Game of Thrones (HBO – 2011-2019)
Given how controversial and (frankly) disappointing the final season of Game of Thrones was, it’s easy to forget just how dominant the show was this decade. Since its premiere in 2011, Game of Thrones has dramatically altered our expectations for set design and special effects in television shows and has rewritten the record books at the Primetime Emmy Awards. The series achieved the rare accomplishment of making high fantasy accessible to and enthralling for a massive mainstream audience.
Game of Thrones’ provocative blend of gory violence, sex-disguised exposition, rich mythology, compelling drama, and sharp dialogue made each episode the topic of water cooler talks and social media threads around the world. But perhaps the show’s greatest legacy will be its willingness to defy tropes, embrace moral ambiguity, and present shocking twists.
Even with its flawed ending, Game of Thrones will remain one of the defining pieces of pop culture from this decade.
-Josh Sarnecky
