10 TV Shows with First Seasons So Good, They Became Instant Hits

Not these ones.

1. Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

A high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, finds out he's got terminal lung cancer. He teams up with a former student, Jesse Pinkman, to cook and sell meth to secure his family's financial future. They convert an RV into a meth lab, but run into all sorts of issues, from violent drug dealers to close shaves with the law. Walt's brother-in-law, Hank, is a DEA agent. As the money starts rolling in, Walt's ego balloons, and by the end of the first season, it's clear this isn't just about paying hospital bills anymore.

2. Stranger Things (2016-present)

Four friends—Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin—find their lives flipped upside down (pun intended) when Will goes missing. They meet a mysterious girl named Eleven, who has supernatural abilities, and discover that Will is trapped in an alternate dimension called the Upside Down. With the help of Eleven's powers, they manage to communicate with Will through Christmas lights, of all things. Meanwhile, a government lab nearby seems awfully interested in keeping Eleven and the Upside Down a secret. By the end of season one, they rescue Will, but something's still not right with him.

3. Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

The Stark family, led by patriarch Ned, find themselves knee-deep in political intrigue when Ned is made Hand of the King. He discovers the Queen's children are not the King's, sparking a chain of events leading to his beheading. His wife, Catelyn, captures Tyrion Lannister, thinking he tried to murder their son, Bran, who's paralyzed after witnessing the Queen's incestuous affair. Oh, and dragons are reborn into the world after Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragon eggs. Just your average medieval fantasy.

4. Westworld (2016-2022)

Think Disneyland but for adults, and oh yeah, the attractions might just kill you. Westworld is a theme park filled with lifelike robots where guests can live out their wildest fantasies. But the robots, known as hosts, start to gain self-awareness. Dolores, the rancher's daughter host, begins to remember her past loops, including all the times guests have harmed her. Bernard, one of the creators, discovers he's also a host. And the mysterious Man in Black is on a quest to find the center of the maze, which he believes holds the secret to freeing the hosts. Season one ends with Dolores leading a host rebellion.

5. The Crown (2016-present)

This show follows the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, and it kicks off with her becoming queen at just 25, following her father's sudden death. She's got to juggle a ton—her rocky marriage with Philip, Winston Churchill as Prime Minister, and her sister Margaret's scandalous love affair, while navigating a post-WWII Britain. Elizabeth's stern dedication to duty comes at a personal cost, including strained relationships with her loved ones.

6. Fargo (2014-present)

It's based on the Coen Brothers' movie, but it's a whole new story. Lorne Malvo, a drifter, comes into the life of Lester Nygaard, an insurance salesman. Lester's life is pretty miserable until Malvo suggests he take matters into his own hands. Taking the hint, Lester kills his wife with a hammer. The local cops, including a pregnant officer named Molly, start to investigate. Malvo leaves a trail of chaos, killing for fun or convenience, while Lester tries to cover up his crime. By the end of the season, justice is somewhat served, but not without a high body count.

7. Narcos (2015-2017)

Say hello to Pablo Escobar, the kingpin of cocaine. This series kicks off with a bang—literally—as DEA agents storm a drug lab in Colombia. It traces Escobar's rise to power, his brutal methods, and how he practically had a whole country under his thumb. We follow DEA agents Murphy and Peña as they try to catch him. The season ends with Escobar escaping from his luxurious private prison, La Catedral, after a botched attempt by authorities to move him.

8. Homeland (2011-2020)

CIA officer Carrie Mathison thinks that Nicholas Brody, a Marine sergeant who was held captive by terrorists, has been turned into a sleeper agent. She's got no proof, but her gut tells her something's off. The show is a nail-biter as Carrie illegally surveils Brody, starts a romantic relationship with him, and tries to prove he's planning a terror attack. Brody gets close to carrying out his mission but backs out last minute, and Carrie ends the season undergoing electroshock therapy for her bipolar disorder.

9. True Detective (2014-present)

Rust Cohle and Marty Hart are detectives in Louisiana, investigating the ritualistic murder of a young woman. The show flips between 1995, when the investigation starts, and 2012, when the case is reopened. They find a connection to a religious school and discover more victims. In the end, they track down the killer, Errol Childress, in a decrepit, maze-like structure. Cohle is nearly killed but survives, leading to a strangely optimistic ending for a show so steeped in nihilism.

10. The Mandalorian (2019)

The Mandalorian, or Mando for short, is given a job to capture a mysterious alien creature, known to fans as Baby Yoda. Instead of turning him in, Mando goes rogue to protect the child from various threats, including the remnants of the Empire. They journey across different planets, meet a variety of characters, and find themselves embroiled in larger conflicts. By the end of season one, Mando is tasked with finding Baby Yoda's home planet.