TV has changed over the years, escalating in views and having actors and actresses salivating for roles on the smaller screen. Dramatic TV shows have flourished, and networks have blessed us with amazing characters and stories. These are my personal favorites that I was addicted to the most when they came out. (And sorry Doctor Who fans, just simply not interested in getting into it)

Firstly, these are honorable mentions of mine:

The Sopranos- (1999)

Dexter- (2006)

Game Of Thrones- (2001)

The Wire- (2002)

The Walking Dead- (2010)

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5. House M.D. (2004-2012) Fox

House M.D. just wasn’t an ordinary medical show, it turned the genre upside down and made one of the most mind-bending shows in recent history. It birthed one of greatest characters on TV (or anywhere for that matter) Gregory House, the modern day Sherlock Holmes, solving medical mysteries only he can solve. Every week, it left viewers wanting to know more about the complexed mind of House and the ironic mystery of who he was. Each episode was a different mystery that needed to be solved, so a lot of people started to get bored with it. I, however, continually wanted to know more about the characters’ stories, which was perfectly intertwined behind each case House and his team needed to solve. Another major aspect of the show was House’s relationship with Wilson (his Watson), and how he was the only one who could be friends with Gregory House. The show lasted eight great seasons, and Hugh Laurie gave us a character so complexed, that only he could give us. Absolutely amazing show and highly recommend it.

Favorite Quote: “It’s a basic truth of the human condition that everybody lies. The only variable is about what.” — Gregory House

Favorite Episode: Season 4, Episodes 15 and 16: House’s Head/Wilson’s Heart

Favorite Supporting Character: Dr. James Wilson played by Robert Sean Leonard

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4. Lost (2004-2010) ABC

What made LOST so special was the fact it was so different from anything that has been done on TV. It seemed like it was an ordinary plane crash on a deserted island, with several survivors. But what happened after was story-telling to pure perfection. There was the mysterious “black smoke” swarming around the island, the cryptic hatch, the hidden symbols, the buried past, and most importantly, the twists and turns in every corner. The flashbacks were brilliant, leaving us in suspense every episode to learn about the characters. A good amount of people felt that LOST became a bit too crazy and weird towards the end, which I can understand. To me, there were some times where I wished they’d go back to the earlier seasons, but in all honesty it still was an amazing show. J.J. Abrams created a show so diverse from normal television, that it is going to me a show that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was a huge part of my life, and I fell in love with the characters, and became obsessed with finding out what the ending would ultimately be. If you haven’t watched it, or refuse to conform with the rest of us, do your self a favor and just conform, because it was a huge phenomenon for the ages.

Favorite Quote: “You know, Jack. You know that you’re here for a reason. You know it. And if you leave this place, that knowledge is gonna eat you alive from the inside out… until you decide to come back.” — John Locke

Favorite Episode: Season 1 Episode 7: The Moth

Favorite Supporting Character: John Locke played by Terry O’Quinn

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3. Breaking Bad (2008- ) AMC

This show isn’t over yet and with only five and a half seasons under its belt, it makes my list. That should tell you how good this show is. Vince Gilligan made a show that had us rooting for the bad guy, simultaneously rooting also for the good guys. Never has that been done in a show and it’s absolutely jaw-dropping to see it unfold. Bryan Cranston (numerous Emmy winner for this show) plays Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer and begins cooking crystal meth with one of his ex-students in order to leave behind enough money for his family before he passes. We begin to see the transformation of a decent man, turning into one of the most ruthless, disturbing characters of all-time. There were episodes where I could not believe what I was watching, completely losing myself into this show. Breaking Bad is simply put, a masterpiece; dissecting slowing into the characters it possesses and beautifully capturing the darkness that can consume a human-being. This show is an absolute powerhouse.

Favorite Quote: “You clearly don’t know who you’re talking to, so let me clue you in. I am not in danger, Skyler. I am the danger. A guy opens his door and gets shot, and you think that of me? No! I am the one who knocks!” — Walter White

Favorite Episode: (so far) Season 3 Episode 13: Full Measure

Favorite Supporting Character: Hank Schrader played by Dean Norris

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2. Sons Of Anarchy (2008- ) FX

Like Breaking Bad, Sons of Anarchy is still going going on, which should show you how good this series is. I’ll start with the theme song, which is possibly my favorite theme song in any show ever. The show drew me in from the start. It’s about a motorcycle club who have the deal with the demons amongst the group, but also the demons hidden deep within themselves. The central character is Jax Teller, who has to deal with not knowing his father, former president of the club. He needs to decide which path to take; the path laid before him by his father, or the path by the current president and his volatile stepdad, Clay Morrow. Kurt Sutter created such a dark, complexed story that it has me constantly thinking about how the series will end, who is going to die, and whether or not Jax will transform into something so dark that it will shatter the club entirely. Sons of Anarchy has had a huge effect on me, and will always go down as one of my favorite shows of all-time.

Favorite Quote: “Finding things that make you happy shouldn’t be so hard. I know you’ll face pain, suffering, hard choices, but you can’t let the weight of it choke the joy out of your life. No matter what, you have to find the things that love you.” — Jax Teller

Favorite Episode: Season 3 Episode 13: NS

Favorite Supporting Character: Harry ‘Opie’ Winston played by Ryan Hurst

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1. The Shield (2002-2008) FX

Ground-breaking, fearless, edgy, raw; these are only a few words that I describe Shawn Ryan’s The Shield as. This was the first show I saw where I was immediately disturbed watching, covering every controversial issue in the mean streets of LA. Michael Chiklis plays Detective Vic Mackey, a morally corrupt cop who gets too deep into his actions. He is the ultimate anti-hero, where you find yourself wanting to get away safely one moment, and wanting to throw up for his actions the next. What stood out the most for me for this show, and I it’s number one on my list, is how real and dangerous it was, and nothing like it really came out at the time. It was such an emotion-filled roller-coaster ride, filled with twists and turns that only FX could give. The greatest achievement of this show was the finale. It was no fairy-tale ending, but it was a real ending, and now that’s what everyone wants in their stories nowadays. The Shield is my favorite drama of all-time, and I don’t think any show can top it in my lifetime, but I’m still young so we’ll see.

Favorite Quote: “The edge is where we live, all of us, all the time. People trying to convince themselves otherwise is just an exercise in self-deception.” — Vic Mackey

Favorite Episode: Season 5 Episode 11: Postpartum

Favorite Supporting Character: Detective Curtis Lemansky “Lem” played by Kenny Johnson