Warning: This article discusses the topics of suicide, death, and violence.
There are several TV shows that audiences are told they must watch, butfor those who struggle to get into a particular title, there are these great alternatives.The best TV shows of all timeare included on everyone’s watch lists, but even though they are undoubtedly incredible, not every story is a good fit. In fact, many people only tune into certain TV shows purely to see what the hype is about.
Many ofthe best bingeworthy TV showsend up becoming all-time favorites of viewers, but this isn’t an exclusive rule. While they try, many just cannot engage with these shows. However, there are plenty of other compelling TV shows that are ideal alternatives becausethey have similarities in storylines, characters, themes, or just overall tone.If you can’t get on board with an all-time classicTV show, try these titles instead.
Weeds
Cast
Weeds is a dark comedy-drama television series that follows the life of Nancy Botwin, a suburban mother who becomes a marijuana dealer after her husband’s sudden death. Starring Mary-Louise Parker as Nancy, the show explores the complexities of her new career and its effects on her family and community.
Weedsis a fantastic alternative toBreaking Bad, especially because theirlead characters share a similar backstory. LikeBreaking Bad,Weedsbegins with protagonist Nancy Botwin getting involved in the world of drug dealing in order to support her family. While Walter White has cancer,Nancy’s abrupt need for extra financial supportis due to the unexpected death of her husband, Judah.
Throughoutall eight seasons of Weeds, Nancy grows and changes as a person, starting asan unaware mother who is thrown into the deep end and ending as an experienced distributor of marijuana.Nancy’s character development is rather similar to Walt’s, and she becomes just as morally ambiguous asBreaking Bad’s high school chemistry teacher. However, there are factors ofWeedsthat make it different fromBreaking Bad.
Weedsrelies on dark comedy a lot more, and it focuses on the Botwins trying to keep their middle-class lifestyle, whereas Walt’s dangerous side hustle is for the sake of his health and keeping a roof over his wife and children’s heads.Breaking Badis undoubtedly enthralling, but for those who find it too intense,Weedsis a perfect alternative.
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.
The Sopranosis a legendary piece of television, and while Tony Soprano’s story is a compelling one, not all viewers are able to engage with it.The Sopranosuses themes that focus on the importance of loyalty and has a large focus on crime families, two qualities that are also very apparent inPeaky Blinders, which is partly based on a true story. There are some differences betweenPeaky BlindersandThe Sopranos, notably the setting and time period, withthe British drama being set in 1920s Birmingham.
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Peaky Blinders’ characters are truly interesting figures. Led by one of the brothers, Tommy, the Shelby family’s gang dominates the streets of their local area and beyond. However, just like withThe Sopranos,Peaky Blinders’subplots and character arcs outside their criminal activities are the show’s true strength,such as Grace’s pregnancy. The show ends with season 6, which is a disappointment for many, but thankfully,thePeaky Blindersmovieis on its way.
The Last Kingdom
Based on the Saxon Stories novel series by Bernard Cornwell, The Last Kingdom tells the story of a man who seeks to reclaim his birthright. Set in 872, the kingdoms that makeup England have come under Dane rule, with Wessex the last one standing under King Alfred. The protagonist, Uhtred, is born of noble descent but is captured by the Danes and raised to be one. As he ages, he must choose between his ancestral home or the family that caught but raised him. Uhted will wrestle with his loyalties as he battles between his Saxon and Dane lineages.
Game of Thronesis unquestionably one of the most discussed TV shows of all time, especially because it has such a convoluted and intricate lore. However, for those who find the backstory and details ofGame of Thronestoo difficult to follow or simply just can’t connect to the characters,The Last Kingdomis an ideal replacement.
The Last Kingdom’s main storyline focuses on Uhtred,a young man who struggles to choose between the family who raised him and his noble ancestry, a character arc that is comparable to Jon Snow’s.Every character inThe Last Kingdomhas a real counterpartfrom history, including Uhtred himself. Although it is fictional, the fascinating blend of real-life facts and creative ideas provides a brilliant watch, andevery season ofThe Last Kingdomis historically accurateto some degree.
The Last Kingdomhas picturesque cinematography that highlights both the beauty and grittiness of its medieval world
The Last Kingdomhaspicturesque cinematography that highlights both the beauty and grittiness of its medieval world,but it also brings Bernard Cornwell’s series of novels to life perfectly. While it is also full of complex narratives and gripping drama,The Last Kingdomis more condensed and easier to understand thanGame of Thrones.
Abbott Elementary
Abbott Elementary is a mockumentary comedy series centered around a group of dedicated teachers at a struggling public school in Philadelphia. The show highlights their efforts to overcome bureaucratic challenges and underfunding, while showcasing their commitment to making a positive impact on their students' lives.
The Officeis one ofthe best sitcoms of all timeand famously keeps audiences laughing with the ridiculous antics of the staff at Dunder Mifflin Scranton.The Officecomes from the likes of Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, who are also behind other hilarious TV shows likeParks and Recreation,Brooklyn Nine-Nine, andThe Good Place. However, another incredible sitcom currently on the air that isn’t by the pair isAbbott Elementary, which doesan amazing job with the mockumentary format.
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Abbott Elementaryticks many boxes thatThe Officedoes, too.Abbott Elementary’s main relationshipstoryline, between Janine and Gregory, is very will-they-won’t-they and similar to Jim and Pam, for example.There are also plenty of wild and wacky characters who are ridiculously unpredictable, like Ava, and others who try to keep everyone else in line, like Barbara. The mockumentary format in sitcoms is extremely popular, butAbbott Elementarytakes the concept and refreshes it very well.
BoJack Horseman
Once the famous star of a hit sitcom, BoJack Horseman has fallen on tough times. Stuck in a major career slump and longing to relive his glory days, BoJack attempts to once more become relevant in an industry that has long since turned its back on him. With a few dysfunctional friends at his side, BoJack begins his long-overdue career comeback.
Mad Menis led byJon Hamm’s Don Draper, the creative director of the fictional Sterling Cooper Advertising Agency. Draper drinks and smokes non-stop and thrives in his successful career, but he also has a dark past and a reputation for adultery.Mad Menis very drama-focused, but for those who find the show too serious, a strange but fitting alternative is theanimated Netflix showBoJack Horseman.
At a glance, the two shows don’t appear to be similar, but upon closer examination, they have a lot in common. Like Draper, BoJack struggles with substance abuse and his fame. While he loves being the center of attention, he also constantly battles with the effects of his popularity.
BoJack spends a lot of time reflecting on his misdeeds and how he treats people,especially the women in his life. There are a few comparable qualities between Princess Carolyn andMad Men’s Betty, and she isn’t afraid to call out the titular character when needed.BoJack Horsemanmay be set in a world of anthropomorphic animals, but there are still a lot of parallels between it andMad Men.
Boardwalk Empire
Based on Atlantic City in the 1920s and 1930s, Boardwalk Empire follows political heavyweight “Nucky” Thompson as he battles mobsters, politicians, government agents, and the common folk who look to take him on. Now, with the federal government cracking down on bootlegging and other illegal activities, and everyone looking to take over control of the city, Nucky’s lavish lifestyle is in danger of collapsing.
The Wireis an extremely prominent TV show from recent years anda captivating crime drama that follows Detective Jimmy McNulty.Jimmy’s ongoing quest to clear up the drug-addled streets of Baltimore is engaging and fantastic, even earning the show two Primetime Emmys. There are manyTV shows similar toThe Wire, but for those who struggle to get into it,Boardwalk Empireis worth trying.
The show is set in the Prohibition era of the 1920s and focuses on Enoch “Nucky” Thompson, a real-life historical figure who rises through the ranks and takes control of Atlantic City. AlthoughThe WireandBoardwalk Empiredon’t share a setting or time period, there are similarities between the two. Multiple members of production work on both shows, such as directors Ed Bianchi and Brad Anderson, for example.
In many ways,Boardwalk Empireis the opposite side ofThe Wire’s narrative.Boardwalk Empirehas astounding dialogue and nail-biting storylines, and it delves into the corruption of government, three elements that are also used to describeThe Wire. The two TV shows fascinatingly explore societal structures, butBoardwalk Empiretakes a more villainous side.
Dad’s Army
Dad’s Army is a British sitcom set during World War II, following the misadventures of the bumbling Home Guard platoon in the fictional town of Walmington-on-Sea. Led by the self-important Captain Mainwaring, the civilian group faces various comedic challenges and misunderstandings as they prepare for a potential invasion. The show balances humor with a light-hearted portrayal of wartime Britain and features a memorable ensemble cast.
MAS*Hmay have ended quite a while ago, but it remains one ofthe best military TV shows everand a timeless classic.The brilliant comedy is set during the Korean Warand is about a group of medical professionals stationed at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. In the backdrop of wartime, the likes of Hawkeye and B.J. stick together through all manner of pain and trauma, but with a significantly comical undertone throughout.
However,MAS*Hisn’t the only hilarious war TV show. The British sitcomDad’s Armyhas a very similar narrative and characters.Dad’s Armyis set in the midst of World War II and follows a group of soldiers who prepare for invasion.
Dad’s Armyis definitely more lighthearted thanMASH, which makes it an ideal candidate worth checking out,especially for those who find the hit American show too morbid at times. The characters inDad’s Armyhave many wacky adventures and end up in several ridiculous situations, but the core theme of resilience is still prominent throughout, just likeMASH.
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.
Seinfeldis a groundbreaking sitcom and is often considered the best title of the subgenre. The show is one of the greatest to use focus on a group of people, andSeinfeld’s ensemble cast has created some of the wildest situations in TV history.For example, “The Contest” is agroundbreaking sitcom episodebecause it tackles the taboo topic of masturbation without actually using the word.
Seinfeldhas a universal appeal, but for audiences that don’t click with it,It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiaoffers a similar charm, and there are hundreds of episodes to enjoy.It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphiais essentially an uncensoredSeinfeld.
The gang inIt’s Always Sunnyare baffling people who throw themselves into all kinds of shocking schemes and situations, and they all hype each other up to cause as much chaos as possible.Seinfeldis famously referred to as a show about nothing, andIt’s Always Sunnyis the same. The owners of Paddy’s Pub never truly change or grow; they’re simply wrapped up in their own little world and don’t care about anyone except themselves.
Scrubs
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
Grey’s Anatomyis one of the best medical drama TV showsaround, which is why it has so many seasons.Grey’s Anatomyis full of intriguing and loveable characters, including Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Alex Karev, and more, all of which have their respective storylines rife with drama and profound moments.
The sitcom has its emotional scenes, too, butScrubsis typically a humorous take on TV shows set in hospitals.
However, it’s not uncommon for viewers to struggle to keep up with all the convoluted storylines or even findGrey’s Anatomy’s saddest deathstoo hard to watch.Scrubs, however, is a fantastic, more carefree alternative. The sitcom has its emotional scenes, too, butScrubsis typically a humorous take on TV shows set in hospitals.Each of the characters is hysterically funny, but they are also flawed, which makes it easy to invest in them.
The strong bonds between J.D., Turk, Elliot, Carla, and Cox are amazing, just like the friendshipsGrey’s Anatomysees in every season.Scrubsisn’t afraid to tackle the darker side of medical care, but its story-of-the-week format and the use of conventional sitcom tropes make it more wholesome, and many are excited that a revival is in the works.
The Leftovers
The Leftovers is a three-season drama that follows a group of people as they deal with the effects of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the word’s population. It was created by Lost co-producer Damon Lindelof and Election writer Tom Perrotta, with famous actors such as Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux in the ensemble cast.
DespiteLost’s controversial ending, the TV show is generally considered to be legendary.Lostfocuses on a group of plane crash survivors on a mysterious island and their attempts to return home, only for a bizarre supernatural force to stop them at every turn.Lostis a hotbed for TV show theories, but one common criticism is that it is overly complicated at times.
While this isn’t an issue for everyone, there are examples of other titles that are easier to follow, such asThe Leftovers.Based on Tom Perrotta’s novel of the same name,The Leftoversintroduces a world in which 2% of the population is gone following an enigmatic global event. LikeLost,The Leftoversswitches between multiple narratives that are connected yet separate.
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The Leftovers’ charactersinclude police chief Kevin, widow Nora, and Reverend Matt, and their respective stories all look at their personal lives as well as the overarching problem at hand.The Leftoversisco-created by Damon Lindelof, who is also one of the minds behindLost,so it’s guaranteed thatLost’s famous mind-bending qualities are prominent inThe Leftovers.
