10 90s TV Shows That Still Score 10/10 — No Notes

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Let’s be honest—TV in the 1990s was something special. Not just because of dodgy fashion choices and all that retro pop music (though who can forget those?), but this was a decade when telly actually got smarter, bolder, and properly fun. As someone who grew up right in the thick of it, I’ll admit: not everything ages gracefully, but some shows from the '90s still go toe-to-toe with anything on telly today. Here are my picks for ten '90s TV masterpieces—not just ‘classics’, not just ‘influential’, but proper gold that stands up to a rewatch, no matter how many times they tried to flog Jeans West or Tamagotchis to us between adverts.

1. 'Roswell' (1999-2002): Aliens in High School, No Big Deal

   Right—before you roll your eyes: it’s a show about teens, yes, but also aliens, and—somehow—that works. 'Roswell' nails that blend of coming-of-age angst and sci-fi silliness without getting bogged down in endless conspiracies. You get a bit of romance, a fair bit of melodrama, and just enough action to remind you that someone might melt your pencil case with their mind. It's not Spielberg, but it has real heart. The aliens are basically your classmates with the volume turned up, and it's oddly sweet.

2. 'Ally McBeal' (1997-2002): Law, Laughs, and That Flaming Dancing Baby

   Just to clear up—yes, there was a time when a CGI baby in a nappy grooving to ‘Hooked on a Feeling’ counted as prime-time comedy. 'Ally McBeal' wasn’t your top-tier legal drama (look elsewhere if you want serious courtroom fireworks), but Calista Flockhart as Ally made all the difference. The show alternates between clever, unhinged, and genuinely heartfelt, and lands in a weird, addictive space of its own. Not everything here screams ‘timeless’, but you’ve got to respect a show that gets truly odd at its peak.

3. 'The X-Files' (1993-2018): The Original Monster-Hunters

   If you fancy yourself as a telly detective, 'The X-Files' is still the gold standard. Mulder, Scully, madcap conspiracy plots, UFOs, and a rotating cast of things that go bump in the night—what more do you need? The long-running alien arc does get twisty (sometimes to its own confusion), especially in later seasons, but the real magic is the chemistry between Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny. Plus, any show bold enough to throw in a levitating cow deserves a spot here.

4. 'Twin Peaks' (1990-1991): The Oddest Thing to Hit Prime Time

   Let’s face it, hardly anyone understands every twist of 'Twin Peaks'—and that’s sort of the point. It's a murder mystery but filtered through David Lynch's strange, slightly sleep-deprived brain. Pie, coffee, owls, red rooms—the lot. For all its weirdness, you keep coming back because it never stops surprising. The more you watch, the more you wonder if you’ll ever get it. (You won’t, but you’re not alone.)

5. 'Freaks and Geeks' (1999-2000): The Best Show Cancelled After One Season

   Before Judd Apatow started stacking cinemas with man-children, he helped shape this one-series wonder. 'Freaks and Geeks' launched half of Hollywood: Linda Cardellini, Jason Segel, Busy Phillips—the lot. It’s funny, awkward, genuinely painful at times. If adolescence ever felt like barely surviving Monday morning, this show gets it right. Still a hidden gem—if you spot it, don't skip it.

6. 'My So-Called Life' (1994-1995): Teen Drama That Actually Feels Honest

   Everyone goes on about Claire Danes in 'Homeland', but honestly, ‘My So-Called Life’ is her best work. Danes plays Angela Chase, surviving crushes, tricky parents, and the sheer horror of high school corridors. The dialogue’s proper sharp, the characters actually feel like somebody you knew, and it’s not out to deliver any forced life lessons. If you ever felt like you needed an instruction manual for life—Angela’s your spokesperson. Brilliant, and sorely underrated.

7. 'E.R.' (1994-2009): The Daddy of Medical Dramas

   Back when TV doctors were thrilling for something other than bizarre plot twists, 'E.R.' kept you watching for 15 years. Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies, George Clooney—the roster’s just daft with talent. Each episode was a rat race of medical emergencies and daft personal drama, but it never dropped its pace. There’s even a daft bit with a helicopter and a… well, you’ll see. But for depth and consistency? ‘E.R.’ absolutely set the bar.

8. 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' (1990-1996): Still Fresh, Even After 30 Years

   Sitcoms about families are everywhere, but few wore their hearts (or humour) on their sleeves like 'Fresh Prince'. Will Smith was a revelation—yes, the theme tune really is still in everyone's head—and the show managed to serve up smart commentary on race and class without ever preaching or slipping into cliché. Still properly watchable, still makes me grin. Give me the Banks family over Full House or Blossom any day.

9. 'Seinfeld' (1989-1998): Four Neurotics, Endless Laughs

   Nothing else quite like it. ‘Show about nothing’ is the tagline, but really, it’s a show about everything—the way people can be petty, daft, selfish, and somehow both relatable and ridiculous. Sure, the early episodes are a bit ropey, the finale didn’t quite stick the landing, but in terms of quotable dialogue, endlessly rewatchable stories, and making misery funny? Nothing comes close. Jerry, Elaine, George and Kramer are icons.

10. 'The Simpsons' (1989-): The Cartoon That Never Stops

    Yes, they're still making it (even if recent seasons are a pale reflection of the golden years). But no list of '90s TV is complete without 'The Simpsons'. The first decade of episodes are a miracle—sharp, clever, both deeply silly and smart about modern life. Maggie (probably the cleverest in the family, and quietly menacing), Lisa’s existential dread, Bart's antics, Homer eating his own weight in donuts…it’s all spot on. If you grew up in Britain, chances are these yellow cartoons taught you about American suburbia before any actual Americans did. To quote Homer:

    'Just because I don't care doesn't mean I don't understand.'

So—what’s missing? Hell, maybe you think 'Buffy' or 'Friends' should be here (fair enough, both had killer moments and some absolute duds). I still have a soft spot for 'Beverly Hills 90210'—massive guilty pleasure—but not quite a masterpiece. Shout below if you reckon there’s a more perfect slice of '90s telly I've overlooked (or if you know a legal drama more surreal than a hallucinating, dancing infant). Let’s have it out in the comments.

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