Family dramas have always been great fodder for television shows. But more so when the family’s history and legacy run for a few generations. Whether it is stories of the prestigious ones like the British Royal Family and the Duttons of Yellowstone, or those of the simpler names, like the Fisher family of Six Feet Under, in the end, all are but stories of people and their connections, emotions, and intentions that can sometimes date back to centuries.
In this article, we look at 10 best TV dramas that spanned generations and range from thriller to comedy, tragedy, mystery, thriller, or even dark satire. Each show presents a unique lens through which audiences can examine the characters and their journeys, as well as the interesting contexts that influence their arcs through the years.
11
‘Legacies’ (2018–2022)
Created by Julie Plec
A spin-off of The Originals, Legacies marks the third series in The Vampire Diaries franchise and features characters from both The Vampire Diaries and The Originals. The series focuses on Hope Mikaelson (Danielle Rose Russell), a 17-year-old daughter of the vampire-werewolf hybrid, Klaus Mikaelson of The Originals. Hailing from a lineage of witches, werewolves, and vampires, Hope carries the family legacy and ancestral powers that she must learn to hone and control at the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and Gifted.
Legacies is perfect for fans of supernatural fantasy shows, especially those focusing on vampires and werewolves, and a must-watch for The Vampire Diaries fans. The series works well as a coming-of-age story set to a magical, otherworldly theme, and is not without its drama. Legacies is fun, fast-paced, and peppered with ample thrills, matching the ranks of popular supernatural high school series like Riverdale or Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
- Release Date
-
October 25, 2018
- Cast
-
Peyton Alex Smith
, Jenny Boyd
, Ben Levin
, Aria Shahghasemi
, Danielle Rose Russell
, Leo Howard
, Quincy Fouse
, Chris Lee
, Matthew Davis
, Kaylee Bryant - Seasons
-
4
10
‘The Originals’ (2009–2017)
Created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec
The success of The Vampire Diaries led to its spin-off, The Originals, which marked the first step in the expansion of the franchise. Adapted from the eponymous novels by L.J. Smith, The Originals tells the story of the Mikaelsons, a power-hungry family of vampire-werewolf hybrid beings. Known as the world’s “original vampires,” they once owned the French Quarters of New Orleans, and now the family’s children – Klaus, Elijah, and Rebekah have returned to reclaim the land. Joseph Morgan, Daniel Gillies, and Claire Holt play the Mikaelson siblings, with Morgan’s portrayal of Klaus earning him a People’s Choice Award and a huge fan following.
The Originals, a lot like its parent show, features supernatural politics and engaging arcs about the family’s past spanning centuries and generations of powerful vampires. During its five-season run, the fantasy supernatural drama gained popularity and received a generally positive reception from genre fans, clocking more than a million viewers in each season.
- Release Date
-
October 3, 2013
- Seasons
-
5
9
‘Parenthood’ (2010–2015)
Created by Jason Katims
The NBC family drama is loosely taken from Ron Howard’s 1989 film of the same name and marks the second television adaptation following the eponymous 1990 series. Premiered in 2010, Parenthood follows the Braverman family, and their five-generation – older couple, Zeek (Craig T. Nelson) and Camille Braverman (Bonnie Bedelia), their three children – Adam (Peter Krause), Sarah (Lauren Graham), and Crosby (Dax Shepard), grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
The series focuses on how the family deals with relationships, loss, adulthood, careers, marital problems, and sexuality. During its six-season run, Parenthood was well-received by critics for addressing significant themes like autism in children, adoption, single parenthood, and various parenting issues. Even though the show never garnered a huge fan following, the family drama earned several awards and accolades. Its well-written characters and endearing family dynamics make Parenthood a great watch.
- Release Date
-
March 2, 2010
- Directors
-
Jason Katims
- Cast
-
Lauren Graham
, Peter Krause
, Dax Shepard
, Monica Potter
, Erika Christensen
, Sam Jaeger
, Max Burkholder
, Joy Bryant - Seasons
-
6
8
‘Six Feet Under’ (2001–2005)
Created by Alan Ball
A story about two generations of the Fisher family, Six Feet Under follows Nate Fisher (Peter Krause), whose funeral director father, Nathaniel Sr. (Richard Jenkins), dies and leaves him and his brother, David (Michael C. Hall), the family funeral home. The series focuses on the dynamics between the brothers, the family matriarch, Ruth (Frances Conroy), the rebellious daughter, Claire (Lauren Ambrose), and Nate and David’s respective partners. The show’s title not only alludes to its theme but also to the primal self that often hides under the surface.
Staying true to its name and concept, Six Feet Under explores death and mortality in layered storytelling, where the hard-hitting, honest narrative is well-balanced with dark humor, which earned great acclaim from critics. The show is designed as a traditional family drama that explores themes like familial ties, homosexuality, infidelity, and religion. But as the story proceeds, it reveals its philosophical take on the concept of death, making it a unique and engaging family drama comedy that can be sometimes heartbreaking.
- Release Date
-
June 3, 2001
- Seasons
-
5
7
‘Downton Abbey’ (2010–2015)
Created by Julian Fellowes
Before shows like The Crown or Bridgerton, Downton Abbey was the most popular British historical drama on television, spanning several generations of a noble family. Set on the titular (and fictional) country estate in Yorkshire, between 1912 and 1926, the drama series follows the lives of the Crawley family occupying the estate and that of their servants and acquaintances. Downton Abbey also gives a peek into the social, cultural, and political events of the time and how those affected the characters’ lives and those of other social classes associated with them.
The historical family drama earned sweeping praise for its elegant production, costumes, and art design, earning several awards and accolades. During its six-season run, Downton Abbey garnered a huge fan following and became an international hit for its memorable quotes, set design, and most importantly, stellar cast performances, which can be credited to the likes of Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Elizabeth McGovern, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Dan Stevens.
Downton Abbey
- Release Date
-
September 26, 2010
- Creator
-
Julian Fellowes
- Seasons
-
6
Watch it on Prime Video
6
‘Vikings’ (2013–2020)
Created by Michael Hirst
Taken from documented stories of Norsemen in medieval Scandinavia, Vikings tells the exploits of Ragnar Lothbrok/Lodbrok, a notorious and invincible Viking hero posing a major threat to Anglo-Saxon England and West Frankia. The historical saga focuses on Ragnar’s journey from a simple farmer in Norway to a ruler of several kingdoms, alongside the exploits of his wife (and later queen), Lagertha, and his sons, and future generations, who continue their family legacy while also discovering new kingdoms and new destinations to explore and raid. The series boasts strong performances by Travis Fimmel, Katheryn Winnick, Clive Standen, Steven Berkoff, Gustaf Skarsgård, and Alexander Ludwig as major characters.
A show comparable to Game of Thrones in length and breadth, Vikings is a cinematic delight with incredible cinematography, immersive music featuring renowned Norwegian artists, and powerful performances that cement the characters in your memory. During Vikings‘ six-season run, the show became a highly successful and acclaimed show for its powerful storytelling, art design, visual design, music, and battle sequences.
Vikings
- Release Date
-
March 3, 2013
- Directors
-
Michael Hirst
- Seasons
-
6
5
‘Game of Thrones’ (2011–2019)
Created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss
The HBO original might appear to be a larger-than-life fantasy saga about two rival continents, but at its core, Game of Thrones is a generation-spanning drama about various noble families. Adapted from George R.R. Martin’s fan-favorite novel series, A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones follows three different story arcs involving the kingdoms of Westeros and Essos, where seven kingdoms of Westeros are vying for the much-coveted Iron Throne, while the lost daughter of an ousted dynasty, plotting to revenge and reclaim. Meanwhile, elsewhere, a supernatural threat looms large on them all.
Matching its epic proportions, the success of Game of Thrones was also record-breaking, garnering a worldwide fan following. The show has been praised for its gorgeous production, story, and complex characters, but not without its fair share of criticism for the violence and gore. A show that defined the 2010s, Game of Thrones is often considered one of the greatest television shows of all time, and remains a major influence on contemporary pop culture.
- Release Date
-
April 17, 2011
- Cast
-
Kit Harington
, Isaac Hempstead Wright
, Iain Glen
, Peter Dinklage
, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau
, Emilia Clarke
, Maisie Williams
, Sophie Turner
, John Bradley
, Lena Headey
, Liam Cunningham
, Aidan Gillen
, Alfie Allen
, Conleth Hill
, Rory McCann
, Jerome Flynn
, Jacob Anderson
, Kristofer Hivju
, Gwendoline Christie
, Nathalie Emmanuel
, Carice Van Houten
, Natalie Dormer
, Stephen Dillane
, Charles Dance
, Charlotte Hope
, Michelle Fairley
, Jack Gleeson
, Richard Madden
, Hannah Murray
, Sibel Kekilli
, Julian Glover
, Brenock O’Connor
, Rose Leslie
, Michael McElhatton - Seasons
-
8
4
3
‘Succession’ (2018–2023)
Created by Jesse Armstrong
One of the most popular drama series on Max, Succession follows the Roy family, owners of Waystar RoyCo, a powerful media conglomerate, where the family patriarch Logan Roy’s sudden decline in health sparks a power struggle. As Logan’s children and other associated characters compete for the biggest share of the Roy empire, things begin to get complicated when the man at the top becomes reluctant to bequeath his legacy to his offspring. The satirical black comedy stars Brian Cox, Alan Ruck, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook, and Matthew Macfadyen, as the key characters, in powerful performances.
Succession is darkly funny and unexpectedly taut, with razor-sharp dialogues, powerful narratives, and intelligent characterizations. Not to mention, the production values are equally commendable. Premiered in 2018, Succession earned widespread acclaim and accolades season after season, including nine Golden Globes and five Emmy Awards, with Culkin, Cox, Strong, Snook, and Macfadyen winning various awards.
- Release Date
-
June 3, 2018
- Cast
-
Hiam Abbass
, Alan Ruck
, Sarah Snook
, Kieran Culkin
, Natalie Gold
, Nicholas Braun
, J. Smith-Cameron
, Matthew Macfadyen
, Peter Friedman
, Brian Cox
, Arian Moayed
, Jeremy Strong
, Rob Yang
, Dagmara Dominczyk - Seasons
-
4
2
‘Yellowstone’ (2018–2024)
Created by Taylor Sheridan and John Linson
What can be defined as Taylor Sheridan’s magnum opus, Yellowstone, is a show that will go down in history as a modern classic. The neo-Western drama follows the legacy of the influential Dutton family, owners of the titular ranch, aka Yellowstone Dutton Ranch, the largest ranch in Montana. Yellowstone explores the dynamics and drama of the Duttons inside and outside the family, including their business relationships, conflicts with the native reservations and authorities, and more. Related shows, 1883 and 1923, round up the backstory and history of the Dutton family.
On its premiere, Yellowstone had a slow start but soon amassed a huge fan following, turning the show into a franchise, resulting in prequels, sequels, spin-offs, and more. The modern Western boasts solid performances by its stellar ensemble throughout the five seasons. With its gritty narrative and slick characterizations, Yellowstone offers an interesting, contemporary take on traditional cowboy tropes, even if the plots sometimes take a melodramatic turn.
- Release Date
-
June 20, 2018
- Cast
-
Kevin Costner
, Finn Little
, Brecken Merrill
, Gil Birmingham
, Denim Richards
, Ian Bohen
, Danny Huston
, Kelly Reilly
, Forrie J. Smith
, Cole Hauser
, Kelsey Asbille
, Wes Bentley
, Jefferson White
, Luke Grimes
, Ryan Bingham - Seasons
-
5
1
‘The Crown’ (2016–2023)
Created by Peter Morgan
This historical series is not just a family drama but that of one of the most powerful and legendary families in the world. Inspired by Peter Morgan’s 2006 film The Queen and 2013 stage play The Audience, The Crown offers a dramatized, behind-the-scenes look at the British royal family throughout the last century. The six-season series focuses on the life and monarchy of Queen Elizabeth II, starting with Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten’s marriage and ending with the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles.
One of the most interesting aspects of The Crown is the show’s epic ensemble casting that rotated every two seasons, with various actors portraying the same character at different stages of the story. Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton portray Queen Elizabeth across different seasons, with equally powerhouse performances by Elizabeth Debicki, Gillian Anderson, Matt Smith, Helena Bonham Carter, Jonathan Pryce, and Dominic West. The Crown garnered massive popularity and global acclaim for its writing, acting, direction, and cinematography. A fusion of real-life personalities and fictionalized plot lines, The Crown remains a prominent and highly entertaining multi-generational period drama of modern times.
- Release Date
-
November 4, 2016
- Creator
-
Peter Morgan
- Cast
-
Claire Foy
, Olivia Colman
, Imelda Staunton
, Matt Smith
, Tobias Menzies
, Jonathan Pryce
, Vanessa Kirby
, Helena Bonham Carter
, Lesley Manville
, Victoria Hamilton
, Marion Bailey
, Marcia Warren - Seasons
-
6
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