Say My Name: Breaking Bad crowned greatest show of the 21st century

Somewhere, a chemistry teacher is smiling. "Breaking Bad" has been named the finest television show of the 21st century by The New York Times on 25 September, and frankly, it is hard to argue with the empire.

The verdict came from a colossal poll of more than 500 television professionals — 516 actors, writers, producers, showrunners and executives — who were each asked to name up to ten of the best series to premiere since 1 January 2000. When the votes were counted, Vince Gilligan's 2008–2013 crime saga stood alone at number one.

For the uninitiated, "Breaking Bad" follows Walter White, a mild-mannered high-school chemistry teacher who, after a cancer diagnosis, reinvents himself as a ruthless methamphetamine kingpin. Bryan Cranston's transformation from beige-clad everyman to the terrifying "Heisenberg" remains one of the great performances of the era, with Aaron Paul's Jesse Pinkman providing its bruised, beating heart. Few shows have ever charted a moral collapse with such precision — or such addictive glee.

It topped a fiercely competitive field. "The Wire" took second, followed by "Mad Men", "Succession" and "Fleabag", with "Game of Thrones", "Veep", "30 Rock", "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Atlanta" rounding out a formidable top ten. The list ranged well beyond prestige drama, considering reality shows, documentaries, talk shows and even YouTube series.

Naturally, the internet did what the internet does. Some grumbled that the panel polled "industry nerds" rather than ordinary fans. Others were aghast at the near-total absence of animation. And the loudest cry of all: how on earth is "The Sopranos" nowhere to be seen? (The answer is delightfully pedantic — it debuted in 1999, disqualifying it on a technicality.)

Quibble all you like about the runners-up. On the top spot, though, the industry has spoken with rare unanimity. "Breaking Bad" did not just win the poll; it earned it, one perfectly calibrated episode at a time.