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Reintroducing top 5 dramatic series

Great show. You will have to do a lot of subtitle-reading as much of it is in Spanish. Worth it though.
I thought the first 2 seasons of Narcos were amazing. I couldn’t finish the 3rd season. something about the way it was filmed made it harder to read the subtitles and follow along compared to the previous ones.
 
1. Patriot (prime Original) 2 Seasons, absolutely engrossing and at times hilarious.
2. The Wire
3. The Sopranos
4. Mr. Inbetween (FXX/Hulu) Australian hit man series, 3 seasons, 30 minute episodes that feel much longer.
5. The Leftovers (HBO)
if you chose just one to try, Mr. Inbetween is amazing. Short episodes that really hit you hard. Without doubt the lead character is my absolute favorite tv character
 
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You all covered some amazing ground! I'm taking notes and will be trying to binge on some of these before NCAA wrestling starts again next Fall, LOL. A few I didn't see mentioned (or may have missed them when scrolling through) that I liked. Not sure I would put any of them in my Top Five but they are worth at least a look:

Turn
House of Cards
Friday Night Lights (going old school here)
Longmire
 
If I compiled all of these into a single list, it makes me wonder if there are any left for a bottom 5 list.
 
1. The Wire
2. Sopranos
3. Game of Thrones
4. Mad Men
5. Breaking Bad

Take off Game of Thrones and you legit have the Mount Rushmore of TV. Game of thrones is in my top 10, but the final season alone drops it far.

And I'm angry at the rest of you who included it. Game of Thrones should have been the greatest TV show of all time, but Douche Bag and Douche Bag Weiss decided to suck at writing after the material from the books ran out. The last 3 seasons were comically bad - and their unwillingness to extend the show to tell the story correctly (HBO offered them as many seasons as they wanted) will make me mad for the rest of my life.

My Top Ten In Order:

1. Breaking Bad
It was the first drama series where the showrunner knew the ending of the story. And it felt like it. There were no plot holes, no plot lines left undeveloped and probably the hardest thing to do - a truly satisfying ending.

2. The Wire
Just. Amazing. Every episode, every season (including the port season). Just masterful storytelling.

3. Sopranos
First Anti-Hero. Ushered in the age of great television

4. Mad Men
What heterosexual male DIDN'T want to be the best parts of Don Draper? Just an enriching character driven drama. And Christina Hendricks is my hall pass, so there's that.

5. Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy is one of the greatest actors of all time.

6. Ozark
Jason Bateman is masterful as man who just wants out.

7. Luther
Idris Elba with his natural accent. I had no idea one of the greatest potrayals of an American gangster was British. He's just as good on the other side of the law as a cop.

8. Succession
Anti Wealth-porn. What a messed up family that I love to see shift in and out of chaos every week

9. Vikings
You could tell after season 1 that the showrunners had more money. Ragnar Lothbrok is one of my favorite characters ever.

10. game of thrones
The first four seasons alone are worthy of being the greatest TV show of all time. But the battle scenes and the cinematography keep the show in my top ten.

Just outside my top ten (in no order)
House of Cards
Sons of Anarchy
Spartacus
The Crown
Better Call Saul
 
For as popular and as long running as all of these, not ONE poster mentioned Walking Dead hahaha. I watched maybe 3 seasons, talk about getting bored of a show.
 
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Take off Game of Thrones and you legit have the Mount Rushmore of TV. Game of thrones is in my top 10, but the final season alone drops it far.

And I'm angry at the rest of you who included it. Game of Thrones should have been the greatest TV show of all time, but Douche Bag and Douche Bag Weiss decided to suck at writing after the material from the books ran out. The last 3 seasons were comically bad - and their unwillingness to extend the show to tell the story correctly (HBO offered them as many seasons as they wanted) will make me mad for the rest of my life.

My Top Ten In Order:

1. Breaking Bad
It was the first drama series where the showrunner knew the ending of the story. And it felt like it. There were no plot holes, no plot lines left undeveloped and probably the hardest thing to do - a truly satisfying ending.

2. The Wire
Just. Amazing. Every episode, every season (including the port season). Just masterful storytelling.

3. Sopranos
First Anti-Hero. Ushered in the age of great television

4. Mad Men
What heterosexual male DIDN'T want to be the best parts of Don Draper? Just an enriching character driven drama. And Christina Hendricks is my hall pass, so there's that.

5. Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy is one of the greatest actors of all time.

6. Ozark
Jason Bateman is masterful as man who just wants out.

7. Luther
Idris Elba with his natural accent. I had no idea one of the greatest potrayals of an American gangster was British. He's just as good on the other side of the law as a cop.

8. Succession
Anti Wealth-porn. What a messed up family that I love to see shift in and out of chaos every week

9. Vikings
You could tell after season 1 that the showrunners had more money. Ragnar Lothbrok is one of my favorite characters ever.

10. game of thrones
The first four seasons alone are worthy of being the greatest TV show of all time. But the battle scenes and the cinematography keep the show in my top ten.

Just outside my top ten (in no order)
House of Cards
Sons of Anarchy
Spartacus
The Crown
Better Call Saul
Great list and breakdowns, wish someone (NOT YOU JTS 😉) would do that for Bosch, seems pretty popular.
 
My big takeaway from this thread is that I should get HBO.
 
Take off Game of Thrones and you legit have the Mount Rushmore of TV. Game of thrones is in my top 10, but the final season alone drops it far.

And I'm angry at the rest of you who included it. Game of Thrones should have been the greatest TV show of all time, but Douche Bag and Douche Bag Weiss decided to suck at writing after the material from the books ran out. The last 3 seasons were comically bad - and their unwillingness to extend the show to tell the story correctly (HBO offered them as many seasons as they wanted) will make me mad for the rest of my life.

My Top Ten In Order:

1. Breaking Bad
It was the first drama series where the showrunner knew the ending of the story. And it felt like it. There were no plot holes, no plot lines left undeveloped and probably the hardest thing to do - a truly satisfying ending.

2. The Wire
Just. Amazing. Every episode, every season (including the port season). Just masterful storytelling.

3. Sopranos
First Anti-Hero. Ushered in the age of great television

4. Mad Men
What heterosexual male DIDN'T want to be the best parts of Don Draper? Just an enriching character driven drama. And Christina Hendricks is my hall pass, so there's that.

5. Peaky Blinders
Cillian Murphy is one of the greatest actors of all time.

6. Ozark
Jason Bateman is masterful as man who just wants out.

7. Luther
Idris Elba with his natural accent. I had no idea one of the greatest potrayals of an American gangster was British. He's just as good on the other side of the law as a cop.

8. Succession
Anti Wealth-porn. What a messed up family that I love to see shift in and out of chaos every week

9. Vikings
You could tell after season 1 that the showrunners had more money. Ragnar Lothbrok is one of my favorite characters ever.

10. game of thrones
The first four seasons alone are worthy of being the greatest TV show of all time. But the battle scenes and the cinematography keep the show in my top ten.

Just outside my top ten (in no order)
House of Cards
Sons of Anarchy
Spartacus
The Crown
Better Call Saul
This is a great list. I didn't watch Vikings and would slide that outside my top 10 to make room for Mare of Eastown. Limited run, I realize, but really, really good. I would add Homeland and The Americans to just outside my top 10,
 
For as popular and as long running as all of these, not ONE poster mentioned Walking Dead hahaha. I watched maybe 3 seasons, talk about getting bored of a show.
I still watch and dvr walking dead. Including the talking dead after.

I tried the 2 spin offs but couldn't hang in there.
 
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This is a great list. I didn't watch Vikings and would slide that outside my top 10 to make room for Mare of Eastown. Limited run, I realize, but really, really good. I would add Homeland and The Americans to just outside my top 10,

I can't believe I left off The Americans. A show that could have easily gone off the rails - didn't. I'm all about the performances and the plot. The Americans did what most spy shows didn't and wouldn't - real consequences and plots that didn't repeat.

But yeah. Limited runs deserve their own list. Because Chernobyl is as perfect a season of television as I've ever seen.
 
For as popular and as long running as all of these, not ONE poster mentioned Walking Dead hahaha. I watched maybe 3 seasons, talk about getting bored of a show.

My god. It had so much hope as story that could go on for forever. But they refused to lean off of the - find shelter, fight for shelter, lose shelter bit. COOOORAL!!!
 
My god. It had so much hope as story that could go on for forever. But they refused to lean off of the - find shelter, fight for shelter, lose shelter bit. COOOORAL!!!
And that trick poney is going strong with this final season of the OG. Bugs me but I still watch.

I liked the whispers story. Thought was a strong storyline
 
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This is a great list. I didn't watch Vikings and would slide that outside my top 10 to make room for Mare of Eastown. Limited run, I realize, but really, really good. I would add Homeland and The Americans to just outside my top 10,

Greatest Limited Run Dramas (in order)
I'll include shows that are one-off stories with no recurring cast members

1. Chernobyl
Perfect. Just perfect. How incredible arrogance and stupidity can lead to the greatest disasters.

2. Band of Brothers
Would have been #1 if not for the perfection of Chernobyl. Breathtaking and sad. War sucks.

3. Haunting of Hill House
When was the last time you were actually scared scene to scene? And it being episodic? My gosh. Deep story. Didn't waste time and one hell of an ending.

4. Watchmen
I didn't think they'd be able to make this work. But it did. Every episode was challenging and threatened the notion of superhero-dom

5. True Detective
I honestly can't pick between season 1 and 3. DO NOT WATCH SEASON 2. DON'T DO IT. IT NEVER HAPPENED.
 
Greatest Limited Run Dramas (in order)
I'll include shows that are one-off stories with no recurring cast members

1. Chernobyl
Perfect. Just perfect. How incredible arrogance and stupidity can lead to the greatest disasters.

2. Band of Brothers
Would have been #1 if not for the perfection of Chernobyl. Breathtaking and sad. War sucks.

3. Haunting of Hill House
When was the last time you were actually scared scene to scene? And it being episodic? My gosh. Deep story. Didn't waste time and one hell of an ending.

4. Watchmen
I didn't think they'd be able to make this work. But it did. Every episode was challenging and threatened the notion of superhero-dom

5. True Detective
I honestly can't pick between season 1 and 3. DO NOT WATCH SEASON 2. DON'T DO IT. IT NEVER HAPPENED.
If you are old enough…

V
 
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Greatest Limited Run Dramas (in order)
I'll include shows that are one-off stories with no recurring cast members

1. Chernobyl
Perfect. Just perfect. How incredible arrogance and stupidity can lead to the greatest disasters.

2. Band of Brothers
Would have been #1 if not for the perfection of Chernobyl. Breathtaking and sad. War sucks.

3. Haunting of Hill House
When was the last time you were actually scared scene to scene? And it being episodic? My gosh. Deep story. Didn't waste time and one hell of an ending.

4. Watchmen
I didn't think they'd be able to make this work. But it did. Every episode was challenging and threatened the notion of superhero-dom

5. True Detective
I honestly can't pick between season 1 and 3. DO NOT WATCH SEASON 2. DON'T DO IT. IT NEVER HAPPENED.
TD was freaking awesome.

BoB I binge every Memorial day. Even if we are tied up, I'll dvr and watch. A buddy of mine, his grandpa was at the bulge and he would only tell us about the cold (in crazy metaphorical descriptions) and how thankful he was of leaving. So thankful to have been able to leave.
 
Stopped watching after the Negan season. It was just bad television.
You should see what they did to negan to end things. A complete 180 character change from that.

Like I said I've been invested and I watch.
 
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Any of you watch Bobba fet?

I want to like it because my son likes it and we watched it together but I'm not into the story.
 
Alas. No. The original came out in the year of my birth. The 2009 remake never struck me as something I even wanted to give 5 minutes.
I didn’t even know there was a remake. Loved it in ‘83!
 
1883 was better than Yellowstone
I realize that this is an opinion thread but wow.
Yellowstone was good but gets boring after season 1
1883 had everything they needed, but the acting and dialog are bad at best. I was laughing during some eps, it was rough. Isabel May keeps you watching, but her parents should have kept to country music.
I think many of us want a decent western bad enough that many are willing to look past some of the negatives.
Anybody watch the Netflix series about Steven Avery?
(the name alludes me)
I lived an hour north of where this took place at the time. I was pretty young so I don't recall any discussion of it back then. To be fair though, at that age the only thing that mattered was girls, girls, girls, and baseball cards.

TOP 5:
Breaking Bad ( So good it's spin off makes other's lists)
The Sopranos
True Detective, Mare of Eastown, Sharp Objects (Limited but very similar shows)
Vikings
GOT

HM No order:
Goliath
Sneaky Pete
Narcos
Ozark
Perry Mason (New one)
Snowfall
Boardwalk empire
The Undoing
FNL
Gangs of London
ZeroZeroZero
The Outsider (2020)
Chernobyl
Ray Donovan
SOA
 
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