With each passing year, the production of more television shows outweighs that of new films being made and released. In some cases, television was more popular compared to films.
Some of the most famous shows from the last 25 years can be argued as being on par or even better than the most famous films. These shows include “The Sopranos” “The Wire” “Breaking Bad” “Mad Men” and “Game of Thrones”
The five shows mentioned all have three things in common: are critically well-received, have gained tons of notoriety and have all officially ended. Many people would call this era of television the “Golden Age of Television” or the “Prestigious Era of TV.”
“Now it seems all but assured that when Hollywood resumes business, the landmark era defined by shows like ‘The Sopranos,’ ‘Breaking Bad,’ ‘The Wire’ and all their celebrated heirs will be over for good,” Roy Price of The New York Times wrote on this era of television.
Price’s comment questions if modern television has shifted from this era, although many people can answer it in many ways. However, one thing is certain: audiences in the U.S. and across the globe show proof that quality television in recent years is worth their time.
HBO’s drama series “Succession” had its final season premiere almost two years ago May 28, 2023. The season was met with wide acclaim and received many awards, including Kieran Culkin winning a Golden Globe in 2024. The company also released noteworthy miniseries like “Chernobyl” and “Watchmen” both produced by HBO.
HBO also released an adaptation of “The Last of Us,” a post-apocalyptic horror series starring Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller and Bella Ramsey as Ellie, in early 2023. The show was met with praise for its captivating story and stellar performances from both Pascal and Ramsey. It is also one of the few video games to film or television adaptations that is not widely hated by many fans.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rise of streaming services has provided audiences around the world with this level of quality content.
On AppleTV+, the platform’s most popular show is “Severance” a science fiction series starring Adam Scott as the lead role. “Severance” has gained its fair share of recognition for its superb writing, filmmaking and originality.
Comedic television shows like “Ted Lasso” “Only Murders in the Building” and “The Bear” succeed with comedy and acclaim and have created distinct fanbases.
There are plenty of superhero-related shows available to watch across almost all streaming platforms. Amazon Prime Video is home to “The Boys” and “Invincible” two of the most vile and goriest superhero media available. Although both shows may go over the edge, each has a healthy audience its teams can continue making more seasons for.
Marvel Studios’ most famous quality show among fans is “Daredevil” which was accessible on Netflix before Disney bought the rights back. The company has taken more time in making both miniseries and long-running shows, with recent examples like “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”
Overall, the previous era of “prestigious television” was only a foreshadowing to audiences of the quality of television to come.
