I appreciate a great miniseries as much as the next person, although it’s often tough not to wish for a second season. I spent the weekend watching Harlan Coben’s latest Netflix thriller, I Will Find You, which tells a succinct, shocking, and emotional story in eight episodes. A second season isn’t necessary, and it’s the perfect length. But it’s also nice to know that you’ll be able to spend several seasons with beloved characters, which is why I appreciate shows that last for more than 10 seasons.
We’ve all watched a sci-fi series, legal drama, or sitcom and wondered what happened to the flawless storytelling of the first season or so. There are countless examples of shows with awesome first seasons, but not that many that manage to stay great the whole time. So, when picking eight series that have more than 10 seasons and are actually impressive, I thought about series that made an impact on their genres, on popular culture, or that don’t contain any poor episodes.
As an entertainment journalist for over 10 years, I’ve written thousands of lists ranking the best TV shows of various genres, from thrillers to sitcoms and dramas. As a writer and editor at MovieWeb, I often write lists recommending current streaming hits and older favorite TV shows. As someone who always keeps my finger on the pulse of popular culture and as a long-term TV fan, I’ll be honest about the TV shows you should watch and tell all your friends about, and the ones that you don’t have to check out.
Honorable Mentions
The Simpsons (1989-) – It’s one of the greatest animated series of all time. There’s no doubt about that. However, many agree that the early seasons are the best ones, and so it’s tough to say that every single season of The Simpsons is as compelling and hilarious as the show’s beginnings.
The X-Files (1993-2018) – The beloved sci-fi series has two revival seasons that aren’t universally beloved. While I like The X-Files Season 10, not everyone does, and an overwhelming majority don’t believe that every season is perfect.
‘Supernatural’ (2005-2020)
15 Seasons About Family and An Impala Named “Baby”
Watch This If: The Supernatural reunion in Season 5 of The Boys was exciting. However, if you watched Prime Video’s superhero series but not the CW drama about two brothers who solve, well, supernatural problems, now is the time. Anyone who enjoys a genuinely compelling story about siblings who try their best to move on from tragedy and help each other will enjoy it. Some might argue that Supernatural has some lackluster episodes. I think the fascinating relationship between Sam (Jensen Ackles) and Dean Winchester (Jared Padalecki) is reason enough to tune in.
Skip This If: You’re not interested in a 15-season-long TV show about demons, monsters, and other supernatural happenings. Horror and thriller fans might not find this scary enough. Okay, they definitely won’t find it scary enough. It’s more fun and campy than horrifying.
‘Modern Family’ (2009-2020)
11 Seasons Of Laughs and Sibling Rivalry
Watch This If: Tired of sitcoms that get stale after a few seasons? Modern Family doesn’t have that problem. While some shows can’t juggle a huge cast of characters, this is a rare show that actually gives fairly equal screen time to its various family members. From Jay’s (Ed O’Neill) struggles to accept the aging process to Lily’s coming-of-age plotlines (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons), Modern Family keeps you captivated for 11 seasons. I like that some episodes are silly yet profound, like Season 1, Episode 2, “The Bicycle Thief,” when Phil (Ty Burrell) wants his son Luke (Nolan Gould) to act more maturely, and the result is a chaotic mess.
Skip This If: You’ve seen a few random episodes and didn’t love the humor or felt the family dynamic a bit too overbearing. The characters also sometimes don’t experience a lot of growth, which is par for the course with sitcoms sometimes but can still be a bit tough to watch.
‘Criminal Minds’ (2005-)
19 Seasons (and #20 Is On Its Way)
Watch This If: You want a police procedural where every season is good. The series follows those who work in criminal profiling for the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and it’s fascinating to watch. Not only that, but the revival, Criminal Minds: Evolution, which begins in Season 16, features a new compelling character: the serial killer Elias Voit (Zach Gilford). As someone who watched the sports drama Friday Night Lights, I appreciated seeing Gilford play a different type of character from his usual roles.
Skip This If: You don’t like police procedurals and don’t want to watch a series that features harrowing crimes in every episode. Those who don’t watch horror TV shows or movies might not enjoy watching the revival, either, thanks to the previously mentioned disturbing serial killer character.
‘Dallas’ (1978-1991)
14 Seasons of Drama and Betrayal
Watch This If: If you want to see the famous scene about “Who shot J.R.,” which took the pop culture world by storm, and genuinely enjoy a soapy drama, Dallas is one of the best. Decades before popular shows like Succession aired on HBO, Dallas featured storylines about the Ewing family, who run an oil business and are generally involved in melodrama and scandal.
Skip This If: You’re worried that a series from the 1970s and 1980s might feel too dated now. You’ve also watched a lot of family dramas in recent years and are bored with the genre. However, Dallas is still fun if you lean into the fact that everyone on the series always seems one step ahead of everyone and ready to betray someone.
‘Bob’s Burgers’ (2011-)
16 Seasons (and Counting) About a Charming Family’s Burger Restaurant
Watch This If: Are you looking for a moving story about how a family gets along with each other as they navigate school, work, and life? What about a series that also has impressive animation, fun songs, and a clever and quirky sense of humor? Wait, what about a series that also doesn’t include any weaker episodes? That’s Bob’s Burgers, which follows the Belcher family who run a small burger place, support each other, and have fun along the way. They live in an adorable small town, have hilarious interactions with each other and other residents, and their struggles are relatable.
Skip This If: If you usually watch live-action family sitcoms rather than animated ones, then maybe you haven’t wanted to check out Bob’s Burgers. But like many of the recommendations on this list, I would suggest trying it. This feel-good show has a lot of heart.
‘The Big Bang Theory’ (2007-2019)
12 Seasons About Science and Friendship
Watch This If: If you want a sitcom with smart characters and interesting dynamics, along with friendship and love stories, then The Big Bang Theory is a great pick. It’s a rare sitcom that aired for more than 10 seasons without becoming boring or frustrating.
Skip This If: If you’re not a fan of multi-cam sitcoms, The Big Bang Theory might not be one of your favorite shows. And if you’re not interested in watching a series that talks about science for 12 seasons, then maybe skip this one, too. However, I would say that the main characters are so charming, and their relationships are so moving, that even just one episode might convince anyone to settle in for a long binge-watch.
‘Law & Order’ (1990-)
25 Seasons (and Counting) of the Best Legal Drama Ever
Watch This If: Law & Order has had a huge impact on popular culture and has been one of the most beloved long-running legal dramas since it premiered. I’m sure I’m not the only one impressed by a series that has more than 25 seasons and over 500 episodes. Featuring big names like Sam Waterston, the series shows every legal procedural just how good this genre can be. Even if someone has never seen an episode, they know the name, and they recognize at least one of the stars. If you want to see a series that influenced more than a few others, this would be an interesting (and long) binge-watch.
Skip This If: There’s no doubt that many Law & Order storylines are disturbing, particularly on the spin-off series, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. If the series is too bleak and upsetting, then picking a light-hearted legal drama with more comedic elements might be a better bet, such as Ally McBeal.
‘E.R.’ (1994-2009)
15 Seasons of the Greatest Medical Drama (or Second Greatest After ‘The Pitt’)
Watch This If: If you want to watch what is often considered the most compelling medical drama that ever aired, then you won’t be disappointed by any of E.R.‘s 15 seasons. If you love the HBO Max medical drama The Pitt, which I recently wrote about as one of the most perfect 2020s TV shows (and which I have written about often), you’ll enjoy the character development and raw storylines on E.R. While it’s a bit less realistic than The Pitt, it has more plotlines about the main characters’ personal lives, which is one criticism that I sometimes have about the HBO Max show.
Skip This If: You don’t enjoy medical shows, aren’t sure about watching a show with 15 seasons, and don’t think any hospital drama can measure up to The Pitt. As someone who appreciates both series, I highly recommend E.R. thanks to its continued cultural relevance and incredible guest stars.
Is your favorite long-running TV series on the list? Would you add one? Let us know in the comments!
This story originally appeared on Movieweb
