Welcome to the future. A world with large-budget fantasy epics, alien gems who fight for the good of the universe and a dystopian future where the Prime Minister has sex with a pig. In the last 10 years incredible strides have been made in what we consider television. We have been transported to Winterfell and the Upside Down. Never before has Television been this important and as good as it is now. So here is my list of the 25 best TV shows of the last decade. 25) The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019) - Taking the last spot on this list is the only show from 2019. The Dark Crystal is a fantastic leap into the future of television where a high-budget concept can see the light of day on a streaming service near you. 24) Parks and Recreation (2009) - No show has given more to meme culture than Parks and Recreation. In fact, this show allowed a flub in the rules because it actually premiered in the last decade instead of this one. However, everyone knows the show didn't hit its stride until the second season. Don't forget, Chris Pratt was birthed by this show. 23) Andi Mack (2017) - The next show on this list is groundbreaking for the medium it premiered on. Andi Mack was the first show on Disney Channel to feature a gay character, to have a character openly say "I'm gay," and a family like none-other ever seen on the channel. Andi Mack is funny, heart-warming and exactly what the kids of today need to see on TV. 22) Big Mouth (2017) - Next is the complete opposite. Big Mouth is a raunchy cartoon about growing up. It's smart, funny and dirty in all the best ways. 21) Veep (2012) - In 2012 we were in the middle of an election year. No one assumed the possibility of a female president that year but what about a female VP? Veep delivered. 20) Black Mirror (2011) - In today's TV culture, it's all about looking to the future. Black Mirror does just that in every episode of terrifying, enlightening horror/sci-fi epicness. While the serious has had its ups and downs, the format has been revolutionary. 19) Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015) - Let's be clear, Rachel Bloom is a delight and will go far in her career. This is most obvious in her role as Rebecca on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. The show is unique, fun, and important in the way it handles mental health. 18) The Good Place (2016) - I'm not forking kidding when I say The Good Place is one of the smartest comedies this decade. It's a wonderful addition to the NBC comedy lineup. 17) Bojack Horseman (2014) - When BoJack Horseman first aired I thought, "There's no way this will be good," but alas, a story about grief, addiction and growing old was born and it has ventured into unknown territory with some incredible episodes. 16) Girls (2012) - Not only did this show give us Adam Driver, it gave us a strong cast led by Lena Dunham. Girls helped to champion an era of TV where people look like real life. 15) This is Us (2016) - More like "This is us crying through every episode" because this show redefined what it means to be a drama. 14) Big Little Lies (2017) - Sure, there have been big celebrities on television before, but none as big as Laura Dern, Reese Whiterspoon and Nicole Kidman, am I right? Now every movie star wants to move to TV. 13) Modern Family (2009) - This is another show that broke the rule and premeried just months before 2010, but considering it has been going ever since, I think it's safe to say that Modern Family has defined what a family looks like this decade. It was one of the first shows to feature a gay couple as main roles. 12) Adventure Time (2010) - What started off as a lovely kids show turned into an epic tale with important themes and messages that every kid (and adult) should see. 11) American Horror Story (2011) - In 2011 there wasn't a show like AHS that dared to be a horror anthology series without objection. 10) The Walking Dead (2010) - Never has a show risen, died and rerose again like this one. 9) The Handmaid's Tale (2017) - This dystopian series is incredibly timely and important. The popularity of the series has no-doubt lead to the resurrection of the novel and the newly released sequel. 8) One Day at A Time (2017) - This reboot of a popular American sitcom breathed new life into the genre with a fresh Columbian cast and perfectly times laughs. 7) Stranger Things (2016) - A modern blockbuster on TV if there ever was one. There may not have been a bigger show than this one, but it may not have been the most important show. Nonetheless, it was one of the most beloved. 6) Gotham (2014) - Bruce Wayne's world of Gotham ushered in the superhero drama on Television. Now with Disney+ on the horizon and DC Universe in full swing, the superhero phenomenon has leaped off of the big screen and into our homes for the foreseeable future. 5) Grace and Frankie (2015) - For most actresses over 40, there is no work to be found. However, Netflix changed the game when they brought actresses Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin to star in a comedy like none other. 4) Steven Universe (2013) - I have never seen an animated show more interested in teaching love and tolerance than this one. The songs are phenomenal, the story is great and the characters are family. I can't recommend it enough. 3) Rupaul's Drag Race (2009) - In 2012 Rupaul's Drag Race hit enormous strides and is now entering its twelfth season and fifth all-stars season. This is the first mainstream LGBTQ competition show that gives drag queens a place to shine and it has been so incredible to see the love and support for this show as it has grown in popular culture. 2) Game of Thrones (2011) - Winter has been coming and coming and coming for so long now and this year the show finally came to an epic conclusion. Game of Thrones is a cultural phenomenon unlike any other. There has never been a more successful show. 1) Orange is the New Black (2013) - Ushering in a new age of television on Netflix, Orange is the New Black is the most important show to come out of the last ten years of television. Featuring a cast of strong, phenomenal actors in a women's prison, the show centers around the United State's broken prison system. The series tackled racism, mental illness, immigration, gang wars and more. There has never been a more consistent, incredible show that has a powerful cast and important message to share.
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Erick L. Graham Wood
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