old tv shows that will always be worth it to rewatch

there is something irresistible and magical about the shows we watched in our youth and adolescence. before streaming services, before whole seasons were released on the same day, before we had so much to choose from... there were also shows that we would have loved to binge-watch. they didn't have star-studded casts or budgets to rival hollywood productions, but they launched many well-known actors and are still referenced now.

the truth of the matter is that 15 or 25 years later, we still remember the names of the characters and the stories they told. if you're in the mood for a walk down memory lane, here are some shows that are always worth revisiting.

FEMALE POWER

xena, buffy, the girls of sex and the city, dana scully - they all entered the television world in the 90s. women were taking their place in the world as business leaders and advocates for equality! television was not exempt from this wave of female empowerment, and it delivered a number of influential female characters who perfectly embodied the attitude of the decade. strong, independent and funny. 

FOREVER YOUNG

absolutely nothing like the teen dramas and awkward comedies you were obsessed with at that age. we suffered through their adolescent dramas, cheered on their romances, but also...copied their clothes, hairstyles, and makeup. some were great, some should never be repeated. they were definitely remarkable, and now they should come with a warning because they are incredibly nostalgic.

THE FRIENDSHIP APPEAL

friends premiered in 1994, 29 years ago, and whether you watched it then or many years later, there are probably few people (who own a tv!) who have never seen an episode. I alone may have watched all 10 seasons at least 4 times...... while there are other incredible shows in the same vein, friends has forever shaped the history of television. the recipe for all of them has an essential ingredient, the group of friends, friends who are indispensable in life, more important than any romance, who are in some way substitutes for family and the support for all of life's moments. it's a powerful ingredient. there's nothing like watching one of them again, knowing you're going to shed a few tears...if only from laughing so hard.

ICONIC

I don't know if there's an exact category that fits these three shows, but one thing is for sure: they're all iconic.

TWIN PEAKS
twin peaks continues to carry enormous weight in the television imagination. many modern murder mysteries, vaguely strange small-town crime series, still seem to draw inspiration from david lynch and mark frost's creation. 

THE X-FILES
the x-files ran for 11 seasons between 1993 and 2018 (with a hiatus in the 9th season). I was a fan in my teens! it quickly became one of the highest-rated television shows of its era, drawing 12 million viewers with its intricate web of alleged government corruption and the paranormal, always caught between scully's skepticism and mulder's idealism. needless to say, the x-files is something of a cultural phenomenon. and it's not hard to see why.

THE SOPRANOS
what can we say about the sopranos? it's just one of the best shows of all time, centered around the anti-heroes that we're supposed to hate, but that we love. it's so complex and rich that will remain relevant forever.

cláudia cavaleiro the editor in chief for CINCO editorial. born in '82 in coimbra, she is graduated in philosophy from the university of coimbra. passionate about books and podcasts in a geek kind of way, she always find something interesting to research. loves to bring awareness to social problems and loves working at CINCO!