The Absolute Best TV Shows of 2019

Some TV years feel crowded. This one felt historic. New services launched, major franchises took bold swings, and limited series grabbed everyone’s attention with tightly told stories. Audiences suddenly had prestige drama, daring comedy, and inventive genre pieces landing side by side on the same week.

This list gathers shows that defined the moment across streamers and traditional outlets. You will see limited runs that told a complete story, returning favorites that reached a new peak, and debuts that introduced characters who stuck around. Networks and platforms are mentioned naturally so you know where each series made its mark.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

This five-part historical drama on HBO follows the immediate aftermath of the nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union, focusing on scientists, first responders, and officials tasked with containing the crisis. The series tracks the investigation into how the reactor exploded and shows the layered chain of decisions that followed.

Created by Craig Mazin and directed by Johan Renck, it stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson. Filming took place in multiple Eastern European locations to capture industrial settings and residential zones, and the production used extensive practical effects supported by restrained visual work.

‘Fleabag’ (2016–2019)

The second season of this comedy from Prime Video continues the story of a London woman navigating family, grief, and complicated relationships. The show uses a direct-to-camera device that breaks the fourth wall to reveal immediate thoughts and shifting emotions.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge created and wrote the series and leads the cast alongside Sian Clifford, Olivia Colman, and Andrew Scott. The season’s structure builds around family gatherings and personal milestones, and the production balances intimate locations with quick-cut editing that supports the confessional style.

‘Watchmen’ (2019)

HBO’s limited series extends the world of the original graphic novel by following new characters in an alternate United States. The story centers on masked detectives, white supremacist groups, and a police force operating under unusual rules after a traumatic mass attack.

Created by Damon Lindelof, the series features Regina King, Jean Smart, and Jeremy Irons. The soundtrack by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross blends analog textures with modern electronics, and the scripts weave historical events into the mythology with flashbacks and parallel timelines.

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

This HBO drama follows the Roy family as they maneuver for control of a global media company. Episodes trace boardroom battles, internal investigations, and shifting alliances inside a closely held corporate empire.

Created by Jesse Armstrong, the series stars Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Sarah Snook, Kieran Culkin, and Matthew Macfadyen. The production films in New York and international locations to reflect acquisitions and investor meetings, and its score by Nicholas Britell uses recurring motifs to underline power plays.

‘The Mandalorian’ (2019–)

Set in the ‘Star Wars’ universe, this Disney+ series follows a lone bounty hunter traveling the Outer Rim with a mysterious child. Chapters present mission-of-the-week stories that connect into a larger arc about ancient orders and contested territories.

Created by Jon Favreau with episodes directed by Deborah Chow, Rick Famuyiwa, and others, it stars Pedro Pascal along with recurring guest performers. The show helped pioneer StageCraft virtual production, using massive LED walls to render environments in-camera for desert plains, ice worlds, and starports.

‘When They See Us’ (2019)

Ava DuVernay’s limited series on Netflix dramatizes the case of five teenagers from Harlem who were wrongfully convicted. The story follows the police investigation, the trials, and the long path to exoneration, spending time with each family as the legal process unfolds.

The ensemble cast includes Jharrel Jerome, Niecy Nash, and Michael K. Williams. Production emphasized authenticity through location work in New York and detailed period design, and the episodes include legal procedure, media coverage, and post-release challenges.

‘Unbelievable’ (2019)

This Netflix limited series adapts a long-form article about a reported assault that was dismissed and the detectives who later uncovered a serial offender. The narrative alternates between a young woman’s experience and the methodical police work in another jurisdiction.

Developed by Susannah Grant with Ayelet Waldman and Michael Chabon, it stars Kaitlyn Dever, Toni Collette, and Merritt Wever. The show uses a restrained visual style and careful chronology to document interviews, evidence collection, and interagency coordination.

‘Russian Doll’ (2019–)

Netflix’s time-loop comedy follows a New Yorker who keeps dying and reliving the same night, then discovers another person stuck in a similar cycle. The plot expands to explore memory, family history, and choices that ripple across lives.

Created by Natasha Lyonne, Leslye Headland, and Amy Poehler, it stars Lyonne and Charlie Barnett. The production uses the East Village as a recurring backdrop, and editing patterns signal resets and branching paths while the soundtrack mixes classic tracks with contemporary cuts.

‘The Boys’ (2019–)

Prime Video’s comic-book adaptation portrays a world where superheroes are managed by a powerful corporation. A small group of vigilantes investigates cover-ups, engineered personas, and the commercial machinery behind celebrity heroes.

Developed by Eric Kripke, the series stars Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, Erin Moriarty, Antony Starr, and Aya Cash. The show blends practical gore effects with large-scale visual sequences, and episodes include corporate marketing, political influence, and black-ops tactics.

‘Euphoria’ (2019–)

This HBO drama follows high school students dealing with addiction, identity, and relationships. The narrative tracks intersecting storylines through parties, family scenes, and private moments that shape decision making.

Created by Sam Levinson and starring Zendaya, Hunter Schafer, and Jacob Elordi, the production is known for inventive makeup design and expressive lighting. Music supervision features original tracks and curated songs, and the cinematography uses long takes and handheld movement to place viewers inside character perspectives.

‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)

Set inside the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, this Netflix drama shows agents interviewing incarcerated killers to build psychological profiles. Cases in the field are intercut with research sessions that test emerging methods.

Created by Joe Penhall with executive production by David Fincher and Charlize Theron, it stars Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv. Filming emphasizes period detail through wardrobe and production design, and dialogue-driven scenes rely on precise sound work and measured pacing.

‘Stranger Things’ (2016–)

Netflix’s sci-fi adventure returns to Hawkins, where friends face new threats connected to the Upside Down. The season explores mall culture, secret facilities, and a growing roster of creatures tied to past experiments.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, the series stars Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Winona Ryder. Practical effects combine with digital enhancements for monsters and portals, and needle-drop music cues help establish setting and tone across locations.

‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

This Netflix series follows families in a small German town connected by disappearances and a hidden system of tunnels. The plot involves intertwined lineages and a closed time loop that links multiple generations.

Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, it features Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari, and Maja Schöne. The production uses a cool color palette and recurring symbols to guide viewers through complex relationships, and the score by Ben Frost adds textured electronic layers.

‘The Crown’ (2016–)

Netflix’s royal drama chronicles the reign of Queen Elizabeth II and the pressures of public duty. New casting aligns with shifts in age and supports self-contained episodes that focus on specific events and relationships.

Created by Peter Morgan, the show features Olivia Colman, Tobias Menzies, and Helena Bonham Carter in this era. Costumes and sets reproduce palaces, residences, and official venues, and the series mixes private conversations with state ceremonies and international trips.

‘The Witcher’ (2019–)

Based on Andrzej Sapkowski’s books, this Netflix fantasy follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter whose path intersects with a sorceress and a crown princess. Early episodes use separate timelines that converge as destinies align.

Created by Lauren Schmidt Hissrich, the series stars Henry Cavill, Anya Chalotra, and Freya Allan. The production features stunt-heavy sword work, practical creature makeup, and location shoots across Eastern and Central Europe supported by large-scale sets.

‘The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ (2017–2023)

Prime Video’s period dramedy follows Miriam “Midge” Maisel as she builds a stand-up career while navigating family and industry expectations. Tour stops, club gigs, and backstage negotiations structure the season.

Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, it stars Rachel Brosnahan, Alex Borstein, Tony Shalhoub, and Marin Hinkle. The show is known for elaborate tracking shots, fast dialogue rhythms, and richly designed costumes that reflect changing venues and social circles.

‘Ramy’ (2019–)

Hulu’s comedy-drama follows a first-generation American Muslim navigating faith, family, work, and relationships in New Jersey. Episodes pair personal missteps with deeper questions about community and identity.

Created by and starring Ramy Youssef with Mohammed Amer and May Calamawy, the series uses standalone episodes focused on different family members. The production balances on-location street scenes with intimate interiors and includes guest directors and performers across the run.

‘Pose’ (2018–2021)

This FX drama centers on New York’s ballroom culture and the chosen families who lead houses and compete in organized events. Storylines explore health care, housing, and the creative work that goes into performance.

Created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Steven Canals, it stars Mj Rodriguez, Dominique Jackson, Indya Moore, and Billy Porter. The show collaborates with ballroom veterans, uses detailed costume design, and stages large ensemble sequences with music and choreography.

‘The Good Place’ (2016–2020)

NBC’s high-concept comedy follows four humans who are told they are in a perfect afterlife, then discover the rules are more complicated. The season uses classroom setups and experiments to explore moral philosophy within a sitcom structure.

Created by Michael Schur, it stars Kristen Bell, Ted Danson, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, Manny Jacinto, and D’Arcy Carden. Visual gags, practical sets, and digital effects create whimsical neighborhoods and portals, and the writers room consults academic sources to frame ethical questions.

‘The Morning Show’ (2019–)

Apple TV+ launches this newsroom drama with coanchors facing a sudden leadership change. The plot covers internal investigations, corporate pressure, and the scramble to reshape a flagship program.

Created by Jay Carson and developed by Kerry Ehrin, it stars Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Billy Crudup. The production builds studio sets for control rooms and broadcast stages and uses handheld camerawork for behind-the-scenes sequences.

‘For All Mankind’ (2019–)

This Apple TV+ series imagines a space race that never ended and follows astronauts, engineers, and their families through successive missions. The story expands into base construction, international cooperation, and private industry involvement.

Created by Ronald D. Moore, Matt Wolpert, and Ben Nedivi, it features Joel Kinnaman, Shantel VanSanten, and Wrenn Schmidt. The series combines archival-style footage with contemporary visual effects to depict launches, spacecraft interiors, and surface operations.

‘Servant’ (2019–)

Apple TV+ presents this psychological thriller about a Philadelphia couple who hire a nanny after a family trauma, only to encounter unexplained events. The narrative unfolds largely inside a townhouse with attention to routine, ritual, and unease.

Created by Tony Basgallop with M. Night Shyamalan as executive producer, it stars Lauren Ambrose, Toby Kebbell, Nell Tiger Free, and Rupert Grint. Cinematography uses close frames and shallow depth of field, and sound design highlights kitchen tools, creaking floors, and infant noises.

‘Years and Years’ (2019)

This BBC One drama, co-produced with HBO for the United States, follows a Manchester family over a decade as technology, politics, and economics reshape daily life. Each episode jumps forward in time to track personal outcomes within larger shifts.

Created by Russell T Davies, it stars Russell Tovey, Anne Reid, and Emma Thompson. The show uses news clips, social media interfaces, and financial dashboards as narrative devices, and production design updates homes and cityscapes to reflect rapid change.

‘The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance’ (2019)

Netflix’s fantasy prequel uses advanced puppetry to tell the story of Gelfling clans rising against the Skeksis. The series explores different regions of Thra, adds new creatures, and deepens the mythology of the original film.

Produced by The Jim Henson Company, the show blends practical puppets with digital enhancements for landscapes and magic effects. Voice performances include Taron Egerton, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Nathalie Emmanuel, and the creature shop built intricate animatronics for expressive faces.

‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

This BBC Two crime drama, distributed internationally by Netflix, follows a Tokyo detective searching London for his missing brother, a yakuza member. The investigation moves between cities and languages while family obligations and gang politics collide.

Created by Joe Barton and directed by Julian Farino and Ben Chessell, it stars Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, and Will Sharpe. The series blends live action with animated sequences, uses bilingual dialogue, and crosscuts between timelines to build tension.

Share your picks for the standout shows and tell us which titles you would add in the comments.