GOAT TV Series List (Top 6 and some others) - Do you agree?

[danielMSF]

After reading a thread which nominated Suits as heading towards GOAT status (el oh el), I decided to make a list of my greatest shows of all time. See if you agree or what you'd put in instead:


1 – Sopranos


For me this is the GOAT tv series. Not a single bad episode, they managed to collect an superb cast and with them create interesting and varied characters. Is Tony Soprano also the GOAT tv character of all time? Its plot remained exciting, thought provoking and vaaried throughout. They never let it wander into the ridiculous but managed to keep viewer's attention in and interest.
RIP James Gandolfini


2 - The Wire


Some people hate series 2 and so didn’t get any further. Series 2 is slower than the others but this is a series that rewards patience. The show tries to convey how, as with cop work or building up a drug empire, not everything is quick and exciting. A massive arching narrative with awesome characters on both sides of the game.


3 - Breaking Bad


Still on-going so you never know, the last series could be a train wreck and it might no longer be worthy of this spot. For me this program contains within it the most fascinating of all character evolutions. Walter White transforms over the series. He starts as a run-down, family man of unfulfilled potential to almost maniacal monster. His motivations for this are well placed throughout the series and flesh out the metamorphosis that would otherwise be unbelievable.


4 West Wing


For me, this is the best written series of them all. They managed to turn what can be a dry subject in politics and turn it into snappy, at times funny and always accessible interchanges between the characters. It covered important issues in its time on air and Jed Bartlet is such a likeable President. I know it's seen as a left leaning show but if one can take it as entertainment this can be forgotten.

5 - The Simpsons



People will probably laugh at this but there you go. It formed a massive part of TV in my childhood and early teen years. Homer is one of the best characters ever and this series has so many great episodes listing them would be too difficult. Every character in the show is distinct, memorable and funny in their own ways.


6 - Mad Men


For me, this series started and continued so well. However, the most recent series for me was disappointing and as such it doesn’t make it into my top 3. It is still a fantastically written show, great in its recreation of a different era and has contributed to a lot of young men drinking whiskey, smoking and dressing more smartly. It has a great lead character, both the alpha male and the mentally damaged soul everyone can associate with.


Honourable mentions

Lost, ER, Band of Brothers,

Possible future GOAT

Homeland
If this continues how it has gone on so far it’s definitely going to displace Mad Men for me. Have to wait and see.

Sci-Fi mentions

These shows aren’t in my general list but are still some of my favourites

X-Files/

For me, this is the best sci-fi series of them all. Part horror, part conspiracy part fantastical science fiction the X-Files was strong throughout its time. The Mulder and Scully years were when it was at its best. Their relationship and the stories then were some of the best in TV. The writers managed to think up great monsters, aliens and related capers for them to traverse whilst always weaving a conspiracy back story to keep the show moving along.

Battelstar Galactica

This is another great show. Exciting space drama, examines humanity in the context of the whole race being battered, bruised constantly on the run against an enemy to us all. Some of the most exciting moments in any series I’ve seen.

Comedy Top 3

Friends

I’m always surprised how controversial this is but for me this is GOAT comedy show. Ross is my favourite comedy character and the show managed to get watchers really invested in the characters. So many feels in this show.

Scrubs

JD, Turk, the Janitor, Dr Cox, Bob, great guest characters, laughs, feels and thoughful. So good.

Futurama

This was such a great concept and was creatively executed. Add in great jokes and really fun characters, for me this is up there. I debated between this and the Simpsons but the Simpsons is making my overall list so this can go here.

Honourable mentions
Louie, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Seinfeld

[IRockNikes]

No game of thrones or dexter? But breaking bads on there. Terrible list. Sopranos i agree with.

[jmcdizzle44]

Lacking Game of Thrones


Also Boardwalk Empire>Mad Men

[coopbrah]

i have watched like the first 5 eps of Sopranos didn't really like it... does it get better?

[fagethyme]

1st season of prison break > all

[Aussie939291]

Seinfeld is and always will be the GOAT TV show

[iceypain]

how could you forget south park

[danielMSF]

No game of thrones or dexter? But breaking bads on there. Terrible list. Sopranos i agree with.

You can suggest a different list if you want instead of just calling mine terrible. That's the point of the thread.

Game of Thrones doesn't make the list for me beecause the pacing of the third series was far too poor. It may be due to the source material but it remains the fact it was the third series was inconsistent.

SPOILER

The whitewalkers at the end of season 2 were in their hundred walking towards the wall. Series 3, Sam comes across two in the whole series they aren't mentioned anywhere else yet at the end of series two they were an impending invasion.

[MongoloidMike]

imo GOAT in no particular order

Breaking Bad
Game of Thrones
Sopranos
The Wire

There are other honorable mentions but these four shows are head and shoulders above the rest.

[Nocturnal310]

Lacking Game of Thrones


Also Boardwalk Empire>Mad Men

nah

Mad Men delivers more and some episodes are trippy.



Season 6 finale was crazy and i felt displaced for a while.

[CheekyCnt]

prison break or fringe

[DrebinFrank]

Kaaa-meee-haaa-meee-haaaaaa

Agreed on Sopranos #1

[bigfish18q]

As far as sci fi, I have to put Stargate on that list. 10 seasons of pure gold IMO, so many feels.

[badreligion]

Pfft for Sci-Fi no Star Trek ? That paved the way . Also , no House or 24 ? Those shows gave us two of the most iconic characters of all time .

[Shadow666]

Oz
The Shield
Dexter..

[RoryFan]

1. The Wire
2. The Sopranos
3. Game of Thrones
4. Band of Brothers
5. King of the Hill
6. Only Fools and Horses

[RoryFan]

And when it comes to Sci Fi series Battle Star Gallactica is the best, Firefly is second.

[bigfish18q]

And when it comes to Sci Fi series Battle Star Gallactica is the best, Firefly is second.

Meh, if firefly made more than 1 season they could have easily been there. Damn good show, but too short even if they capped it off with a movie.

[TyreekD]

My Favorites
Charmed
Fringe
Dexter
X-Files , too bad the last two seasons of it were ****.


GOAT show- Smallville

[WantRippedAbs]

Rome and The Tudors are also great shows if you like historical fiction.

[Turbomunkey]

Brb 5/6 of the are only a few years old compared to Seinfeld + Simpsons master race who was on forever. Also no mash? Gtfo

[SkinnierThanSis]

not bad overall OP, agree with not putting in GoT yet, think futurama>simpsons though.

but lost and ER? come on brah. seinfeld gotta be in there too.

check out the shield, fuark that was good and kept me up late watching ep after ep.

dexter and prison break had cool first seasons but then just turned lol bad.

[danielMSF]

Brb 5/6 of the are only a few years old compared to Seinfeld + Simpsons master race who was on forever. Also no mash? Gtfo

I like dramas more than comedy. A good plot is the first thing I hope for in a tv series and comedy can't deliver that. I love comedy of course for the laighs but they suffer for me in term so of looking at what's truly great. They deserve their own ranking because of this.

I also think that Friends did a better job of getting you invested in the characters than Seinfeld. Of course it has a large part to do with what you watch growing up. It's impossible to separate out all nostalgia and emotion from lists like these. Seinfeld is great and got a mention, just not in my favourites.

[jureknick]

Should have Seinfeld at least top 3 OP. Californication is also a good show. Trailer Park boys was good to.

[danielMSF]

Seinfelds very popular in the US I can see. Don't think it had the same impact that Friends did in the UK.

I've watched the majority of it though thanks to the internet. Great show and paved the way for Louie which I enjoyed so much.

[BathtubVB]

You need Arrested Development for that list to even be taken seriously.

[AdamEgypt]

i have watched like the first 5 eps of Sopranos didn't really like it... does it get better?

YES!! stick with it seriously.

Same with the Wire, starts kinda slow but you need to stick with it

[jj00ee]

the wire = #2........ ????????????????????????

[AdamEgypt]

Oz
The Shield
Dexter..

3 B-level shows right there, guess u never watched sopranos, wire, or breakin bad?

[AdamEgypt]

the wire = #2........ ????????????????????????

lolz, prolly the best show...but I can see how sopranos tops it....along with the drama characters are funny as ****