Mad Men drops you into 1960s New York, where ad executive Don Draper hides a complicated past behind his polished image. The show became a modern classic by pairing sleek period style with sharp, often painful looks at ambition, identity, and changing social norms. With unforgettable moments and characters that still spark debate, its seven seasons are just as gripping on a rewatch as they were on first airing. | © Lionsgate Television
Friends is pure comfort TV, built around six pals navigating life and love in New York City. The show isn’t remembered for sharp social critique but for its goofy charm, endless catchphrases, and the chemistry of its cast. Seasons four through seven hit the comedic peak, but the whole run remains one of the most rewatchable sitcoms ever made. | © Warner Bros. Television
The Sopranos follows mob boss Tony Soprano as he balances running a criminal empire with sessions at his therapist’s office. The show digs into the psychology of power, family, and identity, giving the mob genre an emotional depth rarely seen on TV. With unforgettable performances and six seasons of tension and style, it set a new standard for prestige drama. | © HBO
Grey’s Anatomy takes viewers inside a Seattle hospital where young doctors juggle high-stakes cases with equally intense personal drama. Over 20 seasons, it’s launched the careers of stars like Ellen Pompeo, Sandra Oh, and Patrick Dempsey, while keeping audiences hooked with shocking twists and emotional storylines. More than just a medical drama, it became a cultural touchstone and shaped how the genre looks on TV today. | © Lionsgate Television
Supernatural follows Sam and Dean Winchester, two brothers driving across America to hunt demons, ghosts, and every creature lurking in the dark. What started as a monster-of-the-week show grew into an epic saga with angels, demons, and storylines that tested their loyalty to each other season after season. Running for 15 years, it became the longest-running American fantasy series and a touchstone for fans of dark, character-driven TV. | © Warner Bros. Television
The Walking Dead follows Rick Grimes and a shifting group of survivors trying to stay alive after a zombie outbreak shatters the world. Over 11 seasons, the show dug into questions of trust, leadership, and what it means to hold on to humanity when every day is a fight for survival. With unforgettable characters, shocking storylines, and some of the best zombie effects ever put on TV, it became a cultural phenomenon and launched multiple spin-offs. | © AMC Studios
Gilmore Girls follows single mom Lorelai and her daughter Rory as they juggle school, work, and family life in the small town of Stars Hollow. The show stands out for its fast-paced dialogue, strong relationships, and everyday struggles that feel easy to connect with. It’s light, funny, and heartfelt, which is why people still turn to it as a reliable comfort watch. | © Warner Bros. Television
Orange Is the New Black begins with Piper Chapman landing in prison years after a drug run for her ex-girlfriend, only to find that same ex, Alex, serving time alongside her. Life inside Litchfield throws them into shifting alliances, messy romances, and daily fights against an unfair system. The show became one of Netflix’s biggest hits by mixing humor with sharp commentary and giving real depth to its wide cast of inmates. | © Netflix
Lucifer follows the Devil himself as he abandons Hell for Los Angeles, running a nightclub and helping the LAPD solve crimes. Tom Ellis shines in the role, balancing charm, humor, and heart in a way that made fans fiercely loyal. After Fox canceled it, Netflix revived the show for three more seasons, proving just how much people loved this blend of fantasy, mystery, and comedy. | © Warner Bros. Television
BoJack Horseman takes place in a satirical Hollywood where humans and talking animals share the spotlight. The show follows BoJack, a washed-up sitcom star and self-destructive horse trying to stage a comeback while battling addiction, depression, and the chaos of his relationships. What starts as sharp comedy quickly becomes one of TV’s most honest looks at mental health, fame, and the messiness of being human. | © Netflix
Peaky Blinders throws viewers into post–World War I Birmingham, where Tommy Shelby and his brothers turn a small street gang into a criminal empire. Their rise pulls in dangerous rivals and even the attention of Winston Churchill, who sends Inspector Campbell to bring them down. Powered by Cillian Murphy’s magnetic performance and a sharp mix of history, style, and grit, the series became a global hit and will soon continue with a Netflix movie. | © BBC One
Dexter centers on a Miami forensic analyst who moonlights as a vigilante serial killer, delivering a mix of crime drama and dark morality tale. Over eight seasons, the show built a huge following thanks to shocking twists, tense storytelling, and a lead character viewers couldn’t stop rooting for despite his double life. Love or hate the finale, it left a lasting mark, and the series remains one of the most talked-about thrillers of its time. | © Showtime Networks
Better Call Saul follows Jimmy McGill on his path to becoming the slick lawyer Saul Goodman, turning a side character from Breaking Bad into the heart of a gripping story. The show keeps a steady quality across all six seasons, with smart writing and striking visuals that feel more like film than TV. Bob Odenkirk leads a cast that makes every twist hit hard, proving this prequel can stand proudly on its own. | © AMC
Stranger Things drops viewers into Hawkins, Indiana, where a boy’s disappearance uncovers government experiments and a dark parallel world called the Upside Down. Eleven, a girl with telekinetic powers, escapes the lab and joins a group of kids determined to face the monsters spilling into their town. The show works because it mixes real scares with Spielberg-style adventure and sharp performances, turning its young cast into stars and making each season a cultural event. | © Netflix
Game of Thrones built a global following with its first six seasons, blending rich world-building, shocking twists, and battles that looked straight out of Hollywood. By season seven, cracks in the writing started to show, though the spectacle kept it entertaining. The final season stumbled hard, but the early years remain some of the most gripping fantasy television ever made and still make it worth watching. | © HBO
Some TV shows barely make it past a season, while others keep viewers hooked year after year. This list looks at 15 series that not only lasted five or more seasons but also stayed worth watching along the way. Whether you’re into crime dramas, comedies, or fantasy epics, these shows prove that staying power can go hand in hand with quality.
