Related
Summary
HBOshows have consistently pushed the boundaries of innovative television , and have redefine the timbre standards , writing expectations , and production values , across broadcast , cable , and cyclosis platforms . The internet strongly emphasizes creative freedom , gainsay themes , and consistently resist television norm and expectations . HBO ’s upright showsoften explore darker , more adult - drive construct than their competition , and as such , have made a name for themselves as a trailblazing and unflinchingly courageous internet when it comes to the development of esteemed , critically acclaimed , idiot box .
Across a tolerant range of genres , HBO shows have had a major encroachment on the performing , directing , and writing of countless subsequent serial . Their drollery shows have pushed the boundaries of what could be explored and addressed meta - commentary and irony in a way that felt fresh and exciting . Their law-breaking serial produced some of thebest goggle box characters of all metre , and anti - wedge like Tony Soprano have had a direct shock on the kind of protagonists that audiences were willing to accept . Their dramas provide for unconventional storytelling proficiency and levels of thematic complexity that pushed the mass medium into ever more advanced soil .
In the Golden Age of television , great performance are fairly coarse . But who were the performer that built the groundwork for move as we know it ?
10The Larry Sanders Show (1992 – 1998)
An early mockumentary-style sitcom
Cast
Based on a fancied former - night public lecture show , The Larry Sanders Showbrought a point of meta - comment and satire to boob tube not previously seen . By amalgamate fact with fiction and feature real - life celebrities on the public lecture show and behind the scenes , the series , which starred Gary Shandling , research ego , insecurity , and aspiration in show business . The Larry Sanders Showhad a great influence on mockumentary - style drollery likeThe Office , satiric portrayals of real - world celebrities such as inExtras , and examinations of self in the entertainment industry explored inEntourage .
9Sex and the City (1998 – 2004)
Explored women’s sexuality in a way not previously seen
It is hard to get across just how revolutionarySex and the Citywas when it first aerate . The show broke down barriers around open discourse of women ’s sex and offered a sweet linear perspective on distaff - centric storytelling . Sex and the Citybecame a cultural phenomenon for its geographic expedition of modern feminism and distaff empowerment and challenged societal norms and expectations around these subject .
8The Sopranos (1999 – 2007)
The original TV anti-hero
The single most important show in the modern telly age , The Sopranosraised the stripe for everybody and kickstarted the era of prestigiousness television receiver , characterise by complex fictional character , psychological depth , and foresighted - figure storytelling . The mob party boss Tony Soprano place the foundation for other deeply superimposed anti - poor boy likeBreaking Badmeth cook Walter White andMad Menad executive Don Draper . The Sopranosstands today as a watershed moment in the history of TV.The Sopranos’influence extends far beyond the crime genre and can be see in every subsequent television serial publication that attempts to tell a compelling narrative with nuanced and developed characters .
7Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000 – Present)
No laugh track; focused on improvisation
The improvisational style ofCurb Your Enthusiasmbrought a sense of urgency and spontaneousness that had rarely been seen in clowning show before it . star Larry David as a fictionalized version of himself , the show blurred the telephone line between fable and reality in a way that felt authentic and relatable . Byremoving the laugh cut that had been antecedently a staple of sitcoms , Curb Your Enthusiasmallowed the sense of humour to arise course from situations , and it inspired a slip towards more cringe - get , awkward social encounters , and overall uncomfortable situations in comedic television receiver .
6Six Feet Under (2001 – 2005)
Explored death head-on
Focusing on a family - run funeral place , Six Feet Underaddressed doubt about death , grief , and mortality in a room not previously see before . By begin each sequence with death , and centering on the Fisher menage , who deal with these catastrophe day by day , the series was able-bodied to weave into characters ' lives with exploration around the inevitability of dying . Today , the show is best remember for its final episode , which digest as one of thegreatest finales in video chronicle . The opinion - provoking and multilayered nature of the show influenced subsequent series dealing with kin dynamics , likeTransparent , Rectify , andThis Is Us .
5The Wire (2002 – 2008)
Raised the bar for social commentary and realism
David Simon ’s unbelievable portrayal of law-breaking and law enforcement in Baltimorebrought a layer of realism and social commentary never antecedently image on video . The Wiredelivered a complex portrait of a metropolis ’s political landscape painting that admit drugs , Department of Education , police , politics , and poverty . The characters ofThe Wirewere deeply layered and morally equivocal . The show , much like literal life sentence , showcased that the world of crime was much more complex than simply good versus bad , and even though the series fight with ratings when it first aired , it redefine TV ’s potential difference for intricate storytelling and societal critique .
4The Comeback (2005 & 2014)
Predicted the rise of celebrity-driven reality TV
Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King ’s criminally underrated seriesThe Comebackis an incredible example of meta - television that augur the rise of fame - driven reality TVin its portrayal of faded sitcom star Valerie Cherish . A faux documentary address agism and sexism in Hollywood and was at times sentimental and vulnerable . The self - cognisant nature of the show and comment on celebrity cultivation can be seen on the Netflix animated sitcomBoJack Horseman , which similarly get by with a fading hotshot attempt to reclaim his former nimbus .
3Game of Thrones (2011 – 2019)
Cinematic quality on the smaller screen
The ambitious scale of measurement ofGame of Thronesbrought a cinematic caliber to the traditionally pocket-sized medium of television set . Based on the fancy book serial publication by George R. R. Martin , the show have an ensemble cast with interlocking stories told over several years . Bringing together themes of political power , violent war , family drama , and survival , Game of Thronesbecame a global hit and contributed to the binge - watching culture of TV consumption today . The show was controversial in its last time of year for not fully delivering on the narratives it had place up , but its bequest is undeniable , and the serial earned its place as one of the most influential ever bring forth .
2The Leftovers (2014 – 2017)
Was not afraid to utilize unconventional storytelling
A deep exploration into existential questions around loss , sorrow , faith , and living , The Leftoverswas steady down in closed book following the “ Sudden Departure ” of 2 % of the humanity ’s population . Starring Justin Theroux as police foreman Kevin Garvey , the in high spirits - concept premise of the show was more focussed on persona growing , emotion , and personal journey than on offer definitive answer to the show ’s unusual narrative . Through improper storytelling , the use of symbolism , and a sensitive portrayal of human emotions , the seriesdemonstrated thatTV series did not need to hold audience ’ bridge player , and that not every motion needed to be answered . The Leftoversinfluence can be seen in serial likeDark , The OA , andManiac .
1Succession (2018 – 2023)
Unmatched writing that was engaging and witty
