3. John Adams
HBO again prove their meticulous devoting to crafting impeccable, inscrutable TV drama with John Adams, which depicts the United States' struggle to find an identity by way of one of its most underrated founding fathers, the eponymous lead being played by superb character actor Paul Giamatti. Though firmly rooted in Adams' own personal life - Laura Linney is simply superb as his wife - the show manages to strike a firm balance between this and the broader historical elements; seeing people like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson being portrayed in the milieu of making the US what it is today is fascinating to watch. It's a show that's ultimately all about love, of each other and of a great nation emerging from the ashes, one which tragically its leader was never able to see. Well worth a look if you're at all interested in how the US came to be.