The Best Television Shows That Take Place in (Almost) Every Decade

No matter your age or where you're located in the world, every decade in modern history is made up of a certain set of characteristics that help us better understand a given era in time. These shows listed below not only helped us understand but defined the era they explore through multi-dimensional and honest storytelling!

1920s: "Cable Girls" (Netflix)

This Netflix original series aired for 5 seasons and explored the lives of four women based in Madrid, Spain, working for a telephone operating company – dissecting patriarchy, classism, and female friendship.

1930s: "Perry Mason" (HBO)

Based on the fictional crime detective of the same name by author Erie Stanley Gardner, HBO’s 2020 adaptation aired its second season earlier this year to critical acclaim, particularly for its production design, cinematography, and dissection of a gritty 1930s Los Angeles. 

1940s: "A League of Their Own" (Prime Video)

A unique reinterpretation of the 1992 film of the same name centering around a more ethnically diverse (and queer!) group of professional women’s baseball players during a time when female athletes were ostracized and forgotten.

1950s: "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel" (Prime Video)

A refreshing and bold look at the rise and pitfalls of a New York City housewife-turned-standup comedian – whose outfits are just as exciting as the host of characters she runs into on her way to the top! 

1960s: "Mad Men" (AMC+)

The Emmy-winning drama, currently streaming on AMC+, follows the seemingly ideal life of an advertising executive that is slowly but surely unraveled throughout the 7-season run.

1970s: "That ‘70s Show" (Fox)

Available to stream on Peacock, "That ‘70s Show" stands out as the most '70s show for the bell-bottoms and Tommy Chong cameos alone.

1980s: "Stranger Things" (Netflix)

A blend of sci-fi, drama, and coming-of-age tale, "Stranger Things" never ceases to explore the special albeit turbulent bond between a group of Hawkins, Indiana, teenagers against the backdrop of "the Day-Glo Decade".

1990s: "Pose" (FX)

Ryan Murphy’s award-winning "Pose" explores the glamour and grit of New York City's ballroom culture while exposing the unflinchingly cruel realities for queer people of color struck by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. You can stream "Pose" on Hulu.

2000s: "Pen15" (Hulu)

A story of puberty, girlhood, and friendship, "Pen15" will be remembered for its pure vulnerability and painfully accurate Y2K references.

2010s: "Girls" (HBO)

The quirky dramedy from Lena Dunham didn’t shy away from showing what it looks like to be a young adult Millennial woman made up of privilege, unassuredness, and imperfection.