Lost

As a complete package, Lost has problems. At points, it feels like the show was stretched too long, writers gradually losing focus and penning a very controversial ending. It's not perfect, for sure, but at its highs, it's astonishing, and that propels it to number 3 on our list. Its hook is impossible to deny. A commercial airline crashes, stranding its 48 passengers on a south pacific island that's far stranger than it first appears. Lost's mystery, however, also comes in the form of character. As the viewer follows 12 of the survivors, they begin to learn about their fascinating pasts. Using flashbacks and dialogue, it explores each extensively – their drive, their failings, and their family. Through this, Lost manages to imbue a depth more complex than its synopsis suggests. Dialogue is superb and humorous, directing is stellar, and acting is solid across the board. But it's the feeling that it's all connected that keeps you watching, and the suspense of what will happen next.