The Best of ’90s TV Dramas

We are continuing with our “Best of the 90s” series this week with a list of some of the best 1990s dramas. I cannot begin to explain what I was thinking, but when I started scribbling notes for this article, for some reason I was sure it would be easy to choose which shows to include. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! Turns out, it’s not even close. While this decade does get a lot of flack, it certainly shines when it comes to television shows. 

So after a lot of hemming and hawing, putting it off, and maybe even a few shameless games of “eenie meenie miny moe,” here’s my best effort at bringing you the best of 1990s TV dramas!

ER – Hulu

This top-notch medical drama starring Anthony Edwards, Eric LaSalle, George Clooney, and Julianna Margulies ran for a grand total of 15 seasons. That’s enough time to raise an entire post-medical-school Doogie Howser, you guys! With such a talented cast and meaty storylines always front and center, it’s enough to make even Shonda Rhimes salivate. 

The X-Files – Hulu/BBC America/FOX

“The truth is out there, Mr. Mulder”

X-Files was more than a catchphrase. It was an institution in its own way. Following two FBI agents played by Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny as they investigate unexplained, preternatural cases – the X-Files gained a cult following and made stars out of its worthy cast.

The West Wing – Netflix

Walking and talking, The West Wing stars Martin Sheen as President Jed Bartlet. The show centers around his staff and the ins and outs of what happens in the west wing of the White House. If you’re not hooked by the end of episode one, I’d be very surprised indeed. Like Josh Lyman says, that feeling? It doesn’t go away.

Oz – HBO/Amazon Prime

Oz was a dark, and sometimes hard-to-watch, prison drama on HBO. This was back when HBO was just dipping its toes into the waters of original series. In fact, Oz was the network’s very first one-hour drama. The result is an at-times violent, gut-wrenching, and powerful exploration of prison life.

Picket Fences – Episodes from $1.99 and up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wtzkttU6VHU

The premise feels a little bit like The Andy Griffith show, following a sheriff of a small town along with his loyal deputies. Except, unlike Andy Griffith, Picket Fences is set in the ‘90s and with a heavier focus on drama and mystery. The word “quirky” could definitely be used to describe some of this small town’s happenings, and that is just one part of its charm. Starring Tom Skerritt, Lauren Holly, Holly Marie Combs, and Kathy Baker, Picket Fences ran for four seasons.

NYPD Blue – Hulu

NYPD Blue is probably one of the biggest inspirations for all good cop shows out there. Starring Jimmy Smits, Dennis Franz, and Sharon Laurence – this show is not one to miss!

Party of Five – Netflix

The story follows a group of five siblings living in San Francisco after they lose their parents, who were well-to-do business-owners. Party of Five starred Matthew Fox, Scott Wolf, and Neve Campbell, and was a little bit of a precursor to shows like This Is Us.  

The Wonder Years – Netflix

One of two shows on this list that began in the ‘80s and finished its run in the ‘90s, this show follows the life of young Kevin Arnold, growing up in a quiet suburb in the 1960s and ‘70s. Narrated by Daniel Stern, there really never was another show quite like The Wonder Years. Never before. And never since. Some things really are once in a lifetime.

The Sopranos – HBO/Amazon Prime

Ringing in at the very end of the decade, The Sopranos, like Oz before it, was one of the very first of what we now consider “prestige TV shows.” Starring the late James Gandolfini, The Sopranos follows a New Jersey mobster struggling with anxiety as he navigates the waters within his mob family, and his family family.

My So-Called Life – Hulu/ABC/Yahoo View

There is nothing that says “‘90s TV” for me more than My So-Called Life. Angela Chase, a high schooler growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is getting new friends, learning who she is, who her parents are, and how it feels to let the people around her down. She’s also majorly crushing on Jordan Catalano played by everybody’s ‘90s teen dream: Jared Leto.

Quantum Leap – Hulu/NBC

Quantum Leap is one of the few genre shows that I considered for this list. This show follows a time traveler and scientist, Samuel Beckett, who jumps from body to body and is forced to reconcile past wrongs while doing so. There’s a bit of silliness here, with Sam sometimes trapped in the body of a woman or even a child. Without having a clue about the memories and relationships of the person he embodies except for some helpful (though sometimes vague) tips from his guide Al, he is often caught in awkward situations. But Quantum Leap was more than just silly science fiction – from social commentary on race, to dark themes about Sam’s journey home, Quantum Leap was a true gem.  

Honorable Mention: Homicide: Life on the Streets

This series is sadly not available for streaming, but it was a phenomenal ‘90s drama series that is worth remembering. Don’t forget that you can sign up on Reelgood for updates whenever this title becomes available!