Television has clearly been one of the best mediums in modern storytelling, for it has allowed our beloved characters and their compelling narratives to unfold at a steady and deliberate pace episode after episode, season after season. Some shows, they struggle to maintain consistency and top-notch quality in the long run. But a select few have achieved the incredible fear of earning themselves a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score for every season.
It is challenging to juggle dozens of characters, complicated plot points and creative vision over the course of multiple seasons. Sometimes, there’s only so much room for innovation and driving a narrative to bold new direction. But the shows on this list have skillfully maintained freshness and emotional resonance year after year and won critical acclaim for the same.
TV shows that rise to the challenge and deliver non-stop excellence are worth praising. And in this list, we celebrate the shows that have attained the coveted honor of 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes for every single season. They’re testament to the fact that perfection can be achieved. Flawless in their execution and memorable in their storytelling, these are some of the greatest TV shows ever brought to screen.
10 Flowers (2016 – 2018)
Living in a small coastal town in South England is the Flowers family. It is led by Maurice, a depressed children's author, and his wife Deborah, a music teacher and composer, who face the many ups and downs of married life and parenthood while dealing with their rival children, Donald and Amy. From petty grievances to mental illnesses, from themes of regret to mortality, the show covers it all.
Flawed Characters that Feel Whole
A dark comedy/family drama written by Will Sharpe, Flowers stands out because of its unflinching portrayal of mental health and depression, as well as the raw and complicated relationship dynamics shared by the titular family. Olivia Colman and Julian Barratt lead the show with their outstanding performances. While heavy at times, this underrated sitcom finds its moments of humor, hope and compassion, which is high praise for any TV drama.
9 Spaced (1999 – 2001)
Spaced
- Release Date
- September 1, 1999
- Seasons
- 2
Also a British sitcom, Spaced follows twenty-somethings Tim and Daisy, who, despite only having just met, pretend to be a couple to rent a flat together in North London. Also living in their building, just in the flat downstairs, is Brian. The landlady Marsha, Tim’s best friend, Mike, and Daisy’s best friend Twist, pop in every now and then. Each episode is filled with comedic adventures around unemployment, odd jobs, and the struggles of adulthood.
Perfectly Captures Being Young and Confused
Spaced is a beloved show for many reasons. For starters, it is written, created by, and stars Simon Pegg, whose frenetic cuts and witty dialogues elevate every episode. Jessica Hynes, Nick Frost, Katy Carmichael, and Mark Heap also feel like real people stumbling their way towards independence while still acting like kids. Two seasons was probably the right length to tell this funny, surprising, confusing, and stylish show.
8 Counterpart (2017 – 2019)
Counterpart follows J.K. Simmons’ lead character, Howard Silk, a low-level bureaucrat who discovers that he works for a secret agency that protects the existence of a parallel universe. Every person in the “Alpha” world has a counterpart in the “Prime” world, and when Howard confronts his counterpart, who has been wreaking havoc through a series of unauthorized crossovers between the two worlds, he gets embroiled in a revenge plan.
The Best Spy Thriller Out There
This Starz original series is such a mesmerizing watch that you won’t be able to take your eyes off of the escalating tension and mystery until the final conspiracy spanning dimensions is revealed. Simmons is brilliant in his dual role. The world-building, overlooked carefully by Justin Marks, is the ultimate source of intrigue and insight. Even though Starz had to cancel the series after two seasons, Counterpart remains a thriller, high-quality sci-fi outing worth your time.
7 Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969 – 1974)
A highly influential British comedy group, Monty Python breathed life into the most absurd, surreal, and absolutely unpredictable sketches in their TV show, Monty Python’s Flying Circus. Consisting of 45 episodes spread across four seasons, the series was known for never holding back on convention, taboo subjects, risqué and innuendo-laden humor, with celebrity guests adding to the fun.
Back When Comedy was Simple and Silly
Delivering a stream of the most absurd sketches, sight gags, and observational humor unlike anything ever seen, Monty Python’s Flying Circus secured its place as a cult classic not only because of its format but also by getting a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score on every season. Creators Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle, Terry Jones, Michael Palin, and Terry Gilliam let their creativity run wild and delivered forever-quotable sketches like Dead Parrot and The Piranha Brothers.
6 Somebody Somewhere (2022 – Present)
Somebody Somewhere
- Release Date
- January 16, 2022
- Cast
- Bridget Everett , Jeff Hiller , Mary Catherine Garrison , Murray Hill , Mike Hagerty
- Seasons
- 2
A relatively recent addition to the 100% Rotten Tomatoes Score club is Somebody Somewhere. Premiering on Max in 2022, this two-season comedy-drama centers around Sam, a woman in her 40s who suffers from a great loss. She’s lived almost all her life in her Kansas hometown but has never felt like she belonged. However, while grappling with her grief, Sam finds community in a group of offbeat friends who help her rediscover her lost passion.
A Heartwarming Ode to Friendship
Led by a tender, soulful, and captivating performance from Bridget Everett, Somebody Somewhere charms its way into our hearts with its portrait of midwestern small-town living. The overall tone of the show is bittersweet. Watching Sam reclaim her voice, find compassion and humanity, while basking in the quirks of her hilarious friends, creates a feel-good atmosphere and makes you laugh.
5 Vida (2018 – 2020)
Each of the three seasons of Vida have a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. A Starz dramedy, it follows Mexican-American sisters Emma and Lyn Hernandez, who struggle to accept the changes in their lives when they return to their childhood home in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles after their mother’s death. Polar opposites, the sisters are about to learn a shocking truth about their pasts.
Deals with Themes of Identity
Vida is a rare and remarkable comedy drama that explores family and relationships with a fresh perspective. It tells rich stories of Mexican-American identity and complexity through sisters learning to understand one another. Adapted from a short story “Pour Vida” by Richard Villegas Jr., each six episode dives deeper into culture-specific themes, slaps stereotypes, and remains bold and funny throughout.
4 Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005 – 2008)
A universally acclaimed animated series, Avatar: The Last Airbender takes you to a world that is divided into four nations – Water, Earth, Fire and Air. Legend of a mystical Avatar destined to maintain peace and balance in all nations has gone around for long, but it isn’t until the Fire Nation wages a war that young Aang sets out on a journey to master all elements and put an end to the ruthless leader of the Fire Nation.
A Mythical World That Feels Real
Every season of Avatar: The Last Airbender is better than the last because it expands on the adventurous takes of Aang and his friends in an immersive world. There are overarching character arcs, themes of spirituality and identity, stylistic use of action, as well as a lot of feel-good humor. Nearly two decades after its release, this influential modern masterpiece spawned a live-action remake series that aired on Netflix.
3 Jane the Virgin (2014 – 2019)
A loose adaptation of the Venezuelan telenovela of the same name, Jane the Virgin follows a 23-year-old virgin named Jane Villanueva who dreams of becoming a writer, much to the disappointment of her traditional Latino family. When a gynecologist’s error causes Jane to become artificially inseminated, her life turns upside down. She also later discovers that the biological donor is her boss.
Finds Humor in Unexpected Places
A hilarious comedy-drama that aired for five seasons on The CW, Jane the Virgin is perhaps the longest TV show on the list with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes strike. The ensemble is graced by an optimistic and unforgettable performance from Gina Rodriguez, who balances family, pregnancy mishaps, office crush, and friendship with her signature wit and vibrance. Her narrative got more engagement when the show offered fans soapy love triangles, villains, drama and grand declaration.
2 Fleabag (2016 – 2019)
Fleabag
- Release Date
- July 21, 2016
- Seasons
- 2
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s one-woman show was first performed by her in 2013 at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and three years later, she brought it to the small screens. She stars as the title character, a messy, rebellious and free-spirited woman navigating life in London. Running an ineffective guinea pig-themed café, Fleabag has an awkward relationship with her family. As she embarks on outrageous misadventures, Fleabag works through her grief one deadpan observation at a time.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is a Comedic Genius
Darkly comedic and sometimes tragic, Fleabag elevated the sitcom landscape. Waller-Bridge's breathtaking performance as she breaks the fourth wall to openly confide her thoughts and pathos with the viewers is meaningful and humorous at the same time. References to feminism and grief are as empathetic as they are sharp. While the first season itself was televised magic, Fleabag garnered an immensely positive response when Andrew Scott joined the cast as The Priest in season two.
1 Feel Good (2020 – 2021)
Feel Good is Canadian comedian Mae Martin’s semi-autobiographical romantic comedy. A recovering addict, Mae is seen navigating a fresh romance with George, a repressed and closeted young woman played by Charlotte Ritchie. As their relationship blossoms, Mae attends NA meetings, manages sobriety, gets diagnosed with PTSD and learns more about who they are and what they want from life and love.
Mae Martin's Most Insightful Outing
It’s clear that Martin isn’t afraid of raw emotions. Their journey from addition to forging healthy relationships is poignant, humorous and sentimental at the same time. The chemistry between Mae and Charlotte is off the charts, sparking laughter and tears as they support each other through individual struggles. Feel Good is approved by critics as a “lowkey, insightful and real” drama that addresses mental health but is feel-good throughout.
Comments
Post a Comment