10 Finished Shows Everyone Should Binge

There are many people who prefer to wait for the entire season of a TV show to air or stream before watching it. Some like to wait for an entire series to end before diving in on their own time. In other cases, a show might not have initially been on someone’s radar, but after constantly hearing about it, they might decide it’s time to see what all the fuss is about.

For those looking for a show to watch beginning to end, there are a plethora of great choices. Even though some of these shows ended decades ago, they remain timeless classics, and most of them continue to be part of the public conversation to this day. It’s never too late to jump on board and watch all the way through.

1

‘Succession’ (2018–2023)

Image via HBO

Four seasons was the perfect amount of time for the story in Succession to run its course. The show ended on a high note, even though fans were hungry for more. The story in the satirical black-comedy drama centers around Logan Roy (Brian Cox), the owner of global media and entertainment conglomerate WayStar Royco. Getting up there in age and with declining health, he realizes he needs to figure out a succession plan. But there’s one problem: all four of his grown children have issues, and he doesn’t think any of them are up to the task. This doesn’t stop him, however, from pitting them against one another. Eventually, they band together against him and other contenders, as well as betray one another for power.

A story about greed, excess, entitlement, and corporate power and influence, Succession skewers corporate America and pokes fun at famous families that clearly provided inspiration for the story and characters. With only 39 episodes, plenty of which are bangers from start to finish, it’s easy to get through the entire show in about a month (or less!).

2

‘Mr. Robot’ (2015–2019)

Image via USA Network

Even those who already watched Mr. Robot can benefit from a re-watch, picking up on hints and nuances they might have missed the first time around when seeing the story from a new perspective. Rami Malek stars as Elliot Alderson, a socially awkward but brilliant cybersecurity engineer with a deep hatred for massive corporations that take advantage of people.

When he meets insurrectionary anarchist Mr. Robot (Christian Slater), the pair work together with a hacktivist group called fsociety to take down the worst offender, E Corp. But the story takes so many twists and turns from there that viewers never saw coming. It’s enthralling all the way through.

3

‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)

Image via Showtime

The titular Dexter (Michael C. Hall) is a blood spatter analyst for Miami Metro P.D. with a dark secret: he’s also a serial killer. But he lives by a Code, taught to him by his adoptive father. He only kills those he can vet and confirm are awful human beings who have, and would continue, to harm, maim, and kill others should he let them live. He’s a vigilante serial killer fans adore, even though they have a tough time reconciling what he does, how he deceives others, and the collateral damage of his actions.

Dexter has re-entered the public conversation with several spin-offs, including Dexter: New Blood in 2021, which served as a direct continuation of the original; the prequel series Dexter: Original Sin in 2024; and the latest sequel series that keeps the story going from New Blood called Dexter: Resurrection. With the show now having become a franchise, it’s worth checking out all 96 episodes across eight seasons to see what all the fuss is about.

4

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

Image via AMC

Widely considered to be one of the best crime dramas ever made (and one of the best TV shows of this generation, period), Breaking Bad never gets old. The show follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher who gets a devastating diagnosis: he has terminal cancer. Desperate to ensure there’s a nest egg for his family once he’s gone, he resorts to teaming up with a former drug-dealing student to make and sell crystal meth. But he’s incredibly good and makes the purest kind ever to hit the streets, attracting the attention of buyers and, of course, rival dealers. Soon, the once meek man turns into a terrifying menace, and his descent (or ascent, depending on how you look at it) is incredible to watch.

Breaking Bad made the right choice in ending after five seasons, while it was still one of the most popular shows on television. That’s good news for those who want to check it out now, more than a decade after it ended. With 62 episodes, an episode a day means Breaking Bad can be watched from start to finish within a couple of months.

5

‘The Sopranos’ (1999–2007)

Image via HBO

The Sopranos is one of those shows where, even if potential viewers missed the boat back when it premiered and decided it was too late to start, now is the perfect time to tune in and discover all its best episodes. The show’s six seasons can be binged from start to finish without the worry of waiting a week for the new episode to premiere or months for the new season.

The late James Gandolfini shines as the protagonist Tony Soprano, a mob boss who struggles to balance his violent criminal career and the awful things he does with his need to be a good family man for his wife and children. The Sopranos is credited with ushering in a new decade of TV talent with high-profile, high-production-value shows that have continued since.

6

‘Mad Men’ (2007–2015)

Image via AMC

With 92 episodes across seven seasons, Mad Men is a delight to watch, standing the test of time despite ending a decade ago. The period drama centers around the world of advertising in Manhattan in the ‘50s and ‘60s. It was a time when print and TV ads were the focus and creative minds working together to find ways to market everything from pantyhose to alcohol.

The show made Jon Hamm a bona fide star, exploring an exciting yet simpler time that’s far different from today. From the dapper outfits to the strong women fighting for their place, Mad Men is one of the best period shows to watch. The show also happens to have one of the best and most satisfying TV series finales, so there’s a big payoff in the end.

7

‘Cobra Kai’ (2021–2025)

Image via Netflix

With episodes that typically run about 22 minutes long, Cobra Kai might have six seasons to get through, but it’s an easy binge with such short episodes and cliffhanger endings that make it impossible to wait to continue. It’s one of those shows viewers put on to watch an episode or two of and quickly realize that hours have gone by.

One of Netflix’s all-time greats, the martial arts dramedy is a sequel to The Karate Kid, following both Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) and Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) as they reunite and ignite old rivalries. It also features a new generation of kids learning karate, as well as many (many!) returning characters from the three original movies in the franchise. It’s delightfully corny — a guilty pleasure worth watching right to the satisfying end.

8

‘The Walking Dead’ (2010–2022)

Image via AMC

The Walking Dead is a big investment, with 11 seasons under its belt. But for those who watch the post-apocalyptic horror drama today, there are many spin-offs to sink into afterwards and keep the momentum going.

Based on the comic book series of the same name, the story begins when the town, and presumably the entire world, is taken over by walking undead seeking human flesh. A group of survivors band together to seek shelter, find resources, fight off enemies, and rebuild some semblance of society and life amidst the dangers they face. With themes of hope, loss, finding oneself, and facing impossible decisions, The Walking Dead is far deeper than it might seem on the surface.

9

‘Parks and Recreation’ (2009–2015)

Image via NBC

One of those sitcoms that’s great to put on when there’s “nothing on,” even to watch in the background while doing other tasks, Parks and Recreation will bring on hearty laughs. The political satire mockumentary is about the workers within the Parks Department of the fictional town of Pawnee, Indiana, and the daily doings they get up to as they deal with bureaucratic red tape and their own complicated personal lives.

The ensemble cast reads like a who’s who of comedy, including Amy Poehler, Rashida Jones, Aziz Ansari, Nick Offerman, Ron Swanson, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, and Chris Pratt, among countless others. With many episodes that are short in length, running about 22 minutes each, it’s easy to power through an entire season over a lazy weekend at home.

10

‘Modern Family’ (2009–2020)

Image via ABC

With so many copycats, sequels, prequels, and revivals, it’s rare to find a sitcom that’s truly unique. Modern Family filled that void, which is in large part why the series earned 22 Emmys through its 11-season run. The idea was to depict a modern family dynamic versus the traditional nuclear family that sitcoms often center around. Delivered mockumentary style, the shenanigans are interspersed with the cast members sitting down to speak to a mysterious interviewer about their perspective on what happened.

Rife with double entendres, running gags, and quirky characters, there are episodes that will literally make viewers laugh out loud. There are family moments that everyone can relate to and others that are just downright hilarious to watch again and again.