We ranked the best TV shows FX has to offer

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.

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.

Motorcycle clubs get a bad reputation for the crimes they commit and the havoc they wreck on the environments they infiltrate. Sons of Anarchy granted us a different lens to inspect these bad boys, giving credence to the brotherhood and love poured into biker culture all around the world. Jax Teller (Charlie Hunnam) will do whatever it takes to protect both his motorcycle and home families, and the way one must balance out the other is reminiscent of shows like The Sopranos. The excessive amount of violence may be a turnoff to some, so ensure you’re ready for stuff like tongues being ripped out and fingers being bitten off.

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.