10 Most Rewatchable TV Shows Of 21st Century
Friends, Seinfeld, and That '70s Show need to make room for a new class of binge-worthy shows.
If the 1950s were "The Golden Age of Television" then we must be living in an unprecedented time for episodic TV. Every month, new seasons and series are released for our enjoyment. In the on-going battle between streaming services and cable television, the viewer is always the winner.
We live in an age where it is impossible to watch every single series produced, forcing us to choose which shows we start, keep up with, and ultimately see to its end. And with near-unlimited options to choose from, what do we do?
Rewatch the same episodes of shows we've seen countless times, of course.
We're all guilty of it. No one enjoys the endless scroll through Netflix or Hulu, previewing shows only to abandon them for an old favorite. Watching television is an investment of time and emotion, two intangibles that no one wants to waste. Instead of gambling on a new show or sticking with a long-running series out of frustrated obligation (see: The Walking Dead), it's much easier and enjoyable to dive back into a world of characters that we already know and love.
Rewatching a great show is comforting, effortlessly, and, surprisingly, even more entertaining with each subsequent viewing. These ten shows from 2001 until today are among the best to binge as many times as possible.
10. Schitt's Creek
Despite a 92/96 critic/audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, Schitt's Creek is underrated when it comes to best TV shows of the new millennium, but every episode has heart-warming moments, smooth one-liners, and infinite rewatchability.
The wealthy Rose family wakes up to discover that they're broke. Their only remaining asset is the town of Schitt's Creek, a purchase made years earlier as a joke. Patriarch and shamed businessman Johnny, his eccentric, washed-up soap opera wife Moira, and their two spoiled and quite helpless adult children David and Alexis are forced to move into the rundown motel of Schitt's Creek and adjust to their new lives among the rural population.
The members of the Rose family are a tad outlandish but far from cartoony, with the unique citizens of Schitt's Creek playing perfect foils for each character. Even Mayor Roland Schitt, who can be a bit much at times, is steadily balanced by the supporting cast.
An episode of Schitt's Creek glides smoothly from start to finish, maintaining a quick cadence without feeling rushed. The Rose family, while guilty of inducing eye-rolls, redeem their quirky habits with character development that feels meaningful and permanent.
We watch a down-on-their-luck family (albeit, a once rich and narcissistic family) come to terms with their new life, adopt a new worldview, and accept one another for who they are at heart. The quick wit and dry humor, combined with an endearing cast of characters, makes Schitt's Creek an effortlessly rewatchable program.