The best drama series HAS TO BE Breaking Bad. It was a full story conceived with beginning, middle, end. No other series has come close to the bones, the structure, the framework of a true (long) story. Like a novel come to life. It was not “thinking of episodes to put my characters in” but all part of a Whole. That structure is the first reason why it’s better than other series.
Next, the cinematography was so excellent it stole scenes from the actors.
The writing was original. The characters were diverse, fleshed out, complicated, yet realistic. You did NOT know what was going to happen, but neither were you stunned and shocked by a million cheap plot explosions. You were brought along, and when something shocked, it felt genuine, not like you were tricked by a lazy writer.
And the acting was superlative. The serious drama, the characters very well played. There is no way to describe the work of Bryan Cranston as his character transforms. It was sublime acting. And he didn’t stand out much in his technique as the other stars and even those in small parts were also brilliantly, subtly directed and played. It was no comedy yet every time Bob Odenkirk came on screen, he chewed up the scenery in a good way. It’s hard to be that subtly funny in such serious situations but he nailed it.
The one potential negative is that it IS a violent show. Not everyone can watch them. Sometimes I can’t. I was pregnant when someone introduced me to the series and when it came to the bathtub episode, I just couldn’t. So after nine months I started watching again, and I caught up to the series by the second half of the final season and got to watch the finale live with the country. The song used in the finale gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it now and always will.
The choice of music used in the show was flawless as well. From "Crystal Blue Persuasion" to "Baby Blue" the music was very well chosen.
Also, it had probably the perfect ending. Most great TV shows really flub the final episode. This one was pretty much perfect.
Second place on my list of best TV shows would go to "Mad Men". Probably because I work in Manhattan and can identify with much of the culture. My father would have been exactly Don Draper's age during the show and I remember visiting his workplace in the mid 1960s and it was just like that. Everybody smoked, had liquor in their offices and the secretaries were often a little wild and crazy. Really a good period piece and another show where you had to pay attention to each episode. And the music selection in that show was flawless as well. The only thing I didn't like that much about "Mad Men" was all the sex scenes. But my father confirmed that there was a lot of fooling around during that era.