Top 10 Landmark Shows That Were Ahead of Their Time

#10: “Seinfeld” (1989-98)

The ‘80s were a time when sitcoms were generally feel-good, optimistic comedies centered on families or set at someone’s work. Then, along comes “Seinfeld,” which was unabashedly cynical, and while the characters have jobs, it’s not really the focal point. The “plot” is generally about pop cultural and social things and the gang getting into absurd situations. Jerry, George, Elaine, and Kramer may be objectively bad people, but so much of who they are and what they say or do is relatable, that we loved them anyway, foreshadowing the rise of antihero leads. Plus, “Seinfeld” took on progressive topics years before they became common on television. The “show about nothing” was truly something special.

#9: “Twin Peaks” (1990-91; 2017)

This uncanny mystery series has had an unsettlingly large impact on the television landscape. “Twin Peaks” took a relatively simple concept, the mystery surrounding the death of a young woman, and spun it into a dark, subversive, and surreal story. Creator David Lynch’s dark comedy, distinct directorial style, and heavy use of dream sequences were unlike anything else at the time. The show even featured a prominent trans character decades before it became commonplace. “Twin Peaks” has been cited as having influenced everything from “The X-Files” to “Riverdale” and everything in between. We still don’t entirely get it though.

#8: “Star Trek” (1966-69)

This sci-fi series truly went where no one had gone before! To truly do justice to all the ways “Star Trek” was ahead of its time, we’d need an entire video - fortunately, we’ve already done that (check it out). But the short version is, “Star Trek” featured a ton of technology years or decades before they became commonplace, such as cell phones, flat screen displays, personal computers, video calling, and more. The show was also groundbreaking when it came to representation. The bridge crew of the Enterprise featured black and Asian members, as well as a Russian weapons officer - during the Cold War. “Star Trek” envisioned a future full of possibilities, where our divisions no longer mattered and technology could do anything.

#7: “Lost” (2004-10)

While not the only mystery-laden ensemble show, even on our list, “Lost” broke new ground in so many other ways. The series paved the way for the big budget television of today, and it did so on a network channel. The heightened character focus and its emphasis on flashbacks also proved influential. Heavily serialized, “Lost” proved rewarding for those willing to invest in examining minor details, with online discussions and community engagement becoming the new standard for success during the age of the internet. Its heavy use of cliffhangers would also foreshadow the kind of model that keeps viewers watching on streaming services. For several years, every show wanted to be the next “Lost.”

#6: “The Wire” (2002-08)

A look at the police and criminals of Baltimore, “The Wire” set a new bar for crime dramas. Its gritty tone, intricate writing, and superb acting from a cast full of now-recognizable faces have helped make the series among the most acclaimed shows of the 21st century so far. Its complexity has only aged like wine in the years since, with streaming allowing new viewers to dive deeper into its many ongoing plotlines without having to wait weeks in between. Plus, its depiction of LGBT characters was lightyears ahead of its peers. Characters like Omar aren't defined by being gay. Omar is a great character, who just happens to be into other men.

#5: “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

A high school girl turned vampire/monster hunter wouldn’t feel like anything special these days, and that’s largely because this show paved the way. The sheer amount of supernatural teen dramas that have followed in “Buffy”’s wake is staggering. Witty dialogue, feminist overtones, and the perfectly intertwined episodic plots and season-long story arcs were all trendsetting factors too. However, “Buffy” also proved progressive on social issues, like mental illness, school shootings, and trauma. Its depiction of LGBT characters was also innovative for its time and helped normalize their presence on television. If “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” had to “stake” its reputation on its impact on pop culture, it would hit close to the heart of it.

#4: “The Twilight Zone” (1959-64)

While not the first science fiction/horror anthology series, “The Twilight Zone” is undoubtedly the most influential. Shows like “Black Mirror” and “The Outer Limits” (both of them), owe everything to “The Twilight Zone.” Each episode brought a brand new uncanny, imaginative story that had audiences pondering big questions, experiencing frights, or looking at the world in a different way. “The Twilight Zone” not only delivered episodes that have remained iconic for decades afterwards, many were also ahead of their time. There are episodes about A.I. taking over, climate change, and self-driving cars that were made half a century ago!

#3: “The Simpsons” (1989-)

It may still be on now, but “The Simpsons” proved ahead of its time in many ways. The animated sitcom spawned a bevy of imitators - some of them even from creators besides Seth MacFarlane! Its influence can be felt all over pop culture, with its irreverent, referential humor becoming practically the norm. Some episodes were even devoted to topics like homophobia or vegetarianism long before they became common in public discourse. And that’s not even getting into all the strange and weird ways “The Simpsons” has basically predicted the future - check out our various videos detailing all of those moments. Bottomline, “The Simpsons” has been a pop cultural juggernaut for decades because it set the trends of today decades earlier.

#2: “I Love Lucy” (1951-57)

Sitcoms, and possibly TV in general, would probably look very different without “I Love Lucy.” It was among the first multi-camera sitcoms shot in front of a live studio audience. It was also one of the first TV shows to pioneer reruns, ensuring its lasting popularity and making it clear to TV executives, “hey, we want to watch these things more than once.” “I Love Lucy” was one of the first shows to center on a Hispanic protagonist and feature an interracial marriage - which you still don’t see every day. Plus, the series includes some of the most famous and beloved moments of comedy - television or otherwise.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Oz” (1997-2003)

The Original HBO Prestige Drama

“Arrested Development” (2003-06; 2013-19)

How Did This Show Manage to Predict the Binge Model Years Before Streaming?

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005-08)

A Kids Cartoon With Emotional Complexity & an Ongoing Storyline? That’ll Never Catch On!

#1: “The Sopranos” (1999-2007)

We live in the age of the antihero, and “The Sopranos” is largely who we can thank/blame for that. It may be far from the first to feature a morally questionable, if not villainous hero, but “The Sopranos” took mob man Tony Soprano and made us root for him and his family - both his flesh and blood one, and the mafia one. The series also helped usher in a golden age of high-quality television shows that weren’t afraid to break free of conventions, mix up genres, and take the format seriously as an artform. Again, it wasn’t alone in this wave of prestige TV, but “The Sopranos” was at the forefront with the most eyes on it.

Is there a landmark TV series we forgot? State the case for your favorites in the comments!