Hollywood Reporter Critics Pick the 8 Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

Sex and the City

This groundbreaking HBO dramedy defined the early 2000s and inspired a generation of millennials with its portrayal of four complex women navigating love, careers, and life in Manhattan.

Avatar: The Last Airbender (Nickelodeon, 2005-2008)

This animated series follows a 12-year-old chosen-one figure and his teenage allies on their quest to bring peace to the four factions in an Asian-influenced fantasy land.

South Side (Comedy Central and Max, 2019-2022)

This criminally under-discussed gem showcases a Chicago microculture so specific that not all viewers will understand every layer and nuance.

Vida (Starz, 2018-2020)

This Starz half-hour is a scathing commentary on gentrification, a touching portrait of sisterhood, and a wide-ranging exploration of the LGBTQ community's place in Mexican American culture.

The Underground Railroad (Amazon Prime, 2021)

This miniseries is built around a fantasy: that of a literal train snaking south to north, ferrying its passengers to freedom. The show is a panoramic view of Black America under slavery.

The Crown (Netflix, 2016-present)

This British costume drama is the apotheosis of the genre, boasting casting, art design, and photography that suggests no expense has been spared in re-creating the entire second half of the 20th century.

The Leftovers (HBO, 2014-2017)

This series is a melancholy exploration of unresolved grief and the frustration of the unknowable. The show jumps forward and backward in time.

Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (CNN, 2013-2018)

This travel documentary series is a tragic summation of Anthony Bourdain's personal and ideological journey. The show traverses the globe, making friends wherever it goes.