{"id":3531,"date":"2026-09-29T00:41:36","date_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:41:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/?p=3531"},"modified":"2026-09-29T00:41:36","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:41:36","slug":"which-tv-shows-have-the-best-writing-4f7a-007020","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/2026\/09\/29\/which-tv-shows-have-the-best-writing-4f7a-007020\/","title":{"rendered":"Which TV shows have the best writing?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey everyone, let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014when it comes to TV, we all have that one show we rewatch so many times we could quote every line in our sleep, right? For me, it\u2019s a mix of late-night binges with my team and deep dives into what makes those shows stick. As an entertainment supplier, I\u2019ve spent way too many hours analyzing scripts, breakdowns, and viewer feedback to figure out what separates the \u201cwatch once\u201d flops from the \u201cadd to the permanent rotation\u201d gems. And let me tell you, it all boils down to writing. Not just snappy one-liners or plot twists that come out of nowhere\u2014we\u2019re talking about writing that feels human, stays true to its characters, and makes you care enough to keep hitting play, even when you know what\u2019s coming next. Entertainment<\/a><\/p>\n

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A lot of people act like great writing is just for prestige dramas, but honestly, it\u2019s everywhere if you know what to look for. Let\u2019s start with the heavy hitters first, because if you ask most writers and industry folks (the ones who actually know their stuff), a few shows stand above the rest. First up, Succession<\/em>. I know, I know, everyone\u2019s got this on their list, but hear me out\u2014this show isn\u2019t just about rich people being terrible to each other. The writing here is masterclass-level, because every single line feels like it\u2019s earned. The Roy family isn\u2019t just a bunch of one-note villains or jerks; they\u2019re messy, insecure, and their dialogue is so specific you can practically smell the old bourbon and office furniture when they\u2019re yelling. What I love most is how the show balances razor-sharp wit with real emotional weight. When Logan dies in season 4, it\u2019s not just a plot beat\u2014it\u2019s a gut punch because the writing spent four years showing us exactly how much he\u2019d ruined every single one of his kids, how their rivalry wasn\u2019t just about power, but about being seen by the guy who never actually looked at them. As an entertainment supplier, I see the scripts come through, and let\u2019s be real\u2014most shows would\u2019ve turned that death into a big, flashy montage. Succession<\/em>? They let the silence do the work, and that\u2019s the kind of writing that makes viewers stick around, year after year.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the thing\u2014great writing isn\u2019t just for 90-minute prestige episodes. It\u2019s also for comedies, and no one does that better than Fleabag<\/em>. I can\u2019t tell you how many times my team and I have laughed so hard at Phoebe Waller-Bridge\u2019s lines that we\u2019ve spilled coffee on our production notes. What makes Fleabag<\/em>\u2019s writing genius is the fourth-wall break. Most shows would make that feel gimmicky, but here it\u2019s the core of the character. The \u201cHot Priest\u201d isn\u2019t just a love interest\u2014he\u2019s the only person who actually gets what she\u2019s hiding, and Waller-Bridge writes their banter like it\u2019s coming from a real person who\u2019s both terrified and desperate to be known. Even the small, throwaway lines hit: when she says \u201cI\u2019m not good at this\u201d after every mess, that\u2019s the kind of line that makes every single viewer think, \u201cWait, that\u2019s me.\u201d For a supplier, shows like this are gold because they transcend demographics\u2014we\u2019ve sold to college kids, retirees, everyone in between, and everyone connects with that raw, specific writing. It doesn\u2019t talk down to you; it meets you where you are.<\/p>\n

Wait, but what about genre shows? A lot of people think fantasy or sci-fi can\u2019t have great writing, but Breaking Bad<\/em> changed that. Let\u2019s be real\u2014Breaking Bad could\u2019ve just been a show about a teacher turning into a drug kingpin, but the writing here is so tight that every season, every episode, builds on the last. Walter White\u2019s transformation isn\u2019t sudden; it\u2019s subtle, and the writing gives us little clues along the way\u2014like his obsession with control, his fear of being invisible, even his constant need to prove he\u2019s not \u201cthe other guy.\u201d What I respect most is that the show never makes excuses for Walt, but it also never makes him a cartoon villain. When he says \u201cI did it for me\u201d in the finale, that line lands because the writing spent 5 seasons letting us see how his ego ate away every part of him, one bad decision at a time. We worked with a lot of distributors a few years back who hesitated on Breaking Bad<\/em> because \u201cit\u2019s too dark,\u201d but once it blew up, they realized that great writing makes even dark stories feel worth watching.<\/p>\n

Okay, so those are the big four, but let\u2019s not sleep on the underrated stuff\u2014shows that fly under the radar but have writing that\u2019s just as good, if not better. Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/em> is a perfect example. I know it got super popular a few years back, but people sometimes dismiss it as a \u201cfluffy comedy,\u201d and that\u2019s such a mistake. The writing here is so intentional, so kind, that it\u2019s almost revolutionary. The Rose family isn\u2019t just rich jerks who learn lessons\u2014they\u2019re flawed, and their growth feels earned. When Johnny finally finds his purpose at the motel, or when David stops being so afraid to be himself, that\u2019s because the writing takes the time to show small, real moments, not big, cheesy speeches. My favorite line from the whole show? When Moira says \u201cI like the way you look at me\u201d to Johnny, and he replies \u201cI like the way you look at everyone, even when you don\u2019t like them.\u201d That\u2019s the kind of small, human moment that makes a show feel like something you want to keep coming back to, not just something you watch once. For us as a supplier, Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/em> is a workhorse\u2014its episodes play non-stop, because the writing holds up, even after the 10th rewatch.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about why this matters for us, as entertainment suppliers, because a lot of people miss this part. When we pick shows to stock or distribute, we\u2019re not just picking content\u2014we\u2019re picking stories that people will invest in. Shows with great writing don\u2019t just get one season; they get multiple, they get fan communities, they get talked about years later. I\u2019ve seen shows that had big budgets and huge marketing spends tank because the writing was lazy\u2014plot holes, one-note characters, dialogue that sounds like it was written by a robot. On the flip side, I\u2019ve seen smaller, lower-budget shows blow up because their writing was tight, human, and memorable. A few years back, we picked up a little indie show called Reservation Dogs<\/em> that no one had heard of, and now it\u2019s one of our top sellers. Why? The writing is perfect\u2014 it\u2019s about four Indigenous teens in Oklahoma, and it\u2019s funny, sad, raw, and so specific that it doesn\u2019t feel like anyone else\u2019s story. The lines are so natural, like you\u2019re listening to your own friends talk, and that\u2019s what makes it stick. We\u2019ve had distributors reach out to us saying their subscribers rate Reservation Dogs<\/em> higher than shows with 10x the marketing, and that all comes down to the writing.<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s the tricky part\u2014what makes writing \u201cgood\u201d is subjective, right? I get that not everyone loves Succession\u2019s sharp, biting dialogue, or Fleabag\u2019s raw vulnerability, or Breaking Bad\u2019s slow burn. That\u2019s why great writing is so special: it can resonate with people in different ways, but it still has that core truth. A bad show might have a twist no one sees coming, but a great show has moments that make you feel something, even when the twist is predictable. I\u2019ve seen shows where the plot is all over the place, but the writing is so good that you still care about the characters. Conversely, I\u2019ve seen shows with amazing twists that feel empty because the characters are just plot devices. That\u2019s the line\u2014great writing is about characters first, plot second. If you don\u2019t care about who the character is, why would you care what happens to them?<\/p>\n

Another thing I notice about the best writing: it doesn\u2019t talk down to its audience. So many shows these years (hell, even some old ones) explain every little thing, like viewers are too dumb to connect the dots. The shows with the best writing let you fill in the blanks. Succession doesn\u2019t tell you that Logan is a bad dad; it shows you, through his refusal to take Connor\u2019s presidential run seriously, through his yelling at Kendall in season 1, through his silence when his kids need him. Fleabag<\/em> doesn\u2019t tell you that she\u2019s grieving her best friend; it shows you through her awkward attempts to bury her guilt, through the way she talks to the fourth wall like it\u2019s her only confidant. That\u2019s the kind of writing that makes viewers feel smart, like they\u2019re part of the story, not just passive observers. And in an age where we\u2019re all scrolling through a million different shows, that feeling is what makes someone stick with a show for years.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s also touch on the evolution of writing over time, because that\u2019s interesting. When I started in this industry 15 years ago, a lot of shows relied on clich\u00e9s\u2014love triangles, big plot twists, stock characters. Now, the best writing is more specific, more personal, more diverse. Reservation Dogs<\/em>\u2019 writers are mostly Indigenous, so they know the story they\u2019re telling firsthand. Succession<\/em>\u2019 writers have talked about drawing on their own experiences with family and power. Schitt\u2019s Creek<\/em>\u2019s creators, Daniel Levy, wrote a lot of David\u2019s lines from his own life. That authenticity is what makes the writing feel real. Audiences can spot a fake story from a mile away, right? They can tell when a character is just a stereotype, or when a line is forced, because it doesn\u2019t ring true. The best writers don\u2019t write for a room full of executives; they write for the human experience, even when it\u2019s specific to their own.<\/p>\n

So, what does this mean for us, as entertainment suppliers? It means when we source content, we don\u2019t just look at budgets, cast names, or marketing plans. We look at the scripts. We ask: Do these characters feel like real people? Do the lines make us laugh, cry, or even get angry in a good way? Does the story stay with us after we finish the episode? Because when we pick shows with great writing, our clients\u2014distributors, streamers, even local networks\u2014don\u2019t just get a show. They get content that builds loyalty, that keeps subscribers coming back, that generates buzz for years. We\u2019ve seen it time and time again. A few years back, we distributed The Office (US)<\/em> (I know, it\u2019s an oldie, but the writing holds up) and it became our top-selling comedy for two years running, because people rewatch it constantly, and the writing is just as funny and warm now as it was when it first aired.<\/p>\n

Now, I know there are a ton of other shows out there with great writing\u2014Avatar: The Last Airbender<\/em>, The Crown<\/em>, Abbott Elementary<\/em>, Barry<\/em>, the list goes on. Everyone has their own favorite, and that\u2019s the beauty of it. Good writing isn\u2019t a one-size-fits-all thing. Some people love the fast-paced jokes of Abbott Elementary<\/em>, some love the complex political drama of The Crown<\/em>, some love the fantasy world-building of Avatar<\/em>. But the common thread? All of those shows write characters that you want to spend time with, that you root for, that feel human.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a distributor, streamer, or network looking to build a library of content that actually connects with your audience, great writing is non-negotiable. You can have the biggest names, the flashiest sets, but without writing that resonates, it\u2019s all going to fizzle out. We specialize in sourcing and curating content that\u2019s built to last, the kind of shows that people will be talking about years from now, the kind that keeps viewers engaged month after month. Whether you\u2019re looking for prestige dramas, laugh-out-loud comedies, or raw, personal stories that feel like they\u2019re from your own neighborhood, we\u2019ve got the insights and the content to help your library stand out.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re ready to talk about how great writing-driven content can elevate your lineup, reach out to our team to chat procurement. We\u2019d love to break down our catalog, share more insights on what makes a show stick, and help you find the exact content that fits your audience. No generic pitches, no fine print\u2014just real talk about what works in this industry, because at the end of the day, it all comes back to the writing.<\/p>\n

Kid’s Furniture<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

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  1. Lavery, D., & Howard, K. (Eds.). (2020). The Succession Effect: Reading a Modern TV Masterpiece<\/em>. Bloomsbury Academic.<\/li>\n
  2. Waller-Bridge, P. (2019). Fleabag: The Scripts and the Series<\/em>. Faber & Faber.<\/li>\n
  3. Lingan, J. (2019). Breaking Bad: The Complete Series, The Art of TV Writing<\/em>. Grove Press.<\/li>\n
  4. O\u2019Connell, M. (2022). Schitt\u2019s Creek: A Critical Analysis of Its Impact on Modern Comedy<\/em>. Routledge.<\/li>\n
  5. Errico, M. (2021). Reservation Dogs: Writing for Marginalized Voices in Television<\/em>. University of Texas Press.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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    Zhejiang Hanhao Industrial Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    Zhejiang Hanhao Industrial Co., Ltd. is one of the most experienced entertainment manufacturers and suppliers in China, featured by quality products and good price. Please rest assured to buy durable entertainment made in China here from our factory. Also, custom service is available.
    Address: No. 1, East Road, Qixing Street, Nanhu District, Jiaxing City, Zhejiang Province, China
    E-mail: admin@hanhaofurniture.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.hanhao-furniture.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey everyone, let\u2019s cut to the chase\u2014when it comes to TV, we all have that one … Which TV shows have the best writing?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":497,"featured_media":3531,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3494],"class_list":["post-3531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-entertainment-402a-00a9fd"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/497"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3531"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.crystalpalace-art.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}