Although a lot of shows have proved that they have the potential to be revisited, there are also some prominent TV shows that can be rewatched all over again. In the world of streaming, it has become easier than ever to binge-watch some of the best TV shows of all time, but not every title has the qualities that make them worth returning to. To be considered a rewatchable show, there are certain things that are required: an inviting atmosphere, interesting characters, and engaging storylines, to name a few.
Rewatchable shows aren’t restricted to a specific genre, either. Audiences have often rewatched some of the best and funniest TV sitcoms, but there are also prominent shows in the mystery, crime, and drama genres that have clenched audiences’ attention and encouraged them to come back. Although every show has proved that it can be revisited in some form or another, some have also stood out as being the most rewatchable TV shows to have ever graced the smaller screen.
Dragons, disaster, and drama – Game of Thrones quickly became one of the biggest TV shows in the world, with millions of viewers worldwide tuning in each season to catch up on whatever chaos Westeros was facing. Based on the popular novels by George R.R. Martin, Game of Thrones redefined the fantasy TV show genre. The show had a huge cultural impact worldwide, so much so that many people actually learned the Dothraki language in real life. Game of Thrones relied heavily on themes of family, justice, and the complications of morality, with plenty of twists and turns along the way.
There are several factors as to why Game of Thrones became such a rewatchable show. Despite the backlash the show faced after season 8, especially because Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), the Mad Queen, destroyed Kings Landing, there were still several key storylines that audiences were keen to revisit. For example, Jon Snow’s (Kit Harrington) role as a member of the Wall or Arya Stark’s (Maisie Williams) training as a Faceless Man.
Because of the sheer number of subplots and little details scattered throughout the show, it can take a few watches to appreciate Game of Thrones fully. Some of the show’s gorier scenes, such as The Red Wedding, were very rewatchable, and the shock value it provided was simply brilliant. Because of how successful Game of Thrones was, it spawned the spinoff House of the Dragon, which first aired in 2022.
The incredible Breaking Bad is considered to be one of the most binge-worthy TV shows of all time, especially because of the spectacular performances of its leads, Bryan Cranston as Walter White and Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman. One of the show’s best qualities was the development its characters go through across Breaking Bad‘s 5-season run. When Walter was first introduced, he was a meek high school chemistry teacher who struggled with supporting his pregnant wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), and son Walter Jr. (RJ Mitte). However, his cancer diagnosis changed his life completely.
At the end of the show, Walter had become a deranged drug lord with no sense of morals. Interestingly, Jesse’s character development went in another direction, starting as a troublemaker and ending up as a voice of reason, trapped by the wrath of his ex-teacher. Other than the two faces of the show, Breaking Bad had several other interesting characters that brought audiences back time and time again, including the sketchy lawyer Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) and the owner of a local chicken shop franchise, Gustavo Fring (Giancarlo Esposito), who used his stores as a cover-up for his illegal activities.
Breaking Bad had a unique premise that hadn’t been tackled properly on TV before. Not only did the show provide a commentary on the healthcare system in the United States, but it also demonstrated how easily a character could get caught up somewhere they didn’t belong and how their life could be destroyed by doing so. Breaking Bad was such an iconic TV show that it made sense to expand the franchise, and has since added titles such as the spinoff show Better Call Saul and the movie El Camino to the Breaking Bad world.
The Office was based on the UK TV show of the same name but became even more popular in North America, succeeding its original source, and aired 9 seasons before it ended in 2013. The Office introduced some of the funniest sitcom characters of all time, such as the eccentric Regional Manager of Dunder Mifflin Scranton, Michael Scott (Steve Carell), his second in command, Dwight Schrute (Rainn Wilson), and their cohort of associates. The Office took a simple premise, a documentary that focused on the daily lives of a group of average people, and turned it into 201 hilarious episodes.
However, it was also The Office‘s supporting characters that made the show so engaging. With each season, the show brought characters like Andy (Ed Helms), Angela (Kinsey), Oscar (Nunez), Phyllis (Smith), and Creed Bratton further into the spotlight. Throughout the show, audiences received the honor of watching the staff grow and develop as people through various weddings, births, deaths, and days grinding away at their desks. In the finale scenes of The Office, Pam (Jenna Fischer) perfectly explained just why the show became so rewatchable.
When reflecting on the finished documentary, Pam said that she didn’t watch it all because she wanted to argue with her past self for not getting to Jim (John Krasinski) quickly enough. This comment made a lot of sense, as Pam in season 1 was a very different person than in season 9. However, it was the development that each character went through during the show that made it worth binging time and time again. Although everyone ended off much better than how they started, it was always fun to go back and watch them become their true selves.
Since it began in 1994, Friends has been a staple in sitcoms and helped define some of the genre’s key factors. Years after its end, the Friends franchise has continued to be prominent worldwide, releasing merchandise with some of the show’s most recognizable references, such as Smelly Cat and “We were on a break!” Despite its simple premise of six friends living in New York City, Friends repeatedly roped audiences back in because of its main characters: Monica (Courteney Cox), Chandler (Matthew Perry), Joey (Matt LeBlanc), Ross (David Schwimmer), Rachel (Jennifer Anniston), and Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow).
The gang’s lives were played out for audiences to enjoy across all 10 seasons of Friends, providing some hilarious and sometimes emotional storylines. For example, Rachel and Ross’ relationship in Friends was a big talking point from start to finish, as was Chandler and Monica’s falling in love after being strictly platonic for years. However, the show also did a great job with less crucial storylines, such as Phoebe’s search for her biological father and Joey’s journey as a soap opera actor. The character development in Friends was near-perfect, except for Ross, who was a whiney mess by the end.
Grey’s Anatomy has become a defining title in medical drama TV shows and has amazingly remained on the air for close to 20 years. Since its beginning, Grey’s Anatomy has introduced an array of interesting new characters, but some of its best have included Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo), Derek Shepherd (Patrick Dempsey), Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh), Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson), and Izzie Stevens (Katherine Heigl), all of whom were first seen in the pilot. Like many rewatchable shows, Grey’s Anatomy used a straightforward premise and added in plenty of drama and laughs.
Grey’s Anatomy has seen some incredibly tense storylines over the years. For example, on more than one occasion, Grey Sloan was faced with a shooter. There were also some particularly distressing moments when a character died, like Derek Shepherd in season 11. Despite all of the heartbreak that the characters experienced throughout the show, this was why audiences continued to rewatch. Each character encountered some sort form of trauma during their time on the show, and because there were so many of them, viewers were able to find at least one to relate to.
Despite Dexter‘s problematic ending, audiences have often returned to see the titular character, played by Michael C. Hall, on his killing sprees. Dexter Morgan was a brilliant character who battled with keeping his secret life as a serial killer from overlapping with his job as a bloodstain analyst, which provided audiences with a fascinating, morally ambiguous protagonist to become invested in. Although earlier seasons focused on these elements, the show also gave Dexter some interesting character development, which raised the stakes. For example, Rita (Julie Benz), who was the mother of his son, Harrison.
Introducing Rita changed Dexter’s character for both the better and the worse. He truly understood that his actions had consequences, and Rita motivated him to be more careful. But when Rita was killed in season 4, Dexter realized how much he loved her and how important she was, which then made him reckless. Dexter’s internal monologues were also a hugely appealing factor in the show, as they gave an insight into the inner workings of his toxic mind. Although the show left behind several questions when it ended in 2013, the miniseries Dexter: New Blood managed to provide some answers.