FX’s The Bear returned for its third season on Hulu recently, and fans have enjoyed getting back into the thick of the fine dining world with Carmy, Richie, Sydney, and the rest of the gang. This comedy-drama about an emotionally traumatized chef working among his dead brother’s co-workers in a dive restaurant has become one of the most artistically respected series on the air.
The show gives us hope that there is still room for unique ideas rather than just tired reboots on our screens. It shouldn’t be shocking that FX has produced another great show, though. The FOX-affiliated cable network has been one of the true trailblazers in original programming for two decades now, fighting with peers, such as AMC for supremacy during the age of the antihero. We’ve ranked the 13 best FX shows ever to see whether The Bear comes out on top, or needs to get back in the kitchen and try again.
13. Reservation Dogs (2021)
12. Shōgun (2024)
11. Fargo (2014)
10. Archer (2009)
9. What We Do in the Shadows (2019)
8. Snowfall (2017)
7. Pose (2018)
6. American Horror Story (2011)
5. Atlanta (2016)
Donald Glover is a powerhouse in this dark comedy about the difficulties of traversing and succeeding in the world of hip hop music in Atlanta, Georgia. The sitcom is a daring and explosive exposé of the rigors that go into Black excellence, and audiences were impressed with the realistic and thoughtful humor incorporated into each storyline.
4. Justified (2010)
3. The Bear (2022)
There obviously aren’t many drama or comedy series set in the culinary world, but this unique setting is only a fraction of the reason The Bear is quickly becoming of the best FX shows and shows in general in modern TV history. Jeremy Allen White’s performance as head chef Carmy Berzatto is nuanced and filled with both rage and compassion all at once. The series is profound because it takes different aspects of working in a kitchen, such as teamwork, purpose, togetherness, efficiency, and love, and makes a statement about each theme that goes far beyond whether a customer likes the new risotto on the menu. Bottle episodes, perfectly selected musical numbers, and montages that rival even shows like Better Call Saul make this series the current phenomenon on FX’s resume.
2. Sons of Anarchy (2008)
1. The Shield (2002)
We are all well aware of the ways that some police officers can be corrupt and ironically unlawful, but The Shield was the first show to recognize this on-screen. Before FX’s greatest show became famous, most crime dramas were black and white in their efforts to depict cops against criminals. Blurring the line between the two created some incredible TV, with Vic Mackey serving as the conduit for this message. Mackey is a cop without a code, and his unbridled passion for serving the community in the way he saw most suitable offers a perspective on real-life police work that is more nuanced and truer to life than most cop shows that came before it.
