There are series that you should simply have seen – because they are damn good! TECHBOOK presents the top 10 best series of all time.
It’s always a thing with rankings, of course. Basically, lists can only be a snapshot, because we don’t know which wonderful series are still to come. This is also the case with this list, which is based on the current user ratings in the renowned Internet Movie Database (IMDB). That’s why we’re presenting the ten best series of all time at this point. And if your favorite series isn’t there, don’t be upset. Here we go!
10th place – “1883”
The “1883” series only started in the USA at Paramount+ at the end of 2021 and immediately made it into the list of the best series of all time. The American western series is about the adventures of the Dutton family. “1883” is thus based on the equally successful series “Yellowstone”. However, “1883” tells the stories of the Dutton ancestors. It is not yet clear when the western story will be streamed or broadcast on TV in this country. But she may come to Germany right at the start of Paramount+.
9th place – “Rick and Morty”
The animated series “Rick And Morty” regularly appears in the list of the greatest series of all time. The series, which started in 2013, revolves around the eccentric scientist and alcoholic Rick Sanchez. At first he moves in with his daughter Beth Smith’s family. Rick spends a lot of time with his grandson Morty. Accordingly, the adventures of Rick and Morty form the basis of the series. The two characters regularly experience dangerous and unusual adventures throughout the cosmos and in various parallel worlds. In Germany you can watch “Rick And Morty” on Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, Microsoft, Netflix, Sky Go or WOW.
8th place – “The Sopranos”
If a series has been filmed for more than 15 years and is still in the list of the best series, then it is a real cult series. That’s certainly true of The Sopranos. The US production ran from 1999 to 2007. It tells the story of the Soprano mafia family for six seasons and 86 episodes. At the center of the criminal activity is the head of the family, Tony Soprano, played by James Gandolfini. The interesting thing: The mafia boss is in close contact with his psychiatrist in order to process his criminal life and get it under control.
This bizarre background story inspires fans and critics to this day. The series received 21 Emmys, the most important television award in the USA, and five Golden Globes. “The Sopranos” is currently available on many streaming services in Germany.
7th place – “Arcane”
“Arcane”, which was released in 2021, has also entered the list of the best series of all time quite freshly. The animated series is set in the League Of Legends universe. The story is about the divided city-state of Piltover. This consists of a prosperous and bright part and a gloomy and completely run-down part. The two main protagonists live there, the orphans Vi and Powder, who are raised by their foster father Vander. The adventures begin when both invade the rich part of the city and go on a raid. In Germany, the first season of “Arcane” is running on Netflix.
6th place – “Game of Thrones”
Another cult production regularly makes it into the list of the best series of all time: “Game of Thrones”. The US fantasy series ran from 2011 to 2019 and consists of 73 episodes in eight seasons. The series is based on the novel series “A Song of Ice and Fire” by American author George RR Martin.
Game of Thrones tells the story of a fictional world made up of the continents of Westeros and Essos. The world is reminiscent of the European Middle Ages. And just like back then, it’s about power struggles and kingdoms that are deeply hostile to each other. The complex story is told in three parallel storylines at the beginning. Anyone who gets involved can no longer escape the unstoppable maelstrom of “Game of Thrones”. The series is currently running on various streaming services in Germany. With “House of the Dragon” fans can also look forward to a spin-off.
5th place – “Avatar – Lord of the Elements”
The animated series “Avatar – Lord of the Elements” also belongs in the cult category and has therefore been in the list of the best series for a long time. Production ran between 2005 and 2008. By the way, the series has nothing to do with James Cameron’s blockbuster of the same name. The story is told of four nations living peacefully together, each representing one of the four elements. There live so-called tamers who control one of the elements. One day the Fire Nation declares war on the others. Only an Avatar, sole lord of all four elements, could have prevented this. However, he has disappeared without a trace.
100 years later, waterbender Katara and her brother Sokka find their new avatar at the South Pole – 12-year-old airbender Aang. As a result, he and his two flying friends, Bison Appa and Lemur Momo, try to stop the Fire Lord Ozai and end the war. Some of the animated series runs on free TV in Germany, for example on Nick or Nicktoons. The series can also be viewed on the major streaming services.
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4th place – “The Wire”
The American series “The Wire” is set in the drug milieu of Baltimore and regularly appears in the list of the best series. The focus is on drug detective Jimmy McNulty. He not only has to deal with dealers and drug lords, but also with a lot of resistance in his own ranks.
The drug scene is portrayed in “The Wire” with ruthless realism. Due to the many dialogues, the series does not fall into the mainstream area, but still convinced many fans and critics. Some even speak of a masterpiece. The series ran from 2002 to 2008. The story spans five seasons with a total of 60 episodes. “The Wire” can currently be seen on various streaming services in Germany.
Plart 3 – “Band Of Brothers: We Were Like Brothers”
The series “Band Of Brothers: We Were Like Brothers” also falls into the cult ranks. It is therefore regularly in the list of the best series of all time. The US production is set in World War II and was conceived by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks; Quality criteria enough. The focus is on the members of a US paratrooper regiment. In the ten episodes, the acts of war are described from the point of view of individual soldiers.
“Band Of Brothers” is not for the faint of heart, because the series shows the horrors of war in relentless openness. As a viewer you feel for the protagonists because the stories are based on historical events. The mini-series premiered in 2001 and has since won several awards. “Band Of Brothers” can currently be found on most streaming channels in Germany.
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2nd place – “Chernobyl”
The accident in the Ukrainian nuclear reactor Chernobyl forms the basis for the mini-series “Chernobyl”. The series first aired on HBO in 2019, making it one of the disciples on the list. The focus is on the nuclear scientist Valeri Legasso and the Russian government representative Boris Shcherbina.
What makes “Chernobyl” so depressing is the real background and the consequences for the countless helpers and the partly unsuspecting population. The series does not reflect well on the actions of the Soviet government at the time. So, understandably, Vladimir Putin is one of the biggest critics of Chernobyl. If you want to watch the series in Germany, you can find it on most streaming providers.
1st place – “Breaking Bad”
The front-runner in our list of the greatest series of all time was like a bolt of lightning when it premiered. Of course we’re talking about “Breaking Bad”. The series about the staid chemistry teacher Walter White and his ex-pupil Jesse Pinkman, who together produce crystal meth on a large scale and stir up the drug scene, set standards when it started in 2008.
At the time, “Breaking Bad” broke with the usual viewing habits, in which actors had to be fundamentally bad or good. Here, good and evil mix regularly, which always presents viewers with challenges. Of course, “Breaking Bad” is one of the all-time favorites among series fans and is therefore rightly number 1. If someone hasn’t seen “Breaking Bad” yet, they can catch up with the major streaming providers in this country.