Best series with an ongoing story line...

breaking bad

The Wire

Any others that haven't been mentioned yet?

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Best series with an ongoing story line...

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Please explain: ongoing story line. From my perspective, if a series has concluded then there isn't an ongoing story line. For instance, LOST was wrapped up with a very conclusive end to the story line by design; I don't see it as an ongoing story. Give me an example of a series that doesn't have an ongoing story line.

I'm assuming you mean the story line during the duration of the series. You have a nice list. I would add: Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad and Six Feet Under, Rome, Spartacus Blood & Sand/Vengeance, Deadwood and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

IMHO the best story line was in LOST due to its epic impact (saving the world) and the incredible character development and redemption of the main characters. It was easily the most enthralling story line I have ever experienced during its active run as millions of internet viewers including many in this forum actively analyzed and discussed the intrigue that was LOST to the ultimate extent. No TV series has ever effected so emotionally as did the finale of LOST.

I would rate Battlestar Galactica 2nd due to its literally epic universal theme but I just didn't enjoy the character evolution quite as much as I did in LOST. Still, the (2004–2009) adaptation of the original series is probably the best space/scfi series of all time which is saying something in the company of Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Though just in its 2nd season, I have to put Game of Thrones in 3rd since I have read 3 of the books and the series has followed the books incredibly up to this point. It's an epic story on a grand scale and I can see potential for Game of Thrones to be come my all time favorite series. The beauty of GoT is the sheer number of story arcs and their relationship to each other in the context of the Seven Kingdoms. The pace in maintaining so many arcs can be overwhelming if you have not read the books, which I highly recommend.

Breaking Bad is my favorite closer to real life drama. There's nothing epic about it but its focus on the nuances of Walter White's desperate life, wonderfully performed by Bryan Cranston, is pure ecstasy. The supporting cast in Breaking Bad are pretty darn good as well.

I would pretty much lump Rome and Spartacus together as equal partners in portraying an R rated Roman history at its finest. Sadly Rome ended well before its time due to budget constraints but that one glorious first season is some of the best TV ever produced. Spartacus is equally engaging and hopefully will culminate in an appropriate historic finale.

Six Feet Under probably defines the every day human condition as well as any series I have ever watched. It doesn't get much more real than the interaction among the well acted and superb characters that surround the Fisher funeral home in Six Feet Under. The finale of Six Feet Under is largely recognized as one best ever and was moving beyond words.

I will also give a shout-out/honorable mention to the story line in The Walking Dead. Though the writing, characters and acting in The Walking Dead leave much to be desired, the story would have great potential in the right hands. Still I watch every episode of the show due to that potential in hope that the writers and actors will improve over time.

This is going to sound stupid since I haven't seen one episode...but

How long can a terminally ill man sell drugs to keep his family from going to the poor house after his death?

I'm thinking the original storyline has changed?

I'm seriously pondering starting either The Wire or Breaking Bad one day and I've stayed away from all those threads.

Breaking Bad and Mad Men...

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Battlestar Gallactica?

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They blew it. Had a shot...going strong and then just went full retard soap by stabbing their audience in the back by Season 3. I'm surprised they didn't just tell us it was all a dream.

Lost and Battlestar - gave up in Season 3.

An ongoing story line has to be entertaining but it also has to make sense based on what came before it. And it can't be so unrealistic you just roll your eyes.

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They blew it. Had a shot...going strong and then just went full retard soap by stabbing their audience in the back by Season 3

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Season 3 of BSG is fantastic...The new Caprica arc is the best part of the show outside of 33.

My top shows right now:

Game of Thrones
Breaking Bad
Justified
Sons of Anarchy
The Walking Dead (not really a top show, but I still look forward to watching it)