70. The Killing (Forbrydelsen)
One murder victim; one convoluted murder mystery; and one police investigator in the midst of it all. Sarah Lund may not be your traditional heroine, but she's refreshingly complicated and ultimately drives both the series and the investigation forward. The show's sheer narrative ambition is unparalleled, and provides one of the most compelling crime dramas in TV history. No wonder, then, that it was remade for American audiences. Sam Loveridge
69. The Virtues
Years: 2019 | Seasons: 1
From This Is England duo Shane Meadows and Jack Thorne, The Virtues stars Stephen Graham as a recovering alcoholic forced to deal with a horrific incident after reuniting with his long-lost sister. From Meadows' artful direction through to Thorne's naturalistic script, this is British television at its best. However, the result wouldn't be half as successful without the stellar cast – Graham, Helen Behan and Niamh Alger all deliver acting masterclasses, their improvisational style eliciting laughter as freely as the tears. Jacob Stolworthy
68. Peaky Blinders
Years: 2013-present | Seasons: Ongoing
The world loves an anti-hero, and Cillian Murphy's Tommy Shelby's one of Britain's best. The leader of the ambitious Birmingham-based Shelby gang, Tommy exploits the vulnerability of his city following the First World War. Of course, he's not altogether himself, suffering from PTSD. As the series progresses, Tommy grows more and more confident, culminating in him becoming a Member of Parliament. Along the way, a host of brilliant actors put in memorable performances, including Tom Hardy, Sam Neill, and Adrien Brody. Just remember: "Don't f**k with the Peaky Blinders." Jack shepherd
67. Watchmen
Years: 2019 | Seasons: 1
The dust has barely settled on Watchmen, yet the world's still shaking from it. A series about masked vigilantes and the historic mistreatment of African Americans could have felt heavy handed, yet Regina King's incredible performance as Angela Abar anchors events perfectly. One scene will see her donning her superhero persona Sister Night; the next, Jeremy Irons will be waltzing around an English manor house. The result is an exquisite show that's not only an essential sequel to Alan Moore's graphic novel, but one that enhances the source material. Jack Shepherd
66. Fresh Meat
Years: 2011-2016 | Seasons: 4
British teenagers have always struggled to be truly represented on TV – Skins was a laugh, but it failed to feel real. Fresh Meat, from Peep Show creators Jesse Armstrong and Sam Bain, captures the awkwardness of university life without romanticising it. Shit housemates, creepy lecturers, and rich people playing "common people" are accurately represented, but underneath all that lies real heart. The exploration of trauma through Vod's (Zawe Ashton) relationship with her mother is gut-wrenchingly realistic, and the friendships of the housemates give the show an authentic tenderness. Marianne Eloise
65. Jane the Virgin
Years: 2014–2019 | Seasons: 5
Jane the Virgin is a smart celebration of the telenovelas that have come before it. That it is able to embrace erratically escalating tensions, and increasingly ridiculous situations with such deftness only speaks to its overall quality. With Gina Rodriguez as its lead, Jane the Virgin is full of heart and humour, forever striving to outline drama and pull far enough back to laugh at itself. After five seasons of easily consumable entertainment, Jane the Virgin will turn even the most cynical among us into the stanchest telenovela apologists. Josh West
64. True Blood
Years: 2008-2014 | Seasons: 7
True Blood ran for eight wild seasons and, while the HBO fantasy horror went off the boil on occasion, the series always managed to keep its tongue firmly in cheek. Following Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a telepathic waitress living in a world where vampires walk alongside humans thanks to the invention of a synthetic blood product, True Blood never strives to be high-brow entertainment, and that works to its advantage. Check your brain at the door and get caught up in the twist-filled events involving vampires, werewolves and maenads. Jacob Stolworthy
63. Sherlock
Years: 2010-2017 | Seasons: 4
It's not easy to redefine a character, especially one with a history as rich and storied as Sherlock Holmes. Yet, Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat accomplish just that in the outrageously confident first beats of Sherlock's opening case, "A Study in Pink". From there on, Benedict Cumberbatch's master detective is Sherlock, the arrogant, egotistical know-it-all with a knack for solving all things criminal. The choice to opt for 90-minute episodes is similarly brazen but brilliant, and Sherlock eventually reaches its crescendo with the introduction of Andrew Scott's poisonous Moriarty – a villain for the ages. Bradley Russell
62. Westworld
Years: 2016-present | Seasons: Ongoing
J.J. Abrams' return to television was eagerly anticipated back in 2016. While the Star Wars director may only act as executive producer, Westworld contains many of his hallmarks, namely having many (many) mysteries. Showrunners Jonathon Nolan and Lisa Joy do a perfect job of making us question everything that happens in their robot-filled holiday resort called Westworld. Are all the humans actually human? Or are they robots? What are their real intentions? No wonder, then, that Westworld is an excellent water cooler conversation topic. Jack Shepherd
61. Black-ish
Years: 2014-present | Seasons: Ongoing
When Donald Trump tweets that a critically acclaimed show adored by the Obamas is "racism at the highest level," then you know it's going to be good. Black-ish follows the wealthy executive Andre "Dre" Johnson, whose family squabble as any sitcom family squabbles. However, rather than ignore the colour of the characters' skin, the writers put race at the centre of their stories. There's no pussyfooting around issues to make people feel comfortable: this is urgent television tackles serious topics head-on. Jack Shepherd
60. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Years: 2017-present | Seasons: Ongoing
Amazon hasn't had quite the success rate of Netflix when it comes to original series. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, though, marks a new high for Amazon. The series follows the eponymous Jewish housewife, who soon discovers that she has a knack for stand-up comedy. Unfortunately, though, "Midge" is living through the '50s, and rampant systematic sexism attempts to hold her back. Yet, this is a feel-good story about overcoming hardship, and Rachel Brosnahan's glee as Mrs. Maisel makes each episode glide along. Jack Shepherd
59. The Good Wife
Years: 2009-2016 | Seasons: 7
There's a reason The Good Wife has five Emmys and Television Critics Association Award for Outstanding Achievement. Julianna Margulies is stunning as Alicia Florrick, whose husband Peter gets thrown into jail following a sex scandal. Ground in real-world details, The Good Wife enthralls as it shows Alicia gradually becomes the person she detests, her husband, after running for office yet being caught in her own political scandal. Like the great dramas that came before, namely The Sopranos, despite the world changing around the main character, they never truly change. Jack Shepherd
58. American Horror Story
Years: 2011-present | Seasons: 9
Often ambitious to a fault, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's brainchild American Horror Story doesn't always hit the mark. Over nine seasons exploring (and exaggerating) the horrors of everything from haunted houses to asylums to covens to freak shows to cults, the anthology series has always succeeded at one thing: being as campy and terrifying as possible. Even when it fails, it's always fun. Plus, it gave us Lady Gaga in Hotel as an eyebrow-bleached vampire, which is more than enough to help land American Horror Story on this list. Marianne Eloise
57. The Walking Dead
Years: 2010-present | Seasons: 10
The Walking Dead may have shambled on in recent years, yet it's hard to downplay the seismic shock felt when the series debuted on screens. Before 2010, genre series were mostly seen as niche efforts. Post-Walking Dead, all sorts of weird and wonderful efforts were welcomed with open arms as "serious" television – and it's all thanks to the AMC series' brilliant ensemble, rich gore, and continuous look at how humanity (mostly) prevails over evil. Bradley Russell
56. Pose
Years: 2018-present | Seasons: Ongoing
"Groundbreaking" is a word often thrown about to describe a television show's format, or an especially stellar performance, or even its cinematography. Yet it's rarely used to describe a show that's mere existence is culturally transgressive. Pose takes place in '80s Manhattan and sees members of the gay, black, Hispanic, and transgender community dance, strut, and pose. These balls are raucous, vibrant, and celebrate a group that were – at the time – living through the AIDS crisis. Pose perfectly captures that energy and its underlying sorrow. Alyssa Mercante
55. Happy Valley
Years: 2014-present | Seasons: Ongoing
Less of a murder mystery and more of a morality play wrapped up in an absorbing thriller, Happy Valley sees writer Sally Wainwright bring the complexities of being a middle-aged, female police officer in the north of England to the fore. The show carefully creates the puzzles and puts together all of its pieces in a way that keeps you hooked across its short episode runs, crafting one of the best female characters TV has to offer – Sarah Lancashire's Catherine Cawood. Sam Loveridge
54. Schitt's Creek
Years: 2015-2020 | Seasons: 5
After being defrauded by their business manager, the snooty Rose family lose their fortune and land – everything save for Schitt's Creek, the town Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) bought as a gag gift for his son, David (Dan Levy). Taking what's left with them, they move into the town's seedy motel. And while this could have led to a show about a bitter group of people behaving badly, Schitt's Creek is the opposite: the Roses adapt to their new lives in a manner that is disarmingly sweet and unabashedly wholesome, with threads of absurdity generously woven throughout. Alyssa Mercante
53. The Bridge
Years: 2011-2018 | Seasons: 4
At this Scandinavian-noir's heart is a murder mystery that unites Swedish detective Saga Norén with her Danish counterparts. Sofia Helin's performance as the straight-talking Norén, is reason enough to watch The Bridge. Her indelible interactions with Kim Bodnia the first two seasons, and then Thure Lindthardt in the final two, are brilliant. For a time, The Bridge seemed to live in the shadow of The Killing, but has been lately reappraised as superior. It's plain to see why. Jacob Stolworthy
52. Peep Show
Years: 2003-2015 | Seasons: 9
Peep Show started seven years before this decade began, but its impact on TV in the 2010s is immeasurable. Filmed from an often-dizzying first person perspective, Peep Show looks at the (miserable) lives of Mark (David Mitchell) and Jeremy (Robert Webb). The pair live together and often clash: Mark is posh, uptight and into history, while Jeremy loves sex, drugs and being immature. Highlighting difficult truths about the way British people live and communicate with one another, Peep Show is a disturbingly bleak (but realistic) portrayal of two men just trying to get by. Marianne Eloise
51. Making a Murderer
Years: 2015-present | Seasons: Ongoing
Making a Murderer landed on Netflix seemingly out of nowhere in December 2015 and, in the following weeks, the dubious case of Steven Avery was all anyone could talk about. The twist-filled narrative managed to turn everyone with internet access into an armchair detective, scrawling forums for more information on the case. The second season may have suffered from lack of material to really delve into. However, there's no denying the huge impact Making a Murderer has had – not just on television, but the real-world case of Avery and his cousin, Brendan Dassey. Jack Shepherd
50. Tuca and Bertie
Years: 2019 | Seasons: 1
Few shows have explored our very human anxieties as well as the animated comedy Tuca and Bertie. Now, that probably seems like an odd statement, seeing as the show centres on two birds voiced by comedians Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong. Yet, showrunner Lisa Hanawalt masterfully showcases the plights of 20- and 30-somethings in modern America with excellent, laugh-out-loud prowess. That Netflix has not renewed Tuca and Bertie for a second season is a travesty. Jack Shepherd
49. RuPaul's Drag Race
Years: 2009-present | Seasons: Ongoing
RuPaul's Drag Race is what Project Runway could have been if that show had spent an entire season lip-syncing Ariana Grande songs with a 13-inch ponytail pinned to its head. Up-and-coming drag queens face off in weekly competitions that challenge their fashion design, make-up, dancing, and acting skills, and the results are meme-worthy. Drag Race's highly specific model of success is thanks to the cultural niche it occupies, requiring an advanced knowledge of the LGBTQ+ community and its legacy. If you don't get it, go do your homework. And that, sis, is the tea. Alyssa Mercante
48. Girls
Years: 2012-2017 | Seasons: 6
Infamously sold by a 23-year-old Lena Dunham based on an "informal" and "pretentious" pitch, Girls was immediately controversial. The first TV series about so-called "millennial" women, Girls is a funny and, at times, infuriating look at the lives of four barely-friends: Hannah (Dunham), Jessa (Jemima Kirke), Marnie (Allison Williams) and Shoshanna (Zosia Mamet). Dunham's depiction of a "struggling" New York writer has been divisive, but over its six seasons, the show proves itself to be generation-defining. Of course, giving us Adam Driver is also a big plus. Marianne Eloise
47. 30 Rock
Years: 2006-2013 | Seasons: 7
A satirical sitcom that skewered Tina Fey's experiences writing Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock's surreal depiction of life working on a live sketch show is timeless. Further obscuring the mysterious things that go on behind 30 Rock's doors through layers of absurdity, the real joy of watching the show doesn't come from Fey herself, but from her costars. With Alec Baldwin as Jack, her Republican boss, and Tracy Morgan and Jane Krakowski as her sketch show stars Jenna and Tracy, 30 Rock is relentlessly hilarious. Mariane Eloise
46. Utopia
Years: 2013-2014 | Seasons: 2
"Where is Jessica Hyde?" Those four words propel this engrossingly stylish thriller, where a group of online conspiracy theorists that are obsessed with a graphic novel – called The Utopia Experiments – are suddenly being hunted down by hitmen. While the story is enjoyably pulpy, it's the show's distinct visual style that leaves a lasting impression. Full of saturated colours and imposing wide shots, nothing on British TV has looks as striking as Utopia. Ben Tyrer
45. The End of the F***ing World
Years: 2017-2019 | Seasons: 2
The premise for this sharp dramedy might seem a bit cliche – two teenagers run away from home and slowly fall for each other – but its character's rough edges make it compulsive viewing. After all, one of those teens believes he's a psychopath, and is toying with the idea of killing his road trip partner. That's a pretty good f***ing hook. Alex Lawther and Jessica Barden are fantastic as James and Alyssa, while the series' light tone hides a surprisingly through examination of teenage trauma. Ben Tyrer
44. American Crime Story
Years: 2016-present | Seasons: Ongoing
There's a reason Ryan Murphy has been paid a rumoured $500 million to produce shows for Netflix. The executive producer continued his winning spree in 2016 with American Crime Story, which translates the DNA of American Horror Story onto real-world scandals. The first season concerns The People V. O. J. Simpson. Presented in a hyper-stylized fashion, the story is absolutely riveting, helped along by great performances by Sterling K. Brown, Cuba Gooding Jr., Sarah Paulson and a surprisingly re-energised John Travolta. The Assassination of Gianni Versace is, likewise, a compelling and thrilling watch. Jack Shepherd
43. Russian Doll
Years: 2019-present | Seasons: Ongoing
One of the best things to happen to the TV of the 2010s is the second coming of Natasha Lyonne. Along with Orange is the New Black, Russian Doll has cemented her hair and voice as two of the most iconic motifs of the decade. Russian Doll, a Groundhog Day-style comedy about a woman named Nadia (Lyonne) who repeatedly dies and relives the same night over and over again, is hilarious. It also introduces complex time travel concepts and delicately examines and re-treads Nadia's trauma, asking important questions about unbreakable cycles. Marianne Eloise
42. Line of Duty
Years: 2012-present | Seasons: Ongoing
Following a group of detectives investigating possible corruption within the police force, Line of Duty focuses on a different potentially rogue officer each season. As a result, BBC dramas don't come more gripping than this. So successful is the crime procedural that it quickly became one of Britain's most-watched TV series. The secret to the show's success is undoubtedly in its casting. Keeley Hawes, Thandie Newton and Stephen Graham clearly relish the chance to play investigated coppers, each one thriving as we ask, "Are they or aren't they?" Jacob Stolworthy
41. Friday Night Lights
Years: 2006-2011 | Seasons: 5
Inspired by both HG Bissinger's non-fiction book and 2004 film of the same name, Friday Night Lights follows a high school football team and the surrounding close-knit community of Dillon. On paper, this seems like a series for either NFL fans or teenagers yearning for a Dawson's Creek-style show. In reality, though, Peter Berg's series is so much more – a heartfelt drama about the struggles of the Taylor family. It's also a coming-of-age tale focused on a group of teenagers, played by now-huge stars Taylor Kitsch, Jesse Plemons, and Michael B. Jordan. Jacob Stolworthy
