While it used to be the norm to watch weekly releases of your favorite program, audiences now seem to favor the binge-watching model. Due to this, sitcoms have become some of the most popular series on their respective streaming services. Even sitcoms that finished airing long before Netflix was founded have found great success due to new audiences binge-watching the series.
Shows like "The Office", "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia," "New Girl", "Modern Family", and "Friends" have all found great success on streaming due to the consistent, comforting comedy they provide. All of these shows had long tenures on network television, and now they are experiencing a second life on streaming. Obviously, these shows are all amazing, but like any long-term series, there are some seasons that are simply better than others. After a lengthy session of binge-watching, we have determined that these are the absolute best seasons from each of these beloved sitcoms!
"The Office": Season 5
Before it became one of America’s most revered sitcoms, "The Office" just seemed like a half-baked remake of a show that was already extremely popular in the U.K. Many creatives have admitted that they did not see the potential in the U.S. version because they could not imagine it ever living up to its predecessor. However, through a combination of Greg Daniels’s writing and Steve Carell’s electric performance as Michael Scott, the show blossomed into the masterpiece we know it as today.
It is almost impossible to pick just one season from "The Office" because there are so many amazing moments sprinkled throughout each episode. However, Season 5 is by far the most consistently hilarious season, and it becomes abundantly obvious once you look at the episode list. This season has the magnificent "Stress Relief" 2-parter, which not only opens with the iconic fire drill sequence but later culminates with the equally hilarious CPR training sequence. Along with that, we get one of the best arcs in the entirety of the show with the Michael Scott Paper Company. This business rivalry allows for Dwight and Michael to have some ridiculous arguments that add a layer to their very one-sided relationship. Dwight finally turns against Michael, which leads to some pretty amazing scenes that actually highlight how talented of a salesman Michael can be.
In terms of romance, you get three major plotlines within this one season. The entirety of Holly and Michael’s romance is so adorable to watch, which makes it all the more uncomfortable when they have to break up. Andy, Dwight, and Angela finally end their love triangle when the affair is revealed. Dwight and Andy have a foolish duel that includes all of the wacky shenanigans that you might expect but has a very somber conclusion. Both men realize that they were being wronged by Angela, so they end their squabble and mutually decide to break things off with her.
On a more positive note, Jim and Pam get engaged and get pregnant in this season. The engagement is so personal and sweet, and it is the perfect way to kick off Season 5. Similarly, since the wedding doesn’t occur until the next season, you wouldn’t think that there would be any major developments in the final episode. Then that pregnancy reveal comes out of nowhere. The episode feels light for a season finale, and then you get that shot of Jim with tears welling up in his eyes after hearing the amazing news. "The Office" has always excelled at balancing comedy with romance, and Season 5 is the absolute embodiment of both of those qualities. (Stream on Peacock)
"Modern Family": Season 3
"Modern Family" loves miscommunications. All of its best episodes are based around some sort of eavesdropping, mix-up, or simple conversation that goes wrong in the best ways possible. Season 3 has so many episodes that deliver on that simple premise while adding an interesting twist. "Virgin Territory" is an excellent example where Alex accidentally reveals some personal information about Haley to Phil, which changes the group's dynamic for the entire episode. Like all of the best "Modern Family" stories, this reveal leads to repeated comedic arguments but climaxes with Phil accepting both of his daughters for who they are and bringing them in for a warm embrace. This season also contains one of the most popular episodes of the entire show: "Disneyland". This episode was shot entirely on location, and it really feels like the entire family is having fun.
For major plot progressions, Mitch and Cam are attempting to adopt another child for the entire season, which comes to a head in the finale. Gloria joins Mitch and Cam as their translator to visit the birth mother, but Gloria becomes extremely sick on the trip. Sadly, the birth mother's family decides to raise the child, so, yet again, Mitch and Cam got their hopes up for nothing. It is a deeply sad moment for the couple, which becomes far more complicated when it is revealed that Gloria is pregnant. This episode also includes one of the sweetest scenes from the show: Jay joins Lily on stage during her ballet recital because she has stage fright. It is easy to get caught up in all of the wackiness of the show, but this finale really reels it back in with moments that really tug on your heartstrings. (Stream on Hulu and Peacock)
"Friends": Season 3
"Friends" ran for over 10 years with an equal number of seasons, so it might seem odd that its best showing would be so early on in its run. It is important to remember that, because "Friends" was airing for so long, a lot of the later episodes began to feel repetitive, especially when it came to the main romance of the show. Earlier on, the dynamic between Ross and Rachel still felt fresh. Season 3 takes place after the couple initially gets together, so you get all the sweet, lovey-dovey moments followed by the quick downfall. The entire concept of Ross being jealous due to infidelity in his previous marriage is a very relatable flaw in his character. Of course, that doesn’t excuse any of his behavior, and Rachel dumping him makes perfect sense. Then the season ends with a minor hint of them getting back together, a really compelling cliffhanger that makes you immediately want to hop into the next season.
As far as the comedy goes, this season has some of the best the show has to offer. Every actor has really found the core of their character, which leads to the comedy feeling far more natural. Joey is still in that sweet spot where he is charmingly stupid and not the ridiculous buffoon he becomes in later seasons. Many of the characters are dating around this season, which opens the door for some great comedic guest stars like Ben Stiller, Jon Favreau, and Christine Taylor. "Friends" is supposed to be the embodiment of being in your early-20s, and this season delivers on that premise far better than the rest. (Stream on HBO Max)
"New Girl": Season 4
Without a doubt, the reason that Season 4 is the best "New Girl" season is because Coach is finally added as a full time cast member. Damon Wayans Jr. is a comedic superstar and he slides seamlessly into this cast just as the other actors are really nailing down their characters. Lamorne Morris has even said that his character wasn’t really perfected in the first couple seasons. Instead, it took Morris and the writers until the third season to find their footing with Winston. Although they figured out how to write the character, Winston truly began to shine in Season 4.
It is impossible to talk about Season 4 without referencing "Background Check". Often touted as the best episode of the series, and easily the most quotable, "Background Check" has the entire cast scrambling to get rid of "meth" while a police officer is actively checking the apartment. Obviously, there is no meth, but the circumstances allow for some very stressful yet hilarious moments between all of the roommates.
This may be controversial, but Nick and Jess being broken up for the entirety of Season 4 really benefits the show overall. While it is sad that they are no longer together, you still get the consistent feeling that they want to be together but it is just not right for them at the moment. Also, you still get all of the real romantic moments with Cece and Schmidt near the end of the season. Jake Johnson and Zooey Deschanel are able to embody that awkward comedy in such a unique way that their breakup actually makes the show funnier. Since there was no cheating or dishonesty, it is actually kind of refreshing to see two exes interact with each other without any deep animosity. The fact that they remain friends leads to many more comedic scenes and lets the audience know that they will likely reunite in the future. (Stream on Hulu and Peacock)
"It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia": Season 9
By the time a sitcom reaches its 9th season, it is usually beginning to run out of ideas, but "It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia" somehow managed to do the exact opposite. Season 9 feels like the culmination of everything the show had been building toward for nearly a decade. The show had just enough history to recall its own established lore while adding new twists to each character. The characters had become completely defined, but the writers understood exactly how far they could push them. Rather than sticking with the established formula, Season 9 continued to escalate and double down on every aspect of the show.
"The Gang Tries Desperately to Win an Award" is probably the best example of this. The episode works as a hilarious standalone story about the Gang desperately trying to make Paddy’s Pub more appealing, but it is also a massive joke about the show itself. After years of being largely ignored by major television awards, the writers essentially dedicated an entire episode to making fun of the types of shows that receive recognition. The Gang attempts to make the bar brighter, friendlier, and more accessible, only for everything to completely fall apart. They even attempt to parody other characters from popular sitcoms but ultimately fail miserably. The entire premise is that these characters are such awful people that they cannot fit into the cute little romances that were prevalent in other popular shows. It is the type of episode that becomes even funnier once you understand what the writers are actually making fun of.
What really separates Season 9 is the confidence behind every episode. At this point, "Always Sunny" was no longer just a sitcom about 5 terrible people running a bar. The writers knew the audience understood these characters well enough that they could experiment with structure and completely rework the traditional sitcom formula. After 9 seasons, the Gang somehow became even more ludicrous, and the show was all the better for it. (Stream on Hulu)
Regardless of which seasons we deemed as the best, all of these shows represent the gold standard of television. Whether you are streaming the newest episodes of "Always Sunny" or going back for another binge-watch of "Friends", you really can’t go wrong. But if you ever want a friend to start watching one of these shows, pay extra special attention to the seasons that we claim are the undeniable best!
