BREAKING BAD

Breaking Bad is considered one of the best television series that featured anti-heroes. Who would have thought that a story of a cancer-stricken high school chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin would catch many interests. The show had fans rooting for him until the end, despite that the main character became worse after each episode? It all started with the goal of creating meth to pay his medical bills and cash loans. But as the lead characters went on in the series, they turned into big-time drug makers. Created by Vince Gilligan, Breaking Bad’s Walter White (played by Bryan Cranston) and his former-student-turned-meth-partner Jesse Pinkman (played by Aaron Paul) effectively portrayed their roles as everything got more and more complicated.  Better Call Saul is Breaking Bad’s spin-off after it bid goodbye in 2013.

GAME OF THRONES

HBO’s Game of Thrones is considered to be one of the most famous television series in modern times. It redefined the fantasy genre in mainstream television with its grand production. Indeed, the production values can be compared to big-screen movies like The Lord of the Rings. It has tackled different issues, analogs of which we see all over society. It also touched on topics about family, love, and politics, and got fans across the globe to wait with bated breath for the next episode. It also frustrated more than a few fans by subjecting some of its lead characters to gruesome and tragic deaths, leading some viewers to experience dizzying degrees of emotion. The show was lauded for its spectacular cinematography, musical scoring, and storyline.

NYPD BLUE

American police drama NYPD Blue tackled the challenges of the fictional 15th Precinct in Manhattan, New York City. Each episode featured plots where each character’s professional and personal lives intertwined. Characters, including cops Andy Sipowicz and Bobby Simone, had to maintain a degree of balance between their work and personal lives while doing the best they can to protect their beloved city from elements that aim to destroy it. NYPD Blue did not bank on riveting or shocking storylines. Rather, it gave us a peek into the lives of police officers and showed us what they went through in the name of their duty. It bid its goodbye in 2005 after running 11 seasons.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER

Based on the 1992 movie of the same title, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a supernatural drama that depicts the life of Buffy Anne Summers, played by Sarah Michelle Gellar, and her adventures as a demon and vampire huntress. The series was a combination of comedy, supernatural, drama and a tinge degree of horror rolled into one for its teenage audience. While it is packed with action and comedy, the show also pulled at audiences’ heartstrings with brutal character deaths. It is a fine example of a hit show at a time when witch-hunting and high school magic as a theme was definitely a hit for many.

TWIN PEAKS

Thirty years ago, the crime drama Twin Peaks aired on television, making everyone hooked on the characters’ lives in the small town of Twin Peaks. The story focused on the death of Laura Palmer, a teenager, and homecoming queen. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper had to investigate and uncover the secrets behind the small town. This mystery crime drama only lasted three seasons but was able to leave a memorable experience for viewers with its cliffhanger scenes and shocking revelations. All credit goes to its creator Mark Frost and David Lynch who premiered the story in 1991.

ROOTS

The 1977 miniseries Roots was based on the 1976 novel of Alex Haley entitled Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The story was, to a huge degree, derived from the author’s own experience, starting with the protagonist Kunta Kinte who was played by LeVar Burton. Kinte was sold in the slave trade after being taken from an African village. The show also featured various events in American history, including emancipation and the Civil War. The show left a mark on American viewers because it was gutting and riveting. The show was also able to bag 37 Primetime Emmy Award nominations as well as a few Golden Globes and a Peabody Award.

MONTY PYTHON’S FLYING CIRCUS

The iconic British comedy sketch show starring comedy group Monty Python consisted of comedians Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam. The comedy show successfully mixed a good degree of absurdity to every situation and tackled the idiosyncrasies of British life. Fans also loved the live-action segments, which often used animation to hilarious effect. Although it only produced 45 episodes throughout its four seasons, the show was able to gather a fanbase that shaped and redefined early 1970s pop culture in Britain.

SIX FEET UNDER

HBO’s critically-acclaimed series Six Feet Under depicted the lives of a dysfunctional family in California who inherited a funeral home business from their patriarch. Award-winning producer Alan Ball takes credit for the show’s creation. It’s about the death of Nathaniel Fisher, an owner of a funeral home business. His two sons Nathaniel Jr. and David were left to continue the funeral home business. However, the two had to deal with their own challenges, and each episode was welcomed with a death. The show has won various awards and recognitions and is regarded as one of the best shows on HBO’s roster. Its focus on different degrees of human mortality and the nature of life and death was engrossing to audiences.

MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD

Kids in the late 90s regularly tuned in to Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for a half-an-hour of educational viewing. Created and hosted by Fred Rogers himself, the series started in 1962 in Canada and was aired on CBC before it bid its goodbye in 2001. In the show, Rogers would give tours of factories, demonstrate experiments, and show off arts and crafts while interacting with his friends and puppets. It served as the longest-running children series after beating Captain Kangaroo but was eventually dethroned by Sesame Street. PBS debuted an animated spin-off, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood 11 years later. Even though it’s been more than a decade since its last episode, Rogers’ stellar performance deserves credit for shaping young minds for generations.

THE LEFTOVERS

Lost creator Damon Lindelof made a follow-up of its mystical island drama with The Leftovers in 2014. It tackled the same theme as Lost—destiny, grief, and experiencing life’s mysteries, based on co-creator Tom Perrotta’s novel of the same name. The story revolved around the characters Kevin Garvey (played by Justine Theroux) and Nora Durst (Carrie Coon) and was set in Mapleton, New York. The characters had to deal with the loss of their loved ones who were included in a global departure as they struggled to rebuild their lives. The hit HBO series received positive reviews, and credit goes to its great story of misery, grief, love, and hope. Indeed the show gained a cult following.