BBC’s 100 Greatest TV Shows of the 21st Century: “The Wire” is No. 1

[Faulkner]

They polled 206 TV experts from 43 countries. The shows had to start after 2000, which excludes shows like The Sopranos. Here’s the top 10:

1          The Wire (2002-2008)
2          Mad Men (2007-2015)
3          Breaking Bad (2008-2013)
4          Fleabag (2016-2019)
5          Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
6          I May Destroy You (2020)
7          The Leftovers (2014-2017)
8          The Americans (2013-2018)
9          The Office (UK) (2001-2003)
10        Succession (2018-)

[DaytimeFan]

I haven’t watched a single one of these shows. 

[ChitHappens]

Put:

The Wire, Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, I May Destroy You, The Americans on your list STAT.  

I've only seen the first few eppies of Succession but it was really good.

[Faulkner]

The rest of the list:

11        BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
12        Six Feet Under (2001-2005)
13        Twin Peaks: The Return (2017)
14        Atlanta (2016-)
15        Chernobyl (2019)
16        The Crown (2016-)
17        30 Rock (2006-2013)
18        Deadwood (2004-2006)
19        Lost (2004-2010)
20        The Thick of It (2005-2012)
21        Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-)
22        Black Mirror (2011-)
23        Better Call Saul (2015-2022)
24        Veep (2012-2019)
25        Sherlock (2010-2017)
26        Watchmen (2019)
27        Line of Duty (2012-2021)
28        Friday Night Lights (2006-2011)
29        Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
30        Girls (2012-2017)
31        True Detective (2014-2019)
32        Arrested Development (2003-2019)
33        The Good Wife (2009-2016)
34        The Bridge (2011-2018)
35        Fargo (2014-)
36=      Downton Abbey (2010-2015)
36=      Band of Brothers (2001)
38        The Handmaid's Tale (2017-)
39        The Office (US) (2005-2013)
40        Borgen (2010-2022)
41        Schitt's Creek (2015-2020)
42        Peep Show (2003-2015)
43        Money Heist (2017-2021)
44        Community (2009-2015)
45        The Good Fight (2017-)
46        Homeland (2011-2020)
47        Grey's Anatomy (2005-)
48        Inside No 9 (2014-)
49        The Bureau (2015-)
50        Halt and Catch Fire (2014-2017)
51        Small Axe (2020)
52        This is England 86, 88 and 90 (2010-2015)
53        Call My Agent! (2015-2020)
54        Happy Valley (2014-)
55        The Shield (2002-2008)
56        The Big Bang Theory (2007-2019)
57        The Young Pope (2016)
58        Dark (2017-2020)
59        The Underground Railroad (2021)
60        House of Cards (2013-2018)
61        Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)
62=      The Good Place (2016-2020)
62=      Pose (2018-2021)
64        Detectorists (2014-2017)
65        Orange is the New Black (2013-2019)
66        Mare of Easttown (2021)
67        RuPaul's Drag Race (2009-)
68        Stranger Things (2016-)
69        24 (2001-2010)
70        Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)
71        Enlightened (2011-2013)  
72        Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
73        Planet Earth (2006)
74        Utopia (2013-2014)
75        Babylon Berlin (2017-)
76        Rick and Morty (2013-)
77        American Crime Story (2016-)
78        The Killing (Denmark) (2007-2012)
79        Mindhunter (2017-2019)
80        House (2004-2012)
81        OJ: Made in America (2016)
82        Big Little Lies (2017-2019)
83        Insecure (2016-2021)
84=      Normal People (2020)
84=      Narcos (2015-2017)
86        How I Met Your Mother (2005-2014)
87        The Comeback (2005-2014)
88        The OA (2016-2019)
89        Dexter (2006-2013)
90        It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005-)
91        Westworld (2016-)
92        Show Me a Hero (2015)
93        Treme (2010-2013)
94        Louie (2010-2015)
95        Luther (2010-2019)
96        Catastrophe (2015-2019)
97        Hannibal (2013-2015)
98        Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019)
99        Steven Universe (2013-2020)
100      The Queen's Gambit (2020)

[I Am A Swede]

No big surprises. Maybe that "Game of Thrones" managed to end up as high as #5 after the total collapse of that show during the last few seasons.

[ChitHappens]

Happy Valley!  Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Vee]

They're right about The Wire.

I don't count Twin Peaks since it began in 1990, but those two are the top for me TV-wise with a bullet.

The Americans is an exceptional slow, slow burn and everyone should watch it too.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Vee

[Antoyne]

I’ve seen most of the top 10. Good list.

Breaking Bad is incredible, you must watch!!

[Liberty City]

Same.

[Wendy]

I cannot understand why How I Met Your Mother could be on this list with its s-h-i-tastic finale that spit on everything before it...

[Faulkner]

I’m actually surprised at how low Hannibal is ranked considering how gaga critics were over it.

[Antoyne]

I absolutely LOVED Hannibal.

[Faulkner]

My friends loved it too. I just try to avoid grisly, gory series.

[Vee]

I'll never forget the pretentious THR critic who insisted Twin Peaks Season 3 would be irrelevant because we have Legion on FX. That aged well!

[Bright Eyes]

Has BBC or anyone ever done the 100 greatest British shows? I'd be interested in seeing that list.