Modern TV: The Definitive Bracket of the Best TV Show of the 21st Century

We are living in the era of 'Peak TV.' With an explosion of streaming services like Netflix and HBO, there has never been a better time to be a television fan. But this golden age has also created a new, fiercely debated question: What is the single best TV show of the 21st century? It's a debate that pits prestige dramas against beloved sitcoms, and epic fantasies against grounded character studies. A simple poll can't capture the nuance of this conversation. To truly find a champion, you need to pit these titans against each other in a head-to-head bracket challenge. At Brackets, a party game for settling debates, we're ready to start the argument.

Let's seed an 8-show bracket with some of the most acclaimed and culturally significant series to have premiered since the year 2000.

The Contenders: The Titans of Television

Our contenders include Breaking Bad, often cited as one of the most perfectly plotted shows in history, and Game of Thrones, the epic fantasy saga that defined a decade. The Office (US) is the ultimate comfort-food sitcom, while Succession is a modern Shakespearean tragedy about a media dynasty. The Sopranos is widely credited with kicking off this golden age of television. Mad Men is a stylish and slow-burn character study. Fleabag is a tour-de-force of writing and performance. And The Wire is praised for its novelistic approach and unflinching realism.

The Simulated Matchups

This is where it gets tough. How do you compare a sitcom to a drama? In the first round, in a battle of antiheroes, Breaking Bad's tight plotting might just give it the edge over 'The Sopranos.' The cultural juggernaut that was Game of Thrones likely takes out the more subtle 'Mad Men.' In a clash of tones, Succession's sharp writing could overcome the beloved 'The Office.' And in a battle of critical darlings, The Wire's sprawling scope might just edge out the intensely personal 'Fleabag.' This leaves us with semifinals of Breaking Bad vs. Game of Thrones and Succession vs. The Wire. 'Game of Thrones' was bigger, but its controversial ending has soured its legacy for many. 'Breaking Bad,' on the other hand, is praised for having one of the most satisfying endings of all time, so it advances. In the second semi-final, 'Succession' is a modern masterpiece, but 'The Wire' is often treated as something more than a TV show, giving it the win.

The Final:

It all comes down to Breaking Bad vs. The Wire. This is a debate that has raged in online forums for years. Both are considered near-perfect television. 'The Wire' is praised for its realism and social depth, while 'Breaking Bad' is lauded for its character transformation and narrative tension. It's an impossible choice. But if we have to pick one, the focused, cinematic journey of Walter White gives Breaking Bad the slightest of edges for its sheer entertainment value.

Settle the 'What to Watch Next' Debate

Of course, this is just one possible outcome. The beauty of this debate is that there is no right answer. Do you and your friends agree? What's your top series to watch? The only way to find out is to run the bracket yourself. Use the brackets.games web app to create your own 'Best TV Show' tournament and settle the ultimate Peak TV debate. It might even help you decide what to watch next.