There’s nothing quite like a great season of television. Whether binging them in one sitting or spacing out each episode to take the time to absorb them, it’s hard to deny that they’re always an entertaining adventure. When done right, a good season of TV can be utterly enthralling, as it follows a captivating story that makes it impossible to not want to move on to the next episode right after one is over.
Many of history’s best TV shows have produced riveting seasons full of intriguing storylines, rich character development, and satisfying payoffs to interesting setups. From Breaking Bad to Attack on Titan, these shows’ best seasons have garnered lots of praise for each individual episode on IMDb, and when you calculate the average rating of those episodes, you get a good idea of just how beloved the season is.
40
Season 1 of ‘The Last of Us’ (2023)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.7/10
Video game adaptations don’t have a particularly strong track record, neither on the big screen nor the small screen. As such, a lot was riding on HBO’s take on The Last of Us, one of the greatest and most influential video games ever made. Thankfully, divisive second season notwithstanding, they perfectly met expectations. The show’s first season is almost as good as its source material.
One of the best seasons of horror television, the opening season of The Last of Us is bolstered by stunning and highly cinematic production qualities, a riveting story full of riveting characters, and a pair of phenomenal lead performances by Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey. Fans and non-fans of the game alike expressed their love for this season on IMDb, calling it one of the best video game adaptations of all time.
39
Season 2 of ‘Andor’ (2025)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.7/10
The world of Star Wars is big. Very, very big. As such, there’s always room for fresh new stories of all kinds and all genres in the galaxy far, far away, and that’s how Andor came into being. To everyone’s surprise, it turned out to be such a masterful show that one could argue that the Star Wars franchise hadn’t been this good since 1980. Its debut season was already very highly rated on IMDb, but its second season somehow managed to gather even more acclaim.
Emotionally stirring and creatively structured, season two of Andor is a scathing critique of fascism and authoritarianism that isn’t afraid to go for a dark tone or mature themes. It’s true that the show’s many Emmy nomination snubs make zero sense, but the court of public opinion is what matters most in the end, and season two of Andor is bound to go down in history as one of the most timeless seasons of sci-fi television in history.
38
Season 1 of ‘Shōgun’ (2024)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.7/10
Shōgun, based on a 1975 novel which had already been made as a miniseries in 1980, became the first Japanese-language series to win an Emmy for Outstanding Drama Series. It’s a well-earned achievement. The show’s first (and so far only) season is a masterclass in every field of television-making, from the lavish visual aspects to the richly complex writing.
Many shows take at least a couple of seasons to start finding their voice. Not Shōgun. From the get-go, this is already one of the best-ever war shows based on books, full of mesmerizing action, fascinating character arcs, and perfect use of historical fiction genre tropes. It’s no wonder why IMDb users rated it as the best season of any show that came out in 2024.
37
Season 2 of ‘The Bear’ (2023)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.7/10
The Bear took the world by storm in 2022 with its colorful characters and depiction of the fast-paced chaos of restaurant culture. There were high expectations for its second season, and if IMDb reviewers are to be believed, it perfectly lived up to the hype. With the same terrific performances and delicious character writing that made the first season a hit, the continuation of the story of Carmy Berzatto (Jeremy Allen White) and his team instantly connected with viewers.
This season is more contemplative than its predecessor, with a bigger focus on the quiet moments of peace that really make the characters grow and let their defining qualities shine through, while still having just a healthy dose of chaos and some of The Bear‘s truly hilarious episodes. The second season of The Bear earned the love of fans on IMDb thanks to its delightful sense of humor, clever writing, and brilliant directing.
36
Season 1 of ‘Prison Break’ (2005–2006)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.7/10
As far as “escaping from prison” stories go, it doesn’t get much better than Prison Break. In its first season, this riveting drama was about a structural engineer who installs himself in a prison he helped design, in order to save his falsely accused brother from a death sentence by breaking themselves out from the inside. Throughout its 22 episodes, this is one of the most breathtaking thriller seasons in television history.
Through episodes as packed with tension and mystery as “Riots, Drills and the Devils” and the breathtaking final episodes, “Go” and “Flight,” Prison Break season 1 has everything that any television fan could ever ask for. Tension, romance, jaw-dropping plot twists, and riveting character work are but a few of the elements that make this one of IMDb users’ favorite TV show seasons.
35
Season 6 of ‘The Sopranos’ (2006–2007)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.7/10
It’s not an overstatement, but a fact, to say that The Sopranos revolutionized television. It changed the notion of seriality, proved that TV could be as dark and mature as cinema could, and pretty much gave birth to the concept of prestige television. Over the course of the six seasons that it ran for, it kept racking up loyal fans who were eager to see how it would all end. Said conclusion is still considered one of the best seasons of TV ever, and one of the best endings in the medium’s history.
With some of the best episodes of The Sopranos‘ run, its sixth season is the culmination of every plot point, every character arc, and every plot twist that had been accumulating and waiting to boil. Dramatic and meditative, it presents a complex view of the mob and the most fascinating part of protagonist Tony Soprano’s (James Gandolfini) character development. Though not everyone loves the final episode, it’s impossible to deny that it’s certainly a subversive way to end such a popular show.
34
Season 1 of ‘Stranger Things’ (2016)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.8/10
With the show’s final season just around the corner, it’s about as good a time as any to binge-rewatch all of Stranger Things. While the show has always been great, it’s hard to deny that the best stuff lies at the start. Indeed, at least according to IMDb users, the series peaked with its debut season. A hugely endearing tribute to retro culture and ’80s media, Stranger Things‘ first season is like a spiritual successor to The Goonies, but even better.
It’s the kind of thrilling sci-fi show that everyone should watch at least once in their lives, and its first season is packed with endearing characters, engrossing storylines, and just the right balance between nostalgic whimsy and surprising scariness. It’s a hugely creative season of television, so it’s no surprise that it spawned such a highly successful show.
33
Season 2 of ‘Game of Thrones’ (2012)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.8/10
Game of Thrones, a landmark in the history of modern fantasy pop culture, is the kind of TV series that needs no introduction. After a phenomenal first season, the minds behind this adaptation of George R.R. Martin‘s A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy novel series proved that it wasn’t just a one-time thing. Watching the second season for the first time, fans knew that they were in for one of the greatest television shows of all time.
With gorgeously rich and luscious visuals and music, fantastic writing, top-tier performances, and a couple of the show’s best episodes, the second season of Game of Thrones gained fans’ favor through its mastery of world-building and epic storytelling. It’s not just a fun season: it’s an elegantly and cleverly made one, which is already far more than anyone could have wished for.
32
Season 2 of ‘Succession’ (2019)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.8/10
With all of its backstabbing, absurd humor, and scandalous family drama, Succession is one of HBO’s most essential shows. Though it wasn’t without its shortcomings, the series’ first season was fantastic—but it was in the second season that things really kicked off. Funnier, more intense, and more emotionally compelling than its predecessor in every way, season 2 of Succession is incredible.
The dark comedy flows like honey, the character dynamics feel like they could implode at any moment without warning, and the power struggles that serve as the foundation of the season are absolutely electrifying all throughout its ten episodes. With a riveting season opener, an even more riveting season finale, and everything in between being just as full of nail-biting tension and surprisingly tender emotional moments, it’s a perfect example of how to follow up a phenomenal season of television with one that’s even better.
31
Season 2 of ‘Fleabag’ (2019)
IMDb Average Season Rating: 8.8/10
Phoebe Waller-Bridge is one of the most refreshing and exciting TV writers of today, and she cemented that reputation with Fleabag. This constantly fourth-wall-breaking comedy from Waller-Bridge’s award-winning play is about a young woman trying to cope with life in London while coming to terms with a recent tragedy. The second season expands on the main character’s inner tribulations and the narrative’s themes and storylines in all sorts of delightful ways.
The season opens with one of the most intense sitcom episodes ever, and things only keep getting better and heavier from there. Waller-Bridge’s writing and lead performance are both phenomenal, and the season’s messy, emotionally stirring, witty nature makes this the most flawless conclusion to the story of such a deeply compelling character.
