(DAY 607) Critics' Best TV Shows of 25 Years

Rotten Tomatoes recently published its critics’ picks for the best TV shows of the past 25 years. I realized I had finished only four from the list: Chernobyl, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Succession, and The Office. I had started six others but did not finish them.

The four I watched left an impression for different reasons. Chernobyl held my attention with its portrayal of the nuclear disaster. Curb Your Enthusiasm still makes me laugh, Succession kept me interested in its family and media-business story, and I enjoyed The Office’s mockumentary style and characters.

There are plenty of acclaimed shows I have not watched, and some I started without finishing. A series asks for a larger time commitment than a film. Critical praise does not guarantee that a show will fit my taste or schedule. The list below records where I stand with the shows on the Rotten Tomatoes list.

Best TV Shows of 25 Years

A long-running show can become part of a routine, and watching with friends can make it a shared experience. But there is more television available than I can watch. I would rather choose what holds my attention than treat a critics’ list as homework.