2015 was the year streaming television truly flexed its muscles. Netflix went from being “the place for reruns” to the home of bold, original storytelling. Traditional cable still had its prestige giants (Game of Thrones), while fresh genre experiments (Sense8, Into the Badlands) pushed boundaries. From superhero origins to twisted period dramas, these ten shows defined the television landscape of 2015.
10. The Lizzie Borden Chronicles: Season 1 (Lifetime)
Starring Christina Ricci as the infamous axe-murderer, this follow-up to Lizzie Borden Took an Ax leaned into gothic pulp. The limited series wasn’t subtle, but Ricci’s sharp, eerie performance gave the story bite. While uneven in tone, it offered a uniquely dark spin on American crime legend.
9. Between: Season 1 (Netflix/Citytv)
Set in a quarantined town where everyone over 22 suddenly dies, Between played like a YA dystopia with high stakes. Jennette McCurdy led a cast of teens fighting to survive in a collapsing society. Though not a critical darling, the concept hooked younger viewers craving a mix of sci-fi and survival drama.
8. Bitten: Season 2 (Syfy/Space)
The Canadian werewolf drama returned with a bloodier, darker second season. Laura Vandervoort shined as Elena Michaels, torn between human life and her supernatural pack. Expanding its mythology and raising the stakes, Bitten cemented itself as a cult favorite in supernatural TV circles.
7. Versailles: Season 1 (Canal+/BBC Two)
A lavish French-English production, Versailles captured the opulence and ambition of Louis XIV’s court. Gorgeously shot and unapologetically decadent, the series balanced political intrigue with romance and betrayal. George Blagden’s performance as the young Sun King anchored the historical spectacle.
6. Death Note: Season 1 (U.S. streaming run)
Though the anime originally aired years earlier in Japan, 2015 marked the year Death Note found massive U.S. streaming traction. Its cat-and-mouse battle between Light Yagami and the detective L reintroduced Western audiences to a landmark psychological thriller. Stylish, tense, and morally provocative, it became essential viewing for new anime fans.
5. Sense8: Season 1 (Netflix)
The Wachowskis took their first swing at television with this ambitious sci-fi epic. Following eight strangers across the globe psychically linked to one another, the show blended action, philosophy, and identity politics. While sometimes messy, its scope, diversity, and heart made it one of Netflix’s most daring projects.
4. Into the Badlands: Season 1 (AMC)
This martial arts dystopia combined wuxia-inspired choreography with post-apocalyptic world-building. Daniel Wu starred as Sunny, a conflicted warrior navigating brutal feudal politics. With jaw-dropping fight scenes and striking visuals, Into the Badlands brought something entirely new to American TV.
3. Jessica Jones: Season 1 (Netflix)
Marvel’s Jessica Jones broke ground as one of the grittiest superhero dramas ever produced. Krysten Ritter’s cynical, hard-drinking private eye faced off against David Tennant’s chilling Kilgrave in a story as much about trauma and survival as capes and powers. Its noir sensibility and feminist edge made it a standout.
2. Daredevil: Season 1 (Netflix)
The series that kickstarted Marvel’s Netflix era, Daredevil was a brutal, street-level counterpoint to the MCU’s glossy films. Charlie Cox’s Matt Murdock, Vincent D’Onofrio’s terrifying Kingpin, and hallway fight sequences that became instant classics proved superhero TV could be cinematic, gritty, and emotionally resonant.
1. Game of Thrones: Season 5 (HBO)
At the peak of its global dominance, Game of Thrones delivered shocking deaths, political betrayals, and hard-hitting spectacle. While controversial (especially the Sansa storyline), it gave fans iconic moments like “Hardhome” and the rise of Cersei’s walk of shame. The series ruled 2015, cementing its status as a cultural juggernaut.
The Verdict
Television in 2015 balanced experimentation with consolidation. Streaming giants like Netflix proved they could produce shows as compelling as cable, while anime (Death Note) and international productions (Versailles) widened the global scope of TV fandom. But it was the Marvel/Netflix universe and Game of Thrones that dominated pop culture, proving audiences craved both intimate, character-driven drama and large-scale spectacle.
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