Why Breaking Bad Sparks Debate Over Best TV Shows of the 21st Century

Last updated: September 25, 2026 (UTC)

A debate over the greatest TV shows of the 21st century has flared up across X, drawing in passionate defenders and equally passionate critics of titles like Breaking Bad, The Wire, Succession, and Better Call Saul. According to posts circulating on X, a ranking of the 100 best TV series of the century was recently published, with users attributing it to The New York Times and describing it as based on input from influential figures in the film industry. Reactions have ranged from enthusiastic agreement to outright rejection of the choices made.

What Started It

The list being shared on X, which users say was compiled by The New York Times, covers the 100 best TV series of the 21st century. The top 20 is said to include Breaking Bad, The Wire, Mad Men, Succession, Fleabag, Game of Thrones, Veep, 30 Rock, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Atlanta, both the U.S. and U.K. versions of The Office, Arrested Development, Girls, Friday Night Lights, Six Feet Under, The Americans, I May Destroy You, Chernobyl, and The Crown. @nexta_tv shared a summary of the list, which quickly became a reference point for users staking out their own positions. A separate post from @odenhead flagged a specific placement that drew attention: according to that post, the ranking placed The White Lotus ahead of Better Call Saul, a decision that clearly did not sit well with at least some fans of the latter show.

The Case Against Breaking Bad

Not everyone is willing to accept Breaking Bad’s place among the all-time greats. @imkevin149, whose post has drawn nearly 9,000 likes, argues that the show is “one of the most overrated series ever,” claiming to have tried watching it three times without being able to finish a single season. The post suggests that much of the show’s reputation comes from social pressure rather than genuine quality, with users “only pretending to like it because it’s famous.” Other users echoed the sentiment in less detail, with one widely liked post simply stating that Breaking Bad is not better than The Wire, and another calling it a “mid show” that people need to stop hyping.

Breaking Bad’s Defenders Push Back

The criticism has not gone unanswered. Several users have pushed back firmly, with one post defending the show in blunt terms against those calling it boring. Others have placed it comfortably within the upper tier of prestige television, even if they stop short of calling it the very best. One user argued that any serious personal top-five list should include Breaking Bad alongside Prison Break, Peaky Blinders, and Game of Thrones, suggesting that leaving it off amounts to dishonesty about one’s actual taste.

The Wire vs. Everything Else

While Breaking Bad absorbs much of the criticism, The Wire has emerged in the discussion as a kind of gold standard against which other shows are measured. @EPoe187 makes the case directly, writing that “on my list, The Wire is the peak of prestige television” and comparing its scope to that of a great novel, arguing it fully justifies its running time across at least four seasons. The same post suggests Breaking Bad would have worked better as a three-hour film — a pointed contrast that frames the two shows as operating on fundamentally different levels of ambition. Users debating the rankings have largely treated The Wire as a benchmark, with disagreements centering on how far below it other shows fall.

Succession Takes Its Own Hits

Succession, which users say also appeared on the list, has attracted some of the sharpest personal criticism in the thread. @iowahawkblog describes it as “the most loathsome, zero redeeming value TV show” watched for more than three episodes, and says the post’s author holds “a personal vendetta of revenge” against everyone who recommended it. The post has drawn hundreds of likes. Not all users share that view, however — one post framed Succession in notably glowing terms, comparing it to a historic sports dynasty performing at its peak against the toughest possible competition.

Character Wars and Open Questions

Beyond rankings, some of the debate has zeroed in on individual characters. @tweetsbyzyl posed a question to followers asking which character they dislike more: Skylar from Breaking Bad or Wendy from Ozark. Users appear to be engaging with the question as a matter of personal preference, and the poll reflects how strongly audiences react to specific characters within these shows, independent of how the series rank overall.

Several questions remain genuinely open in the discussion. Users are divided on what should even qualify a show for a list like this — one post argues that leaving The Sopranos out of the top five is “criminal,” while others take issue with specific inclusions such as Squid Game or The OA. One user noted that while everyone else argues about Breaking Bad and similar series, they have not watched any of them, a reminder that plenty of viewers sit entirely outside the debate. Whether any published list can settle these arguments seems unlikely given how personally people take their television preferences.

Sources / posts referenced

• @imkevin149 on X: “Unpopular opinion but Breaking Bad is one of the most overrated series ever, i tried watching it three…”
• @odenhead on X: “The New York Times just ranked The White Lotus ahead of Better Call Saul in their list of the best tv show…”
• @iowahawkblog on X: “Succession was the most loathsome, zero redeeming value TV show I have ever watched for more than 3…”
• @EPoe187 on X: “On my list, The Wire is the peak of prestige television. Breaking Bad would have been better as a…”
• @nexta_tv on X: “The New York Times compiled a list of the 100 best TV series of the 21st century To create the list, the…”
• @tweetsbyzyl on X: “Between this two, who do you dislike more Skylar from Breaking bad. …”