10. Dexter
Dexter getting on this list was a debate with part of me wanting to put it sky hugh up there whilst another part of me thought the series towards the end rapidly declined and therefore didn't deserve to get on this list. A debate that was also asked of another show that deserves an honourable mention that I'll include at the end. Dexter though has an absolutely brilliant first couple of seasons and remains very good for a few seasons after. Unfortunately the end doesn't do it justice. However it does seem a show that has a feesable comeback which could see the issue with the ending sorted. This said, the show in number one gets the ending right for an antihero to a tee, whereas this show got it horribly wronng. This may be more disappointing because of how close the shows endinggs were too eachother.
9. How Not Live Your Life
A BBC Comedy. There always had to be a BBC comedy in this list and the show How Not To Live Your Life was one of the BBC's best, even if really it was underappreciated on BBC Three. The show was about Dom, a bit of a loser in all honesty who recieved a house in a will. On moving to the house he tried to make things happen, such as getting with his crush. However there always seemed to be obstacles in the way, such as Mrs Treacher and his house servant (who it's been so long I've forgotten his name. The show would show different senarios of what Dom could do for certain things at different points in the episodes. The series itself was perhaps at a fairly good point for the BBC with comedy with Two Pints being one of the flagship comedy and BBC Three giving new comedians and writers a chance. This show and many others around that time really did show the contribution the BBC have had over the years on giving a platform for new and unheard of talent. It's a real shame that the Government are trying to screw that up.
8. Orange Is The New Black
A Netflix Original, Orange Is The New Black really dragged people into Netflix, especially those who hadn't discovered some of the American content the streaming provider had. The show was initially notable for starring Jason Biggs in the first two series, who famously masturbated with a pie in the comedy American Pie, as Piper's boyfriend. Having to deal with coping with her as she goes to prison, where her ex girlfriend also is located. The show follows the women's prison and explores the characters back stories as well as events that happen in the prison. A show that also has the ability to binge watch when it comes out from first to last episode and this really goes for the show as the first two series especially are incredibly "more-ish".
7. Hannibal
Hannibal, a show for a niche audience and touted as one of the shows to watch by Digital Spy at a time when everyone was wondering what to watch with the end of Breaking Bad! This said, I myself didn't watch Hannibal until last summer and still have to watch the final couple of episodes. The series is a bit of a thriller. With the overall story of Hannibal mixed up in the first two seasons with some stories of individual crimes. The show can be fairly horrific at times with the incident involving the Pig Farmer sticking out, something that if you've watched the old Hannibal films too you'd know about too even if there are small differences in that storyline itself. Unfortunately the series ended before its time was up and whether we get a real conclusion remains to be seen. But one thing for sure is that the series included some of the most enthralling engrossing television of it's time.
6. Sherlock
Whatever you say about the BBC. The one thing it has been and the one thing it will be known for for many years too come is the incredible drama it has produced. And this is right up there with the top of these. Sherlock is a modern take on the classic Sherlock Holmes series. And oh does it do it properly. The series are short, just the three 90 minute episodes in a series and last New Years, the one periodic special. The show really is an example of quality of quantity and is something we need more of from the BBC. That is, if Rupert Murdoch and his cronies (maybe they should get Sherlock to take him down)stop trying to cut the funding and remove the protected sports from the BBC Charter and killing competition by buying Government after Government. Shows like this should be protected and the ability to make new shows with this sort of quality should also be protected. The series should also take responsibility for really enhancing the careers of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman who have both thrived since, but still come back every now and again to carry on making this masterpiece.
5. Prison Break
It took thinking long and hard when it came to where Prison Break should feature. The first two seasons, like many other shows were sublime, however it could be argued from possibly half way through series three the show dropped off a little bit. The Panama Prison however was very interesting and the decline of Bellick through the series, from the top Prison Officer to the bottom prisoner was brilliant in the extreme. The show could decline from this list if the new series coming back is poor. With the end of the Final Break it's hard to really see this show working again unless it's a prequel. From where I stand the show is best left where it is now. It would be a shame for this show to be ruined. Whereas the X Files has always been open to that sort of return, this seems like FOX trying to get their hands on peoples money in any way possible.
4. The Inbetweeners
The British schoolboy comedy, The Inbetweeners was a piece of art on Channel Four. The show followed Will McKenzie who had moved from his private school to a state school where new friends Neil, Simon and Jay attended. Together in Six Form they would get up to and fail at numerous activities based pretty much on all four trying to get laid with vastly different morales too. The show is like Britains answer to American Pie and gave two fantastically funny films after the series finished. It was one of those shows that built and built in terms of fanbase over it's course and really did end up with nearly everybody of the 14-24 age group watching it and having to talk about it. Quite something for a show that wasn't on a terrestrial channel!
3. 24
When you think of anti terrorism controls you think of one man inparticular. Jack Bauer. The star character of 24. 24 intitially ran a strong 8 seasons and if you can get through the fact that the first few seasons have aged badly in terms of picture you can immerse yourself in a world where one man is capable of stopping countless terrorist attacks, including infilterations of the Counter Terrorist Unit he has led, worked for and been kicked out of depending which series you watch. Jack Bauer does have elements of the anti hero in him when he goes too far. The show came back for a shortened series in London and once more it didn't disappoint. The show could be arguably left open but at the same time has a good close. Will it return, who knows, but if this is where it ends, the show did well.
2. The Walking Dead & Fear The Walking Dead
I'm including both shows here as they tell different sides of the same epidemic. Fear The Walking Dead almost has more of the side of shock at what is happening and the intial panic whereas The Walking Dead is more aabout the will and grit of the last few to arrive. Different characters but in the same universe both explore different sort of moments. The Walking Dead has hit a point where characters are generally much more dehumanised than Fear The Walking Dead. If you can take a bit of gore, this show is incredible however and never really stops moving. Both shows are still going and hugely worth the watch, especially as we see comic book character Neagan enter the fray on the flagship show!
1. Breaking Bad
The daddy of antihero shows. Breaking Bad features on Walter White, a chemistry teacher, as he finds out he has what is believed to be terminal lung cancer. From here, to leave his family with some money he starts creating Crystal Meth. The story from here esculates to an epic conclusion at the end with many moments of drama inbetween. It's amazing to think a show with this incredible quality was almost cancelle dat one point before the cult of the show became apparent on video streaming service Netflix. This show is a must watch, as is
Shows That Almost Made The Cut
Bates Motel - In all honesty, given how I'll watch this show when it's on. However there were so many shows that could have just got on or been left off that Bates Motel just missed out. Mainly because I felt a need to include at least a little bit of British TV. A fantastic show in itself, it could easily make the top three if the ending of the show is correct to the films and the book. The show has another two seasons to go after being renewed by American broadcaster A&E giving it time to build up to what promises to be a momentous conclusion.
Lost - This show missed out for one reason and one reason alone. When it came to watching it as it was broadcast on a week by week basis, the show went from amazing in series one to awful by series three. However, going back to it and watching it with the help of Netflix helped matters regarding how the later series seemed. And it actually felt there was less to complain about at the end by binging it as it felt perhaps having the show given in a rush made it seem more "right". That said, there were still a lot of unanswered questions. But is that really a bad thing about TV shows?
The X Files - Mainly not in my ten because the original show was before my time. And because what I've seen is great but there are reservations towards the end of the original series and every other spinoff that came of the show. It's coming back though and this could see it rise in my estimations (although it is on Channel 5....a major turn off)
