TMC
10-12-2022, 09:47 PM
https://www.looper.com/1051470/every-ryan-murphy-tv-series-ranked-worst-to-best/
BY MATT MITCHELL/UPDATED: OCT. 12, 2022 6:58 PM EDT
For over 20 years, the creative mind of Ryan Murphy has transformed the landscape of American television. Beginning in 1999 with the coming-of-age teen drama "Popular," Murphy tapped into a cultural desire to tell the stories of people audiences can relate to. He'd carry that mindset through shows like "Glee" and "9-1-1," while also making a name for himself in the horror genre with "American Horror Story" and "Scream Queens."
The universes that Murphy's built include familiar faces, as he often works with Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, and Lea Michele, among many others. He's got a great rapport with his leads which, in turn, almost always leads to masterclass results. Murphy's steady work ethic, which includes iterations of two or three of his shows every year, keeps his imprint on television steadfast. In addition, his advocacy for the LGTBQ+ community and people of color has opened the door for marginalized creators and actors tenfold.
His credentials in 2022 are already bigger than those of any other year of his career so far, as "Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" is one of Netflix's biggest shows of all-time, an 11th season of "American Horror Story" premieres in fall of 2022, and his new Netflix miniseries "The Watcher" also arrives before the end of the year. Not every show he's produced has been a critical darling or cultural phenomenon, but Murphy's legacy in television has long been cemented. Here are all of his television series ranked from the unproven flops to the decade-defining dramas.
Glee
Ryan Murphy's most popular show is also his most controversial and groundbreaking. "Glee" was ahead of its time, though some of its subject matter would hopefully be handled much differently today. While the show became a major totem for the LGBTQ+ community, it isn't short of its own faults, which includes bouts of transphobia, fat-shaming, and ableism. Regardless, it's hard to avoid acknowledging how important of a production "Glee" was from the jump. Not afraid to tackle the tough issues, especially at the end of the 2000s when shows were looking away from social commentary, "Glee" broke the mold across its six seasons
A musical comedy focused on a high school show choir from Lima, Ohio, the singular world of "Glee" became an unlikely phenomenon. But it's the show's ensemble cast, headlined by Lea Michele, Jane Lynch, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, and Naya Rivera, that makes "Glee" feel just as important and powerful now as it did when it premiered.
That being said, "Glee" has two of the worst seasons ever of any of Murphy's shows. Seasons 4 and 5 are often lifeless and feature stale and annoying role players. Just when the narratives gain momentum, the writing focuses too much on Michele, who quickly became one of Murphy's most beloved stars. In the process, the power and talent of other cast members, like Amber Riley, Dianna Agron, and Chord Overstreet, wound up underutilized.
You might hate "Glee," or you might love it, but its importance and legacy in television history is undeniable, for better or worse. What it accomplished has not been replicated, nor attempted.
BY MATT MITCHELL/UPDATED: OCT. 12, 2022 6:58 PM EDT
For over 20 years, the creative mind of Ryan Murphy has transformed the landscape of American television. Beginning in 1999 with the coming-of-age teen drama "Popular," Murphy tapped into a cultural desire to tell the stories of people audiences can relate to. He'd carry that mindset through shows like "Glee" and "9-1-1," while also making a name for himself in the horror genre with "American Horror Story" and "Scream Queens."
The universes that Murphy's built include familiar faces, as he often works with Evan Peters, Sarah Paulson, Jessica Lange, and Lea Michele, among many others. He's got a great rapport with his leads which, in turn, almost always leads to masterclass results. Murphy's steady work ethic, which includes iterations of two or three of his shows every year, keeps his imprint on television steadfast. In addition, his advocacy for the LGTBQ+ community and people of color has opened the door for marginalized creators and actors tenfold.
His credentials in 2022 are already bigger than those of any other year of his career so far, as "Dahmer — Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story" is one of Netflix's biggest shows of all-time, an 11th season of "American Horror Story" premieres in fall of 2022, and his new Netflix miniseries "The Watcher" also arrives before the end of the year. Not every show he's produced has been a critical darling or cultural phenomenon, but Murphy's legacy in television has long been cemented. Here are all of his television series ranked from the unproven flops to the decade-defining dramas.
Glee
Ryan Murphy's most popular show is also his most controversial and groundbreaking. "Glee" was ahead of its time, though some of its subject matter would hopefully be handled much differently today. While the show became a major totem for the LGBTQ+ community, it isn't short of its own faults, which includes bouts of transphobia, fat-shaming, and ableism. Regardless, it's hard to avoid acknowledging how important of a production "Glee" was from the jump. Not afraid to tackle the tough issues, especially at the end of the 2000s when shows were looking away from social commentary, "Glee" broke the mold across its six seasons
A musical comedy focused on a high school show choir from Lima, Ohio, the singular world of "Glee" became an unlikely phenomenon. But it's the show's ensemble cast, headlined by Lea Michele, Jane Lynch, Cory Monteith, Chris Colfer, and Naya Rivera, that makes "Glee" feel just as important and powerful now as it did when it premiered.
That being said, "Glee" has two of the worst seasons ever of any of Murphy's shows. Seasons 4 and 5 are often lifeless and feature stale and annoying role players. Just when the narratives gain momentum, the writing focuses too much on Michele, who quickly became one of Murphy's most beloved stars. In the process, the power and talent of other cast members, like Amber Riley, Dianna Agron, and Chord Overstreet, wound up underutilized.
You might hate "Glee," or you might love it, but its importance and legacy in television history is undeniable, for better or worse. What it accomplished has not been replicated, nor attempted.