The 2000s were some of the best years for TV, whether you enjoyed watching dramedies, sitcoms, or animated shows. While every TV era has its own ups and downs, we are partial to the charm that the shows made in the 2000s had. From the romantic, familial, and platonic relationships portrayed to the sheer number of cliff-hangers, this era was heaven for TV lovers.

That is why we took it upon ourselves to make a list of some of the best 2000s shows to re-watch when the nostalgia hits. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but we figure it’s a good place to start. These are our top 3 choices, which we chose based on their cultural impact and rewatchability.

The O.C.

The O.C. is probably the single most impactful teen drama that ever aired on our screens. This TV show started in 2003 and ended in 2007, running for only 92 episodes. It may not seem like much, especially with the lasting effect the O.C. has had on generations of people and the TV shows that followed it. This show portrayed friendships, parent-child relationships, romantic relationships, and many other struggles during its run.

The O.C. told the story of Ryan Atwood, a teen who had been in and out of trouble, until the wealthy Sandy and Kirsten Cohen took him in. Ryan, a kid from a poor background, had to learn to adjust to the world of the O.C. Self-doubt and imposter syndrome are two of the most common running themes in this show. For all the heavy subjects it tackled, the O.C. never sacrificed the drama or the humor. That’s what makes it one of the best 2000s shows to re-watch when the nostalgia hits.

Charmed

You’d be hard-pressed to find a millennial or an older member of Gen-Z who hasn’t watched Charmed. The story of the three sisters who discover they are witches charmed, no pun intended, all of us. While the three sisters— first Prue, Piper, and Phoebe, and then Piper, Phoebe, and Paige- dealt with demons, magic, and the supernatural, the core of the show was very human and mundane.

They had to deal with relationship problems, family trauma, work issues, and even money troubles. And they had to do it all while protecting the world from demons and the Source. This show remains a fan favorite nearly 30 years since its debut, which is why it has an impressive 91% on Popcornmeter. Its long-standing impact and cultural value make it one of the best 2000s shows to re-watch when the nostalgia hits.

Girlfriends

There was something in the air in the 2000s, when it came to sitcoms. From Friends, which ran 1998-2004, to The 3rd Rock From the Sun and Modern Family, there was always a hilarious sitcom on TV. In our humble opinion, though, Girlfriends is one of the most underrated gems of the 2000s, from the world of sitcoms.

Girlfriends, which ran for 6 TV show seasons of around 20 episodes, told the story of four friends: Joan, Maya, Lynn, and Toni. Girlfriends shows you the friendships, romantic lives, and careers of the four friends. Through quick-witted comedy and fantastic deliveries, the show portrays stories everyone can resonate with, especially from their 20s and 30s. For those reasons, we consider it to be one of the best 2000s shows to re-watch when the nostalgia hits.