Best All Time Epic/Drama TV Series

[quickccc]

I think we should separate out the Sci-fi and Horror shows which can be drama but are their own genre.

You'd have to include "Roots" on the list. Someone else mentioned "The Fugitive", which was a great series. So was "Perry Mason", the original, not the new one on HBO. "Columbo" was good, as was "Bonanza". I was an avid watcher of "Combat".

I would not put Sex and the City on any list of good shows. That show about 4 despicable sluts was awful.

Other Blasts from the Past:

 

[Vtwin]

The big problem with all these lists is recency bias; the current shows have an advantage in one way, especially on cable as there are no restrictions or censorship to deal with.

On the other hand, so many take the easy way out with profanity violence and sex and all too many people automatically think that makes the shows better.

I happen to think great shows are great shows no matter when they came out. The Fugitive was a great drama that dated back to the 60's; and is on many lists as one of the all time greatest ever.

Roots, Rich Man Poor Man, Winds of War, Centennial, are just a few of the mini series that I consider epics.

Hill Street Blues was one of the greatest all time; what you see there is copied on many police shows to this day.

MASH the final episode still holds the all time drama ratings crown and likely never will be beaten.That was 1983.

Speaking of recency bias.

I watched episode 1 of season 1 of Mash the other night. I don't think that episode ever plays on prime time in this current era. Arguably the greatest television series of all time would possibly have never gotten off the ground if it was written today.

I'll throw Vikings a bone on topic of the thread. Definitely the Twilight Zone if it fits the criteria of drama.

 

[Runwildboys]

what is the difference between regular series... vs mini-series ?... ("eses" )

A mini-series is usually just around 5 episodes, often showing in consecutive days, the way Roots did, IIRC.

 

[Runwildboys]

I should have mentioned " Boston Public " on my list too.
That was an extraordinary show. Especially the early years.
Writing, characters and direction were awesome.

It covered several life controversial. topics and discussions.
I loved how it gave a great look at school atmosphere and lives of teachers, students and principal.. in school and outside the school life.

As with every show, the ending seasons were challenging to watch and just dried up with new and incompetent writers
and they could not get new intriguing characters and story writes to keep the show lively and interesting ..thus it was moved to Fridays as that
is always said (Fridays) is the kiss of death move for TV shows ... and here comes cancellation time.

School is out and closed ..for good.

I loved Boston Public, almost as much as Boston Legal. I'm now watching Suits, in which Sharon Leal had a recurring role, and I fell for her all over again.

 

[ESisback]

Game of Thrones
Ozark
Yellowstone
NYPD Blue
Sopranos
Lost In Space
Sprung
After Life
Kung **
The West Wing
Rockford Files
Fargo
Raising Hope
Pennyworth
Preacher

 

[LonnieElam]

I've never seen a show go from really good to absolute dog **** like The Walking Dead. I stopped watching when Negan showed up, and I watched one more season than I really wanted to.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I'll throw in 24 since I haven't seen it mentioned. Jack Bauer did more to save the world than antibiotics.

 

[quickccc]

I've never seen a show go from really good to absolute dog **** like The Walking Dead. I stopped watching when Negan showed up, and I watched one more season than I really wanted to.

Ditto here.

Seems like the direction and death of most of the great shows ... they go on so long and end of running out of writers, actors/characters leave & /kill off the show,
..new writers just flat sux and the show just runs out of intriguing ideas and story plots, and even the leftover characters cannot make up the difference.

I left this show when the " Whispers " enter the fray, ..and I barely watched it once Rick left the show

..plus I got so tired and bored out by Negan who seem to take over the show. ..i heard WD fans got turned off big time
with Negan's spiked bat violence with Glenn,.. and they complained and dare to boycott WD unless they cease the blood gore violence.- AMC conceded and re-directed and watered
down violent scenes.

I never got into " Fear the Walking Dead " ....

 

[Big_D]

'Six Feet Under' and 'Peaky Blinders' I didn't see them mentioned yet.

 

[DallasEast]

I've never seen a show go from really good to absolute dog **** like The Walking Dead. I stopped watching when Negan showed up, and I watched one more season than I really wanted to.

Ditto here.

Seems like the direction and death of most of the great shows ... they go on so long and end of running out of writers, actors/characters leave & /kill off the show,
..new writers just flat sux and the show just runs out of intriguing ideas and story plots, and even the leftover characters cannot make up the difference.

I left this show when the " Whispers " enter the fray, ..and I barely watched it once Rick left the show

..plus I got so tired and bored out by Negan who seem to take over the show. ..i heard WD fans got turned off big time
with Negan's spiked bat violence with Glenn,.. and they complained and dare to boycott WD unless they cease the blood gore violence.- AMC conceded and re-directed and watered
down violent scenes.

I never got into " Fear the Walking Dead " ....

I cut The Walking Dead completely loose after Rick left. That character was the nucleus of the show as far as I was concerned.

 

[dsturgeon]

https://encrypted-tbn0.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnxHDU85i_npD1k0NeyiQT_bD1MEOf_a4Wpg&usqp=CAU

 

[DallasEast]

https://encrypted-tbn0.***NOT-ALLOWED***/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQnxHDU85i_npD1k0NeyiQT_bD1MEOf_a4Wpg&usqp=CAU

Not sure how receptive others will feel about an anime offering but I would vote for Cowboy Bebop. That said, Attack on Titan is the best well-written anime drama I have ever watched. Its underlying plots are cohesive and extremely detailed. Some will think I am kidding or overexaggerating but I have thought the series is on the level of many of the best HBO drama series ever made. It is just that good.

 

[Miller]

Hill St. Blues
St. Elsewhere, a gotcha ending of brilliance.
LA Law
NYPD Blue
Brooklyn South
ER
China Beach
The Wire
Sopranos
Breaking Bad
Rescue Me
The Shield
Oz
Sons of Anarchy

NYDP Blue was must watch

 

[dsturgeon]

Not sure how receptive others will feel about an anime offering but I would vote for Cowboy Bebop. That said, Attack on Titan is the best well-written anime drama I have ever watched. Its underlying plots are cohesive and extremely detailed. Some will think I am kidding or overexaggerating but I have thought the series is on the level of many of the best HBO drama series ever made. It is just that good.

I think anime/animated series and movies are about to take a step up in script writing and production value. I think there will be a higher level of investment into their quality, and into their marketing and advertisement budgets. The technology and demand is there for it to happen

 

[LonnieElam]

If you haven't seen Banshee, (most people haven't) it's freaking amazing.

 

[quickccc]

I think anime/animated series and movies are about to take a step up in script writing and production value. I think there will be a higher level of investment into their quality, and into their marketing and advertisement budgets. The technology and demand is there for it to happen

I think NETFLIX alone is gonna singlehandedly will and has been jump starting the vibe interest in animation series

They've already put out one of my very favorite anime series in Castlevania , that I just had to make it to my list.

And they've been inputting the likes of those like Grappler Baki series, ..Blood of Zeus ... Agent Elvis....Demon Slayer .... Record of Ragnorak .... Vinland Saga ... Death Note ... JoJo's Bzarre Adventures ... One Punch Man .... Pacific Rim Black .... Ultra Man ... Resident Evil Infinite Darkness ....Blue Exorcist ... Dragon's Dogma ... Dragon Age Absolution ... Dota Dragon's Blood
and Devilman

I imagine that Netflix would not be incorporating and investing in so very many anime series and movies if there were not such interest and demand for them.

Oh yes, I'm big on Japanimation like art work format and story write
That's why I like format such as Batman Ninja and would look forward to a new Suicide Squad animation piece

@DallasEast
I need to try to see Attack on Titan again .. but I would have to catch it in English dubbed version, i have to hard a time relaxing with the subtitled version.

 

[DallasEast]

@DallasEast
I need to try to see Attack on Titan again .. but I would have to catch it in English dubbed version, i have to hard a time relaxing with the subtitled version.

Not sure how you are viewing AOT. Funimation is my anime streaming service. All 87 episodes, plus eight OVAs, from the start of season one through the midway point of season four are English dubbed.

The final half of season four will be released this year at some unannounced date. I have been pissed off waiting for that to happen. The series will end after those final episodes are released. I am 99.9% certain the end of this series will be unforgettable. Then I will get depressed and probably binge watch the entire thing all over again, lol.

I do predict that HBO will secure the series after its Funimation/Crunchyroll run ends. Exactly when is a mystery but I believe it will happen one day. The bulk of its adult animation catalogue is either not drama based or not hardcore drama content. AOT blows all their current adult animation content out of the water. Japanese anime. Warner Bros/DC. All of it. Without exception. Adding it to its library makes too much sense.

Now I will wait and watch them prove me wrong.

 

[Creeper]

Did anyone mention "Oz"? That show was intense.

 

[VaqueroTD]

Breaking Bad.

Never binged that many seasons at once.

All but the last season which I quickly purchased as soon as it was available.

 

[LonnieElam]

Breaking Bad.

Never binged that many seasons at once.

All but the last season which I quickly purchased as soon as it was available.

I've watched the entire 5 seasons 3x now. I'll probably watch it again.