While some adaptations have succeeded in staying relevant to their source material, many leave the audience wishing they had just read the book instead of watching it. The anticipation of viewers that comes along with adaptations is now next to impossible to eliminate. Books can paint an elaborate picture of the fictional world, while television screens can only scratch the surface.

But a few shows demonstrate that adaptation is not limited to mere duplication of the written work. Good adaptations recognize that the medium has its own advantages, ranging from outstanding performances to diverse storytelling and creative changes made to retain the essence of the plot.

5. You

Image via Netflix

Caroline Kepnes’ You introduced readers to one of modern fiction’s most unsettling narrators: Joe Goldberg, a charming bookstore manager whose romantic obsession with aspiring writer Guinevere Beck quickly spirals into stalking, manipulation, and murder. Told entirely through Joe’s disturbing inner monologue, the novel traps readers inside the mind of a man who genuinely believes every terrible thing he does is an act of love. Netflix’s adaptation stays remarkably faithful to that premise while expanding the story well beyond the page.

The series succeeds largely because of Penn Badgley’s nuanced performance, which somehow makes Joe both charismatic and deeply unsettling without ever asking viewers to excuse his actions. The adaptation also enriches the supporting cast by introducing original characters like Paco, whose relationship with Joe adds surprising emotional complexity, while expanding storylines for characters like Candace in later seasons. Rather than simply translating Kepnes’ novel, You builds an even richer psychological thriller that grows more ambitious with every season.

4. The Queen’s Gambit

Image via Netflix

Walter Tevis’ 1983 novel The Queen’s Gambit follows orphaned chess prodigy Beth Harmon as she rises through the competitive chess world while battling addiction and loneliness. Already considered one of the finest novels ever written about the game, the story seemed difficult to adapt given how much of Beth’s brilliance and emotional struggle unfolds internally. Netflix’s 2020 miniseries not only solved that problem but became one of the streamer’s biggest success stories.

Most of the credit for that success goes to Anya Taylor-Joy, who conveys Beth’s inner life through expressive acting without narration. The chess game is transformed into an actual cinema experience through innovative visualizations, polished production design, and tasteful direction. While remaining remarkably faithful to Tevis’ novel, the adaptation makes a handful of thoughtful changes — particularly to Beth’s emotional journey — that create an even stronger payoff by the time she reaches Moscow. It’s one of the rare adaptations that refines an already exceptional story rather than merely recreating it.

3. Normal People

Image via Hulu

Sally Rooney’s Normal People traces the long-term romantic relationship between Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan, which continues through their school years and into university despite some bumps along the way. One of the highlights of the novel is how Rooney manages to expose the inner worlds of her characters, which makes them very difficult to represent visually, but the BBC and Hulu seriesproved that it could be done.

The show, instead of narrating everything through voiceovers, relies on the acting of Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones. They indeed manage to convey everything through their performance, together with the muted directing style of Abrahamson and Macdonald. It should also be noted that the series improved the ending of Normal People by allowing Marianne to be a bit more powerful in the final conversation and by slowing the conversation, which made the outcome more satisfying.

2. Big Little Lies

Image via HBO

Liane Moriarty’s novel Big Little Lies is a brilliant domestic mystery that follows three women living apparently flawless lives in Monterey; their lives fall apart as a series of secrets, lies, and violence leads to a shocking murder. HBO’s adaptation is faithful to the central mystery while also providing a stronger impact through an ensemble cast that includes Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern, and Zoë Kravitz.

Jean-Marc Vallée‘s direction turns Monterey into a character that adds its own identity to the narrative, thanks to the crashing waves and surreal editing. Plus, as examples of the brilliant performances, Kidman’s emotional portrayal of Celeste’s abusive marriage provides the drama and emotional power that surpass those in the book, while Dern’s Emmy-winning performance as the marvelous Renata reveals the character’s unexpected weaknesses.

1. The Leftovers

Image via HBO

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta presents a scenario in which two percent of the population disappears inexplicably, leading to permanent changes in the universe. Instead of concentrating on what happened during the incident, Perrotta writes about what occurred afterward, including the grief, bewilderment, and spiritual conflict among survivors trying to make sense of it. The HBO adaptation remains true to the material for a while before moving completely away from it.

Just after the first season’s completion, Lindelof and Perrotta extend the narrative into uncharted territory. They attempt to answer questions the novel never raises and prefer to leave them open rather than resolve the ambiguities. The series becomes one of the most significant depictions of loss, belief, and relationships, owing to the incredible performances of Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon. When it comes to the acclaimed ending, the series went beyond the boundaries of the source material.

Spoiler Alert: This list contains spoilers for multiple TV shows.​Some television episodes stand as incredibly memorable, not because they’re shocking or twist-wielding, but because they leave viewers sitting with a deep emotional weight that stays with them long after the credits roll. The heaviest episodes of the last 25 years often force audiences to face grief, loss, trauma, injustice, or the painful truth behind a character’s journey, slowing everything down and hitting them where it hurts.

Episodes like When They See Us‘ “Part Four,” which carries a rawness and the pure devastation of lost time, real injustice, and survival after irreversible harm, and Avatar: The Last Airbender‘s “The Tales of Ba Sing Se,” which delivers one of animation’s most heartbreaking moments, are just two episodes that brilliantly prove that TV can be at its most powerful when it refuses to look away from tough emotions. Compiled on this list are iconic episodes that are some of the heaviest ever created in the last 25 years.

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7

“My Moon My Man”

‘Cyberpunk: Edgerunners’ Season 1, Episode 10

Image via Netflix

This Netflix animated series saves a truly heavy emotional blow for its finale, “My Moon My Man.” Set in Night City, Cyberpunk: Edgerunners follows a street kid named David Martinez (Zach Aguilar) who, after a personal loss, joins the mercenary underworld, which pushes him toward cybernetic enhancement. During the show’s finale, Episode 10, “My Moon My Man,” the series makes it clear that it has officially left its kinetic rise-to-power story behind and entered its final, last-stand collapse, with David clutching to his purpose, identity, and love in a city designed to grind all three into ash and chrome.

What truly makes the big finale of a rather thrilling animated series so enticingly heavy is its steady refusal to preach the fantasy that sheer willpower is enough to overcome a system built entirely to consume people. “My Moon My Man” is violent and action-filled, but its real weight is the haunting inevitability of sacrifice. Cyberpunk: Edgerunners is a fantastic series, and its finale stands as one of the absolute heaviest episodes of the last 25 years, one that fans still single out as a devastating watch as it turns the colorful and stylish show into one of outright heartbreak.

6

“The Tales of Ba Sing Se”

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ Season 2, Episode 15

Image via Nickelodeon

Avatar: The Last Airbender, “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” is one episode that no fan of the incredibly fun series ever expected to be as heartbreaking as it is. The show centers around the young Avatar Aang (Zach Tyler Eisen) as he, with the help of his friends, attempts to master the four elements and end a world war. “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” gifts audiences a quiet collection of small character stories before hitting them with the centerpiece of the episode, Uncle Iroh (Mako), whose heartfelt remembrance of his son transforms the installment into one of the most heartbreaking moments seen in animation.

“The Tales of Ba Sing Se” is a true contrast to what Avatar: The Last Airbender normally gives its viewers, which makes it all the more devastating to watch. By the time the episode is done with its usual playfulness, Iroh’s segment hits harder than ever, as it shows that grief often lives within ordinary errands, quiet remembrance, and songs, rather than maximum-volume, dramatic tragedy. “The Tales of Ba Sing Se” blinds audiences with unexpected pain, not because it’s loud but because it’s tender enough to ensure absence feels enormous.

5

“Jurassic Bark”

‘Futurama’ Season 5, Episode 2

Image via FOX

“Jurassic Bar” of the sci-fi animated series Futurama is one of TV’s most well-known emotional gut punches of the past 25 years. The series follows Philip J. Fry (Billy West), who, after he is accidentally frozen, wakes up a thousand years later in the sci-fi epic future. “Jurassic Bark” sees Fry discovering the fossilized remains of his old dog, which triggers an emotional journey through memories and reveals just how much of Fry’s pre-future life still aches inside him.

Futurama‘s “Jurassic Bark” is an easy addition to this list, as the normally chaotically hilarious watch delivers one of the most heart-wrenching installments ever seen on television. The episode’s gut punch lands effectively, creating a genuinely heavy viewing experience because it understands both loyalty and abandonment are inseparable pains—the fear of being forgotten, only to discover being remembered can hurt a hundred times worse. “Jurassic Bark” earns its rank as one of the most canonical answers whenever fans ask for the saddest animated TV episode and definitely deserves its flowers as one of television’s heaviest watches.

4

“Whenever You’re Ready”

‘The Good Place’ Season 4, Episodes 13 & 14

Image via NBC

This impactful episode of the high-concept comedy about the afterlife, The Good Place, is honestly one of the heaviest—if not the heaviest—episodes of the entire series. The show focuses on Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell), as she and her friends attempt to become “good people,” who are deserving of “The Good Place.” The series finale, “Whenever You’re Ready,” is a culmination of every emotional lesson each beloved character of the series has learned, delivering a rather moving farewell about love, life, and learning to let go.

While The Good Place‘s heaviness is unusually gentle, especially compared to some on this list, the heartache it leaves within its audiences is astonishingly profound. There is no betrayal bomb, gore, or terrifying reveal; instead, it’s just the quiet realization that even joy can grow to be unbearable if it never changes shape. Even years since its conclusion, “Whenever You’re Ready” remains quite memorable for the heartbreak it instills in its viewers, leaving them in real tears as they say goodbye to beloved characters and the profound lessons that shaped their journey.

3

“Long, Long Time”

‘The Last of Us’ Season 1, Episode 3

This episode of The Last of Us stands strong as one of the heaviest of the last 25 years because it takes a break from the show’s norm and instead delivers an epically tragic love story. The show mainly focuses on hardened smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and immune teenager Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they attempt to survive the apocalypse, but Season 1, Episode 3, “Long, Long Time,” follows the heart-aching love story of survivalist Bill (Nick Offerman) and outsider Frank (Murray Bartlett).

The Last of Us is rife with devastation, but something about “Long, Long Time” ruins fans unlike any other. The episode’s heaviness comes from showing that love isn’t just a brief light in the darkness, but an entirely different way of valuing life. The sadness comes from the abrupt realization that even in a broken world, a private life built well and with tons of love may still end in pain. The installment is considered utter devastation to fans as it delivers a rare genre detour into a manifesto on why living for someone matters at all.

2

“Part Four”

‘When They See Us’ Season 1, Episode 4

Image via Netflix

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When They See Us is all around a difficult watch because of its heaviness throughout its limited episode, but “Part Four” of the series delivers an emotional weight that allows it to stand as one of the heaviest chapters to come out of the last 25 years. The series dramatizes the Central Park Five case following the boys facing the miscarriage of justice. “Part Four” mainly highlights character Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome) as he moves through the adult prison system even as the truth begins, far too late, to surface.

“Part Four” is exceptionally heavy because it makes state violence feel intimate rather than simply procedural. Every step of the way, audiences are forced to feel and acknowledge the characters’ suffering, as the installment frames it not as an abstract injustice case file, but as a devastating human tragedy. “Part Four” is often singled out as the episode that is sure to break viewers’ hearts, enraging them in a way that lingers long after the credits roll.

1

“The Body”

‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ Season 5, Episode 16

Image via The WB

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Few episodes of television have truly captured the total numbness of grief as realistically as Buffy the Vampire Slayer‘s “The Body.” The supernatural series focuses on teenager Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar) as she attempts to balance her life with her destiny as the Slayer, protecting the world from demons, vampires, and other supernatural threats. The show’s sixteenth episode of its fifth season doesn’t offer the usual monster battle or magical solution; instead, it follows the kick-butt protagonist as she faces the death of her mother.

“The Body” is one of the finest examples of TV’s understanding of grief, especially in the early hours immediately after loss. The episode is heavy because it’s so real, from its lack of score and fragmented reaction to its awkward details and refusal of big emotional speeches, making it crushing in a way TV rarely dares. “The Body” isn’t simply “sad,” in the polished prestige-drama way; it’s instead ugly, numb, disorienting, and brutally ordinary. That particular ordinariness is exactly why, even so many years later, the episode still ruins its viewers. “The Body” is a brilliant and absolutely heavy episode, one that definitely earns its rank on this list of TV episodes that are clear masterpieces of true emotional devastation.

Throughout its rich history, which has all but defined the modern age of prestige television drama, HBO has presented not only an abundance of thrilling and captivating small-screen stories, but many of the greatest characters the medium has ever seen as well. The premium cable network’s unflinching interest in human drama ensures that its series run not only as enthralling narratives, but also as astute character studies defined by their depth, nuance, and conviction.

Some of these shows revolve around one central figure, a complex yet compelling protagonist whose tumultuous life and shifting fortunes present a perfect framework to explore the intricacies of the human condition. Others feature numerous major leads, all of which are defined by their detail and depth to stand, each in their own right, among the best characters in the history of television. From the enigmatic and complicated to the utterly iconic, these are the best main characters HBO has produced thus far.

10

‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2005)

Image via HBO

An underrated gem from a decade that HBO dominated, Six Feet Under blurs the line between dysfunctional family drama and dark comedy as it focuses on the funeral home managed by members of the Fisher family in the wake of their father’s death. The characters have to battle not only the logistical side of a business, but a litany of their own personal issues as well, and even simmering conflicts between the family members.

The five-season series effectively follows four primary characters in the form of the three Fisher siblings and their mother, Ruth (Frances Conroy), but its scope never diminishes its depth or impact. Ranging from dilemmas of sexuality to mental health crises, the navigation of coming-of-age rebellion, and repressed grief, all while the series maintains an overall focus on existentialism and mortality, the main characters of Six Feet Under are among the most complex, grounded, and intriguing television has ever seen.

9

‘Barry’ (2018–2023)

Image via HBO

The use of dark comedy, absurdism, stylized ultra-violence, and blindsiding psychological drama to explore the human condition has been a defining trend in entertainment in recent years. No series has embraced this bizarre yet commanding tonal mixture quite like Barry. Created by and starring Bill Hader, it follows Barry Berkman, a former U.S. Marine struggling with PTSD and depression who tries to give up his vocation as a low-level hitman when he discovers a passion for acting.

The titular character presents a fascinating dichotomy. On one hand, he is a chilling, cold-blooded killer ruled by his eruptions of violence and his icy sense of self-preservation. However, there is also a piercing vulnerability to Barry as well. Viewing himself as a fundamentally good person constantly victimized by circumstance, Barry Berkman is one of the most challenging and intriguing characters television has seen in recent years, one who defies any notion of easy redemption.

8

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Even with its immersive fantasy world-building, astonishing production value, and its frenetic story of violence and betrayal, one of the most engrossing aspects of Game of Thrones was its characters. Based on George R. R. Martin’s stunning fantasy novel series, the show is imbued with an ability to lean on archetypical character designs while subverting them. Its heroes are deeply flawed and complex, while its major villains compel with their rich complexity and shrouded morality.

With such an extensive cast, Game of Thrones wafts over a litany of characters over the course of its eight-season run, and, such was the show’s unpredictable allure, initial leads like Eddard Stark (Sean Bean) and Robb Stark (Richard Madden) didn’t live for long. However, in the midst of the carnage, there did emerge a core group in the stoicism and conviction of the surviving Starks, the lost heir Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), and the three Lannister siblings. Whether they were heroic, heinous, or something in between, the leads of Game of Thrones mark some of the best and most absorbing characters television has ever seen.

7

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

Image via HBO

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Strong character design is an essential component of any television series. This fact is only enhanced when it comes to comedy. Soaring as a masterpiece of scorching political satire, Veep follows former American senator Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) in her tenure as the country’s vice president. As she works to stifle a ceaseless procession of emerging political catastrophes, she also navigates issues in her own family life and tries to use her station to bolster her own legacy.

Series creator Armando Iannucci revels in the depravity and immorality that so many fear resides at the heart of political power. The chaos of the White House extracts every ounce of corruption, self-interest, ego, and narcissism from its characters, with the juxtaposition between Meyer’s true, acidic self and the pampered image she strives to present to the world making her a particularly exceptional commentary on modern-day politics. Also defined by her penchant for biting vulgarity and Louis-Dreyfus’s mesmerizing performance—for which she won six Emmy Awards—Selina Meyer is HBO’s greatest ever comedy character.

6

‘Succession’ (2018-2023)

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Skewering inherited wealth and elitism in the modern day, Succession strikes an intoxicating and remarkably precise balance between barbed satire and gripping, high-octane tension. The biggest reason why it works so well is the series’ main characters, with the four-season arc revolving around the three Roy siblings as they find themselves embroiled in a bitter feud against each other as they all try to position themselves to succeed their aging father as the new CEO of Waystar RoyCo.

As Logan Roy (Brian Cox) says, the Roy siblings “are not serious people.” In many respects, they are trapped in the safety net of the wealth they have always known, existing as emotionally stunted and deeply insecure people who crave the opportunity to prove they can be self-sufficient, yet crumble when such a time arises. While each of the siblings is distinct and defined in their own way, they all share an air of tragedy and ambition as they strive to earn their father’s approval while wrestling with the lingering trauma of their tumultuous upbringings.

5

‘A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms’ (2026–Present)

Image via HBO

The past 30 years of television have largely been defined by powerful and, at times, confronting drama. With HBO being a major catalyst of this tone, it is rare for the network’s productions to flaunt joyous and uplifting heroes. Rare, but not non-existent. As a delightful expansion of Game of Thrones, A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms surprised many with its gleeful and warm-hearted tone as it follows an aspiring knight who makes for a tourney to prove his worth and finds himself becoming an unlikely hero of the common folk when he stands against a cruel prince.

Its charm resides in a great many qualities, but chief among them is the beautiful bond between Dunk (Peter Claffey) and his young squire, Egg (Dexter Sol Ansell). Dunk’s humble, morally upright, and occasionally naïve view of the world is perfectly complemented by Egg’s sharp wit and inquisitive wonder of the world beyond a Targaryen castle. Quaint, wholesome, and often hilarious, while still exuding earnest qualities of chivalry and hope, Dunk and Egg are not only enshrined among HBO’s greatest ever heroes, but they are also arguably the most likable characters of any major show the network has produced.

4

‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)

Image via HBO

Deadwood is another in a long line of HBO series that flaunts magnificent production design, gripping storytelling, and an unrelenting sense of visceral tension and atmospheric pull, but is ultimately defined by the strength of its characters. Given the Western series excels with the strength of its ensemble, it is difficult to contain it to just a handful of key characters, but overwhelmed lawman Seth Bullock (Timothy Olyphant) and conniving saloon owner Al Swearengen (Ian McShane) are two standouts who loosely occupy the station of hero and villain respectively while illuminating the depth of moral ambiguity and character nuance the series was renowned for.

It is easy to view them as opposite sides of the same coin. While they are cast on opposite sides of the law and share something of an antagonistic relationship throughout Deadwood’s three-season run, the two leads do share a grudging respect for one another as Bullock’s staunch moralism and fiery integrity complement Swearengen’s cunning and pragmatic realism. They both represent different pillars of American society, and many of the secondary characters the show features exist somewhere between their conflicting ideals of justice, order, and industry. With both characters brought to life with exceptional writing and memorable performances, Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen present perhaps the best hero-villain combination in HBO’s television catalog.

3

‘True Detective’ (Season 1) (2014)

Image via HBO

Even as somber and atmospheric mystery has become a staple of crime television since True Detective’s impeccable first season aired, the original eight-episode season of the anthology show remains something of a high point in the genre’s recent history on the small screen. An essential reason for this is the strength of its lead characters, two partnered detectives who, in many ways, serve as each other’s antagonists even as they fight on the same side of the law and work to bring an occultist serial killer to justice.

Matthew McConaughey’s portrayal of Detective Rustin Cohle was instantly iconic, with the character’s bleak pessimism, poetic worldview, and rich philosophical depth making him an endlessly compelling figure. Detective Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson) is something of a straight man by comparison, even if he is forced to grapple with a litany of his own personal issues throughout the season’s 17-year timeline. Both Cohle and Hart are outstanding characters in their own right, but as a pairing that perfectly complements and contrasts each other, they stand tall among the greatest detective duos television has ever seen.

2

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

Image via HBO

The Leftovers is one of the most underrated series in television history, a hidden gem of HBO’s illustrious catalog that unfolds in a world mourning the “Sudden Departure,” an inexplicable event in which two percent of the world’s population mysteriously vanished. Rather than running as a high-stakes mystery thriller or a ferocious post-apocalyptic drama, the three-season series unfolds more as a meditative exploration of grief, loss, and humanity. It is an approach that thrives thanks to the contemplative depth of its writing, the air of empathetic gravitas the series conjures, and the incredible strength of its lead characters.

Both Kevin Garvey (Justin Theroux), a police officer trying to maintain some semblance of normality, and Nora Durst (Carrie Coon), a woman who lost her entire family in the Sudden Departure, are rife with psychological intrigue. Desperately clinging to their sanity in a maddening world, they both strive to present an image of calmness and composure even as their own mental states continuously spiral due to their personal issues. Like every major character in The Leftovers, both Kevin and Nora are realized with exceptional emotional intelligence, making for two of the most intimately examined and dissected characters in television history, and two wonderfully complex, self-contradicting, and captivating explorations of the human condition.

1

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

Image via HBO

Breaking Bad gave the world Walter White (Bryan Cranston). Mad Men presented Don Draper (Jon Hamm). Even The Shield deserves consideration for the complexity of Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis). But when it comes to great television antiheroes and the best protagonist the medium has ever seen, there is only one answer. The Sopranos revolves around Tony Soprano (James Gandolfini), a New Jersey mob boss whose struggles in his intense professional life and spiraling personal life lead to him attending therapy in secret.

The series presented a dramatic shift for crime drama at large, with Tony still featuring the volatile gangland ruthlessness associated with the genre but exhibiting a tender vulnerability and profoundly human complexity as well. Anchored by what is the greatest performance the small screen has ever seen from Gandolfini, The Sopranos features the finest main character in television history, a challenging, confronting, and confounding meditation on morality that remains the greatest icon of the medium even nearly 20 years since the series concluded.

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The Sopranos

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Release Date

1999 – 2007-00-00

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HBO

Showrunner

David Chase

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Directors

Tim Van Patten, John Patterson, Alan Taylor, Jack Bender, Steve Buscemi, Daniel Attias, David Chase, Andy Wolk, Danny Leiner, David Nutter, James Hayman, Lee Tamahori, Lorraine Senna, Matthew Penn, Mike Figgis, Nick Gomez, Peter Bogdanovich, Phil Abraham, Rodrigo García

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There’s more content than ever about espionage and covert intelligence, but most shows based on these subjects tend to characterize spycraft as an exciting, action-packed profession. Even if these shows do not universally endorse or sympathize with the characters that they portray, they do offer a depiction of their work that boasts the epic scope and scale of what is inherently compelling. Patriot is a downbeat, darkly funny, and frequently avant-garde spy series that is a bit too disturbing to be a comedy, too strange to be a straightforward drama, and too experimental to be lumped in with other streaming genre shows. There aren’t any broad characteristics that can be used to describe Patriot because of how original it was, and the series deserves more recognition for being one of the early indicators of how inventive streaming shows could be.

Patriot was created by Steven Conrad, the talented showrunner who would go on to make the Emmy-nominated limited series DTF St. Louis and write several hit comedy films. The show tells the story of John Tavner (Michael Dorman), an unusual intelligence agent who performs covert tasks for the Director of Intelligence, who happens to be his father Tom (Terry O’Quinn). Despite John’s desire to be a folk singer and troubled marriage to his wife Alice (Kathleen Munroe), he is assigned to go undercover as “John Lakeman” and gains a job at a Milwaukee industrial company run by the recovering alcoholic Leslie Claret (Kurtwood Smith). Patriot finds a roundabout way to explore the demanding task of assuming different identities while remaining confident in one’s personal ethics. Even though it is John who is professionally lying to make his living, all the characters in Patriot are being dishonest with themselves in one way or another.

‘Patriot’ Puts a Fascinating Spin on the Spy Drama

Patriot is an apt commentary on modern American life because the series explores the mundanity of workplace culture, which is ironically not that different between undercover spy work and blue-collar industrial labor. All the infrastructure in Patriot is built on the maintenance of established values that no one has ever questioned, which makes all the more trouble for John when he starts asking questions. John strays from his father’s teaching and often has to be reined in by his brother, Edward (Michael Chernus), a congressman from Texas. At the same time, his unusual attitude makes him stick out like a sore thumb at McMillan, the processing plant, especially when compared to the more dedicated “company men.” The irony is that John’s inability to fit in causes a shift in his relationship with both of his mentors; Tom begins to talk to him less personally as if he were only an employee, and Leslie begins to take him under his wing, treating him like a son.

Patriot cleverly riffs on the archetypes of spy fiction because its narrative mirrors similar storylines involving nuclear anxiety in other movies and shows, only to go in a completely different direction by focusing on small and seemingly insignificant tasks. The series is also keen to note the type of consequences of John’s work that wouldn’t always be brought up in a spy story, specifically within his relationship with the rival job-seeker Stephen Tchoo (Marcus Toji). In the first episode, John is forced to injure Stephen to ensure that he can get the job at McMillan and serve as an undercover agent. Instead of casting Stephen aside altogether, Patriot shows his continued experiences after dealing with severe brain damage, making him a living reminder of the atrocities that John has committed in the name of a mission that he does not fully comprehend.

‘Patriot’ Has Excellent Characters and Performances

While Conrad’s other work has involved getting great performances out of actors who were cast against type, Patriot boasts a true standout in Dorman, who gives a melancholy, charming, and impressively removed performance as a self-destructive anti-hero. So much is learned about John’s past over the course of the series that the family dynamics begin to feel real; the relationship between John and Edward becomes quite impactful towards the end of Season 2, once Chernus is given much more to do. There’s also an interesting depiction of marriage that shows the costs that Alice faces as she tries to collect any knowledge she can about her husband, whose frequent absences for long-term assignments put a strain upon their relationship.

Although it has a satisfying conclusion that wraps up John’s journey and could have easily been extended into later seasons, Patriot was cancelled prematurely after the end of Season 2. This might be because it aired at a time in which streaming television was more of a novelty, and the notion of an auteur-driven show with stark stylistic tendencies didn’t fit within the reputation that Prime Video has as a brand. Prime Video has now developed a corporate identity as a streamer that produces a high volume of action, military, and espionage shows that embody all the clichés that Patriot subverts and satirizes. There’s nothing about Patriot that feels cynical or predictable, and eight years later, it’s still a breath of fresh air that more people should know about.

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Patriot

Release Date

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2015 – 2018-00-00

Network

Prime Video

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Directors

Ted Griffin

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Last summer, the ever-suave Brad Pitt returned to the tentpole scene with one of 2025’s most impressive cinematic experiences. Joseph Kosinski‘s racing blockbuster F1, which stars Pitt as Sonny Hayes, was a huge hit both critically and commercially. Not only did the film eventually take home the prize for Best Sound from this year’s 98th Academy Awards ceremony and earn a nod in the coveted Best Picture category, but it also broke box office records, becoming the highest-grossing original movie of the year and Apple Original Film’s highest-grossing theatrical release of all time with a $633 million worldwide haul​​​​​​.

The film is yet another in a long line of huge success stories for Pitt on the big screen, with it remarkably now 35 years since he first broke onto the scene as small-time drifter J.D. in director Ridley Scott‘s Thelma & Louise. Of all his many masterpieces, one that flies too far under the radar is the drama film Babel, which debuted in 2006 and was Pitt’s only acting performance of the year. Directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, who earned his first Best Director nod for the film, Babel was also the recipient of five other Academy Award nominations, sadly only winning one in the Best Original Score category (Gustavo Santaolalla).

At the box office, the film proved even more successful than its underwhelming night at the Oscars, with Babel scoring a global haul of $132 million against a production budget of just $20 million. Mohamed Akhzam, Cate Blanchett, Elle Fanning, Satoshi Nikaido, and more feature in this ambitious multi-narrative drama that tells a selection of interconnected stories across the world in Morocco, Japan, Mexico, and the United States. As of August 1, you can watch Babel on Paramount+ in the U.S., where it joins an impressive collection of arriving titles.

Brad Pitt’s Next Project Sees One of His Best Characters Return

Image via Paramount Pictures

Back in February 2020, Pitt picked up the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Cliff Booth in Quentin Tarantino‘s Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, the 2019 historical drama set in 1969 Los Angeles. Later this year, he will reprise the role in The Adventures of Cliff Booth, which will have a two-week exclusive run in IMAX starting November 25, before moving to Netflix worldwide on December 23. Tarantino has penned the project, with long-time Pitt collaborator David Fincher taking director’s duties.

Babel is streaming on Paramount+. Stay tuned to Collider for more streaming stories.

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Release Date

September 8, 2006

Runtime

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143 minutes

Director

Alejandro González Iñárritu

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The fantasy genre just can’t exist without Dungeons & Dragons, and that’s not an empty hot take. For anyone who somehow missed the epic phenomenon that is Dungeons & Dragons, the game is a shared adventure where a group of players creates heroes, explores strange worlds, fights monsters, and makes questionable decisions before the dice flip the odds. One person guides the story as the Dungeon Master, but the real fun comes from watching completely different characters work together to survive the most unexpected situations.

The game is extremely entertaining, but ultimately, it thrives on a strong sense of camaraderie among the players. Plenty of animated shows capture that same feeling, even when they aren’t directly based on the games. These six animated series are for anyone searching for the same mix of excitement, heart, and unpredictability that Dungeons & Dragons is known for.

1

‘Arcane’ (2021–2024)

Image via Netflix

Arcane is based on Riot Games’ fan-favorite League of Legends universe and expands the game’s lore into a rich fantasy drama. The story takes place across the divided worlds of Piltover and Zaun and follows sisters Vi and Powder after a failed robbery tears their family apart. Years later, Vi has become a hardened fighter, while Powder has transformed into the unstable and destructive Jinx. Their relationship is the emotional center of the story, but aside from that, Arcane brings together dangerous magic, political conflict, and broken alliances to tie every storyline into one big adventure.

The series never treats its characters as black and white and gives nuance to even the messiest decisions made by Piltover’s leaders and Zaun’s revolutionaries. Even the characters trying to do the right thing keep discovering that every decision leads to consequences they cannot control. This kind of ambitious worldbuilding makes the series’ moral complexity feel even stronger. Safe to say, Dungeons & Dragons fans will feel right at home in Arcane’s world, where the stakes can completely change in the blink of an eye.

2

‘Blue Eye Samurai’ (2023–Present)

Image via Netflix

Blue Eye Samurai has all the makings of a classic revenge story, until one realizes that the animated action series is so much more than just that. The story takes place in 17th-century Japan and follows mixed-race master swordsman Mizu, who is hunting four white men, one of whom may be her father. Now, the protagonist’s blue eyes and gender will easily make her a target, so she travels in disguise and treats every person she meets as either a means to her end or an enemy. Mizu’s obsession drives the story forward, and her backstory gives the violence real weight, with every battle revealing something new about her.

Her eventual alliances with Ringo, Taigen, and Akemi turn her journey into a much more compelling adventure. Each character is following a different path, but their choices repeatedly pull them into the same conflict. Blue Eye Samurai is a treat for audiences who appreciate group-based fantasy storytelling and how one simple quest keeps growing in unexpected directions. Most importantly, the series understands that a good fantasy story isn’t just about defeating the bad guy, but about the more personal journey its characters embark on.

3

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

Image via Prime Video

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The Legend of Vox Machina is based on the first campaign of Critical Role, which began as a private tabletop game before becoming a hugely popular online show. The show follows seven adventurers who care about money and drinks more than anything else. The thing is that all of them are skilled individually, but getting them to work together in the face of a threat is as impossible as it gets. Their first adventure earns them some respect, but the story becomes far more personal when one member of the group, Percy, comes face-to-face with Sylas and Delilah Briarwood, the couple who murdered his family and took control of his home. The group travels to Whitestone to help him reclaim it, only to realize that Percy’s desire for revenge is turning into something much more brutal.

From there, the crew’s journey leads them to forgotten tombs, dangerous cities, and other planes of existence in search of ancient weapons called the Vestiges of Divergence. However, even with a scale so grand, the core focus of the show remains the friendships holding this deeply dysfunctional group together. In fact, that balance is exactly what makes The Legend of Vox Machina so much fun. The heroes argue, make terrible decisions, and occasionally succeed by chance. Along the way, though, they learn that their greatest victories only happen when they stop trying to outshine each other. The Legend of Vox Machina captures the joy of a shared fantasy adventure, and that’s what makes it such a special show.

4

‘Castlevania’ (2017–2021)

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Castlevania begins with the iconic Dracula falling in love. However, when his wife, Lisa, is falsely accused of witchcraft and burned alive by the Church, the grief drives him mad. Dracula gives the people of Wallachia one year to make peace before unleashing an army of vampires and night creatures upon them. Now, Trevor Belmont, the drunken and disgraced last member of a legendary monster-hunting family, becomes humanity’s best hope. Naturally, Trevor wants nothing to do with saving a society that drove his family into exile. However, he crosses paths with fearless magician Sypha Belnades and Dracula’s half-human son, Alucard.

Together, the three of them agree to find the villain’s moving castle to stop his war against humanity. Trevor has years of monster-hunting knowledge, Sypha can control the elements, and Alucard has the strength and speed of a vampire, which makes the characters the perfect trio to bring Dracula down. Over the course of four seasons, Castlevania moves beyond this first mission, without ever feeling too disconnected from the initial conflict. The series allows its characters to grow without slowing down the action. Castlevania is gothic and gory, but it has its fair share of heartfelt moments that keep the audience genuinely invested in every plot until the end.

5

‘Blood of Zeus’ (2020–2025)

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Blood of Zeus could have done the easy thing and retold Greek myths that most people are already familiar with. Instead, the show created a new hero and placed him directly in the middle of the gods’ famously messy family drama. Heron begins the series as a poor outcast living with his mother in ancient Greece, only to discover that he is one of Zeus’ many illegitimate sons. Unfortunately, this also catches the attention of Hera, who directs her anger at Heron and unleashes a conflict involving gods, mortals, demons, and long-buried Giants. Heron is soon pulled into a much larger fight alongside the warrior Alexia and a small group of unlikely allies. At the same time, he must face Seraphim, a brutal demon leader whose past is closely connected to his own.

Blood of Zeus delivers a grand fantasy epic that is easy to get lost in. The series continues expanding after its first war as Heron is forced to take greater responsibility for Olympus following Zeus’ death. The series works because it shows how its gods are just as flawed as the humans caught in their battles. Their jealousy and old grudges keep creating new problems, while Heron is left to deal with the consequences. The show might borrow from Greek mythology and feature enchanted weapons, dangerous enemies, and trips to the Underworld, but at the end of the day, it is a family drama that almost everyone will relate to.

6

‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ (2005–2008)

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Avatar: The Last Airbender is hands-down one of the greatest animated series ever created. The show centers on 12-year-old Aang, the last surviving Air Nomad and the Avatar, a powerful figure expected to master all four elements and restore balance to the world. Not just that, but Aang is also the only person capable of ending the Fire Nation’s century-long war. He is soon joined by siblings Katara and Sokka, and later Toph, as the group travels across the world to help Aang master water, earth, and fire before facing Fire Lord Ozai. For all its childlike playfulness and warmth, Avatar: The Last Airbender also takes the damage caused by war and colonialism very seriously.

The show demonstrates how the Fire Nation occupies people’s land, destroys their culture, and spreads propaganda to teach its own children a false version of history. The audience sees all this damage through Aang’s eyes, but none of it feels too heavy because of the show’s focus on friendship and wonder. The world in Avatar: The Last Airbender feels magical and alive, despite the constant danger the people in this world face. The show offers all of its characters, even Zuko, genuine growth to show how real strength comes from understanding others and choosing compassion over everything else. Very few animated series are as meaningful and memorable as Avatar: The Last Airbender, and the show’s themes only make it feel more relevant with time.

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Avatar: The Last Airbender

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Release Date

2005 – 2008-00-00

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Network

Nickelodeon

Showrunner

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Michael Dante DiMartino

Directors

Giancarlo Volpe, Ethan Spaulding, Lauren MacMullan, Dave Filoni, Joaquim Dos Santos, Anthony Lioi

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The Real Housewives of Miami alum Stephanie Shojaee’s summer vacation in France took a frightening turn when she was allegedly robbed.

“Cannes and Saint-Tropez are great … until it’s your turn to get robbed,” Shojaee, 41, announced via her Instagram Story on Saturday, August 1.

The reality star took her followers through the timeline of the alleged robbery across several Instagram Story slides, starting with the beginning of her trip as she boarded a private plane.

Showing off her luxe hotel room in France, Shojaee revealed, “Robbery happened day 2!! South of France is just not safe. I wanted to leave. But I made the best of it.”

Related: ‘RHOM’ Star Larsa Pippen’s Home Burglarized, 3 Suspects in Custody

Three suspects are in custody after The Real Housewives of Miami star Larsa Pippen’s home was burglarized. According to police records viewed by Us Weekly on Monday, March 30, three men were arrested in connection to the break-in at the reality TV star’s home. All three suspects were charged with burglary of an unoccupied dwelling […]

Shojaee then shared shocking security camera footage that seemingly showed two masked robbers lingering outside of her vacation villa at night.

“Come to the South of France, they said. Rent a villa, they said. It was a great idea, they said,” she quipped. “Oh look! There goes my stuff! And they even took half [of] my [real estate company Shoma Group] merch. WTF!!!”

In later posts, Shojaee claimed that the masked men “came into my room and went shopping in my closet.”

“I woke up to this every day but scared … Worth it? Not really,” she stressed.

The RHOM star brought her beloved dog Pebbles along for the vacation — and, luckily, the pet came away completely unharmed.

“She barks at the wind but not at people taking all my stuff,” Shojaee teased in a slide featuring Pebbles.

As of publication, Shojaee has not released any further details about the alleged robbery.

Shojaee joined the cast of The Real Housewives of Miami for season 7 in 2025. Unfortunately, Us confirmed in March that RHOM was put on “pause” by Bravo for the second time following the completion of season 7. (The Miami-based Real Housewives franchise was previously paused by the network from 2013 to 2021.)

The Real Housewives of Miami executive producer and reunion host, Andy Cohen, broke his silence in March about the show being shelved.

Related: RHOM’s Lisa Hochstein Breaks Silence as Spying Charge Is Dropped

Former Real Housewives of Miami star Lisa Hochstein spoke out following the announcement that charges in her and boyfriend Jody Glidden’s eavesdropping case have been dropped. “I’m grateful that this is all behind me,” Hochstein, 43, wrote via her Instagram Story on Monday, June 22. “All charges have been dropped.” The Bravo star went on, […]

“I did wanna say Housewives of Miami, there’s so much [news],” Cohen told SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live at the time. “I get the credit, and I get the blame. And I will say, this was not my decision. And by the way, look, I’m an EP [executive producer] on all these shows. If it was up to me, they would be rolling all the time and on. I mean, better for me.”

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Cohen remained hopeful that RHOM may eventually return provided that the fanbase demands it.

“Frankly, I’m happy that people are so passionate about it, and I hope they tell their friends to watch. This is a ratings game after all,” he added.

The Real Housewives of Miami wrapped up its seventh — and possibly final — season in October 2025 with a three-part reunion.

There are some science fiction TV shows so delightful, so foundational, so hugely influential, and so brilliantly demonstrative of the genre’s unique charm that pretty much everyone should watch them at least once in their lives. These shows are, after all, such essential pieces of the genre that they should be perfectly capable of entertaining even the most avid sci-fi hater.

Whether it’s a decades-running classic like Doctor Who or a more self-contained modern gem like Battlestar Galactica, these are the kinds of sci-fi series that have served as the genre’s tonal and stylistic basis for years. Many shows that came after owe an awful lot to them, and as such, anyone even slightly intrigued by the history of science fiction should check them out before they die.

10

‘Doctor Who’ (1963–Present)

Image via BBC

It has gone through some hiatuses—including the one it’s currently in—but Doctor Who nevertheless holds the Guinness World Record as the longest-running science fiction TV show in history. That’s no small feat. Through the simple narrative device of regeneration, which means that its protagonist is able to transform into a new body after death, Doctor Who has found ways to keep itself fresh and relevant since the early 1960s.

It is, through and through, one of the best sci-fi TV shows of all time, as well as one of the most foundational to modern pop culture and sci-fi geekdom. Watching the whole thing is, of course, a commitment that would take at least several months; but anyone who loves time and space travel ought to watch at least a few seasons of Doctor Who sometime.

9

‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

Image via Netflix

Those who love time travel and multiverse stories but would prefer something shorter and more serialized ought to watch Netflix’s Dark, quite likely the most internationally mainstream German show in history. It’s also one of the most intellectually challenging sci-fi shows of all time, but those with the patience (and attention span) for its mind-bending story will almost certainly have the time of their lives.

It’s one of the Netflix shows with the most shocking plot twists, perfect for people who love sci-fi series where pretty much every episode packs at least a few surprises. Perfectly directed and with some of the most masterfully complex writing the genre has ever seen, Dark really is a must-see for sci-fi fans who love shows that force them to think deeply.

8

‘Babylon 5’ (1994–1998)

Image via TNT

In the history of not just science fiction television, but American broadcast television more broadly, the airing of Babylon 5 marked a “before” and “after” point. Almost unprecedentedly for American cable TV at the time, this cult classic was designed as a sort of novel for television, where every season would serve as a different chapter in a pre-planned five-chapter story arc.

In virtually every way imaginable, Babylon 5 has aged like fine wine, as even its most dated visual elements add an inimitable campy charm to it. But the real strength of this timeless space opera is, of course, its serialized narrative. Profound character arcs, nuanced geopolitical elements, deep philosophical themes, and an unexpectedly mature tone all make Babylon 5 truly special.

7

‘Black Mirror’ (2011–Present)

Image via Netflix

The anthology format has been one of the most popular ways of making science fiction TV shows since the ’50s, but there’s a certain show that has completely revolutionized the way anthology sci-fi television works in modern times: Black Mirror, one of those modern sci-fi shows that are utter masterpieces. Offering all sorts of thought-provoking reflections on humanity’s relationship to technology, it has become one of the current sci-fi shows most celebrated by contemporary pop culture.

The wonderful thing about Black Mirror is that those not looking to commit to the entire series can watch just a few of its most popular episodes and get a perfect idea of why it’s celebrated as such an essential piece of modern science fiction television. In all honesty, however, there’s no way of watching Black Mirror‘s best episodes and not wanting to check out the rest.

6

‘Cowboy Bebop’ (1998–1999)

Image via Sunrise

Cowboy Bebop is one of those anime classics where every episode’s a masterpiece, a show that helped popularize anime in the Western world in the late ’90s and early 2000s. Part space Western, part neo-noir, and 100% remarkably entertaining, it’s one of the most universally loved anime on the planet for a reason. Even those who aren’t interested in anime but love sci-fi nonetheless ought to add it to their watchlist.

That’s because, far from just being your traditional animated sci-fi series, Cowboy Bebop is a brilliantly genre-bending exploration of existential loneliness and the terrible weight of the past. Philosophically complex and stylistically sharp in equal measure, it’s proof that animated sci-fi deserves just as much love and respect as even the best live-action masterpieces.

5

‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)

Image via FOX

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Nowadays, Firefly is perhaps best-known as the cult classic that was canceled after only one short-lived season, but all those who’ve watched it also know it as the absolute masterpiece that it is. It’s one of the best space Westerns the small screen has ever seen, a show that could have proven to be even more of an audience darling had it been given the chance to run for as long as it deserved to.

It’s one of the most perfect sci-fi shows shorter than 20 episodes, bolstered by one of the most endearing ensemble casts and most compelling set of characters that sci-fi television has ever had to offer. It’s creative, it’s well-written, it’s full of vibrant and gritty world-building, and it has some unforgettable dialogue that fans love to quote on the daily even to this day.

4

‘Battlestar Galactica’ (2004–2009)

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The original Battlestar Galactica was practically begging for a remake going into the 21st century, but no one could have expected it to be as superior as it was. Following the 2003 miniseries, one of the best in the history of science fiction, came 2004’s Battlestar Galactica, widely regarded as one of the greatest sci-fi series of the 21st century thus far.

After all, what’s not to love about this brilliant space opera? For one, it’s fascinating how it explores the gritty and paranoid cultural psyche that plagued much of American television after 9/11. Combine that complex thematic core with some striking production values, a legendary cast, and a layered story, and you get one of the best genre shows of the 2000s—science fiction or otherwise.

3

‘Star Trek: The Next Generation’ (1987–1994)

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Everyone should watch at least one Star Trek show before they die, if only to see what all the sky-high hype is about. And pretty much all fans of the franchise would agree that, if someone were wondering where they could possibly get started with such a gargantuan franchise, The Next Generation would be a pretty solid gateway point.

Almost universally regarded as the best piece of Star Trek media to date (at least as far as the small screen is concerned), The Next Generation is the sort of sci-fi show people wish they had watched sooner. It’s just that good. The production values have aged wonderfully, the cast is still one of the best in the history of network television, and the perfect way the franchise’s uniquely optimistic philosophy blends with the story must be seen to be believed.

2

‘The X-Files’ (1993–2018)

Image via Robert Falconer/ TM and Copyright © 20th Century Fox Film Corp. All rights reserved./courtesy Everett Collection

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The X-Files isn’t just one of the most beloved sci-fi TV shows of all time, but also one of the most influential. From Supernatural to Buffy the Vampire Slayer to Gravity Falls, all sorts of supernatural conspiracy series have drawn inspiration from The X-Files over the years. From their early days pioneering the fandom space on the Internet until the modern day, the show’s cult following is still going as strong as ever.

There are strong elements of serialization here for those who prefer that sort of sci-fi show, but even those people are virtually guaranteed to inevitably enjoy the revolutionary way in which X-Files approaches more episodic formats. Its “case of the week” approach allows Mulder and Scully to grow on the audience as the seasons pass, making their impeccably written and impeccably directed adventures all the more effective.

1

‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)

Image via CBS

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There’s a solid reason why Rod Serling‘s groundbreaking The Twilight Zone is far and away one of the most universally loved TV series of all time. Not only is it every bit as great as the hype still surrounding it would lead one to believe; it also may very well be the single most influential sci-fi TV show in history, which should be more than enough to make it a must-see.

But as if the indelible impact it’s had on both anthology series and sci-fi television as a whole weren’t enough, The Twilight Zone is also incredibly high-quality and undeniably timeless. Like any anthology show, it’s not without its share of episodes that are definitely duds. But as the best and most essential anthology sci-fi series ever made, it’s also so filled to the brim with masterful episodes that it’s hard to envision a sci-fi fan going to the grave without ever having watched Twilight Zone.

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The Twilight Zone

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Release Date

1959 – 1964-00-00

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Directors

John Brahm, Buzz Kulik, Douglas Heyes, Lamont Johnson, Richard L. Bare, James Sheldon, Richard Donner, Don Medford, Montgomery Pittman, Abner Biberman, Alan Crosland, Jr., Alvin Ganzer, Elliot Silverstein, Jack Smight, Joseph M. Newman, Ted Post, William Claxton, Jus Addiss, Mitchell Leisen, Perry Lafferty, Robert Florey, Robert Parrish, Ron Winston, Stuart Rosenberg

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