Even though the last decade was pretty fantastic regarding groundbreaking productions on any kind of television series across streaming platforms that captivated audiences worldwide with memorable stories, enthralling character developments, and viral cultural impact, this is a golden age of television. Whether it's award-winning dramas or fan-favorite comedies, this retrospective will celebrate the best TV shows that defined the decade and reshaped modern entertainment.
The birth and meteoric rise of Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Disney+ brought users the possibility of deviating from the time-honored world of traditional network viewing. No longer were people forced to tune in on weeknights to catch episodes of their favorite shows. Instead, with the aid of new media, viewers can watch all their favorite programs simultaneously. This new platform opened up possibilities to explore far more complex storytelling ideas, and thus, large numbers of episodes have been created to explore extensive worlds and complex arcs of characters without the concern of ratings from week to week. TV shows are now longer, bolder, and more experimental in this new model.
These platforms aired most of the best TV shows that had emerged during the decade, pushing creative boundaries and easily reaching a global audience.
Let's discuss some of the shows that really captured the audience's hearts and minds over the last decade. Each of these series added to pop culture in its own special way, and they showed just how influential television could be in reflecting social issues, inspiring discussions, and even real-life movements.
One cannot even mention the greatest TV show of the decade without mentioning Game of Thrones, based on epic novels by George R.R. Martin. This series dominated screens and social media. Known for surprising plot twists, complex characters, and intricate political dynamics, Game of Thrones became a phenomenon in the culture. As such, it appealed to audiences through its sprawling storyline and the strong themes of loyalty, power, and betrayal. Its 2019 controversial ending left some fans divided.
More than entertainment, the show created debates on the kill-off of characters, storylines, and foreshadowing. It also did one thing: to leave its own benchmark for production value in television production- especially in the fantasy genre.
Breaking Bad left the airwaves at the beginning of this decade, but its impact saw a vibrant continuation throughout. There aren't many television character arcs that have as strongly influenced the screen as Walter White's progression from a clean-cut teacher to the ruthless drug lord. Filled with moral ambiguity and complex emotions, this drama became intense very quickly and found its place as a classic. With Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul's unforgettable portrayals, Breaking Bad pushed boundaries and opened new avenues for the television medium in terms of character depth.
The show's premise, this moral question-oriented concept, proves that audiences were ready for darker, richer storytelling that would soon follow television dramas.
A mix of horror, nostalgia, and science fiction, Stranger Things captivated audiences of all ages. Set in the 1980s, the original Netflix series features a group of children exposed to mysterious creatures from an alternate dimension. The retro vibe combined with compelling child actors and some thrilling storytelling makes it a hit.
Stranger Things rekindled the interest in pop culture from the '80s, whether regarding wardrobe or music. Horror nostalgia was also evoked by the viewers about the movies that actually inspired the original: Stephen King's novels and John Carpenter's movies. The show demonstrated the power of streaming to produce a hit all over the world.
Historical drama turns out to be a true witness to power as it defines the Crown. It chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the establishment of her reign to its very beginning. It brought avant-garde details in storytelling through its highly produced series. Performances by Claire Foy and Olivia Colman, in particular, added a human touch to the characters of this royal family.
The program reignited public interest in the British monarchy and opened avenues for spectators' understanding of the ultimate concepts of royal life. It also gave rise to hot debates regarding tradition, duty, and personal sacrifice.
Fleabag by Phoebe Waller-Bridge is that fresco of a mix-up of comedy and drama, which ran from the minds of viewers. This British series focuses on its protagonist, Fleabag, an eccentric, cluttered character who churns around matters of love, family, and loss. By breaking through the fourth wall, Waller-Bridge brings out such rare intimacy with the viewer.
Fleabag molded the possible definition of modern comedy: raw, unapologetic, and deeply personal. In that light, it was really a victory for the demand to have more female-led stories in which women can be shown in their raw, unflattering emotion and flaws.
The show's quick rise as the flagship to the newly debuted Disney+ with The Mandalorian is appealing to an all-age group, blending together Star Wars lore and stunning visuals and topped off with this irresistible "Baby Yoda." The new show revives the whole franchise by allowing for a very intimate, character-driven narrative within a vast universe.
The Mandalorian has bridged multiple generations of fans, opening new avenues for exploring familiar universes with streaming, expanding the franchise's new standard.
Based on Margaret Atwood's novel, The Handmaid's Tale portrayed a dystopian world where women's rights had been stripped away. The show made waves in the 2010s as a commentary on gender, power, and control it seems these factors are still going through turbulent times. Elisabeth Moss acted outstandingly so that all the burden of the themes rested upon her head.
The Handmaid's Tale made way for actual protests, and it even symbolized resistance, especially in the red cloaks and white bonnets costumed clothes. It showed the way TV could intersect with issues of social meaning and inspire real-life activism.
The sharp satire served from the viewpoint of combining drama, portraying the dysfunctional Roy family, who fight to keep control of a media empire, placing it on top slots of the well-written shows, and the complex character dynamics that gave it HBO's hottest hits.
Succession is one of those shows that literally reflects and critiques the real-life corporate culture; owing to the scathing glimpses into power, wealth, and corruption. It captures everything from fascination to horror at the ultra-wealthy, finding both the humor and the poignancy in the characters.
Other notable shows are BoJack Horseman, which did something refreshingly new on mental health; Big Little Lies, for describing the trauma women glimpse; and Euphoria, which pushed boundaries in exploring teenage life.
All these shows ushered the TV era into inclusiveness: each has its set of memorable characters.
The 2010s marked a very transfigurative decade for television, and here, Netflix began to be on top in bringing cutting-edge content to world screens. The most enchanting TV shows of the decade did not only entertain but challenged, educated, and even resonated personally with the people. They spoke in remarkable ways about cultural, social, and personal themes, with wonderful stories to be remembered for years to come.
These programs remind us that there is much always to be told and that the unique power of television lies in its stories. So even as this decade comes to a close, its stories will continue to inform new shows and future generations of viewers.
This content was created by AI