Rotten Tomatoes recently compiled their critics' picks for the best television shows of the past 25 years. The list includes acclaimed series that have shaped television entertainment since the late 1990s. Looking at their selection, I realized I've only watched four shows from their extensive list - Chernobyl, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Succession, and The Office. This limited exposure to critically acclaimed shows made me think about how we choose what to watch and why we often miss out on supposedly great content.
The shows I did complete watching left lasting impressions. Chernobyl's historical accuracy and intense portrayal of the nuclear disaster kept me engaged throughout its limited run. Curb Your Enthusiasm's social commentary through Larry David's uncomfortable situations continues to make me laugh years after watching it. Succession's family drama in the context of media empire politics proved compelling enough to watch till the end. The Office's mockumentary style and character development made it worth the time investment. These shows share common elements - strong writing, complex characters, and stories that go beyond simple entertainment.
There were six other shows from the list that I started but never finished. This pattern of abandoning shows midway is common in today's streaming era. Sometimes it's the slow pacing that makes you lose interest, other times it's the time commitment required to finish multiple seasons. Each hour-long episode adds up, and with shows running for several seasons, it becomes a significant investment of time. The decision to continue watching or abandon a show often comes down to personal preference rather than critical acclaim. Critics might praise a show's artistic merit, but viewers need more immediate engagement to justify the time investment.
Best TV Shows of 25 Years
| No | TV Show | Have I Watched? |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Breaking Bad | Partly |
| 2 | The Sopranos | No |
| 3 | The Wire | No |
| 4 | Mad Men | No |
| 5 | Succession | Yes |
| 6 | The Leftovers | No |
| 7 | Game of Thrones | Partly |
| 8 | Twin Peaks: The Return | No |
| 9 | Lost | No |
| 10 | Six Feet Under | No |
| 11 | Fleabag | No |
| 12 | Ted Lasso | Partly |
| 13 | Better Call Saul | Partly |
| 14 | BoJack Horseman | No |
| 15 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Yes |
| 16 | Atlanta | No |
| 17 | Stranger Things | No |
| 18 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | No |
| 19 | The Office | Yes |
| 20 | The West Wing | No |
| 21 | The Americans | No |
| 22 | Parks and Recreation | Partly |
| 23 | Arrested Development | Partly |
| 24 | Watchmen | No |
| 25 | Chernobyl | Yes |
Television shows, unlike movies, require a different kind of commitment. They're not just about the time investment - they become part of your routine, sometimes for years. However, they also offer unique advantages. Watching shows with friends turns into a shared experience, creating inside jokes and common reference points. The longer format allows for deeper character development and more complex storytelling. Shows can explore themes and ideas that would be impossible to cover in a two-hour movie format. Yet, the abundance of content makes it impossible to watch everything critics recommend. We must choose carefully, balancing the time investment against potential entertainment value. Sometimes, a critically acclaimed show might not align with our tastes, and that's perfectly fine. Television viewing remains a personal choice, regardless of what critics suggest.