From Grey’s Anatomy to Bridgerton, these series created or produced by Shonda Rhimes promise plenty of entertainment — and many hours of binge-watching.
You may not realise it, but one name lies behind some of the most famous television series of the past twenty years: Shonda Rhimes. From Grey’s Anatomy to Bridgerton, the American screenwriter and producer has made her mark with stories that are as varied as they are entertaining. Nicknamed the 'queen of television', she revolutionised American TV before conquering Netflix with her production company, Shondaland. Here are five of her most iconic series that are well worth (re)discovering.
Grey’s Anatomy (2005)
This is the series that made Shonda Rhimes the undisputed queen of American television. First aired in 2005, Grey’s Anatomy follows the hectic daily lives of the doctors at Seattle’s Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The drama immerses viewers not only in the medical world, but also in the romantic entanglements of interns, residents and senior surgeons alike.
With more than twenty seasons under its belt — making it the longest-running medical drama in the United States — the series has become a global cultural phenomenon. While much of the original cast has changed over the years, certain characters remain unforgettable, including Meredith Grey, Cristina Yang, Miranda Bailey and Derek Shepherd.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5NYPUX9GxY
Scandal (2012)
In 2012, Shonda Rhimes turned her attention for the first time to the inner workings of American political power. The series follows Olivia Pope (played by Kerry Washington), a crisis management expert in Washington capable of covering up the biggest political scandals. Fun fact: the character was inspired by communications consultant Judy Smith, former adviser to President George H. W. Bush.
Combining espionage, romance, manipulation and political drama, the series is dynamic and addictive, and it is hard not to admire its powerful and charismatic heroine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvpYIela7_o
How to Get Away with Murder (2014-2020)
This is undoubtedly one of the most famous legal thrillers of recent years. Viola Davis stars as Annalise Keating, a brilliant criminal law professor and feared defence attorney in Philadelphia. Everyone wants a place at her law firm — until one day, her students become implicated in a murder…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHKRO7rSbOs
Bridgerton (2020)
It would be impossible to talk about Shonda Rhimes without mentioning Bridgerton. Adapted from Julia Quinn’s novels, this hugely successful series transports viewers to high society London in the nineteenth century, amidst lavish balls, romantic intrigue and strategic marriages. With its pastel-toned aesthetic, swoon-worthy characters and modern reimagining of the Jane Austen-style period drama, the series quickly became a worldwide sensation.
Soon afterwards, Shonda Rhimes also developed Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023), a spin-off centred on the monarch’s youth, which explores themes of power, racism and representation within the British aristocracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpv7ayf_tyE
The Residence (2025)
Last but certainly not least, let us finish with the latest production from Shondaland for Netflix: The Residence. The premise? A life-sized game of Cluedo set inside the White House.
The story follows Cordelia Cupp, a detective as brilliant as she is eccentric (played by Uzo Aduba), who must solve a murder committed during a state dinner. With 132 rooms, 157 suspects and one dead body, this eight-episode crime mini-series skilfully blends humour, suspense and razor-sharp dialogue in a thoroughly gripping whodunnit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYC2zCdcKW0
Are you always looking for new series? Find your next watch in these articles:
- A fan of Bridgerton and Downton Abbey? This historical series takes you to London in 1909, at the dawn of department stores
- These 5 historical series by Julian Fellowes, the creator of Downton Abbey, are the best period dramas to watch
- ‘A Bridgerton with a Spanish twist’: This period drama takes us to Madrid in the 1880s through the eyes of a high-society matchmaker
