20. Sex and the City (1998)
Sex and the Cityis one of the most iconic shows to come out of the HBO network. It chronicles the friendships and love lives of four upscale women living in New York City during the 90s.
Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda left a lasting impact on American culture, from the way we order cocktails to the designer brands that we know and wear, and for that it deserves recognition as one of the most influential HBO shows ever made.
19. True Detective (2014)
The anthology seriesTrue Detectivemost notably stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in its first season, who both play the season’s primary detectives and deliver career-high performances in a story that’ll be remembered for ages.
While all three seasons follow completely different storylines and characters, each self-contained mystery is as perplexing as the last. Truly one of the best modern crime dramas to be made.
Related:The Best Modern Detective TV Shows
18. Rome (2005)
Before there wasGame of Thrones, there wasRome. This short two-season series may not have had the expansive locales or fantasy elements that madeGame of Thronespopular, but it had everything else—and arguably enabledGame of Thronesto succeed.
Based on historical Ancient Rome as it transitioned from Republic to Empire,Romehad a wide ensemble cast based on real-life figures who lived out actual stories from the annals of history.
Related:The Best Epic TV Series to Watch If Game of Thrones Disappointed You
17. The Night Of (2016)
The Night Ofis an eight-episode miniseries starring Riz Ahmed (as a Middle Eastern college student in New York who’s accused of murdering a woman) and John Turturro (as his lawyer).
There’s a lot to unpack in this densely plotted story that touches on all sorts of themes ranging from prejudice to justice, the flaws in our police and court systems, and even the ambiguity of witness accounts.
If you’re looking for a self-contained crime thriller that demands your attention to fully digest,The Night Ofis one of the best.
Related:The Best TV Shows About Jail, Prison, and Inmates
16. Silicon Valley (2014)
Everyone knows Silicon Valley as the technology capital of the United States, so it’s only right that Mike Judge would create a show that satirizes the struggles of its geeky inhabitants.
Silicon Valleyrevolves around five quirky guys trying to push for the success of their music-matching app, Pied Piper. Over the seasons, we join them as they struggle against the difficulties of startup culture, venture capital funding, and interpersonal dynamics.
Related:Smart, Nerdy TV Sitcoms That Are Hilarious for Geeks
15. Eastbound & Down (2009)
Danny McBride takes on the role of Kenny Powers, a washed-up major league baseball pitcher, who winds up as a middle school gym teacher.
Eastbound & Downis shockingly hilarious and cringeworthy at the same time, thanks to Powers' egotistic personality and outlandish behavior. This lesser-known show deserves not to be forgotten.
14. Six Feet Under (2001)
Six Feet Undertells the story of a family-owned funeral home. When the father of the family unexpectedly passes away, all ownership of the funeral home is passed on to his two sons.
The show takes an in-your-face approach to death while still managing to inject humor into its dark topics. Few shows have ever tackled grief and death as well asSix Feet Under.
13. Boardwalk Empire (2010)
Boardwalk Empiredepicts the Prohibition era that rocked the nation during the Roaring Twenties. Steve Buscemi stars as Nucky Thompson, the treasurer of Atlantic City, New Jersey.
His ties with mobsters, bootleggers, and other criminals in power make him the target of an investigation by the federal government.
Related:The Best TV Shows About Gangs and Gangsters, Ranked
12. Watchmen (2019)
Watchmenis a limited run HBO miniseries rooted in the comic books of the same name. Featuring an ensemble cast led by Regina King,Watchmenis technically a sequel that incorporates new characters and new storylines created from scratch.
Per usual for the franchise,Watchmentouches on hot topics. In this case, the plot revolves around a white supremacist group, their frictions with local police, and a murder mystery case.
11. Euphoria (2019)
WhileEuphoriais technically billed as a teen drama, it dives deep into mature themes including drug abuse, sexuality, physical and psychological trauma, personal identity, and interpersonal relationships.
The sheer amount of sexual content has made it controversial, which some consider to be gratuitous. But if you can stomach that,Euphoriais a powerful show with nuanced characters that’s unafraid to go where other shows are too shy to go.
Related:The Best Female Rage TV Shows and Series, Ranked
10. Barry (2018)
BarryplacesSaturday Night Live’sBill Hader in a darkly comedic role as Barry, the deadpan ex-Marine who makes a living as a hitman. But when Barry travels to Los Angeles to take out a target, he decides to stay put to take part in an acting class.
The show’s constant twists and turns, compelling moral dilemmas, and dark humor keep you wanting more. And while it starts off as a comedy,Barrydevelops into so much more than that over its run.
9. Veep (2012)
Starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Vice President of the United States,Veepis a hilarious, satirical representation of American politics.
After having to settle for the role of Vice President, Selina Meyer must deal with a tense relationship between her and the President, all while striving to further her own personal and political agendas.
The show’s neverending wit shines a light on real politicians, making it refreshingly relevant.
Related:What’s an Anti-Sitcom? Explained (With Great Examples)
8. Succession (2018)
Successionis a satirical comedy-drama about the dysfunctional Roy family who owns a global entertainment conglomerate. More specifically, with the head’s health in question, the rest of the family vie for control as to who will succeed the company.
Between the stellar writing, phenomenal acting, and excellent music,Successionmakes a strong case for why it should be considered one of HBO’s greatest shows ever made. The series is ongoing, so only time will tell if it can stick the landing and earn its legacy.
Related:Reasons to Watch HBO’s Succession If You Haven’t Already
7. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000)
Larry David is the creator, director, and star of the long-running HBO series,Curb Your Enthusiasm. This show follows a fictional version of Larry David, who goes about his daily life as a semi-retired TV producer living in Los Angeles.
WithCurb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David goes back to hisSeinfeldroots as he incorporates the same type of dry, sarcastic humor into yet another fantastic TV series about nothing.
Related:The Best Sitcoms of the 2000s, Ranked
6. The Leftovers (2014)
The Leftoversimagines a world where 2% of the population has suddenly disappeared for an unknown reason. Based on the book by Tom Perrotta,The Leftoversdoes a fantastic job portraying the dreary, uncertain lives of those who remain on Earth.
Season one is a bit slow and depressing, but things really ramp up in the second and third seasons. On top of that,The Leftovershas one of the best TV series finales of all time.
5. Deadwood (2004)
Deadwoodisn’t your typical Western show. It breathed life into a genre that was overrun by the same old cowboy drama.
The series takes place in 1876 at a South Dakota gold-mining camp that isn’t yet required to follow the same laws as the rest of the United States at the time. This lawlessness leaves room for plenty of violence and chaos throughout the settlement.
Related:The Best Crime TV Shows About Anti-Heroes Who Break the Law
4. Band of Brothers (2001)
Created and produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks,Band of Brotherspresents a dramatized version of the real-life “Easy” Company’s involvement throughout World War II. Interviews with the real Easy Company survivors are interspersed.
Band of Brothersis the type of miniseries that has garnered legions of fans who rewatch it every year without missing a beat. Every episode in this ten-part series is absolutely perfect.
Related:The Best War TV Shows of All Time, Ranked
3. Chernobyl (2019)
Chernobylis a dramatized version of the real-life Chernobyl disaster (where a nuclear power plant meltdown rendered the environment uninhabitable) and the massive cleanup effort afterwards.
Across five incredibly gripping episodes,Chernobylbalances character drama with thrilling sequences, brought to life by world-class acting, cinematography, music, and direction. All that combined with its historical accuracy makesChernobyla must-watch for everyone.
Related:The Best Miniseries of All Time to Binge-Watch in a Single Day
2. The Sopranos (1999)
Often considered to be one of the best shows in television history,The Sopranostells the story of a modern mafia family living in New Jersey. The show addresses both the struggles of Tony Soprano’s life as a gangster as well as his strained relationship with his family.
Not only doesThe Sopranoslive on as a delicately crafted story about complex people and dynamics, but it was one of the first to really lean into the idea of an ensemble cast and long-form storytelling. Every serial drama series owes itself toThe Sopranos.
Related:Why The Sopranos Is the Greatest TV Series Ever
1. The Wire (2002)
The Wireis undoubtedly HBO’s best work. Despite the fact that the show was released in 2002, it still remains as relevant today as it was back then (a sad indictment of the state of our country, for sure).
The show’s unmatched complexity, realism, and unique storytelling format portray the ever-evolving relationships between diverse groups of people, primarily the drug gangs and the police of Baltimore.
Each season looks to focus on a different institution within the city of Baltimore—from the actual gangs to the docks where drugs come in, from the ill-equipped schools that fail children to the impotent political offices that can’t do much. It all flows and connects together.
Read next:The Best Cop TV Shows About Police and Criminals
