Televisionin the2010ssaw a shift in both how and where viewers would find their favorite show. Network offerings still came with a stamp of quality, but streaming newbies likeNetflixwere making moves away from licensed properties and into original programming, compelling everyone around them to up their game in innovation and quality.
A decade of groundbreaking television in the 2000s, likeThe Sopranos,supported long-term storytelling, leading to future creators becoming bolder with their ideas and enticing fans to tune in for every second. From fantasy epics to adventures in other dimensions, these are the most impactful shows of the 2010s that defined the decade and influenced the next.
10’The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ (2010-)
Created by Scott Dunlop, Alex Baskin, & Kathleen French
The Real Housewives franchise had given viewers a taste of Orange County andNew York City, but it wasn’t until the sixth iteration that audiences could peek in on the lives of the Beverly Hill elite onThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.While all the series boast larger-than-life personalities,The Real Housewives of Beverly Hillshad Hollywood nearby to inject a dose of star power into their adventures.Over the years,the cast has seen actresseslikeDenise RichardsandGarcelle Beauvaisvolunteer to have their lives filmed for the enjoyment of Bravo viewers.
The popularity ofThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hillscarries on in the successful spin-off Vanderpump Rules, which was the site of the impossible-to-avoid “Scandoval” cheating scandal. The Housewives franchise is one of the most lucrative in all of television, with over ten different entries as part of the reality show Juggernaut, so forThe Real Housewives of Beverly Hillsto bea common fan favoritespeaks volumes about the audience’s connection to the cast.
The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills
9’Black Mirror’ (2011-)
Created by Charlie Brooker
The technology-focused sci-fi seriesBlack Mirrorshowed there was still room for new ideas in the anthology format. From episodes that predicted Artificial Intelligence could raise the dead for cold comfort or how the ability to rewind any moment in your day could lead to emotional devastation,Black Mirrorcynically examined the impact technology has made on humankind.The series originated on the BBC with three episodes per season before coming to Netflix with U.S.-based stories.
Not many shows can instill the feeling of dread asBlack Mirrordoes, even on repeated viewings of certain entries. The first two collections and the accompanying Christmas special from the UK are nearly flawless with a few exceptions, while the Netflix episodes are spottier when it comes to the wow factor of the originals. That said,The Penguinfans who need moreCristin Miliotishould check outthe episode “USS Callister”to see Milioti face off against a sufficiently creepyJesse Plemons.
Black Mirror
8’The Big Bang Theory’ (2007-2019)
Created by Chuck Lorre & Bill Prady
A group of Caltech geniuses may have the answer to the most complicated equations, but they still can’t crack the mystery of talking to women in the CBS comedyThe Big Bang Theory.Physicists Sheldon Cooper (Jim Parsons) and Leonard Hofstadter (Johnny Galecki) are academically brilliant, but they rely on the street-smart wisdom of struggling actress and next-door neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco) to learn things not taught in school.
The Big Bang Theoryis one of the longest-running live-action sitcomswith an impressive 12-season run that would have continued if not for Parsons’ choice to hang up his comic book-themed shirts.The Big Bang Theorywould play a large hand in popularizing “Geek culture”and featured guest stars like Theoretical Physicist Stephen Hawking and Apple founder Steve Wozniak. The legacy ofThe Big Bang Theorycontinues on with the excellent and recently ended spinoffYoung Sheldonand the newly premieredGeorgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.
The Big Bang Theory
7’Modern Family’ (2009-2020)
Created by Steven Levitan & Christopher Lloyd
Three households share a bloodline and not much else on the ABC hit sitcomModern Family.The documentary-style comedy balances focus between a piece of the Pritchett family tree with camera crews following the household of Jay Pritchett (Ed O’Neill), as well as his adult children Claire (Julie Bowen) and Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson). By comparing Jay’s blended family, Claire’s nuclear family, and Mitchell’s same-sex family, the importance of love and unity was present throughout all.
Besides the social commentary at play,Modern Family was a technical marvel to service a staggering number of characters in overlapping plotlines, but the cast each played their parts so well that a little went a long way.Modern Family’s impressive ensemble castdevours perfectly written scriptswith standout performances fromTy Burrellas lovably goofy dad Phil Dunphy andEric Stonestreetas the delightfully dramatic Cameron.Modern Familydefined the family sitcom for the decade, running for 11 seasons and nabbing numerous awards during that time.
Modern Family
6’Rick & Morty’ (2013-)
Created by Dan Harmon and Justin Roiland
A super-genius alcoholic and his reluctant grandson are an unlikely pair of adventurers in the adult animated cult hitRick & Morty.The series consists of mostly standalone adventures of the week featuring all manners of intergalactic threats with a healthy dose of meta-commentary to sufficiently pack each episode. Known for its intricately plotted stories,Rick & Mortycombines nihilistic humor with sci-fi actionto create an original and offbeat comedy.
While there had been tried and true success with family-based animated series such asThe Simpsons,Rick & Mortywas able to expand a niche category like science fiction comedy into a cultural phenomenonthanks to the talent behind the scenes. Co-creatorDan Harmonwas already loved by fans for his imaginative NBC sitcomCommunity, but with animation allowing his mind to explore any idea,Rick & Mortybecame his most well-known piece of work.Rick & Mortyhas a rabid fanbase that keeps the viewership high enough to warrant beingrenewed for up to 12 seasons.
Rick and Morty
Created by Frank Darabont
Horror seriesThe Walking Deadbecame appointment viewing when it premiered in 2010 on AMC. The series initially followed Sheriff’s Deputy Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) as he awakens from a coma in a rural Georgia overrun by zombies. Confused and desperate to reunite with his family, Rick sets out to find more survivors in the dangerous world of the undead.The Walking Deadwould be an unexpected super-hit for the cable network, going on to last 11 seasons and being the basis for multiple spin-offs.
Basedon the Image comic bookof the same name byRobert KirkmanandTony Moore,The Walking Deadposed the idea of a long-form zombie story that continued long after when the credits would typically roll in a movie. Successful horror shows are rare, and even the popular ones didn’t reach the level of fan frenzy asThe Walking Dead,keeping viewers hooked with the idea thatany character, no matter how popular, was not safe from the many threats they faced.
The Walking Dead
4’Stranger Things’ (2016-2025)
Created by Matt Duffer & Ross Duffer
A missing boy and the journey to retrieve him from a dark world is at the center of the nostalgia-driven first season ofStranger Things.After young boy Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) is abducted in the middle of the night, his loyal friends and frantic mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder), search for him. At the same time, the appearance of a mysterious girl named Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) may be the key to saving them all.
IfHouse of Cardsbrought prestige television to streamers,Stranger Thingsbrought the big-budget spectacle of a 1980s-eraSteven Spielbergmovie to living rooms across America.Between the synth score on the intro and the attention to detail on the 80s-era costumes, the tone ofStranger Thingsis set without a character saying a single word, leaving the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, feeling like a town both familiar and dangerous. With each season striving to outdo the last, fans have high expectations for the fifth and final season.
Stranger Things
Created by Vince Gilligan
A terminal diagnosis kicks off a descent into the criminal underworld in the modern noir masterpiece,Breaking Bad. When high school science teacher Walter White (Bryan Cranston) is told he has six weeks to live, he begins to make and sell meth to leave money for his family. Aided by an ex-student, Jessie (Aaron Paul),Walt gets a crash course in the dangerous and unpredictable business of drug dealing.
While shows likeThe Sopranosgave viewers a character already a fully formed villain,Breaking Badallowed audiences to follow the journey of a man who morally loses his way. Although the series started in the 2000s, strong word of mouth and increasingly tense storytelling captivated the country asBreaking Badreached its inevitable conclusion.Breaking Badis at the top of many critics’ lists for best series of all time, and it’s responsible for the equally incredible spinoffBetter Call Sauland Netflix filmEl Camino.Many series had developed longer story arcs for patient viewers by this point, butBreaking Badused every minute of its runtime to lay down perfectly plotted steps into the story of a well-meaning drug kingpin.
Breaking Bad
2’House of Cards’ (2013-2018)
Created by Beau Willimon
Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) is a politician prepared to take power at all costs in the Netflix thrillerHouse of Cards. Based on the 1989 novelHouse of Cardsby Michael Dobbs, there had been a previously developed UK series of the same name that debuted on the BBC in 1990. The Netflix series would follow the basic plotline of both but swap out Parliament for Congress in the U.S. conversion. After criminal allegations caused Spacey to exit,Robin Wright Pennclosed outHouse of Cards’ narrative as Frank’s wife, Claire, who continued the work of her now-deceased husband.
Netflix had released “originals” on their service that were licensed shows from other countries, butHouse of Cardswas the first original to be produced by Netflix for their exclusive use.By having the series fronted by a bonafide Oscar-winning movie star like Spacey, Netflix was making a statement about its place in the future of entertainment, and audiences listened. Without the success of House of Cards, there could very well have not been aStranger Things,orOrange is the New Black.
House of Cards
1’Game of Thrones’ (2011-2019)
Created by David Benioff & D.B. Weiss
Fantasy made a comeback in a big way whenGame of Thronesshowed the casual viewer what a mature storyline can look like in the genre. Discovered secrets and betrayal lead to a prolonged and bloody war for the right to sit on the Iron Throne, slowly sucking in all surrounding noble families until almost no one survives the claim to power.
For anyone not familiar with the series of books by George R. R. Martin,Ned Stark’s (Sean Bean) fate was one of the most shocking plot twists viewers had seen before it was outdone by The Red Wedding.InGame of Thrones, the good guys didn’t always win, and the bad guys didn’t always get the brutal death they deserved, but that’s what made it impossible not to watch. While the ending collapsed under fan expectation and poor execution,Game of Throneswill be remembered as peak television that defined a decade.
