Dark and Babylon Berlin named among best TV shows of the 21st century

Two German TV shows - Dark and Babylon Berlin - have been named among the 100 greatest series of the 21st century by a new poll of TV experts. 

The best TV shows of the 21st century, according to the critics

BBC Culture polled 206 TV experts from 43 countries worldwide to assemble their list of the best shows of the 21st century. This annual poll has featured various topics, including the best film directed by women and the best non-English language films.

This year, attention was turned to the small screen, and the critics gave their choices for all of the must-watch shows that have been released since the turn of the century. The list covers old favourites and new classics, including 92 English-language series, as well as other shows filmed in Danish, Swedish, French, Spanish - and German! 

Dark and Babylon Berlin honoured alongside The Wire and Mad Men

The top spot was claimed by The Wire, an HBO crime drama show that premiered in 2002. It was placed first by a quarter of all respondents and named among the top 10 by a whopping 48 percent of critics. Other series in the top spots included Mad Men, Breaking Bad, Fleabag, and Game of Thrones. 

Germany managed to nab some representation on the list with two TV shows. The Netflix Original science fiction thriller Dark claimed spot 58, while Babylon Berlin, a neo-noir series set in Berlin in the latter years of the Weimar Republic, came in at spot 75. 

For the full list of the best TV shows of the 21st century, see the BBC Culture website.