Top 100 TV shows of the 20th century

Started in 1999 so excluded.

I've only seen 5 of their top 20. (The Wire, The Office UK, Chernobyl, Deadwood and Lost). Might have to give a few of these a go.

Seems odd to omit the handful of shows that just miss the 21st century cut off point yet are considered landmark shows of this recent Golden Age of TV that somewhat defines TV of the 21st century.

If it weren't for the Simpsons you could probably change the criteria to "primarily aired in the 21st century" and it would somehow feel more complete.

(and if you want to be really pedantic about their criteria you could say that the shows in the list that did start in 2000 technically didn't first air in the 21st century)

I'd have Battlestar a lot higher than 70th It's a top 10 show for me.

Well Grey's does advance storylines and has a nice and consistent patter, The Shield is a bit rinse and repeat of who's the most corrupt this season, very good in spots but really defied credibility at others.

Yeah, people know that but it does what it does very well. It is a soap with very relatable and more importantly attractive characters but it's been a very long time since it had anything to do with medicine! The Shield goes the gritty semi-realistic route but has some very ludicrous premises to it at times.

Likewise Gomorrah however I don't think foreign spoken series are considered.

For the most part, a fair ranking. But some inexplicable inclusions - Big Bang Theory at #56, for example. It’s striking that despite the overwhelming number of critics being non-American, with a sizeable minority being from outside the Anglosphere, it gives a very American ranking.

One reason for this is surely that critics give only their top 10, which are then combined to create a group 100. Anyone who’s studied voter theory knows that that method is dubious and will elevate big name series, like it elevates big name political parties.

Big Bang Theory is famously popular in foreign countries, presumably because of how basic the humour is. It was voted for by seven critics, six of whom were Indian or Chinese. Love/Hate and Derry Girls got a shoutout each from the Irish reviewers, but to no avail!

Interesting that the Killing, which single-handedly popularised Scandinoir (and arguably foreign language programming, generally) in the UK, is well below the Bridge. As it happens, I actually agree.

If you’d conducted this survey five years ago, you’d think Black Mirror, Orange Is the New Black, Arrested Development, Homeland, House of Cards, Master of None, Louie…would be much higher. The first four had underwhelming later seasons; the rest had leads involved harassment scandals.

I heard Ian Dempsey read this list out last week, I was shocked but presently surprised to hear The Leftovers being called out. Nearly finished it, it is one of the best shows I've had the pleasure of watching, incredible television experience and one I like to digest slowly. Hard to describe it, but the remarkable thing is, unlike the rest of the top 10, anyone I recommend it to haven't even heard of it.

Brilliant tele, highly deserved and recommended!

Watch very few TV shows anyway so can't comment greatly on the list. One of the very best I've seen in recent years was The Terror (season 1). Superbly produced and performed I thought.

Gogglebox was voted for by one of the Irish critics.

Very inconsistent list but quite a few gems in there too.

'Pose' and 'I may destroy you', I have never heard of so have added them to my watchlist as a result.

Delighted to see Halt and catch fire made the list.

Maybe I'm blind but I'm not seeing Ozark?

Crazy the amount of crap ahead of the likes of Sunny in Philadelphia and The Queens Gambit!

Wow . Halt and catch fire. That was a nice surprise in there. Dark, Mindhunter... nice.

Cant believe my favourite of the 21st C isnt even in there: Mr. Robot.

Is Star Trek in it and preferably at number 1 as it should be?