Top 30 Dramas (So Far) of the 21st Century
From top left to right: Micheal K. Williams - The Wire, Sandra Ho - Killing Eve, JD Pardo - Mayans M.C., Viola davis - how to get away with murder, Andrew koji - Warrior, Simone Ashley - bRIDGERTON
Dramatic fiction is one of the oldest forms of narrative storytelling and the invention of the camera has allowed us to encapsulate a thousand words with beautiful imagery. The early 20th century abandoned traditional vaudeville entertainment for more serious character-driven stories across radio, films, and television. Television quickly became riddled with acclaimed dramatic series inspired by or adapted from radio broadcasts and plays of the 1940s. However, networks transformed this blossoming industry into low-brow entertainment specifically catered to be consumed without serious thought.
Now we’ve entered another Golden Age of Television, a period of auteurist programming noted for its high-quality performances, engaging writing, and international acclaim. Contemporary scholars contemplate whether this period is still on-going, but audiences have noticed the prestige of current television programming. Nowadays, most television series act as extended films, and people of color have utilized this opportunity to convey powerful stories about marginalized communities that otherwise don’t receive a platform to tell their story.
POC representation has been an uphill battle since the birth of the entertainment industry but that hasn’t stopped creators from trying. The Gallery of Madame Liu Tsong (1951) became the first U.S. television series to star an Asian American lead, with other POC earning major roles in television afterwards. Roots (1977) was an epic TV miniseries following Kunta Kinte’s (LeVar Burton) family lineage from the Atlantic slave trade in 1765 to their emancipation post-Civil War. Adapted from Alex Haley’s novel, the series spawned record breaking Nielsen ratings, going on to win nine of its 37 Primetime Emmy nominations. The series has been lauded for its production, acting, soundtrack, and accurate presentation of African Americans’ brutal history in the U.S.
Since then, shows like Ohara (1987), Gabriel’s Fire (1990), and New York Undercover (1994) became the first shows to feature people of color in starring roles. Both new and influential, Generations (1989) was television’s first soap opera to feature an African American family at the forefront of its narrative, ultimately dismantling POC’s delegated roles as secondary characters. It also set a standard of more POCs involved in production, serving as a breakthrough for POCs on screen and behind the camera. Generations’ brevity in the cultural zeitgeist exudes a legacy that vicariously lives through the programming of today, with its meaningful representation and inclusivity in the development process.
The plethora of influential programming has allowed the 21st century to platform POC’s voices. With the rise of streaming, A Hot Set has curated a list of the top 30 dramas of the 21st century. These dramas have changed the game and expanded the scope of representation for POC. We expect this list to change as time passes, but we feel it’s imperative to document the current state of POC-centered stories and their influences.
30. Resurrection Blvd.
Network: Showtime | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2000-2002
Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 53 | Viewership Average: 631,000
Resurrection Blvd. follows the Santiago family in East Los Angeles as they fight to become boxing champions, deal with life choices, and struggle to break away from family tradition. In an interview with journalist Lydia Nicole, creator Dennis Leoni stated that Showtime had an avid interest in creating an original show that accurately portrayed the underbelly of Latino culture in Los Angeles. He was given the greenlight and recruited top Latino actors Nicholas Gonzalez, Ruth Livier, Michael DeLorenzo, and Marisol Nichols.
The series was Showtime’s premiere Latino show, lauded for its performances, production, and intense story. Audiences resonated with its accurate portrayal of life in East Los Angeles and the cultural struggles of the Santiago family. Resurrection Blvd. is a warm yet realistic look at Latino American culture that breaks all cultural barriers. The show isn’t melodramatic or cliché, but rather a sincere, engrossing series that stands as an important document in Latino representation on television.
29. Black Lightning
Network: The CW | Medium: Broadcast | Genre: Superhero Drama | Original Release: 2018-2021
Seasons: 4 | Episodes: 58 | Viewership Average: 1.75 Million
The CW’s Black Lightning rides the coattails of Black Panther (2018), becoming the first TV series to star an African American superhero. The show follows Jefferson Pierce, a retired superhero who is now the principal of Garfield High School in Freeland, Georgia. After associates of The 100, the most feared criminal gang in Freeland, kidnap his daughters, Pierce is forced to revive the mantle while hiding his identity. The show stars Cress Williams with support from Nafessa Williams, China Anne McClain, Jordan Calloway, and Christine Adams.
After the series fell off with Fox, The CW revived the pilot and garnered positive reviews upon release. Black Lightning quickly became The CW’s highest rated original series, beating out standouts such as The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow. The series received numerous accolades and nominations including a Saturn Award, NAACP Image Award, and a Critics’ Choice Award. Black Lightning officially joined the Arrowverse in 2019, The CW’s shared universe with their various DC superheroes-based TV shows.
Black Lighting merges the fantasy elements of the comics and the modern struggle African Americans face in contemporary society. Storylines involving police brutality and institutional racism mirror the real world and reflect a violent society incapable of unity. Its philosophical messaging regarding race, religion, and gender harbors evocative critique that perfectly encapsulates the harsh reality we live in.
28. P-Valley
Network: Starz | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2020-Present
Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 18 | Viewership Average: 293,000
Adapted from her play titled Pussy Valley, Katori Hall’s P-Valley follows the lives of employees at a Mississippi strip club. Premiering on Starz in 2020, it stars Brandee Evans, Nicco Annan, Elarica Johnson, and J. Alphonse Nicholson as they display the beauty of the industry while highlighting the inherent struggles of stripper life. The show is notable for its all-Black leads, discussion of gender and class, and a first season directed entirely by women. The show was met with universal praise and renewed for a second season shortly after its premiere.
The series received acclaim from critics and audiences alike, garnering nominations from the NAACP Image Awards, the GLAAD Media Awards, and the Independent Spirit Awards. P-Valley’s stunning visuals amidst a daunting exploration of race make the series an enjoyable watch as it tells an authentic story without sugarcoating the hardships of the sex industry. The series is luscious and emotional, perfectly encapsulating the rich story of Black women struggling to survive their environment.
27. Power Book III: Raising Kanan
Network: Starz | Medium: Cable | Genre: Crime Drama | Original Release: 2021-Present
Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 27 | Viewership Average: 280,000
Power Book III is a prequel and the second spin-off to Starz’s Power, a crime drama chronicling the life of James St. Patrick, a drug dealer grappling with his personal ambitions and the nature of his violent profession. The series was created and produced by Courtney A. Kemp in collaboration with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. It eventually spawned four spin-offs that encompass the Power Universe. Power Book III tells of Kanan Stark’s early years as he begins to venture into the drug business. The series features prominent celebrities including Patina Miller, Mekai Curtis, and influential rapper Joey Bada$$.
The show was met with acclaim upon release and serves as the only prequel currently in the Power Universe. The series ventures into the past of 50 Cent’s character by showcasing the environment, desolate and barren, that pushes individuals to the illegal underworld. It stars an all Black cast, eloquently portraying the deeply rooted systemic violence society experienced in Black neighborhoods. The show isn’t afraid to speak its mind. Ultimately, Power Book III is a dark reminder that crime doesn’t exist in a vacuum, but rather evolves through the conditions of the individual.
26. Power Book II: Ghost
Network: Starz | Medium: Cable | Genre: Crime Drama | Original Release: 2020-Present
Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 30 | Viewership Average: 464,000
Power Book II: Ghost is the first sequel to Starz’s Power series and the first in their new Power Universe. Taking place immediately after the original, the sequel focuses on Tariq adjusting to his new life while trying to save his family from danger. His life is further complicated when he becomes entangled with the infamous Tejada family, placed at odds with his love life, family, and interpersonal desire to run from it all. The series was co-produced by Kemp and “50 Cent” and stars Michael Rainey Jr., Shane Johnson, and Gianni Paolo.
The series received critical success with five total NAACP Image Awards in 2021 and 2022. Much like Book III, Book II features a primarily Black cast with influential Black creatives like Clifford “Method Man” Smith Jr. and Samantha “LightSkin Keisha” Deshaun. Much like its predecessor, the show is open about its politics, discussing Black youth culture, hustle culture, and the systemic issues targeting African Americans. The show is sleek and intense, including political commentary to convey the Black urbanite struggle in America.
25. All American
Network: The CW | Medium: Broadcast | Genre: Sports Drama | Original Release: 2018-Present
Seasons: 5 | Episodes: 91 | Viewership Average: 908,000
The CW’s All American is a sports drama directly inspired by the life of professional football player Spencer Paysinger. Paysinger is a consulting producer and plays a minor role as the assistant football coach at Beverly Hills High, the same school he attended in his adolescence. The show takes narrative creativity and tweaks certain aspects of Paysinger’s life. It has immense power to represent the dedication Black athletes need to have to achieve success. The series follows the life of a rising high school football player recruited to play for Beverly Hills High as he is constantly pulled apart from his roots in South L.A.
The series has been nominated for numerous Black Reel Awards and NAACP Image Awards since its debut. It was met with a positive reception from critics, who noted that its abrasive take on class consciousness mixed with classroom drama wins over audiences, despite some hiccups with its production. The show received praise for its direction and storytelling. It even garnered a spinoff, All American: Homecoming, set at Brighton University, a historically black university in Atlanta, Georgia.
24. Station 19
Network: ABC | Medium: Broadcast| Genre: Action Drama | Original Release: 2018-Present
Seasons: 7 | Episodes: 95 | Viewership Average: 7.3 Million
Composed of an almost entirely POC cast, Station 19 is the second spin-off of Grey’s Anatomy, following the lives of firefighters in Seattle’s 19th Fire Station. The series showcases the professional and interpersonal lives of the Seattle Fire Department, from the captain to the rookies. It delves into personal issues and hot button topics including race, ethnicity, and gender, and it isn’t shy to voice its opinion. The series contains several guest appearances from Grey’s Anatomy stars such as Chandra Wilson, Kelly McCreary, and Jake Borelli.
Long-term Grey’s Anatomy writer Stacy McKee is the showrunner, and it is executive produced by Betsy Beers and influential television producer Shonda Rhimes. The series received accolades from the Imagen Awards, Young Artist Awards, and the Media Access Award. Arguably, Station 19 boasts one of the most diverse casts on broadcast television, representing BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ characters, which are disproportionately underrepresented in media. The series isn’t afraid to dive into heavy topics like racism, homophobia, and social issues including abortion and immigration. Station 19 is a passion project that expertly weaves in social issues while platforming underrepresented groups onto the biggest broadcast channel on television.
23. 9-1-1
Network: Fox/ABC | Medium: Broadcast | Genre: Procedural | Original Release: 2018-Present
Seasons: 6 | Episodes: 96 | Viewership Average: 9.39 Million
9-1-1 is a procedural drama created by influential television producer Ryan Murphy and starring Angela Bassett, Peter Krause, Aisha Hinds, and Kenneth Choi. It chronicles the lives of various Los Angeles first responders, police officers, paramedics, and firefighters through initial distress calls. Each episode explores people of different backgrounds while portraying a diverse cast. It constantly rotates the responders, resulting in a variation on the typical procedural that stands out.
The series has received numerous accolades throughout its run, including an NAACP Image Award, a Critics’ Choice Award, and a BMI Film & TV Award. The series debuted with positive reviews from critics who noted its intense storylines, daring action sequences, and excellent performances all around. It has garnered a mass following from depicting daring stories of first responders with nuance.
22. Godfather of Harlem
Network: MGM+ | Medium: Streaming | Genre: Crime Drama | Original Release: 2019-Present
Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 30 | Viewership Average: Figures Unavailable
Godfather of Harlem centers infamous crime boss Bumpy Johnson (Forest Whitaker) who is starved for power after his community was overtaken by the Italian mob during his 10 years in prison. During his battle, he forms an alliance with Malcom X — now caught in the crossfire of a self-destructive mob war and the imminent rise of Malcolm’s political and religious rise to power. The series explores social radicalization through Malcom X’s unique approach to racial justice and social mobility while also tackling the material conditions of working-class African Americans. Violence predates money yet money is the root of most violence, and Godfather of Harlem intensifies this rhetoric by showcasing the Black struggle to survive with a constant target on their back.
The series is written by Chris Brancato and Paul Eckstein and stars Nigel Thatch, Ilfenesh Hadera, and Lucy Fry. Whitaker serves as executive producer. The series has received numerous awards and nominations throughout its five-year run, winning a Black Reel Award and Primetime Emmy and being nominated for numerous NAACP Image Awards. It’s often said money can’t buy happiness, but Bumpy shows that money does buy freedom. Godfather of Harlem proudly wears its influences on its sleeve as it details the fictitious life of a man in desperate need of liberation.
21. Industry
Network: HBO | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2020-Present
Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 16 | Viewership Average: 101,000
Created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay, Industry follows the inner conflicts of a group of grad students vying for permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, the most prestigious investment bank in London. Initially airing on BBC Two, the series found a home in HBO’s catalog of prestige programming. As a Black American woman living in London, Harper (Myha’la Herrold) is greeted with a toxic environment of racism, misogyny, and a lack of empathy. The workplace is chock-full of characters deliberately sabotaging each other in a cutthroat battle royal for Pierpoint’s entry-level positions.
The series was met with positive reviews, noting its intense drama and ludicrous environment. The show’s campiness plays to its strengths, adding an extra layer of irony that showcases the superficial, violent world of finance. The series is riddled with talent, starring Harry Lawtey, Kit Harington, David Jonsson, and Freya Mavor. Industry is a modern, bleak look into the dark reality of the financial sector, illustrating a hyper-individualistic culture where financial gain matters more than empathy.
20. Vida
Network: Starz | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2018-2020
Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 22 | Viewership Average: 114,000
Poignant and passionate, Vida challenges preconceived stereotypes about the intricate lives of Mexican Americans living in East Los Angeles. Starring Melissa Barrera and Mishel Prada, the series starts like any other drama: two sisters reuniting after the death of a family member. However, the series makes a quick 180, focusing on the gentrification of Boyle Heights and the Latinx struggle of two estranged sisters, all while providing nuance to the intersectional world of queer POC. The urbanization of low-income communities has been done to death recently, but in 2018, there weren’t many loud voices to tell a queer Latinx story. Vida takes a bold stance on the inner-communal wealth disparity in Los Angeles, creating a transformative narrative that highlights the economic and cultural hardships regarding the intersectionality of race, sexuality, and ethnicity.
The series was met with critical acclaim upon release and received the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2019. Vida manages to squeeze incredibly heavy topics in its 30-minute runtime, pulling it off with grace and style. The show is vibrant, excessive, and beautifully captures the Latino community of East Los Angeles. Vida is a personal blend of family, culture, and social displacement that boldly lends its voice to an otherwise voiceless community.
19. Mayans M.C.
Network: FX | Medium: Cable | Genre: Crime Drama| Original Release: 2018-2023
Seasons: 5 | Episodes: 50 | Viewership Average: 901,000
Taking place two-and-a-half years after the events of Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C. tells the tale of a gang of Latino outlaws in the fictional California border town of Santo Padre. Ezekiel “EZ” Reyes’ (JD Pardo), the prospect of the Mayans M.C. biker gang, falls into cyclical violence as his need to avenge his family leads him down a path he can never turn back. The series stars Clayton Cardenas, Danny Pino, Richard Cabral, and Sarah Bolger. It portrays the honor and family traditions deeply rooted within Latino Culture. Violence is often a way of life for people, sometimes resulting from a lack of material possession or wealth. Mayans M.C. touches on the depths of systemic prejudices and its effects on culture and individuals.
The series was met with positive reception, with later seasons becoming as revered as Son of Anarchy. The series received numerous accolades across its five-year run, including several Imagen Foundation Awards and a BMI Film & TV Award. The show doesn’t harp on the nostalgia of its predecessor. Instead, this spin-off is packed with bountiful action and immense character-building. Not only does it add extra character to the cinematic world of Sons of Anarchy, Mayans M.C. stands its ground as a compelling show centering on the conflicting emotions between Mexican-Americans and the American dream.
18. Bel-Air
Network: Peacock | Medium: Streaming | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2022-Present
Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 20 | Viewership Average: Not Applicable
Based on Morgan Cooper’s short fan film of the same name, Bel-Air breathes new life into the legacy of the well-known sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The show centers on Will Smith (Jabari Banks), a social delinquent, street-smart kid whose life is flipped upside down when he leaves the downtrodden streets of Philadelphia to live with his relatives in Bel-Air. Bel-Air tackles rich Black Americans as another source of antagonism for the working class. It takes a nuanced approach to class and race relations not as intrinsically separate, but unified under the veil of material consumption. Smith deals with immense culture shock as he realizes affluence, no matter who holds it, wields immense power over low-income communities. The series delves into the unified Black struggle, particularly the disparity between poor and rich Black Americans.
The series received the Black Reel Awards’ Outstanding Drama Series honor and was nominated for three NAACP Image Awards. The polar opposite of its predecessor, the series revels in its doom as opposed to the original’s high energy. The show found immense success internationally, becoming the most streamed original series on Peacock. Bel-Air takes a different approach than most spin-offs, meticulously separating itself from its predecessor. In doing so, it manages to be effortlessly intense and socially aware of current issues African Americans face.
17. Euphoria
Network: HBO | Medium: Cable | Genre: Teen Drama | Original Release: 2019-Present
Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 18 | Viewership Average: 450,000
Zendaya stars in one of the most critically acclaimed and controversial shows of the 2010s, Euphoria, a harrowing tale of drug addiction, sex, violence, and family problems. Based on the Israeli miniseries of the same name, the series follows Rue Bennet as she struggles to find her place in the world after rehab, fighting off her addiction and inadvertently pushing away the people who love her most. The series has been lauded for its acting, cinematography, story, and approach to mature subjects. It found itself in deep controversy due to its graphic nudity and realistic sexual content, features that amplify the show’s message about teenagers’ nihilistic sexual desire. While exaggerated, Euphoria combines the disgusting reality of drug addiction without sensationalizing it. It shrouds itself in its depravity and manages to portray the twisted effects of narcotics, excess, and isolation.
The series was met with universal acclaim upon release, skyrocketing to HBO’s fourth most-watched show. The series received numerous Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe, and the cast also received accolades for their performances. The complicated show is held together by its emotional realism that captures the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters. The show is vivid, dark, and humorous, capturing the anxiety of a generation living in an apathetic world.
16. The Chi
Network: Showtime | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2018-Present
Seasons: 6 | Episodes: 58 | Viewership Average: 366,000
Creator Lena Waithe has shattered barriers for her work in Netflix’s Masters of None, becoming the first African American woman to win the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series. Three years later, she, along with Oscar-winning rapper Common, would grace television with The Chi, a retelling of fictional events that shook the interconnected residents of South Side Chicago. The series humanizes people living in neighborhoods constantly under political scrutiny in mainstream media. It showcases the humanity, empathy, and community of strangers making the best of their situation. The series engrosses the audience in its world and accurately portrays the empathy of a collective with nothing to lose but each other.
Critics have described the series as an optimistic companion to The Wire, exploring the multifaceted lives of those living in the underbelly of America’s economic prosperity. The Chi was nominated and won dozens of awards, including an NAACP Image Award, a GLAAD Media Award, and several Black Reel Awards. As it stands, the series harnesses the same dialectics as other contemporary shows about the Black struggle, but The Chi differentiates itself by portraying the life and optimism of Chicago’s underclass — a route that is as refreshing as it is powerful.
15. Warrior
Network: Cinemax/Max | Medium: Cable/Streaming | Genre: Crime Drama | Original Release: 2019-2023
Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 30 | Viewership Average: 101,000
An untold, original concept by Bruce Lee, Warrior centers on a martial arts fighter searching for his sister after being sold to the most powerful tong in Chinatown. The series takes place during Chinatown’s Tong Wars, and Warrior beautifully meshes its ‘70s kung-fu pastiche with modern production and enchanting storytelling. Max purchased and revived the show in 2023 after Cinemax pulled the plug a year prior. The spirit of Warrior lives on through its spectacular action scenes, and it highlights the unforgettable influence and legacy of Bruce Lee’s work. The series shines a spotlight on the Chinese American community amid rising anti-Asian and xenophobic attacks. Warrior is bold and exciting, perfectly encapsulating growing racial tensions between Chinese immigrants and Irish settlers of the American West in 1870.
Before its cancellation, Warriors was critically acclaimed and nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award and two Emmy Awards. After Max revitalized the series in 2021, the series quickly ranked among the top 15 most-viewed programs on the platform. Warriors is uncompromising, never buckles under the opinions of others, and effortlessly touts its influences while creating a unique blend of historical fiction and traditional kung-fu action.
14. Snowfall
Network: FX | Medium: Cable | Genre: Crime Drama | Original Release: 2017-2023
Seasons: 6 | Episodes: 60 | Viewership Average: 799,000
Dark and moody, FX’s Snowfall centers on a community in the midst of the deadliest epidemic to hit low-income communities: the 1980s crack epidemic. Dozens of communities were destroyed, their cities ravaged by gang violence and crime to this day, but some delved deeper, knowing survival meant destroying their community in the process. The series follows Franklin Saint (Damson Idris), a 20-year-old peddling drugs in order to keep himself afloat. Much like his name suggests, he’s an angel in a sea of violence and petty theft until he realizes the untapped potential of the crack cocaine epidemic in its infancy. Oscar-nominated director John Singleton co-created the series and took influences from his personal life growing up in Los Angeles during the epidemic's initial rise.
Snowfall was met with middling reviews but quickly became one of the decade’s most lauded African American stories. The series was nominated for numerous NAACP Image Awards and Imagen Foundation Awards and won two Black Reel Awards. It touts the morality of entrepreneurship as a means for survival and raises questions about social mobility, race in relation to Reaganomics, and participating in violence as a means for survival. Snowfall focuses on the quest for power in a powerless situation, a struggle that turns inherent vices into virtues and depicts a battle for control in their community slowly dissipating into nihilism.
13. Power
Network: Starz | Medium: Cable | Genre: Crime Drama | Original Release: 2014-2020
Seasons: 6 | Episodes: 63 | Viewership Average: 1.4 Million
“50 Cent” and Kemp met while writing polar opposite series: Jackson was working with Mark Canton to create a music-driven series while Kemp was writing a blaxploitation pilot. They met, meshed their ideas together, and spawned Power, a series that has since become a part of a greater universe, with three currently airing spin-offs. The series tells the story of James St. Patrick, a drug dealer wanting to leave the business but constantly under pressure from his peers and enemies to become a ruthless kingpin. In fear of losing his loved ones, he debates his aspirations and the safety of his family while fighting rival dealers and gangs. The series features an all-star cast, with guest appearances from Jesse Williams and Kendrick Lamar.
The series was met with mixed reviews upon release but soon became one of the highest rated Black-centered stories on cable. The series has been showered with awards and nominations from the NAACP Image Awards, the Black Reel Awards, and the Imagen Awards. Power became one of Starz’s highest-rated shows and one of the most watched shows on cable. With the conclusion of the original series, Starz immediately ordered four spin-offs and established Power as one of contemporary cable’s most influential Black programming.
12. Soul Food
Network: Showtime | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2000-2004
Seasons: 5 | Episodes: 74 | Viewership Average: 1.12 Million
Chicago is the centerpiece for a majority of African American art, yet very rarely are there shows that accurately portray the conditions of its average citizen. Then there’s Soul Food, an adaptation of George Tillman Jr.’s 1997 film of the same name that follows the lives of the Josephs, an African American family living in Chicago. Based on Joseph's childhood experiences growing up in Wisconsin, the series became one of the first long-running, successful dramatic series to feature a predominantly African American cast. While not the first Black-centered drama series, the show broke records as it joined the televisual landscape of the 2000s. Soul Food expertly discusses topics such as racial discrimination, homosexuality, politics, and gives an honest look into the lives of a broken yet unified family.
Lauded for its writing and performances, the series won dozens of awards and nominations during its five year course. The show broke records as one of the most nominated shows at the NAACP Image Awards and even garnered widespread recognition with a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2001. A historic landmark for African American television and media, Soul Food pushed the boundaries of representation in contemporary television and influenced dozens of creators of color. The series is sincere and raised the ceiling for POC voices in the entertainment industry.
11. Greenleaf
Network: OWN | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2016-2020
Seasons: 5 | Episodes: 60 | Viewership Average: 1.41 Million
Greed, rivalry, and infidelity lie beneath the facade of the Greenleafs, an innocuous family that runs the megachurch Calvary Fellowship World Ministries. Created by Craig Wright and executive produced by Oprah Winfrey, the series became the highest-ranking series debut in OWN history. While not the biggest show in OWN’s catalog, the series solidified OWN as a cable channel on par with FX, ABC, and other premium networks. Greenleaf discusses the intersectionality between spirituality, race, class, and gender with ease and precision. The series valiantly showcases characters at their worst, burdened by their sinful nature while paradoxically preaching the opposite.
Greenleaf won several NAACP Image Awards and is set to receive a spinoff series focusing on Whitefield’s character and her new role within the church. The series was positively received by critics and continues to spark debate over its messaging, characters, and provocative spirituality. Lynn Whitfield, Merle Dandridge, and Keith David received immense praise for their complex portrayal of characters struggling to maintain spirituality against their own volitions. Greenfield is soapy and thrilling due to its excellent performances and vivid storytelling.
10. Queen Sugar
Network: OWN | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2016-2022
Seasons: 7 | Episodes: 89 | Viewership Average: 1.76 Million
To be human is to grieve. To be human is to make mistakes. To be human is to love undividedly. Queen Sugar is all of this, humanizing the darkest moments we never intend to share. Following the success of Natalie Baszile’s 2014 novel of the same name, Queen Sugar is a faithful adaptation that’s a more realistic departure than OWN’s typical melodrama series. Created by Academy Award nominated director Ava DuVernay, the show follows the lives of three siblings reeling from the death of their family patriarch. From its rich scenery to its visceral depiction of Black southern life, the series is an incredibly intimate look into the realistic lives of a Black family living in the remote bayous.
Ava DuVernay takes the physical and emotional intimacy of her 2014 film Selma and creates the same empathetic tone. The series won two NAACP Image Awards and received 12 total nominations over its six year run. DuVernay displays a delicate balance of family drama, emotionally evocative storytelling, and socially relevant commentary. The series dedicates moments to discuss racial profiling, the criminal justice system, and chattel slavery. Black Americans don’t have the luxury to inspect their ancestry, and Queen Sugar discusses the lingering effects of racism with nuance and grace.
Queen Sugar is socially relevant TV that stands as one of OWN’s best original programming. DuVernay hired female directors for every episode and employed dozens of people of color. Like other contemporary shows discussing contemporary Black struggles, Queen Sugar demonstrates the magic that comes from Black creators making their voices heard. The series is minimal yet gravitates towards complicated issues with relative ease. Queen Sugar is one of the 2010s most realistic portrayals of the modern Black family.
9. Pose
Network: FX | Medium: Cable | Genre: Drama | Original Release: 2018-2021
Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 26 | Viewership Average: 541,000
Navigating life with family can be difficult, especially when traditional family structures and their stereotypes oppose your identity. Set in the center of New York’s ball culture in the 1980s, Pose follows the life of Damon, a gay Black man looking for a home after being kicked out because of his sexuality. The series is deeply rooted in the shifting tides of contemporary society during the Reagan administration, and Damon’s existence disrupts the essence of everything his family wants to achieve — the traditional nuclear family. His dad wants a leader, his mom wishes he was straight, and Damon wants to be anything but that, leading to emotionally evocative moments that contextualize the queer struggle of the ‘80s.
Created by Ryan Murphy, the show features an ensemble cast of Black, Latino, and queer actors. The first season received numerous award nominations including several Golden Globes and a Primetime Emmy. The series claims to have the largest transgender cast in scripted television, with over 50 transgender characters. The series’ creator and writers found inspiration in Jennie Livingston’s 1990 documentary, Paris Is Burning; Livingston serves as a consulting producer on the show. The show ambitiously captures the extravagant yet somber existence of the New York ball scene in a culture rooted in anti-LGBTQ sentiment.
Pose challenges the homogenized American understanding of what a family structure should look like by opposing it with the queer experience of the ‘80s. Heteronormative binaries often cultivate a toxic environment where queer people become ostracized from their own homes, resulting in LGBTQIA+ people finding family with each other. Pose paints a vivid portrait of the suffering faced and community fostered by LGBTQIA+ folks during a dark period of recent American history.
8. LoveCraft Country
Network: HBO | Medium: Cable | Genre: Horror | Original Release: 2022-Present
Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 10 | Viewership Average: 732,000
Horror is entirely subjective, yet there is an omnipresent fear most marginalized communities experience. American history is laced with tortious acts of brutalized terror inflicted upon African Americans, from the Antebellum South to the era of Jim Crow, and LoveCraft Country beautifully meshes Lovecraftian horror with social commentary. Based on Matt Ruff’s 2016 of the same name, the series follows Atticus as his road trip across the country is thwarted by the racist terrors of white America as well as supernatural witches, time travelers, and monsters.
The show was developed by director Misha Green and executive-produced by J.J. Abrams and Jordan Peele. It stars Jurnee Smollett, Jonathan Majors, Abbey Lee, and Courtney B. Vance. The series received universal praise from critics and audiences, winning an American Film Institute Award, a Golden Globe, several Primetime Emmy Awards, and several NAACP Image Awards. The show is disturbing with its terrifying monsters and white supremacists, yet it provides an introspective look into the dark history of African American history.
LoveCraft Country is a time-traveling sci-fi period drama that highlights the racial issues laced within American society. Its dark socio-political messages are expertly mixed with fantasy tropes that never become stale. H.P. Lovecraft was not a socially accepting person, and LoveCraft Country is an exciting take on his established lore, ironically employing his bigotry in a powerful and meaningful way. The series is inventive, and unique, and tells an entertaining story about the Black struggle throughout American history.
7. Bridgerton
Network: Netflix | Medium: Streaming | Genre: Historical Fiction | Original Release: 2020-Present
Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 16 | Viewership Average: 19.35 Billion
Romantic historical fiction has grown pervasive among a generation where alienation and isolation manifests easily thanks to rising technology. Romanticized ideations of lavish nobility and honor serve as the perfect setting for interconnected stories about love and family, and Bridgerton is among contemporary television’s best entries into the genre. Based on the book series by Julia Quinn, the series revolves around the nobility and gentries of London’s Regency era. The Bridgerton family navigate Britain’s high society in search of love and intimacy while rivals loom around every corner. During a current televisual landscape comprised of racial tensions, violence, and serious political dramas, Bridgerton’s escapist romanticism breathes new life into an overly serious media landscape.
Critically acclaimed for its performances, production, and direction, Bridgerton won two Primetime Emmy Awards and received several nominations at the Emmys, NAACP Image Awards, and the Screen Actors Guild Awards. The series became one of the most watched Netflix series to date. Its spin-off series Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story became the third most watched POC-centered programming in 2023, with over 503 million hours watched. The series is notable for its diverse depictions of historical figures, particularly young Queen Charlotte as played by India Ria Amarteifio.
The series is directly responsible for a resurgence in historical fiction in modern television. Released during the rise of ‘anti-woke’ culture, Bridgerton provided people of color the ability to see themselves in roles outside of what they’re used to. The British monarchy has never been more colorful, lush, vibrant, and socially aware of the bigotry intertwined throughout its history. Bridgerton is a cultural phenomenon that pushed the boundaries of what roles people of color could play on television.
Special Note: The viewing figure represents total hours watched due to the series airing on a streaming platform that defines viewership by total hours watched.
6. Empire
Network: Fox | Medium: Broadcast | Genre: Musical Drama | Original Release: 2015-2020
Seasons: 6 | Episodes: 102 | Viewership Average: 10.68 Million
The music industry is cutthroat and volatile, especially when discussing artists of color. Empire is a musical drama that centers on the fictional Empire Entertainment, a hip hop company riddled with petty owners and bitter rivalries. Starring Terrence Howard, Bryshere Y. Gray, Jussie Smollett, and Trai Byers, the series premiered to nearly 10 million views. The first season is one of the most watched POC-centered shows in Fox’s history, with the season one finale airing to 17 million viewers. With the introduction of hip hop into the lexicon of mainstream music, Empire stands as a cultural milestone for Black creatives, establishing African Americans at the forefront of all sectors of the entertainment industry.
The series was nominated for several Primetime Emmys and won several Critics’ Choice Awards and NAACP Image Awards. The New York Times published, in a 2016 study, that Empire is the most popular show in the Black Belt, and rates high within Native American communities. It was the first broadcast series in the last 23 years to have its viewership increase week to week. Empire continuously ranks among the top 15 shows of the 2010s thanks to its gripping story and influential cultural impact.
The series delves into the interwoven lives of people gunning for the top position at Empire Entertainment while providing nuanced opinions on race and gender. Empire was a commercial success, paving the way for POC to build their own shows starring other people of color. The difficult barrier of entry was eliminated thanks to Empire, and more people of color have been given the opportunity to create their own shows than ever before.
5. Scandal
Network: ABC | Medium: Broadcast | Genre: Political Thriller | Original Release: 2012-2018
Seasons: 7 | Episodes: 124 | Viewership Average: 9.29 Million
Historically, Black Americans have lacked the resources to accurately represent themselves in politics. Scandal delves into the inner workings of our government while giving POC immense visibility and representation. Created by legendary producer Shonda Rhimes, the series follows Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), the members at her crisis management firm, and various members of congress. The American Film Institute named Scandal the Television Program of the Year and honored the series with the elusive Peabody Award. Rhimes’ influential work in television continues to transform the televisual landscape regarding representation among people of color.
In a 2016 study published by The New York Times, Scandal was one of the most watched shows among African Americans and across social media. The series popularized the practice of live-tweeting — tweeting about a show as it’s airing. It’s incredibly commonplace now thanks to the influence of Rhimes’ intense political thriller, establishing social media marketing as an industry norm. On top of this, the series is a critical darling, winning numerous Primetime Emmy Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Critics’ Choice Television Award. Scandal was also the first network drama in over 40 years to star a Black woman, showing to over 67.4 million viewers throughout its seven-season run.
Despite its gloomy world, Scandal finds itself in a cultural spotlight. The series is one of ABC’s highest rated shows and Rhimes continues for people of color to begin elusive careers in the television industry.
4. Killing Eve
Network: BBC America | Medium: Cable | Genre: Spy Thriller | Original Release: 2018-2022
Seasons: 4 | Episodes: 32 | Viewership Average: 592,000
Media continues to perpetuate misogynistic ideologies by enforcing strict gender stereotypes. Killing Eve does more than subverts stereotypes, it flips them on their head. Released by BBC America, the series is a spy thriller centered around Villanelle (Jodie Comer), a ruthless international assassin in love with trouble, and Eve (Sandra Oh), a passionate British intelligence investigator looking for meaningful work. As Eve starts tracking down Villanelle’s whereabouts, Villanelle is always one step ahead. The two engage in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase that borders on obsession. Not only does Sandra Oh provide amazing Asian representation with her incredible performance, but the series subverts gender binaries by showcasing dominant female characters and deconstructing misogynistic portrayals of women.
The series was met with critical acclaim and continuously broke weekly ratings records. Killing Eve received several accolades, including multiple Golden Globes, Primetime Emmy Awards, and a British Academy Television Award. The show has been named one of the best shows of 2018, with Time magazine calling Killing Eve the best TV show of 2018. It continues to receive praise even after its season finale, with a spin-off in development as of 2023.
Both women engage in a waltz of murder and mutual obsession, complementing each other in a peculiar yet thrilling way. On top of the feminist rhetoric lying in plain sight, Villanelle’s sexuality and her subtle, omnipresent sexual tension with Eve adds an extra layer of context that shines a homoerotic lens onto that drama. The series plays with gender, sexuality, and race in such a meticulous way that it pushes the espionage genre to new heights.
3. How To Get Away With Murder
Network: ABC | Medium: Broadcast | Genre: Lega Drama | Original Release: 2014-2020
Seasons: 6 | Episodes: 90 | Viewership Average: 7.7 Million
The series originated off the back of Grey’s Anatomy writer Peter Nowalk and producer Shonda Rhimes. Initially planned to be a limited series, ABC trusted Rhimes and ordered a full 15-episode season, a decision that would influence the television landscape forever. How To Get Away With Murder centers on Annalise Keating (Viola Davis), a criminal defense attorney and prestigious law professor who becomes entangled in a murder plot along with five of her students. Filled with endless twists, turns, and cliffhangers, How To Get Away With Murder isn’t the most sophisticated show, but it quickly became the most influential due to its production, cast, and record-breaking viewership. On top of this, Rhimes created television that greatly aligned with her active advocacy for representation on screen and behind the camera.
The show received widespread acclaim and helped Viola Davis become the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama series. Showered in awards, the series won several Primetime Emmy Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards and received several Golden Globe nominations. Rhimes’ production company Shondaland helped uplift thousands of creatives of color looking for their entry into the industry. The series has not only influenced representation on screen, but empowered thousands of POC off screen, enabling them to make their stories come to life.
How To Get Away With Murder works at breakneck speeds and sucks the viewer into the mystified life of Keating. Laced with murder, deception, violence, and absurdity, the courtroom drama is enticing throughout its six seasons. How To Get Away With Murder is a landmark in television representation for actors, creators, and crew.
2. Grey’s Anatomy
Network: ABC | Medium: Broadcast | Genre: Medical Drama | Original Release: 2005-Present
Seasons: 20 | Episodes: 420 | Viewership Average: 11.35 Million
Nervous and surrounded by a room full of older-male executives, Shonda Rhimes, a relatively unknown writer, pitched a series titled Grey’s Anatomy. The series would follow a fictional Seattle hospital and the everyday lives and conflicts of five surgical interns. They passed, telling her the show would never work because of its portrayal of women. Two decades later, Grey’s Anatomy is one of the most lauded, watched, and revered shows of the 21st century. It has become the longest-running scripted primetime show airing on ABC and regularly captures an average viewership of 10 million. Grey’s Anatomy was ranked the No. 10 most popular on-demand program in 2023 and continues to be one of the highest rated series on television. The series has tackled many issues including race, gender, politics, sex, and religion, positioning it as one of television's most revered cultural phenomena.
Enacting an immense effect on the televisual landscape, the series has received numerous awards, including a Golden Globe and an earth-shattering 38 Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Grey’s Anatomy has been endlessly compared to the likes of Friends and The Sopranos for its cultural influence within television and society as a whole. While most critics cite the current Golden Age of Television as dark, gritty, and focusing more on the prestige of a story, Grey’s Anatomy breaks these conventional standards and offers a show that will dominate the cultural zeitgeist long after it ends.
Grey’s Anatomy is more than just a show, it’s a culture. The series is playful yet delves into dark territories. The series acts as a cultural map of the state of society, documenting the current state of American culture and its social issues. Rhimes’ contribution to the television landscape, particularly for people of color, is beyond recognition, inspiring millions to make their dreams become reality.
1. The Wire
Network: HBO | Medium: Cable | Genre: Crime Drama | Original Release: 2002-2008
Seasons: 5 | Episodes: 60 | Viewership Average: 2.4 Million
Homicide: Life on the Street is the 1991 debut novel of The Baltimore Sun reporter David Simon, who spent a year working with the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit before taking a leave of absence. The book delves into a realistic, often unsanitized, depiction of crime-fighting at the height of the late 1980s crime epidemic. The book became an overnight sensation, getting adapted into the 1993 NBC television drama Homicide: Life on the Street. Many of the detectives and cases provided inspiration for its first two seasons and eventually influenced his and Edward Burns’ 2002 HBO Original series The Wire.
African American media is undergoing a renaissance as authentic media captures the lives of individuals living on the edge of poverty and homelessness. Yet the 2000s saw the rise of comedic Black media that, retrospectively, played into the harmful stereotypes they wanted to move away from. Drugs, crime, violence, and sex are all commonalities within these communities, yet television always focuses on the “how” — exploiting the struggle of poverty and gang violence — and never the “why” — explaining why violence occurs within these neighborhoods. Even as we continue to see sensationalized news hype fixate on crime and violence, the media never bothers to answer why low-income communities, especially communities of color, experience the same violence and materialistic scarcity as one another. What influences someone to peddle drugs? Why do gangs form and thrive in low-income communities? In a community where the only way out is through violence, is it immoral to participate? The Wire addresses all of these questions and gives its characters, especially its criminals, the same complexity as it would the police.
However, the series wasn’t a hit. It wasn’t anything really. It debuted with somewhat positive reviews, and middling ratings, and constantly struggled to avoid cancellation. The first season intentionally avoided big-name stars, instead opting for actors who appeared natural in their roles. The pessimistic outlook of American urbanism drove people away, and the series ended with even worse ratings than its premiere. Simon attributed this to many factors: the complex plot, the lack of notable actors, its esoteric slang, and a predominantly Black cast. As the series pushed towards its final season, critics started to pay attention and recognized the series as a dark story detailing the exploitation of America’s working class and the failures of its political system. 10 years later, the show would be retrospectively named one of the greatest shows in TV history.
Industry professionals have categorized The Wire in its own subgenre, “literary television.” Its heavy reliance on literary themes of racialized politics and representation detours the series from the stereotypical police drama, becoming a thought-provoking piece highlighting America’s economic disparity. While not initially recognized, the series has since been noted as the beginning of the current Golden Age of Television, alongside The Sopranos. Its complex characters and rhetoric about police injustice and racial politics elevate the series to the upper echelon of television.
In an interview with The New York Times, Burns was asked if he expected The Wire to have immense influence two decades later. Burns stated that the series “will live forever because what it tries to portray will be around forever.” The intersectionality between racialized violence and concurrent institutional decay, particularly in the form of shifting far-right political ideations, will cement the series in our minds as its themes work better in 2024 than they did in 2002.
The first thing that comes to my mind is that this show will live forever, because what it tries to portray will be around forever. It's just getting worse and worse. That's all. And it's expanding; it's not just an urban thing anymore. It's everywhere. — Ed Burns
When asked if The Wire would be greenlit today, Simon said it absolutely would not because “[they] didn’t attend, in any real way, to the idea of diversity in the writers’ room.” They knew the story of Baltimore’s underclass could only be told by people who have lived it. They hired POC actors, writers, and crew members for the series because they wanted to accurately represent the city, its people, and its ideas. There was no diversity for the sake of it — they were honest, bold, and took a chance that paid off immensely.
The Wire has stood the test of time as one of the most authentic portrayals of African American urban youth culture in modern television. The series’ gloomy, apathetic tone highlights the inherent issues plaguing society: political division, wealth inequality, and a working class that suffers under the inefficiency of its government. The Wire is abrasively political and paints a violent portrait of America’s most forgotten communities. Its legacy lives on as one of the greatest shows in modern history, acting as a televisual bible for accurate representation of people of color.