Summary
Plenty of TV shows in recent years have far exceeded my expectations for how popular they would become. While lots of these shows were favorites of mine that I had hoped would succeed, I’ve been continually shocked at just how much particular series have become entrenched in popular culture. In contrast, other high-quality series were doomed to irrelevance. It’s always interesting to try and predict which TV shows will become insanely popular. Still, it’s even more exciting to witness the ones that became way bigger than I ever expected.
This was the case for comedies, dramas, and even animated series that rose above their humble beginnings to become some ofthe best shows ever made.I’m thankful that so many incredible shows could surpass even the most outrageous expectations to become touchstones of popular cultureand have seen major success worldwide. It’s a testament to TV’s consistent ability to surprise viewers that I didn’t see these shows' incredible success coming.
10Schitt’s Creek (2015 - 2020)
6 seasons
Schitt’s Creekwas a well-written sitcom with a strong concept, but when I first encountered it, it did not seem like the type of series that had enduring appeal. With the formally wealthy Rose family as its central focus,Schitt’s Creeklooked like the kind of show that could alienate viewers, and the family’s wayward adaptation to how the other half lived looked set to run out of steam pretty quickly. However,Schitt’s Creeksteadily built up an audience over the years, and before long, I was shocked to see it become way bigger than I ever thought it would.
Schitt’s Creekbuilt up its viewership through streaming and received plenty of extra exposure through its regional appearance on Netflix and dynamic social media presence. Not only that, butSchitt’s Creekimproved throughout its runand maintained its high quality right up until its final sixth season. Although I doubtedSchitt’s Creek’spotential in its early days, I was absolutely delighted to see it make history by sweeping all seven major comedy categories at the 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards for its final season.
Schitt’s Creek
Cast
Schitt’s Creek is a sitcom series created by and starring Dan and Eugene Levy. When the Rose family’s business manager embezzles funds from their fortune, they discover that all of their money is gone except for one last piece of property - a small town called Schitt’s Creek that they purchased for fun years ago. Now forced to acclimate to an average, borderline impoverished life, the Rose family will attempt to make due with what they have while trying to revitalize the town.
9Succession (2018 - 2023)
4 seasons
I was always a huge fan of the British writer Jesse Armstrong, who co-created iconic sitcoms likePeep ShowandFresh Meat, so of course, I was going to check out his latest HBO series,Succession. While I knew this was a great show right from the get-go, I wasn’t convinced that Armstrong’s British sensibilities and tendency toward extremely cringe-inducing writing would translate well to an American audience. That’s why I was so surprised to seeSuccessionnot only find success in the US but become one of the most talked about series in living memory.
I knewSuccessionwould have fantastic writing and humor, but the popularity of the show grew far beyond anything I ever expected. Brian Cox gave a career-defining performance as Logan Roy, and it was impressive to witness one ofthe greatest ensembles ever assembled, as each character contributed something important to the show’s success. I never expectedSuccessionto become a critical darling and cultural phenomenon, but I am so thankful it did and look forward to whatever genius idea Armstrong decides to pursue next.
Succession
Succession is a Black Comedy and Satire television show created by Jesse Armstrong. It stars Hiam Abbass, Nicholas Braun, Brian Cox, and Kieran Culkin and follows the story of an aging conglomerate owner as he deals with his declining health and the sudden realization that one of his children will soon inherit his position and run his company.
5 seasons
When I first heard there was a new TV show starring Hal fromMalcolm in the Middleas a high school chemistry teacher turned meth cook, I assumed it was a wacky half-hour sitcom. Then, imagine my shock when I tuned in to witness not just an intense drama but one of the greatest television viewing experiences of my life. While I connected deeply withBreaking Bad, nobody I talked to seemed to be watching the series as it flew under the radar in its earliest seasons.
However, this all changed in seasons four and five whenBreaking Badhit Netflix, and everybody who had been sleeping on this incredible show caught up on it. While I always knewBreaking Badwas great, I never expected it to expand into a major franchise withthe equally astounding prequel showBetter Call Sauland the Jesse-focused movieEl Camino.Breaking Badbecame bigger than I ever imagined, and I’m so thankful it did because it always kept its quality high and stood amongthe greatest characterstudies ever depicted on the small screen.
Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad, created by Vince Gilligan, follows a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin named Walter White (Bryan Cranston) as he attempts to provide for his family following a fatal diagnosis. With nothing left to fear, White ascends to power in the world of drugs and crime, transforming the simple family man into someone known only as Heisenberg.
7The Bear (2022 - Present)
3 seasons
Before the FX for Hulu seriesThe Bearpremiered, it looked like a series that would fly under the radar. As an insightful dramedy about a talented chef inheriting his brother’s New York sandwich shop, I prejudgedThe Bearas the type of show that would gain a lot of critical acclaim for its impressive writing and talented performers but was destined to become an underappreciated cult classic. These expectations were well and truly confounded, and I was delighted to seeThe Bearbecome one of the most hyped-up shows of 2022.
The Bearstruck a chord with viewers because so many audience members had experience in the service industry, and the show perfectly captured the anxiety, joy, and stresses of these kinds of jobs. With a talented cast,The Bearmade stars out of Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri, and I think its incredible performances and realistic writing made for compelling viewing. What I found even more surprising was howThe Bear’saesthetic has affected contemporary fashion trends, as it’s hard to walk into a restaurant these days without spotting a stressed chef sporting one of Carmy’s signature white T-shirts.
6Rick And Morty (2013 - Present)
7 seasons
I became a fan of theRick and Mortyco-creator Dan Harmon through his excellent sitcomCommunity.I soon found myself diving into his earlier work, making hilarious shorts for Channel 101. This introduced me to Justin Roiland’s unique comedic style. I was then delighted to hear that the two creators were collaborating on a new animated series based on Roiland’sBack to the Futureparody short. Considering both creators often struggled to find mainstream appeal, I expectedRick and Mortyto become a cult favorite with about as much cultural relevance as any other underrated Adult Swim series.
Rick and Mortysurprised me big time, as not only did the show find success, it became a worldwide hit that spawned endless merchandise and whose quotes have been entrenched in popular culture. Whileviewers' reactions to Pickle Rick or the show’s Szechuan sauce sanctification could be grating at times, these aspects madeRick and Mortyfar more popular than I could have ever imagined. With seven seasons and counting,Rick and Mortytruly exceeded all expectations to become the best of all of Adult Swim’s original programming.
Rick and Morty
Rick and Morty is an animated science fiction series that follows the eccentric scientist Rick Sanchez and his impressionable grandson Morty Smith as they embark on perilous adventures across space and alternate dimensions. The show explores the impact of these exploits on Morty’s tumultuous family life and personal challenges.
5The Mandalorian (2019 - Present)
The Mandalorianpremiered in 2019, the same year that the final installment in theStar Warssequel trilogy,The Rise of Skywalker, was released. I, like so many others, was disappointed in the sequel trilogy and felt like the great set-up ofThe Force Awakenshad been squandered by a lack of consistent vision throughout the subsequent films. With this in mind, I didn’t have a lot of hope for Disney’s attempts to bringStar Warsto Disney+ with the television seriesThe Mandalorian.
I thought that viewers were reaching a point ofStar Warsfatigue and that putting out more TV shows would lead to an overload of content and that viewers would tune out. I couldn’t have been more wrong, asThe Mandaloriancaptured what was great aboutStar Warsand delivered fun-filled space Western adventures each week. Not only that, but the cute baby Yoda-like Grogu helped catapult the series to popularity beyond anything I could have expected and greatly contributed to the show’s incredible appeal.
The Mandalorian
Released on June 18, 2025 The Mandalorian follows a lone gunfighter navigating the galaxy’s outer reaches after the Galactic Empire’s fall. As a skilled bounty hunter, he operates in a lawless universe, undertaking various missions on the fringes of the New Republic’s territories.
4Squid Game (2021 - Present)
1 season
It’s truly hard to predict which TV shows will become major talking points and which will be released to little fanfare or engagement, and I believe it could have gone either way forSquid Game. As a South Korean television series that was deeplyinspired by its creator Hwang Dong-hyuk’s economic strugglesand the class disparity seen in South Korea, this could have been a show entirely ignored by Western audiences. However, these themes were also universal, andSquid Gamestruck a chord with viewers, making it one of Netflix’s most-watched series.
Squid Gamecertainly exceeded my expectations and became far bigger than I ever could have imagined. Not only were hordes of viewers tuning in to watchSquid Gamein record numbers, but it also spawned a reality show calledSquid Game: The Challenge, where players competed for the largest cash prize ever seen on television. It remains to be seen ifSquid GameSeason 2will be able to repeat this success, but one thing’s for sure: I won’t underestimate its appeal again.
Squid Game
Squid Game is a South Korean series released in 2021 that follows numerous financially struggling participants who are invited to partake in children’s games with deadly outcomes. As they compete, they vie for a substantial cash prize, all while navigating lethal challenges orchestrated by mysterious figures.
3Baby Reindeer (2024)
The British black comedy thriller seriesBaby Reindeerdealt with incredibly dark topics of stalking, sexual assault, and trauma. These deeply controversial topics madeBaby Reindeera series that I thought would gain critical acclaim, but I was unsure of its potential to reach a mainstream audience. However, these prejudices were soon confounded as I witnessedBaby Reindeerbecome the most talked about Netflix series in living memory as viewers unpackedthe shocking acts of Martha Scott.
While I was surprised to seeBaby Reindeergain such strong viewership, I was happy for its creator, writer, and star, Richard Gadd, to gain such incredible exposure.Gadd’s difficult story deserved to be told, and I was impressed with the nuanced way he shone a light on issues of male fragility and the emotional complexity of a confused sexual orientation.Baby Reindeerwas a unique show, and I was glad to see so many viewers go outside their comfort zones to take in its unsettling narrative.
Baby Reindeer
Baby Reindeer is a dark comedy series based on a true story and a stage play of the same name. It centers around Gus, a barista who becomes the focus of an intense and unsettling obsession by one of his customers, Martha. After a seemingly harmless interaction, Martha’s fascination with Gus spirals out of control and begins to wreak havoc on his life.
2Stranger Things (2016 - Present)
Back whenthe first season ofStranger Thingsaired in 2016, I immediately connected with its nostalgia-driven aesthetic that brought to mind the works of Steven Spielberg, H.P. Lovecraft, and Stephen King. The show was an immediate hit and one of the major releases that solidified Netflix’s position as a producer of some of the most engaging content today. However, if you told me back then thatStranger Thingswould still be at the forefront of popular culture almost a decade later, I would have been shocked.
WhileStranger Thingsdeserves all the acclaim it received and has stood out as among the best Netflix shows, its staying power has far exceeded anything I could have imagined. With every subsequent season,Stranger Thingsbecame grander and more ambitious, and I look forward to seeing how it will outdo itself again in its upcoming final season.Stranger Thingsmade major stars out of its cast, and I have been consistently impressed by how actors like Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard have used the show as a springboard to major success in Hollywood.
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.
1The Office (2005 - 2013)
9 seasons
The Officehas become such a touchstone of popular culture that it’s hard to even remember the early days before it achieved such widespread success. But looking back, I recall the success ofThe Officewas not such a sure thing, and the plotlines from its first episodes were simply copied and pasted from the original Ricky Gervais UK version of the show. Had the series not found a way to carve its own path, that could have been where the story ended, and the enduring legacy ofThe Officemay never have happened at all.
However, all that changed when Steve Carell’s portrayal of Michael Scott was reimagined in a way that played better to that actor’s strengths and imitated less from Gervais’ David Brent. After making that change,The Officebecame far bigger than I ever could have imagined, and its popularity has only increased through its exposure on streaming platforms.The Officehas now become the comfort show of countless viewersand has achieved enduring success way beyond anybody’s wildest expectations.
The Office
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.
