Last updated March 2024
Want to watch extraordinarily awesome Best Drama Tv Shows 2004 ASAP? We compiled 30 sensational, critically celebrated Best Drama Tv Shows 2004 ready to stream instantly. Rated through the roof by IMDB reviewers and our own community of users, these elite titles represent the best of the best. Lend a hand to fellow fans by voting up the Best Drama Tv Shows 2004 you consider to be keepers. We appreciate members who contribute great recommendations!
House (2004)
Plot Summary:
Dr. Gregory House, a drug-addicted, unconventional, misanthropic medical genius, leads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey
Duration: 7788 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 497000
Genere: Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Plot tags: medicine, doctor, hospital, talented, mastermind, prodigy, loner, patient, expert, human nature, surgery, unconventional method, peril, insubordination, antisocial behavior, doctors and patients, teamwork, dark humor, hotshot, danger, riddles and clues, rebelliousness, medical, medical profession, team
Battlestar Galactica (2004)
Plot Summary:
When an old enemy, the Cylons, resurface and obliterate the 12 colonies, the crew of the aged Galactica protect a small civilian fleet - the last of humanity - as they journey toward the fabled 13th colony, Earth
Duration: 44 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 173000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA
Plot tags: space travel, outer space, space and aliens, space wars, cyborgs, space opera, space battle, androids and robots, artificial intelligence, extinction, human in outer space, military, heroes, alien planet, robot, end of the world, female assassin, space, apocalypse, invasion, androids, spacecraft, battles, prophecy, totalitarianism
Monster (2004)
Plot Summary:
Kenzou Tenma, a Japanese brain surgeon in Germany, finds his life in utter turmoil after getting involved with a psychopath that was once a former patient
Duration: 24 min
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
IMDB Votes: 41000
Genere: Animation, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: moral dilemma, false accusation, mastermind, doctor, hospital, murder, protagonist as suspect, life is a bitch, choice, manipulation, guilt, society, police detective, nihilism, orphanage, murderer, boy, investigator, mature, human experiment, mental disorder, psychology, bad guy, sexual content, mind game
Deadwood (2004)
Plot Summary:
The story of the early days of Deadwood, South Dakota; woven around actual historic events with most of the main characters based on real people. Deadwood starts as a gold mining camp and gradually turns from a lawless wild-west community into an organized wild-west civilized town. The story focuses on the real-life characters Seth Bullock and Al Swearengen
Duration: 55 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 115000
Genere: Crime, Drama, History, Western
Country: USA
Plot tags: sheriff, old west, power struggle, shooting, rivalry, gold rush, prostitute, gunfight, profanity, lifestyle, dishonesty, violence, society, intrigue, cowboy, greed, brothel, gambling, mining town, outlaw, gold mine, small town life, wild west, killings, sex scene
Samurai Champloo (2004)
Plot Summary:
Mugen is a ferocious, animalistic warrior with a fighting style inspired by break-dancing. Jin is a ronin samurai who wanders the countryside alone. They may not be friends, but their paths continually cross. And when ditzy waitress Fuu gets them out of hot water with the local magistrate, they agree to join her search for the "samurai who smells of sunflowers."
Duration: 24 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 54000
Genere: Animation, Action, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: samurai, pride and honor, martial arts, sword fight, friendship, master warrior, heroes, danger, katana, breakdance, on the road, road trip, journey, obsessive quest, hip hop, mature, ethnic humor, love, superhero, lucifer, stoner, moving, acid, outlaw, ninja
North & South (2004)
Plot Summary:
North & South is a British television drama serial, produced by the BBC and originally broadcast in four episodes on BBC One in November and December 2004. It follows the story of Margaret Hale, a young woman from southern England who has to move to the North after her father decides to leave the clergy. The family struggles to adjust itself to the industrial town's customs, especially after meeting the Thorntons, a proud family of cotton mill owners who seem to despise their social inferiors. The story explores the issues of class and gender, as Margaret's sympathy for the town mill workers conflicts with her growing attraction to John Thornton. The serial is based on the 1855 Victorian novel North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. It was adapted for television by Sandy Welch and directed by Brian Percival
Duration: 235 min
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
IMDB Votes: 34000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Plot tags: prejudice, initially antagonists, social differences, love and romance, pride and honor, society, rich and poor, young woman, fall in love, love affair, couple relations, owner, unlikely couple, parents and children, gentleman, poverty, fish out of water, factory, couples, master and servant, youth, brother sister relationship, love, happy ending, love story
Boston Legal (2004)
Plot Summary:
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley and produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for ABC. The series aired from October 3, 2004, to December 8, 2008. Boston Legal is a spin-off of long-running Kelley series The Practice, following the exploits of former Practice character Alan Shore at the legal firm of Crane, Poole & Schmidt
Duration: 44 min
IMDB Rating: 8.5/10
IMDB Votes: 49000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: law firm, hotshot lawyer, lawyer, courtroom drama, partner, friendship between men, society, workplace, civil rights, idealism, trial, friendship, law, legal, autism, bromance, advocate, high priced lawyer, courtroom, attorney, police, investigation, finance, justice, power
Entourage (2004)
Plot Summary:
Film star Vince Chase navigates the vapid terrain of Los Angeles with a close circle of friends and his trusty agent
Duration: 28 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 175000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: producer, wealth, filmmaking, actor, friendship, fame, lifestyle, actor's life, ambition, rising to stardom, showbiz, young man, stupidity, deal, artists and showbiz, hollywood, eccentricity, friendship between men, sex, dancing, business, ancient, brothers, film industry, group of friends
Doc Martin (2004)
Plot Summary:
Doc Martin is a British television comedy drama series starring Martin Clunes in the title role. It was created by Dominic Minghella after the character of Dr. Martin Bamford in the 2000 comedy film Saving Grace. The show is set in the fictional seaside village of Portwenn and filmed on location in the village of Port Isaac, Cornwall, England, with most interior scenes shot in a converted local barn. Five series aired between 2004 and 2011, together with a feature-length special that aired on Christmas Day 2006. Series 6 began airing on ITV on 2 September 2013
Duration: 46 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 19000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Romance
Country: UK
Plot tags: doctor, village life, social relations, doctors and patients, treatment, medicine, teacher, hospital, surgery, responsibility, manners, antisocial behavior, seaside, alienation, boss, workplace, estrangement, anti conformity, patronizing, verbal byplay, unhappy, power relations, secretary, uptight character, loner
Veronica Mars (2004)
Plot Summary:
The series is set in the fictional town of Neptune, California, and stars Kristen Bell as the title character, a student who progresses from high school to college while moonlighting as a private investigator under the tutelage of her detective father. In each episode, Veronica solves a different stand-alone case while working to solve a more complex mystery. The first two seasons of the series each had a season-long mystery arc, introduced in the first episode of the season and solved in the season finale. The third season took a different format, focusing on smaller mystery arcs that would last the course of several episodes
Duration: 44 min
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
IMDB Votes: 77000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: investigation, private investigator, amateur detective, female detective, youth, friendship, student, teenage life, female protagonist, private detective, danger, parents and children, spy, teacher, ex couple relations, high school, teenager, father daughter relationship, evidence, strong female lead, couples, young adult, wealth, peer pressure, loss of friend
Green Wing (2004)
Plot Summary:
Green Wing is a British sitcom set in the fictional East Hampton Hospital. It was created by the same team behind the sketch show Smack the Pony, led by Victoria Pile, and stars Tamsin Greig, Stephen Mangan and Julian Rhind-Tutt. Although set in a hospital, it uses no medical storylines; the action is produced by a series of soap opera-style twists and turns in the personal lives of the characters. They proceed through a series of often absurd sketch-like scenes, or by sequences where the film is slowed down or sped up, often emphasizing the body language of the characters. The show has eight writers. Two series were made by the Talkback Thames production company for Channel 4. The series ran between 3 September 2004 and 19 May 2006. A special episode was filmed with the second series, which was shown as a 90 minute long special on 4 January 2007 in the UK, but was shown in Australia and Belgium on 29 December 2006. Separate from the series, a special sketch was made for Comic Relief and screened on 11 March 2005. Another was performed live at The Secret Policeman's Ball on 14 October 2006
Duration: 65 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: UK
Plot tags: hospital, doctor, love triangle, love affair, workplace, comedy of errors, fall in love, workplace romance, nurse, prank, boyfriend, staff, battle of the sexes, workplace situations, surgery, sexual attraction, male female relationship, workplace humor, medicine, medical, humour, aspiration, satire, colleague, weirdo
Rescue Me (2004)
Plot Summary:
Rescue Me revolves around the lives of the men in a New York City firehouse, the crew of 62 Truck. Examining the fraternal nature and relationships of firefighters, the series tackles the daily drama of the life-and-death situations associated with being a firefighter, while exploring the ways the men use dark humor to protect their true emotions
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Comedy, Drama
Country: USA
Plot tags: rescue, firefighter, divorce, danger, heroes, life is a bitch, teamwork, team, desperation, loss, workplace, struggle, alcohol abuse, fear, torment, haunted by the past, firefight, sex, ghost, justice, emergency, fat woman, nypd, troubled, dark humor
Lost (2004)
Plot Summary:
Stripped of everything, the survivors of a horrific plane crash must work together to stay alive. But the island holds many secrets
Duration: 44 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 584000
Genere: Adventure, Drama, Fantasy, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: survival, island, desert island, stranded on an island, human nature, stranded, lost, mysterious place, time travel, death, air disaster, destiny, survivor, plane crash, mysterious character, danger, family relations, leadership, asthma, confined, monster, twists and turns, dishonesty, heroes, disappearance
Wonderfalls (2004)
Plot Summary:
Wonderfalls is a comedy-drama television series that was broadcast on the Fox television network in 2004. The show centers on Jaye Tyler, a recent Brown University graduate with a philosophy degree, who holds a dead-end job as a sales clerk at a Niagara Falls gift shop. Jaye is the reluctant participant in conversations with various animal figurines — a wax lion, brass monkey, stuffed bear, and mounted fish, among others — which direct her via oblique instructions to help people in need. TV Guide included the series in their 2013 list of 60 shows that were "Cancelled Too Soon"
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
IMDB Votes: 13000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
Country: Canada, USA
Plot tags: supernatural, supernatural ability, good deed, niagara falls, disorder, young woman, youth, boss, heroine, imaginary, love and romance, fall in love, young man, human relationship, unfulfilled love, friendship, animate object, psychic power, superhero, lgbt, occult, super powers, coming of age, siblings, narration
Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004)
Plot Summary:
Sixty days on and Rygel is retrieving pieces of John and Aeryn from the sea bed. The Diagnosan re-crystalises them and they start getting to know the local species. Meanwhile, Scorpius and Sikozu are aboard a Peacekeeper Command Carrier on a recon mission. They attack a Scarren ship, which provokes the Scarrens into declaring war on The Peacekeepers
Duration: 182 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 17000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: USA, Australia
Plot tags: space opera, space wars, space travel, human in outer space, space and aliens, outer space, spacecraft, alien, escapades, couple relations, twists and turns, space, betrayal, on the run, rescue, astronaut, danger, imaginary, good versus evil, evil empire, heroic mission, female alien, military, dystopia, fight
Hustle (2004)
Plot Summary:
A motley group of London con artists pull of a series of daring and intricate stings
Duration: 60 min
IMDB Rating: 8.2/10
IMDB Votes: 23000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Plot tags: cons and scams, thief, criminal heroes, heist, con artists, leader, group of criminals, blackmail, exploitation, fake identity, coworker relationship, caper, hustler, con men, spy, investigation, criminal, voodoo, murder mystery, team, confidence, manipulation, impostor, breaking the fourth wall, confidence artist
Stargate Atlantis (2004)
Plot Summary:
With the Ancients' city of Atlantis discovered in the Pegasus Galaxy by Stargate Command, Dr. Elizabeth Weir and Major Sheppard lead a scientific expedition to the ancient abandoned city. Once there, the team not only find themselves unable to contact Earth, but their explorations unexpectedly reawaken the Ancients' deadly enemies, The Wraith, who hunger for this new prey. Now with the help of newfound local allies like Teyla Emmagan, the Atlantis Team sets about to uncover their new home's secrets even as their war of survival against the Wraith begins
Duration: 44 min
IMDB Rating: 8.1/10
IMDB Votes: 71000
Genere: Action, Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi
Country: Canada, USA
Plot tags: space travel, outer space, fate of humanity, spacecraft, space opera, danger, alien planet, space adventure, ancient mystery, good versus evil, parallel world, team, space wars, technology, save the world, evil alien, benign alien, heroes, legends and myths, space and aliens, scientist, atlantis, stargate, alien, space
Paranoia Agent (2004)
Plot Summary:
The infamous Shounen Bat (Lil' Slugger) is terrorizing the residents of Musashino City. Flying around on his rollerblades and beating people down with a golden baseball bat, the assailant seems impossible to catch—much less understand. His first victim, the well-known yet timid character designer Tsukiko Sagi, is suspected of orchestrating the attacks. Believed only by her anthropomorphic pink stuffed animal, Maromi, Tsukiko is just one of Shounen Bat's many victims. As Shounen Bat continues his relentless assault on the town, detectives Keiichi Ikari and Mitsuhiro Maniwa begin to investigate the identity of the attacker. However, more and more people fall victim to the notorious golden bat, and news of the assailant begins circulating around the town. Paranoia starts to set in as chilling rumors spread amongst adults and children alike. Will the two detectives be able to unravel the truth behind Shounen Bat, or will the paranoia get to them first?
Duration: 25 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 14000
Genere: Animation, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: mind game, investigation, murder, stalking, who done it, monster, serial killer, danger, law enforcement, police detective, mysterious character, partners against crime, supernatural power, double life, mature, police investigation, police, occult, moving, mental illness, trippy, nightmare, slice of life, baseball, prostitute
Shameless (2004)
Plot Summary:
The story of a young group of siblings pretty much abandoned by their parents, surviving by their wits - and humor - on a rough Manchester council estate. Whilst they won't admit it, they need help and find it in Steve, a young middle class lad who falls for Fiona, the oldest sibling, and increasingly finds himself drawn to this unconventional and unique family. Anarchic family life seen through the eyes of an exceptionally bright fifteen year old, who struggles to come of age in the context of his belligerent father, closeted brother, psychotic sister and internet porn star neighbors
Duration: 90 min
IMDB Rating: 8.0/10
IMDB Votes: 18000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Plot tags: dysfunctional family, family problems, alcoholic father, working class, white trash, gay teenager, single father, gay, parents and children, siblings relations, alcohol abuse, life is a bitch, grownups, social misfits, everyday life, society, suburbs, sex, ordinary person, poverty, siblings, drug, teenager, rape, relationships
Elfen Lied (2004)
Plot Summary:
The Diclonius, a mutated homo sapien that is said to be selected by God and will eventually become the destruction of mankind, possesses two horns in their heads, and has a "sixth sense" which gives it telekinetic abilities. Due to this dangerous power, they have been captured and isolated in laboratories by the government. Lucy, a young and psychotic Diclonius, manages to break free of her confines and brutally murder most of the guards in the laboratory, only to get shot in the head as she makes her escape. She survives and manages to drift along to a beach, where two teenagers named Kouta and Yuka discovers her. Having lost her memories, she was named after the only thing that she can now say, "Nyuu," and the two allow her to stay at Kouta's home. However, it appears that the evil "Lucy" is not dead just yet
Duration: 24 min
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
IMDB Votes: 36000
Genere: Animation, Action, Drama, Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: Japan
Plot tags: memory loss, childhood trauma, gore, split personality, life is a bitch, supernatural ability, supernatural, decapitation, sadism, experiment gone awry, social misfits, danger, trauma, sexual abuse, psychic power, mutant, bullying, deadly creature, violence, suffering, evil, telekinesis, blood, mercilessness, tragedy
Agatha Christie's Marple (2004)
Plot Summary:
The show follows the adventures of Miss Jane Marple, an elderly spinster living in the quiet little village of St Mary Mead. During her many visits to friends and relatives in other villages, Miss Marple often stumbles upon mysterious murders which she helps solve. Although the police are sometimes reluctant to accept Miss Marple's help, her reputation and unparalleled powers of observation eventually win them over
Duration: 93 min
IMDB Rating: 7.8/10
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: murder mystery, female detective, who done it, whodunit, uncover truth, riddles and clues, murder investigation, female protagonist, twists and turns, murder, amateur detective, sleuth, investigation, single woman, spinster, law enforcement, village, crime investigation, unsolved crime, crime solving, murderer, killings, elderly, elderly woman, private investigation
The L Word (2004)
Plot Summary:
A group of lesbian friends struggle with romance and careers in Los Angeles
Duration: 50 min
IMDB Rating: 7.7/10
IMDB Votes: 28000
Genere: Drama, Romance
Country: USA, Canada
Plot tags: lesbian, lgbt, lesbian relationship, lesbian couple, gays and lesbians, sexual activity, lesbianism, lesbian love, female protagonist, cafe, friendship, lesbian sex, lesbian mother, seduction, lgbtq, sexuality, infidelity, gay, closeted homosexual, looking for love, female friendship, sexual awakening, love triangle, lifestyle, sapphic
Desperate Housewives (2004)
Plot Summary:
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama-mystery series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. It aired Sundays at 9 P.M. Eastern/8 P.M. Central, on ABC from October 3, 2004, until May 13, 2012. Executive producer Cherry served as showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season included Bob Daily, George W. Perkins, John Pardee, Joey Murphy, David Grossman, and Larry Shaw. The main setting of the show was Wisteria Lane, a street in the fictional American town of 'Fairview' in the fictional 'Eagle State'. The show followed the lives of a group of women as seen through the eyes of a dead neighbor who committed suicide in the very first episode. The storyline covers thirteen years of the women's lives over eight seasons, set between the years 2004–2008, and later 2013–2017. They worked through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their — at the surface — beautiful and seemingly perfect suburban neighborhood. The show featured an ensemble cast, headed by Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Van de Kamp, and Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis. Brenda Strong narrated the show as the deceased Mary Alice Young, appearing sporadically in flashbacks or dream sequences
Duration: 45 min
IMDB Rating: 7.6/10
IMDB Votes: 137000
Genere: Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Romance
Country: USA
Plot tags: housewife, female friendship, neighbor, suburban life, family life, social relations, friends, investigation, lifestyle, family relations, couple relations, infidelity, friendship, love and romance, intrigue, couples, marital problem, family problems, family secret, rivalry, love affair, middle aged, divorce, crumbling marriage, marriage
The 4400 (2004)
Plot Summary:
4400 centers on the return of 4400 people who, previously presumed dead or reported missing, reappear on Earth. Though they have not aged physically, some of them seem to have deeper alterations ranging from superhuman strength to an unexplained healing touch. A government agency is formed to track the 4400 people after one of them commits a murder
Duration: 43 min
IMDB Rating: 7.3/10
IMDB Votes: 47000
Genere: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Thriller
Country: UK, USA
Plot tags: time travel, quarantine, missing person, supernatural, murderer, investigation, foreknowledge, cure, danger, abduction, ufo, psychic, characters in danger, imaginary, life is a bitch, disappearance, rivals, paranormal activity, state affairs, experiment, society, supernatural power, paranormal phenomena, distopia, special agent
CSI: NY (2004)
Plot Summary:
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that ran on CBS from September 22, 2004 to February 22, 2013 for a total of nine seasons and 197 original episodes. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers identified as "Crime Scene Investigators"
Duration: 43 min
IMDB Rating: 6.9/10
IMDB Votes: 49000
Genere: Action, Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA, Canada
Plot tags: investigation, forensics, crime investigation, partners against crime, danger, medical examiner, workplace, murder investigation, forensic evidence, police detective, riddles and clues, murder, interrogation, law enforcement, workplace situations, police procedural, police, evidence, swat team, police officer, crime solving, die hard, business, agent, intelligence agency
Salem's Lot (2004)
Plot Summary:
Writer Ben Mears returns to his childhood home of Jerusalem's Lot and discovers that it is being terrorized by vampires
Duration: 181 min
IMDB Rating: 6.1/10
IMDB Votes: 11000
Genere: Drama, Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Plot tags: supernatural, vampire, stephen king, hospital, good versus evil, priest, murder, small town, danger, rivalry, mysterious character, supernatural ability, journalism, old dark house, goth, zombie, dog, teenager, viking, mysticism, pregnancy, hotel, domestic violence, black magic, grave