Television has evolved into a medium where storytelling, character depth, and artistic vision have reached such soaring heights that some series are able to rival, and even surpass, films. This wasn’t always the case, as television used to be a more constricted medium that took fewer risks, and offered more generic entertainment that was often less creatively expressive than artistic works in other mediums. Today, television series incorporate layered characters, nuanced storytelling, and offer thoughtful commentary.

Experimental series like Atlanta push the boundaries of the medium and take it to new levels, while classics like The Sopranos have redefined the medium altogether while maintaining a consistent level of quality from start to finish. From comedies to dramas, this list includes series that are definitive masterpieces.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Image via HBO

Chernobyl is a gripping HBO miniseries that depicts the catastrophic 1986 nuclear disaster in Soviet Ukraine and tells the story of the valiant individuals who risked their lives to contain it. After the sudden explosion of Reactor 4 at the Chernobyl nuclear facility, Soviet chemist Valery Legasov (Jared Harris), Soviet bureaucrat Boris Scherbina (Stellan Skarsgård) and nuclear physicist Ulana Khomyuk (Emily Watson) work together to devise a plan to contain the nuclear fallout before it spreads across the Northern Hemisphere. Their efforts are met with resistance and challenges as they navigate government lies, bureaucracy, and mortal danger.

Chernobyl is a dark and emotionally moving series that depicts the nuclear disaster with searing authenticity. With meticulous cinematography, excellent writing, and heart-wrenching performances, Chernobyl is undoubtedly one of the greatest miniseries of all time. Harris does a phenomenal job of portraying the tortured and frustrated chemist, Valery Legasov, while Skarsgård offers an equally captivating performance as seething bureaucrat Boris Scherbina. But perhaps the greatest performance of the series came from Jessie Buckley, who portrays the tragic Lyudmilla Ignatenko, whose firefighter husband was one of the first victims exposed to the reactors’ radiation. The well-coordinated pacing of the series delivers a constant sense of suspense and tension for viewers, and its commitment to historical accuracy makes it as fascinating a story as it is elucidating.

‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)

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Better Call Saul is a character-driven spin-off series that tells the origin story of Saul Goodman, formerly known as “Jimmy McGill,” (Bob Odenkirk), a struggling but charismatic lawyer who is inevitably drawn to a life of crime despite attempts to lead an honest career. Set before, and slightly after, the events of Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul features Jonathan Banks in the role of bodyguard and fixer, Mike Ehrmantraut, Rhea Seehorn as accomplished lawyer and partner to Jimmy, and Michael McKean as Jimmy’s older brother, Chuck.

Spin-off series seldom live up to the legacy of their predecessors. But in some cases, they not only live up to the legacy of their predecessors but even outshine them. Better Call Saul saw Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould in top form as seasoned showrunners following their incredible work on Breaking Bad. The tragic tale of Slippin’ Jimmy unfolds through remarkable writing, as well as outstanding character work from Odenkirk, who does an excellent job of making Saul’s tragic character profoundly sympathetic. Better Call Saul, like its predecessor, only got better with time as audiences witnessed the shocking transformation of Jimmy McGill into the morally bankrupt lawyer who would play a significant supporting role in Breaking Bad. With a flawless ensemble cast supported by the memorable performances by Seehorn and McKean as well as a compelling story that builds into a brilliant crescendo, Better Call Saul is a masterpiece.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

Image via HBO

Succession is a satirical black comedy drama series that follows the lives of the Roy family, wealthy owners of RoyCo, a media and entertainment conglomerate. When the future of the ruthless aging patriarch of the family (Brian Cox) suddenly comes into question following the onset of health issues, his self-centered and inept children battle it out for the coveted position of CEO. Succession is a series that takes inspiration from the Murdoch and Royal families and features an ensemble cast that includes Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook.

Succession is a masterpiece for its razor-sharp writing, layered characters, and remarkable performances from a perfectly cast ensemble of actors. This impeccable series does an outstanding job of blending biting satire with profoundly human drama to explore wealth, privilege, and the dynamics of corporate business. It does so in Shakespearean fashion, as many viewers will likely note the similarities between the series and King Lear. The show’s usage of documentary-style camera work that features snap zooms, quick-pans, and off-center framing gives the series a realistic and personal feel that draws viewers with stunning efficacy. As one of HBO’s greatest series, Succession is a stylish masterpiece that was impeccable from start to finish.

‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

Image via Netflix

Dark is an atmospheric German sci-fi thriller that begins with the mysterious disappearance of a child in the town of Winden. As families pursue the truth behind the child’s disappearance, they uncover a time-traveling conspiracy that implicates various town folk going back generations. Dark explores themes of fate, free will, and the nature of time itself, through a complex and thought-provoking narrative.

Dark’s intricately woven narrative is meticulously written in a manner that challenges its viewers to critically engage with the series. The show is filled with intentional symbolic imagery and critical, but subtle details that require audiences to pay close attention as they watch, making it a show that rewards multiple viewings. It’s not a superficial series designed to entertain its audiences, but rather a show that engenders them to think and truly to sit with the story. The moody and atmospheric style of the series is expertly crafted to pull audiences into the setting in a way that few series can. Dark‘s engagement with themes of time, fate, and human nature, as well as its unpredictable story and atmospheric style that lingers long after watching, make it a modern masterpiece.

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

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The Sopranos is a crime drama series that follows the life of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini) as he struggles to strike a balance between his crime family and his personal family. Tony’s life and psyche are examined through his interactions with his therapist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi (Lorraine Braco), as viewers witness Tony commit heinous crimes including theft and murder, while also attempting to be a father, husband, and family man. The Sopranos features an ensemble cast that also includes Edie Falco and Michael Imperioli.

Few series in television history have had an impact remotely close to the one The Sopranos has had on the media as well as popular culture at large. This is due to several factors, including the remarkable writing of the series that’s rife with subtext, and meticulous world building. Viewers who watch The Sopranos are immediately brought into a space that feels authentically lived in, with characters that are profoundly realistic. The depiction of the unique subculture of the Italian mob is portrayed with such careful detail that the FBI allegedly told producers that mob figures would discuss the realism of the series over wiretaps. Performances by Gandolfini, Falco, and Imperioli remain some of the best and most memorable of their careers, spawning a fan base that remains passionately devoted to the series nearly two decades after the final episode aired. The Sopranos also offers a fascinating commentary and critique on American culture that remains relevant today.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

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Originally conceived as the story of a man who transforms from Mr. Chips into Scarface, Breaking Bad depicts the rise and fall of former chemistry teacher turned meth kingpin, Walter White aka Heisenberg (Bryan Cranston). After a lifetime of mediocrity, a brilliant high school chemistry teacher discovers that they’re terminally with lung cancer. Struggling with money, and suddenly animated by the realization that they have little time left in the world, Walter White teams up with former student-turned-meth peddler, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and the two men proceed to cook up the most premier meth in Albuquerque.

Cranston delivers a career-defining performance as the menacing Walter White, who undergoes a drastic transformation from a mild-mannered and unremarkable high school teacher into a ruthless, morally bankrupt meth kingpin. What makes this performance especially good is the subtle nuance of Cranston’s expressive acting, which initially captures the threatening, fiery ambition of Walter’s character through an economy of gestures and actions. By mid-series, White’s transformation feels natural and fully earned. Cranston conveys to the audience that this performance is less about Walter transforming into a monster, and more about simply embracing the monster he always was. The impeccable writing of the series propels the narrative forward in a constant progression that ultimately ends with one of the greatest climaxes and finales in the history of television.

‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)

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Mad Men follows the personal and professional life of Creative Director Don Draper (Jon Hamm) and his colleagues at Sterling Cooper, a highly successful advertising agency in 1960s New York City. Don is smooth, mysterious, and highly skilled at his job, but he harbors a haunting secret: he’s not really who he says he is. Mad Men includes a phenomenal cast of talent that includes Elisabeth Moss in her breakthrough role as Don’s protégé, Peggy Olson, and John Slattery as the quick-witted Roger Sterling.

Matthew Weiner developed the idea for Mad Men while working for David Chase on The Sopranos, so naturally, audiences will notice similarities between the works, especially in terms of the brilliant use of subtext. The application of subtext in Mad Men is one of the primary qualities that gives it a sense of realism. Characters seldom reveal how they truly feel, giving audiences just enough dialogue and action to compel them to critically engage and interpret the narrative. Through this subtle form of storytelling, Mad Men often presents its characters as subjects of their particular historical setting and the culture, norms, and the influential external factors that come with them. This unique approach forms a fascinating and engrossing commentary on a unique time period without reducing itself to platitudes. Mad Men‘s meticulous attention to historical detail also makes it one of the greatest, and most accurately depicted, period pieces in television history. Viewers who enjoy literature will likely appreciate the masterfully executed “show-don’t-tell” approach of Mad Men.

‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019)

Fleabag is a comedy-drama television series created by Phoebe Waller-Bridge based on her one-woman play. This unique show follows the life of a sharp-witted, grief-stricken woman known only as “Fleabag”, as she copes with her tragedy while simultaneously trying to date in London. Fleabag also features Andrew Scott in the role of The Priest and Sian Clifford as Fleabag’s sister, Clair.

Fleabag is a one-of-a-kind series that masterfully blends razor-sharp humor with heart-wrenching emotional honesty in a fashion that’s unlike any other series. What makes this series so unique is Waller-Bridge’s constant breaking of the fourth wall to address the audience with exposition, inner monologues and additional running commentary. This subversive stylistic choice creates a deeply intimate relationship between the character and the audience that’s both jarring and profoundly captivating. As the series progresses, each moment viewers share with Fleabag feels raw and personal. Waller-Bridge gives a remarkable performance as sharp-witted, unapologetically candid Fleabag, who uses humor to hide her emotional pain and depression. This performance, along with the exceptional writing and style of the series, make it a unique masterpiece.

‘Atlanta’ (2016–2022)

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Atlanta follows the life of Earnest “Earn” Marks (Donald Glover), a Princeton University dropout who returns to his home in Atlanta and becomes manager to his cousin, hip-hop artist Alfred “Paper Boi” Miles (Brian Tyree Henry). Earn and Alfred are joined by their eccentric friend Darius (LaKeith Stanfield) and Vanessa “Van” Kiefer (Zazie Beetz), Earn’s on-again-off-again girlfriend and mother to their child Lottie, as they navigate the bizarre and surreal landscape of the Atlanta hip-hop scene.

Atlanta is a one-of-a-kind series that masterfully blends surrealism, sharp social satire, and dark humor to explore class, race, and identity in modern America. Glover’s subversive, genre-defying approach makes it one of the most unpredictable series in television history. Atlanta uses expressive cinematography and beautiful production to create a dream-like style that often blurs the lines of reality and presents bizarre scenes in a way that is reminiscent of the works of David Lynch, and its rejection of traditional narrative structure and exploration of existential themes hearkens back to the films of the French New Wave. With a slew of memorable performances, especially from Tyree Henry, and a stunning visual style, few series in history have taken such a radically experimental approach to television in as successful a way as Atlanta.

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

Image via HBO

After losing the presidential election, U.S. Senator Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) lands the job of Vice President, making her the second in command to the most powerful individual in the world. But Selina soon finds out that being Vice President is not all it’s cracked up to be. Veep is a political satire comedy series that follows the life of narcissistic Vice President Selina Meyer and her staff of bumbling employees as they navigate the complex terrain of Washington D.C. politics.

Veep is easily the greatest political satire ever produced for television, and for that alone it’s rightfully a masterpiece. This sharply written series features rapid-fire dialogue and a seemingly endless run of hilarious jokes from start to finish. Veep’s cynical depiction of American politics has been lauded for its striking authenticity. Louis-Dreyfus delivers a career-defining performance (which is already impressive given her legendary run as Elaine Benes) as the self-centered, hot-tempered Selina Meyer. While Louis-Dreyfus dominates every scene she’s in, the supporting cast, which includes Tony Hale as Meyer’s servile personal aid, and Anna Chlumsky as Selina’s neurotic Chief of Staff, Amy Brookeheimer, also offer hysterical performances. Over the impressive course of its seven-season run, Veep never faltered in quality, delivering what’s one of the most masterfully executed comedy series of all time.

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Alaskan Bush People star Matt Brown has died at the age of 43, according to his brother Bear Brown.

“They found a body in the river a few hours ago and it was positively identified as being Matt,” Bear, 38, announced via TikTok on Saturday, May 30. “[Brother] Noah was with them and helped them pull the body out of the water. Noah identified [Matt].”

Bear said that he “never would have suspected that [Matt] would have hurt himself” even though his brother “struggled for a long time.”

“I was so worried that he would end up ODed or something like that. I didn’t think he would hurt himself,” Bear told his followers.

Bear confirmed that the coroner has not yet performed an autopsy on Matt though it is theorized that the death was “self-inflicted.”

“I would ask people to please, please be respectful to my family and to my mom. Please watch the comments that you leave, guys,” he asked. “Sometimes words can hurt more than fists can … In one of [Matt’s] last videos, he was talking about how negative people were on his posts. You guys should keep in mind that people on the other side of your screen, people you are watching a video of, are real people too.”

Bear thanked any followers who supported the rescue efforts for Matt after he went missing earlier in the week.

“I would just ask you to please, please, please be kind,” Bear pleaded. “Especially with my siblings … Please leave my family out of it.”

The confirmation of Matt’s death comes hours after Oregon authorities suspended search efforts for a missing man believed to be the reality star due to weather concerns.

“During the day of search efforts, the river conditions deteriorated and hampered search efforts,” a press release read. “After rainfall from the previous night, the river level and river current speed increased. The active river flow increases the likelihood that the male has not remained near the location last seen.”

Local authorities added, “The search has been suspended due to dangerous river conditions and pending information to focus on search efforts.”

Matt’s family expressed concerns about his well-being amid a police search for an unidentified man in his area. On Thursday, May 28, Matt’s brother Bear posted a TikTok video addressing claims that Matt was seen by a witness near a local river.

“I’m being told that late last night that Matt took his own life,” Bear, 38, said in the clip. “I can’t confirm that that’s true, but witnesses say that he was seen in a river, at a river or close to a river.”

Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office received a call on Wednesday, May 27, to report a man sitting in the shallow waters of the Okanogan River in Washington state, per TMZ. The caller, who remained anonymous, looked away and when they turned back because of a sound. The man was allegedly lying face down in the river and being swept away by the current, according to the caller.

TMZ confirmed that emergency responders searched the area but could not find a body. As of Friday, May 29, no body had been found and the search was to be resumed.

Prior to confirmation of his death, a source close to the Browns told Us Weekly that “the family is not sure what to believe” amid the speculation.

“They are not sure where Matt is but they are hoping that he is OK and that the information is wrong,” the insider explained at the time. “They are all in contact and speaking to police and waiting to hear. They have had their issues [with Matt] and Gabe has been the person most in contact with him.”

Alaskan Bush People aired for 14 seasons from 2014 to 2022 on Discovery Channel. The reality series followed the entire Brown family as they lived off the grid in Hoonah, Alaska. Matt appeared on the show from 2014 to 2019. He quietly left the series without an official explanation. Since his departure from reality TV, Matt has run his own YouTube channel.

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Over the years, Matt struggled with substance abuse. He went to rehab in 2016. After suffering a relapse, he returned from a second round of treatment two years later.

Alaskan Bush People came to an end in 2022, one year after the Bear family patriarch Billy Brown died age 68 after suffering a seizure. (Matt is the eldest son of Billy and Ami Brown. His siblings include Bear, Gabe, Joshua “Bam Bam” Brown, Noah Brown, Bird Brown and Rain Brown.)

If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or considering suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Editor’s note: The below contains spoilers for the For All Mankind Season 5 finale.

The Season 5 finale of For All Mankind is one for the alt-history books, keeping with the series’ tradition of setting up the next season in its final scene. “This Land Is Our Land” barely gives viewers any time to recover from the shock of losing Kelly Baldwin (Cynthy Wu) as the episode jumps past Saturn and a few years into the future, to 2020. To the tune of The Weeknd‘s “Blinding Lights,” a derelict spaceship suddenly comes back online as a computer lights up with Russian text. This ship is named Mars-94, while the text onscreen teases the possibility of an old acquaintance somehow returning and influencing the events of the series’ final season.

‘For All Mankind’ Season 5’s Final Scene Teases the Return of Mars-94

The return of Mars-94 is a direct tie to For All Mankind Season 3, which premiered in 2022. Back then, the events of the so-called race to Mars were at the center of the story, as NASA, Roscosmos, and Helios Aerospace each sent their own spaceship to try and claim the red planet first. Only two ships made it all the way: NASA’s Sojourner and Helios’ Phoenix. Mars-94’s engine is similar to the Sojourner, since, at that time, Margo Madison (Wrenn Schmidt) was secretly sharing information with Roscosmos’ Sergei Nikulov (Piotr Adamczyk). Both have nuclear fission engines, but Mars-94’s was put under too much stress and failed. As a result, radiation started leaking into the vessel itself, forcing its crew to abandon ship. Since then, Mars-94 has been adrift in space.

As a spaceship, Mars-94 is a single-stage-to-orbit craft, meaning it doesn’t lose any component during its ascent and remains a single unit from launch to landing. It took off from Earth and didn’t make any stops until it caught up with Sojourner and Phoenix on the way to Mars. That’s why, in Season 5, Mars-94 looks mostly intact and dark — it’s still technically in one piece, but with radiation flooding its interior, making it impossible for humans to command it from the inside.

Sergei Nikulov Could Play a Surprising Role in ‘For All Mankind’s Final Season

For All Mankind is a gem of speculative sci-fi on TV, but it’s definitely not the kind of show where the dead return. Still, the Russian text on the Mars-94 computer will definitely get fans talking about why Sergei’s name is there at all. Translated, it reads: “D:/ Detection of GW 3.06.0451 // Nikulov Loading…” Sergei’s last name is Nikulov, and he was the director of Roscosmos at the time of the mission, so his name showing up isn’t particularly strange, but the ship coming back to life after 26 years definitely is.

It’s worth remembering, however, that Sergei was assassinated by the KGB in 2003, so there is absolutely no way it’s him reaching out to Mars-94. What’s more likely is that he left code within the ship’s systems with specific guidelines or instructions, and Mars-94 might just have activated one of those in the vastness of space. Although it was evacuated, the ship hasn’t stopped coasting, and its nuclear engine could very well have the power to turn systems back on even decades after going dark.

The big question is what that code might be for. As Irina Morozova (Svetlana Efremova) mentions in the Season 5 finale, there are older Soviet satellites that can still be activated, and that’s how Happy Valley learns about the ceasefire ordered by the U.S. government. It could be that Mars-94 has the same system, and Mars (or another human outpost in the Solar System) has reached out to the ship for some reason. If there is a way to get rid of the radiation, the ship is still largely usable, and spacecraft of a similar construction have been reused before — Sojourner itself traveled to both Mars and Titan.

It’s also possible that Mars-94’s system has been programmed to boot up whenever it stumbles upon certain events. The “Detection of GW” part of the script is particularly curious. The letters likely mean “gravitational wave,” which could imply that Mars-94 is approaching a massive celestial body. There was no reason to ever assume Mars-94 would ever find itself in such a position when it launched, but Sergei was a dreamer and an idealist, so his programming it with more specificity isn’t that much of a stretch.

Mars-94’s Position in Space Might Be Tied to ‘For All Mankind’s Endgame

Image via Apple TV

For All Mankind has always told a deeply optimistic story about humanity’s potential to reach the stars, but Season 5’s final scene might actually be about the stars reaching back. Fans have always speculated that the series might end with first contact, and, with Season 6 confirmed to be the show’s last, this possibility just became even more likely.

Mars-94 is one of the furthest human-made objects from Earth in For All Mankind, and, given its specifications, it’s not impossible to consider that it might have reached another star system, like Alpha Centauri. The first contact theory could involve Mars-94 being acquired by another civilization and booted up as a response. Sergei thinking beyond the scope of the original mission is well within his character, and this system might be his final gift to humanity: a way of letting those who survived him know that they might not be alone in the universe.

President Donald Trump called for organizers of Freedom 250’s Great American State Fair concerts to “cancel” upcoming concerts due to artists dropping out.

“I am thinking about bringing the Number One Attraction anywhere in the World, the man who gets much larger audiences than Elvis in his prime, and he does so without a guitar, the man who loves our Country more than anyone else, and the man who some say is the Greatest President in History (THE GOAT!), DONALD J. TRUMP, to take the place of these highly paid, Third Rate ‘Artists,’ and give a major speech, rallying the Country forward like I have done ever since being President,” Trump, 79, wrote via TruthSocial on Saturday, May 30.

Martina McBride, Bret Michaels, Young MC and Morris Day and the Time have all pulled out of scheduled shows at the 16-day festival in Washington D.C. celebrating America’s 250th birthday over organizer Freedom 250’s connections to the Trump administration.

Freedom 250 describes its events as “nonpartisan,” though its website mentions the White House and the Department of War among its “founding government members.” Freedom 250 also publicly counts multiple corporations with ties to Trump — including Palantir, UFC and Oracle — as sponsors.

“I would like to talk to you and clear the air. I will not be performing at the Great American State Fair on June 25. I was presented with an opportunity to perform at a nonpartisan event but that turned out to be misleading,” McBride, 59, announced via Instagram on Thursday, May 28.

Michaels, 63, alleged that he’d received threats over his involvement in Freedom 250 before deciding to cancel his show.

“Unfortunately, what was presented to us as a celebration of our country has evolved into something much more divisive than what I agreed to be a part of,” Michaels said in a statement via his website. “Concerns have also been raised regarding the safety of my fans, band, crew, family and myself, including threats that are completely unfounded and unforgivable. Because of that, I have made the difficult decision to step away from this performance.”

In the wake of multiple artist cancellations, Trump compared the Freedom 250 controversy to his troubled attempt to renovate and rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

A judge ruled on Friday, May 29, that Trump’s name should be removed from the Kennedy Center’s marquee, in addition to temporarily blocking a planned two-year closure for renovations. (The president later threatened to “transfer this failing Institution back” to the “Radical Left Democrats” to force them to take ownership of renovation costs and planning.)

“We should have a giant MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN RALLY, for 250, instead of having overpriced singers, who nobody wants to hear, whose music is boring, and yet who do nothing but complain,” Trump suggested. “Cancel it, just like I canceled my involvement with the failing and unsafe to be in Kennedy Center … The Kennedy Center is broken, unsafe, and $busted, and has been for many years!”

Prior to Trump’s statement, Freedom 250 spokesperson Julia Friedland addressed whether the festivities were truly nonpartisan during an appearance on DC News Now’s Sunrise on the Hill on Friday, May 29.

“I don’t think there’s anything partisan about America being around for 250 years … We have a history, obviously, but we have a president that wants to celebrate 250 years of America,” she insisted. “And that’s exactly what we’re doing. And that’s how it was sold to performers. We’ll have military bands, military ensembles as well. We will have representatives from every state and territory in the United States to come and represent their culture, what makes their state and territory unique.”

“So it sold the same way to everyone that we’re celebrating America’s 250th birthday,” she added. “We’ll have military bands, orchestras, talented performers. We will be announcing more in the coming weeks and days, and we will have something for everyone there.”

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Related: Musicians Drop Out of President Donald Trump’s Great American State Fair

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The Great American State Fair appears to have some drama surrounding its lineup of performers. Hours after event organizers announced the initial lineup of special guests, speakers and performers for the 16-day national exposition, some booked musicians said they wanted no part in the event set to take place in Washington D.C. between June 25 […]

Asked whether artists were told about the White House’s involvement when they signed on, Friedland said, “I can’t speak to negotiations that were made for performers. But what I can say is we’re selling it the same way to every single person in this country. This is a celebration of America, 250 years, glorious years. It’s inherently nonpolitical.”

Not every concert booked for the Freedom 250 concerts has been cancelled, as headliners Vanilla Ice and Fab Morvan of Milli Vanilli have both promoted their involvement via social media amid the backlash.

“Happy birthday America 250 years. It’s gonna be an epic party,” Vanilla Ice, 58, wrote via Instagram on Thursday, May 28. “This is to bring us all together. I’m tired of all the news channels dividing this country. We are all one.”

Hockey fans around the world are mourning the loss of Claude Lemieux, the four-time Stanley Cup champion who died on May 28, 2026, at age 60.

The Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to Us Weekly that the NHL legend died by suicide at a family-owned furniture business in Florida — just three days after he was seen carrying the torch before a Montreal Canadiens playoff game.

Lemieux’s death has sent shockwaves through the hockey community, with tributes pouring in from former teammates and family members. Keep scrolling for everything to know:

Claude Lemieux’s Cause of Death

According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson, Lemieux was found dead inside the Andros Home showroom on the 200 block of North Congress Avenue in Lake Park, Florida, at 3:23 a.m. ET on May 28, 2026.

“The business was secured for evidence preservation/investigation by VCD Homicide,” the spokesperson told Us. “The victim is believed to be Claude Lemieux.”

Per the medical examiner, Lemieux died by suicide and was found “in the rear warehouse by his son.” His family reportedly became concerned when he didn’t return home, prompting one of his three adult sons to check on him. It has not been disclosed which son made the discovery. Lemieux — who hailed from Buckingham, Quebec — spent the final years of his life living in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Claude Lemieux’s Family Breaks Their Silence

Lemieux is survived by his second wife, Deborah — whom he married in the Bahamas in the mid-1990s — along with his four children: sons Michael and Christopher from his first marriage and son Brendan and daughter Claudia with Deborah.

Brendan was the first family member to publicly speak out. The athlete shared a recent photo with his father and his son, Luc, on Instagram.

“I love you dad!” Brendan wrote. “My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you.”

Claudia, who works as author Colleen Hoover’s assistant, broke her silence later that same day.

“No words to express the level of devastation we feel,” Claudia wrote via her Instagram Story. “I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl.”

Inside Claude Lemieux’s Iconic NHL Career

Lemieux played 21 seasons in the NHL from 1983 to 2009, suiting up for the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils, Colorado Avalanche, Phoenix Coyotes, Dallas Stars and San Jose Sharks. Known as both a fierce competitor and a clutch postseason performer, he won four Stanley Cup championships during his career.

In 1,215 regular season games, Lemieux tallied 379 goals and 407 assists, along with 1,777 penalty minutes. According to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, Lemieux’s teams reached the playoffs for 15 straight seasons. His 234 postseason games rank sixth in league history, and his 80 career playoff goals rank ninth all time.

After retiring as a player, Lemieux transitioned into a successful career as a sports agent, representing top NHL talent including the Detroit Red Wings’ Moritz Seider, the Devils’ Timo Meier, the Boston Bruins’ Hampus Lindholm and Carolina Hurricanes goalie Frederik Andersen.

Claude Lemieux’s Final Public Appearance

Just three days before his death, Lemieux made an emotional return to Montreal’s Bell Centre on May 25, 2026, where he served as the torchbearer before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes.

Claude Lemieux’s Family Plans to Donate His Brain for CTE Research

On Saturday, May 30, Lemieux’s family released a statement confirming that they plan to donate his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center for research into “the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury.”

The Lemieuxs noted that their donation is “a gift to science, to athletes and to future generations of families seeking answers.” (Per Mayo Clinic, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a neurodegenerative brain disease that is linked to repeated head injuries. While the condition is “rare and not well understood,” research has strongly linked CTE to athletes and combat veterans.)

“Claude dedicated his post-play career to helping the next generation,” his family said in a statement. “By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations, and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”

The family also briefly touched on speculation about the “circumstances of Claude’s death.”

“Suicide is complex, and the family asks media and the public to discuss this loss with care, compassion and respect for those who lost him,” they asked.

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Details about a public memorial will be announced “at a later date,” according to the Lemieux family.

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.

This story was compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists.

We turn on television comedies to laugh. And in this day and age, we search for things that we can get the best bang for our buck. While comedies will likely keep you laughing from start to finish, which shows actually have the most laughs per minute? While maybe not scientifically speaking, the 10 shows on this list have a high volume of jokes within their given runtime.

The comedies listed below are some of the greatest series thanks to their brilliant writing and top-tier acting. It’s through this dynamic combo that those jokes land and leave us wanting more. There’s a reason these shows with high joke counts also happen to be among the most rewatchable in television history. From workplace sitcoms to tear-inducing mockumentaries, these comedies will always be funny, no matter how many times you hear the jokes.

10

‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2007–2019)

Image via CBS

One of the most popular series to ever air on CBS is The Big Bang Theory. Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, the series follows four socially awkward, genius scientists — Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons), Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki), Howard Wolowitz (Simon Helberg), and Raj Koothrappali (Kunal Nayyar) — and their free-spirited neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco). Blending traditional sitcom comedy with geek culture, The Big Bang Theory delights by showing how these brilliant minds navigate romance, career ambitions, and everyday social situations. Utilizing the desire to keep the live studio audience howling, The Big Bang Theory‘s rapid-fire jokes set against the contrast of character types lead to the hilarity of the fish-out-of-water dynamic.

Though the show may be a bit cringeworthy in the early seasons due to the kinds of jokes the writers went for, it never deterred the devoted fan base from tuning in. Running for 12 seasons and launching three spin-off shows, The Big Bang Theory‘s comedy experiment resulted in profound success. The Big Bang Theory may have been niche, but to the fans who got it, they never stopped laughing. In the age of the beauty-and-geek genre, The Big Bang Theory played on those tropes, and the audience related to the situations. At the end of the day, the appeal was how geek and nerd culture would be infused into the comedy.

9

‘Friends’ (1994–2004)

Image via NBC

The epitome of ’90s comedy was Friends. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, Friends followed six close-knit twenty-somethings — Rachel Green (Jennifer Aniston), her roommate Monica Geller (Courteney Cox), Monica’s brother Ross (David Schwimmer), his friend Chandler Bing (Matthew Perry), his roommate Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc), and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow). Across 10 beloved seasons, Friends chronicled their lives as they navigated love, professional careers, and growing up. Each episode featured a litany of hilarious jokes, humorous situations, and quotable lines that proved Friends simply dominated in the comedy department.

Friends used accessibility to capture relatable work woes, dating anxieties, and ordinary moments of adulting into rapid-fire laughs. With six very distinct characters, they each had their own humorous vocabulary that worked individually, as well as as a unit. Friends flourished with high-octane one-liners and situations, many of which led to iconic catchphrases. If someone were to mention words such as “pivot” or “unagi,” Friends will pop into your mind. Say “we were on a break,” and once again, it’s Friends. These bits became permanent fixtures in the comedy hall of fame. Not many comedies can be quoted at such a frequency as Friends. That’s a mark of successful humor.

8

‘Angie Tribeca’ (2016–2018)

Image via TBS

If you’ve reached this entry and are perplexed as to why you never heard of this show, it’s understandable. Angie Tribeca was a TBS show, so there’s that. But once you watch, you’ll be sorely disappointed that you missed a perfectly hilarious comedy. Created by Steve and Nancy Carell (yes, you read that right), Angie Tribeca follows Rashida Jones in the titular role. A lone-wolf veteran of the LAPD’s RHCU, or Really Heinous Crimes Unit, Angie, her partner J. Geills (Hayes MacArthur), and her squad investigate ridiculous, highly specific crimes, ranging from the murder of a ventriloquist to a string of baker suicides. Avoiding realistic police work in favor of pure, unadulterated silliness, Angie Tribeca paired its high-energy pacing with whip-smart writing and deadpan delivery.

Angie Tribeca was a parody police procedural in the same vein as The Naked Gun. In that capacity, everything was meant to be a joke. From names to observational humor, Angie Tribeca was a non-stop laugh riot. The high density of jokes was intentional as the writers jam-packed the script with wit through sight gags, puns, and absurdity. The thing about this style of comedy is that there are jokes that will not reach everyone on time, so when they land, it might be because you’re on a 10-second joke delay. That’s just a notch into the brilliance of the writing. A sincerely underrated comedy, Angie Tribeca deserves to be in the same conversation as the other single-cam greats of the time.

7

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ (2013–2021)

Image via FOX

During the golden age of single-camera workplace comedies, one of the top-tier entries came from Dan Goor and Michael Schur. That show was Brooklyn Nine-Nine. A star vehicle for Saturday Night Live alumni Andy Samberg, Brooklyn Nine-Nine follows the eccentric, lovable, and diverse group of detectives working in the fictional 99th Precinct in Brooklyn. The show centers around the dynamic between Detective Jake Peralta (Samberg), a brilliant but immature and carefree hotshot, and Captain Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher), a stern, no-nonsense commanding officer on a mission to whip the precinct into shape. Featuring a large ensemble of eccentric characters, Brooklyn Nine-Nine brilliantly subverted sitcom and police tropes, balancing fast-paced humor with genuinely heartwarming ensemble chemistry.

With many cop programs going the dark and gritty route, Brooklyn Nine-Nine flipped that around for a colorful and ridiculous romp. The cops spend as much time solving crimes as they do playing office pranks and simply being immature. That’s the draw and allure of the sitcom. As one of the wordiest comedies around, Brooklyn Nine-Nine relied heavily on witty banter and endless humor to keep the comedy alive. Brooklyn Nine-Nine never punched down. The workplace setting saw the co-workers largely as equals, showing respect and support despite their ribbing. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which ran for eight seasons, was unique in that it gave its characters room to grow, avoiding the trap of being stuck in an archetype box. Through that, the humor evolved, keeping the comedy fresh.

6

‘The Office’ (2005–2013)

The world of sitcoms changed when multi-camera shows gave way to single-camera series. In exchange for laugh tracks and a live studio audience came dry humor that relied on the audience to decide when they wanted to laugh. Perhaps the most beloved and iconic example of this was The Office. Based on the British version created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, the Greg Daniels-adapted series followed the daily lives of the employees at Dunder Mifflin Paper Company’s Scranton branch. Across nine dynamic seasons, The Office captures the hilarious workplace dynamics, awkward romances, and cringe-worthy encounters led by their highly inappropriate but well-meaning boss, Michael Scott (Steve Carell). Boasting one of the greatest large ensembles, The Office masterfully balanced absurdity and laugh-out-loud humor with heartfelt moments and genuine relationships. The Office took the mundane and made it hilarious.

What the series did excruciatingly well was take the smallest moments and turn them into the biggest events. In turn, it led to comedy unlike anything you’d seen before. The mockumentary style gave way to cringe humor through its filming style. Through the interview-style format, the characters had the freedom to narrate the action and allow their true feelings to emerge. Whether it’s nervously checking in to see if anyone else is in on the absurdity or simply fueling the fire of the awkwardness, The Office‘s unique style allowed for laughs beyond the actual situation. Between recurring bits, including Jim Halpert (John Krasinski) and Dwight Schrute’s (Rainn Wilson) endless prank war, the bumbling antics of Kevin Malone (Brian Baumgartner), or just how ridiculous office romances can get, The Office was never afraid to go to extremes, even when it was intended to make you uncomfortable. The cinéma vérité format became a television game-changer that we’re forever grateful for.

5

‘Arrested Development’ (2003–2006, 2013–2019)

Image via Fox

Fish-out-of-water stories are often perfect entries into hilarity. They’re made even better when it’s paired with a schadenfreude appeal. The Bluths were a family that was created for you to laugh at their misfortunes. That’s what made Arrested Development so great. Created by Mitchell Hurwitz, the satirical sitcom follows the formerly wealthy, wildly dysfunctional Bluth clan. When the family patriarch, George Bluth Sr. (Jeffrey Tambor), is sent to prison for white-collar fraud, it’s up to his level-headed son Michael (Jason Bateman) to take over the family’s faltering real estate business while keeping his incredibly self-absorbed family in line and out of trouble. Relying heavily on complex, interconnected storylines, recurring bits and gags, and absolutely insane situations, Arrested Development balanced documentary-style visual gags with multi-layered humor to capture the flaws that only we could laugh at.

During its initial FOX run, Arrested Development was a product of its time, but when it made the move to Netflix, the series had more freedom to explore and play. It even experimented with an entire season in which you could binge the episodes in any order, in which everything is connected, but how you consumed it led to a different delivery of humor. It was through those risks that Arrested Development stood out as a titan of comedy. What Arrested Development flourished with was its characters and the brilliant acting company that portrayed them. Save for Bateman’s Michael, who served as the story’s straight man, nearly every word that the characters uttered was unintentionally hilarious. From the quote machine that was Lucille Bluth (Jessica Walter) to the clueless GOB (Will Arnett), the physical humor out of Buster (Tony Hale) to the cringeness of Tobias Fünke (David Cross), Arrested Development shone through character work. As one of the greatest shows for callbacks, Arrested Development set the tone for the century. You simply cannot stop smiling while watching this show.

4

‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)

Image via NBC

The combined forces of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur gave the world one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, Parks and Recreation. The hit series follows the eccentric and perfectly optimistic Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), who serves as the deputy director of the Parks and Recreation Department in the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana. Leading a quirky team of less-than-enthusiastic coworkers, Parks and Recreation crafted a brilliant world filled with colorful characters who favor warmth over cringe. Layered with running gags and distinct dynamics, Parks and Recreation was, and still is, a breath of fresh air in the world of comedy.

A great sitcom rewards its viewers. Parks and Recreation did that and then some. The sharply written sitcom literally allows its fans to “treat yo self.” Between Andy Dwyer’s (Chris Pratt) recurring Burt Macklin and the infamous Lil Sebastian, Parks and Recreation rewards its viewers with continuity that gets funnier over time. As far as characters are concerned, each individual has their own quirks, so when they find themselves next to someone different, a specific dynamic is formed. And each dynamic is uniquely funny. Leslie and Ron Swanson (Nick Offerman) couldn’t be more opposite, but as a duo, they bring out some of the best comedic moments. Then, pair Ron with April Ludgate (Aubrey Plaza), and their eerily too similar dry wit becomes equally hilarious. A wonderfully endearing workplace comedy, Parks and Recreation sparks joy as it leaves you laughing.

3

‘New Girl’ (2011–2018)

Image via Fox

This one might surprise you, but if the unscientific survey from The Atlantic is accurate, New Girl is packed with quite a few jokes per minute. Perhaps a more wholesome and real-world accurate comedy, New Girl’s humor resonates in a manner that reflects reality. Brought to life by Elizabeth Meriweather, New Girl follows Jessica Day (Zooey Deschanel), a quirky, bubbly teacher who moves into a Los Angeles loft with three single guys after her bad breakup. Sharing a home with cynical bartender Nick Miller (Jake Johnson), over-the-top marketing professional Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and highly competitive athlete-turned-cop Winston Bishop (Lamorne Morris), Jess and the boys form an unlikely bond as they navigate careers, dating, and adulthood side-by-side. Through a wonderful blend of absurd physical comedy, emotional vulnerability, and fast-paced humor, New Girl captures a core cast of characters that teach us to embrace eccentricities.

New Girl is a celebration of a found family. This helps to elevate the humor of the series. They may not be blood-related, but they certainly can rip and rib on one another for a laugh. After you’ve cried your eyes out from laughter, once the tear ducts have been replenished, you’ll weep at just how genuine they are, pulling at your heartstrings in the process. The roommates in Loft 4D are completely unhinged in their own special way, but together, they complete a perfectly quirky puzzle. The contrasting personalities often led to hilarious friction. Through that friction, brazen hijinks helped the show run for seven triumphant seasons. New Girl is proof that modern-day non-mockumentary style shows can flourish without a laugh track.

2

‘Cunk on Earth’ (2022)

©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

And now for something a little bit different. When it comes to history, it’s not necessarily meant to be funny, but with Philomena Cunk at the helm, you’ll be left laughing until the episode ends. Created by Charlie Brooker and starring Diane Morgan, the brilliant Cunk on Earth is a satirical mockumentary that uses its five episodes to parody historical documentaries. Hosted by the delightfully clueless and deliciously deadpan journalist Cunk, Cunk on Earth traces the entire history of human civilization while interviewing real-life experts who must be prepared to answer a litany of absurd, wildly uninformed questions. With non-stop sight gags, literal interpretations, rapid-fire gimmicks, and one-liners that will leave you breathless, Cunk on Earth asks the questions you were too afraid to.

Though mockumentary-style sitcoms have filled the airwaves, this one spins the perspective and makes the documentarian the butt of the joke. Cunk on Earth makes you ponder which is more significant, the Renaissance or Beyoncé. You’re forced to wonder if Jesus Christ was the first victim of cancel culture. And Cunk will beg for an answer on whether or not King Arthur came a lot. Cunk on Earth gets you cackling as the experts are rendered baffled. Mirroring a BBC documentary — sweeping, lush landscapes, drone shots, and all — Cunk on Earth features razor-sharp writing with a standout performance that has left fans eager for more.

1

’30 Rock’ (2006–2013)

Image via NBC Universal

Leave it to one of the greatest writers of Saturday Night Live to deliver the most jokes per minute of any comedy. 30 Rock proves that a satirical surrealist sitcom is what audiences desperately crave. Created and starring Tina Fey, the hit seven-season favorite follows the chaotic behind-the-scenes production of a fictional sketch comedy series. Inspired by her time at SNL, Liz Lemon must handle the eccentric lineup of writers, actors, and executives while managing her own messy personal life. With rapid-fire humor, physical gags, and meta pop culture references, 30 Rock‘s dialogue, physical humor, and visual gags have made it a relentlessly absurd satire with nonstop laughs.

Between Liz’s self-deprecating tone set against the brazen egos of our counterparts, 30 Rock‘s comedy aims to get its viewers cracking up at literally everything. And if you’re not laughing out loud, you’re likely smirking, groaning, or rolling your eyes in delight. As one of the strongest written comedies of the 21st century, 30 Rock‘s eclectic mix of callbacks, absurd cutaways, and classic comedy set it apart from anything else that was on the air. Though it may be a tad uncouth by today’s standards, it’s due to the sheer brilliance the writers took with risky humor and on-the-nose observations. Many shows have attempted to replicate 30 Rock‘s immense success, but none have ever come close.

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30 Rock

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Release Date

2006 – 2013-00-00

Showrunner

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Robert Carlock

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Whether you thought its time had come or you were desperately pleading for it not to end, nothing changes the fact that the hit Prime Video superhero series The Boys officially came to an explosive end earlier this month. Eric Kripke‘s beloved series faced a shaky reception to its fourth installment, so its fifth and final season had a lot to make up for. Luckily, one more outing for Karl Urban‘s Billy Butcher, Jack Quaid‘s Hughie Campbell, Antony Starr‘s Homelander, and co made the desired impact, albeit still with its share of issues.

So how do you fill the hole in your viewing habits left by the end of The Boys? How about another thrilling slice of Urban action? Next month, the 2012 sci-fi effort Dredd is heading to a surprise new streamer. Directed by Pete Travis (Vantage Point) and written by Alex Garland (28 Years Later), this now cult hit marked the second time the character had been adapted in feature form, with a 1995 version starring action icon Sylvester Stallone (Tulsa King) slammed by both critics and fans.

The Boys favorite Urban filled Stallone’s shoes in 2012 as Judge Dredd, supported by an ensemble that included Olivia Thirlby, Lena Headey, Wood Harris, Domhnall Gleeson, Warrick Grier, DeObia Oparei, and more. Although a relative hit with critics at the time, the film only earned just over $40 million at the box office worldwide, and was unable to return its reported $45 million budget. Dredd’s status today is much greater than it was 14 years ago, with its distinct visual style and gritty storytelling a breath of fresh air in the current crowded comic-book adaptation market. If you’d like to try it for yourself, you’re in luck, as Dredd will be available to stream on Plex starting June 1, 2026.

‘Dredd’ Is Coming Back

All rise for the return of the Judge. Back in 2025, it was announced that John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra‘s comic book stories would be adapted for a third time on-screen, with director Taika Waititi (Thor: Ragnarok) taking the reins. Drew Pearce, known for penning the likes of Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation and Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw, will take charge of the script, with the hope that this upcoming adaptation could launch an entire cinematic universe, as is the trend in the 2020s.

Dredd will be available to stream on Plex starting June 1, 2026. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

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September 21, 2012

Runtime

95 minutes

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Director

Pete Travis, Alex Garland

Writers

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Alex Garland

Producers

Alex Garland, Allon Reich, Andrew Macdonald, Deepak Nayar, Stuart Ford, Michael Elson, Chris Kingsley

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• 
• 

  Olivia Thirlby

  Cassandra Anderson

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We love white and pink, too, but let’s be real: they lean basic. If you want a summery pop of color that’s equally luxe yet much more unique, Jennifer Lopez has the solution. Her sunny yellow dress style screams ‘rich mom,’ and we found the expensive look for just $40 on Amazon!

Instead of fussing with structured waistlines and stiff fabrics, Lopez showed up in Las Vegas wearing a loose maxi dress in a fresh, fun, summer-friendly color. While J.Lo’s $9,190 Chloé design is definitely an investment, it’s possible to recreate the classy, comfy look without spending thousands, thanks to this budget-friendly lookalike.

Get the Wenrine Spaghetti-Strap Maxi Dress for $40 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

This Wenrine Spaghetti-Strap Maxi Dress has the same sunny energy and drapey, boho-inspired silhouette that Lopez went with for her Meet & Greet. It even has adjustable spaghetti straps to tweak the fit, and features a flattering square neckline and pleated detailing for an elevated touch. Plus, there are real, functional pockets.

Related: Gwyneth Paltrow Wore This Crisp Shirtdress Style in Italy — The Look

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Packing for a vacation is hard, but Gwyneth Paltrow makes it incredibly easy. In fact, her latest sundress style is so crisp and breezy, it works for travel, errands and in-office days alike. With a white base, airy fabric and just enough structure, it’s a Paltrow-approved style that needs to be part of your new […]

This vibrant sundress is also lightweight, breathable and wrinkle-resistant, which means you can pack it in a carry-on and toss it on without ironing. It’s a dress that works for beach club lunches, rooftop dinners and long walks through European piazzas, if that’s your thing.

Although this chic dress recently dropped on Amazon, it’s already amassing a fanbase. One happy shopper wrote, “I would give this dress a 10/5 if I could, it’s that good! It’s cute, flowy, flattering, and so feminine . . . This dress is perfect for an upscale summer dinner or a night walking along the beach. I can’t wait to wear it on my cruise because it feels like the ideal vacation dress!”

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Toss on a stack of gold bangles and some woven flat sandals for daytime, then swap in strappy heels and a clutch when the sun goes down. This breezy piece reads high-end without requiring a single luxury label, and we can thank J.Lo for the inspiration.

Get the Wenrine Spaghetti-Strap Maxi Dress for $40 at Amazon! Please note, prices are accurate at the date of publication but are subject to change.

Not what you’re looking for? Shop other summer dresses and don’t forget to check out all of Amazon’s Daily Deals for more great finds!

The 2020s have been an interesting period when it comes to animated shows. Following the second golden age of the 2010s, this decade has seen a shift nearly exclusively to streaming services over network television, resulting in fewer seasons to fit with binge-watching. That said, streaming companies have been putting a fair bit of money into their production, and some have even picked up shows that began life from independent creators on the internet.

The last five years have seen the release of a fair few high-quality shows, in particular. Praises have been given for their stellar writing and, of course, the animation, which tends to be as varied as the creativity behind each show.

10

‘Scavengers Reign’ (2023)

Image via HBO Max

The interstellar cargo ship Demeter 227 crash-lands on the alien planet Vesta. The surviving crew members are scattered from one another and must make their way towards the wrecked ship while looking for one another. However, the planet’s wildlife proves to be as complex and deadly as it is varied and beautiful.

Scavengers Reign more than succeeds in transporting the audience to an alien planet thanks to its gorgeous animation, which makes you feel like you’re watching a nature documentary at times due to the intricate details and lush colors that bring the environment to life. It’s also an effective survival mystery, especially when the characters are separated and doing what they can to stay alive. Sadly, the show wasn’t picked up after it hopped from HBO to Netflix, but what we did get is still a solid example of 2020s animation.

9

‘Inside Job’ (2021–2022)

Image via Netflix

While the rest of the world goes about their lives in ignorance, a collection of shadow organizations that represent every major conspiracy secretly controls everything. One group is Cognito, Inc., based in Washington DC, whose job is to cover up conspiracies and manipulate global events to suit the shadow government’s plans. Their primary team is led by Dr. Reagan Ridley (Lizzy Caplan), the brilliant but socially awkward daughter of Cognito’s co-founder, Randall (Christian Slater), who is partnered with good-looking yes man Brett Hand (Clark Duke) to lead her dysfunctional teammates.

Inside Job combines the comedy found in an office sitcom with every single conspiracy theory you can think of. The result is one of the funniest shows to come from Netflix, with lots of fast-paced jokes, plenty of social commentary, and characters with strong personalities and dynamics. Sadly, it fell victim to Netflix’s habit of canceling shows early, meaning that it ended with more than a few cliffhangers.

8

‘Long Story Short’ (2025–Present)

Image via Netflix

Meet the Schwoopers, a middle-class family made up of Elliot Cooper (Paul Reiser), his wife Naomi Schwartz (Lisa Edelstein), and their kids Avi (Ben Feldman), Shira (Abbi Jacobson), and Yoshi (Max Greenfield). Like any family, their lives go through numerous periods of ups and downs, especially as the kids grow older, become more independent, and start families of their own. To the viewer, their story is told out of chronological order, allowing them to see how some events have a habit of returning years later.

Long Story Short comes from the mind of BoJack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg, and contains much of the same clever wordplay and relatability that made that show so beloved. It’s easy to relate to the Schwoopers because, at some point in our lives, we’ve been in one of their shoes, whether it’s standing up for ourselves or trying to navigate awkward life situations. It also helps that the characters in Long Story Short are really well constructed, with realistic flaws and strengths, and dialogue that sounds exactly like what you’d expect a dysfunctional family to say.

7

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ (2022–Present)

Image via Netflix

Set in the same dystopian universe as the video game Cyberpunk 2077, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners became one of the biggest animated hits of the decade almost overnight. The acclaimed animated cyberpunk series follows David Martinez, a gifted but struggling teenager living in Night City, whose life spirals after a personal tragedy pushes him into the violent world of mercenaries known as edgerunners. Alongside the netrunner Lucy, David becomes consumed by cybernetic enhancements and survival in a city that destroys almost everyone who dares to dream big.

Edgerunners‘ hyper-stylized animation immediately made it stand out among Netflix’s catalog. It’s chaotic, explosive, and downright disturbing at times. The spectacle never overpowers the underlying tragic story, however, which is surprisingly emotionally devastating as the main characters’ arcs and relationships are fully fleshed out.

6

‘X-Men ’97’ (2024–Present)

Image via Disney+

One year after Professor Charles Xavier’s (Ross Marquand) near-assassination, his X-Men struggle to keep his dream of a world where humans and mutants co-exist peacefully alive. They face obstacles from the UN, which has sanctioned the X-Men, and an increase in anti-mutant groups. Most shocking of all, the X-Men learn that Xavier’s will specifies that everything he owned, including the X-Men and his school, now belongs to his old friend Magneto (Matthew Waterson).

X-Men ’97 is a continuation of X-Men: The Animated Series, one of the best superhero shows ever made, and it proves itself a worthy successor. It keeps the original’s mix of superhero action and effective melodrama while also updating the visuals to match the fact that its audience has grown up. This allows the show to get even darker and bloodier in places than the original series while not smothering its identity.

5

‘The Legend of Vox Machina’ (2022–Present)

Image via Prime Video

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The Kingdom of Tal’Dorei is beset by a new threat that has wiped out numerous experienced adventuring parties. Thus, the realm turns to Vox Machina, consisting of the half-giant Grog Strongjaw (Travis Willingham), human Percival de Rolo (Taliesin Jaffe), half-elves Vex’ahlia (Laura Bailey), Vax’ildan (Liam O’Brien), and Keyleth (Marisha Ray), and gnomes Pike Trickfoot (Ashley Johnson) and Scanlan Shorthalt (Sam Riegel). Though at first glance they seem like a dysfunctional band of assholes and screw-ups, they are given the chance to rise to the occasion as greater threats emerge.

The Legend of Vox Machina takes all the laughs and epic moments found in Critical Role‘s famous live-plays of Dungeons & Dragons and brings them to life with a beautiful mix of 2D and 3D animation. Vox Machina keeps all the major beats from the campaign while changing things here and there, either to get rid of copyrighted material or streamline it for a television series. The result is a fun, epic fantasy show that doesn’t shy away from blood and guts, while also containing complex characters and some of the best dragon designs in fantasy TV.

4

‘The Mighty Nein’ (2025–Present)

Image via Prime Video

East of Tal’Dorei, on the continent of Wildemount, a war is brewing between the Dwendalian Empire and the Kryn Dynasty following the theft of a Kryn artifact called the Luxon Beacon. Beauregard Lionett (Marisha Ray) of the Cobalt Soul does some investigating and learns that the theft of the beacon is tied to Trent Ikithon (Mark Strong), the Empire’s archmage. She runs into six other individuals: Fjord (Travis Willingham), a sailor with mysterious powers; Caleb (Liam O’Brien), a former pupil of Trent’s now on the run; Nott the Brave (Sam Riegel), a goblin thief; Jester (Laura Bailey), a mischievous cleric to an unknown god; Mollymauk Tealeaf (Taliesin Jaffe), a flamboyant fortune-teller with an unknown past; and Yasha (Ashley Johnson), a deadly barbarian known as the Orphan Maker.

The Mighty Nein has longer episodes than The Legend of Vox Machina, which goes a long way in improving the storytelling and character work. Scenes can have more time to breathe between the action set pieces, which results in deeper character moments. The show is also much darker than its sister series, with more emphasis on complex politics than high fantasy adventures, and plenty of gruesome deaths and horrific experiments that lead to a good dose of body horror.

3

‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)

Image via Netflix

Vi (Hailee Steinfeld) and her younger sister Powder (Mia Sinclair Jenness and Ella Purnell) lost their parents when the undercity of Zaun tried to rebel against the oppressive metropolis of Piltover, and were taken in by Vander (JB Blanc), one of the leaders of the resistance. Years later, they steal a magic crystal from an up-and-coming inventor named Jayce (Faustino Duran and Kevin Alejandro), which starts a chain reaction that sees Vi arrested and Powder falling in with Silco (Jason Spisak), Vander’s former partner, turned a ruthless crime baron. Meanwhile, Jayce teams up with the equally brilliant but physically frail Viktor (Edan Hayhurst and Harry Lloyd), and the two work towards the creation of new technology that harnesses arcane power.

Arcane‘s first season received near-universal acclaim, and while the second season was more divisive, it wasn’t enough to take from the show’s highest highs. Even people who have never heard of League of Legends found themselves enamored by the rich worldbuilding and complex character writing, with highlights being seen in the falling out between Vi and Powder (now called Jinx), Jayce’s attempts to keep to his original vision as he is pulled into the ugly world of politics, and Silco’s dilemma between Zaun independence and his growing fatherly love for Jinx. The animation is also stellar, lending itself to intense emotional moments between characters and stylistic action sequences.

2

‘The Amazing Digital Circus’ (2023–Present)

Image via Glitch Productions

While exploring an abandoned building, a woman puts on a video-game helmet and finds her consciousness transported into a jester’s body in the Amazing Digital Circus, a virtual world run by an AI named Caine (Alex Rochon). He gives her the name Pomni (Lizzie Freeman) since she has forgotten her original, and introduces her to other humans stuck in the circus: a friendly ragdoll named Ragatha (Amanda Hufford); a depressed ribbon with comedy and tragedy masks named Gangle (Marissa Lenti); a person made up of interchangeable parts named Zooble (Ashley Nichols); a cynical cartoon rabbit named Jax (Michael Kovach); and an eccentric and forgetful chess piece named Kinger (Sean Chiplock). To prevent themselves from abstracting into glitch-like monsters like previous players, the humans go along with numerous adventures created by Caine, while also hoping to find a way out.

The Amazing Digital Circus began as a pilot posted on YouTube, but quickly gained traction thanks to its high quality, and Netflix picked up the show for streaming. Despite its bright colors and silly aesthetic, the show is a dark, existential character study inspired by I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream, with plenty of deep moments that strip the characters down to the marrow of their being. It’s still got plenty of humor in between these moments, thankfully, which helps maintain a sense of levity.

1

‘Invincible’ (2021–Present)

Image via Prime Video

Mark Grayson (Steven Yeun) is a young man living in a world dominated by superheroes and monsters, who has just inherited superpowers from his father, Nolan (J. K. Simmons), who is a powerful alien called a Viltrumite. Mark dubs himself Invincible and becomes a crime fighter himself, though he quickly discovers that it’s a lot more dangerous than his dad makes it seem. Speaking of Nolan, he becomes the subject of investigation by Cecil Stedman (Walton Goggins), director of the Global Defense Agency, after he was found to be the only survivor of a massacre of the Earth’s best heroes, the Guardians of the Globe.

Invincible is both an homage and a satire to superhero tropes that explores how terrifying a world full of heroes, villains, and monsters would be. It goes all out during its action sequences, displaying immense levels of brutality with mass destruction and gore, which really hammers home the sheer power on display. Character-wise, lots of time is given to showing the stress of this lifestyle, especially as the stakes escalate, which leads to phenomenal vocal performances from Yeun, Simmons, and Sandra Oh as Mark’s human mother, Debbie.

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Invincible

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Release Date

March 26, 2021

Network

Amazon Prime Video

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Late NHL star Claude Lemieux’s family confirmed that they will donate his brain for research into the neurodegenerative disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE)

“Claude was a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and teammate. To the hockey world, he was one of the game’s most unforgettable competitors: a four-time Stanley Cup champion, a Conn Smythe Trophy winner, and one of the great playoff performers of all time,” his family said in a statement on Saturday, May 30. “To his family, he was more than a hero: he was loyal, loving, funny, protective, and generous. He was stubborn, and he was completely devoted to the people he loved. He was adored by his family in turn.”

Their statement continued, “Claude was a passionate man. He brought that passion to the rink, to his work, to his friendships, and most of all to his family. He was fierce on the ice because he cared so deeply about winning, about his teammates, and about never giving less than everything he had. Away from the game, he was tender, loyal and full of life. He made us laugh, he showed up for us, and he loved his children and grandchildren with his whole heart.”

Claude’s death was confirmed to Us Weekly by the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office on Thursday, May 28. Lemieux died by suicide at age 60 and his body was found by one of his sons at a Florida warehouse.

His death stunned the sports world as Lemieux appeared as a torchbearer at the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals between the Montreal Canadiens and Carolina Hurricanes in Montreal on Monday, May 25.

As part of Saturday’s statement, the Lemieux family announced that they would donate his brain to the UNITE Brain Bank at the Boston University CTE Center for research into “the long-term effects of repetitive head impacts and traumatic brain injury.”

(Per Mayo Clinic, CTE is a brain disease that is linked to repeated head injuries, which can cause “the death of nerve cells in the brain.” The clinic notes that CTE is “rare and not well understood” but it is frequently associated with athletes or combat veterans.)

“Claude dedicated his post-play career to helping the next generation,” his family said on Saturday. “By allowing his name to be connected to this research, we hope his life can contribute to greater understanding, more honest conversations, and better protection for athletes and families in the years ahead.”

The Lemieuxs said they consider their donation to the Boston University CTE Center to be “a gift to science, to athletes and to future generations of families seeking answers.” Their statement also addressed speculation about the “circumstances of Claude’s death.”

“Suicide is complex, and the family asks media and the public to discuss this loss with care, compassion and respect for those who lost him,” they asked.

The family confirmed that details about a memorial service will be released “at a later date.”

Related: Was Claude Lemieux Related to Mario Lemieux? Breaking Down His Family Tree

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The NHL world was rocked by the sudden death of hockey legend Claude Lemieux by apparent suicide at age 60. “The National Hockey League mourns the passing of Claude Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion and one of the greatest big-game Players in hockey history,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in a statement on Thursday, […]

Saturday’s statement was released first by Brendan Lemieux, who was previously the first member of the family to break their silence about Claude’s death. (Claude and his wife, Deborah, shared four children: sons Christopher, Michael and Brendan as well as daughter Claudia.)

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“I love you dad!” Brendan, 30, wrote via Instagram on Thursday. “My son’s favorite person is going to watch from above for a while. We will see you ♥️.”

His sister, Claudia, shared her own emotional memorial post that same day, writing via Instagram, “No words to express the level of devastation we feel. I love you forever daddy. Forever your only girl 💔”

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