The Absolute Best TV Shows of 2013

There was a lot happening on TV in 2013, from final chapters that wrapped up long-running stories to bold premieres that redefined what audiences could stream or watch weekly. Drama, comedy, animation, and genre series each pushed their corners of television forward, and a surprising number of them debuted or peaked in the same calendar year.

This list gathers series that either launched in 2013 or delivered a defining season then. You will find quick, useful notes on what each show is about, who made it, key cast members, and where it aired, including the networks that brought them to screens. Think of it as a snapshot of the year’s small-screen heavy hitters.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

Created by Vince Gilligan, this crime drama tracks a chemistry teacher who partners with a former student to manufacture methamphetamine in Albuquerque. Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Betsy Brandt, RJ Mitte, Bob Odenkirk, Jonathan Banks, and Giancarlo Esposito anchor the cast across five seasons with tightly serialized storytelling and character arcs that escalate episode by episode.

The show ran on AMC, which scheduled its final run across two halves and supported companion programming that dissected each installment. Production used on-location shooting in New Mexico, practical effects for key set pieces, and a writers’ room known for mapping out long-range plot turns before scripts were assigned.

‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)

Adapted from George R. R. Martin’s fantasy novels, this ensemble epic weaves political maneuvering, family rivalries, and supernatural threats across multiple continents. Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Lena Headey, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Maisie Williams, and Sophie Turner lead a large international cast.

The series aired on HBO, which backed extensive location filming in Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iceland, and Spain along with large-scale visual effects. Episodes combined practical sets with digital extensions, and the production employed a rotating team of directors to manage parallel storylines.

‘House of Cards’ (2013–2018)

Based on the British miniseries, this political drama follows a congressional power couple navigating Washington through calculated alliances and media manipulation. Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright star, with supporting turns from Michael Kelly, Mahershala Ali, Corey Stoll, and Kate Mara.

It premiered on Netflix as one of the service’s first major originals, released in a full-season drop that encouraged binge viewing. The show used digital cinematography with a distinct visual palette and maintained close coordination with a dedicated editorial team to deliver its streaming-first schedule.

‘Orange Is the New Black’ (2013–2019)

Created by Jenji Kohan and based on Piper Kerman’s memoir, this ensemble dramedy centers on the lives of women in a minimum-security federal prison. Taylor Schilling leads alongside Uzo Aduba, Danielle Brooks, Natasha Lyonne, Laura Prepon, Kate Mulgrew, and a wide ensemble cast representing multiple backstories.

The series streamed on Netflix, which supported a hybrid tone balancing humor and drama across hour-long episodes. Production used a standing prison set with modular cell blocks and staged flashbacks with period-appropriate design to expand character histories.

‘The Americans’ (2013–2018)

This Cold War drama, created by Joe Weisberg, follows two deep-cover Soviet operatives posing as a suburban couple outside Washington. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys star, with Noah Emmerich, Holly Taylor, Margo Martindale, and Costa Ronin in key roles.

The show aired on FX, which scheduled it as a prestige weekday anchor and marketed its period craft, including wardrobe and vehicles matching the setting. The production shot in New York, using practical neighborhoods and a mix of interior sets to recreate government offices and safe houses.

‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)

Developed by Bryan Fuller from characters by Thomas Harris, this psychological thriller explores the early professional relationship between a gifted profiler and a sophisticated psychiatrist who secretly kills and cooks his victims. Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen star, with Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas, and Gillian Anderson supporting.

The series ran on NBC, which aired it in a late-evening slot due to its graphic content and supported it with content advisories. Production emphasized stylized cinematography, practical effects for forensic scenes, and collaboration with culinary consultants to design on-screen dishes.

‘Orphan Black’ (2013–2017)

This sci-fi thriller centers on a woman who discovers she is one of many clones and becomes entangled in a conspiracy spanning biotech corporations and secret organizations. Tatiana Maslany portrays multiple distinct characters, supported by Jordan Gavaris, Maria Doyle Kennedy, and Kristian Bruun.

It aired on BBC America in North America, with Temple Street Productions handling filming in Toronto and surrounding areas. The show relied on motion-control rigs, split-screen techniques, and body doubles to stage scenes with multiple clone characters interacting in one frame.

‘Broadchurch’ (2013–2017)

Set in a coastal town, this crime drama follows two detectives investigating the death of a local boy and the ripple effects across the community. David Tennant and Olivia Colman lead the cast, with Jodie Whittaker, Andrew Buchan, and Arthur Darvill among the ensemble.

The series broadcast on ITV in the UK, using location shooting on the Jurassic Coast to establish its setting. Production adopted a tight secrecy protocol by issuing partial scripts to preserve mystery and scheduled episodes to encourage weekly audience speculation.

‘Top of the Lake’ (2013–2017)

Created by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, this mystery series follows a detective returning to her hometown to investigate a disappearance while confronting personal history. Elisabeth Moss stars alongside David Wenham, Peter Mullan, and Holly Hunter.

It aired on SundanceTV in the United States with a co-production arrangement involving BBC Two. Filming used remote landscapes and natural light where possible, and episodes were later presented as extended installments at select festivals before television broadcast.

‘Rectify’ (2013–2016)

This character study follows a man released from death row after new DNA evidence and his efforts to reintegrate into his small Southern town. Aden Young leads, with Abigail Spencer, J. Smith-Cameron, Luke Kirby, and Clayne Crawford in support.

The series aired on SundanceTV, which positioned it as an auteur-driven drama with a shorter-episode season format. Production favored quiet, location-based scenes and worked with a consistent director of photography to maintain a restrained visual approach.

‘Masters of Sex’ (2013–2016)

Based on the work of William Masters and Virginia Johnson, this period drama tracks the research team’s studies and the professional and personal hurdles around their project. Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan star, with Caitlin FitzGerald, Teddy Sears, and Annaleigh Ashford in key roles.

It premiered on Showtime, which paired the series with other adult-oriented dramas on Sunday nights. Production used soundstages for hospital and university environments and collaborated with wardrobe departments to build era-specific costumes for lab and home settings.

‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)

Set in the advertising world, this series follows the professional campaigns and private lives of an agency’s staff in New York. Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, January Jones, John Slattery, Christina Hendricks, and Vincent Kartheiser lead the ensemble.

AMC broadcast the show with carefully spaced season breaks and episode runtimes that varied slightly to accommodate period pacing. The production invested in historical accuracy through prop rentals, archival research, and practical set builds for offices, apartments, and client spaces.

‘The Good Wife’ (2009–2016)

This legal and political drama centers on an attorney returning to practice after a public scandal involving her spouse. Julianna Margulies stars alongside Christine Baranski, Josh Charles, Archie Panjabi, Matt Czuchry, and Alan Cumming.

The series aired on CBS, occupying a Sunday slot that often required schedule adjustments for live sports overrun. Episodes used a case-of-the-week structure balanced with ongoing arcs, and the show maintained a large roster of recurring guest attorneys, judges, and tech experts.

‘Veep’ (2012–2019)

Armando Iannucci’s political satire follows a vice president and staff navigating daily crises, media cycles, and legislative deals. Julia Louis-Dreyfus leads a cast including Tony Hale, Anna Chlumsky, Reid Scott, Matt Walsh, Timothy Simons, and Kevin Dunn.

HBO aired the series with half-hour episodes and extensive table-read rehearsals to refine rapid-fire dialogue. The production used handheld camerawork and office sets that allowed long takes, and writers revised scripts late in the process to incorporate current procedural details.

‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)

Set in a Midwestern parks department, this mockumentary-style comedy tracks public servants managing projects, permits, and community outreach. Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, and Rob Lowe form the core ensemble.

NBC scheduled the show in a Thursday comedy block and supported documentary-style filming with talking-head interviews and improvisation-friendly sets. Production kept a library of prop signage and municipal documents to build continuity for Pawnee’s civic world.

‘Utopia’ (2013–2014)

This conspiracy thriller follows a group of people who discover a manuscript that appears to predict global events and draws them into a dangerous pursuit. The cast includes Fiona O’Shaughnessy, Adeel Akhtar, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, and Alexandra Roach.

It aired on Channel 4 in the UK, known for bold visual design and distinctive color grading that carried through locations and costumes. The production used graphic-novel-inspired framing and music cues to emphasize the story’s coded messages and shadowy organizations.

‘The Bridge’ (2013–2014)

Adapted from the Scandinavian original, this crime drama opens with a body found on the border between two countries, forcing a joint investigation. Diane Kruger and Demián Bichir lead, with Ted Levine and Annabeth Gish in supporting roles.

FX broadcast the series, filming in and around the U.S.–Mexico border region with bilingual scenes and cross-agency procedural details. The production coordinated with local authorities for location access and used multiple dialect coaches to maintain language authenticity.

‘Rick and Morty’ (2013– )

This animated sci-fi comedy follows a genius inventor and his grandson on interdimensional trips that collide with family life. Voice performers include Justin Roiland, Chris Parnell, Spencer Grammer, and Sarah Chalke.

The show launched on Adult Swim, which scheduled late-night premieres and allowed flexible episode runtimes. Episodes are produced using storyboard-driven animation and a writers’ room that develops season-long continuity through canonical callbacks.

‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013–2022)

Set in postwar Birmingham, this period crime series tracks a family-run gang expanding its operations while dealing with law enforcement and rival outfits. Cillian Murphy stars, with Helen McCrory, Paul Anderson, Sophie Rundle, and Tom Hardy joining across seasons.

It began on BBC Two before moving later within the BBC portfolio, with Netflix handling international distribution. The production used location shoots in the North of England, constructed detailed factory and street sets, and integrated licensed music to underscore period action.

‘The Fall’ (2013–2016)

This Belfast-set crime drama follows a senior investigator tracking a serial killer while local institutions respond to the unfolding case. Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan star, supported by John Lynch, Archie Panjabi, and Niamh McGrady.

BBC Two aired the series in the UK with a compact season structure and limited-run episodes. Filming took place in Northern Ireland with cooperation from local agencies, and the production emphasized procedural accuracy in its depiction of investigative steps.

‘Black Mirror’ (2011– )

An anthology exploring technology’s impact through stand-alone episodes, this series presents different casts and settings each installment. Notable episodes from the period feature actors such as Hayley Atwell, Domhnall Gleeson, and Daniel Rigby.

Channel 4 broadcast the series in the UK before later seasons moved to a different home, and episodes were produced like short films with unique directors and crews. The production’s format allowed varied locations, from rural houses to urban flats, and frequent integration of diegetic screens and interfaces.

‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’ (2013–2021)

This ensemble workplace comedy follows detectives in a New York precinct balancing casework with everyday office dynamics. Andy Samberg, Andre Braugher, Stephanie Beatriz, Terry Crews, Melissa Fumero, Joe Lo Truglio, Chelsea Peretti, and Dirk Blocker make up the main cast.

It premiered on Fox with half-hour episodes and a single-camera format that relied on quick cutaways and cold opens. Production used standing precinct sets with movable walls for action scenes and coordinated with the city for occasional exterior shoots.

‘Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ (2013–2020)

Set within a larger superhero universe, this series follows an intelligence team investigating unusual cases and advanced technology. Clark Gregg headlines with Ming-Na Wen, Chloe Bennet, Iain De Caestecker, and Elizabeth Henstridge in key roles.

ABC aired the show in a prime weekday slot, aligning episodes with franchise film releases for story tie-ins. Visual effects combined digital models with practical props, and the production maintained a stunt team for recurring fight sequences and wire work.

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

This action-drama centers on an ex-convict who assumes the identity of a small-town sheriff while confronting past associates and local power brokers. Antony Starr stars, with Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Hoon Lee, and Lili Simmons in support.

Cinemax broadcast the series with a compact season order and extended action sequences. Filming took place in North Carolina and Pennsylvania stand-ins, and the show used second-unit crews to capture fights and chases with practical effects.

‘Vikings’ (2013–2020)

Inspired by Norse sagas, this historical drama follows a farmer turned raider and the shifting alliances among families and rulers. Travis Fimmel leads, joined by Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Gustaf Skarsgård, and Alexander Ludwig.

The series aired on History, which supported large-scale set construction for longhouses and ships built for water scenes. Production shot in Ireland with regular use of coastal locations, stunt coordination for battle sequences, and visual effects to extend fleets and settlements.

Share your favorites from 2013 and tell us which shows you think still hold up in the comments.