There are so many TV shows that start perfectly but fail to stick the landing.

The most obvious example, especially recently, is Game of Thrones. I still sit here and wonder what could have been.

Thankfully, these shows proved that you can achieve perfection from start to finish.

Band of Brothers

Yes, I know Band of Brothers is a mini-series, but there have been so many times these things start out so well, but fall flat on their face.

From beginning to end, Band of Brothers does an excellent job of not just showing the horrors of war, but the emotional impact it brings to people.

Chernobyl

A more recent HBO mini-series, Chernobyl is the rare example of a show getting better with every episode.

It manages to find a perfect balance with historical accuracy from the Chernobyl disaster alongside masterful storytelling.

Mindhunter

Our time with Mindhunter was cut short, but what a glorious time it was.

Too many thrillers today are too impatient, forgoing slow builds and development for short-term benefit. Mindhunter knew better, and it resulted in engaging, intelligent dialogue and conversation.

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Breaking Bad

Speaking of slow builds and witty dialogue, is there any better example than Vince Gilligan’s two perfect shows, Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul?

I remember when I told someone I was finally watching Breaking Bad for the first time. They told me they wished they could experience watching it for the first time again. After finishing the series in a week, I totally get it.

Better Call Saul

Like many of you, I never in a million years thought a spin-off centered around Saul Goodman would be some of the most tense, thrilling, and dramatic television I’d ever see.

If you thought Breaking Bad was a slow-burning, Better Call Saul puts that to the test. Every payoff is well worth it. Long live Kim Wexler.

Malcolm in The Middle

I remember a day when people were flabbergasted that the dad from Malcolm in the Middle was starring in Breaking Bad.

It’s a testament to Bryan Cranstoun’s range, but the real star here is how fresh and clever Malcolm in the Middle is as a television sitcom. It took a while to find its audience, but that’s not due to a lack of trying; the show is incredible from start to finish.

Barry

For four seasons, Bill Hader’s HBO black comedy drama continually reinvented itself, constantly staying fresh throughout its four-season run.

It began as a lighthearted take on a former assassin turned inspiring actor, but the tension and drama eventually took hold, delivering some of the most shocking and suspenseful episodes of television in HBO’s history.

Freaks and Geeks

We didn’t deserve Judd Apatow’s incredible 1999 NBC series Freaks and Geeks.

Not only does it perfectly capture the nostalgia of growing up in the 1980s, but it does it with the right balance of humor and drama that comes with being a teenager.

The IT Crowd

While The Big Bang Theory delivered mainstream success, one of its biggest issues is that it’s often making fun of nerd culture.

The IT Crowd instead embraces it, making it not just one of the smartest comedies on British television, but one of the best, too.

Bojack Horseman

Don’t let the fact that Bojack Horseman is an animated series starring, well, a horse, deter you from checking it out.

People argue that the first season isn’t up to par with the rest of the series, but that’s not the case. Instead, it’s spending its time introducing you to the world and its characters, resulting in satisfying storyline payoffs down the road.

30 Rock

From start to finish, 30 Rock is one of the sharpest, most clever, and funniest NBC sitcoms of all time.

There is no bad episode, no drop off in quality, nor any building period for the show to find its groove.

Dark

The best part about Dark is how well it trusts its audience. There’s no need for unnecessary expositional dialogue, no need to constantly remind viewers of what’s happening, just a complete trust and understanding of what’s going on.

Imagine that, when a show trusts its audience, it’s able to keep delivering great episodes.

Mad Men

Mad Men was nominated for a total of 297 awards during its run, taking home 79 wins.

Most notably, it was nominated for 116 Primetime Emmys, taking home gold 16 times, including Outstanding Drama Series four times, tying the record for most wins.

The Wire

HBO’s television pedigree speaks for itself. We already talked about a couple of series on this list, and that’s even before discussing The Sopranos.

Yet through all of the acclaimed shows, The Wire stands alone.

Friday Night Lights

I’ll never understand why Friday Night Lights never broke out in the mainstream. Perhaps it was the “good, not great” reception from the 2004 film of the same name.

However, the television series, which aired on NBC from 2006 through 2011, is a much better adaptation of H.G. Bissinger’s novel. The television format gives us more time to spend with these characters.

Modern Family

The documentary style of sitcom television became popularized by The Office, but I’d argue no show did it better than Modern Family.

There’s a certain amount of comfort within the show, playing on old, classic television tropes, but also delivering modern, clever, and hilarious writing.