The 12 best TV shows on broadcast networks right now, ranked

In the age of peak television, broadcast network shows often get ignored by critics.

But they shouldn't be. In fact, they include some of the best shows on TV right now.

Without having to worry about appealing to a mass audience and advertisers, entertainment companies like HBO, Netflix, and Hulu have turned out ambitious projects over the past few years and raked in awards.

And some broadcast networks have taken note of what audiences love so much about shows like "Game of Thrones," "Stranger Things," and "The Handmaid's Tale," and have tried to make it work for them. And some have definitely succeeded.

So it's time to give them some recognition.

For this list, we considered broadcast network shows on NBC, Fox, ABC, The CW, and CBS, and excluded cable networks like FX, AMC, and USA.

From the innovative comedy "The Good Place" on NBC, to the completely reinvented teen drama "Riverdale" on The CW, these are the best network shows that should be on your radar.

Here are the 12 best network shows on TV right now, ranked: