Forsaken Treasures: 5 Mainstream TV Dramas Available on Netflix

Netflix has dozens of original shows. Bridgerton, for example, just dropped its third season. But the streaming service also has some iconic mainstream shows that were once very popular when they aired on TV.

Here are five exceptional shows that you don't really think about when you go to Netflix.

Gilmore Girls (2000-2007, 7 seasons, 8.2 on IMDb)

Set in the small town of Stars Hollow, not far from Harvard, this iconic comedy-drama tells the story of Lorelai and Rory Gilmore, a mother in her early thirties and her teenage daughter, who have a very close relationship. In fact, Lorelai and Rory have so much in common that others often think of them as sisters. The lives of the Gilmores are also anything but ordinary, which makes them so exciting to follow.

White Collar (2009-2014, 6 seasons, 8.2 on IMDb)

Jeff Eastin's procedural drama centers on the unlikely friendship between Peter Burke, a white-collar FBI special agent, and Neal Caffrey, a renowned con man hired by the agency to help them solve cases in exchange for his freedom. Throughout the series, the characters crack many cases and build a heartwarming friendship against all odds.

Suits (2011-2019, 9 seasons, 8.4 on IMDb)

The legal drama tells the story of Mike Ross, a con man who poses as a lawyer and gets a job at one of New York's most prestigious law firms as an associate for one of the firm's partners, Harvey Specter. The tandem proves fruitful as Ross and Specter close case after case together. But soon Mike's secret leads to complications that threaten both him and the firm.

Shameless (2011-2021, 8.5 on IMDb)

The American remake of the British series of the same name, Shameless revolves around the residents of Chicago's deprived South Side, focusing on the Gallaghers, a large but dysfunctional family raised by their eldest sister, Fiona, since their father is a drunk and their bipolar mother left them. The show explores the theme of growing up white trash and how it affects one's future life.

Breaking Bad (2008-2013, 5 seasons, 9.5 on IMDb)

Vince Gilligan's crime drama follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who is tired of his miserable life making ends meet and resorts to cooking crystal meth after receiving a serious diagnosis. Together with his former student, Walter embarks on a life of crime and learns to navigate the dangerous criminal world – all in an effort to leave some money behind for his family.