Rotten Tomatoes became the first (or at least the most successful) of its kind when it promoted the idea of aggregated movie and television reviews. The concept of the “Tomatometer” marks TV shows based on a minimum of twenty reviews, with five reviews needing to come from Top Critics. Those with a Certified Fresh badge are noted as the most successful films that are praised by critics, and more importantly, fans.
It’s a difficult feat to master. A television show aiming to hit that “refreshing” goal has to have a score of 75% or higher. Certified Fresh Scores at 100% isn’t handed out lightly, but there has been a steady stream of shows who can claim bragging rights to this accomplishment. Here are 10 TV shows you never knew had 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Breaking Bad
This may not come as a shock, considering Breaking Bad has gone down in history as one of the most successful television shows of all time. This notion is supported by the fact that it’s fifth and final season received a 100% Certified Fresh score on Rotten Tomatoes.
The final season was split up into two part, with eight episodes each. Fans weren’t ready for the show to end, but man… did it go out with a bang! Critic Nick Harley said of the final season, “Expertly written, virtuosic with its direction, and flawlessly performed, Breaking Bad is everything you could want in a drama.”
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is today’s new hit comedy series that is on par with the likes of The Office. Andy Samberg helms the show, acting as New York Detective Jake Peralta. Fans have cultivated its success, giving it a score of 100% for it’s sixth and latest season on the review site.
While Captain Holt wallows over his loss as the commissioner, Amy and Jake debate over having kids, Gina becomes an internet celebrity, and Terry stresses over his Lieutenant’s Exam. The ensemble cast receives equal attention for their personal dilemmas, making the show enjoyable to watch from start to finish.
8. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Season four of Crazy-Ex Girlfriend grabbed its rights to a 100% Certified Fresh. The romantic musical drama may not be your traditional tv choice, but perhaps it’s the eccentric storylines that fans love so much.
In this fourth and final season, Rebecca Bunch, who is portrayed by leading woman Rachel Bloom, is cast into an existential crisis. After pleading guilty to attempted murder the previous season, Rebecca finds herself dealing with the consequences in a not-so-elegant manner.
Fleabag
The 2016 British comedy-drama received its golden score after just its second season. Fleabag stars its creator and writer, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, as a confused, sex-crazed young woman in London. The second season opens up with Waller-Bridge’s character, Fleabag, sitting at the dinner table with her peculiar family. The get-t0gether is to celebrate the unlikely union of her Godmother and father, which leads to an uncomfortable situation.
Speaking to the show’s success, a Variety critic stated, “long after it’s pulled you in with its irreverence and jokes about sex… it reveals that it’s actually a tragedy.” Both season one and two have received scores of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Barry
Barry received its high praise for its second season. Leading man Bill Hader created the show in 2018 choosing to make it a dark tragicomedy show. Barry is a midwest hitman who travels to Los Angeles to murder someone. But instead of finding his target, he finds solace in California’s sunny horizon.
He joins a welcoming theatre group, which helps him emerge from his dark depths. The first season just barely missed the mark, scoring a 99%. One critic claims that “PTSD and comedy make strangely endearing bedfellows in Barry.”
Better Things
Better Things received the acclaimed 100% score for their third season. The show’s co-creator, Pamela Adlon, also stars in the show as a divorced actress who is raising her three daughters solo. It premiered on FX in 2016 and after the success of its most recent season, Better Things scored a fourth season set to debut in 2020.
The series has been obviously very highly praised, noting Adlon’s performance specifically, and the comedy’s ability to hit on important details. It’s seemingly a massive success on all fronts, with one critic even saying, “her story is one imbued with both sadness and light makes Better Things one of television’s very best shows—in any genre.”
Tuca and Bertie
Tuca and Bertie hit the ground running by getting a 100% Certified Fresh score on its very first season. It’s an animated adult sitcom, not unlike Family Guy or Rick and Morty, that finds its footing on Netflix.
Tuca the toucan and Bertie the songbird are both 30-year-old birdwomen who live in the same apartment building. Their conflicting personalities lead to a stream of shenanigans that are hilariously wild and captivating at the same time. Tuca and Bertie released on May 3, 2019, and is already said to be one of the best new shows of the year.
Documentary Now!
Documentary Now! is a satirical take on other documentary television series. Its third season having received the 100% rating prompted the series to continue for a fourth season next year. The parody frequently refers to well-known documentary films, which seemingly adds to its charm and appeal.
The show is hosted by Helen Mirren, who opens up the show by introducing the classic (yet fictitious) documentary that the audience is about to watch. Documentary Now! was created by Seth Meyers, Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Rhys Thomas.
Master of None
Aziz Ansari’s show Master of None may only have two seasons, but apparently, that’s all it needs to speak to its success. The comedy TV series followed Ansari’s New York journey as a single, struggling actor.
Its comedy intertwined with radical and important political struggles, including those that Ansari faces in the form of prejudice and racism. Both seasons scored a 100% on the Tomatometer ranking scale, with a 90% average audience score.
American Crime
The U.S. criminal justice system became the forefront of this anthology drama series on ABC. American Crime only aired for three short seasons, even though it’s first two scored in the high 90’s on Rotten Tomatoes.
The series finale ended on an even higher note with a 100% fresh score and 87% overall audience score. The third season’s story is set on a North Carolina farmland where forced labor, sex trafficking, and drug abuse is being copiously explored.
