Since about the early 2000s, TV audiences have been blessed with what many experts call The Golden Age of Television. In other words, TV has never been so darn good or so darn smart. This list features smart TV shows that are currently running new episodes, even if we’re just anxiously awaiting for a fresh season. Here are the best shows with the best writing, characters, and storylines that smart people watch.
There are several reasons why TV has never been better. First, there are more channels that cater to different tastes. Not only are cable networks like AMC and FX churning out Emmy Award winning dramas, but streaming channels like Amazon and Netflix, are also producing high-caliber programming that are not constricted to the tight guidelines typically associated with network television.
It’s not just about cursing and showing a little nudity, it’s about telling complicated stories that don’t just wind up neat and tidy at the end of a half hour episode. It’s safe to say that television is not just for the masses anymore to simply idle away wasted evenings, a smart TV show is a welcomed form of entertainment in even the most highbrow of houses.
You will see the total gamut of programming on this list. There’s the animated comedies. It’s true that a middling 8-year-old can watch The Simpsons or Family Guy and be extremely entertained. But, for the shows to truly be appreciated, an intellectual mind is needed to pick up on all of the nearly laugh-a-second nuances and understand the less obvious references.
Additionally, programs like True Detective, Sherlock, and Fargo, offer a lot of hidden meaning. The better read the viewer is, the more the material will come to life. It’s not to say that a regular Joe Schmo can’t enjoy a show like The Americans, of course they can. However, these types of shows aren't dumbed down. They require a person to actually pay attention, to be active spectators aware of narrative shifts, and to be able to put the pieces of a complicated puzzle together without a lot of hand holding.
Which intelligent TV shows are your favorite? Be sure to vote up the TV series you think are the smartest shows on television.
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21,2158,021Sherlock
Benedict Cumberbatch, Martin FreemanGenres (Tv): Crime drama, Mystery
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16,6716,266House
Hugh Laurie, Omar EppsGenres (Tv): Medical drama
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17,4027,366Breaking Bad
Bryan Cranston, Aaron PaulGenres (Tv): Crime drama, Thriller, Neo-western, Tragedy
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24,85912,780Game of Thrones
Peter Dinklage, Lena HeadeyGenres (Tv): Medieval fantasy, Drama, Adventure film, Epic, Action
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8,6653,189Westworld
Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie NewtonGenres (Tv): Sci-fi, Drama, Western
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12,7796,690The X-Files
David Duchovny, Gillian AndersonGenres (Tv): Cryptozoology, Supernatural, Crime Fiction, Drama, Live action
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7,6363,723Star Trek: The Next Generation
Patrick Stewart, Brent SpinerGenres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Action, Science Fiction
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3,7731,852Star Trek: The Original Series
William Shatner, Leonard NimoyGenres (Tv): Action/Adventure, Drama, Adventure film, Action, Science Fiction
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6,9633,533MythBusters
Jon Lung, Brian LoudenGenres (Tv): Non-fiction, Special Interest, Educational television, Science, Documentary
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13,8367,805Dexter
Michael C. Hall, Jennifer CarpenterGenres (Tv): Crime drama, Psychological thriller, Mystery, Dark comedy, Police procedural
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10,3255,291Firefly
Nathan Fillion, Gina TorresGenres (Tv): Space Western, Space opera, Drama, Comedy-drama, Science Fiction
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4,9531,473The Twilight Zone (1959)
Rod Serling, Robert McCordGenres (Tv): Anthology, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Science Fiction
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8,0664,471Criminal Minds
Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray GublerGenres (Tv): Crime Fiction, Police procedural, Crime, Suspense, Drama
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12,5217,249Doctor Who
Christopher Eccleston, David TennantGenres (Tv): Sci-fi, Adventure, Drama
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11,3073,459Stranger Things
Winona Ryder, David HarbourGenres (Tv): Sci-fi, Horror, Supernatural, Period drama
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13,9388,591House of Cards
Kevin Spacey, Robin WrightGenres (Tv): Political drama, Political thriller
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10,0485,761Jeopardy!
Alex Trebek, Johnny GilbertGenres (Tv): Game show
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8,0574,449Vikings
Travis Fimmel, Katheryn WinnickGenres (Tv): Historical drama, Action-adventure
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4,5471,679M*A*S*H
Alan Alda, Wayne RogersGenres (Tv): Black comedy, Medical drama, Sitcom, Satire, Military
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4,4612,075Black Mirror
Daniel Kaluuya, Toby KebbellGenres (Tv): Drama, Thriller, Science Fiction, Fantasy
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5,4523,276The Sopranos
James Gandolfini, Lorraine BraccoGenres (Tv): Crime drama
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3,2981,764Frasier
Kelsey Grammer, Jane LeevesGenres (Tv): Sitcom
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6,6223,686Supernatural
Jared Padalecki, Jensen AcklesGenres (Tv): Supernatural drama, Black comedy, Drama, Horror Film, Mystery
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6,2523,831Fringe
Anna Torv, Joshua JacksonGenres (Tv): Sci-fi, Supernatural drama
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7,0094,353Downton Abbey
Hugh Bonneville, Phyllis LoganGenres (Tv): Period drama
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