It’s a wonderful time to be a fan of TV shows, but this time also comes with its own set of challenges.
There’s so much great programming to consume and not nearly enough time during the day to do so. It’s easy to find our little area of the TV universe, but breaking out can be a bit of challenge solely because there is so much content in our comfort zone.
We at Boss Rush understand this plight. Between the bevy of great video games, TV shows, and movies, it can be hard to prioritize. That is why we decided to pull together and make some recommendations of what we consider must-see TV.
Before we dive into the list, it’s important to note that we limited our list to the modern era. We defined the modern era as anything that aired the majority of its episodes in 2010 or later.
Additionally, we want to emphasize that this list is uniquely Boss Rush. Each show listed is from a different writer on staff and is their own choice.
There are some many lists out there that can tell you the top-rated shows from the past 13 years. You’ll likely notice some important omissions on this list and that is by design. We wanted to provide you with a list that was unique to our staff and may reveal some hidden gems you haven’t seen yet.
Without further adieu, let’s get to Boss Rush’s recommendations.
- Andor
- Terriers
- The Bear
- The Walking Dead
- What We Do In The Shadows
- Joe Pera Talks With You
- New Girl
- The Librarians
- Twin Peaks: The Return
- The Orville
- Gravity Falls
- Schitt’s Creek
Andor — Michaela El-Ters
Andor is one of many Star Wars centric shows to grace the Disney Plus streaming platform last year. But where other entries like The Book of Boba Fett and Obi Wan Kenobi floundered from poor dialogue, lackluster writing, and nonsensical action choreography and cinematography, Andor does not. A prequel to a prequel, Andor follows the journey of Cassian Andor before he becomes the rebel leader we meet in Rogue One. Created by Tony Gilroy, Andor is a mature and nuanced take on the commitment and cost of revolution. The show is dedicated to telling a good story first, while being a Star Wars property second, and the distinction is important. The best part is, you don’t have to be a Star Wars fan to enjoy it. I, myself, am not a huge fan of the franchise, and yet this show defied all of my expectations and has become my favorite Star Wars-anything ever. Within the first 15 minutes of Episode 1, I was completely hooked. Please do not sleep on this show. Andor is a quiet yet deeply thought-provoking and profound entry in the Star Wars universe. It will wow and shock you with its intriguing and layered dialogue, surprisingly grounded but meaningful story, emphasis on practical sets and effects, and incredible, award-winning performances by Diego Luna, Stellan Skarsgard, and more.
Terriers — James Bojaciuk
Terriers is a straight film noir, but it’s a comedy (dry as whiskey), but it’s also earnest and has no room for the poisonous irony of the shows that surrounded it. FX had no idea how to market the series, down to the terrible name they nailed to the show, and it dwindled away week by week. Terriers is about best friends opening an unlicensed detective agency, skirting the law and bankruptcy every step of the way. As their episodic cases progress they realize their scheme has driven them straight into the heart of a conspiracy, and they need to con, investigate, and fight their way to justice. The joy is watching complex characters, played with career-best performances by Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James, slowly triumph over their pasts and take each case more seriously. The writing is exceptional, and members of the writers room would go on to lead or contribute to many of the best shows of the 2010s. Terriers itself is one of the best shows of the decade. You owe yourself to watch it on Hulu. If anyone from Fox or Disney happens to read this, Terriers is long overdue for any kind of physical release, even if it’s a POD disc set.
The Bear — Thomas Mulkey
Have you ever heard someone say that everyone should work a job in the food service industry? This show serves as a food service industry job simulator if you’ve never worked one and serves as PTSD flashback fuel for those that have. So, why watch the show? The Bear goes out of its way to reward the viewer. It has a real sense of progression and it’s crafted with care. Come for the 4K food porn, stay for the character arcs. Two characters of note from season one are Tina and Carmy. Their arcs throughout season one are single-handedly my top two reasons why you should subscribe to Hulu for a month. Carmy is played by Jeremy Allen White, and if you’ve seen Shameless, you can basically view The Bear as a loose continuation of Lip’s story. He’s still the same chain smoking asshole who’s just trying to make it in the world. A spotlight-stealing side character, Fak is played by Matty Matheson. If you keep up with his antics over on his cooking channel on YouTube, you know you’re in for a good time. I recommend this show to anyone seeking a show with dialogue that sounds real and has grounded characters.
The Walking Dead — Ren Lee
As a Georgia native, AMC’s The Walking Dead is a prideful recommendation that I’m happy to suggest. Since 2010, The Walking Dead remains a relevant series that follows the protagonist Sheriff Deputy Rick Grimes after he wakes up from a coma and finds the undead roam the world. Confused and unsettled, he sets out to find his wife and son in the city of Atlanta. This apocalyptic zombie show might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but there are many reasons to tune in. The cast is full of talented actors who delivered emotional scenes within the tragedy-filled seasons. If you love the “Found Family” trope, then you will become invested in the group Rick leads throughout the show’s run. The characters are vastly different and probably wouldn’t have given each other a second glance if not for the apocalypse which makes the group’s dynamic unique. As they move from shelter to shelter, they encounter overwhelming conflicts from walkers, other survivors, and even within their own group.
What We Do In The Shadows — Andrew Millard
Shout out to my colleagues Tom and Michaela for their great recommendations of The Bear and Andor. Those shows are so good that I don’t even feel pretentious for calling them “important.” So since those are rightfully covered, I’m going to veer into the absurd. You absolutely owe it to yourself to dive into What We Do In The Shadows. Unlikely hits are always fun to root for, and this show came out of as unlikely a place as being adapted from a little-seen mockumentary of the same name. The premise is that vampires (and all sorts of mythical beings) live among us, but have really just decided to enjoy the modern age. The stories mostly take place in the home of four vampire roommates and their human familiar. It’s a fish-out-of-water comedy where the fish really should have adapted to land by now.
Both film and TV series were created and launched by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement who brought all of their hilarious sensibilities to the party. But while those two have definitely given us surefire crowd-pleasers, WWDITS is unabashedly weird. It’s a hang out show where the cast includes an “energy vampire” who is written purposely to be boring and a possessed doll whose soul is a time-traveling younger version of one of the other main characters. It’s a story of unrequited love told through a protag who originally just thought being a vampire would be cool. So its tone is absolutely all over the place, as you might imagine. None of these details sound like an actual TV series that has stayed alive for five seasons, and yet we’re talking about a show from as mainstream a place as the home of Mad Men and Breaking Bad! But around the time you find yourself cracking up over two impossibly old vampires retiring together in a Staten Island suburb, you realize the show can do no wrong.
Joe Pera Talks With You — Sam Reader
Joe Pera is a genuine delight and a national treasure. Between his slow, rambling cadence and sharp, quiet humor, he’ll calm you just as much as make you roar with laughter. His Adult Swim series Joe Pera Talks With You, an extension of his holiday specials “Joe Pera Talks You To Sleep” and “Joe Pera Helps You Find The Perfect Christmas Tree” showcases both that sharp, absurd sense of humor and Pera’s personality perfectly. Following on from his specials, the show sees Joe playing himself as the middle school choir teacher in the small town of Marquette, Michigan. Each episode begins with Joe discussing topics anywhere from lighthouses to iron, but quickly turns into a more aimless yet charming look at small town life as Joe and a cast of gently absurd characters go about their lives in Marquette.
The show is soothing, odd, and deeply touching in a way few shows are. I defy you to find another Adult Swim show that gets you excited about bean arches or makes you wonder if getting bit on the nose by a venomous snake and dying in a British hospital is worse than losing your job (it isn’t). While it was unfortunately canceled during the pandemic, Pera started a podcast with a similar tone, though with details closer to his actual life.
New Girl — Conor Santoianni
If you ever wanted to see an example of a comfort show, look no further. New Girl may seem like your typical sitcom from the outside (possessing all the usual of tropes of growing up, will-they-won’t-theys, etc.) but there’s something about the chemistry of this cast that keeps you coming back for more. With Jess’s upbeat attitude mixed with a dash of social awkwardness, Nick’s nonsensical rambles, Schmidt’s constant outbursts, and Winston’s classic insanity, there’s something that just meshes so well together among these four that you can’t help but smile when they get into a room together. The chaotic comedy that emits from this show is just the tip of the iceberg for this classic FOX Network show, and I for one catch myself quoting its countless catchphrases on a daily basis.
It’s the type of show that can relate to everyone and if you haven’t seen it, I would highly recommend.
The Librarians — Mary Helen Norris
Imagine a library hidden in its own pocket dimension. Not only does this library hold countless texts but it holds magical artifacts that most have forgotten to believe in. Overseeing it all is a librarian, or in the case of this show, a team of librarians who are watched over by a guardian and a caretaker.
This is the world of The Librarians. Filled with magic and wonder, the witty writing of this show takes you on adventures that help you see some of your favorite stories in a new light. A diverse cast of characters guide you through this world as they learn about it themselves. As you get further into the show, you can’t help but wonder if some are not exactly what they seem. From Arthurian Legends to Shakespearan twists, one never knows what one will discover when visiting the Library.
“I’m offering you a life of mystery, of misery, of loneliness, and adventure. More than that, I’m offering you the opportunity to make a difference and to save the world every week. Twice before Friday. Are you in?”
Twin Peaks: The Return — BlocksGamingReviews
Throughout the decade, numerous television shows attempted to tap into ’90s nostalgia by returning to many of that era’s most memorable shows: Full House was updated with Fuller House; Roseanne returned for a season before being rebranded as The Connors; and Bel-Air saw the beloved sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air flipped-turned upside down into a gritty drama.
Twin Peaks: The Return is perhaps the best of these kinds of reboots, serving as both a continuation as well as a commentary on just how dangerous nostalgia can really be.
Twin Peaks was a landmark television show that ran for two seasons from 1990-91. In it, FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) is sent to the sleepy northwestern town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). What begins as a simple homicide case quickly becomes anything but, as nearly every resident in the town becomes a suspect, and the involvement of the supernatural reveals that otherworldly evils are at play. The show was a cultural phenomenon, in no small part due to its indelible cast of quirky characters, it’s oddball sense of humor, and the haunting, surrealist horror from famed director David Lynch.
Lynch returns to direct all 18 episodes of this limited series, and the visionary filmmaker puts on a masterclass of storytelling, crafting one of the most captivating stories ever shown on TV. Episode 8 in particular is a standout, and remains one of the most visually striking, emotionally unsettling pieces of visual media ever shown. Seriously, it should be mandatory viewing in any film class.
Picking up roughly 25 years later, The Return teases fans in both its name and concept as a way to step back into that unforgettable world many were introduced to in the ’90s, yet Lynch uses this expectation, and buries it like a cold corpse. Instead, audiences are whisked away to such locales as Las Vegas and New York (the antithesis of Twin Peaks), have only brief encounters with many long-loved characters, and receive more questions than answers to some of the original show’s most infamous mysteries. What’s most intriguing is that MacLachlan – who is putting in some of the most impressive work as an actor I’ve witnessed – only momentarily plays the beloved Dale Cooper, and instead portrays a myriad of characters that push-and-pull audiences in all directions. Lynch knows that fans want to see the star, and yet he consistently keeps the protagonist at arm’s length for nearly the entire duration.
Lynch’s method here isn’t to troll viewers, despite what one may think, but to simply show that nostalgia is a dream, that even if we have the same sets and the same cast we can never return to that magical time a quarter-of-a-century ago. Too much has changed. Too much has been lost. We and the world we live in are different, and that goes for our TV shows, too. Above all, Lynch cautions us to beware what we wish for, and that some mysteries are best left unsolved.
The Orville — Stephanie Klimov
Leave it to Seth MacFarlane to create a witty, tongue-in-cheek sitcom that looks a little bit like Star Trek. In The Orville, MacFarlane stars as the main protagonist, Ed Mercer, who ends up commanding the USS Orville, an exploratory spaceship, with his ex-wife who had cheated on him. The team on the USS Orville explore the galaxy, dealing with (mostly political) obstacles in bite-sized episodic adventures.
Each episode doesn’t overstay its welcome, and Seth’s narrative always nails various current socio-political issues we experience in his work. With the drama comes the very appreciated comic relief. A lot of laughs are had, and the cast brings it home. Some of my favorite characters are Lieutenant Commander Bortus (Peter Macon) who speaks literally, and the helmsman Gordon Malloy (Scott Grimes). He is an utter goofball and great friend of Ed.
This is a well-made modern sitcom that has both drama and comedy, and if you like any of Seth’s work, you’ll definitely love The Orville. It currently has three seasons. You can stream it from Hulu, Disney Plus, Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu.
Gravity Falls — Brad Melville
Gravity Falls is a pretty niche Disney cartoon, but one of their best written shows that is incredibly fun to watch. The show is deceptively basic with episodic plots following 12-year-old twins Mabel and Dipper while they spend their summer vacation in the fictional Gravity Falls, Oregon, with their great-uncle, “Grunkle” Stan. While the twins deal with crushes and embarrassment, they also find themselves dealing with the likes of gnomes, mermaids, unicorns, and interdimensional demons, all of which culminates into an overarching story with an amazingly well-done series finale.
The show also features a crazy amount of voice talent from well-known actors. Nathan Fillion, Nick Offerman, Alfred Molina, Larry King, “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jennifer Coolidge, Linda Cardellini, and even the legendary JK Simmons all lend their voices to the show, proving that while the show is a cartoon for meant for kids, there’s something here for everyone. If you have kids, this show is a great watch for the family. Gravity Falls is available with a Disney Plus subscription.
Schitt’s Creek — Josh Martinez
I love a good sitcom, but I usually don’t venture out of what airs on the Big 4 networks. Then, Schitt’s Creek came into my life.
I immediately fell in love with the cast and loved the juxtaposition of the posh Rose family with the humble town of Schitt’s Creek. The premise: After the wealthy Rose family is defrauded, they find the only asset they have left is a rural town called Schitt’s Creek. They move to the town, live in the rundown hotel, and seek to rebuild their lives.
What makes this show so good is the character development. Part of that is Eugene Levy, who plays the Rose family patriarch Johnny, and Dan Levy, who plays adult son David, are actually father and son. They created the show and star in pivotal roles. The rest of the family includes the mother Moira (Catherine O’Hare) and Alexis (Annie Murphy). Each one portrays their character wonderfully and it’s fun to see their growth throughout.
There’s so much that makes this show memorable from the positive representation of a LGBTQ relationship to the familial bonds of the Rose family. This show is in fact a comedy and the Levys shine in their writing. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention all the side characters, but Chris Elliott particularly shines in his role as town mayor Roland Schitt.
If you’re looking for a character-driven sitcom that is similar to Arrested Development, Parks and Recreation, and The Good Place, then you won’t want to miss Schitt’s Creek. Beneath it’s semi-dry humor and long list of running gags, sits a show that is warm and full of heart. You can watch Schitt’s Creek on Hulu.
Featured Image: Glenn Carstens-Peters (via Unsplash)
The Boss Rush Podcast: The Flagship Podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network
The Boss Rush Podcast – The Boss Rush Podcast is the flagship podcast of Boss Rush Media and the Boss Rush Network. Each week, Corey, Stephanie, LeRon, and their friends from around the internet come together with other creators, developers, and industry veterans to talk about games they’ve been playing, discuss video game and entertainment based topics, and answer questions solicited on social media and the community Discord.
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