The "Golden Age" of TV drama has produced many dramatic televisual masterpieces, with exceptional examples of how aesthetically stunning the medium can be coming from both Europe and the USA. One of the most exciting developments to have emerged from this is the trend towards scores and soundtracks that are just as gorgeous, tense, complex and experimental as those that have dominated cinema for many years. Film may be more widely celebrated for its soundtracks (largely because of the fame of its composers), but TV has recently provided more than its fair share of musical moments that match up to any in cinema's history. Think about the brooding themes that accompany Justin's prophetic visions in Carnivàle, the sonic stylisation of practically every episode of Hannibal, the eerie toy box chimes that set the tone in Les Revenants' opening credits... Television series are built on a need to maintain the focus of an audience for long periods. Unlike film, where the action unfolds over a period of a couple of hours, a television serial is a longstanding flow of tension and release that always runs the risk of losing an audience's interest at any moment. An exceptional TV soundtrack should grab the viewer by the throat and refuses to let go, burying them in the atmosphere of the accompanying visuals and helping to create an immersive binge-able environment for the viewer. 10 exceptional scores that achieve this are listed here, selected for originality, weirdness, atmosphere and just general beauty. These soundtracks turn their respective shows into more than just dramas. They are long-form cinematic masterpieces for the small screen.
