We Predict People Will Still Be Talking About These 10 Current TV Shows 20 Years From Now

Even when a TV show is a major success and connects with audiences everywhere, that doesn't necessarily mean it will stand the test of time. When we think about the series from 20 years ago that we're still talking about today, they all share certain attributes. Shows that hold up after several decades are fresh, boundary-pushing, and bring something new to their respective genres. These recent series haven't just caused a stir with audiences and critics for the time being but have established themselves as powerhouses of their story types that should be remembered.

Many of the best TV shows of 2024 have already been making an impact on modern television, as well as series that have been airing for many years. It's always impressive when a show can maintain its viewership base and stay relevant after being on the air for several seasons. Today, with streaming and the changing landscape of television, it's harder than ever for a show to distinguish itself and rise above the crowd. However, all of these series have achieved this and are being rewarded for their work.

10 Outlander (2014–Present)

Period romance is at its best in Outlander

Outlander will go down in history as one of the best period romance TV shows ever made, thanks to its sweeping romance and epic scale. The central relationship between Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) is desperately romantic and is a relationship worth fighting for across time. As the series has progressed, Outlander has shifted its focus away from pure romance to family legacy and the ups and downs of historical conflicts, but Claire and Jamie have remained the most engaging part of the show.

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10 Book Stories That Outlander Season 8 Must Include

Outlander season 8 is likely to be very different from Diana Gabaldon's books, but there are still several stories to include before the big finale.

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Outlander season 8 will be the show's final installment, and based on the intense drama and unexpected reveals from season 7, it will be an explosive end to the series. Though fantasy and romance have always been successful genres on television, Outlander helped usher in a new era for romantasy and has been an instrumental part of bringing it into the mainstream cultural conversation. It will be upsetting to see the show end, but there are already thrilling spinoffs in the works.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Outlander (2014–Present)	90%	84%

9 The Boys (2019–Present)

The dark side of superheroes is thrilling and unexpected in The Boys

As The Boys has progressed, the series has changed a lot, but it's always maintained its high-octane action and self-awareness that immediately drew an audience. When The Boys premiered in 2019, it was a refreshing answer to the overflowing superhero genre, reflecting viewers' exhaustion after seeing the same kind of hero onscreen. The Boys sets itself apart by being a show full of antiheroes who remain morally ambiguous and imperfect, even when they're doing the right thing.

It would have been easy for The Boys to rest on the effectiveness of its violent style and the over-the-top nature of the story, but the series can still get serious and reflective when it needs to. Based on the comic book series, The Boys shares the aesthetics and sensibilities of the source material while making effective changes to bring the story to the screen. The central performances from Karl Urban, Jack Quaid, and Anthony Starr anchor the show in reality and give it an edge compared to other action-oriented projects.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Boys (2019–Present)	93%	76%

8 Stranger Things (2016–Present)

Stranger Things is one of the definitive projects of the streaming era

Anyone who's been watching TV or on the internet at all since 2016 has heard about Stranger Things. Netflix's science fantasy series has been a consistent success for the streamer. Subtly evolving with each season,Stranger Things has seen its leads age into adulthood and chronicled the aesthetic and cultural shifts of the 1980s through its speculative fiction format. The release of each season of Stranger Things has been a landmark event for television and for Netflix.

With Stranger Things season 5 on the horizon, the series's final installment, there's a lot of pressure riding on the upcoming arc to wrap up the incredible story and character arcs.

With Stranger Things season 5 on the horizon, the series's final installment, there's a lot of pressure riding on the upcoming arc to wrap up the incredible story and character arcs. It will be sad to say goodbye to these beloved characters, but if Stranger Things gives them a fitting end, it will cement the series as one never to be forgotten. The fact that Stranger Things has maintained its hold on the cultural conversation speaks to its lasting legacy.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Stranger Things (2016–Present)	91%	90%

7 From (2022–Present)

It's easy to fall headfirst into the thrilling mysteries of From

Harold Perrineau is a powerhouse as the lead of From, Boyd Stevens, the leader of the haunting town at the heart of the series. Incorporating elements of mystery, horror, and the supernatural, the success and impact of From has snuck up on viewers, with the show recently confirmed for season 4. However, from the first moments of the series, it becomes clear why From has connected with audiences so deeply and why we're all so excited to see what happens next.

It can be difficult to maintain the tension and believability of a mystery series like From, as seen in Perrineau's earlier series, Lost. However, From hasn't struggled to balance the elements of the story that kept it interesting at the beginning while introducing new aspects that keep it fresh. From breaks genre boundaries and appeals to viewers who might not traditionally seek out speculative fiction, which always indicates that a show will be remembered.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
From (2022–Present)	96%	79%

6 Silo (2023–Present)

Thanks to its brilliant premise and effective mysteries, Silo is making a name for itself

Based on the book series by Hugh Howey, Apple TV's sci-fi series, Silo, is a welcome addition to the post-apocalyptic genre, both in style and tone. Led by the dynamic Rebecca Ferguson, Silo is full of mysteries and layers, encouraging the audience to theorize about potential futures and the secrets hidden inside the many layers of the Silo. Sci-fi is having a renaissance on television, and it's impossible to ignore the fact that Silo is a part of this.

It's possible that Silo could expand upon the original book series and last for many seasons, as there's enough story and interest to propel the narrative well into the future.

There are still many questions Silo season 3 needs to answer, but it's a great sign that Silo isn't rushing its story and is maintaining interest long-term. It's possible that Silo could expand upon the original book series and last for many seasons, as there's enough story and interest to propel the narrative well into the future. With Apple's resources and the well-thought-out source material, Silo will continue proving its longevity in the years to come.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Silo (2023–Present)	92%	65%

5 Poker Face (2023–Present)

Rian Johnson expands upon the beloved mystery genre with Poker Face

The creator of Poker Face, Rian Johnson, has made a name for himself within the mystery genre, and we're having just as much fun watching Poker Face as he is making it. Though there's an overarching mystery and thrilling chase at the heart of Poker Face, each episode sees Charlie, the protagonist, solve a different mystery, keeping the audience on the edge of their seat. Poker Face is in conversation with classic series like Columbo, but the show appeals to more than just mystery fans.

Natasha Lyonne has always been a star, but Poker Face has cemented her as an actress who will be remembered well into the future. Lyonne is charismatic, funny, and sly as Charlie Cale, the series' protagonist, making it easy to go on all her adventures together. With Poker Face season 2 fast approaching, it will be interesting to see how Johnson ups the ante of the show's premise, but it's clear that the series has carved out a niche for itself in the cultural mindset.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Poker Face (2023–Present)	98%	81%

4 The White Lotus (2021–Present)

The White Lotus season 3 has shown fans of Mike White's anthology series that the writer-director-creator of the series isn't afraid to break every taboo. At a time when class commentary and condemnations of the ruling class are taking center stage in film and television, The White Lotus still manages to stand out among its contemporaries. Set in a new luxury location every season, The White Lotus always boasts a fantastic ensemble cast and thrilling mystery.

White's singular vision and ability to construct such vivid characters and nuanced dynamics sets The White Lotus apart.

Though some characters have returned across the series, The White Lotus takes on different forms of wealth and relationships to keep the audience engaged. Part of the appeal of each season is the gorgeous locations and the sharp juxtaposition between the people staying at the resort and the people who work there. White's singular vision and ability to construct such vivid characters and nuanced dynamics sets The White Lotus apart.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The White Lotus (2021–Present)	91%	79%

3 Invincible (2021–Present)

The superhero genre is better off because of Invincible

Some comic book adaptations lend themselves to live-action, but it's clear that Invincible was always meant to be an animated series. Full of blood, gore, and guts, many of the best action sequences and fight scenes in Invincible wouldn't be as effective in live-action as it's the visuals that instantly set the series apart. However, it's not just the look and feel of Invincible that keeps us talking about it, but the story and characters.

It would have been easy for Invincible to rely on the wave of popularity and interest in the superhero genre, but the show consistently pushes and reinvents itself. Within a genre that's become a little over-saturated in recent years, Invincible never struggles to be fresh and new. Invincible is action-packed and thrilling, but it's also engaged with bigger questions about morality, what it means to be a hero, and the generational differences between parents and children.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Invincible (2021–Present)	99%	91%

2 The Last Of Us (2023–Present)

This post-apocalyptic video game series has pushed the genre forward

Video game adaptations have been a popular genre type in the 2020s, and no show better demonstrates how good these series can be than The Last of Us. The video game it's based on already had a significant following and had made a cultural impact when it was tapped to be brought to life onscreen. The Last of Us has an incredible story that lends itself to TV, but HBO went above and beyond in immersing us in Joel and Ellie's world.

Joel and Abby in The Last of Us Season 2

6 Things I Think Happen In The Last Of Us Season 2 As Someone Who Never Played The Games

Having never played The Last of Us video games, it seems like HBO's version of the story could go in several different ways in the second season.

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The Last of Us has captured our attention so fully because it's such a strong blend of survival, sci-fi, and emotional realism within the post-apocalyptic genre. It's easy to become deeply invested in the characters' journeys and care about what will happen next, as The Last of Us balances its action with its character development. The Last of Us season 2 will chronicle the second installment of the video game, and though players already know some of the dramatic ups and downs Joel and Ellie will face, this doesn't make it any less compelling to watch.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
The Last of Us (2023–Present)	96%	88%

1 Severance (2022–Present)

Apple TV's sci-fi thriller is an audience and critic favorite

There are many ways that Apple's streaming service is establishing itself as a sci-fi powerhouse, and the response to Severance has been overwhelming. It's always exciting when a series becomes a cultural touchstone that it feels like everyone is talking about, and this has only made it more fun to watch Severance. With great performances from the lead cast and Ben Stiller's atmospheric direction, Severance has proven that it isn't just a flash in the pan.

There was a long wait between Severance seasons 1 and 2, so it will be critical for the series to release the third installment more quickly to capitalize on the popularity and momentum of the project. However, after the explosive response to last season, Severance doesn't have to worry too much about losing its audience. Full of mysteries, twists, and compelling characters, the show has proven that it just keeps getting better.

Title	Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score	Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
Severance (2022–Present)	96%	78%

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