8 2010s Shows That Are True Masterpieces
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Launching from the platform of prestige television drama set through the 2000s, the 2010s mark what is perhaps the greatest decade for small-screen entertainment of all time. Practically every major genre has its defining triumphs, from the clasps of contemplative comedy being realized in revolutionary new ways to murder mystery intrigue being given an addictive new energy, drama taking the form of everything from dystopian futures to decades-long pasts, and crime television producing what is arguably the greatest TV series of all time.
Needless to say, the 2010s were rife with medium-defining masterpieces that enthralled audiences as they aired and have remained relevant and ritualistically rewatched in the years since. Illustrating the variety of the small screen throughout the decade, these hit series are just some of the more celebrated television triumphs of the 2010s, with each being a defining series in the golden age of the form as well.
8
‘Better Call Saul’ (2014–2020)
An exceptional spin-off that has become a modern classic series in its own right, Better Call Saul is perfectly executed, given how it evolves and expands the Breaking Bad universe while also conjuring gripping suspense and intricate drama within its own story. It follows Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk), a low-level lawyer who leans on his past as a savvy con artist to achieve favorable rulings for his clients, often against wealthier and more powerful firms. The series unfolds as he gradually becomes immersed in the drug trade as a legal advisor to the cartels, adopting the moniker Saul Goodman in the process.
Not dissimilar to its parent series, Better Call Saul opens with patient drama, even exhibiting flourishes of grim comedy as it endears the humanity of McGill to viewers before plunging him into a world of rampant amorality and violence. It maintains its energetic fervor even as it delves into themes of morality, identity, and redemption with piercing depth and nuance. Not only serving as an engulfing prequel, but also bringing a sense of closure and finality to Saul Goodman after the events of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul is a masterpiece of modern television and a sensational blueprint of how to capitalize on pre-existing IPs with creativity and elegance.
7
‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)
Given that four of its seven seasons aired after the turn of the decade, Mad Men qualifies as a series of the 2010s, though skepticism about the claim may be stoked. One undeniable thing, though, is that the series is a bona fide masterpiece of television, a ravishing period drama that explores the societal evolution of America through the 1960s with phenomenal historical precision while focusing on some of the most enthralling and enigmatic characters the small screen has ever seen.
Centering on New York marketing genius Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and the dichotomy between his professional and personal lives, both of which are steeped in secrecy, seclusion, and the senseless pursuit of perfection, Mad Men thrives with its impressionable performances, immersive production value, and the impeccable style and substance of its screenplay. Every facet of the series is handled with exceptional skill and craftsmanship, making for a rich and engaging show that starts strong and continuously evolves right up until its brilliant finale.
6
‘Sherlock’ (2010–2017)
Sherlock Holmes stands as one of the most prolific characters in the context of film and television adaptations, with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s offbeat sleuthing genius always utterly captivating with his antisocial eccentricities and his crime-solving brilliance. It is a testament to the brilliance of BBC’s Sherlock that the exhilarating crime series stands as both one of the defining presentations of the character on screen and arguably the best crime mystery series of the 2010s.
Defined by its razor-sharp script, addictive balance between fun, drama, and suspense, and the wonderful chemistry between Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman, Sherlock masters the art of crime caper entertainment with wry wit and wicked divinity. Its earlier seasons are particularly sublime, offering enthralling and endlessly rewatchable mystery thrills with rich character and delightful spectacle. That being said, the entire series is a gem of crime television that is always lively and daring with its tone as it sees Holmes and Watson combat a formidable rogues gallery of criminal masterminds while developing one of the greatest friendships the medium has ever seen.
5
‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019)
Making a massive impact with a relatively minimal run, Fleabag needed just two seasons and twelve 25-minute-long episodes to establish itself as a masterpiece of romantic dramedy rich with grounded and mature observations on modern life and a sneakily piercing exploration of grief. Writer and creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge stars as the titular Fleabag, a disenfranchised woman coasting by on her acidic wit as she navigates life’s monotonous obstacles while still struggling with the death of her best friend.
Able to be both ferociously funny and achingly somber, the series is impressively punchy, be it for its authentic and pointed examination of trauma or its biting, fourth-wall-breaking asides where Fleabag addresses the audience directly to comment on the lunacy of everyday life. It’s sweet, sad, scandalous, and, most of all, sincere, ensuring Fleabag’s touching two-season run is the pinnacle of small-screen comedy in recent years.
4
‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)
A magnificent marvel that remains criminally underrated almost 10 years on from its conclusion, The Leftovers realizes its high-concept premise with astounding dramatic depth and a litany of intriguing and complex characters. It unfolds in a world where, three years prior, two percent of the world’s population vanished, leaving survivors spiritually stranded as major religions capitulate and extremist cults born in the aftermath of the “Sudden Departure” gain popularity. Mapleton police chief Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux) struggles to uphold a sense of normality, decency, and family values as he navigates the new world of despair and nihilism.
Each of its three seasons excels at broadening the scope of the engrossing story world while delving deeper into the focal characters, using the narrative’s inherent air of bleak dourness as an effective though somber catalyst to examine the complexity and fragility of the human condition. As an HBO release with a piercing tone and a unique, genre-centric story of high drama, it is mystifying how The Leftovers came to be so overlooked, but it is a genuine masterpiece of 2010s television that was missed by many and is perfect to revisit now and binge.
3
‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)
Standing as the greatest spy series of all time, The Americans brilliantly marries the innate suspense and stakes of espionage thrills with nuanced and complex characters and an engulfing period setting to present a marvel of absorbing drama revolving around ideas of loyalty, identity, and family. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell) are adept KGB agents living in Washington, D.C., at the height of the Cold War, posing as a happily married couple raising a family. As they carry out covert missions for the Soviet Union, they both begin to grapple with where the allegiances truly reside.
It flaunts an intoxicating and often stylized intensity, but The Americans also excels as a gripping and grounded immersion in the realism of espionage, defined by the meticulous and patient approaches both operatives have to their assignments and the many inner struggles they must face through their work in the field. Evolving to be an examination of parenthood and family responsibilities as well as a pulsating spy thriller, The Americans is as heart-stopping as it is humane, an all-encompassing look at the life of sleeper agents that defies notions of traditional heroes and villains to instead offer a complex and captivating journey of the morality of international espionage.
2
‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014–2020)
Inspired, bold, absurdist, and completely captivating, BoJack Horseman is a faultless mixture of the sheer lunacy available to animated comedy and the quiet, cerebral drama of character study television. It follows BoJack Horseman (Will Arnett), a once-renowned sitcom star trapped in a self-destructive cycle of intense alcoholism, manic depression, and arrogant self-assurance. The series follows his hopes to redeem his career and prove his acting talent, his efforts to take back control of his outrageous lifestyle, and his penchant for impulsive recklessness that jeopardizes everything he aspires to be.
The series is often laugh-out-loud funny, a work of mad genius that conjures hysterics from BoJack’s pitiful resonance as well as the absurdity of the animated world, but it is most defined by its pointed, poignant punch. Its later seasons illustrate this magnificently, highlighting BoJack’s troubled nature with humor while still exploring such themes as addiction, depression, and trauma with authenticity and respect. Striking from the outset and sneakily immersive, BoJack Horseman presents a wild emotional whirlwind that is utterly transfixing, making for one of Netflix’s greatest ever shows and a stunning foray into the realm of adult animation.
1
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Viewed by many as being the outright best series in the history of television, Breaking Bad‘s dramatic might and piercing tension is irresistible. Buoyed by Vince Gilligan’s outstanding writing and the efforts of the incredible ensemble cast, the crime series follows Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) journey as the high school science teacher starts cooking methamphetamine to amass some money for his family when he is diagnosed with cancer. Despite his noble motivation, White soon finds himself enraptured and corrupted by the power of the criminal underworld.
Anchored in Cranston’s magnificent performance, the series enthralls fans with its captivating character-led drama. White’s descent from a meek middle-class teacher to one of the most formidable figures in the drug trade is realized with exceptional precision, highlighting the character’s dark evolution with finer details that make the transition as gradual as it is terrifying. Also featuring astonishing visual storytelling techniques, masterful use of symbols, clever tonal shifts, and perhaps the greatest finale television has ever seen, Breaking Bad is the defining masterpiece of its era.
Breaking Bad
- Release Date
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2008 – 2013-00-00
- Network
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AMC
- Showrunner
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Vince Gilligan
- Directors
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Vince Gilligan, Michelle Maclaren
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