10 Greatest One-Season 2000s Reveals, Ranked
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Marking the start of tv’s golden period and the emergence of the small display’s ongoing recognition as a vibrant and enthralling type of status leisure, the 2000s is a decade of each supreme significance and intriguing evolution for the medium. Whereas such revered collection as The Sopranos and The Wire have been redefining what might be achieved within the context of long-form serialized drama, the last decade additionally noticed loads of one-off tv collection entrench themselves among the many medium’s most celebrated and important titles.
Starting from universally adored miniseries like Band of Brothers to canceled cult traditional exhibits like Freaks and Geeks and Firefly, the 2000s stands as a decade rife with spellbinding, short-form tv leisure. Spanning throughout many various genres, and encompassing all the things from underrated hits to medium-defining classics, these 10 one-season exhibits managed to make a big impact with out ever threatening to outstay their welcome.
10
‘Undeclared’ (2001–2002)
Created by Judd Apatow
Created by Judd Apatow after Freaks and Geeks was canceled in 2000, Undeclared presents the same dose of youthful expressionism and juvenile enjoyable that appeased critics upon launch and has endured as a cult hit of early 2000s tv. Set in a school, the teenager dramedy collection follows an eclectic group of freshmen as they experiment with new experiences whereas relishing the liberty faculty supplies. There’s, nonetheless, an exception for the nerdy Steven (Jay Baruchel), who finds his new horizon of grownup risk being hampered by the lingering presence of his not too long ago divorced and lonely father.
Whereas it’s confined to current within the shadow of Apatow’s earlier hit Freaks and Geeks, the modern faculty comedy does nonetheless have the capability to appeal viewers with its array of lovable characters and its story of self-discovery. It’s extremely underrated, not solely so far as tv comedies of the 2000s go, however as a nuanced and resonant slice of younger grownup drama as properly.
9
‘Thief’ (2006)
Created by Norman Morrill
Probably the most underrated tv collection of any kind from the 2000s, Thief makes probably the most of its snappy execution and a rousing central efficiency from Andre Braugher to be a hidden gem of a crime-thriller miniseries. Braugher stars as Nick Atwater, a grasp thief left reeling when a significant job goes horrifically unsuitable. As he struggles to evade Chinese language mobsters and a crooked cop, his life can be difficult by his spouse’s current dying, which leaves him emotionally fractured and liable for a stepdaughter he hardly is aware of.
It flaunts all of the type, suspense, and flamboyant amorality that makes most of the finest heist tales so fascinating, however it is usually capable of deftly underscore its boisterous qualities with a stirring give attention to interpersonal drama and sophisticated character dynamics. Regardless of airing to crucial acclaim, FX declined to increase the collection past its six-episode first season on account of its poor rankings. These lucky sufficient to have seen it understand how tragic that’s.
8
‘Studio 60 on the Sundown Strip’ (2006–2007)
Created by Aaron Sorkin
Given it was written by Aaron Sorkin, options an in depth ensemble forged, and thrived as an inside have a look at the interior machinations of the manufacturing of a sketch comedy collection, it’s actually stunning that Studio 60 on the Sundown Strip wasn’t renewed for Season 2. In reality, it’s the solely collection Sorkin has ever written that didn’t transcend its first season. The explanations for which can be tied to the launching of fellow NBC collection 30 Rock in the identical 12 months, forcing the community to decide between the 2 collection given their alarming similarities.
Whereas Studio 60 on the Sundown Strip misplaced out, the one-season collection nonetheless has loads to supply. Following two troubled writers who’re often tasked with saving the skits of the sketch comedy collection they reside over from all method of issues regarding producers’ psychological meltdowns, management room catastrophes, and the dueling egos of its appearing expertise. Finally a sufferer of circumstance and poor timing, the comedy-drama collection stays a hidden gem of 2000s entertainment that, over the course of its 22-episode tenure, showcases a wry comedian genius and great potential to turn into one thing really magnificent.
7
‘Angels in America’ (2003)
Directed by Mike Nichols
That includes Al Pacino, Meryl Streep, and Emma Thompson amongst different noteworthy stars, Angels in America has maybe the best forged ever assembled for the small display. Primarily based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the identical identify, it focuses on six intersecting characters in New York in 1985 who discover their lives being impacted by the spreading AIDS epidemic, drastic political and societal shifts, and their very own struggles with sexuality. Dwelling with a damning AIDS analysis that has ruined his relationship, Prior Walter (Justin Kirk) is visited by an angel who instructions him to develop into a prophet.
Whereas its focus on LGBTQ issues gives it a thematic heft that thrives amid its setting of societal panic and searing political discourse, Angels in America nonetheless excels as a brilliantly executed collection about complicated and intriguing characters making an attempt to satisfy their aspirations. It grew to become the primary of solely three titles to comb all the key classes on the Emmys and went on to dominate the Golden Globes as properly. It stays one of the highly effective and trustworthy portrayals of how the AIDS epidemic impacted American society.
6
‘John Adams’ (2008)
Directed by Tom Hooper
Even if it gained 4 Golden Globes and 13 Primetime Emmys—probably the most of any miniseries within the historical past of the ceremony—John Adams has develop into one thing of a forgotten masterpiece of 2000s tv. The historic political miniseries chronicles the life and profession of John Adams (Paul Giamatti), from his early vocation as a lawyer in Boston to his involvement in America securing its independence, his service because the second President of the USA, and his eventual retirement.
Giamatti is often phenomenal within the titular position, imbuing Adams with a searing ardour and admirable political braveness, but riddling him with bouts of self-importance, indecision, and stubbornness as properly. Moreover, he’s supported by an distinctive ensemble forged that’s spearheaded by Laura Linney’s good portrayal of Abigail Adams. Not solely scintillating in its drama, however impressively dedicated to historic accuracy as properly, John Adams is an exemplary exploration of such an necessary determine within the context of American historical past, in addition to top-of-the-line miniseries to have ever been launched.
5
‘Pink Driving’ (2009)
Directed by Julian Jarrold, James Marsh, and Anand Tucker
One more underrated deal with of 2000s tv, Pink Driving is totally implausible as a British crime miniseries that makes use of a fictionalized spin on the case of the Yorkshire Ripper to delve into problems with corruption with three episodes every set in several years. In 1974, reporter Eddie Dunford’s (Andrew Garfield) investigation right into a collection of murdered or lacking schoolgirls sees him cross paths with an unscrupulous actual property developer. In 1980, a brand new detective is introduced in to take cost of the case after public outcry over the dearth of progress. In 1983, DCS Jobson (David Morrissey), overcome by guilt regarding his involvement within the pressure’s corruption, begins making amends when one other woman goes lacking.
Taking the notoriety of the notorious serial killer and weaving the story of morbid thriller into an intrinsic evaluation of systemic corruption, Pink Driving is outlined by each its grit and its ambition. Additional bolstered by an ensemble forged of Britain’s biggest abilities and a mastery of tone from the three administrators to submerge audiences within the hostility and hazard of Nineteen Seventies-80s Yorkshire, the miniseries is a labyrinthian masterpiece of deceit and griminess that lingers on viewers’ minds lengthy after its conclusion is reached.
4
‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999–2000)
Created by Judd Apatow
A timeless hit of teenage comedy that has come to be revered as a real cult traditional of the small-screen, Freaks and Geeks is an excellent exploration of adolescent angst that manages to offer laughs aplenty whereas nonetheless discovering moments of pathos and earnestness. Set within the early Eighties, it follows the Weir siblings’ experiences in William McKinley Excessive College. Lindsay (Linda Cardellini) breaks away from her A-student picture when she begins hanging out with the stoners whereas her youthful brother Sam (John Francis Daley) befriends the geeks of his age group as he struggles to navigate his freshman 12 months.
Stacked with a forged of baby-faced, soon-to-be stars, Freaks and Geeks rides the comical nous and dramatic may of its forged to ship a considerate, awkward, painful, and totally hilarious depiction of highschool life. It suffered initially from a sporadic launch schedule that noticed episodes air out of order, and was frustratingly canceled after simply 12 of its 18 episodes had run, but it surely has amassed each an enormous fan following and widespread crucial acclaim within the years since its discontinuation to be among the many most celebrated comedy collection of all time.
3
‘Era Kill’ (2008)
Written by David Simon, Ed Burns, and Evan Wright
An enlightening examination of recent warfare from the co-creators of The Wire and Evan Wright, whose experiences as an embedded reporter throughout the U.S. invasion of Iraq function a foundation for the collection, Era Kill is a uniquely compelling army collection. Primarily based on Wright’s guide of the identical identify and his article ‘Killer Elite’ in Rolling Stone Journal, the seven-part miniseries follows the US Marine Corps’ 1st Reconnaissance Battalion by means of the preliminary phases of the Iraq Struggle, monitoring their progress by means of the nation in addition to analyzing the bureaucratic chain-of-command woes that needed to endure.
It thrives by means of its vivid realization and its scorching honesty, submerging viewers within the unimaginable morality of fight that usually shocks by means of its execution of the troopers’ indifference as a lot as by means of its visceral presentation of fight. Wealthy with a palpable sense of authenticity, and but nonetheless imbued with compelling storytelling prowess, Generation Kill is an often overlooked spotlight of battle tv that sits comfortably among the many finest miniseries of the 2000s.
2
‘Firefly’ (2002–2003)
Created by Joss Whedon
By no means dissimilar to the aforementioned Freaks and Geeks, Firefly has come to be a universally adored cult classic series that struggled when it aired as a consequence of a sporadic launch technique that noticed episodes run out of order. Regardless of one of the best efforts of the collection’ passionate fan base, it was canceled earlier than even all 14 of its Season 1 episodes had run and was by no means renewed by a distinct community, a tragedy contemplating creator Joss Whedon had deliberate a number of seasons’ value of story.
What audiences have been handled to, at the very least, is an addictive spectacle of area Western intrigue following Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) and his ragtag crew of miscreants and outlaws as they safe no matter work they’ll to be able to survive because the tyrannical governing physique of the Alliance expands its grasp within the wake of a common civil battle. Regardless of its preliminary airing woes, Firefly has endured by means of its wondrous creativeness, its sense of journey, and its balancing of swashbuckling enjoyable with thematic undertones of ethical ambiguity. It stays a defining spotlight of sci-fi tv not solely within the 2000s, however within the historical past of the medium.
1
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
Created by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks
Not solely the best one-season collection of the 2000s, however fairly presumably one of the best tv collection of any size to have ever graced the small display, Band of Brothers is a visceral masterpiece of battle drama that thrives with its true-story foundation and its sensational but confronting execution. From co-creators Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the ten-part miniseries dramatizes Easy Company’s campaign through WWII, from their coaching regime and their parachute deployment into Europe on the eve of D-Day, to their liberation of the Kaufering IV focus camp and their presence in Germany on the finish of the battle.
Exact by way of its narrative steadiness, Band of Brothers excels as a grueling depiction of the horrors of fight that honors the sacrifices made by so many throughout WWII with out ever straying into blind worship or hole idolization. Its battle sequences are as astonishing as they’re brutal, and its characters are realized with rousing depth and earnestness, making audiences spend money on them as they progress by means of the European Theater. A feat of technical mastery and storytelling craft, Band of Brothers is among the many most affective and unforgettable depictions of battle ever put to display.
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