The Top TV Shows of 2017, Explained

Why 2017 Was a Landmark Year for Television

2017 was a turning point for prestige television, defined by consolidation on legacy platforms, the accelerating rise of streaming originals, and a shared cultural appetite for bold, cinematic storytelling. The year’s top shows reflect a maturing medium where auteurs, high production values, and long-form experimentation became mainstream expectations. This overview explains which series dominated discourse, why they mattered, and how they set the stage for the streaming wars that would follow. Rather than a simple ranking, think of this as a verified explainer of the top TV shows of 2017 and the creative forces behind them.

The Leading Candidates Across Major Platforms in 2017

Critical conversation in 2017 centered on a handful of series that combined strong writing, distinctive visual style, and reliable delivery. These shows led year-end lists, dominated watercooler talk, and influenced industry decisions about budgets, talent, and distribution. The landscape was split between prestige cable stalwarts, ambitious streaming originals, and breakout hits that found audiences on network and cable. Below is a concise overview of the most frequently cited top contenders across platforms.

How We Evaluated the Contenders

When discussing the top TV shows of 2017, it is useful to compare key attributes that shaped their impact. These include critical reception, awards momentum, audience reach, cultural footprint, and influence on subsequent programming. The table below anchors these discussions in a verified snapshot of metrics and context for the year’s leading series.

Cable Leaders: Prestige, Stakes, and Spectacle

On the cable side, 2017 was dominated by series balancing long-form serialization with premium production. HBO remained a powerhouse with Game of Thrones, while AMC’s Better Call Saul deepened its acclaimed universe. FX continued its reputation for daring auteur-driven comedy with Atlanta. These shows combined cinematic craft with narrative ambition, attracting both critics and mass audiences. The discussion around these titles in 2017 reinforced cable’s role as a home for event-grade storytelling, even as streaming options expanded quickly.

HBO: Event Television at Its Peak

HBO’s Game of Thrones reached an apex in 2017 with a visually staggering, fan-driven season that kept the network at the center of the cultural conversation. Its combination of high-budget set pieces and polarizing narrative choices exemplified the risks premium cable was willing to take. Series like The Sopranos and Succession had already established HBO’s prestige DNA, but 2017 underscored its dominance in large-scale, serialized drama.

FX and the Auteur Comedies

FX’s Atlanta distinguished itself in 2017 by offering a radically different comedic voice, blending surrealism, social commentary, and distinctive Southern storytelling. Its success signaled a broader appetite on cable for unconventional comedy that did not rely on traditional sitcom formats. The network’s broader lineup, including the tightly crafted Better Call Saul on AMC, continued to attract discerning audiences seeking slow-burn character studies alongside bold experimentation.

Streaming Originals Arrive as Major Forces

2017 marked a decisive shift toward streaming as a primary driver of top-tier television, with Netflix leading a new wave of high-concept, binge-ready originals. The platform’s investment in established franchises and bold new voices allowed it to compete directly with cable for cultural attention. As audiences migrated to on-demand models, the metrics of success expanded beyond live ratings to include completion data and subscriber influence. These shows helped define what audiences expected from television in an increasingly fragmented landscape.

Netflix: Scale, Nostalgia, and Global Ambition

Netflix’s 2017 originals were defined by two major strategies: large-scale prestige adaptations and deeply nostalgic genre experiments. The Crown demonstrated that streaming could host museum-quality period drama with cinematic production values, while Stranger Things 3 leveraged powerful 1980s nostalgia to achieve massive, rapid audience engagement. Together, they signaled that streaming platforms could mount sustained, high-profile campaigns traditionally associated only with blockbuster film and premium cable.

Hulu and the Rise of Issue-Oriented Prestige

Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale emerged in 2017 as arguably the most culturally resonant series of the year, turning speculative fiction into a direct lens on contemporary political and social anxieties. Its critical and awards success demonstrated that timely, issue-driven drama could thrive on streaming platforms. The show’s strong completion rates and watercooler urgency helped legitimize streaming originals as must-watch television, accelerating industry investment in streaming-first prestige series.

Genre Breaks and Under-the-Radar Standouts

Not all of 2017’s top television lived on cable or major streaming services. FX’s Fargo brought an offbeat, Midwestern crime aesthetic to network television, while niche offerings like AMC’s The Terror showed the appetite for slow-burn, atmospheric horror. These shows broadened the definition of what could be considered top-tier television in 2017, proving that strong writing and distinctive tone could cut through an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Network and Genre Experiments

• Fargo (FX) — Elevated crime anthology with sharp regional voice and cinematic storytelling.
• The Terror (AMC) — Slow-burn horror emphasizing mood, history, and character psychology.
• FEUD: Bette and Joan (FX) — Limited series exploring Hollywood rivalry with high-profile casting and sharp dialogue.
• One Day at a Time (Netflix) — Warm, family-focused sitcom that strengthened streaming’s comedy credentials.

Defining the 2017 Television Landscape in Retrospect

Looking back at 2017, the year stands out as a pivot point when streaming finally matched cable in prestige and cultural urgency. The top TV shows of 2017 were notable not only for their quality, but for how they reflected and shaped industry strategy: more originals, higher budgets, and willingness to tackle politically relevant themes. The competition between subscription models and traditional appointment viewing intensified, and audiences gained more reasons to treat television as a primary cultural medium.

Key Trends Established in 2017

• Streaming platforms became central to award-season conversations, not peripheral.
• Cable responded by tightening curation and leaning into creator-driven auteurs.
• Genre mashups—horror-comedy, period-sci-fi, crime-anthology—gained mainstream traction.
• Completion data and cultural buzz began to rival live ratings in measuring success.

Conclusion

The top TV shows of 2017 capture a moment of convergence between legacy television and the streaming future. Series like Game of Thrones, The Crown, The Handmaid’s Tale, and Stranger Things 3 defined the year with their ambition, reach, and influence. Understanding these titles and the forces behind them offers clarity on how the television landscape evolved and why the industry looks the way it does today.