The1990sbrought us so many things to remember. Boy bands who lit up middle school dances, the explosion of hip-hop, blockbuster movies likeJurassic Park, the “show about nothing,”breakthrough CGI, and appetizers like sugary cereal that you could much on while consuming007films or playing Mario Kart 64 late at night.
But beyond all the surface-level memories, the decade fostered changes in the TV industry in a way that are still sung praises of today. Iconic sitcoms likeFriendsandSeinfeldruled the weekdays and made the single-camera format even more enjoyable and left pop-culture fingerprints all over our subconscious.
Still, it wouldn’t be fair to overlook some importantdramasthat empowered us, challenged the norms, altered the course of history, and managed to hold up till date. It doesn’t matter that technology and tastes have marched on ahead; certain ‘90s TV dramas stay in power because of their richness and exploration of diversity and struggle.
So for those who want more from television than torevisit your favorite sitcoms, our choice of ‘90s programs that are timely enough to be trailblazers even today are the perfect way to start. After all, a solid story always manages to endure.
10Absolutely Fabulous (1992 – 2012)
Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone are lifelong best friends. They’re also co-workers in the field of fashion marketing in London, with one being a PR mogul and the other a magazine fashion director. But that’s not all. Edina and Patsy are also heavy drinkers, chasing boys while trying to be “hip” and young, and avoiding any parental duties or responsibilities of adulthood. Every scheme and hungover day at their PR girl is somehow pulled off entirely by constantly having their martini glasses refilled.
Why It Still Holds Up
Absolutely Fabulousoverflows with the spirit of having fun unapologetically. Both the leads are seen bouncing between fashion shows and Soho pubs, and it all feelsas familiar and hilarious and harrowingas it did when the show debuted. Accompanying Edina and Patsy are Edina’s daughter, Saffron, and her sarcastic mother. Moreover, the show is written by Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, whose sharp writing has several welcome jabs at misogyny and ageism.
Available to stream on Hulu
9My So-Called Life (1994 – 1995)
My So-Called Life
My So-Called Lifecenters around fifteen-year-old Angela Chase and her struggles to understand life, teenagehood, and identity. It doesn’t help that her relationship with friends and boys is blossoming to no end and the family dysfunction is at its peak. What a time to be a sophomore! As Angela experiments with befriending an outcast and develops feelings for bad boy Jordan Catalano, the show tackles themes of sexuality, school violence, rebellion, and more.
Decades change, but one thing remains constant –teenage angst. Though canceled before it could evolve into something grand, the show continues to endure because of its protagonist. Angela feels as relevant now as she did in the 90s. Her emotional intelligence, personal goals, awkwardness, and innocence reflects on every person’s teenage phase. Creator Winnie Holzman tried to normalize issues that too many of us, as grown-ups, face alone even today. Plus, the fashion, the cool clothes, the soundtrack (which is basically considered classic now), is all coming back.
8The X Files (1993 – 2018)
The X-Files
Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny star as FBI special agents Dana Scully and Fox Mulder inThe X-Files. As partners, the two work on unusual crimes that were once left unsolved and deal with the paranormal phenomena by getting to the bottom of things. While Mulder believes in extraterrestrials, monsters, and other enigmas, Scully is more skeptical and only believes in what’s explainable through science.
How The X-Files Changed Television
It’s been nearly 30 years since The X-Files was released, a show which clearly influenced modern culture, television, and even politics.
At 11 seasons and a blockbuster film,The X-Filesremains deeply relevant in today’s age and time because it questions science, faith, and credibility. After all, we live in a post-truth era where flashy exteriors and conspiracies make more sense than the paranormal. But a massive audience still enjoys getting immersed in sci-fi mysteries and thanks to Chris Carter’s brilliant writing, the show manages to merge intricate plots andstandalone “monster-of-the-week” storiesquite effortlessly.
7Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990 – 2000)
Beverly Hills 90210
Beverly Hills, 90210ran for 10 seasons and spanned the entire decade, capturing the very aesthetic of its time with beauty and grace. The show follows the Walsh family, new to the posh and happening Beverly Hills, with the kids Brandon and Brenda enrolling to West Beverly Hills High. The two make friends, juggle family drama, deal with teenage hardships, and the temptations of wealth, status.
Though zip codes away from many of its audiences’ realities, the show manages to capture desire and insecurities and the dynamics of teenagehood with empathy and authenticity. Whether it’s the peers or the troubled company Brandon and Brenda keep, it does not diminish the fact that they’re only trying to pursue joy in a complex world. Plus, Jason Priestley and Shannen Doherty had a chemistry that defined the romances and heartbreaks of the era.
Available to stream on Prime Video
6Law & Order (1990 – 2010; 2022)
Law & Order
The beginning of the long-running franchise Law & Order is a crime-drama series created by Dick Wolf and launched on NBC in 1990. The series follows the day-to-day lives of detectives and legal professionals in New York who are involved in apprehending and prosecuting dangerous criminals.
A guilty pleasure show we still find ourselves tuning into on a Friday night with a bowl of mint chocolate chip,Law & Order(and the spin-offs, of course) revolves around the elegant and dignified units of Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and the New York Police Department as they investigate and prosecute crimes, check evidences, carry out interrogations, and deal with juries. The cases range from routine busts like drug charges to twisted homicides, but the verdict is always shocking as ever.
When it comes to procedural dramas, no other show can even dream to beat the longevity and endurance ofLaw & Order. Itssleek storytelling and compelling representationof social issues feels ripped from today’s headlines. While the show is more story-driven and less character-driven, we cannot deny the fact that the characters are written in a way that they seem ahead of time. The power ofLaw & Orderlies in the well-crafted, nuanced stories that advocate justice more than anything else.
Available to stream on DIRECTV
5ER (1994 – 2009)
Set against the backdrop of the bustling emergency room of County General Hospital in Chicago,ERgives us a glimpse into the ground zero of every medical crisis ever. The show features a dedicated staff of experienced doctors and new interns as they strive to save lives on a daily basis and even juggle personal dilemmas.
Long before medical dramas likeGrey’s AnatomyorScrubsbecame standardized,ERpioneered the genre through its deft pacing and soulful character journeys. The episodes mirrored the life-saving pressure that fueled every member of the hospital staff and it is through their intense devotion that we managed to understand the profession and the stakes. Beyond cliffganders and creative oversight,ERwas the gold standard for comfort television.
4The Sopranos (1999 – 2007)
The Sopranos
The Sopranosis a classic in every right. Chronicling the life of New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano, the TV drama influenced storytelling in a phenomenal way. Tony was a crime lord but he was also a family man trying to put his folks in one basket, and the only thing helping him cope with the panic attack that caused was the frequent sessions with his psychiatrist. The interwoven narratives showcased American dysfunction and the extent to which a huge organization such as Tony’s could blur a person’s morality.
Certain TV dramas became staples in their respective genres. WithThe Sopranos, television found a story that would reign supreme as the most groundbreaking crime drama. The reason? Its vivid cinematography, layers of dialogue, and flawed characters whose ruthless crimes would send a shiver down your spine. Yet, the mostcomplex and sympathetic figure in the show was Tony. He emerged as a relatable character through his struggle and pursuit of meaning in a great, big world.
Available to stream on Max
3Freaks and Geeks (1999 – 2000)
Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Geeksholds a special place in the hearts of both the 90s kids and the 00s. The show is set in 1980 Michigan and it follows the Weir siblings – Sam and Lindsay – as they navigate high school formats within their own eccentric social circles involving mathletes, nerds, burnouts, and others dancing to the beat of their own garage drum set. Across one year of school, the characters’ stories captured moments that led to self-discovery.
Here’s Why You Should Stream the Iconic 90s Show Freaks and Geeks
Even though it only ran for one season in 1999, Freaks and Geeks has become and remained a cult classic, and is restored and uncut on Hulu.
Just to put it out there once again, the cancellation ofFreaks and Geekswas unjust. Directed by Paul Feig and co-written by Judd Apatow with several others, the show taught us to find sincerity at every age. Looking back, it is outstanding how much humor, thoughtfulness, and poignance it held for a time when we were simply trying to get through an awkward day after the other. The show’s subtle comments on themes of feminism, parenthood, sexuality, self-discovery, bullying, and teenage angst continues to charm even the younger generation.
2Twin Peaks (1990 – 1991)
Twin Peaks
Another TV drama that still holds up isTwin Peaks. Set in the titular town in Washington, the show follows FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper who arrives to investigate the brutal murder of a teenager named Laura Palmer. Across two seasons and a feature film that serves as a prequel, creators Mark Frost and David Lynch weave an effective cult-like Souther murder mystery that not only is shocking but also threads with the supernatural.
Twin Peaksshattered traditional tropes of network television as soon as it premiered. Major credit goes to Lynch’s unique and dreamlike direction, which makes you relate to the uncanny. Underneath all the layers of symbolism, subtle character details, and haunting background score is a story of sheer mystery that secures the show’s status as an ageless and enchanting one.
Available to stream on Paramount+
1Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy Summers is the chosen one. Gifted with supernatural strength and bestowed with the responsibility to battledemons, vampires, and other forces of darkness, she is the new Slayer of her generation. Sarah Michelle Gellar may seem like a normal teenager dealing with high school drama by day, but as the night rolls in, she’s found averting apocalypse like situations.
We all know how very addictive the vampire genre is.Buffy The Vampire Slayerpaved the way for countless shows that came afterwards by combining horror and humor to tackle themes that are rarely addressed. But beyond that, it is the characters that truly resonate with audiences even today. Take Willow’s journey as a shy girl to becoming a powerful lesbian icon, and Buffy’s one-woman quest to self-empowerment, all these representations are still tokened as relevant. And that is whyBuffy The Vampire Slayermaintains its vitality and status.
