Vote for Your 10 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

What happened

The original poll, conducted by a major entertainment publication, reached out to over 500 prominent individuals across the television landscape to determine which shows stood out as the most significant and artistically accomplished of the 21st century. Participants included Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actors such as Viola Davis, Bryan Cranston, and Elisabeth Moss; groundbreaking showrunners like David Benioff and D.B. Weiss ('Game of Thrones'), Vince Gilligan ('Breaking Bad'), Michaela Coel ('I May Destroy You'), and Shonda Rhimes; influential critics from outlets like The New York Times, The Guardian, and Variety; as well as producers, writers, and directors known for shaping modern TV. Each expert submitted a ranked list of their top ten shows, and the results were aggregated to form a consensus ranking that reflected both critical acclaim and cultural resonance.

The voting process emphasized criteria such as narrative innovation, character development, thematic depth, technical execution, and influence on subsequent programming. Shows from a wide array of genres were considered, including drama, comedy, science fiction, fantasy, limited series, and nonfiction. The final expert list highlighted series that debuted between January 1, 2001, and December 31, 2099, ensuring a focus on the current century. Notably, the results favored programs that balanced artistic ambition with widespread audience reach, many of which premiered during the so-called 'Peak TV' era, when an explosion of scripted content across broadcast, cable, and streaming platforms transformed how stories are told and consumed.

Among the shows frequently cited by experts were 'The Wire' for its unflinching portrayal of urban institutions, 'Breaking Bad' for its precise character descent into moral complexity, 'Mad Men' for its rich period detail and psychological insight, and 'The Sopranos'—despite its 1999 premiere, its enduring influence carried strongly into the 2000s. More recent entries like 'Succession', praised for its Shakespearean dynamics and satire of wealth and power, and 'Ted Lasso', noted for its emotional intelligence and genre-blending optimism, also garnered strong support. Limited series such as 'When They See Us' and 'Chernobyl' were lauded for their powerful storytelling and social relevance within a condensed format.

The experts’ selections were not merely popularity contests; they reflected a deliberate effort to identify works that advanced the medium. Many praised shows that took creative risks, utilized long-form storytelling to explore complex societal issues, or elevated underrepresented voices. For instance, 'Pose' was highlighted for its historic casting of transgender actors and its vibrant depiction of ballroom culture, while 'Atlanta' was commended for its surreal, genre-defying approach to examining Black identity and modern life. The diversity of the list underscored a growing recognition that excellence in television can emerge from any corner of the global storytelling landscape.

Now that the expert phase has concluded, the initiative invites the public to participate in a parallel voting process. Fans are encouraged to reflect on their own viewing experiences and submit a personal list of ten TV shows from the 21st century that have meant the most to them—whether due to emotional resonance, intellectual stimulation, representation, or pure entertainment value. This public phase aims to create a dialogue between critical acclaim and audience affection, potentially revealing where consensus exists and where personal taste diverges.

To ensure broad participation, the voting platform is designed to be accessible and user-friendly, allowing individuals to submit their lists with brief explanations if desired. While the expert list serves as a curated benchmark, the public vote will stand as its own authentic measure of what television has meant to viewers around the world. The organizers plan to compare the two results after the voting period closes, offering insights into how professional judgment and popular sentiment align—or differ—when evaluating the century’s most impactful television.

What this means

As television continues to evolve in the streaming era, initiatives like this serve both as a retrospective on the medium’s achievements and a forward-looking invitation to audiences to reflect on what stories have moved, challenged, or inspired them. By first gathering the considered judgments of those who create and critique television, and then opening the floor to viewers worldwide, the project captures a dual perspective: one rooted in professional insight and the other in lived experience. Whether the public vote aligns closely with the experts’ choices or highlights different favorites, the process itself affirms a shared belief in television’s power to connect, provoke, and endure. In an age of endless content, taking the moment to identify ten meaningful shows is not just an act of preference—it’s a testament to the lasting impact of storytelling in the 21st century.