Many TV show masterpieces have become classics, introducing new language and fashion trends into popular culture, and even making their actors famous. The best TV shows of all time are often award-winners and cultural icons, but others have had an even greater impact on the world. Some groundbreaking TV shows have changed the way we watch TV.
As is proven by many of the classic TV shows that are hard to watch today, the TV landscape is constantly shifting. Pioneering earlier TV shows often changed the themes that were common on TV by introducing new ideas and formats. However, with the rise and popularity of streaming services, several masterpiece TV shows have reshaped the industry in other ways.
Twin Peaks
Introduced Surrealism To Mainstream TV
Agent Cooper holding his tape recorder and standing next to a tree in a promo image for Twin Peaks
Without Twin Peaks, shows like Hannibal, American Horror Story, and even Desperate Housewives would not exist. The bizarre genre-mixing detective show focused on the dark events happening in a small town in which a murder had taken place. Virtually every scene was shot as cinematic art, the characters behaved bizarrely, and rather than aiming for realism, the show was conceptual and mind-bending.
Beverley Hills, 90210
Treated Teen Issues Seriously
The Beverley Hills 90210 Cast
Teen drama shows existed before Beverley Hills, 90210, but it was the show that popularized the genre. It not only targeted a teen audience but spoke at their level. Beverley Hills, 90210 addressed real issues like teen pregnancy, drug use, and peer pressure, taking them seriously without patronizing, which opened the doors for shows like Skins and Euphoria.
The Wire
Put Crime Into Context
Omar sitting on a bench in The Wire
Before The Wire, many police procedurals and crime dramas treated the criminals as one-dimensional characters. While some briefly addressed a few tragic backgrounds, The Wire took an entirely new direction. The show created iconic antiheroes like Omar, while acting as a commentary on the social aspect of crime, resulting in The Wire having several masterpiece episodes, and sparking a more nuanced approach to the genre.
The Twilight Zone
Used Sci-Fi And Horror As A Social Commentary
Hall and The Cat Lady in The Twilight Zone's Perchance to Dream
While the sci-fi genre is regularly used as social commentary, The Twilight Zone used the approach to become a cultural phenomenon, and the phrase "twilight zone" is still used to describe the uncanny today. The show was a groundbreaking horror that broke the mold, using its short episodes to address topics like racism and class in a format that Black Mirror would continue years later.
Sesame Street
Revolutionized Children's TV Through Learning
Sesame Street's Bert and Ernie riding in tire swing together
Through lovable characters like Bert and Ernie, and the Count, who taught children math, Sesame Street started with the understanding that children enjoy learning. This format revolutionized children's TV and turned Sesame Street into one of the most important TV shows of all time. Sesame Street even tackled heavy topics that other kids' shows wouldn't touch.
Sesame Street took potentially complex themes like death, empathy, diversity, and poverty, and presented them in a format that children could understand. This was often helped by celebrity guests, including James Gandolfini, Katy Perry, and First Lady Michelle Obama. The show continues its mission to this day, even introducing four-year-old Julia, the first autistic character on Sesame Street.
Breaking Bad
Popularized The Antihero
Bryan Cranston as Walter White in Breaking Bad
Walter White is arguably one of the best TV antiheroes of all time. While antiheroes appear in virtually every genre, Breaking Bad popularized the character type in a way that had not been seen before. Very few characters in Breaking Bad were easy to categorize as good and bad, yet every one was compelling, with a tightly written story arc that rarely included redemption.
The X-Files
Changed Women's Career Paths Through The Scully Effect
The X-Files – "Never Again"
The importance of seeing ourselves represented onscreen is quite well acknowledged, and no show proved this as clearly as The X-Files. The sci-fi police procedural featured the medical doctor Dana Scully, a competent and intelligent investigator working in a male-dominated field, and succeeding. So many women were inspired to pursue STEM careers after The X-Files
Squid Game
Proved That Non-English Language Shows Could Succeed
The players looking worried in Squid Game
The vast majority of shows on Netflix have been in English, and remarkably few international series have achieved mainstream success on the platform — until Squid Game. The South Korean dystopian horror is not just one of the best non-English Netflix shows, but one of the best on the platform, sparking a cultural craze for merchandise and even copycat games without the death toll.
I Love Lucy
Multi-Camera Filming Style
Lucy in her superman costume in I Love Lucy
Lucille Ball revolutionized aspects of TV on her own, but I Love Lucy changed the TV landscape with its new filming technique. Filming a sitcom in front of a live audience and using three cameras to capture different angles simultaneously is a common practice now, but this approach made I Love Lucy the most influential sitcom of its decade, and arguably of all time.
M*A*S*H*
Popularized The Dramedy
M*A*S*H finale, as all the soldiers say goodbye by saluting
The military sitcom M*A*S*H* blended dark humor with drama, and was as likely to make its audience cry as laugh. Dark comedy is a popular format now, but M*A*S*H* was a trailblazer. It was funny, but did not skim over the horrors of war, all leading to M*A*S*H*'s controversial death, which people still talk about.
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Seinfeld
Changed The Way Sitcoms Are Written
George in Mr Lippman's office in Seinfeld
Seinfeld is one of the best TV sitcoms of all time, and sparked a trend in sitcoms that is still used now. Before Seinfeld, most sitcoms had a running story and a joke that went alongside it. However, Seinfeld's story and jokes all tie in together, creating multiple running gags and plotlines within the same episode.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Introduced The Monster-Of-The-Week Format
Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) looking nervous on the college steps in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
The monster-of-the-week format is now such a TV staple that it may be surprising to know it is thought to have originated with Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show gave Buffy a new monster to tackle each week, keeping the story fresh and interesting while larger plot arcs played out. This is arguably the most groundbreaking, but Buffy made other changes to the TV industry.
Many episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer are perfect for their worldbuilding and humor, and the language used in the show made it into pop culture. Buffy was a strong female protagonist who was also well-rounded, with moments of vulnerability. She raised the bar for other TV shows, like Charmed and Wynonna Earp, changing the way in which women were written.
Black Mirror
Introduced Interactive TV To Streaming
Stefan, Colin, and Mohan looking at a computer in Black Mirror Bandersnatch.
Dallas
Popularized The Cliffhanger Ending
Victoria Principal and Patrick Duffy in Dallas standing outside looking serious
Dallas changed TV forever when the show's most famous episode ended on a cliffhanger. While Dallas was not the first show to do this, it was the most popular and well-known, and the question of "Who shot J.R.?" ended up both defining the show and inspiring others. Virtually every TV show now uses cliffhangers, with Peaky Blinders ending each season with one.
Game of Thrones
Treated Each Episode Like A High-Budget Movie
Emilia Clarke as Daenerys frowning in Game of Thrones season 1
The fantasy epic Game of Thrones introduced spectacular special effects and a cinematic style to each episode, giving the show a distinctive look and raising the bar for TV productions. While the controversial ending was a low point for the show, many episodes were still visually stunning. Game of Thrones redefined the fantasy genre, showing what could be done with ambition and a high budget.
The Simpsons
Brought Animation To Mainstream TV
Marge talks in the car as Bart, Maggie, Lisa, and Homer listen in The Simpsons (Image courtest of Everett)
The Simpsons is one of the longest-running TV shows of all time, both celebrating and parodying pop culture. Because many Simpsons episodes are considered masterpieces, it is surprising to remember that adult-oriented animated shows were not popular at the time the series aired. The Simpsons proved that animation was not just for kids, opening the door for TV shows like Family Guy and BoJack Horseman.
Orange Is The New Black
Established The Concept Of Binge-Watching
Cindy (Adrienne C. Moore) and Taystee (Danielle Brooks) smiling at each other in Orange is the New Black
Orange Is the New Black is a must-watch Netflix show, as it helped to establish the relatively new concept of binge-watching. When Netflix started releasing entire seasons at once, Orange Is the New Black was so addictive that people couldn't help but watch the whole show. The diverse ensemble cast also helped to set a new standard in storytelling and representation, which remains important.
Lost
Brought Sci-Fi Mystery To Mass Appeal
Kate, James, and Hurley in Lost season 1
Before Lost, sci-fi was a relatively niche genre except for the most well-known movies and shows, but Lost changed TV forever, with viewers discussing fan theories online. This was encouraged by the show's makers and added a new layer of mystique to the plot. Lost's constantly unravelling mystery inspired many copycats, but none came close to the success of the original "mystery box" show.
The Sopranos
Cast A Morally Complex Villain As The Protagonist
Tony looms over two other characters in The Sopranos
Breaking Bad popularized the antihero, but it is one of many TV shows that would not exist without The Sopranos. The iconic drama centered on Tony Soprano, a family man and mafia boss, who was largely a villain, though a morally complex one. The slow-burn show explored the psyche of its characters, embracing ambiguity and ending with a shocking finale that was open to interpretation.
Star Trek
Featured A Multiracial Cast, Positively
Lt. Uhura in Star Trek- The Original Series
Star Trek was never afraid to live up to its description, going "where no man has gone before." The show pioneered a new age of television, exploring the concept of gender, featuring racially diverse casts, and placing Black characters in respected positions of authority. Many of Star Trek's plotlines highlight the importance of respect for fellow living beings, a theme that informs the entire franchise.
While Star Trek's original series features the first scripted kiss between characters of different races, Star Trek: The Next Generation also changed TV for the better. The Next Generation continued the themes and diversity pioneered in The Original Series, and its ongoing commitment to harmony across the universe makes Star Trek one of the most inspiring and groundbreaking franchises of all time.
