The entertainment industry underwent considerable changes over the years until it became what we know today, something that is still very much in flux. And, although each decade has made its mark in one way or the other, we can safely say that the2010scompletely transformed television and how it relates to the audience, perhaps more so than any other era in history.
TV has changed a lot over the past 10 years, and with the rise of streaming platforms, watching our favorite shows has never been easier. It is no longer necessary to tune in on a certain day and time to watch the new episode of a show, we can enjoy it at any time and, if we feel like it, binge-watch the entire season. On top of that, the offer of shows and movies grew wider than ever, as each platform provides high-quality original content that engages viewers from all over the world.
Looking back, the 2010s delivered some of what are now considered thebest shows in history, and wrapped up so many others. It also marked the debut of young up-and-comers who have earned a place among the industry’s biggest stars over the years, such as Tom Holland and Lupita Nyong’o, as well as several others who emerged asthe biggest playersof the decade. The amount and diversity of great TV shows from the last decade is so great, that compiling any kind of list featuring the best ones is bound to exclude many acclaimed productions that made history and laid the foundations for tomorrow’s television. Still, here’s a list of the best shows of the decade, according toIMDb.
10Gravity Falls
Few children’s shows have succeeded in becoming a masterpiece that appeals toboth young audiences and adults.Gravity Fallscertainly accomplished that task, laying the groundwork for all the animated shows that came afterward. This Alex Hirsch production aired for two seasons, featuring the adventures of Dipper and his twin sister Mabel, two kids who wind up in Gravity Falls to spend the summer with their great-uncle Stan, oblivious to the fact that nothing in this small town is what it seems, and mysteries lurk around every corner.
Gravity Fallswrapped in February 2016 with its final episodeWeirdmageddon 3: Take Back The Falls, which became the most-watched broadcast in Disney XD history. Besides building a huge fan base that still enjoys the episodes to this day, this animated show earned great acclaim and many, many accolades. Among them, it received two Emmy Awards and an Annie Award.
Related:The Best TV Sitcoms of the 2000s, Ranked
9One-Punch Man
Saitama is a young man who has trained for a long time to become an invincible hero, one who can defeat any enemy with a single blow. However, unlike what you might expect, being so powerful is actually boring, and with his interest in fighting gone, Saitama spends his days saving his hometown while searching for something to give a new meaning to his life.
That’s the plot ofOne-Punch Man, the superhero Manga series inspired by One’s 2009 webcomic. In 2015, this story was made into a TV show by Madhouse for one acclaimed season, and the following one changed production company and director, garnering mixed reviews. Back in August last year, it was announced that the show would begetting a third season, but there is still very little information about it.
8Hunter x Hunter
Japanese manga has been very popular in the 2010s, and so have their TV adaptations.Hunter x Hunteris a creation of Yoshihiro Togashi that introduces Gon Freecss, a young boy who, after finding out that his estranged father is one of the most renowned Hunters in history, sets out on a mission to become one himself so that he can finally meet him, undergoing dangerous adventures and meeting other Hunters who will become part of his life.
Although this manga premiered in 1998 and had its first TV adaptation a year later, Madhouse rebooted it in 2011, airing the show for six seasons to rave reviews from the audience.
7Black Mirror
2011 marked the world premiere ofBlack Mirror, a British television series that has not only become one of the best of the 2010s, but also one of the most ground-breaking shows in history. This Charlie Brooker’s creation presents stand-alone episodes with different casts, whose only unifying feature is that their plots offer a very critical look at the evolution of technology and the power it has over the world, reaching the point of threatening our society’s integrity.
Black Mirroris among the productions that served to reinvigorate the television anthology format, and over the course ofits six seasons, it has earned great acclaim and many awards for several of its episodes. On top of this, the innovative nature of the show spurred the release of Netflix’sBlack Mirror: Bandersnatch, a 2018 interactive movie in which each viewer gets to choose the main character’s next steps, thereby creating their own unique story.
The 1996 filmFargocemented the Coen Brothers as a force to be reckoned with in the entertainment industry, featuring performances by Frances McDormand, William H. Macy and Steve Buscemi, among others. This acclaimed production went on to inspire filmmakers over the years, which is how, in 2014, it spurred the creation of the TV series of the same name, written by Noah Hawley with the Coen brothers serving as executive producers.
Fargois set in the same fictional universe as the original film, and features an anthology format where each season follows a different story with new characters that somehow connect to one another. The show’s first season premiered on FX in 2014, and featured performances by Billy Bob Thornton, Allison Tolman, Colin Hanks and Martin Freeman. Its fifth season is due later this yearstarring Jon Hamm, Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joe Keery and Lamorne Morris.
5The Mandalorian
Jon Favreau is one of the most important filmmakers of recent years, responsible for kicking off the Marvel Cinematic Universe. But in addition to that, his career includes another huge achievement that placed him at the top of yet another successful franchise: he is the creator ofThe Mandalorian, the first live-action series in theStar Warsfranchise. This Disney+ production starring Pedro Pascal is set five years after the events ofStar Wars: Return of the Jedi, featuring the journey of a Mandalorian bounty hunter and his protégé child Grogu.
The Mandalorianbecame one of the most acclaimed productions in recent years upon its premiere in 2019, and also spawned the spin-off seriesThe Book of Boba Fettand the upcoming showsAhsokaandSkeleton Crew. The show is currently developing its fourth season.
Related:10 Iconic Movies From the 2010s That Will Definitely Be Remade
4True Detective
Anthology television series became extremely popular in the 2010s. Among the most acclaimed ones isTrue Detective, an HBO production released in 2014. Just likeFargo, each season of this Nic Pizzolatto show features a new cast and follows a different group of detectives investigating a police case. The show’s first season, which wasits most acclaimed, is led by longtime friends and industry stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, joined by Michelle Monaghan, Michael Potts and Tory Kittles.
The following two seasons did not enjoy as much acclaim as the first, but were still well-received. Currently,True Detectiveis expecting a fourth season later this year that will feature performances by Jodie Foster and Kali Reis.
The 2010s gave Benedict Cumberbatch two of the most emblematic characters of his career: Dr. Stephen Strange in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Sherlock Holmes in the BBC seriesSherlock. This production by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss was inspired by the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and presented a contemporary take on them. It aired from 2010 to 2017, with four seasons of three episodes each plus a special premiering in January 2016.
Martin Freeman joined Cumberbatch in the role of Doctor John Watson, which also earned him major accolades. Both stars won Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor and Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries, and the show also won, among other accolades, a BAFTA Award for Best Drama Series.
2Rick and Morty
According to IMDb, Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon’sRick and Mortyranked as the most popular animated production of the 2010s. This acclaimed show, which became one of the most watched among adult audiences, follows Rick Sanchez, a very peculiar scientist who lives in his daughter’s house and frequently takes his teenage grandson Morty on dangerous missions through time and space.
Rick and Morty premiered in 2013, with Roiland voicing the main characters and Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer and Sarah Chalke joining him in the voice cast. The show has now been on the air for six seasons, and has at least four more expected in the future. Among all the awards it has garnered over the years, this production has won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program two times.
1Game of Thrones
Heading the list of the most successful TV productions of the 2010s is a show whose fan base is still active to this day, even though it concluded years ago:Game of Thrones. Over the course of its eight seasons, this show by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss based on George R. R. Martin’s novels follows several noble families of Westeros and Essos as they vie for control over the Seven Kingdoms and the Iron Throne.
Game of Thronesshattered several records over the years, consecrating its cast as the largest in the history of television and also becoming the most awarded drama series at the Emmy Awards, with 59 statuettes. Despite the great success that this HBO show enjoyed during its run, its eighth and final season was quite slammed by critics and audiences, and its conclusion left some people with a sour taste.
However, the show still stands as a landmark in television history, and its popularity spurred the creation of the prequel seriesHouse of the Dragon, a 2022 Golden Globe-winning production that is currently awaiting a second season.
