I am not really a big TV fan, hell I don't even have a TV home, I could never really find any point in owning one. But there are 10 exceptions, which challenged my mindset. These "live-action" series are the best moments that TV offered. Some of them have actually defined gernes, while others are the best of their kind, but all are pretty much better then 99% of the films that are produced each year.
Twin Peaks
By far the best series that has ever aired! Especially the central plot is amazingly complex, with an intricate and unique mythology that will amaze anyone who can pay attention to it. That is not to say that the side-plots of the second seasons arcs are not good, though some better then others.
Unfortunately the series has many shortcoming. Distributors and networks never liked this innovative and unorthodox series, they always wanted something mainstream and politically correct to air, so the time-slot the series got was late-night, to reduce the potential audience, the DVD-rights were scattered so people must thoroughly search to acquire the series as it was conceived and intended to be seen, etc. It is really a pity that people with power intentionally feed others with trash, in order to maintain their power, instead of "guiding" them, in order to acquire equivelent and competative peers [/end-of-rant].
Desppite these shortcoming, the creators (David Lynch & Mark Frost) have created an amazing series that really worths the trouble to acquire it.
Carnivale
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki, official
An attempt to recreate Twin Peak's atosphere, though in a different setting. Hell, it even stars the dwarf from Lynch's works! Visually stunning, though somewhat lacking in storytelling, specifically the plot's unveiling is rather flat, never climaxing or drawing attention. Originally, the series was conceived in 6 seasons, but low ratings cut it short after the first two. Despite this the major plot-lines reach a closure, though not all questions posed are answered.
Riget
IMDb I, IMDb II, wiki
Danish mini-series about a haunted hospital. This is a masterpiece, despite its low-budget, the acting is over-the-top, directing and storytelling were original and still very influential (outside Hollywood). The sad part is that the actors of major characters died before Lars von Trier had a chance to shoot the third part of the series, thus there is no closure to the series.
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki
Another low-budget mini-series, this time from the island, later reworked into a novel by its creator, Niel Gaiman. Originally, shot for a VHS release, later rework to become a film, to finally be aired on the TV. This Odyssey, led to significant loss in quality, but added to the weird atmosphere of the plot. Acting might seem below average in the beginning, but it is loyal to the inhuman nature of the characters. All-in-all, it is a very different from what you can usually see.
Six Feet Under
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki, official
Slice of life show, though not your run of the mill life. The cast is not composed of the average stereotypes you usually see in series, despite the fact that they are ordinary (maybe too ordinary) people. Episodes are usually centered around a funeral, which the Fisher family organizes, while exploring slowly the life of the family itself. The storytelling balances, almost perfectly, between drama and comedy ... expect a lot of nihilism and black humor ;-)
Northern Exposure
TV-tropes, wiki
Nihilistic and dark, but still a show everyday life and the extra-ordinary strength that requires to face reality without getting depressed for not being an idiot and see things for what they are. Visually it very close to Twin Peaks and also features extensive dream sequences, as well as symbolism, though there no intricate mythology behind it.
Millenium
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki, official
Dark and brooding series about occult, fused masterfully in a modern setting. Created by Chris Carter, who also created X-Files, the show centers around Frank Black (played by Lance Herniksen) as a profiler and investigator. The shows three season have significant differences in theme, mood and structure because the executive committee was every time totally different. Also the series ends without resolving all mysteries, some kind of closure can be found in an X-Files episode, featuring the character of Frank Black, which fortunately was included with the DVD release of the series. 
Buffy
&
Angel
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki, official (Buffy)
1999-2004, 110 episodes, ~42 minutes each (Angel)
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki, official (Angel)
Ridiculing and breaking stereotypes is the trademark of both shows. Buffy is a petite, no-so-bright and kind of slutty cheerleader, who instead of being a monster's victim is its slayer. On the other hand Angel moves away from the adolescence angst, which is abundant in Buffy and deals with adulthood, still with a healthy dose of comedy accompanying its neo-noir setting. 
Battlestar Galactica
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki, official
This was the first non-anime sci-fi series that I actually enjoyed. It distances itself form the commercial mass-production cousins (StarTrek, Babylon 5, Stargate, etc) by fusing mysticism and occult to a degenerate gerne. Also there is very critical commentary on war and religion, which most modern series avoid like hell.
2007/12/14
10 TV series you must see
1990-91, 30 episodes, ~48 minutes each
TV-tropes, IMDb, wiki, official(aka The Kingdom)
Neverwhere
1996, 6 episodes, ~30 minutes each
