“Masterpiece” isn’t a phrase that can be used lightly when discussing great works of art, as it’s hard to truly understand how deeply it will resonate until it has already been in the culture for many years. Although television is a relatively young medium compared to film, the last several decades have seen a tremendous evolution in its capabilities. Although television was once viewed as a secondary medium, primarily used for escapist entertainment, it has now become a medium better suited for artists seeking more ambitious endeavors.
Shows must be of a consistent quality to be qualified as a masterpiece, so a program like Game of Thrones that concluded on a disappointing note would not be considered. Here are ten drama shows that can be called masterpieces.
10
‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)
Mindhunter is an expansion of the themes that David Fincher has been exploring throughout his entire career, as the chilling series examines the psychology of criminals through the perspective of the FBI agents who helped to coin the phrase “serial killer.” In an interview blend of fact and fiction, Mindhunter weaves in original characters (who were nonetheless inspired by real people) with stunning recreations of some of the most disturbing true crime cases in history.
Mindhunter sadly only ran for two seasons, as Netflix was not willing to give Fincher the additional funding needed to complete the series, given the budget needed for him to show the attention-to-detail he had expected. While it’s disappointing that the show will always feel inconclusive, the feelings of dissatisfaction and stress that come from the cut-off nature of Mindhunter reflect the real stresses that these cases cause.
9
‘The Shield’ (2002–2008)
The Shield was the series that challenged the popular conception of law enforcement on television in a way that was radically ahead of its time. While procedural shows have long been accused of idolizing the police and failing to note the systematic issues within law enforcement, The Shield created an all-time great anti-hero in Michael Chiklis’ Vic Mackey, a ruthlessly corrupt LAPD cop who administers his own dark form of justice as he avoids investigations from within the department.
The Shield created compelling seasonal arcs focused on some of its supporting characters and new cases, but the story developed into a Shakespearean tragedy about Mackey’s fall from grace. The show’s finale, “Family Meeting,” was so perfect that it crystallized the themes of the show in a powerful way, which retroactively colored all of Mackey’s misdeeds and egregious violations of conduct more impactful.
8
‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)
The Leftovers is one of the most harrowing works of science fiction drama ever made, as it tackled larger-than-life questions about existence, meaning, spirituality, and fate. Although Damon Lindelof’s HBO series started off as an adaptation of a popular novel, it quickly surpassed the source material’s narrative by expanding the story into the years after a segment of the global population disappeared into thin air without explanation.
The Leftovers was often highly experimental in developing episodes that exist within a different plane of existence, and was able to hint at metatextual readings that it took dedicated fans a long time to decipher. Nonetheless, the show is so powerful as a summation of the way that human life is forced to move on that it makes for an emotionally devastating experience for audiences that come from all different walks of life.
7
‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)
Better Call Saul is proof that making a spinoff show isn’t an inherently cynical prospect if there is a reason to develop a deeper examination of a character or idea from the core series. Although Bob Odenkirk had introduced Saul Goodman as an unpredictable force of mayhem and mischief, Better Call Saul explored his early days as the struggling lawyer Jimmy McGill, whose rivalry with his brother Chuck (Michael McKean) led him down a dark path of crime and ambition.
Better Call Saul was simply a masterclass in acting, thanks to the terrific chemistry between Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn as Kim Wexler, a character who easily ranks among the best that creator Vince Gilligan had ever created. Although Saul’s backstory and activities after being called into witness protection were compelling, the fate of Kim became an open question that made the ending of Better Call Saul even more riveting.
6
‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)
The Americans is both an amazing look at the consequences of espionage and a powerful family drama that explores the pressures and indignities suffered by an average American couple. Set during the Cold War in the 1980s, The Americans centers on the Soviet Union spies Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell), who go undercover as a married couple and raise children who have no knowledge of their true heritage.
The Americans was the rare show that felt truly unpredictable because it tracked the characters’ lives in a way that felt realistic, and found a way to tie itself into history. Few drama shows have ended quite as well as The Americans did with its season finale “-START-,” which found the right blend of poignancy and ambiguity to be as impactful as possible, particularly for those that have a complex relationship with their own families.
5
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Breaking Bad is as good as its reputation suggests, as no amount of tremendous praise that the AMC masterpiece has received will make it feel overrated. Breaking Bad created one of the most compelling characters in television history (and possibly any medium) with Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a loving husband and mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with lung cancer. The fact that Walter transforms from the most pathetic, empathetic character imaginable to a brutal monster who is willing to put innocent people in danger is a tremendous achievement in storytelling.
Breaking Bad has a lot to say about healthcare, ethics, the family unit, and American society, but it was also a wildly entertaining show with frequent twists and turns that were hard to predict, especially in its riveting set of final episodes, where Walter squares off with fate.
4
‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)
The Sopranos is perhaps the most important drama show of all-time because it unlocked the potential of what the medium could do. David Chase’s thrilling exploration of the interior lives of characters within a mob family felt completely lived-in and fleshed out, as the series explored every possible dramatic circumstance that it could with its premise. Despite its frequent references to The Godfather and Goodfellas, The Sopranos became worthy of those two great films.
The Sopranos still features the best performance in television history with James Gandolfini’s incredible portrayal of Tony Soprano, a character who somehow managed to evoke occasional feelings of empathy, despite the fact that he is a psychopath and killer. Although Chase was playing with dangerous territory when painting Tony in somewhat of a sympathetic light, the show’s complex ethics made it even more rewarding and worthy of discussion.
3
‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)
The Wire feels like it should be required viewing for any teachers, journalists, politicians, or members of law enforcement who want to understand the complex ways in which crime impacts American infrastructure and society. Showrunner David Simon, who was himself a former reporter who had the crime beat in Baltimore for well over a decade, understood that nothing exists in isolation, and wove a tapestry of characters and contrivances within five seasons of must-see television.
The Wire was able to complicate itself with each season by examining a different system at play, but it never felt convoluted or stretched too thinly. While the show was able to point out various ways in which people could act in a way that benefits others, its commentary on the cyclical nature of criminality became even more powerful as the show’s politics became relevant to current events.
2
‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)
Mad Men is the story of an advertising firm in New York that evolves over the course of the 1960s, but it’s also the story of how America itself transformed during the “decade exchange.” By examining how marketing campaigns were intended to spark the curiosity and interest of consumers, Mad Man explored the set of values that defined a nation as it survived multiple chaotic political scandals, the Civil Rights movement, the Vietnam War, and a shift towards anti-government sentiments among young people.
Mad Men had an unparalleled cast of amazing actors, with Jon Hamm’s Don Draper becoming an enigmatic anti-hero surrounded in mystery. Although he wouldn’t seem like a traditionally likable protagonist for a dramatic television show, Don became even more complex as the show revealed both his tragic past and the damaging tendencies that prevented him from being a great man.
1
‘Succession’ (2019–2023)
Succession is an incredibly modern assessment of America’s current relationship with both industry and the media, as well as a timeless story of ambition and betrayal that tracks back to the work of William Shakespeare. Perhaps the most impressive achievement that creator Jesse Armstrong had with Succession is that he introduced a group of privileged, selfish, and entitled characters who somehow became compelling, and at times tragic, even if they ended up causing irreparable harm.
Succession offered an intimate look at the insidious battle for power whilst also satirizing the way that the wealthy class seems to exist in a different reality. Although it was more often funnier than most sitcoms on television, Succession ended with a finale so hopeless and cynical that it showed the incomparable ways in which a great series could take its audience on an emotional journey that offered stark assessments of reality.
Succession
- Release Date
-
2018 – 2023
- Network
-
HBO Max
- Showrunner
-
Jesse Armstrong
- Directors
-
Mark Mylod
