Breaking Bad (2008–2013)
Aaron Paul and Bryan Cranston star in what’s arguably one of the best television shows of all time. Breaking Bad follows a high school chemistry teacher who, when he finds out he’s dying from cancer, decides to become a drug lord with the help of one of his former students.
The Pitt (2025–)
Looking for a fast-paced medical show that will basically take over your whole life from the very first moment you decide to start? The Pitt is for you. The Emmy-winning smash hit follows a Pittsburgh-set emergency room for 15 episodes per season, all set in real-time. You might wind up watching four or five episodes at a time before even realizing where the time went.
Widow’s Bay (2026–)
Imagine Parks and Rec meets Jaws set in the world of Stephen King, with Lost-style mythology and mystery, and you’ve got Apple TV’s Widow’s Bay. This comedy-meets-horror series is one of the best shows to come along in the 2020s, and can be just as funny as it is scary. And maybe the best part? You’ll want to watch it all over again as soon as you finish. Matthew Rhys has been one of television’s MVPs for a long time, and he proves it once again here.
The Americans (2013–2018)
Speaking of Matthew Rhys: his spy series, The Americans, co-starring his real-life partner Keri Russell, is equally outstanding. Its ’80s setting makes it a fun period piece, but it delivers adventure and character drama like very few other shows on television.
Slow Horses (2022–)
Slow Horses is one of the most consistently gripping spy thrillers on television. Based on Mick Herron’s acclaimed novel series, it follows a team of disgraced MI5 agents — led by a brilliantly cantankerous Gary Oldman — who are exiled to a dead-end department known as Slough House. Sharp writing, outstanding performances, and a relentlessly tense atmosphere make every season essential viewing.
