From the vast world of television shows, we, as in those of us who get way too invested in stories about the people we see on our screens, have watched and re-watched and binged on numerous shows over the years. In trying to escape our realities and to get ourselves involved in the fantasy of these shows and the characters, television has always been a medium people are drawn to.
The Brits though, don’t necessarily like most American shows that come up. Or maybe it’s just a notion we haven’t been able to escape just yet. Whether it’s coz the US went and remade The Office or something else entirely, they have been the most difficult bunch to impress. But, some shows, over the last few decades, have made an impression, and successfully wowed the Brits.
The Show That Did The Impossible – Amazed The Brit Audience
While there have been many American shows over the years that have done extremely well with fans – on both sides of the pond – a few names are mentioned more often than others. Shows like Breaking Bad, Band of Brothers, The Wire, and so on have become more than popular. But there is one show that beat others to the punch and became the most watched (and loved) show in the United Kingdoms.
In a recent survey by Empire Magazine, they asked the British demography to list their favorite shows on television. Making a Top 100 Best Shows of All Time List, one very popular show beat all others to claim the #1 spot. And it is none other than the Emmy winning crime drama fron HBO- The Sopranos. Show creator David Chase, speaking to Empire on winning the top spot said:
I want to thank [Empire readers] for watching the show and for continuing to keep it alive. In maybe the second or third season of The Sopranos, there was a poll taken in Britain, where TV writers, critics, actors and so on were asked: “what’s the best show?” And they voted for The Sopranos.
I’d spent an entire year in college studying William Shakespeare, and I remember just thinking then: “This [response], from the land of William Shakespeare? From the land of Charles Dickens?!” The fact that the show [was resonating] in England stunned me, frankly. It blew my mind then, and it’s the same today. We had a lot of fun making the show, because of the writers, because of the cast, which is all you can hope for. The fact the show still has the longevity it has had, is something we never could have imagined, and something to be very grateful for.
Whether it’s the early 2000s or now, the James Gandolfini starrer seems to have maintained its hook on the British audience. And we cannot help but agree that there are very few names that pop up in our heads when we think of the best ever TV show, and the HBO drama is definitely one of them. The Sopranos is available for streaming on Max.
Breaking Bad and More: Let’s Delve Into The Audience’s Top 5 Picks
Other than The Sopranos, let’s check which other shows made the Top 5 in the Top 100 Best Shows of All Time List.
Predictably, Breaking Bad is not too far from the list, having secured the second spot. With Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul in the lead in this Vince Gilligan crime drama, the show, which ran for five seasons, is still a fan-favorite, even after so many years since it came to an end.
Next is the fantasy drama Game of Thrones, which was all anyone could talk about when it started airing on HBO. With an extraordinary ensemble cast and gripping storyline, this show became a television staple until it ended back in 2019.
The #4 spot went to The Wire, which ran for 5 seasons and 60 episodes. The Wire was not the most popular show when it first aired, but is now considered one of the very best ever created. Yet another crime drama on the list, this HBO production has an amazing ensemble, that brings out the reality of urban life perfectly.
And at #5 we have the recently concluded Emmy-winning show, Succession. From a talented star cast to on-point writing to brilliant, and again, Emmy-winning performances, Succession is not one that we can miss out on. Yet another offering from HBO, the series gave us a family drama unlike any other, and took us on a ride.
