Best Drama TV Series of the 1980s
Top 500 most popular Drama series that started in the 1980s
21 Jump Street
15K 102 1987–1991
School & campus · Procedural
The Twilight Zone
13K 66 1985–1989
Anthology · Episodic · Unsettling
North & South: Book 1, North & South
13K 6 1985–1985
Real history · Period piece
Hill Street Blues
12K 144 1981–1987
Ensemble cast · Workplace · Gritty
The Thorn Birds
11K 4 1983–1983
Romantic yearning · Love story
Anne of Avonlea
11K 4 1987–1987
Period piece · Sentimental
Matlock
11K 181 1986–1995
Legal · Procedural · Episodic
Doogie Howser, M.D.
10K 97 1989–1993
Genius lead · Coming of age
V: The Final Battle
10K 3 1984–1984
Space & sci-fi · Event miniseries
EastEnders
10K 7405 1985–present
Soap & telenovela · Long-runner
Dynasty
9K 220 1981–1989
Soap & telenovela
Captain Tsubasa
9K 161 1983–1995
Sports · Anime · Hopeful
The Bold and the Beautiful
9K 9818 1987–present
Soap & telenovela · Long-runner
Brideshead Revisited
9K 11 1981–1981
Nostalgic · Period piece
Beauty and the Beast
9K 55 1987–1990
Romantic yearning · Love story
Highway to Heaven
8K 111 1984–1989
Wholesome · Episodic · Hopeful
Tales from the Darkside
8K 90 1983–1988
Anthology · Episodic · Unsettling
Unsolved Mysteries
7K 609 1987–2010
True crime · Docuseries · Episodic
L.A. Law
7K 171 1986–1994
Legal · Workplace · Ensemble cast
In the Heat of the Night
7K 146 1988–1995
Small town · Procedural
Legend of the Galactic Heroes
7K 110 1988–1997
Sprawling saga · War & military
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
7K 6 1988–1988
High fantasy · Kids & family
Simon & Simon
7K 156 1981–1989
Episodic · Banter chemistry
Amazing Stories
7K 45 1985–1987
Anthology · Episodic