Best Drama TV Series of the 1980s
Top 500 most popular Drama series that started in the 1980s
Neighbours
7K 9363 1985–2025
Long-runner · Soap & telenovela
Home and Away
7K 8807 1988–present
Soap & telenovela · Long-runner
North & South: Book 2, Love & War
7K 6 1986–1986
Period piece · War & military
The Equalizer
7K 88 1985–1989
Episodic · Big city life
Hunter
6K 152 1984–1991
Procedural · Detective mystery
Jack the Ripper
6K 2 1988–1988
Detective mystery · Period piece
Cagney & Lacey
6K 126 1981–1988
Female perspective
Alien Nation
6K 22 1989–1990
Immigrant experience
St. Elsewhere
6K 137 1982–1988
Medical · Ensemble cast
Reading Rainbow
6K 161 1983–2006
Kids & family · Family-safe
The Storyteller
6K 9 1987–1989
Anthology · Wonder & awe
T.J. Hooker
6K 90 1982–1986
Procedural · Episodic
Tour of Duty
6K 59 1987–1999
War & military · Gritty
Robin of Sherwood
6K 24 1984–1986
Period piece · Distinctive score
Bangkok Hilton
6K 3 1989–1989
Strong female lead
Smiley's People
5K 6 1982–1982
Espionage · Slow burn
Fanny and Alexander
5K 5 1983–1983
Child's perspective · Family saga
Berlin Alexanderplatz
5K 14 1980–1980
Bleak · Emotionally heavy
The Winds of War
5K 7 1983–1983
War & military · Event miniseries
The Bourne Identity
5K 2 1988–1988
Espionage · Tight limited run
The Singing Detective
5K 6 1986–1986
Experimental · Unreliable narrator
Fame
5K 136 1982–1987
Music scene · School & campus
Falcon Crest
5K 228 1981–1990
Soap & telenovela
The Bill
5K 2404 1984–2010
Long-runner · British TV