2010 was the year television proved it could rival cinema in scope, storytelling, and cultural impact. Prestige dramas like Breaking Bad raised the bar for writing, while genre shows such as Doctor Who and The Walking Dead captured global audiences. This year also saw the rise of teen mysteries, anime horror, and experimental comedies, offering something for nearly every viewer. Here are the ten best series of 2010.
10. Raising Hope: Season 1 (Fox)
A quirky family comedy from Greg Garcia (My Name Is Earl), Raising Hope balanced absurdity with heart. Following young Jimmy Chance suddenly raising his infant daughter with help from his eccentric family, the show offered sharp humor and surprising sweetness. Martha Plimpton and Cloris Leachman stole scenes, making this an underdog sitcom gem.
9. Pretty Little Liars: Season 1 (ABC Family)
The addictive teen mystery thriller debuted with a bang, quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon. Following four friends haunted by secrets and an anonymous tormentor known as “A,” the series mixed soap opera melodrama with genuine suspense. It wasn’t always subtle, but its mix of mystery, fashion, and romance captured a massive fanbase.
8. Highschool of the Dead: Season 1 (Madhouse)
This zombie anime combined survival horror with over-the-top action and striking animation. Following a group of high school students fighting their way through the apocalypse, Highschool of the Dead blended gore, fan service, and kinetic energy. It was divisive, but its wild energy made it unforgettable in 2010’s genre lineup.
7. Nikita: Season 1 (The CW)
A stylish reboot of the La Femme Nikita story, this action-thriller starred Maggie Q as a rogue assassin taking on the covert agency that trained her. With slick fight choreography, conspiratorial plotting, and strong performances, Nikita offered one of The CW’s most polished and grounded series of the decade.
6. Smallville: Season 10 (The CW)
The long-running Superman prequel came to a climactic close in its tenth season. Fans finally got to see Clark Kent embrace his destiny, with nods to iconic DC lore. While uneven at times, the finale provided satisfying closure to one of the most ambitious superhero shows of its era.
5. True Blood: Season 3 (HBO)
By its third season, True Blood had fully embraced its gothic soap opera identity. Vampires, werewolves, and supernatural politics kept the stakes high in Bon Temps. Anna Paquin and Stephen Moyer anchored the drama, but it was the messy mix of sex, blood, and camp that made it a guilty pleasure phenomenon.
4. Sherlock: Series 1 (BBC)
Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss reimagined Sherlock Holmes for the modern age with razor-sharp writing and stylistic flair. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman had electric chemistry as Holmes and Watson, while stories like “A Study in Pink” brought Conan Doyle’s classics to life with 21st-century energy. Smart, stylish, and addictive, it redefined crime drama for the decade.
3. Doctor Who: Series 5 (BBC)
Matt Smith’s debut season as the Eleventh Doctor reinvigorated the franchise. Guided by showrunner Steven Moffat, Doctor Who leaned into fairy-tale wonder with standout episodes like “The Eleventh Hour” and “Vincent and the Doctor.” Karen Gillan’s Amy Pond brought fresh energy, and the season cemented Smith as a fan-favorite Doctor.
2. The Walking Dead: Season 1 (AMC)
Premiering on Halloween, The Walking Dead became an instant cultural juggernaut. Frank Darabont’s direction, Andrew Lincoln’s performance, and the mix of horror and character drama elevated zombie storytelling to prestige television. At only six episodes, its debut season was tight, emotional, and unforgettable — setting up a franchise that would dominate the decade.
1. Breaking Bad: Season 3 (AMC)
At its peak, Breaking Bad delivered some of the finest storytelling on television. Bryan Cranston’s Walter White and Aaron Paul’s Jesse Pinkman descended deeper into moral compromise, with the introduction of Gus Fring adding a chilling new layer. Tense, unpredictable, and perfectly acted, season three secured the show’s place as a modern masterpiece.
The Verdict
2010’s TV landscape balanced experimentation with cultural dominance. Prestige shows like Breaking Bad raised artistic standards, while genre series like The Walking Dead and Doctor Who proved sci-fi and horror could be mainstream. From anime gore (Highschool of the Dead) to slick espionage (Nikita), the year had something for everyone. Looking back, 2010 feels like the year television began to claim its new golden age.
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