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The 8 Greatest TV Shows of All Time to Binge Watch

Television shows have captivated audiences for decades. But which shows stand out from the rest as truly the best of the best? This definitive ranking identifies the 15 TV series that have not only entertained legions of fans but also made a lasting impact on popular culture.

Methodology for Rankings

Determining the greatest television shows requires analyzing a variety of factors:

• Critical Acclaim: Awards won and critic reviews assessing quality of writing, directing, acting.
• Viewer Ratings: Both historical ratings showing popularity at the time as well as modern online fan ratings.
• Cultural Influence: How much the show resonated in society with iconic characters, catchphrases, and themes.
• Rewatch Value: How enjoyable the series remains after repeated viewings.

Taking all these criteria into account allows for an evidence-based ranking of the most beloved, highest quality, and most impactful television shows to grace the small screen.

Now that evaluation metrics have been established, here are supreme leaderboard.

1. Top TV Dramas

When it comes to primetime television dramas, a number of series stand out for their complex storylines, multi-dimensional characters, creative vision, and ability to resonate with viewers year after year. The following three shows represent the gold standard of dramatic television.

#3 The Sopranos

• Premiered on HBO in 1999
• Focused on New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano balancing family and crime family conflicts
• Praised for its cinema-quality writing, directing, and acting
• Featured an innovative serialized structure with an overarching narrative
• Has a controversial, ambiguous ending but still considered one of the greats
• Helped usher in a new golden age of seriously-minded, risk-taking drama series

The Sopranos set a new bar for what audiences could expect from television. It proved that shows did not require procedural "case of the week" formats but could instead deliver film-like stories open to interpretation - all while securing viewer loyalty.

#2 Breaking Bad

• Aired on AMC from 2008 to 2013
• Follows the transformation of a high school chemistry teacher into a drug kingpin
• Features exceptional acting and complex character development
• Offers a creative premise that evolves in powerful ways season after season
• Includes superb cinematography and pacing in its storytelling
• Secured its legacy by concluding the series at the peak of its powers

Breaking Bad demonstrated that new TV series could still tell bold, game-changing stories. As Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul delivered Emmy-caliber performances, Vince Gilligan guided the trajectory of Walter White's moral descent in wholly unexpected ways. From bottoms-up worldbuilding to connections with the digital age, Breaking Bad excelled on every level.

#1 The Wire

• Created by David Simon for HBO, airing 2002-2008
• Set in Baltimore and focused on the intersecting illicit drug economies and law enforcement
• Features realistic and nuanced police, drug dealers, addicts, and politicians
• Plots are crafted more like a novel than TV with every detail mattering
• Show received critical acclaim for authentic tone but mainstream audiences lagged
• Today considered revolutionary in its serialized depth exploring systemic urban decay

Offering sociopolitical commentary with Shakespearean undertones, The Wire transformed television conventions yet again with its novelistic tone. As viewers waited for traditional payoffs, the series instead focused on immersing audiences in its dense yet intricately constructed worlds. No other series has matched its creative ambition, intricate plotting, or hard truths.

2. Top TV Comedies

While television excels at delivering complex dramatic stories, the best comedy series provide consistent humor while also creating iconic characters that feel like friends. The bar for comedy greatness involves laugh-out-loud jokes, celebrity guest appearances, quotable catchphrases, and memory season moments.

#3 Seinfeld

• The "show about nothing" aired on NBC from 1989 to 1998
• Follows stand-up comedian Jerry and eccentric friends navigating NYC
• Known for its hilarious cultural observations in a triviality-obsessed era
• Features gems like Soup Nazi, puffy shirt, and Bubble Boy episodes
• Strong writing and cast chemistry firmly cemented its popular legacy
• Still maintains relevance today with endless pop culture references

Seinfeld embodied a new type of postmodern sitcom centered on minutiae and wry takes on daily annoyances. As a "hangout show," audiences tuned in not for stories but rather to keep watching their favorite foursome riff off each other. The show firmly resides in the comedy pantheon due to this unique premise.

#2 Friends

• Ensemble sitcom aired on NBC from 1994 to 2004
• Follows six tight-knit friends in New York City experiencing new adulthood
• Struck major chord with Generation X and Millennials
• Humor focused less on pure jokes than relationships/personalities
• Masala of heartwarming camaraderie and light romance with mass appeal
• Cultural staying power evidenced by dance of meme references

As a showcase of authentic bonding between relatable archetypes, Friends succeeded wildly due to its likable cast and focus on the ups/downs of Found Family. It endures through syndication thanks to its soothing presence. Fans return to spend time in a New York inhabited by their television soulmates.

#1 The Simpsons

• Longest-running sitcom premiered on Fox in 1989
• Animated series follows working-class Springfield's Simpson family
• Distinct animation style full of visual gags and absurd elements
• Expert satire and parody taking on politics, media, culture over decades
• Homer's cartoon buffoonery provides reliable laughs and warmth
• Hundreds of unique episodes with deep bench of characters/locales

The Simpsons reinvented possibilities for irreverent humor on television by using animation to take imaginative risks live-action could not. With decades crafting comedy masterpieces that intelligently skewer society's eccentricities while capturing familial dysfunction, Springfield forever serves as the sitcom's quirky heart.

3. Top Cult Dramas

Beyond mainstream hits reside the cult favorites - shows that attract passionate followings through their unorthodox themes, complex mythologies, or stylistic innovations. While they may miss out on awards or high viewership, these creative gems inspire devotion typically reserved for niche subcultures.

#2 Mad Men

• Aired on AMC from 2007 to 2015
• Period drama focusing on NYC ad agency in early 1960s
• Standouts include set design, visuals, costumes transporting viewers back in time
• Subtle performances and writing earned immense critical praise
• Never a ratings smash but cultural footprint still visible in fashion/design
• Concludes with an ambiguous ending perfect for debate and analysis

For presenting American archetypes amid seismic cultural change, Mad Men assumed an early streaming successor role to classics like The Twilight Zone. Unfurling mysteries against gorgeous mid-century tableaus, audiences time-traveled along with mysterious protagonist Don Draper against lush visuals and consonant storytelling.

#1 Game of Thrones

• Fantasy series aired 2011-2019 on HBO
• Adapted epic medieval struggle for power and dominance
• Garnered attention for bloody battles and daring storytelling risks
• Huge crossover fandom brought fantasy genre into mainstream
• Final seasons prove divisive among critics and book fans
• Nevertheless demonstrates unprecedented global cultural footprint

In terms of expanding television's scope and scale while engaging mass audiences, no series traveled further than the television adaptation of George R.R. Martin's fantasy book series. Though showrunners took controversial liberties late in the show's run, fan conventions, water cooler chatter, and online discourse confirm no media property more completely captivated the world this century.

Honorable Mentions

While the above shows represent the cream of the crop, the following series deserve praise for making their own unique marks on the television landscape:

• Friday Night Lights - Excelled at emotional storylines, strong character development, and realistic football action.
• Star Trek - The iconic sci-fi series that has lived long and prospered by influencing culture.
• Saturday Night Live - Comedy launchpad for stars and sketches that penetrate the zeitgeist.

Conclusion

In closing, this definitive ranking identifies the 8 shows that have not only enthralled viewers but left the deepest impressions across generations. From complex antihero portraits to animated satire, police procedural realism to quantum leaps in fantasy worldbuilding, the shows highlighted here represent the best of the best. Television binge-watching often feels like comfort food, but it can also be novelistic, cinematic and culturally transcendent. These series expose the full power and potential of a writer’s room when firing on all cylinders.