Best Ensemble Cast Dramas Worth Watching

A whole city

The Wire (HBO, 2002-2008, 5 seasons). David Simon's portrait of Baltimore starts with a police wiretap on a drug crew, then widens each season: the docks, City Hall, the schools, the newspaper. Dozens of characters, from detective Jimmy McNulty to stick-up man Omar Little, all treated as people rather than types.

Workplaces

Mad Men (AMC, 2007-2015, 7 seasons). Don Draper is the centre, but Peggy, Joan, Roger, Pete and Betty each get arcs as rich as his across the 1960s. Peggy's rise from secretary to copywriter and beyond may be the real story.

The Bear (FX, 2022-2026, 5 seasons). Carmy takes over his late brother's Chicago sandwich shop, and Sydney, Richie, Marcus and Tina all get their own episodes, some among the show's best. Stressful, loving and loud.

Families

Succession (HBO, 2018-2023, 4 seasons). The Roy siblings, their father, the in-laws and the executives who manage them. Even minor players like Tom and Greg get some of the best storylines.

Six Feet Under (HBO, 2001-2005, 5 seasons). The Fisher family and their funeral home, with each episode opening on a death. Every family member carries a full storyline.

A small town

Friday Night Lights (NBC, 2006-2011, 5 seasons). Coach Eric Taylor, his wife Tami and the players of Dillon, Texas. Shot loosely with handheld cameras and largely improvised dialogue, it feels lived in. The Taylors' marriage is one of TV's best.

A tight circle

Big Little Lies (HBO, 2017-2019, 2 seasons). Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern and Zoë Kravitz as mothers whose friendships and secrets lead to a death. Season 1 is complete on its own.

Strange and moving

The Leftovers (HBO, 2014-2017, 3 seasons). After 2% of humanity disappears, a town tries to cope. Season 1 is bleak; seasons 2 and 3 are among the most acclaimed in TV drama, with standalone episodes for each lead.

Station Eleven (HBO Max, 2021, 10 episodes). Based on Emily St. John Mandel's novel, it moves between the days of a pandemic and the travelling actors who perform Shakespeare 20 years later. Hopeful, unusually so for the genre.

Our verdict

If you have the time, The Wire. If you want something shorter, Station Eleven. For a comfort rewatch with a big heart, Friday Night Lights.

Frequently asked questions

What's a short ensemble drama I can finish quickly? Station Eleven (10 episodes) or Big Little Lies Season 1 (7 episodes).

Is The Bear a drama or a comedy? It's entered at the Emmys as a comedy, but it plays as an intense drama, with whole episodes devoted to individual members of the kitchen.

Want a drama for tonight?

Our series quiz can match one to your mood, with season counts for each pick.