The golden age of television continues to deliver a wealth of exceptional programming, and a new list of the best shows of the 21st century highlights just how much there is to enjoy. From gripping dramas to side-splitting comedies, these are the series that have defined an era and are all available to stream now.
Among the standout dramas is the BBC's time-travelling cop show Life on Mars, which introduced one of the great British TV characters in the swaggering Gene Hunt. Hugo Blick's sprawling crime thriller The Shadow Line also earns its place, plunging viewers into a world of corruption as Chiwetel Ejiofor and Christopher Eccleston investigate the same murder from opposite sides of the law. Damon Lindelof's daring Leftovers and the elegant Elmore Leonard adaptation Justified are also cited as masterpieces of the form.
Comedy is well represented, with Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon convincing the BBC to let them dine in Europe's finest restaurants while doing Michael Caine impressions, resulting in one of the funniest shows of the decade. Julia Louis-Dreyfus serves as a perfect foil to real-world political chaos in Veep, while Mike Judge's Silicon Valley mercilessly sends up the tech industry. The beloved Anglo-Welsh sitcom Gavin & Stacey, which propelled James Corden to global stardom, is also included, with a special reunion set for this Christmas.
Reality and genre television also shine. Gogglebox brilliantly executes the simple concept of watching others watch TV, introducing a host of hilarious families. RuPaul's Drag Race has been serving realness and throwing shade since 2009, while Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer reimagined a B-movie as a feminist pop culture icon. The celebrity ballroom competition Strictly Come Dancing has quickstepped its way into viewers' hearts since 2004.
With such a diverse array of quality programming, there has never been a better time to explore the very best of 21st-century television. Whether you are in the mood for a tense thriller, a witty comedy, or a guilty pleasure, these top shows offer something for everyone to stream now.
