6 Twin Peaks (1990-1991, 2017)
That about a third of this show is unwatchable and/or unnecessary suggests that what is potent about the good stuff really is. Plenty of smarter people than me have written more lucidly about this David Lynch drama and you should probably go and look them up. The first series is immaculate and the recent revisiting was a triumph in ways no one thought possible because revisiting always leads to failure, fan service, inconsistency, and flanderisation. It revels in moments where emotions intensify and captures people at their rawest and most exposed, which is strange considering its reputation as a stylised and stylish piece.
7 The Office (2001-2003)
I shall brook no argument regarding Ricky Gervais turning into one of the greatest turds of our mediasphere. In fact, if you were paying attention at the time, he was doing a character on late night UK television as 'a version of himself' that was mean-spirited, disablist, etc. so he had form for cruelty and intellectual dishonesty and it makes The Office difficult to revisit at times.
However I cannot deny that it is pitch-perfect in capturing the zeitgeist of an increasingly corporate and soulless Britain that had ceased trying for greatness of spirit, right down to the ugly grey carpets and wipe-down furniture in spaces we spend over 50% of our waking energy in. David Brent is useless precisely because he cannot improve the boring meaningless of the ruse everyone has committed to. It is also really funny in ways that are true and ultimately depressing. The Christmas specials aim for pathos and just about land it, but anything else would have lapsed into bathos.
8 The Larry Sanders Show (1992-1998)
9 This is England (2010-2015)
10 Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979-1982)
(this incorporates Smiley's People as a defacto 'series 2').
