15 Jaw-Dropping Workplace Dramas That Will Leave You Speechless

Summary

Workplace dramas on television serve as a reminder that your job could be so much worse, making viewers grateful for their own careers.

The most compelling workplace dramas feature an abundance of tension, stress, and risk, delving into professions that the average person would shy away from.

TV series such as "The Morning Show," "Mad Men," and "Suits" offer captivating portrayals of high-pressure careers that are both financially rewarding and require significant expertise, sometimes even involving life-or-death situations. As audiences watch these shows, they develop a deeper appreciation for their own comparatively less demanding jobs.

Workplace dramas on television are not only entertaining but also serve as a reminder to viewers that their own jobs may not be so bad after all, or even worse. These series revolve around workplaces, such as firefighters, police officers, doctors, and lawyers, offering a wide range of intense professions to explore. The best workplace dramas often involve high tension, stress, and risks, ironically bringing solace to viewers in their career choices. While some of these series may appear more realistic than others, all of them depict jobs that most people would not desire. These professions are often lucrative, demanding great skill, and frequently involve matters of life or death. The dramatic elements in these series add to the reasons why viewers are grateful not to be living in their favorite TV shows.

10 The Morning Show

9 Mad Men

: The Morning Show, Apple TV's newsroom drama, serves as a compelling portrayal of a profession that many would avoid, regardless of their familiarity with the show. This series revolves around the lives of employees at a prominent news program, where one of the anchors faces serious allegations of sexual misconduct. With its intense and high-pressure atmosphere, the show delves into the conflicting dynamics within the realm of television news. While some characters uphold an unwavering commitment to truth, others prioritize their public image or financial gain. Given the relentless pace of the news industry, The Morning Show undoubtedly reinforces the gratitude we feel for not having our jobs broadcasted on American TV screens every morning.

Despite the initial allure of AMC's popular drama, Mad Men, the reality of the workplace depicted in the show is undeniably harsh. Set against the backdrop of the counter culture movement in the 1960s, Mad Men follows the story of Don Draper, an ad man, and his colleagues at Sterling Cooper. While Draper's job may appear to primarily involve drinking and smoking, the art of advertising requires a finesse that only Draper's pitches in Mad Men seem to possess. Furthermore, the historical context of the show highlights the struggles faced by women in this particular workplace. While the show's aesthetic may be appealing, the truth it reveals is far more damaging.

8 Suits

Being a lawyer may appear enjoyable in theory, but the stress, research, and problem-solving that accompany it are anything but enjoyable. Suits, a legal workplace drama, portrays the story of a successful corporate lawyer and his new partner, who lacks a law degree but possesses a photographic memory. While the show's dramas are captivating to watch, being a part of Suits would undoubtedly entail a demanding job. The characters not only confront intricate legal cases that have a significant impact on individuals' lives but also face competition from their rivals and navigate through internal conflicts and complications.

7 Grey's Anatomy

Avoiding a job at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital is a wise move, as the popular medical drama Grey's Anatomy never fails to showcase major disasters and rare diseases. The show revolves around the journey of Meredith Grey and her fellow surgeons, starting as interns and ascending to the positions of hospital leaders. While their primary responsibility is to save lives on the operating table, they must also navigate the pressure of avoiding life-or-death errors. Furthermore, the characters find themselves in perilous situations outside the operation room, ranging from plane crashes to bus accidents. While Grey's Anatomy's dramatics provide entertainment, living through such stress would be unbearable.

6 Industry

It's a challenging endeavor for college graduates to secure their initial professional positions, let alone contend for a solitary opportunity at a highly competitive investment bank. This is precisely the premise of HBO's Industry, where the narrative revolves around five recent college grads vying for a limited number of full-time roles at Pierpoint. Once again, this series brims with interpersonal conflicts and social complexities, which further compound the challenges inherent in the job. The characters not only grapple with demanding work tasks, but also strive to make an impression on their colleagues and outperform their peers, some of whom may also be their friends. Undeniably, Industry presents a particularly high-stakes and consequential undertaking.

5 The Bear

FX's The Bear is arguably one of the most demanding television series to watch these days. This critically acclaimed show follows Carmen, a young professional chef on a mission to transform his late brother's unsuccessful restaurant. What sets The Bear apart is its ability to portray the stressfulness of the job. From the intense dialogue and exceptional acting to the dynamic camera movements, The Bear truly encapsulates the challenges faced in the culinary industry. Ultimately, The Bear effectively conveys that The Beef, the restaurant featured in the show, is not a workplace suitable for an ordinary individual, and certainly not one that can be easily mastered.

4 The West Wing

3 House

The professions of the individuals on The West Wing are not favored by many, even without watching a show about it. The political drama revolves around the aides and cabinet members of a fictional President of the United States. The essence of the show lies in the administration of the country, a fact that is sufficient to instill fear in the audience. However, in addition to that, the characters of The West Wing must endure a range of issues, including personal relationships and political scandals. All things considered, The West Wing offers a far more captivating experience as a watch than it does as a reflection of reality.

While Grey's Anatomy presents challenging surgeries, House takes it a step further by delving into complex medical puzzles. Dealing with an irritable boss, Dr. Gregory House, adds an additional layer of difficulty. The show follows Dr. House and his team of experts as they unravel unique and rare diseases in each episode. The characters find themselves in life-or-death situations, relying solely on their critical thinking skills and intelligence to find a solution. Working in the medical field is already stressful, but combining it with Sherlock Holmes-esque mysteries may push the limits of what one can handle.

2 Succession

Being a part of HBO's Succession may come with financial and political advantages, but working at Waystar Royco on a day-to-day basis can be perilous and toxic. Succession revolves around the ambitious Roy siblings vying for the coveted top position at their father's media empire. While working at such a successful and demanding company is challenging enough, being entangled in the intense drama of the Roy family makes it even worse. None of the cast members in Succession are wholly ethical, and trust is a scarce commodity among them. Consequently, working at Waystar would bring about more harm than good.

1 Severance

While the notion of pretending that your work day never occurred may appeal to some individuals, actually engaging in the act of dividing your mind and erasing memories is significantly more terrifying. Apple TV's Severance envisions a world where employees can have their consciousness separated, resulting in a genuine self and a work persona. Consequently, the work version becomes trapped in their profession, and Lumon's figures in Severance are dull, incomprehensible, and potentially concealing a sinister secret. In general, the eerie atmosphere and sense of confinement portrayed in Severance will undoubtedly illuminate and simplify your office job.