100 Best British TV Shows to Watch Right Now

For many fans of television, the British seem to have cracked a certain code. Scripted series from the UK—especially those of the “prestige” comedy/drama variety—tend to be shorter than their American counterparts, and what they seem to lack in terms of “spectacle” and production value, they more than make up for in the emotional intelligence of their writing and the elegance of their characterization. The shows listed below are, more often than not, series that know exactly what to say within stricter time constraints, proving that great TV doesn’t have to mean shows that are trying too hard to be like movies. These are stories that embrace the episodic format to tremendous effect.