The Absolute Best TV Shows of 2012

Television hit a stride where character-driven drama and inventive comedy shared the spotlight, and audiences could jump from sprawling fantasy to sharply observed satire in a single night. Viewers followed antiheroes, ambitious politicians, and quick-witted oddballs, often discovering new favorites through word of mouth and next-day buzz.

Across broadcast, cable, and international channels, creators pushed formats with limited series, animated world-builders, and long-arc serials. Networks like HBO, AMC, FX, and the BBC rolled out programs that paired strong premises with memorable ensembles, and the result was a year packed with seasons people still revisit.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

The crime drama follows a high school chemistry teacher who forms an unlikely partnership with a former student to manufacture and sell methamphetamine. Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul lead the cast, with a supporting ensemble that includes Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Giancarlo Esposito, and Jonathan Banks on AMC.

Created by Vince Gilligan, the series blends meticulous plotting with tightly written episodes that explore moral compromise and its consequences. Production was centered in Albuquerque, episodes often ran in the mid-forty-minute range, and the show’s later seasons expanded its scope with new adversaries and shifting alliances on the AMC schedule.

‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)

Set inside a Manhattan ad agency, the drama charts the shifting identities and ambitions of Don Draper and colleagues. Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Christina Hendricks, John Slattery, January Jones, and Vincent Kartheiser headline a deep ensemble on AMC.

Series creator Matthew Weiner oversaw an episode structure that layered office campaigns with personal storylines. The show’s production emphasized period detail, while season arcs followed agency mergers, client wins, and domestic upheavals, all presented in hour-long installments on AMC.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Based on George R. R. Martin’s novels, the fantasy epic tracks rival houses vying for control of the Iron Throne across a vast continent. The ensemble features Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, and Maisie Williams on HBO.

Developed by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, the series used location shoots and large-scale battle sequences to tell multi-thread arcs. Episodes typically ran close to an hour, and season structures intercut palace intrigue, frontier threats, and shifting alliances, premiering on Sunday nights on HBO.

‘Homeland’ (2011–2020)

The thriller centers on a CIA officer who suspects a returning Marine of being turned by the enemy. Claire Danes and Damian Lewis lead the cast, with Mandy Patinkin, Morena Baccarin, and Rupert Friend in key roles on Showtime.

Created by Howard Gordon and Alex Gansa, the series uses surveillance operations, polygraph scenes, and covert missions to drive its narrative. Seasons balance intelligence briefings with personal fallout, and episodes move between Washington corridors and overseas safe houses in the Showtime lineup.

‘Girls’ (2012–2017)

Four friends in New York navigate work, relationships, and friendship in a half-hour format. Lena Dunham stars alongside Allison Williams, Jemima Kirke, Zosia Mamet, and Adam Driver on HBO.

Created by Lena Dunham with Judd Apatow as an executive producer, the series blends workplace uncertainty with apartment-set conversations and city wanderings. Episodes are compact, often around thirty minutes, and storylines trace internships, breakups, and creative starts on HBO’s comedy block.

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

A political satire that follows a former senator as she handles the daily chaos of the vice presidency. Julia Louis-Dreyfus anchors the ensemble, joined by Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Reid Scott, Timothy Simons, Matt Walsh, and Kevin Dunn on HBO.

Created by Armando Iannucci, the series features rapid-fire dialogue, press gaffes, and policy scrambles inside cramped offices and motorcades. Episodes run a tight half hour and track staffing shake-ups, donor events, and legislative wrangling across the HBO schedule.

‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)

Set in the Parks Department of a fictional Indiana town, the mockumentary follows Leslie Knope and a devoted team tackling civic projects. Amy Poehler leads an ensemble with Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Aubrey Plaza, Chris Pratt, Adam Scott, and Rob Lowe on NBC.

The show uses talking-head interviews, town halls, and committee meetings to tell community stories. Episodes deliver recurring beats like public forums, permit snafus, and festival planning, airing in a half-hour slot on NBC.

‘Louie’ (2010–2015)

This dramedy blends stand-up segments with scripted vignettes about a New York comedian’s personal and professional life. Louis C.K. appears alongside guests who rotate through surreal and grounded scenarios on FX.

Episodes are auteur-driven, with location shoots, minimal sets, and a mix of short stories and multi-part arcs. The format allows experiments with pacing and tone, and the series typically occupies a late-evening slot on FX.

‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)

A Prohibition-era crime saga set in Atlantic City, the series chronicles political boss Enoch “Nucky” Thompson and rival bootleggers. Steve Buscemi stars with Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Michael K. Williams, and Stephen Graham on HBO.

Created by Terence Winter, the production features elaborate period sets, large ensembles, and intersecting mob plots. Episodes often approach the hour mark and weave law enforcement pressure with territorial disputes on HBO’s drama slate.

‘Justified’ (2010–2015)

Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens returns to Kentucky to handle cases that put him at odds with criminals and former acquaintances. Timothy Olyphant leads, with Walton Goggins, Nick Searcy, Joelle Carter, and Erica Tazel anchoring the ensemble on FX.

Based on Elmore Leonard’s work, the show pairs case-of-the-week stories with season-long villains. Gunfights, courthouse scenes, and family histories shape episodes that air in a standard hour on FX.

‘The Good Wife’ (2009–2016)

After a public scandal, Alicia Florrick resumes her career at a Chicago law firm while managing family responsibilities. Julianna Margulies stars with Christine Baranski, Josh Charles, Archie Panjabi, Alan Cumming, and Matt Czuchry on CBS.

Courtroom battles, political campaigns, and firm mergers structure the episode flow. The series integrates tech disputes and legal strategy into a case-plus-arc format, airing as an hour-long legal drama on CBS.

‘Sherlock’ (2010–2017)

This modern update follows consulting detective Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson as they solve high-profile cases in London. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman headline on BBC One.

Each series delivers feature-length episodes that adapt classic mysteries with contemporary tech and urban settings. The format favors cinematic direction and limited seasonal runs on BBC One.

‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)

Survivors of a global outbreak form communities while facing human and undead threats. Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, Steven Yeun, Lauren Cohan, Danai Gurira, and Melissa McBride lead an evolving cast on AMC.

Adapted from the comic, the show uses bottle episodes, multi-camp arcs, and midseason breaks to pace its story. Set pieces range from farmsteads to prison yards, and the series airs in an hour-long block on AMC.

‘Adventure Time’ (2010–2018)

An animated fantasy following Finn and Jake as they explore the Land of Ooo and befriend princesses, wizards, and unusual creatures. Voices include Jeremy Shada, John DiMaggio, Hynden Walch, and Tom Kenny on Cartoon Network.

The series runs in eleven-minute installments that allow playful quests and serialized lore to coexist. Storylines introduce recurring kingdoms, magical artifacts, and musical interludes on Cartoon Network.

‘The Legend of Korra’ (2012–2014)

Set in the same universe as a prior bending saga, this animated sequel follows Avatar Korra as she trains in a modernizing metropolis. Voice talent includes Janet Varney, David Faustino, J. K. Simmons, Seychelle Gabriel, and P. J. Byrne on Nickelodeon.

Episodes combine martial-arts choreography with political movements, pro-bending tournaments, and spiritual journeys. The production uses a season-by-season arc structure with discrete antagonists on Nickelodeon.

‘Gravity Falls’ (2012–2016)

Twin siblings spend a summer with their great-uncle in a small town full of oddities and cryptic secrets. Jason Ritter and Kristen Schaal voice the leads, with Alex Hirsch and Linda Cardellini in key roles on Disney Channel.

The show stitches monster-of-the-week adventures to a larger mystery through hidden ciphers, journals, and recurring villains. Episodes run in a half-hour slot and build a myth arc across the Disney Channel lineup.

‘Arrow’ (2012–2020)

After years away, Oliver Queen returns to Starling City and adopts a vigilante persona to target corruption. Stephen Amell stars with Katie Cassidy, David Ramsey, Willa Holland, Emily Bett Rickards, and Paul Blackthorne on The CW.

The superhero drama uses flashbacks, casework, and team expansion to track missions and personal fallout. Episodes feature stunt-heavy set pieces and crossovers that later seeded a shared universe on The CW.

‘Scandal’ (2012–2018)

A crisis management firm in Washington takes on high-profile clients while its founder navigates complex ties to the White House. Kerry Washington leads with Tony Goldwyn, Guillermo Diaz, Katie Lowes, Darby Stanchfield, and Jeff Perry on ABC.

Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series blends case files with serialized conspiracies and rapid-fire dialogue. Episodes rely on conference-room strategy, televised press moments, and late-night calls across ABC’s drama slate.

‘Elementary’ (2012–2019)

A contemporary detective series set in New York, pairing Sherlock Holmes with Dr. Joan Watson in a consultant role for the NYPD. Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu headline, with Aidan Quinn and Jon Michael Hill supporting on CBS.

Cases center on forensic puzzles, corporate intrigue, and personal recovery arcs. The procedural format delivers mostly self-contained episodes with character threads that carry through the CBS schedule.

‘Nashville’ (2012–2018)

The drama follows country artists balancing careers, families, and label politics in Music City. Connie Britton and Hayden Panettiere lead an ensemble that includes Charles Esten, Clare Bowen, and Jonathan Jackson on ABC.

Episodes feature original songs, tour logistics, and studio sessions woven into relationship and business storylines. The series blends performance numbers with label negotiations in an hour-long block on ABC.

‘Call the Midwife’ (2012– )

A period drama about nurse midwives providing care to families in London’s East End. Jessica Raine, Miranda Hart, Helen George, and Jenny Agutter are among the ensemble on BBC One.

Adapted from Jennifer Worth’s memoirs, the series features case-based episodes that explore community health, housing, and social services. Seasonal specials and regular runs anchor its place on BBC One.

‘Line of Duty’ (2012–2021)

The police procedural centers on an anti-corruption unit investigating officers suspected of misconduct. Martin Compston, Vicky McClure, and Adrian Dunbar lead the cast on BBC Two, later moving to BBC One.

Episodes are known for extended interview sequences, case files, and interlinked conspiracies that span multiple series. The show uses cliffhangers and returning characters to build long-form arcs across the BBC schedule.

‘Hatfields & McCoys’ (2012)

This limited series dramatizes a historic family feud along the Tug Fork region. Kevin Costner and Bill Paxton star with Tom Berenger and Powers Boothe on History.

Produced as a short run with feature-length installments, the series focuses on land disputes, court proceedings, and militia involvement. Filming emphasized rural locations and period detail for the History channel audience.

‘Parade’s End’ (2012)

Adapted from Ford Madox Ford’s novels, the limited series follows Christopher Tietjens, his marriage, and shifting social codes. Benedict Cumberbatch and Rebecca Hall lead, with Adelaide Clemens and Rupert Everett on BBC and HBO.

Structured across a handful of long episodes, the production uses country estates, government offices, and front-line scenes to track personal and societal change. It aired as a co-production, slotting into prestige blocks on BBC and HBO.

‘Longmire’ (2012–2017)

A modern Western procedural set in Wyoming, the series follows Sheriff Walt Longmire as he investigates crimes across a vast county. Robert Taylor stars with Katee Sackhoff, Lou Diamond Phillips, Cassidy Freeman, and Bailey Chase on A&E.

Episodes pair stand-alone cases with continuing threads involving tribal jurisdiction, land rights, and personal loss. The show’s runtime fits the hour-long procedural mold, with location filming and seasonal arcs on A&E.

Share your picks for the shows that defined that year in the comments and tell us which ones you still rewatch.