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Media & Culture

TV Shows

These are my favorite TV shows—the ones I've binged, rewatched, and recommended to everyone.

All-Time Favorites

Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey #1 2014

My all-time favorite TV show. Neil deGrasse Tyson conveys the wonder of the universe like no one else. See my Cosmos wiki page for more.

True Detective (Season 1) Favorite 2014

Season 1 is a masterpiece. McConaughey's Rust Cohle is one of the greatest TV characters ever written. The performances, atmosphere, and philosophical dialogue—nothing else comes close.

Hannibal Favorite 2013-2015

I love this series. Mads Mikkelsen's Hannibal Lecter is hypnotic. Visually stunning—every frame is a painting. The cat-and-mouse dynamic between Will Graham and Hannibal is TV perfection.

Mr. Robot 2015-2019

Elliot Alderson is one of the most compelling protagonists in TV. The hacking is realistic, the cinematography is incredible, and the twists are mind-bending. Season 3 is some of the best TV ever made.

Chernobyl 2019

Harrowing and essential viewing. The way it depicts the disaster, the cover-up, and the heroism of the first responders is unforgettable. The dread is palpable.

Dramas

Game of Thrones 2011-2019

Seasons 1-4 are some of the best television ever. The world-building, the political intrigue, the shocking deaths. We don't talk about the ending.

House of the Dragon 2022-present

The GoT prequel done right. The Targaryen civil war is brutal and compelling. Matt Smith as Daemon is iconic.

Peaky Blinders 2013-2022

So good. Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby is magnetic. The Shelby crime family in post-WWI Birmingham, with incredible style, music, and tension. "By order of the Peaky Blinders."

Sons of Anarchy 2008-2014

Motorcycle club Shakespeare. Jax Teller's journey from heir apparent to club president is a Greek tragedy on Harleys.

Dexter 2006-2013

A serial killer who only kills other killers. The first 4 seasons are excellent—especially Season 4 with John Lithgow's Trinity Killer.

The Vampire Diaries 2009-2017

Guilty pleasure that's actually well-made. The Salvatore brothers, Elena, and Mystic Falls. It knows what it is and does it well.

Gossip Girl 2007-2012

Upper East Side drama at its finest. Blair and Chuck's relationship, the scheming, the fashion. XOXO.

Sci-Fi & Horror

Stranger Things 2016-present

1980s nostalgia meets supernatural horror. The Upside Down, Eleven's powers, the Hawkins crew. Season 1 is perfect, Season 4 is epic.

Black Mirror 2011-present

Technology's dark side explored through standalone episodes. Some will haunt you for days. "White Bear," "San Junipero," and "USS Callister" are standouts.

Love, Death & Robots 2019-present

Stunning animated shorts covering sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and comedy. Each episode is a different animation style. "Beyond the Aquila Rift" and "Jibaro" are incredible.

The Boys 2019-present

What if superheroes were actually terrible people? A brutal, hilarious takedown of superhero culture and corporate America. Homelander is genuinely terrifying.

The Haunting of Hill House 2018

Mike Flanagan's masterpiece. A family haunted by their time in Hill House—both in the past and present. Episode 6's single-take is legendary. Genuinely scary but also deeply emotional.

Comedy

The Office (US) 2005-2013

The comfort show. Michael Scott, Jim and Pam, Dwight. I've rewatched it more times than I can count. "That's what she said."

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia 2005-present

Of course. The Gang is the worst group of people on television and I love them. 18+ seasons of terrible people doing terrible things. "The Nightman Cometh" is a masterpiece.

Ted Lasso 2020-2023

Wholesome without being cheesy. An American football coach leads an English soccer team. Jason Sudeikis brings so much heart. "Be curious, not judgmental."

Rick and Morty 2013-present

A classic. Nihilistic genius grandfather and his anxious grandson travel through infinite dimensions. Somehow both the smartest and dumbest show on TV.

Scrubs 2001-2010

The perfect balance of comedy and heart. JD, Turk, Dr. Cox. The fantasy sequences, the bromance, the genuine emotional moments. "Where do you think we are?"

The Eric Andre Show 2012-present

Chaotic absurdist comedy at its finest. Eric Andre destroys his set, makes guests uncomfortable, and creates genuinely unhinged television. Not for everyone, but absolutely hilarious.

Documentaries

Planet Earth 2006

David Attenborough's voice over stunning nature footage. Changed what was possible in nature documentaries. Planet Earth II is equally incredible.

Our Planet 2019

Netflix's answer to Planet Earth, also narrated by Attenborough. The cinematography is jaw-dropping. The walrus scene is devastating.

Cosmos: Possible Worlds 2020

The third installment. Continues exploring humanity's place in the universe and our possible futures.

Food

Good Eats 1999-present

Alton Brown is the Bill Nye of cooking. He doesn't just show you how to cook—he explains the science behind why things work. Entertaining, educational, and actually useful.