6. The Sopranos
HBO had been producing original series for many years before David Chase’s The Sopranos came around in 1999, but it was that heady mob drama that put the cable network in the upper echelon. With dependably excellent performances from James Gandolfini, Edie Falco and a stellar ensemble, The Sopranos was one of the series that ushered in a new era of serialized television, and its finale remains one of the most memorable episodes of any TV show ever. Whether it’s a good one or a bad one is up to you.
