Best Action / Thriller T.V. Series of All Time

Most enthusiastic, heart catching and amazing series we have watched.
The Top Ten
1 Breaking Bad Breaking Bad is an American crime drama television series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. The show originally aired on the AMC network for five seasons, from January 20, 2008, to September 29, 2013.

The only show that rivals Breaking Bad is The Wire. Breaking Bad is incredibly intense from start to finish. The characters are all incredible (yes, including Skyler, because she serves a good purpose in the series), and it's extremely unpredictable. Yet, all the twists make perfect sense.

The show is about a man who is dying, whose dreams died long ago, and who has nothing to lose. He cooks meth to provide for his family but starts to like cooking meth. As the series goes on, he gradually descends into darkness and cruelty, yet his character remains easy to understand, and we all feel empathy for him. This, of course, is Walter White, who, in my mind, is the greatest character in the history of television.

Thanks to his character development, he turns from a nerdy, mild-mannered high school chemistry teacher to a ruthless, yet badass, drug lord. When Walt does something, his actions have consequences, and it's not like the consequences are a one-time thing: They come back on a recurring basis. Everything Walt does, all the deaths that take place, they all mean something, and the show never forgot any of its history either. I've got to give it to Vince Gilligan. He has made arguably the greatest drama show in the history of television.

2 Prison Break Prison Break is an American television serial drama created by Paul Scheuring, that was broadcast on Fox for four seasons, from 2005 to 2009. The series revolves around two brothers.

I turned into a complete addict when I first saw this series, and all my mind was occupied with the next episode. You get so thrilled you might piss yourself while watching.

I'm a crazy movie and series watcher, but I never enjoyed a series more than this one.

It's a masterpiece that truly deserves a special award!

This series took a completely unrealistic situation and presented it in such a plausible manner that you believed it actually could happen. Nothing was contrived. Every piece of the puzzle fit. It made you think, yet it kept up a fast pace to keep your interest. Well-written, simply an amazing series.

3 24 24 is an American action drama television series produced for the Fox network, created by Joel Surnow and Robert Cochran, and starring Kiefer Sutherland as counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer.

Dude... This is what a "legendary" TV series should be like! 24 is an edge-of-the-seat thriller. The best of all time. Jack Bauer is an extraordinary character. I love this series because it keeps you thrilled up to the 24th episode! Love it!

Best show of all time! Brilliant ideas and spectacular acting! Redefines TV shows and binge-watching! Everyone needs to watch this amazing show and become as obsessed with it as I am! Words can't describe the awesomeness that is 24!

I reached this page by searching for series similar to 24. I watched it multiple times, and I feel fresh every time. Jack is awesome.

4 The Wire The Wire is an American crime drama television series set and produced in Baltimore, Maryland. Created and primarily written by author and former police reporter David Simon, the series was broadcast by the cable network HBO in the United States.

Hunter and the hunted duel in this audacious crime drama based on the Baltimore drug scene. Brainy drug lords, bent cops, and crooked politicians may defer them all they like, but a group of honest cops are hell-bent on eradicating drugs from their city.

One of the all-time greats. I can't believe 24 and the crappy Prison Break are ahead of this.

Undoubtedly the best TV show of all time. Very high praise given the competition like Rectify, Breaking Bad, The Fall, and Broadchurch.

Possibly the best series ever.

5 La Femme Nikita

Cult classic of 90s television! This series inspired many other shows like Alias, Nikita, and Painkiller Jane.

One of the best TV shows from the 90s. Peta Wilson delivered amazing acting. The whole cast was great.

I wanted more and more episodes! Season 5 was too short!

6 Acapulco H.E.A.T.
7 Death Note Death Note is a Japanese television drama anime series based on the manga series of the same name by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata. The show is centered around Light Yagami - a promising highschooler and aspiring detective with a strong sense of "justice".

Actually, I am very happy to see it here among the top 10. It is definitely the best. I found it to be even better than Breaking Bad in terms of suspense, thrill, and awesomeness. It is much faster-paced with no drama.

Yeah, I know all the other shows had true acting, but I guess it's really not fair to degrade it only because it's an anime.

One of the best plots. Each episode made you want to see more. It truly speaks to you about concepts of life, death, and justice. I highly recommend it.

What is right and what is wrong? It is all a game of perspective.

8 L.A. Heat

This is a great TV version of Lethal Weapon. They should have done more seasons.

9 Sons of Anarchy Sons of Anarchy is an American crime drama television series created by Kurt Sutter that aired from 2008 to 2014.

For me, personally, it's my favorite series of all time. I saw someone comment that the ending could've been done better. I strongly disagree. It was done just right when considering the point of view of a character who has lost mostly everything and so on - you know what happens at the end.

Anti-hero TV shows are always interesting. Jax Teller is one of the best anti-heroes.

Sons of Anarchy is one of the best TV shows! It should be at least in the top 5.

10 Game of Thrones Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones.

It's one of a kind. It's unique in its way. Not as good as 24 or Prison Break but very good too.

The Contenders
11 The Walking Dead The Walking Dead is an American horror drama television series developed by Frank Darabont, based on the comic book series of the same name by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. Andrew Lincoln plays the show's lead character, sheriff's deputy Rick Grimes, who awakens from a coma discovering... read more

This show is pure and utter gold. I could be really ignorant and go on forever, so I'll just say three things: 1) Amazing plot twists 2) Flawless acting 3) Likable and emotionally enduring characters.

Great storyline, and the depth they go into with the characters makes for a great storyline. It keeps you on the edge of your seat! I look forward to every episode!

A series with an original storyline. Quite interesting, with suspense.

12 The Shield

One of the best police TV shows ever made. This series covers so many topics at the same time, like corruption, dirty cops, drug lords, gang wars, family issues, politics, mafia threats, loyalty and betrayal, and so many messed-up things all in one series.

This TV show will definitely mess with your head and teach you many ironic lessons in life.

Loved the series and loved the way it ended. Everyone got what they deserved.

13 Spy Game
14 Monster

Great animated series that exceeded all expectations. This TV series made all anime shows look like childish cartoons.

Seventy-four episodes of nonstop suspense and a breathtaking mystery.

15 Fargo Fargo is an American anthology crime drama television series created by Noah Hawley. Inspired by the 1996 film of the same name, the series employs dark humor and intricate plotting across various timelines and settings, all linked by the theme of crime in the American Midwest. Fargo has received critical... read more
16 The Pretender

The Pretender and La Femme Nikita are my favorite 90s shows! I miss that time.

17 Dollhouse
18 Renegade
19 Relic Hunter
20 True Detective True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created and written by Nic Pizzolatto.

Here it is, March 2018, and I found this show. Absolutely awesome. It keeps me on my toes. Good pace, cerebral, and great acting. The music is done in good taste, not too loud. The minimum amount of sex does not detract from the storyline - an excellent balance.

This is no 24, but it's not supposed to be - it's on its own, this one.

Marvelous performances, extraordinary script, excellent direction. Overall, it's nuclear. It creates a vacuum around you - you cannot escape it. I am sure I will never have the privilege to see a masterpiece like the 1st season of True Detective again.

21 Blacklist

I've never been so captivated by a personality like I am with Raymond Reddington. Everything just plays around perfectly - the plot, subplots, the "Mystery Lizzy Husband" storyline, and the character development. We don't know what Reddington is up to until we see what he's up to, most of the time.

This is a must-see for y'all who love crime dramas, mystery, and above all, those who wish to have a good time watching the best TV on TV!

Reddington may be a top 5 TV show character of all time. Watching his moral ambiguity play itself out on screen is one hell of a ride. James Spader carries both the show and the viewer on his back and body slams us in the end zone.

22 Longmire

Loved this show. Was so happy when Netflix picked it up! Sad when it ended.

23 Naruto: Shippuden Naruto: Shippuden is the ongoing sequel to the original Naruto anime and covers the Naruto manga from volume twenty-eight on. The TV adaptation of Naruto: Shippuden debuted in Japan on February 15, 2007 on TV Tokyo. It is developed by Studio Pierrot and directed by Hayato Date.

It should be much higher on this list, in my honest opinion. But being an anime ranked 17th on such a general list of mostly American shows is impressive.

24 Criminal Minds Criminal Minds is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Jeff Davis, and is the original show in the Criminal Minds franchise.

More than the twists and turns of the story, it's the character set that defines the show. Each and every one feels like a family member. Awesome.

This show should be at the top! It is so good.

25 The X-Files The X-Files is an American science fiction drama television series created by Chris Carter. The original television series aired from September 10, 1993, to May 19, 2002, on Fox.
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