15 shows that define prestige TV

5. The Americans

FX was no stranger to the prestige TV game circa 2013, with series like The Shield and Damages fitting in well with other shows of its ilk. But it was The Americans that finally earned FX the reputation of a prestige TV network, making up for what it lacked in Emmy love with almost universal adoration from critics and a fan base who swear by Elizabeth and Philip Jennings.

You can’t pitch a much better setup for a prestige TV show than “two Russian spies live across the street from an FBI agent in ’80s Washington, D.C.” That relatively simple premise made for six seasons of exploring the toll spying can take, as well as what the concept of the prototypical American family really means.

The heart of the show was the relationship between Matthew Rhys’ Philip and Keri Russell’s Elizabeth, both of who took diverging paths regarding both how to raise their children and the amount of cliched American platitudes they internalized. It was fascinating to watch the two grapple with the prospect of loyalty to their homeland and becoming too Americanized for their own good.

Sure, one could argue that Stan Beeman is the worst FBI agent of all time, as it took him six whole seasons to figure out that his seemingly normal neighbors were actually Soviet sleeper agents. But if you can get past the inherent silliness of the conceit and revel in the show’s moodiness and acting master classes, you’ll be in for a great time.

The Americans was your favorite TV critic’s favorite TV show throughout its entire run, and for good reason. It was different, edgy and definitely dark enough to be considered an important part of prestige TV’s evolution.