00:00Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the greatest shows that
00:10began their run in the good old 2020s.
00:13Limited series will not be included.
00:2210.
00:23House of the Dragon
00:29Say what you will about the age of prequels, sequels, reboots, and whatever Velma is, but
00:36this Game of Thrones franchise series seriously holds its own.
00:39With such an expansive world with deeply intricate lore, it's no surprise that there's plenty
00:44of story left to be told.
00:45Focusing solely on the Targaryen lineage, the show is able to dig its claws into themes
00:49of power and loyalty with a more familial focus.
00:56There's a ton of drama and plot twists to keep both fans and newcomers to the George
01:04RR Martin universe on the edge of their seats, and we would be remiss if we didn't highlight
01:14the obvious.
01:169.
01:17Shogun
01:18This
01:372024 drama from Hulu took the world by storm.
01:40As an adaptation of the novel of the same name, Shogun perfectly represents the political
01:44complexities of feudal Japan.
01:58The writing of this series especially shines.
02:00Each character is fully realized, with no sacrifices made to plot or historical accuracy.
02:05Of course, this is still a fictional tale, but Western audiences in particular can expect
02:09to be educated as they're entertained.
02:21So if you're a fan of historical fiction, and you haven't added this show to your watch
02:24list, we seriously suggest you do so as soon as possible.
02:288.
02:29Abbott Elementary
02:30Who said the sitcom was dead?
02:39We certainly didn't.
02:40Led by the magnificent Quinta Brunson both on screen and behind the scenes, this mockumentary
02:45is equal parts heart and hilarity.
02:57While educators can definitely expect to relate to both the frustration and hijinks that ensue
03:01at Abbott Elementary, everyone can enjoy the series' quick wit and cleverly crafted situations.
03:07Despite being a fictional comedy, you can't help but feel as if each character is taken
03:10straight from reality, plus you'll come away from each episode with a little more
03:26appreciation for the teachers that had to put up with our, uh, we mean, lovingly impacted
03:31our lives.
03:327.
03:33The Rehearsal
03:34Nathan Fielder doesn't miss.
03:46An opportunity to make us cringe.
03:48Drawing from his experiences creating Nathan for You, Fielder's sophomore series highlights
03:52how nothing in life can truly go as you expect, even if you rehearse it.
03:56And by rehearse, we mean actual lights, camera, action-level rehearsing, filled with his signature
04:01awkward interactions, and truly hilarious how-is-this-not-scripted moments, the show
04:05is one you simply have to see to believe.
04:18But beyond his comedic elements, the rehearsal poses philosophical questions about human
04:22nature, how we connect with one another, and interrogates the artificial nature of
04:25television.
04:38The latter is a theme that Fielder builds on in his 2023 series, The Curse, a bizarre
04:42but fascinating drama co-starring Emma Stone and Benny Safdie.
04:576.
04:59Yellowjackets
05:00There's plenty of survival dramas out there to enjoy, but this series has stood out amongst
05:04the rest.
05:17It's nearly impossible not to become engrossed in the mystery and horror that Yellowjackets
05:21delivers.
05:22Following a soccer team stranded in the woods, we watch two parallel storylines unfold, their
05:26present conditions, and its future repercussions.
05:30Yellowjackets is thrilling and thought-provoking, exploring the limits of human behavior, an
05:34unpacking the collective trauma the women experience.
05:43With such a powerful female-driven ensemble, each individual performer still excels and
05:47masterfully brings depth to their character.
05:52While audiences, hopefully, can't relate to their experiences in the wilderness, their
06:00stories still resonate with anyone with challenging histories of its own.
06:105.
06:12Arcane
06:19This is the only animated series to make this elite list, and anyone who's seen Arcane
06:23will have no questions as to why.
06:25Set in the universe of the video game League of Legends, the series is visually stunning,
06:29impact-packed, and super-emotionally compelling.
06:36While it's not the first video game-to-television adaptation, it certainly redefined expectations
06:48and raised the bar as far as what was possible in the genre.
06:57Those who aren't familiar with the franchise can enjoy learning the story of the cities
07:01of Piltover and Zaun, while loyal fans can revel in the faithful and masterful recreation
07:06of the lore.
07:074.
07:08The White Lotus
07:09A murder mystery, a satirical commentary on class and privilege, and an all-star ensemble
07:22dramedy rolled into one?
07:24This series has it all!
07:25Oh, and of course, it has Jennifer Coolidge.
07:40The White Lotus doesn't hit you over the head with its cultural critiques.
07:43It's written flawlessly by writer and creator Mike White.
07:46He utilizes the unique character dynamics and illustrious settings to underline his
07:50message about the often-overlooked costs of wealth in our society.
08:08But beyond being brilliant, the show is so quotably funny and rewatchable.
08:21Plus, being an anthology series, there's no shortage of stories to be told in the White
08:23Lotus universe, so we imagine many seasons in our future.
08:273.
08:28The Last of Us
08:36When discussing breakout series of the 2020s, it only makes sense that a pandemic-centric
08:40drama would top the charts.
08:42Another incredible television adaptation of a video game, The Last of Us is a heart-wrenching
08:46post-apocalyptic tale that puts its characters' relationships front and center.
09:00The two lead actors, Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey, deliver incredibly nuanced performances,
09:05conveying the grief and peril that they endure as they journey across the country together.
09:09While the first season in its entirety is sensational, the series' third episode,
09:13Long Long Time, is one of the greatest television episodes in, well, a long, long time.
09:262.
09:29Severance
09:30If we were ranking the best television opening credit sequences, Severance would be number
09:44one.
09:45This sci-fi thriller has one of the most original, fascinating concepts we've seen on television
09:49in a long time.
09:59A tech company, Lumen Industries, makes its employees undergo a procedure in which their
10:03work selves and their out-of-work selves are severed from one another.
10:07With no knowledge of each other's lives or emotions, the conspiracies at the company
10:11unfold, led by Adam Scott's character, Mark, and the stakes keep getting higher and higher
10:16until the series' explosive season one finale.
10:18No spoilers here, we wouldn't want to rob you of the experience of watching it for yourself.
10:283.
10:29Ted Lasso
10:30Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
10:37Ted Lasso.
10:38This heartwarming comedy scores with lovable characters, positive vibes, and teamwork.
10:52Reservation Dogs, a fresh, unique coming-of-age story that brings indigenous experiences to
10:56the forefront.
11:04Hacks
11:05Smart and Einbinder are an unstoppable duo in this sharp, generation-bridging comedy.
11:20Andor
11:21Star Wars fans can revel in this magnificent dive into the origins of the Rebel Alliance.
11:33Squid Game, a cultural moment of a series with gut-wrenching twists and class-conscious
11:37themes.
12:041.
12:05The Bear
12:062022's hottest Halloween costume just became a new hit show.
12:24We're kidding.
12:25No one thought that Halloween costume was hot.
12:27The Bear is an instant classic dramedy series, realistically portraying the high-stress energy
12:32of a restaurant back-of-house, interlaced with a raw, intense family dynamic.
12:37With a slew of standout performances, each scene is completely captivating, whether it
12:41has you wracked with anxiety or shedding some tears.
12:53While there are certainly some dark moments, ultimately, the series is hopeful, heartwarming,
12:58and inspirational.
12:59Even with a short tenure, The Bear has made a lasting impact on the television scene.
13:07What's the best series you've binged in the 2020s?
13:09Let us know in the comments below.
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