option here.

Of those I have seen, The Sopranos has been my number 1 without question, but Breaking Bad is now pretty damn close.

I don't watch Dexter either, but from what I heard, that last few seasons have been subpar.  Just my line of thought.

Dexter is very popular but I don't think it is lauded as one of the best shows ever the way most of these shows are.

Surprised (and pleased!) The Shield even made the list, it is often overlooked.

[Phoenix87x]

The Sopranos up til season 4

[Joshin U]

For me its Seinfeld

Not exactly a drama  but a great show nonetheless.

[sueño]

I've only seen "Lost" and "Mad Men".

They are both SO different it's really hard to choose a "best"...except for the lame ending of "Lost".   

So, I'll have to go with "Mad Men".  It's great.  I'm sorry "Seinfeld" isn't in -- it is THE BEST SHOW EVER!!!! 

But thanks for the above reccos..."Sopranos" is in the Netflix queue.

[senecadawg2]

I haven't seen Mad Men or The Shield, but this is how I'd rank the rest.

1. The Wire


2. The Sopranos

3a. Game of Thrones
3b. Breaking Bad
4. Lost
5. Deadwood

It's also worth noting that if it was added, I may put Six Feet Under at third behind The Sopranos.

[TioJorge]

House, M.D.

I've seen each episode so much, I find myself quoting parts randomly and can shamelessly quote much of it, and still I find myself seeing new quirks to Laurie or Leonard's performances. Breaking Bad is right behind it, but there's times when that show is too much for me, too dark or, for lack of a better word, stressful. House is compelling, interesting, and can still be watched in a relaxed state and give you a laugh, it's got it all. There will never be a show that I'm as in love with the characters and the story, I don't think.

[KevShmev]

The Sopranos up til season 4

 

Season 5 was one of the best Sopranos seasons, despite the awfulness of In Camelot.

[jingle.boy]

If you're gonna have a poll about 'the best ever', 8 options is rather limiting.  Of the ones you listed, I've watched a couple episodes of Breaking Bad.

For me, Fringe and Jericho are the best of the modern era.  All time... ER and Star Trek TNG get my votes.  Honorable mention to NYPD blue (the Caruso years).

[Jaq]

Eight options, all from the last twenty years, as the best dramas of all time.

Sigh. 

[Joshin U]

Eight options, all from the last twenty years, as the best dramas of all time.

Sigh. 

These are the shows most often quoted in "best of" lists. I'm not trying to exclude older shows, I'm just going on popular opinion and personal viewing experience. 

[KevShmev]

Eight options, all from the last twenty years, as the best dramas of all time.

Sigh. 

Yeah, where in the hell is The A-Team?

[jingle.boy]

Eight options, all from the last twenty years, as the best dramas of all time.

Sigh. 

Yeah, where in the hell is The A-Team?

And The Greatest American Hero.  Robert Culp was a gem.

And last twenty years?  Which of these goes back to 1993?  These are all within the 2000s.

[Chino]

The first 2 Seasons of Lost > Than any other show.

Complete Series of Lost < Breaking Bad

[KevShmev]

Season 2 of The Sopranos > any other season of any TV series ever

[senecadawg2]

Season 2 of The Sopranos > any other season of any TV series ever

I noticed you said you hadn't seen The Wire yet  ...

With that out of the way, I agree on The Sopranos. Compared to the others on the list (excluding The Wire), it's scope in setting, and incredible breadth of fascinating, well developed characters is far and away the most impressive. Breaking Bad is an addicting story, that's for sure. But it's going to take one helluva final season for it to come close to rivaling the greatness of The Sopranos.

[GuineaPig]

Of these 8:
1. The Wire
2. Deadwood
3. Mad Men

The clear best three, imo.  Near to perfection.

Then:
4. The Sopranos
5. Breaking Bad

Excellent, with some notable flaws.

After:
6. The Shield
7. Game of Thrones
8. Lost

Never quite elevate themselves compared to the other shows.  Each are entertaining but have obvious flaws.

[senecadawg2]

Deadwood was great, it really was... But the fact that it wasn't given a proper ending, on it's own terms, left me really disappointed. Not it's fault, I know, but I can't help thinking about what 'could have been', which only lessens the effect of what was.

[KevShmev]

Season 2 of The Sopranos > any other season of any TV series ever

I noticed you said you hadn't seen The Wire yet  ...

 

Well, when I say 'ever," I obviously mean, of the ones I have seen.

Also, I know many rave over the original Twilight Zone.

[kirksnosehair]

Good list.


Out of the ones here I'd pick Sopranos, Breaking Bad and Mad Men as the top 3.  The Shield was really good too.  Haven't seen Deadwood or Game of Thrones yet.  The Wire was OK, I guess.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

ER

[Kotowboy]

* Enters Thread*

* Scans options *

* Has never watched any of them *

* Leaves *

[sueño]

* Enters Thread*

* Scans options *

* Has never watched any of them *

* Leaves *

Maybe you could share some of your own?

Or discover some new gems?

So abrupt you are!   

[KevShmev]

Television dramas have really come a long way.  I remember when I was growing up, the best dramas were considered to be shows like Dallas, Dynasty, Cagney and Lacey and Murder, She Wrote.

[sueño]

Television dramas have really come a long way.  I remember when I was growing up, the best dramas were considered to be shows like Dallas, Dynasty, Cagney and Lacey and Murder, She Wrote.

blech...

EDIT:  What are a couple of VERY good dramas (albeit with seasons that are TOO SHORT!!!!    ) are BBC's "Luther" and "Sherlock". 

They've just aired the last of Luther's third season (just FOUR FLIPPIN' EPISODES!!!!    ) and every one is so compelling I can barely breathe thru an entire episode.  Season's 1 and 2 are on Netflix...I highly recommend!

"Sherlock" is the same -- high quality writing, acting, filming...only six episodes across two seasons.  It's ridiculous. 

[El Barto]

Haven't watched enough of these to feel right voting, but do want to chime in that Breaking Bad is a better show than the Sopranos. Walter White's a better character than Tony Soprano, as are most of the supporting cast. Furthermore, part of what I always found appealing with these sorts of shows is the black humor. The Sopranos was at it's best when it was making you laugh at awful things. Breaking Bad pulled that off more often, IMO.

And 737 Down Over ABQ is just so damned inspired it's mind boggling. This Gilligan fellow really seems to have taken this to another level from David Chase.

[senecadawg2]

Walter White's a better character than Tony Soprano, as are most of the supporting cast.

I take issue with this. When it comes to the protagonists, they are both phenomenal characters in there own way and I feel dirty comparing them. Walter's transformation as a character over the course of the show has been done really well, but Tony Soprano's constant struggle to balance the two 'families' is just as interesting imho. Also, for what it's worth, I think James Gandolfini did a better acting job in his respective role.

Putting that aside, I do think the supporting casts are easier to compare. Breaking Bad's is good, no denying that. Saul is a hilarious character, BUT he's kind of one-dimensional. Walt Junior is kind of useless as a character. Wifey is alright, I suppose, but I can honestly say I've not once been surprised by her. Which really just leaves Hank and Jesse: two very good characters.

The Sopranos supporting cast has more than two very good characters. And the vast majority of the supporting characters are both well developed and multi-faceted. It's subjective, I know, but I would label Chistopher Moltisanti, Tony Blundetto, Dr. Melfi, Adriana, and Junior Soprano all as very good characters on par with Hank and Jesse (with Chris being my favorite of them all). Throw in some Paulie Walnuts, Carmela Soprano, Silvio Dante, Big Pussy, and you have, arguably, the greatest ensemble cast to ever appear on television. I'll admit, the Soprano children are kind of a pain in the ass, but the rest more than make up for that.

[KevShmev]

I mostly agree.  If you take the two shows and rank the actors in order of who did the best job, if Gandolfini was 1a and Cranston 1b, I don't think it would be unreasonable to say Edie Falco was 1c; she was that awesome in playing Carmela.  Sure, a lot of the wise guy roles were played by Italian-looking actors who could only play wise guy roles (Vito!), but Tony, Carmela, Junior and Christopher were all fabulous characters played by fabulous actors. 

[senecadawg2]

As a character Carmela didn't excite me too much, but Edie Falco did a really phenomenal acting job.