Two weeks ago, we shared a list of our learners’ favorite programming-related movies. Now, we’re back with a list of their favorite TV Shows! Comedies, drama, sci-fi, thrillers — we’ve got ’em all. Take a look through the list and join us as we fall in love with this diverse array of casts and characters.
Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley is a comedy series depicting the trials and tribulations of a rising software development company. Its 6 seasons follow Richard Hendricks’ and the rest of the Pied Piper team as they navigate through competitors, copyright infringement cases, hostile takeovers, international copycats, and more.
“Just one more vote for HBO’s Silicon Valley. It’s so delightfully uncomfortable.” — Alyssa, Codecademy team member
Silicon Valley was the most popular coding-related TV show among our learners — and for good reason. The show won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, 5 nominations for Outstanding Comedy Series, and it currently boasts a rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans of other popular shows like The Office and Space Force will recognize familiar faces on the show, as it stars well known-actors like Zach Woods and Jimmy O. Yang.
Mr. Robot
Mr. Robot tied with Silicon Valley as our learners’ favorite TV show. The series follows Rami Malek in his role as a neurodiverse young cybersecurity engineer who gets roped into social hacktivism.
“Mr Robot was really impressive in almost every way. As far as TV series go its top tier IMO” — java7069023110, Codecademy community member
Mr. Robot serves as a dark contrast to its light-hearted predecessor, delving into somber themes like murder, substance abuse, mental health disorders, and social issues. Still, it earned a warm reception from critics after its release and proceeded to win a Golden Globe for Best Television Series.
Like Silicon Valley, Mr. Robot currently holds an approval rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. After the release of its first season, the series was the first to receive perfect scores for each of its episodes. Along with Rami Malek, celebrities like Christian Slater and BD Wong also star in the show.
Halt and Catch Fire
Halt and Catch Fire is a period drama depicting the technological revolution of the 80s and 90s after PCs and the internet gained prominence. The series follows protagonist Joe MacMillan and his supporting characters as they try to find their footing in the booming industry.
“Recently, as in yesterday, I started watching Halt and Catch Fire. Only a few episodes in, but so far I am finding it pretty good!” — Lillian, Codecademy team member
In 2014, the production won the Critics’ Choice TV Award, and it’s commonly compared to other popular shows like Mad Men. While not as dark as Mr. Robot, the show touches on infidelity and failing marriages, shady investors, the dark uses of the internet, and other hardships in the characters’ personal and professional lives.
The IT Crowd
The IT Crowd follows its three main characters that form the IT department of a nondescript business. Despite its season finale airing over a decade ago (barring a concluding special in 2013), the series still boasts a strong following — with over 30-thousand active members in its dedicated subreddit.
“Not terribly coding-related, but The IT Crowd was pretty good/funny.” — Tod, Codecademy community member
The IT Crowd received mixed reviews upon its initial release, but it quickly became a rising star and went on to win Best New British Sitcom in 2006, Comedy of The Year in 2007, and International Emmy Award for Comedy in 2008.
IT professionals are bound to love the series for its tongue-in-cheek exaggerations of the stereotypes surrounding the field. As an example, take Roy Trenneman, a technician who hooks his phone up to a tape recorder that loops through typical lines like “have you tried turning it off and on again?”
Devs
Devs is a suspenseful, sci-fi miniseries that features stars like Nick Offerman — who’s famous for his role in Parks and Recreation. The miniseries follows Lily Chan, who investigates her company after the sudden disappearance of her boyfriend after he joined its secret quantum computing team.
“Devs is a HBO mini-series that does a pretty interesting take on programming” — Nightduck, Codecademy community member
Devs is bound to keep you on the edge of your seat as you watch its complicated events unfold. While centered on futuristic technology, the series also branches into political espionage and mental health issues as we venture into the characters’ tragic pasts.
While it fell shy of winning the awards, the captivating thriller earned several Emmy, BAFTA, and Critics’ Choice nominations.
Hopefully, the binge-worthy TV shows listed above will help keep you glued to your seat the next time you find yourself flipping through channels. Or, if you find yourself returning to a personal favorite, share it in a comment below.
