Not every TV show gets the chance to make it past one or even two seasons, mainly because a lot of shows are coming out in the age of streaming, and one can’t expect every single series to rack up a profitable level of viewership. On the flipside, some TV series have been on for decades, spanning seasons numbering in the double digits, and eventually growing tired and overused, though still trucking on against all odds.
Luckily, there are some shows that hit that sweet spot right in the middle, staying around for five seasons, which isn’t a lot, but also isn’t too much either. Usually, when a series does this, it stays pretty consistent in quality, never overstaying its welcome for a minute. These are the best TV shows that have only five seasons, which begin and end on a high note, yet leaving a lasting impression on viewers.
10
‘Boardwalk Empire’ (2010–2014)
Created by Terrence Winter
Boardwalk Empire is a period drama set during the Prohibition Era of the United States, which ran during the 1920s and 30s. Amidst the federal ban on alcohol, a county politician nicknamed Nucky (Steve Buscemi) begins living lavishly, which attracts the attention of the government, which finds it strange that a politician at such a low level of government is able to have such an upscale lifestyle.
Nucky, as the government suspects, is crooked, and is conspiring with gangsters and bootleggers to make money while also actively leading crusades against them and aiding the feds. Boardwalk Empire is a show about political corruption, and is largely based on real historical figures, many of whom make an appearance, whether as a guest star, or as a full-time character. In only five seasons, the underrated crime series provided audiences with some thrilling political intrigue that shows how politicians can abuse their own system for their own benefit.
- Release Date
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2010 – 2014-00-00
- Showrunner
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Terence Winter
- Directors
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Timothy Van Patten, Allen Coulter
- Writers
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Terence Winter, Nelson Johnson
9
‘The Magicians’ (2015–2020)
Created by Sera Gamble and John McNamara
Believe it or not, The Magicians is about a bunch of magicians, specifically about magicians inhabiting a magical university. As the magicians-in-training go about their classes and learn to perform their talents, they rapidly discover that many of their childhood storybooks are based on real life, and that various monsters and beings from folklore are present in their world, making it much more dangerous than they initially realized.
The Magicians has quite a huge cast of characters, so it’s definitely easy to pick a favorite character, especially with how well each actor performs in their respective role. Sure, there are some flaws, and the series doesn’t always feel like it’s moving along at a good pace, but it has some really unique writing and blockbuster-level visual effects. It’s not just intriguing, but absolutely gorgeous at times, too.
8
‘Merlin’ (2008–2012)
Created by Johnny Capps, Julian Jones, Jake Michie, and Julian Murphy
Based on Arthurian legend, Merlin is an origin story about one of King Arthur’s close friends: Merlin (Colin Morgan), the archetypal wizard in fantasy, complete with half-moon spectacles, a silvery beard, and a blue robe adorned with stars and moons, with a pointy hat to match. Or at least, that’s how Merlin is typically portrayed. In this origin story, Merlin is not the lovable curmudgeon that many know him to be, but a young man exploring his magical powers for the first time.
Merlin is one of the hallmark fantasy series of the 2000s, blending adventure, drama, and even a little bit of comedy in a truly unique portrayal of classic folklore. At only five seasons, Merlin doesn’t overstay its welcome for even a second–it knows exactly the story it wants to tell, and does it efficiently, and with flawless execution. It’s a bit underrated, but only a little bit. For the most part, fantasy fans recognize this show for the masterpiece that it is.
7
‘Orphan Black’ (2013–2017)
Created by John Fawcett and Graeme Manson
Orphan Black is a Canadian sci-fi thriller series about a Torontonian who witnesses the death of a woman who looks exactly like her. Being a con artist, she decides to assume the role of the dead girl, taking over all aspects of her life and even doing her job as a police detective. However, this leads her to discover a shadowy organization researching cloning technology, which is how her predicament started in the first place.
Orphan Black proved to be way more popular than anyone anticipated with its complex narrative and ability to hook audiences fast. Its innate qualities later prompted a sequel series, but of course, the original is always going to reign supreme. It’s rare that a small-time Canadian ever gets to be as popular as Orphan Black, but it deserves every ounce of the attention that it got, and still gets to this day.
6
‘Key & Peele’ (2012–2015)
Created by Keegan-Michael Key and Jordan Peele
Key & Peele is a sketch comedy show starring the titular stand-up comedy duo, in a series that won them two Primetime Emmy awards. But this is no ordinary sketch show: each episode revolves around a central theme or situation, establishing running gags and callback punchlines that still deliver, even though they’re almost always expected. On top of these central concepts, the sketches usually address some hot-button political and social issues, with an observational, satirical lens.
Key and Peele have incredible chemistry together, and play off of each other like a modern Abbott and Costello, delivering humor, but also some really brilliant bits of writing. The show may have concluded, and its stars moved on to various other projects, but it remains a staple of Comedy Central and one of the finest sketch shows to ever grace the small screen, even at a relatively meager five seasons.
5
‘You’ (2018–2025)
Developed by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble
You is a romantic psychological thriller that is coming to a close in 2025, though over the course of its five seasons, it has stayed consistently thrilling. The story is about Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), a charming bookstore owner who is much more than meets the eye. Upon meeting a customer whom he finds attractive, he proceeds to devote all of his time to stalking her, first via the internet, and then in person, even going so far as to remove any obstacles in his way.
Subsequent seasons follow Joe’s other obsessions, stalking several other love interests, and stopping at nothing to ensure that he ends up with them. You is not just a psychological thriller with a very dangerous man at its heart, it’s a cautionary tale about obsession, and about taking things way, way too far. Though it’s been seven years since it came out, there have been a few gaps, and it only has five seasons, but this proved to be the perfect amount to tell Joe’s story.
4
‘The Last Kingdom’ (2015–2022)
Developed by Stephen Butchard
The Last Kingdom is set in Medieval England, as various English realms feud with each other over petty border squabbles and familial matters. While they are fighting, however, Viking invaders from Scandinavia have arrived, and are intent on conquering the British Isles. A young boy, who has newly been raised as heir to his family’s throne after the death of his brother, is captured by these Vikings, and grows up as one of them before setting off on his own in his adulthood.
Largely based on true events, The Last Kingdom features many historical figures and events, though these are heavily dramatized, as is to be expected. Out of all the shows that take place in the Middle Ages, this is definitely one of the finest. Though it had some rocky moments when it changed networks, it remains thoroughly entertaining, brutally violent, yet endlessly exciting.
3
‘Stranger Things’ (2016–2025)
Created by the Duffer Brothers
Stranger Things is arguably Netflix’s most popular and successful original series, which has become an icon of pop culture in the years since its premiere. The series is set in the 1980s, following a group of adolescents in a sleepy Indiana town as conspiracies unravel, people mysteriously vanish, and alien invaders reveal themselves. It proved to be a breakthrough series for many of the young actors in the show, launching their names into stardom.
In spite of being active for nine years, there are only five seasons to this show. But this is because each season takes a couple of years to come out—you can’t rush perfection, after all. The legendary sci-fi thriller TV series is approaching its finale in 2025, much to the disappointment of fans, but there is no doubt that this finale will wrap things up in a brilliant and fitting way, with the same amount of care and compassion that the showrunners have shown thus far.
2
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Created by Vince Gilligan
Breaking Bad is the revolutionary crime drama starring Bryan Cranston as Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with cancer at a fairly young age. In order to pay for his medical treatments, he uses his knowledge of chemicals to produce and distribute meth, eventually turning from an innocent man with very bad luck to the overlord of a criminal empire, feuding with rival gangs and drug dealers.
This is no ordinary crime drama: it’s rife with plot twists, many of which have gone on to be some of the most iconic twists of all time. It’s also got a lot of genuinely moving and emotional moments, and never gets boring for even a moment. With this series, Cranston proved his acting chops, showing viewers that he was capable of more than just comedy. Aside from establishing Cranston as one of the finest actors of our time, the show really made waves in pop culture, with the excitement barely dying down well over a decade after its finale.
1
‘The Twilight Zone’ (1959–1964)
Created by Rod Serling
The Twilight Zone is one of the first horror anthology series to ever air on television. Created and narrated by Rod Serling, each episode functions as its own self-contained story, delving into themes of fantasy, horror, and science fiction. Basically, nothing is off the table here, be it monsters, aliens, robots, or magical abilities far beyond human capability. But in essence, each episode is about ordinary people experiencing extraordinary situations.
Each episode typically contains a monumental plot twist, which helps to keep it interesting and unpredictable. It’s honestly kind of a shocker that it only lasted five seasons, but it quickly became apparent that people were hungry for more, as it saw numerous revival series. At the end of the day, The Twilight Zone‘s original run is one of the greatest television shows of all time, and doesn’t have a single lackluster episode in any of its five seasons.
