Now we’re over our obsession with the 90s, it’s the turn of the next century to have its time in the spotlight. According to TikTok bosses, the hashtag #NoughtiesNostalgia has increased by 36 per cent in the past year – and much of the focus is on the music and TV series of the era.
I’m not surprised. Some of the best TV dramas ever made are from the Noughties, from serious fare like The Sopranos and The Wire to soapier series like Desperate Housewives. So, whether you’re looking to rediscover an old favourite or delve into the golden era of TV that you were too young for at the time, take a look at my list of the best Noughties series to binge now.
The Sopranos (1999 – 2007)
Now
Never mind one of the best Noughties dramas, The Sopranos is generally considered one of the best series of all time. James Gandolfini’s portrayal of New Jersey gangster Tony Soprano is a masterclass in subtle duality – he’s at once a tough patriarch in charge of his mob and a sensitive father, struggling with his mental health. With six series to get through, The Sopranos is a perfect length to binge and arguably the most important show you’ll ever watch – most of the series on this list wouldn’t exist without its influence.
Spooks (2002 – 2011)
BBC iPlayer/U/ITVX Premium
Tune in to watch married couple Keeley Hawes and Matthew Macfadyen fall in love on screen, stay for the heart-thumping spy action. Spooks follows the agents of MI5’s Section D, which specialises in identifying and – crucially – neutralising terrorism threats on the streets of London. Every episode centres on a different mission, whether that’s preventing a Russian coup or stopping a gang of white nationalists committing a violent attack. Just make sure you don’t get too attached to any characters – Spooks isn’t scared to kill anyone off.
Gossip Girl (2006 – 2012)
Netflix/BBC iPlayer
Soapy teen drama Gossip Girl is my own personal favourite on this list – I rewatch the whole thing every year to stave off the winter blues. And with Noughties trends coming back into fashion, no wonder style goddesses Blair (Leighton Meester) and Serena (Blake Lively) are currently getting attention on TikTok. Set among the student body of an elite New York high school, the drama exposes the personal lives of privileged teenagers, whose secrets are sensationally outed by a mysterious blogger. Who is she? That’s one secret she’ll never tell (well, at least until the last episode).
Sex and the City (1999 – 2004)
Now
Shockingly, there are still people in this world who haven’t watched the original romcom series, Sex and the City. Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrall), Miranda Hobbes (Cynthia Nixon) and Charlotte York (Kristin Davis) are the blueprint when it comes to female friendships on television and their sexcapades in Noughties New York are still genuinely groundbreaking (read: outrageous) to this day. Sex and the City is huge on the #NoughtiesNostalgia trend, sparking multiple memes and – of course – giving Gen Z some serious fashion inspo.
Lost (2005 – 2010)
ITVX/Netflix/Disney+
Even if you haven’t seen Lost (or, as many didn’t, make it to the last episode), you’ve probably heard of the controversy surrounding how the series came to an end. I won’t spoil it here, but it’s something to bear in mind before you dive headfirst into the six seasons. It tells the story of a mismatched group of survivors of an aeroplane crash, who find themselves stranded on a tropical island where strange, inexplicable events occur. If you’re a fan of non-linear storytelling and gobsmacking cliffhangers, Lost practically invented the genre.
Gilmore Girls (2000 – 2007)
ITVX/Netflix/Disney+
Another comfort watch, this time best saved for the time of year when the leaves start to turn orange. Set in the homey fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, it follows witty mother and daughter, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel), whose close relationship sees them weather all manner of storms. Despite a Netflix revival in 2016, it’s the original Noughties edition that prevails as the ultimate comfort watch, cementing itself in the era with endless pop culture references, from Bjork’s swan dress to Angelina Jolie’s adoptions.
Desperate Housewives (2005 – 2012)
Disney+
Think EastEnders pushes the boat out when it comes to murders, affairs and scandals? Wait until you watch Desperate Housewives. The series kicks off with the mysterious suicide of Mary Alice, which leaves her fellow housewives of white picket fence-perfect Wisteria Lane reeling. The fact that Mary Alice’s ghost narrates the goings on is the least sensational element of this moreish soap, as Susan Mayer (Teri Hatcher), Lynette Scavo (Felicity Huffman), Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross) and Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) cope with deadly hurricanes, fake pregnancies and, of course, murder.
Skins (2007 – 2013)
Channel 4/ITVX/Netflix/Prime Video/Tubi
I thought Gen Z was supposed to be puritanical these days? Not judging by their interest in hedonistic party series Skins, which takes sex, drugs and Noughties new rave music in its stride. While the cast changes every two series, the opening four are the most iconic, launching the careers of Nicholas Hoult, Daniel Kaluuya, Dev Patel, Jack O’Connell and Joe Dempsie. Even almost two decades on, Skins still feels brazen, and I’m sure new viewers would be surprised to see what you used to be able to get away with on late-night British TV. Euphoria eat your heart out.
The Wire (2002 – 2008)
Now
If a Noughties TV afficionado doesn’t choose The Sopranos as their favourite series, they’ll almost certainly choose The Wire instead. Created by former crime journalist David Simon, the series delves into the criminal underbelly of Baltimore, Maryland, where the police are consistently on the backfoot when it comes to quashing the illegal drugs trade. The Wire is arguably the peak of gritty, realistic crime drama, and the perfect example of the morally grey storylines and characters that Noughties television perfected.
The West Wing (2001 – 2006)
Channel 4
If you’ve had enough of the current inhabitant of the Oval Office, then perhaps getting acquainted with Martin Sheen’s much more likeable President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet might be a nice distraction. Aaron Sorkin’s The West Wing isn’t exactly a comfort watch, as the senior staff members of the White House tackle important issues such as gun control, terrorism, abortion, and foreign policy – but with propulsive narratives and a witty, pacy script, it’s certainly no chore to get through all seven seasons. It would seem the Emmy voters agree – with 26 awards to its name, The West Wing is the second highest awarded scripted drama of the decade.
Ugly Betty (2006 – 2010)
Channel 4/Disney+
Ugly Betty doesn’t get nearly enough credit for its sharp, camp critique of the Noughties obsession with body image and the uber elite fashion world. Seen through the eyes of Betty Suarez (America Ferrera) – apparently “ugly” because she has braces and wears glasses – the vapid employees of Mode magazine struggle to comprehend why their boss would hire such an unglamourous assistant. Yet over its four series, Betty comes to realise that her colleagues aren’t as vapid as they seem, and before long you’ll fall in love with even the bitchiest of Mode’s gang (I’m looking at you, Amanda).
Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013)
Netflix
No list of brilliant Noughties TV series would be complete without the ultimate example of prestige TV: Breaking Bad. Walter White’s descent (or rise, depending on how you look at it) from a respected high school chemistry teacher to violent drug kingpin is legendary and rightly considered to be one of the best character arcs in TV history. Breaking Bad was also one of the first big series we could binge in one go, as it didn’t arrive on British Netflix in 2013, when four and a half seasons were already available. Having recently rewatched it myself, I am happy to report that it still stands up and includes a rare gem: a satisfactory ending.
Mad Men
Netflix/U
(Photo: Lionsgate Films)
While most Noughties series are finding new audiences on social media for their of-the-era aesthetic, Mad Men harks back to an even earlier time – one of mahogany offices filled with cigarette smoke. Set in the 60s, it revolves around advertising guru Don Draper (Jon Hamm), whose picture-perfect home life is worlds away from the sex and scotch-fuelled office where he works. But as the world changes around him with the rise of feminism and the civil rights movement, Draper soon finds himself clinging on to the old ways – ironic, since, even in 2025, Mad Men feels more relevant than ever.
