Scattered among thebest television shows of all time, some series have stood out to me across the years courtesy of their sheer rewatchability. Growing up with an array of iconic comedies, these shows have primarily been sitcoms in my personal experience, with their comfortable, predictable, and self-contained nature lending to an easily digestible and feel-good viewing experience. As such,these tend to be the ones that audiences rarely get tired of repeating, no matter how many times they might have seen the show in question.
However, this isn’t the only standout quality that appeals to me and other viewers when it comes to pondering a rewatch. Several of television’s more serious outings have also been proven to offer timeless and endlessly compelling viewing, whether that be due to their rich tapestry of characters, riveting storylines, or generally unforgettable moments. While several ofthe best sitcoms of all timefeature heavily in the list oftelevision shows that I will never get tired of rewatching,this is by no means a prerequisite for consideration.
The Office
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This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
For whatever reason, NBC’sThe Officenever sounded that appealing on paper, if you’ll pardon the pun. The idea of nine seasons capturing the eye-watering monotony of a dreary paper supply company sounded like literal hell, no matter how great of a comedic spin the producers had hypothetically managed to imbue their show with. Looking back, this seems like the height of irony, considering just what a seminal piece of comedic television the workplace comedy turned out to be,stuffed with iconic characters, sketches, and soundbites that have stood the test of time since the show concluded in 2013.
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While the show suffers a notable drop-off in quality following theexit of Steve Carrell’s Michael Scottin Season 7, it speaks volumes to the inherent rewatchability of the mockumentary that even the show’s final two seasons remain an uproariously entertaining romp without the presence of its inimitable leading man.The Officewas one of my first experiences of a legitimately sidesplitting show that didn’t feature a laugh track, serving as my first indication that this tired method of sitcom production had slid into literal antiquity.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
From the creative minds of Dan Goor and Michael Schur comes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a police comedy series set in the NYPD’s fictional 99th precinct. Headed by the comedically serious Captain Raymond Holt and protagonist Jake Peralta, the detectives of the 99 deal with burglaries, drug deals, and oddities in New York City, occasionally steering into real-world issues surrounding police perception and social concerns in the 2010s and earlier. Each detective has their own unique personality that makes them stand out, creating endearing dynamics that helped the show thrive for eight seasons.
Attempting to persuade me to give police procedural sitcomBrooklyn Nine-Ninea go, a friend simply said of the show:“It will cheer you up.“They weren’t wrong. While I was originally skeptical of a played-out concept like funny cops,Brooklyn Nine-Nine’sinfectious energy and feel-good aura made a fan out of a cynic in short order.Carried by the standout efforts of an ensemble cast, trying to get through an episode ofBrooklyn Nine-Ninewithout smiling can be equated to the notion of Terry trying to resist a lifetime’s supply of yogurt.
While the later seasons of the show depicting the life and times of the 99th NYPD precinct may have fallen off in quality, earlier installments ofBrooklyn Nine-Ninearguably present some of the sharpest and funniest dialogue that recent comedy has to offer, without having to rely on outrageously vulgar humor. Spearheaded by a career-best turn from Andy Samberg,Brooklyn Nine-Nineis sweet without ever veering into the realms of sickly or cloying,a relentlessly upbeat show that never fails to elicit a smile even on life’s more difficult days.
Archer
Archer, released in 2009, follows Sterling Archer, a formidable spy working at ISIS, a spy agency headed by his mother. Balancing conflicts with his co-workers, including a former girlfriend, Archer navigates global crises and personal entanglements with his signature approach to espionage.
Like many prospective viewers, I was initially put off byArcher’sunique style of animation. As somebody who had grown up withFamily GuyandThe Simpsons, the show’s vastly differing visuals meant that when I was shown an episode of the adult animated sitcom focused on the life and times of the titular alcoholic spy, I was unconvinced, to say the least. However, twenty minutes later I was hooked, instantly captivated by the quality of the vocal performances and the acid wit of Adam Reed’s gloriously wacky spy comedy.
Prolific voice over artist H. Jon Benjamin is also known for his performances in animated sitcom offerings likeBob’s BurgersandFamily Guy.
Archerdoes its best work with hilarious running jokes, meaning that viewers have to settle into proceedings to enjoy the show to its fullest extent. Fortunately, it boasts eleven series differing wildly in tone, style, and even historical setting,meaning that there’s something for fans of every ilk to sink their teeth into.H. Jon Benjamin’s turn as Archer is one of the finest comedy voice-over performances in history, producing a masterclass in the art of the deadpan one-liner that never fails to elicit howls of laughter, no matter how many times I find myself rewatching Reed’s glorious sitcom.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia is a television series that premiered in 2005, chronicling the chaotic lives of four self-involved friends running an Irish pub in Philadelphia. Their misguided decisions and skewed perspectives often result in amusing and uncomfortable situations, complicating their professional and personal relationships.
Remarkably for a television show that has been airing since 2005, I was relatively late to theIt’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaparty. I had always heard the sitcom referred to glowingly and been shown clips fromAlways Sunny’s best episodesover the years, but the over-saturation of bar-based comedies meant that this had never been one I was dying to sink my teeth into. Locked in my studio throughout the pandemic, this changed in short order. I finally decided to give the long-running show a try, and in Frank Reynold’s immortal words,“I get it.”
…an innate ability to balance outrageous humor with some genuinely heartfelt moments highlights why it’s one of television’s longest-running sitcoms…
Juggling the fraught topics of racism and homophobia for the pilot episode, the sitcom begins in such jarringly offensive fashion that it has likely put many viewers off instantly. Ironically, this is where the show’s brilliance lies, using some of television’s most unusual characters to gleefully poke fun at taboo topics in a riotously funny style. Nothing aboutIt’s Always Sunnyshould work, butan innate ability to balance outrageous humor with some genuinely heartfelt momentshighlights why it’s one of television’s longest-running sitcoms, as well as one that I will never grow tired of watching and laughing at.
Peep Show
Peep Show is a British sitcom that premiered in 2003, following the lives of two dysfunctional roommates, Mark Corrigan and Jeremy “Jez” Usborne, played by David Mitchell and Robert Webb, respectively. The show explores their misadventures, relationships, and struggles in contemporary London.
Of all the cult classic comedy shows that British television has to offer, there will always be a special place in my heart reserved for the David Mitchell and Robert Webb-led sitcom,Peep Show. Capturing the hilarious dysfunction at the heart of one of television’s most comical odd couples,Peep Showwas critically acclaimed but failed to garner high viewing figures across the course of a twelve-year run, with many citing the sitcom’s POV style of cinematography as an accessibility issue for many fans.
It’s a crying shame because nine seasons of a timeless classic are waiting for anybody willing to look past the show’s unique style of filming. Featuring some of the mosthilariously uncomfortable situations in comedy history,Peep Show’scocktail of outrageous storylines and wickedly dark humor is carried by two career-best performances from its leading duo, who never fail to leave viewers in tears of laughter as serial losers, Mark Corrigan and Jeremy Usbourne. Capturing the cynical and self-deprecating nature of British comedy flawlessly,Peep Showis an iconic sitcom that I will never grow tired of revisiting.
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is centered around the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club Redwood Original (SAMCRO), exploring the tensions between President Clay and Vice President Jax in the town of Charming. The narrative focuses on their differing visions for the club’s operations, blending legal and illegal enterprises.
WhenSons of Anarchywas described to me as"Hamlet on Harley-Davidsons,“I had to stifle a chuckle of disbelief. Filled with macho posturing, rock music, and cheesy one-liners, the various promos I had seen for FX’s biker crime drama focusing on the titular motorcycle gang painted a picture of a clichéd action series; how little did I know. Eventually embarking down the SAMCRO rabbit hole on a random whim, Kurt Sutter’s magnificent universe rose up to meet me like an endless highway.
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Boasting an incredibly diverse array of uniquely compelling storylines, rich characters, and terrifying villains across seven seasons,Sons of Anarchypresents such a raw and layered viewing experience that it’s impossible to get tired of Sutter’s magnum opus, no matter how many times one might have seen it. WithSons of Anarchy’s shocking and tragic moments, the show’s jaw-dropping narrative twists and turns land with such devastating emotional potency that they invariably elicit a response from viewers, even if they already know what is coming through bitter experience.
Peaky Blinders
Peaky Blinders is a historical crime drama created and written by Steven Knight and starring Cillian Murphy, Sam Neill, and Helen McCrory. The television show is based on the gang, Peaky Blinders, a group that banded together after the end of World War I.
One of the greatest period crime dramas of all time,Steven Knight’sPeaky Blinderscontinues to age like a fine wine from the perspective of one of the show’s die-hard fans.Adopting a nuanced change in tone and style for each installment to fit each new season’s uniquely compelling central narrative thread,Peaky Blindersalso served as the mainstream springboard for contentiously the most gifted actor plying his craft today inOppenheimer’sAcademy Award-winning star Cillian Murphy.
The upcomingPeaky Blindersfeature-length movie,The Immortal Man, will see the return of Tommy Shelby.
WhilePeaky Blinders had many shocking character deathsand plot twists, the aspect of Steven Knight’s epic crime drama that always impressed me the most was the show’s ability to frequently cram a season’s worth of blockbuster developments into the span of an episode. The high stakes and drama on offer were of such an intensity that I was always subconsciously prepared for the credits to roll, only for the scene in question to often reveal that it was merely the halfway point of the episode.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
Growing up with beloved movie staples of the 1980s courtesy of my parents' generation, nostalgic sci-fi horror dramaStranger Thingsalways spoke to me on an exceedingly personal level. Playing out like a passionate love letter to a bygone era, the Duffer Brothers' outing blends multiple genres masterfully to produce a series that appeals to all manner of audiences;a status quo that lends to the Netflix flagship offering’s status as one of the most rewatchable shows of all time.
Featuring several bumper-length episodes that play out like miniature blockbusters, there’s no shortage of rich characters and nuanced storylines to be found inStranger Things.It’s another factor that means the show always remains exciting and compelling on second viewing, even if the audience knows what is ultimately coming. WithStranger Things’fifth and final seasonslated to drop in 2025, there has arguably never been a better time to revisit the events of the first four seasonsfor a nostalgic refresher before the show concludes.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he navigates the challenges of managing his family and criminal enterprise. He seeks guidance from psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi while dealing with complex dynamics involving his wife Carmela, cousin Christopher Moltisanti, and other Mafia associates. Released in 1999, this series delves into organized crime and personal struggles.
Widely lauded as one of the greatest television offerings of all time,The Sopranosis the rare example of a show that lives up to the hype in every regard imaginable.I had heard it described as television without equal by virtually every person I had discussed it with, meaning that my expectations were sky-high going into this acclaimed crime drama. As I embarked on the story of Tony Soprano’s epic life journey, the skeptic in me waited for the series' first moment demonstrating a flaw in the James Gandolfini-led story.
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Season Six - Part II
This moment failed to materialize at any point across six seasons before the finale’s iconic cut to black. There’s a valid argument to be made thatThe Sopranospossesses no weak episodes, a near-perfect run of television stretching across eight years that holds up in watchability and entertainment factor to this very day. From the powerhouse performances to the deft manner in which the show handles relevant and controversial social topics, David Chase’s epic series remains the closest thing to a faultless television show that I have ever witnessed; an American masterpiece that will never get old.
Game Of Thrones
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
As a die-hard fan of George R.R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firenovel series, the contrived ending to HBO’sGame of Throneshit me particularly hard. While the show’s maligned final season wasn’t as bad as many fans made it out to be, the rushed ending still didn’t represent a worthy conclusion for what was contentiously the most impressive television outing of all time; a generational epic andnear-perfect fantasy showthat had boldly staked a claim as television’s answer toThe Lord of the Rings.
I’ve Only Learned To Love Game Of Thrones' Series Finale More, 5 Years After It Ended
It’s been five years since Game of Thrones season 8, episode 6, “The Iron Throne,” and the series finale has aged well, despite causing a backlash.
Fortunately, this remarkable level of inherent quality is whyGame of Throneswill always be a show that I never get tired of rewatching,even if I have my issues with the hasty manner in which it concluded. Chronicling the epic battle for the Iron Throne, the show’s ensemble cast, intricate narrative, and an array of staggering blockbuster episodes are among the most thrilling examples that popular culture has to offer.Game of Thrones’earlier installments easily represent some of the finest seasons of television ever conceived.
