American TV serials can be quite outstanding. If you haven’t watched too many, you should! Here are twelve of the very best drama series:
1. Sopranos
A six-season drama that deals with the personal and professional travails of New Jersey mobster, Tony Soprano (played brilliantly by James Gandolfini).
2. Breaking Bad
Informed that he has terminal cancer, a mild-mannered chemistry school teacher turns to producing high quality methamphetamine to provide for his family. Amazing black comedy starring the outstanding Bryan Cranston.
3. Dexter
If you can ever like a serial killer, it’s Dexter Morgan (effectively played by Michael C. Hall). A Miami Metro Police blood spatter pattern analyst, Dexter is a serial killer in his other avatar.
4. Six Feet Under
The series looks at the lives of the Fisher family that runs a funeral home. Darkly comical, the series stars Peter Krause and Michael C. Hall.
5. Justified
The continuing story of Raylan Givens, a US federal lawman, and his brand of justice in his hometown in Kentucky. Timothy Olyphant is just great as Givens.
6. The Wire
Just loved by the critics and its fans (it is the highest rated drama series on IMDb), The Wire takes a very realistic look at crime in Baltimore, Maryland. A bit on the slower side.
7. Deadwood
The only Western in the list, Deadwood looks at the development of Deadwood, South Dakota from a camp into a town in the 1870s. Most of the key characters are based on real, historical people including Timothy Olyphant as Seth Bullock and the amazing Ian McShane as Al Swearengen.
8. Game of Thrones
A medieval fantasy series, Game of Thrones is adapted from A Song of Ice and Fire, a series of novels by George R. R. Martin. Not to everyone’s taste but highly effective.
9. Mad Men
Set in the 1960s in New York, the series looks at the world of advertising in that era. The key person in the drama series is Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the brilliant but mysterious creative head of an ad agency.
10. Boardwalk Empire
Inspired by the life and times of Enoch L. Johnson, Boardwalk Empire focuses on Enoch ‘Nucky’ Thompson (Steve Buscemi), a political figure who rose to power to control Atlantic City during the prohibition era of the 1920s and 1930s.
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