15+ Best TV Shows to Rewatch

TV shows often become even better when you watch them a second time. This is when you can fully appreciate the complex plots, deep character development, and subtle themes.

Many on the list of these best TV shows to rewatch are crafted with layers that demand more than one watch. That is so as to truly grasp the TV show and what the creators intended to convey in the watching experience.

The Best TV Shows to Rewatch

1. Breaking Bad

Vince Gilligan’s masterful crime drama follows the transformation of a high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, into a drug kingpin.

The show is renowned for its tight plot, character development, and moral questions. On a second watch, viewers can appreciate the early foreshadowing and intricate setups that pay off later, while enhancing the depth and tragedy of Walter’s journey.

2. Desperate Housewives

Set in the fictional Wisteria Lane, this series blends dark comedy with mystery. Throughout it explores the lives of a group of women as seen through the eyes of their deceased neighbor.

The show delves into the seemingly perfect lives of the housewives, revealing complex secrets, crimes, and mysteries. Rewatching “Desperate Housewives” allows viewers to appreciate the clever foreshadowing and intricate narrative.

3. Game of Thrones

Based on George R.R. Martin’s fantasy novels, this epic series is known for its vivid world-building, complex characters, and shocking twists.

Rewatching allows fans to pick up on the subtle clues and foreshadowed events leading up to its climactic moments.

4. Sex and the City

Navigating Life and Love in NYC: This TV show follows the lives of four friends—Carrie, Miranda, Charlotte, and Samantha—as they navigate the complexities of life, love, and friendship in New York City.

The show broke new ground with its candid discussion of women’s sexuality and relationship dynamics. A second viewing of “Sex and the City” offers a chance to appreciate the evolution of cultural norms and the depth of character development, alongside its iconic fashion and witty dialogue.

5. Stranger Things

A love letter to the ’80s, this sci-fi horror series blends supernatural elements with childhood nostalgia. Rewatching can be especially rewarding to catch all the retro references, hidden Easter eggs, and subtle hints about the series’ broader mythology that viewers might miss the first time around.

6. Mad Men

Set in the competitive world of advertising in the 1960s, this series is celebrated for its historical authenticity, visual style, and character studies.

The slow burn of Don Draper’s and other characters’ developments can be more deeply appreciated on a second viewing, catching nuances of dialogue and character interactions that illuminate their transformations.

7. The Crown

This biographical story about Queen Elizabeth II’s reign explores the personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries behind significant historical events.

A second watch helps viewers appreciate the historical context and subtleties of character performance that might go unnoticed on the first pass.

8. Sherlock

A modern update to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic stories, this series is fast-paced, with sharp dialogue and clever mysteries.

Knowing the resolutions allows the second viewing to be a hunt for clues and understanding Sherlock’s deductions from a new perspective.

9. The Haunting of Hill House

This psychological horror series by Mike Flanagan is based on Shirley Jackson’s novel of the same name. It is as much about a family’s tragic history as it is about the ghosts that haunt them. The series is filled with hidden specters and background details that are easily missed during the first viewing, making a rewatch both rewarding and chilling.

10. The Lord of the Rings

The Rings of Power-Ancient Middle-Earth Revealed: Set thousands of years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings,” this series explores the origins of iconic characters and the forging of great powers.

The rich lore and expansive storytelling offer plenty of details that viewers can better appreciate during a rewatch, allowing them to delve deeper into the complex mythology and character backstories.

12. Fleabag

This British TV show, created and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, dives into the messy life of a young woman navigating grief and personal relationships in London. Its witty dialogue, unique breaking of the fourth wall, and deep emotional undertones offer new layers to uncover in each rewatch.

13. House of Cards

This political thriller series centers around Frank Underwood’s ruthless rise to power, packing the story with manipulative tactics and shocking twists.

Rewatching allows viewers to pick up on the subtle hints and manipulative strategies laid out from the start.

14. The Sopranos

This other best TV show to rewatch dives into the life of Tony Soprano, a mob boss his criminal organization with his family life. Its deep psychological insights and intricate mob politics reward viewers on every rewatch.

15. Black Mirror

Each episode of this anthology series explores dark and satirical themes about modern society, but also the unanticipated consequences of new technologies.

Consequently, its thought-provoking narratives invite deep reflection and merit multiple viewings.

16. Gilmore Girls

This charming series centers around the close relationship between a single mother and her daughter in a small town. Moreover, its quick dialogue, cultural references, and complex relationships make it a delightful rewatch.

17. BoJack Horseman

This animated TV show to rewatch features a washed-up actor who is also a horse, navigating life’s ups and downs. Known for its deep emotional storytelling and commentary on celebrity culture, it’s profoundly rewarding on multiple viewings.

18. Twin Peaks

As far as Best TV shows to rewatch, the list also includes animated shows. David Lynch and Mark Frost’s groundbreaking mystery series combines murder investigation with supernatural elements.

Known for its atmosphere and storytelling, the series packs symbolic imagery and quirky characters, it becomes clearer when you rewatch.

19. The X-Files

This sci-fi TV show follows FBI agents Scully and Mulder as they investigate unsolved cases involving paranormal phenomena. More so, its mix of mythology and standalone episodes offers rich content that rewards detailed exploration.

20. Peaky Blinders

Set in post-World War I England, this also falls into the Best TV shows to rewatch. The series follows the Shelby crime family as they expand their criminal empire with numerous threats.

Furthermore, “Peaky Blinders” is celebrated for its stylish presentation, complex characters, and gripping story arcs. The context, combined with multi-layered characters and political intrigue, makes it a series that offers new insights upon every rewatch.

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