We’ve reached the halfway point of 2026 and, as happens every year, I found myself looking back to see which series truly defined these first six months. Not the ones with the biggest marketing campaigns, nor necessarily the ones that dominated social media conversations, but the shows that made me eagerly await the next episode, write long pieces immediately after the credits rolled, or simply keep thinking about their characters days later.

Curiously, some of the year’s most anticipated productions ended up disappointing me. Landman became a hit, but it never quite convinced me. Hijack returned without the impact I had expected. The Madison is still searching for its identity. Shrinking remains charming and well-acted, but continues to struggle to find something genuinely new to say. Other newcomers, such as Rooster, were enjoyable without quite earning a place among my favorites.

On the other hand, a few surprises made the first half of the year far better than I expected. There was room for romance, mystery, medieval fantasy, comedy, science fiction, and family drama. The result is a deeply personal list that probably won’t match the critics’ rankings, but honestly reflects what I’ve enjoyed watching the most so far.

One caveat, however: The Bear, House of the Dragon, and Javier Bardem’s performance in Cape Fear are still to come and on-air. The ranking will be revisited in July.

10. Abbott Elementary

Very few comedies manage to reach this stage of their run while retaining the charm that defined their early years. The secret of Abbott Elementary remains its impeccable ensemble and its ability to find humanity in seemingly small moments. At a time when so many comedies strive to be cynical or excessively clever, it continues to place empathy and character above everything else.

9. Star City

Expanding a familiar universe without feeling like just another spin-off is no easy task, but Star City found its own path. The series successfully balances spectacle, emotion, and engaging characters, creating an identity that goes beyond simple brand recognition.

8. Bridgerton

Some may scoff at Shonda Rhimes’ phenomenon, but I continue to admire the show’s ability to reinvent itself within a seemingly familiar formula. Between lavish costumes, impossible romances, and social intrigue, Bridgerton continues to understand its audience perfectly and delivers exactly what it promises.

7. Young Sherlock

I admit I approached this one with some skepticism. Reinventions of Sherlock Holmes are plentiful, and very few feel truly necessary. Fortunately, Young Sherlock found its own voice, focusing less on mythology and more on shaping the man Sherlock would eventually become. The result was one of the year’s most entertaining experiences.

6. All Her Fault

Family thrillers often walk a fine line between gripping suspense and over-the-top melodrama. All Her Fault found the right balance. The series builds tension effectively, supported by complex characters and strong performances.

5. Love Story

Few stories have stood the test of time quite like Love Story. This new adaptation could easily have felt unnecessary, but it found ways to speak to contemporary audiences without losing the essence of the original work. At a time when romance seems almost like an endangered genre on television, the series reminded viewers why some love stories continue to resonate across generations.

4. The Pitt

Perhaps the most curious entry on this list. It isn’t the series I love the most. It isn’t the one that moved me the most. But ignoring what it accomplished would be impossible. In a genre that seemed exhausted, The Pitt found a way to feel urgent, human, and contemporary. Noah Wyle leads a production that won over critics and audiences for rather simple reasons: compelling characters, strong writing, and the confidence that human stories can still be enough.

3. Hacks

Few series have concluded their journeys with such elegance. Throughout its run, Hacks built one of the most fascinating relationships in recent television and never lost sight of what truly mattered: the connection between Deborah Vance and Ava. The finale managed to be funny, bittersweet, and deeply satisfying, something increasingly rare in an era when so many endings struggle to please.

2. Widow’s Bay

One of the pleasant surprises of the year. It may not have received the same attention as larger productions, but it was exactly the kind of series that gradually won me over. There is something delightfully classic about the way it constructs its mystery while simultaneously finding modern ways to explore its themes.

1. A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

No series surprised me more in 2026. I expected to enjoy it, but I didn’t expect to fall in love.

After years in which Westeros became associated primarily with wars, dragons, prophecies, and tragedy, Dunk and Egg brought back something fans didn’t even realize they had been missing: adventure, friendship, humor, kindness, and humanity.

The series could have premiered two years earlier, but remained on the shelf, and in doing so, it recaptures a side of George R.R. Martin that often gets lost amid grand political conflicts. At the center of it all are characters we genuinely want to spend time with, regardless of the scale of the battles or the fate of the realm.

There may be more technically ambitious series. There may be more prestigious productions. But none brought me more joy than A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

Ser Duncan the Tall with his sigil shield in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms

Young Aegon Targaryen “Egg” in royal attire

Honorable Mentions

Not every show can make the Top 10, but several deserve to be remembered:

Paradise, Seven Dials Mystery, Your Friends and Neighbors, Margo’s Got Money Troubles, Cross, Scarpetta, The Madison, His & Hers, Radioactive Emergency, Half Man, The Tri Saga, Legends, Rooster, and The Four Seasons.

There are still six months left in 2026, and a lot can change before December. But if the year ended today, these are the series I would take with me.