TV and censorship have gone hand in hand for decades. However, network TV's stranglehold on the airwaves would go the way of the dodo when HBO debuted in 1972. This pay channel wasn't constrained by FCC regulations dictating what it could and couldn't broadcast. Eventually, this development led to more mature comedies and dramas across various platforms, typically rated mature but potentially R-rated.
Many of the greatest TV shows of all time are R-rated, such as The Sopranos and Breaking Bad. They've used the freedom of mature content to tell more realistic stories, relating to audiences in new ways. Several of these shows have also changed the media landscape, even sparking the ongoing Golden Age of Television. Additionally, R-rated series span across genres, including comedies, historical dramas and superhero shows.
Succession Sees a Wealthy Family Tear Itself Apart
Created by Jesse Armstrong in 2018, Succession is a dark satirical comedy about the Roy clan. This family is the owner and operator of the massive media and entertainment company, Waystar RoyCo. Despite their immense power and wealth, these relatives can’t help but bicker and quarrel to determine who should run the business amid their father’s faltering health.
Succession quickly garnered near-universal praise for its sense of humor, whip-sharp writing, and outstanding acting. The show’s acting, in particular, is notable, with five actors from the series winning Golden Globes and/or Emmys for their performances. While some viewers may be hesitant to watch a series about the lives of the elite, Succession makes it clear from the beginning that, despite their wealth, they’re just as flawed as anyone else -- more so even.
The Boys Is a Superhero Satire of the Highest Level
Calling The Boys R-rated may be underplaying it a bit — there are sequences in the show that would fit better into an NC-17-rated movie — but it's mostly R-rated. The Boys is based on the comic of the same name by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, whose refusal to skimp on the gore and nudity was translated into the adaptation. While The Boys can be shocking, that's not what makes it so great.
The show works so well that it combines all the over-the-top language, sex, and gore with deep characters and biting satire. Some people start watching because of its shocking reputation, but stay because the characters and stories are really that good. Although The Boys Season 5 ended on a controversial note, the satire is never short of biting and targets pretty much everyone.
Game of Thrones Changed the TV Fantasy Landscape
Game of Thrones is often looked at as a cautionary tale for adaptations. Based on the book series A Song of Ice and Fire by George R.R. Martin, the show outpaced its glacially written source material, but the last two seasons weren't up to the quality of the ones that came before them. However, the show's early seasons are still the best fantasy TV out there, putting viewers smack-dab in a war for the throne populated by some of the greatest characters on TV.
Game of Thrones was well-known for its violence, profanity, sex, and nudity. It was fantasy for adults, with Game of Thrones containing many controversial moments. There are plenty of classic episodes from the show's heyday, but even the last half of the show has some of its best entries. The lackluster ending can make a rewatch of the show a bit disappointing, but that doesn't change the fact that Game of Thrones is filled with immersive worldbuilding, political intrigue, and stellar ensemble performances.
What We Do in the Shadows' Magic Lies in Blissful Ignorance
What We Do in the Shadows, a series about a group of vampires and their familiars living on Staten Island, is about family. It brims with all types of humor — dry, raunchy, silly, slapstick, and even deadpan. Placing a bunch of vampires, most from Europe, on suburban Staten Island is fun just by watching them try to blend in and get along with their neighbors.
In addition, there's the documentary-making element viewers know from shows like The Office and Parks and Rec. What We Do in the Shadows was created by Taika Waititi and Jemaine Clement, based on their previous film of the same name. For six seasons, the show featured genitalia-shaped bushes, a cursed hat made of witch skin, a 40-year-old man who becomes a baby and grows up all over again, the Superb Owl, and a notable number of incredible cameos. It has certainly more than earned its R-rating.
Deadwood Is Arguably the Best TV Western Ever Made
TV came of age just as the Western became the biggest genre in America, with the early networks full of classics like Gunsmoke and Wagon Trail. Similar shows would pop up throughout the '70s, '80s, and '90s, but it would take HBO to give viewers an epic that could live up to the truths of the Old West — the absolute picture of Western perfection known as Deadwood.
Deadwood was set in the town of the same name in the Dakota territories, a boom town populated by miners, gamblers, criminals, prostitutes, and more. The show revolved around the relationship between Seth Bullock, who would become the town sheriff, and Al Swearengen, the owner of the Gem Saloon. The show became well-known for its sex and violence, but the poetic way that it used profanity will always stick with fans of the show, especially Al's special way of speaking that made cursing sound Shakespearean.
Breaking Bad Is a Captivating Look at Self-Destruction
Breaking Bad was one of the most popular shows of its time, and for good reason. This R-rated TV series established itself early on with an intriguing premise and fulfilled, if not exceeded, expectations. Bryan Cranston gives an incredible performance as Walter White, although Aaron Paul as Jesse Pinkman and Anna Gunn as Skyler White are nearly as captivating themselves.
Audiences were enraptured as the main character devolved throughout the show, culminating in a fitting conclusion. Breaking Bad was the perfect combination of memorable acting, great writing, and razor-sharp directing. Fans struggled with whether to support the protagonist’s actions, especially as he continued committing increasingly heinous crimes -- a testament to how mesmerizing the show was and how understandable Walter White’s actions seemed in the moment.
The Wire Redefined Crime TV for the 2000s
Crime shows have always been a big part of television, but network censorship held them back. Shows like NYPD Blue used later start times to get away with more, but FCC guidelines still prevented them from truly exploring the human condition. Pay networks like HBO changed all of that, and the era of prestige television began with several examples of brilliant crime shows. However, there's one that is almost universally agreed upon as the best: The Wire.
The Wire ran for five seasons. It was never the highest-rated show in terms of sheer viewership, but it was acclaimed by its audience. The show was set in Baltimore, Maryland, with five recurring subjects: the illegal drug trade, the port system, the city government and bureaucracy, education and schools, and the print media. The show didn't flinch from difficult topics and is considered one of the great masterpieces of the Golden Age of TV.
The Sopranos Is Widely Considered the Best TV Drama
HBO's The Sopranos was something of a cultural touchstone of the early '00s. The show followed Tony Soprano, a mob boss who decides to go to therapy to deal with his depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. The show delves into the lives of his family — both his blood family and the illegal one — as they grapple with the realities of the mafia lifestyle. The Sopranos completely changed what people expected from TV shows, and won practically every possible award.
The Sopranos only works so well because of its R-rated subject matter. Mafia stories had mostly been consigned to movies, and the lack of censorship allowed the show to feel authentic to viewers. The series features many brilliant episodes, with each season chock-full of quality TV. The Golden Age might still exist without The Sopranos, but the last quarter-century of television wouldn't be as great without it.
