The Absolute Best TV Shows of 2015

2015 was packed with series that didn’t just make noise for a week but set up characters, worlds, and ideas that kept drawing viewers back. It was a year when debuts landed fully formed, returning shows hit pivotal creative turns, and limited series used their short runs to tell complete, tightly built stories. Across drama, comedy, and documentary, it felt like every month delivered another conversation-starter.

You can also trace how platforms shaped what we watched that year. Prestige cable leaned into daring storytelling, the big broadcast networks chased event programming, and streaming services expanded fast with global releases that dropped all at once. The list below looks back at the standouts of 2015 and lays out the essential details that made each one matter, including where they aired so you can place them in that moment.

‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)

The series follows Jimmy McGill’s gradual transformation into Saul Goodman, a New Mexico public defender hustling for clients while navigating family tension with his brother Chuck and a complicated partnership with Mike Ehrmantraut. It premiered in February 2015 and was developed by Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould as a prequel to ‘Breaking Bad’ on AMC.

Season 1 ran for 10 episodes and introduced key characters like Kim Wexler and Howard Hamlin, with episodes written and directed by a rotating team from the ‘Breaking Bad’ creative bench. The production filmed largely in and around Albuquerque, and the debut season earned multiple Emmy nominations, establishing a long awards run for the AMC drama.

‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)

Set in New York, the series centers on Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker who gets recruited by an underground group to take down a powerful conglomerate. Creator Sam Esmail wrote and directed much of the show, which launched in June 2015 on USA Network.

Season 1 comprised 10 episodes, starred Rami Malek and Christian Slater, and used a distinctive visual grammar with off-center framing. The first-year storyline covered the fsociety hack operation and its fallout, and it secured Golden Globe and Emmy attention for USA Network’s push into prestige territory.

‘Fargo’ (2014–2023)

The anthology’s second season in 2015 reset to 1979 Minnesota and the Dakotas, tracking a turf war between a local crime family and the Kansas City syndicate. Creator Noah Hawley crafted a story that nodded to the Coen brothers while standing alone, with production based in Calgary for FX.

Season 2 ran for 10 episodes and featured Patrick Wilson, Kirsten Dunst, Jesse Plemons, Jean Smart, and Bokeem Woodbine. The year delivered multiple Emmy nominations for acting and writing, cementing FX’s reputation for high-end anthology storytelling.

‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)

The show explores life after a sudden event causes two percent of the world’s population to vanish, focusing on the Garvey and Murphy families as they search for meaning. In 2015, Season 2 moved the setting from New York to the Texas town of Jarden, which claimed to have lost no one, and aired on HBO.

The second season included 10 episodes, introduced Regina King and Kevin Carroll to the ensemble, and used a new opening theme and credits. Production shifted to Texas for location work, and the season earned critical prizes and Writers Guild recognition for its serialized structure on HBO.

‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)

The final run in 2015 closed the story of Don Draper and his colleagues as the firm navigated mergers and the end of the 1960s. Created by Matthew Weiner, the series concluded its seventh season in two parts on AMC.

The last episodes aired from April to May 2015 and brought returning cast members into the endgame, including Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, and January Jones. The finale drew strong awards attention that year, and the complete series tally includes dozens of Emmys and multiple Golden Globes for AMC.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Season 5 arrived in April 2015 and expanded the world to Dorne while advancing political shifts in King’s Landing, the Wall, and across the Narrow Sea. The adaptation of George R. R. Martin’s novels continued its multi-country production footprint for HBO.

The 10-episode season featured large ensemble arcs and won multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series for that awards cycle. Filming locations included Northern Ireland, Spain, and Croatia, and HBO broadcast the season worldwide through its affiliates.

‘Jessica Jones’ (2015–2019)

The series introduced a former superhero turned private investigator who confronts trauma while taking on a mind-controlling adversary in New York City. Created by Melissa Rosenberg, it premiered in November 2015 on Netflix.

Season 1 ran 13 episodes, starred Krysten Ritter and David Tennant, and integrated with Marvel’s street-level corner that also included ‘Daredevil.’ Netflix released all episodes at once, and the season received Peabody recognition and multiple technical nominations.

‘Daredevil’ (2015–2018)

Matt Murdock, a blind lawyer with heightened senses, begins his vigilante work in Hell’s Kitchen, facing Wilson Fisk and the criminal infrastructure of the city. The series launched in April 2015 on Netflix as the first of the platform’s Marvel shows.

The inaugural 13-episode season featured Charlie Cox, Vincent D’Onofrio, Elden Henson, and Deborah Ann Woll, with extensive stunt coordination and hallway fight sequences that became a signature. It paved the way for later crossovers and earned Emmy nods in sound and visual categories on Netflix.

‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

The drama chronicles the rise of the Medellín and Cali cartels through the perspectives of drug lords and the law enforcement units tracking them. The series premiered in August 2015 on Netflix with a bilingually performed cast and narration.

Season 1 covered Pablo Escobar’s ascent and the early DEA pursuit led by agents played by Boyd Holbrook and Pedro Pascal. The show filmed in Colombia with support from local crews, and it drew international audiences through Netflix’s worldwide rollout that year.

‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)

In 2015, Season 3 continued the story of two deep-cover Soviet operatives navigating family life and espionage in early 1980s Washington, D.C. Joe Weisberg created the series, which aired on FX.

The third season spanned 13 episodes and deepened the operational conflicts while maintaining period detail across sets and wardrobe. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys led the cast, and the season contributed to a later surge in Emmy recognition for FX as the run progressed.

‘BoJack Horseman’ (2014–2020)

The animated series followed a washed-up sitcom actor trying to manage career setbacks and personal history in a Hollywood satire with serialized arcs. Season 2 landed in July 2015 on Netflix.

The 12-episode second season expanded supporting roles for Princess Carolyn, Diane, Todd, and Mr. Peanutbutter while adding standalone-format experiments. The production used ShadowMachine for animation, and Netflix’s global drop supported wide access and a steady word-of-mouth build in 2015.

‘The Man in the High Castle’ (2015–2019)

Based on Philip K. Dick’s novel, the series depicts an alternate 1960s in which the Axis powers won World War II and divided the United States into occupied territories. It premiered in November 2015 after a pilot-season test on Amazon Prime Video.

Season 1 included 10 episodes and filmed in Vancouver and Washington State, using extensive period production design for the alternate-history setting. The show became one of Amazon’s early high-profile dramas and helped expand the service’s global footprint that year.

‘Master of None’ (2015–2021)

The series centers on a 30-something actor navigating work, family, and relationships in New York City with a slice-of-life approach. It debuted in November 2015 on Netflix, created by Aziz Ansari and Alan Yang.

Season 1 featured 10 episodes that mixed standalone stories with recurring characters, including episodes focused on immigrant family narratives and career realities. The show earned writing Emmys and a Peabody during its run, with Netflix distributing the season worldwide at launch.

‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ (2015–2020)

After being rescued from an underground bunker, Kimmy starts over in New York City with a new job, new friends, and a determination to catch up on the modern world. The comedy moved from NBC’s development slate to a March 2015 premiere on Netflix.

The first season ran 13 episodes and starred Ellie Kemper, Tituss Burgess, and Jane Krakowski, with Tina Fey and Robert Carlock as creators. It collected multiple Emmy nominations across acting and writing while Netflix’s release model supported immediate full-season access.

‘Catastrophe’ (2015–2019)

An American man and an Irish woman begin a relationship after an unexpected pregnancy, building a life together across London and Boston. The series premiered in 2015 on Channel 4 in the UK, with Amazon Prime Video distributing it in the United States.

Season 1 contained 6 episodes, created and written by stars Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, and filmed largely in London. The show earned BAFTA attention and Writers Guild nominations, with Amazon bringing the series to a wider audience during its first year.

‘Halt and Catch Fire’ (2014–2017)

The drama traces the rise of personal computing and online communities in the 1980s and early 1990s through a team of engineers and entrepreneurs. Season 2 aired in 2015 on AMC and shifted focus toward early online networks.

The 10-episode second season filmed in Atlanta and featured Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, and Kerry Bishé. Production emphasized period-accurate hardware and software references, and AMC supported a third-season renewal after the 2015 run.

‘The Jinx’ (2015)

This six-part documentary series investigates the life of real estate heir Robert Durst and the suspicious deaths linked to him, combining interviews, archival material, and reenactments. It aired from February to March 2015 on HBO.

The production team included Andrew Jarecki and Marc Smerling, and the series used previously unseen footage and audio materials. The finale became a major cultural event that spring, and HBO rebroadcast episodes multiple times across the year due to audience interest.

‘Making a Murderer’ (2015–2018)

The documentary series follows Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey’s cases in Wisconsin, presenting trial footage, legal documents, and interviews with family members and attorneys. It premiered in December 2015 on Netflix.

Season 1 spans 10 episodes and was filmed over a decade, offering a comprehensive archive of court proceedings and investigative materials. The release prompted widespread public discussion and legal analysis, and Netflix supported the series with global availability at launch.

‘UnREAL’ (2015–2018)

Set behind the scenes of a fictional dating show, the series examines the production mechanics and ethical dilemmas of reality television through its crew and contestants. It debuted in June 2015 on Lifetime.

The first season ran for 10 episodes, created by Sarah Gertrude Shapiro and Marti Noxon, and filmed in the Vancouver area. The show received Peabody recognition and Television Critics Association nominations, and Lifetime used it to broaden its scripted slate.

‘You’re the Worst’ (2014–2019)

In 2015, the series moved to FXX and continued its story about two self-sabotaging people attempting a relationship in Los Angeles, along with their close friends. Season 2 aired on FXX after the show’s first year on FX.

The second season comprised 13 episodes and expanded the ensemble arcs while maintaining a serial structure. Production was based in Los Angeles, and FXX scheduled the series alongside other half-hour comedies to grow its identity.

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

Season 4 aired in 2015 and tracked Selina Meyer’s first year in the Oval Office, covering policy pushes, staffing shifts, and campaign activity. The series, created by Armando Iannucci, aired on HBO.

The 10-episode season featured Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, and Reid Scott, with political consulting informing scripts and set design. It won multiple Emmys that awards cycle, including Outstanding Comedy Series, adding to HBO’s comedy lineup.

‘Silicon Valley’ (2014–2019)

The 2015 second season followed the startup’s legal issues and business maneuvering as the team competed in the tech landscape of Northern California. Mike Judge and Alec Berg’s series aired on HBO.

Season 2 included 10 episodes, filmed across the Bay Area and Los Angeles soundstages, and starred Thomas Middleditch, Kumail Nanjiani, Martin Starr, Zach Woods, and T.J. Miller. It received Emmy nominations in comedy categories and continued HBO’s Sunday-night block alongside other half-hours.

‘The Knick’ (2014–2015)

Set in a fictionalized early-1900s New York hospital, the series depicts surgical innovation, public health crises, and institutional politics. Season 2 aired in 2015 on Cinemax with Steven Soderbergh directing every episode.

The second season ran for 10 episodes and starred Clive Owen, André Holland, and Juliet Rylance, using period-accurate medical props and practices for authenticity. Cinemax broadcast the season in the fall, and the production earned nominations for technical crafts including cinematography and design.

‘Deutschland 83’ (2015)

This Cold War spy drama follows a young East German border guard assigned to infiltrate NATO operations in West Germany, capturing the tensions of 1983. It aired in 2015 on RTL in Germany and reached U.S. audiences through SundanceTV.

The series ran for 8 episodes, filmed across Germany, and used a soundtrack of period music to situate the story. The international rollout made it one of the first German-language dramas to secure prime placement on U.S. cable in that year.

‘Show Me a Hero’ (2015)

The six-part miniseries chronicles a late-1980s federal housing desegregation battle in Yonkers, New York, focusing on Mayor Nick Wasicsko and the city’s response. David Simon and William F. Zorzi created the project, which aired on HBO in August 2015.

The production filmed on location in Yonkers and across the New York metro area, with Oscar Isaac leading a cast that included Catherine Keener and Winona Ryder. The miniseries ran over three weeks, and HBO paired it with documentary programming to highlight urban policy themes.

Share your picks for the standout 2015 shows we missed in the comments.