The best TV shows about politics
The top 3 according to 1,441 votes from people: The West Wing (1999-2006) · Veep (2012-2019) · Borgen (2010-2022). (Updated Sep 7, 2025.)
From Yes Minister to The West Wing, Borgen and Veep: the best political series, ordered from Rolling Stone, Paste and Collider.
Top 15
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1
The West Wing (1999-2006)
Aaron Sorkin's White House; 26 Emmys.
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2
Veep (2012-2019)
Julia Louis-Dreyfus as a vice president who can't win.
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3
Borgen (2010-2022)
Denmark's first female prime minister.
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4
Yes Minister (1980-1984)
A minister versus his permanent secretary.
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5
The Crown (2016-2023)
Elizabeth II and her prime ministers.
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6
The Thick of It (2005-2012)
Armando Iannucci's Westminster and Malcolm Tucker.
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7
House of Cards (2013-2018)
Frank Underwood's climb to the presidency.
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8
The Good Wife (2009-2016)
Julianna Margulies after her politician husband's scandal.
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9
Scandal (2012-2018)
Kerry Washington as a Washington crisis fixer.
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10
Show Me a Hero (2015)
Oscar Isaac as the young mayor of Yonkers, from David Simon.
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11
Parks and Recreation (2009-2015)
Local government as comedy.
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12
Boss (2011-2012)
Kelsey Grammer as Chicago's ailing mayor.
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13
The Diplomat (2023-)
Keri Russell as US ambassador in London.
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14
Madam Secretary (2014-2019)
Téa Leoni as Secretary of State.
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15
Succession (2018-2023)
Media power and politics in the Roy family.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
Is something missing?
Comments (6)
Borgen is so good, I didn't expect to care about Danish coalition politics.
The West Wing is idealistic fantasy, but what a fantasy.
Veep and The Thick of It are basically the same universe and I love it.
House of Cards should be lower, the last season ruined it.
Yes Minister is still painfully true forty years later.
The Thick of It is the most accurate political show ever made, ask anyone who worked in Westminster.