Where have all the good tv shows gone?

Yes I did just ask that, at the risk of sounding like my parents talking about music. But, seriously. Whether it’s down to the changing tastes of the next generation or the rise of Netflix and other on-demand platforms, tv shows and films just don’t quite hit the same anymore.

Of course this post is going to be bias, but if you are a mid-90s baby like me and enjoyed some teen drama through your high school years then I’m sure we’ll be able to agree on some of these. So, without further ado… lets take a nostalgic look at the best tv shows of my time (or, like, 2000-2020)!

A special mention

A special mention has to go to The Vampire Diaries for being my ride or die. My two besties and I were obsessed, to the point we went to conventions to meet the cast, and have sleepovers watching episodes as they aired in the US (so at 2am for us). We did this for Pretty Little Liars as well. What an era.

The plot? The characters? The ships?! Perfection.

Joining TVD and PLL in the top 3 in my view, is Supernatural. Can you believe that the show started in 2005 and only just ended in 2020?! And what a following it had, one of the biggest of all time for a show I’d argue.

The full list of the best tv shows 2000-2020 (in my humble opinion)

• The Vampire Diaries
• Pretty Little Liars
• Supernatural
• Gossip Girl
• Merlin
• Sherlock
• Doctor Who
• The Big Bang Theory
• Orange Is The New Black
• Game Of Thrones
• Glee
• Parks and Recreation
• Schitt’s Creek

These are all such captivating programs that hold a special place in my heart to this day.

Only some of them have appeared on other lists of best tv shows oft his time, such as this one from Rolling Stone, or this Bazaar one. But that’s exactly the reason I made a list of my own… tastes in shows are personal. Sure, there are some good all-rounders but I found that teen dramas were mainly my jam, and I know plenty of you out there feel the same.

Why are they the best?

These shows were gripping because they made you feel. They made you want to be a part of the world they were portraying. They made you frustrated and heartbroken, happy and excited. They got your heart pumping. These shows were twisted but wholesome in all the right ways.

And once you watched a season, you were hooked.

I mean, PLL kept us guessing for years about who A was with insane twists. Was it going to be Delena or Stelena as endgame in TVD? Would Sam and Dean and Cas live happily ever after? What new monsters will the Doctor take down, and what new face will the character wear? How the heck do these two goofballs named Merlin and Arthur have my heart after a few episodes? Why would you kill off all the main characters, and why is it so addicting to watch?

To be honest, it may have been my age that was the main reason I was so invested in these tv shows. But I really do believe there was something special there that is hard to find these days.

The ones I’ve just listed are only a handful of popular shows between 2000 and 2020, there were many more that I can still appreciate without having watched e.g. The Good Place, Gilmore Girls, Grey’s Anatomy, Brooklyn-Nine-Nine, Breaking Bad, Teen Wolf, Buffy the Vampire Slayer (possibly the first tv show I became aware of as a fantasy teen drama with a huge fanbase). Or ones I have watched but didn’t think they quite made my list of the best: Jane the Virgin, How I Met Your Mother, Bates Motel.

Today’s scene

In 2022, what do we have to watch? Riverdale is a sorry excuse that should have been cancelled 3 season ago (apologies if you love it). Its sister show, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was a little better yet that’s ended. Outer Banks is only okay and I have no real attachment towards it’s plot or the characters.

On the other hand, Black Mirror had amazing shock value when it first aired, and like many, I couldn’t wait to see more of it. However, in order to keep that shock value and engaged audience, you need to learn when it no longer has the same effect on people. I’d say American Horror Story has the same issue. Sometimes it’s best to quit while you’re ahead.

Fair play to Sex Education and Bridgerton for being the strongest contenders for me at the moment, and actually being engaging with intriguing characters you want to continue following. And lets not forget Stranger Things (hurry up July 1st)! Yeah, Stranger Things has the same feel as the old ones that I love so much. Apart from this handful of shows though, the options look pretty bleak.

In fact, it seems like production companies know this as well, since they are still running off our tv shows to keep people happy… Young Sheldon is actually a not-so-bad one that is a prequel to Big Bang. Legacies is one I see on my twitter timeline quite often, a spin-off from The Originals and TVD. They are also currently running an extension show for Gossip Girl. And Glee might be next! But none of these will ever live up to the OGs unfortunately.

What a sad time for a fangirl. But I guess that’s growing up.

Do you agree with me here, were these some of the best tv shows of 2000-2020? What do you enjoy watching at the moment?

Until Next Time,

M