Compared to movies, TV shows have the challenge of creating intricate storylines that need to continuously make sense by the time the season or show comes to an end. While television is full of breathtaking, award-winning shows, it’s rare not to find a plot hole in them. This is especially true for shows rooted in fantasy, or intense crime dramas with multiple plot twists.
However, there are some shows that stand out among the rest thanks to their attention to detail, with the writers managing to create a coherent story despite the complexity of their subject matters. Regardless of whether they’re a comedy or a thriller, these memorable TV shows have managed to keep hold of their narrative integrity, even if there are a few minor plot holes here and there.
10House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon
Taking place about 172 years before the events ofGame of Thrones,House of the Dragontells the tale of the rise of the Targaryens, the only family of dragonlords to survive the Doom of Valyria. The popular HBO spinoff show first starred Milly Alcock and Emily Carey as Rhaenyra Targaryen and Alicent Hightower before they were replaced by Emma D’Arcy and Olivia Cooke, who play the older versions of the characters. Also starring in the series is Matt Smith (Prince Daemon Targaryen) and Paddy Considine as Rhaenyra’s father, King Viserys Targaryen.
House of the Dragonis another masterpieceinspired by George R. R. Martin’s work, directly adapted from the author’s novel,Fire & Blood. It serves as a prequel to the events ofGame of Thrones, focusing on the events of the Dance of Dragons, a civil war that broke out between the Targaryen dynasty and the rest of the Seven Kingdoms. The show is full of complex, political landscapes, as viewers are forced to side with either the Blacks or Greens over who rightfully gets to sit on the Iron Throne.
Its Plot Coherence Puts Game of Thrones to Shame
Because the source material has already been written,House of the Dragon’s plot is yet to unravel in the same way thatGame of Thrones’did. Additionally, it doesn’t focus on a multitude of storylines and characters, making it easier to keep track of everything that is going on and tuck away any loose ends.
The show has been praised by both fans and critics, despite taking some creative liberties with the source material, thanks to its incredible acting and writing.House of the Dragonhas since gone on to win a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, as well as receive various other notable nominations.
Stream on Max
Set in a Chicago sandwich shop, The Bear follows Carmy Berzatto, a young professionally trained chef who returns to take over his family business after the unexpected death of his brother. At odds with many of the shop’s employees due to his culinary training, Carmy struggles to maintain order and keep the shop from failing entirely. Jeremy Allen White stars as Carmy alongside Ebon Moss-Bachrach and Ayo Edebiri.
Despite being one of the newest TV shows on this list,The Bearhas quickly taken the world by storm. The plot follows an award-winning chef named Carmy, who returns home to Chicago after his brother passes away to take over his sandwich shop. Stepping down from a life working in a Michelin restaurant seems like an easy task, but soon enough, Carmy runs into various struggles that his brother left him to fix. As he attempts to bring out the best potential in the shop and its staff, Carmy has to deal with grief, mental health and the toxicity of his family.
The Bear Cooks Up a Storm
One of the first things that viewers will notice aboutThe Bearis its star-studded cast, with actors like Jeremy Allen White, Jamie Lee Curtis and Jon Bernthal within its ranks. But the writing is what really carries the entire show, especially when, at times, it grapples with fragile subject matters.
Given that it’s set in a panicked kitchen, the plot never loses track, with the story remaining consistent throughout both seasons. While the show still has another season yet to release, it’s clear that the writers behind it are capable of putting together a compelling story that manages to bring out every emotion imaginable.
Stream on Hulu
8Unbelievable
Unbelievable
Netflix’sUnbelievableis a riveting miniseries based on the 2015 Pulitzer Prize winning article,An Unbelievable Story of Rape. It explores the story of a young woman called Marie Adler, who is charged with lying about being sexually assaulted. However, Marie is later vindicated when two detectives, Grace Rasmussen and Karen Duvall, begin to discover a serial rapist.Unbelievableweaves together multiple timelines and perspectives to tell its story, building together the perfect amount of tension needed as the two hero detectives pull together a string of disturbingly similar cases.
Unbelievable’s Unflinching Depiction of the Criminal Justice System
What makesUnbelievableso great is its unflinching depiction of the criminal justice system, specifically the impact of trauma on survivors of such violent crimes. The writers make crafting such a complex story look so seamless, as nothing is left in the dark from viewers.
This is made even better by the outstanding and raw performances from actors such as Kaitlyn Denver and Toni Collette, who steal every scene that they’re in.Unbelievablenot only entertains, but its straightforward storytelling also educates and empowers its audience, reminding them of the importance of empathy, perseverance and collaboration in the pursuit of justice.
Stream on Netflix
7Mindhunter
Mindhunter
Mindhunteris another Netflix original based on a true story, this time delving into the early days of criminal psychology and profiling at the FBI. Holden Ford and Bill Tench are two FBI agents who believe that more can be learned from those who commit horrific crimes, and along with psychologist Wendy Carr, they begin to pioneer a lot of criminologists work on today. The show is based on the book of the same name by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, and offers a haunting glimpse into interactions with real-life serial killers such as Ed Kemper and David Berkowitz.
Mindhunter’s Narrative Cracks the Case
Throughout the show,Mindhunterhas virtually no plot holes,despite the show ending prematurely. This is because it has meticulous attention to detail, and is quite tight-knit in its explorations of criminal psychology, law enforcement and society. Even though various different killers appear throughout the show, it never derives from the narrative, always tying back into the bigger picture and serving a purpose.
Overall,Mindhunterraises various thought-provoking questions, specifically surrounding the nature of evil, the limits of empathy, and how dealing with criminals of such caliber affects the detectives and families involved.
Related:David Fincher Explains Why Netflix Didn’t Commission Mindhunter Season 3
Starring Jon Hamm as the main character, Don Draper,Mad Menis set in the fast-paced world of advertising in New York during the 1960s. Don leads the prestigious Sterling Cooper advertising agency, starting out as the creative director at the beginning of the show, and has run some of the best campaigns in history. However, despite being regarded as one of the best in the business, Don struggles to balance his professional and personal life throughout the show. Outside of Don,Mad Menalso focuses on various other storylines and characters.
It Never Deviates from the Time Period
One thing that often comes up with historical shows is plot holes. However, the writers ofMad Menpaid an incredible amount of detail and research into the 1960s, really emphasizing how times and attitudes changed throughout the show. Additionally, despite Don being such a complex character, each of the other characters within the show are never neglected. Whether they’re struggling or going through passionate self-discovery, they are each handled with a level of care. Because of this, the Writers Guild of America considersMad Mento be the seventh-best-written TV show of all time.
Stream on AMC+
Phoebe Waller-Bridge’sFleabagstill remains a groundbreaking piece of television years after its release, thanks to its dark and insightful exploration of modern womanhood. It follows the titular character, known only as Fleabag, who isn’t the best person in the world. Throughout the show, she has to face various challenges, such as running her café in London, her complex dating life as well as grief and guilt over losing her best friend, Boo. She’s fully aware of her self-destructive tendencies, often breaking the fourth wall to offer a deeper look into her chaotic mind.
A Raw Depiction of Womanhood
Fleabagstands out primarily due to its raw and unfiltered portrayal of human relationships and emotions. It doesn’t just focus on romantic love, but also familial, platonic and self-love. Waller-Bridge fearlessly tackles various societal taboos through her writing, handling topics such as loneliness and guilt with incredible honesty and vulnerability. While the show can be incredibly dark at times, it is one of the most refreshing television shows ever made, managing to keep its plot fully intact despite the mess of Fleabag’s life.
Stream on Prime Video
4Squid Game
Squid Game
In Squid Game, a mysterious invitation to join a competition is sent to people at risk who are in dire need of money. Four hundred fifty-six participants from all walks of life are locked into a secret location where they play games to win 45.6 billion won. Games are selected from traditional Korean children’s games, such as Red Light and Green Light, but the consequence of losing is death. To survive, competitors must choose their alliances carefully - but the further they go in the competition, the more likely betrayal will rear its ugly head.
Squid Gameis a South Korean survival thriller, where hundreds of desperate contestants are lured into a deadly competition where they must compete in children’s games for the chance to win a large amount of money. As the show progresses, the games become increasingly more deadly with higher stakes, leaving those involved grappling with their own morality. Since its release,Squid Gamehas officially been renewed for a second season, as well asa reality competition series calledSquid Game: The Challenge.
Squid Game Never Loses Track of its Twists and Turns
What makesSquid Gameso great is its critique of the class disparity that exists within South Korea, blending this social commentary seamlessly with suspense. It demonstrates how ruthless the pursuit of wealth can be, while also highlighting the complexities of human nature and the bonds that form in the face of danger.
Given that the show has multiple twists throughout the show, it manages to tie together nicely at the end, all while being perfectly character driven. Each of the games that the contestants take part in are incredibly well-thought-out, which makes the viewing experience even more immersive.
Written and created by former police reporter, David Simon,The Wireis regarded as one of the best crime dramas ever made, thanks to its unflinching depiction of life in Baltimore. Over the course of its five-season run, the show examined various different institutions, such as law enforcement, politics and the media. It provides a very nuanced insight into the complexities of urban existence, focusing on both the lives of those working in law enforcement, and those involved in a life of crime.
Realism is The Wire’s Best Friend
BecauseThe Wireis so grounded in realism, there isn’t much room for any major plot holes to occur. The writers achieved this by drawing upon their own experiences, as well as conducting various research into what life is like for the Baltimore Police Department, and what crime in the city looks like.
As a result, various stories featured inThe Wirecame to life, giving the show a huge layer of authenticity and grittiness that doesn’t exist in other crime dramas. Both the heroes and villains are humanized in this show, serving more as a social commentary and exploration of systemic issues that exist within America, rather than an exploitative witch hunt.
Related:20 Movies with the Biggest Plot Holes
2Better Call Saul
Better Call Saul
Better Call Saulserves as both a prequel and a spin-off to the popular TV show,Breaking Bad. It tells the story of how Saul Goodman, the morally ambiguous attorney featured inBreaking Bad, came to be. Viewers get to see him transform from Jimmy McGill, a struggling lawyer who was trying to make ends meet, providing a deeper understanding of his motivations. It explores themes such as ambition, greed, and morality, while also trying to shift slightly away from its predecessor to create something new and unique.
It isn’t easy to create a show without plot holes as it is, but it’s even harder when that show is directly linked to something else. This is because it runs the risk of creating plot holes in the other show too, which is something thatBetter Call Saulmasterfully avoids. The character development of Saul is one of the best that television has to offer, emphasizing how deeply flawed he truly is. The narrative is engaging, but also emotionally resonant, making it a worthy successor toBreaking Badin a multitude of ways.
1Breaking Bad
Breaking Bad
Breaking Badis regarded by audiences and critics to be one of the best TV shows ever made. The series follows Walter White, a high school chemistry teacher whose career takes a complete U-turn when he becomes a methamphetamine manufacturer after being diagnosed with cancer. As he descends into a life of crime to secure his family’s financial future, he finds a business partner in a student he used to teach, Jesse Pinkman. Together, they are forever changed by their criminal venture, with Walter becoming more unhinged as the show progresses.
The Show Features Unparalleled Storytelling
Compared to other TV shows,Breaking Badcompletely perfected the art of character development. Even though the show isn’t completely without plot holes, its overall brilliance makes it easy to overlook them, as it still manages to widely satisfy viewers.Bryan Cranston’s portrayal of Walteris the clear standout in the show, as he turns into a ruthless drug lord with nuance and intensity.Breaking Bad’stense pacing and cinematography help to elevate it even more, making it one of the most memorable viewing experiences to date, leaving a lasting impact on TV, film and pop culture as a whole.
