Game: Jackal

Release Date: 1988

Konami’s Jackal was known in the ’80s as a fun multiplayer game, complete with tanks and plenty of bad guys to take down. But if you want to win the game, you have to take down the final boss. Playing might seem easy at first, but by the end, you’re low on resources, and surviving gets harder and harder. To make things worse, the final boss has waves of stages to complete before the final giant tank appears.

Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles

Release Date: 1994

The final stop for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Knuckles is one of the most frustrating Robotnik bosses of all time. The Great Eggman Robo is exactly what it sounds like. It’s great in size, it looks like Egg Man, and it’s definitely a robot. This boss fight takes place right after the defeat of another, so you’re going into it without a break. And just when you think you’ve made progress, there’s another stage to endure.

Game: Metal Gear Solid

Release Date: 1998

This was one of the most difficult and frightening bosses we’ve ever seen. This guy has some crazy mind powers. At one point, he asks the player to place the game controller down and uses his mind to move it (or maybe it was just rumble settings). In another feat, he reads the mind by tapping into your memory card save data and commenting on select Konami games. He can recognize Castlevania Chronicles, Vandal Hearts, Azure Dreams, and Suikoden.

Game: Final Fantasy XI

Release Date: 2005

In Final Fantasy XI, players can encounter a type of enemy known as a Notorious Monster, or NM for short. Absolute Virtue is so difficult to defeat, it’s regarded by the Final Fantasy community as the longest-running NM, having taken players the longest to defeat through legitimate means. This boss is hard enough to fight but you better be careful when he first appears. Absolute Virtue spawns with a special buff that can instantly KO players with one hit.

Game: Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door

Release Date: 2004

Paper Mario is anything but fragile–this game had some seriously tough baddies to take down. The one we can’t get out of our nightmares is The Shadow Queen. She might be one of the most powerful foes Mario has ever encountered next to Bowser. This boss has multiple phases and over 350 hit points to eliminate. She has an attack power as high as 17 on some attacks—making this battle far from a walk in the Mushroom Kingdom.

Game: Doom (2016)

Release Date: 2016

Doom had remained a beloved, quotable title over the years and seems to have evolved into a benchmark for low-spec screens. In 2016, we saw the release of a new game in the Doom franchise, and it was Spider Mastermind that whooped the collective booties of gamers around the world. This boss is mean, and his attacks are serious. If you want to get past him, aim for the face!

Game: Tekken 6

Release Date: 2007

Tekken is one of the most well-recognized fighting games of all time, but Tekken 6 has arguably one of the most notable boss battles we’ve ever seen. Azazel isn’t just any random foe. Azazel is the main antagonist of the entire game. There’s only one way to master this title, and Azazel is standing in your way. If you want to emerge victorious, you’ll need patience, skill, and maybe a few hours.

Game: Final Fantasy VIII

Release Date: 1999

This is the main villain of Final Fantasy VIII, so of course, the final fight is difficult—it just happens to be so difficult it stands out against other games. Ultimecia is toxic. She can kill Guardian Forces in an instant and even take away a given character’s spell stock, robbing you of critical offensive and defensive maneuvers. You have to be strong and swift to see her go down. Just one Hell’s Judgement spell takes every party member’s HP down to 1.

Game: Mega Man 2

Release Date: 1988

Mega Man has been more than mega for decades, but even he struggles against foes now and then. If you remember playing Mega Man 2, then you remember the incredibly frustrating arborous creation known as Wood Man. This is another robot created by the supervillain determined to stop you with an incredible arsenal of attacks. Players need to land 14 normal shots to take him down but need to break through his Leaf Shield while avoiding hazardous, falling leaves.

Game: Undertale

Release Date: 2015

There’s more than one way to complete Undertale, and for those familiar with the Genocide Route, nothing hits harder than the final boss fight with Sans. His attacks are ruthless and accompanied by gaster blaster skulls. You’ve got a lot to juggle just to avoid damage—let alone deal any. It takes a merciless gamer to end up face to face with Sans in this battle which is hands down the toughest battle in the entire game.

Game: Street Fighter IV

Release Date: 2009

In Street Fighter IV, Seth is responsible for aggravating players and delivering a steady stream of damage. According to Street Fighter lore, he’s the CEO for SIN, a weapon division of Shadaloo. He first appeared in 2009 and proved to be one of the most formidable foes in the entire franchise. You can still find copies of Street Fighter IV on Amazon for the PlayStation 3.

Note: Pictured is the latest redesign of the character which has much more hair than the Seth encountered in Street Fighter IV.

Game: Super Mario 64

Release Date: 1996

It’s no surprise that the big boss battle in Super Mario 64 is none other than Bowser. He’s always been a tough foe to face, but this time he’s notably fierce. He has three big moves, including a stomp, headbutt, and fire breath. If you pay close attention, you can recognize when a particular attack has begun to steer clear of incurring damage. Get around those attacks, and you might stand a chance at winning.

Game: Donkey Kong 64

Release Date: 1999

Donkey Kong 64 brought our favorite Nintendo primate to an entirely new dimension (3D, to be exact). Anyone who’s played through this game knows it’s bananas and can’t forget the main antagonist—King K. Rool. If you want to defeat him for good, you have to go toe to toe with King Krusha K. Rool, his boxer persona, in one of the hardest battles in the whole game.

Game: Chrono Trigger

Release Date: 1995

The final boss of this game is named Lavos. He’s an evil alien parasite and a serious threat to the world. If you want to take him down, it’s not going to be easy. This boss was saved for last for a reason.

Game: Earthbound

Release Date: 1989

The main villain of the SNES game Earthbound, known in Japan as Mother, is a big baddie named Giygas. This boss is beyond tough, and he comes in three aggressively dangerous forms. If you want to take down Giygas for good, all you can do is pray for a victory. No, literally! If you use Paula’s prayer ability and manage to squeeze in 9 prayers, you can beat Giygas and complete Earthbound.

Game: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask

Release Date: 2000

The final boss in The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask is none other than Majora. And what a final boss it is! Players have to face off against Majora, who has three forms to defeat: Majora’s Mask, Majora’s Incarnation, and Majora’s Wrath. Taking out all three nets earns you some serious bragging points and the completion status you need to finish the game.

Game: Metal Gear Solid

Release Date: 1998

Without giving too much away, let’s just say your character has a lot in common with this boss. If you want to take down Liquid Snake, you have to act fast. He gets tougher as the battle progresses, and the pressing time limit doesn’t do you any favors.

Game: Shadow of the Colossus

Release Date: 2005

Shadow of the Colossus was released in 2005, and the fanbase is still going strong 15 years later. This boss is referred to as Dirge by the fans. It can be found in the Forbidden Lands around quadrant B4. This worm-like boss is seriously destructive, but its glowing eyes are a weak spot that can be exploited.

Game: Guitar Hero 3

Release Date: 2007

Battle of the bands is totally on the table for this boss battle list. If you’re a fan of the mid-2000’s classic Guitar Hero, you may remember this carpal-tunnel-inducing ballad by DragonForce known as Through the Fire and the Flames. If you’re a sucker for rhythm games, this song is the hardest goal worth tackling on the greatest difficulty.

Game: Minecraft

Release Date: 2011

There’s an ending to Minecraft? That’s right—there is a way to beat this classic sandbox game. There’s only one way to get the Ender Egg, and it involves facing off against the Ender Dragon. The is the biggest monster in the game, and it takes a bit of patience to see through. We recommend starting this fight with quality armor and plenty of friends!

Game: Mortal Kombat

Release Date: 1992

It’s hard to imagine Mortal Kombat without Goro. Not only is he regarded as a staple character to the series, but he’s also often recognized as the toughest boss in the first Mortal Kombat. He’s a secondary boss next to Shang Tsung.

Game: Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars

Release Date: 1996

Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars brings all the best features of an RPG to the imaginative world of the Mushroom Kingdom. There are plenty of battles to complete, including optional ones like Culex. This boss is arguably the toughest in the game and even harder to beat than the main villain, Smithy.

Game: World Of Warcraft

Release Date: 2004

Until the release of new expansion packs, C’Thun was regarded as the toughest boss in WoW. If you wanted to max out your character and beat all the bosses, this guy was your last stop. He can be found in the temple of Ahn’Qiraj.

Game: Mega Man

Release Date: 1987

The only weakness this giant yellow boss has is his little red eye. The Yellow Devil is from Mega Man. It’s known for its gooey body that can split into pieces and fly around the screen. If you want to defeat him, dodge his body, and shoot for the eye!

Game: Final Fantasy VII

Release Date: 1997

The Final Fantasy series is known for its occasional inclusion of optional bosses. This superboss, from 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, is known as Emerald Weapon. It’s featured alongside four other weapons: Ruby, Diamond, Sapphire, and Ultimate.

Game: Mushihime-sama Futari

Release Date: 2006

They don’t call these games bullet-hells for no reason! Queen Larsa from Mushihime-sama Futari is the main villain and final boss fight in the game. The rules are easy, shoot first and don’t get shot. If you want to mark this game off your list, you’ve got to start firing and dodge!

Game: Destiny: House of Wolves

Release Date: 2015

Destiny: House of Wolves launched in 2015. The final boss in the Prison of Elders challenge is Skolas, and he’s more than mean. This go around, he still has his ground-smashing and teleportation abilities, but he’s beefed up with a Scorch Cannon. It only takes a few shots to get knocked out by this bad guy.

Game: Castlevania

Release Date: 1986

Castlevania dropped in 1986, and who better to serve as the final boss of this vampire classic than Dracula? If you want to beat this game, you’ve got to take the old bat down. Dracula can transform into a huge monster that hops around shooting fireballs at the player. There’s a reason they saved him for last. He’s an absolute beast to fight.

Game: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Release Date: 1998

The Dark Link mini-boss can be found in the Water Temple. This is hands-down one of the biggest challenges players will face in the Ocarina of Time. Dark Link knows all of your moves, and the damage from each attack hits hard. It doesn’t help that he can also teleport right behind you.

Game: Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse

Release Date: 1989

Castlevania III: Dracula’s Curse was released in 1989. What better way to see out the ’80s than to spend countless hours getting whipped by Death himself. This is one of the toughest boss battles in the entire game. Players have to dodge flying scythes and withstand two different forms of this pixelated baddie.

Game: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater

Release Date: 2004

There’s only one thing tougher than a sniper, and that’s another sniper who’s better than the first sniper. If you want to finish Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, you’ve got to take our The End, an old sniper that could be one of 40 hiding spots across three maps. You can use a few tricks to beat this old sharpshooting master—one of the most amusing methods is to time travel ahead two weeks by adjusting your Xbox clock. The old sniper will die of old age.

Game: Ninja Gaiden

Release Date: 2004

Ninja Gaiden for the Xbox is classic and just one decade away from being an antique—but we won’t get into that. If you want to conquer this exciting game, you’ll need to take out Alma. She’s one of the main baddies in the game and for good reason. This boss is one of the biggest pains for completionists.

Game: Sonic the Hedgehog 2

Release Date: 1992

In Sonic the Hedgehog 2, nothing stomped players quite like the Death Egg Robot from the Death Egg Zone. This is the last zone and is set on Dr. Robotnik’s Death Egg satellite. You have to defeat the robot to win the game, but this battle requires Sonic to survive the entire fight without any rings.

Game: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Release Date: 1987

If you want to get through Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, you’ll have to square up against Dark Link. He copies all of your abilities and looks just like Link, albeit a bit more shadowy. It’s hard enough to beat a monster but squaring up against a boss designed to mimic your moves is even harder. This fight is the closest you’ll get to an equally matched opponent.

Game: Kingdom Hearts

Release Date: 2002

If you have half a heart, you obviously haven’t spent hours facing off against Ansem. Wait, we mean Riku. Or do we? It doesn’t matter; what does matter is that this boss is responsible for one of the toughest Disney-themed JRPG battles you can encounter. He’s not even optional. This fight is necessary to complete the game. You can play the original Kingdom Hearts in a remastered edition for the PlayStation 4.

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Game: Street Fighter II

Release Date: 91

Anyone who grew up playing Street Fighter knows how serious the final boss fight is with M. Bison in Street Fighter II. Ever since his first appearance, his character has remained one of the most notorious baddies of the franchise. This boss fight is responsible for the transfer of countless quarters across arcades in the 90s.

Game: Punch-Out!!

Release Date: 1987

The big boss of this game is so big his name is on the box—or at least it was before the team lost rights to Mike Tyson’s name and rebranded the game as just Punch-Out!! The final boss with Mike Tyson was reworked into a new character called Mr. Dream. He might look different, but he’s the same, seemingly unbeatable boss.

Game: Kingdom Hearts 2

Release Date: 2005

It’s sometimes contested in the Kingdom Hearts community whether Sephiroth is harder to beat in KH1 or KH2. In both battles, the player is left to fight one on one without any assistance from Donald or Goofy. This battle isn’t even required, so any beatings that occur are entirely voluntary.

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Game: Final Fantasy XI

Release Date: 2002

This boss fight pushed players way beyond their limits in an incident that lasted over 18 hours with no success. Some players reportedly played until they were physically ill. Over 36 players marathoned the attempted takedown of Final Fantasy XI’s Pandemonium Warden, which ultimately led to an HP decrease of the monster along with a two-hour time limit.

Game: Dark Souls

Release Date: 2011

The Dark Souls game is a notorious beast, but even Dark Souls has to have a king of all monsters. In fact, it has two. The fight against Ornstein and Smough is arguably the toughest boss battle in the whole game. In the lore, Ornstein is regarded as one of Gwyn’s four Knights, along with Artorias, Ciaran, and Gough. You’ve got to take him down along with Smogh—be careful who you save for last as this will impact the loot dropped at the end of the battle.

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Open a blank notepad file. This is what will eventually become your batch file. We’re going to create a fun and simple script that will make installing Chocolatey and all Chocolatey packages really easy.

Checking for Admin privileges

Copy the following lines of code into your notepad. Add each one as a new line.

echo OFF NET SESSION >nul 2>&1 IF %ERRORLEVEL% EQU 0 ( echo. ) ELSE ( echo.------------------------------------------------------------- echo ERROR: YOU ARE NOT RUNNING THIS WITH ADMINISTRATOR PRIVILEGES. echo. ------------------------------------------------------------- echo. If you're seeing this, it means you don't have admin privileges! pause echo. echo. You will need to restart this program with Administrator privileges by right-clicking and select "Run As Administrator" pause echo. echo Press any key to leave this program. Make sure to Run As Administrator next time! pause EXIT /B 1 )

This code will tell your computer to check to see if you have Administrator privileges enabled when you run the batch file. Since Chocolatey requires admin privileges to do its thing, this will save you some trouble and confusion.

Now add a blank line in notepad and add the following code to your expanding file:

powershell -NoProfile -InputFormat None -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Command "[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = 3072; iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))" && SET "PATH=%PATH%;%ALLUSERSPROFILE%chocolateybin"

• Now add this on a new line:

choco feature enable -n=allowGlobalConfirmation

• Now add the following (each on its own line!):

echo Chocolatey is ready to begin installing packages! pause

You’ll want to search for the correct packages to install from the Chocolatey website. You can also install Chocolatey packages from within PowerShell but the web interface does make it easy to be certain of which package is the correct one (especially if several different packages with similar names exist). You can find the list of all Chocolatey packages here.

You’re doing great! Now we’re going to put in the code that tells Chocolatey which packages we want to install. We’re also going to leave our future self a handy reminder of where things go.

@rem ----[ Whatever you want to install, place it below this point, each item on its own line (to make it easier to find later on. ] ----

Now, this is where you will put the instruction that tells Chocolatey what you want to install. In our example below, we’ve chosen to install WinRaR.

choco install winrar

Now add the final lines.

@rem ---[You can add as many programs here as you desire!]---- pause echo. echo Your installation is complete. pause

And you are done!

All you need to do now is save this file. Save a copy as a .txt to start with so you can edit it easily in the future. Then go to the next step to turn your .txt file into a .bat file, which will run this code as a set of instructions for your computer.

If you’re using Notepad++ this step is super easy. Just select save-as from the file menu and then select “.bat”. If you’re using the basic Windows notepad app, however, don’t worry, it’s still a breeze.

• Make sure to save your work someplace easy to find, like your desktop.
• Open Windows File Explorer.
• Select the “View” pane and check the box that says “File name extensions”.
• Now right-click on your newly-created text file and choose “Rename”.
• As soon as you do, the name of the file will be auto-selected. Ignore that. Look at the end of the file name, where it says .txt, and simply change that to .bat. Save and agree to any messages that Windows pops up.

• Now, test your new batch file! If you simply double-click on it, the file will run the error script we wrote earlier reminding you to use Administrator privileges when running. To run those, just right-click and choose Run as Administrator.

Now, simply run your new .bat and watch the magic happen! The Chocolatey software is pretty smart, so it will handle everything once you tell it what you want.

Any errors will be displayed in yellow (such as if you had a copy of Chocolatey already installed, in which case the program will skip installing it), but otherwise, you should end up with a successful installation of your files!

Now all you need to do is place your new .bat file safely on the cloud or on an external storage drive so that you have it handy for the next time you want to hit the ground running with a new computer.

Living Single has been getting a lot of attention lately for being before its time, and the truth is: it was. In a time that lacked black representation, Living Single was funny, like really funny. It was one of the only sitcoms on television that provided representation for black comedians and black women writers. The relationships on Living Single were what we watched the show for. Friendships that could withstand anything. Steamy romances we were all envious of. It was the funny, dynamic show of the ’90s its audience couldn’t get enough of. Humor and light-heartedness made us leave every episode ready to make friends (even us introverts).

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The final scene, that goodbye moment, was iconic. It honored each actor and their character, it reflected on all they had been through, and, most importantly, it honored their unique friendships. Everyone who has ever binged a show knows the final scene can make or break a series. If it’s not a scene that delicately honors the show, shows respect to the plot and characters, and gives the audience some closure, we fans are not happy. The writers that wrote that final episode managed to honor the show, provide us fans that necessary closure, and give us that warm, fuzzy feeling inside, making us want to start the series all over again.

Dates aired

The show aired from August 1993 – January 1998, with a total of five hilarious seasons.

Where you can watch Living Single today

• Hulu
• Apple TV
• Philo
• Amazon Prime
• Vudu
• iTunes

Claire Danes and Jared Leto were it. Lovely, grunge fashion. Heartbreaks. Young love. Overcoming inner demons. Coming of age. Amazing, complicated friendships. Thoughtful teachers. Real-life, internal struggles. High school drama. My So-Called Life has been rewatched many times in my home, partially because of nostalgia and partially because the love story and coming of age aspects of the show haven’t aged over the years. They still remain relevant in 2021.

If you are a ’90s baby and you never watched My So-Called Life, change that right now, please!

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The moment Jordan realizes he loves Angela is beyond iconic. The look on his face as it dawns on him that he loves her was so gratifying for the team Angela and Jordan fans who knew if Jordan could open his eyes, he would see how perfectly perfect they were for one another. While Jordan didn’t always treat Angela the way she deserved, what was between them was real, and Jordan was overcoming his own demons, their imperfect love story and the happy ending were iconic.

Also, everyone should take a brief moment to appreciate the iconic, grunge ’90s fashion. Thanks.

Dates aired

The show aired from August 1994 – January 1995, with a total of one short season.

Where you can watch My So-Called Life today

• Hulu
• Amazon Prime
• Abc (free)
• Vudu
• iTunes
• Youtube

Boy Meets World was the coming of age, hence the name, we all fell in love within the ’90s. The cast starts young, on the brink of young adulthood, and as an audience, we had the privilege to sit from the comforts of our homes and watch them grow along with us. Many of the struggles experienced between friends, as students, and as humans were ones we could all relate to. Liking someone for the first time and being terrified to do anything about it. Poverty. Bullying. Friendship. Family struggles. Everyone found a character they could relate to that kept us watching the show.

Watching Topanga and Cory’s love story grow, watching Shawn battle his demons, and seeing how the friendships changed over time was always moving and special. Also, Topanga’s hair. She had amazing hair.

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The hospital scene. After a bit of teenage angst, impulsive words, and a spat, Johnathan Turner (Shawn’s mentor and teacher) gets into a motorcycle accident, and what follows is heartbreaking and beautiful. Shawn is the underdog of the show. He isn’t the star. He battles poverty. He battles a lack of support in the home and isn’t as privileged as some of his friends, and while he needs help, he also rebels against it at times.

When he finds out that his teacher and good friends were in an accident after their awful fight, he is terrified of losing him and knowing the last words they shared were out of anger. The vulnerability he displays talking to him in the hospital was iconic. It’s one of the scenes I always recall when I think of the show, though there are many that come to mind. The classroom scene that the show ends on is another iconic scene and a fitting ending to this coming of age show. Everyone loved Mr. Feeny.

Dates aired

The show aired from September 1993 – May 2000, with a total of seven seasons. Girl Meets World, a spin-off of the beloved show, aired June 2014 – January 2017.

Where you can watch Boy Meets World today

• Apple TV
• Disney +

The Wayans Bros had pure talent, and the show was a direct reflection of that. They were funny, but there were also many sweet, heartfelt moments in the show, making the show more dynamic and relatable. Pop was the brother’s wacky mentor and owned Pop’s diner. The brothers managed to make a name for themselves, build lives, overcome hardships, and dating, to get themselves into many ridiculous and hilarious scenarios. Those scenarios are what kept us watching. We wanted to know what they would get themselves into next.

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The Wayans Bros were major ’90s icons. They were funny, absolute heartthrobs, and seemed to have it all. How these five brothers managed to have so much talent all in one family is beyond me, but in the ’90s and ’00s, we were all collectively in awe of them. Though this show did not include all of the Wayans Bros, it starred two of my favorite Wayans Bros, Shawn, and Marlon. They made a brand for themselves, starred in several movies, starred in several television shows, appeared in SNL, and seemed to be unstoppable. I’m genuinely curious what they weren’t good at.

When I think of The Wayans Bros, I always think of the scene where they give a speech at Mr. Gibb’s funeral. They always managed to blend humor with just a small amount of heartwarming, and it’s what made them such iconic siblings.

Dates aired

The show aired from January 1995 – May 1999, with a total of five seasons.

Where you can watch The Wayans Bros today

• Sling TV
• HBO Max
• Apple TV
• Amazon Prime
• Google Play
• iTunes

Twin Peaks is the Riverdale of the ’90s, but better. Mystery. Thriller. Horror. Coming of age. Twin Peaks is the high school thriller we all lived to watch in the ’90s, and it undoubtedly paved the way for shows like Riverdale. Twin Peaks was, however, more psychological than Riverdale. There was a bit more mystery, a bit more left unsaid, a bit more to figure out as the writers left breadcrumbs for the show’s fans.

The fashion, the hair, the makeup was all so fresh and beautiful for the time, some of it currently making a comeback in today’s trends. Some of the great actors and actresses of our time starred in Twin Peaks. Madchen Amick (also on Riverdale), Sherilyn Fenn, Kyle MacLachlan, David Duchovny (from The X Files), Naomi Watts, and Laura Flynn Boyle are just part of the proof that Twin Peaks had an incredible cast.

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There were many iconic moments, iconic actors and actresses, and iconic fashion choices in Twin Peaks. Still, for me, the most iconic moment in Twin Peaks is the classroom scene, when the classroom realizes Laura is not there and the police stop in to tell the teacher what has happened (I won’t go into detail to avoid spoilers). The collective mix of emotions, the broken pencil, the amazing acting on the part of Lara Flynn Boyle playing Donna, who can’t suppress her heartbreak, and the silence of this scene is beautifully done. Though nothing is said definitively about what happened in this scene, the words aren’t needed. It’s written so well that words aren’t needed. The tragedy is implied, and the reactions of the teacher and those close to Laura say everything.

Dates aired

The show aired from April 1990 – May 1991, with a total of three seasons. However, Twin Peaks came back around for a third season in 2017.

Where you can watch Twin Peaks today

• Netflix
• Hulu
• Amazon Prime
• Paramount + (formerly known as CBS)
• iTunes

• Youtube

Tales from the Crypt is the ’90s version of Black Mirror. I love Black Mirror, don’t get me wrong, but it was Tales from the Crypt that paved the way for dystopian sci-fi shows like Black Mirror. Tales from the Crypt was creepy, intriguing, and strangely addicting. I’ve rewatched each of the tales many times over the years, and each time is like watching them for the first time.

Despite the creepy intro and narrator (Crypt Keeper), Tales from the Crypt was not a scary show. It was sci-fi, dark humor, thriller, suspense, with a creepy vibe, but it wasn’t any scarier than Black Mirror is. Tales from the Crypt still has a cult following because of the iconic cast, memorable narrator, sci-fi subject matter, and suspenseful tales.

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Demi Moore, Tim Curry, Daniel Craig, John Kassir (Crypt Keeper), Jason London, and Kelly Preston all cast in different episodes of Tales from the Crypt. All iconic actors in the ’90s helped establish its cult following, but the intro to Tales from the Crypt, and the Crypt Keeper, were the true icons in Tales from the Crypt. If you never had nightmares of the Crypt Keeper as a kid, or the show didn’t give you goosebumps when he laughed his shrill laugh, you missed out.

Dates aired

The show aired from June 1989 – July 1996, with a total of seven seasons.

Where you can watch Tales from the Crypt today

• iTunes

Sabrina the Teenage Witch was the witchy coming of age show I couldn’t live without. I wanted to be Sabrina, living in the house with her kooky but loving aunts, learning magic, and hanging out with her cat Salem. Salem always ate too much. Sabrina was always getting revenge on the bullies and popular kids that thought they were better than everyone else. We watched Sabrina grow into a smart, self-sufficient young witch and fall in love with Harvey (a total heartthrob).

Bottom line, Sabrina was the teenage witch I wanted to be when I grew up.

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Melissa Joan Hart was an iconic actress in the ’90s. She was quirky, sarcastic, had great hair, and starred in multiple shows and movies. She had the butterfly hair clips, zig-zag hair part, low-rise flares, and cute cardigans. Of course, I tried to do my hair like hers, and dress like her, and if I could have made it happened, I would have gotten a talking cat too.

Anybody who watched the show most likely remembers it for all the tests Sabrina had to pass. The true love test was an iconic episode and probably one of my favorite to date.

Dates aired

The show aired from September 1996 – May 2000 on ABS with a total of four seasons. The last three seasons ran on The WB from September 2000 – April 2003. There was a darker, less comical revival called The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina that aired from October 2018 – December 2020.

Where you can watch Sabrina the Teenage Witch today

• Hulu
• Paramount + (formerly known as CBS)
• Amazon Prime
• Apple TV
• Google Play
• Youtube

Am I the only one singing the theme song for this show right now? “Now, this is just an introduction before I blow your mind, the show is All of That, and yes, we do it all the time.” You get the point. It’s a part of me now, stored in some secret cabinet in my brain, and if you watched the show as much I did, you know what I mean. It was funny, fresh, young, and vibrant. I was in love with the cast and their characters, and I still am.

All That had a diverse, iconic cast (in reference to the original cast, of course) and iconic skits.

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Kel Mitchell. “Welcome to Good Burger, home of the good burger. Can I take your order?” Sound familiar? Keenen & Kel were so popular that they had their own spinoff show appropriately named Keenan & Kel. They were a silly duo, polar opposites, and together they made the iconic duo that was Keenan & Kel. They were so popular there was even a Good Burger movie. Iconic.

Dates aired

The show aired from April 1994 – November 2006. The show then relaunched January 2002 – October 2005. Did you know that it was recently revived in June 2019 and continues to play today? All That has a total of eleven seasons.

Where you can watch All That today

• Vudu

Felicity followed a guy who didn’t particularly notice her the way she wanted, to college. They weren’t a couple. They were two worlds apart, with her focused on school and the future, and him popular and living each moment as if it was his last. Putting everything important to her, everything she ever wanted and worked for at-risk, she followed him, and all the drama and growth that comes after is Felicity.

Personally, I loved this show. I loved this show, even with Felicity’s impulsive, controversial decision to follow a boy across the country. I appreciated that she was coming into herself, growing and that her decision to follow Ben was part of that. I loved it until I got to the end. If you haven’t seen it, I won’t spoil it for you, but if you’ve ever loved a show and binged it for days and days only to get to the ending you were praying wouldn’t happen, you know what I mean. Had the ending been a bit more up to par with the rest of the show, ending in a way that honored Felicity’s journey and coming of age more, it would have made it higher in the list.

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Two words. The haircut. Am I the only one who still celebrates and cringes the Felicity haircut? If you have ever had long hair and made the jump to chop it off, you can sympathize with her. There was so much emotion behind this iconic haircut. She followed a boy across the country, putting her future on the line, and here she was living for herself in this one, epic moment as her hair dropped to the floor around her.

Most people either loved it or hated it, but I was somewhere in between. I wanted to hug her and scream, “Finally!” She did something for her, her life, her body. It was brilliant. The look itself, however, I was not a fan of. Felicity’s hair was such a huge part of her character, not to mention she had beautiful, naturally curly hair I was envious of.

The look, and the action itself, was so controversial it led to the show’s downfall, losing too many fans to survive.

Dates aired

The show aired from September 1998 – May 2002, with a total of four seasons.

Where you can watch Felicity today

• Amazon Prime
• Hulu
• Abc (free)
• Apple TV
• Vudu
• iTunes

It wasn’t just Kimmy Gibbler; everyone wanted to live in the Full House house. Uncle Joey was fun, funny, and super nurturing. Uncle Jessie was a heartthrob. Michelle was a cutie. Each family brought their own value to the home. The whole family seemed like the dream family, and even though the kids of Full House were growing up without one of their parents, the weird, wacky Full house family came together and made magic happen.

We learned life lessons, saw the family grow, come of age, and thrive together. Somehow, through the television, I felt like a part of the Full House family (by way of marrying Uncle Jessie, of course). However, Fuller House felt like a flop, a big one. There are some shows so sacred, reviving them feels wrong. Michelle wasn’t there. The writing felt a bit unnatural. Fuller House didn’t feel any fuller to me.

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Despite Fuller House flopping, Full House still has a spot in every ’90s baby’s heart. Known for the unique family that filled the home, life lessons we all learned along the way, and the iconic catchphrases, Full House will always be one of the gems of ’90s television.

How many iconic Full House catchphrases do you remember?

Dates aired

The show aired from September 1987 – May 1995, with a total of eight seasons. However, as many of your know, the Netflix reboot, Fuller House, aired from February 2016 to June 2020.

Where you can watch Full House today

• Hulu
• Netflix (Fuller House)
• fubuTV
• Youtube
• iTunes
• Google Play

Family Matters, the name telling all, was a heartwarming, funny family show. Carl Winslow, the head of the Winslow family, was a sometimes hear-headed dad who secretly had a huge heart, and when shown his faults and mistakes was not immune to owning up to them to be a better dad and man. Urkel was underappreciated, which always broke my heart. Richie Crawford was adorable. Harriette was forgiving and the glue of the family.

Family Matters was the perfect show to gather around the television with your family and laugh or cry or binge.

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Speaking of iconic. The Steve Urkel to Stefan Urquelle transformation was something I waited for in every episode. Jaleel White managed to easily transform from what the ’90s considered a major “nerd” to a smooth ladies’ man. His transformation was always amazing to me. A butterfly freed from his cocoon. However, as handsome and smooth as Stephan was, I preferred Steve’s sweet, eager, and pure love for Laura Winslow.

Every Family Matters fan knew that even though Stephan was the smooth one, Urkel was the sweet one who would take good care of Laura’s heart.

Dates aired

The show aired from September 1989 – July 1998, with a total of nine seasons. Though the show never got to air their tenth season, they planned to air the wedding between Urkel and Laura, which is the ending I think most of us wanted and deserved.

Where you can watch Family Matters today

• Hulu
• Vudu
• Youtube
• Google Play
• iTunes

Do you know what Golden Girls character you are?. You should. Golden Girls was funny, focused on strong, unique friendships, and had a wonderful cast and writers. Four women with different personalities, histories, and personal stories who lived in beautiful Miami.

What I appreciate most about Golden Girls is that it provided a spotlight for women who were comedians and talented actors at a time and industry that women who didn’t have youth on their sides were overlooked. The Golden Girls featured strong women who didn’t fit the mold, who were of “a certain age,” in retirement, and weren’t married or hadn’t yet found “the one.” Dorothy was stern with a secretly big heart. Blanche was promiscuous but incredibly loyal to her friends and lovable. Sophia didn’t mince words and was quick to let people know how she felt. And Rose was the Golden Girls gem.

Iconic

Betty White is maybe one of the most beloved comedians and actresses of all time. Iconic doesn’t even cut it. Betty White was the clueless sweetheart of The Golden Girls, and everyone wanted to be her friend. The friendship between The Golden Girls was iconic in and of itself. Anyone who watched the show thought, “This is how I would do it too., live in a house in sunny Miami with my best friends.”

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Dates aired

The show aired from September 1985 – May 1992, with a total of seven seasons.

Where you can watch Golden Girls today

• Hulu
• Philo
• fubuTV
• Google Play
• iTunes

Three strong, independent women who turn out to be witches, fighting demons and defeating evil. What’s not to love? Even my grandpa loved Charmed, but I think that was because he had a crush on Alyssa Milano (he even bought me a Charmed poster). My point is, there was something in Charmed for everyone. The three sisters were so different from one another, each with their own witchy abilities, that every Charmed fan had their favorite, relatable character.

While some of the graphics and costumes, mostly the demons, were slightly iffy, I actually enjoy the current cheese factor of those costumes. We didn’t always have amazing CGI graphics, and not every show had the budget for those types of effects but the show itself had great writing, relationships, and witchy subject matter.

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The cast, the fashion, the heartthrob boyfriends, the house the three sisters lived in were all iconic. Hollie Marie Combs played Piper, Alyssa Milano played Pheobe, and Rose McGowan played Paige. All iconic women in their own rights, with their own powers (making the power of three).

Dates aired

The show aired from October 1998 – May 2006, with a total of eight magical seasons. Since then, the Charmed revival aired in 2018 and is still airing today.

Where you can watch Charmed today

• Netflix
• Hulu
• Apple TV
• Peacock (free)
• fubuTV
• Youtube

Aliens, aliens, aliens. Demons. Ubermenschers. The fluke man. Ghosts. Creepy porcelain dolls. Gargoyles. If your mind can think it up, and it’s remotely scary or creepy, it was probably already done on the X-Files. The creativity and the creepiness level achieved by The X-Files could not be rivaled in the ’90s.

I remember sitting cross-legged on the floor with my big brother as he hummed and whistled The X-Files theme song dramatically. I remember hiding under the covers, tucking my feet in so the boogyman or a ghost or a demon couldn’t get them, and still watching The X-Files because I couldn’t get enough of Mulder and Scully and their creepy, suspenseful adventures. Hands down, best Sci-fi show ever.

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Mulder and Scully were iconic FBI partners with a steamy romance that played second in importance to the supernatural plot but was secretly why a huge percentage of us were watching. X-Files fans hung onto the thread that was Mulder and Scully. Even though we loved all the supernatural creepiness and conspiracy theories, their relationship was the glue of the show. Without it, I’m not sure the show would have become the cult classic we now know it to be.

While the supernatural brought them together, it was also the supernatural that continuously threatened to tear them apart. The tension between them as their love grew, the supernatural that held them back, and their combined intelligence and skills as FBI agents and uncoverers of all supernatural made them iconic partners and an even more iconic couple.

Dates aired

The show aired from September 1993 – May 2002, with a total of nine supernatural seasons. This cult classic was revived in January 2016 – March 2018.

Where you can watch The X-Files today

• Hulu
• Apple TV
• Vudu
• Google Play
• iTunes
• Youtube

In spot number one, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is the show with a theme song any Fresh Prince fan knows by heart, give or take a word or two, and can sing on queue. I might not remember anything I learned in algebra, but that song is deeply embedded in my brain and not going anywhere anytime soon.

In a word, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was, and is, memorable. I can still picture particular outfits, scenes, characters in my minds-eye as vividly as some of my own memories and experiences. Without a reminder, I can recall the soothing bass of Uncle Phil’s voice, the dice hanging from the taxi in the intro, and the glasses Jazzy Jeff wore.

But why was the show memorable? It’s the show with everything. Fresh Prince made us laugh, made us cry, encouraged us to make embarrassing and questionable fashion choices, and featured an iconic cast with iconic scenes.

Iconic

In 1994, Fresh Prince aired one of the most iconic scenes in television’s history when Will asks Uncle Phil, “How come he don’t want me, man?” in reference to the father that was never there for him walking out on him yet again. It is the scene that broke the hearts of Americans everywhere. To this day, when someone mentions Will Smith or Fresh Prince, I remember this scene first. It’s arguably the scene from ’90s television I remember more than any other. Today, over 26 years later, it remains an iconic, honest moment tackling complex issues and pulling heartstrings.

Dates aired

The show aired from September 1990 – May 1996, with a total of six seasons.

Where you can watch Fresh Prince of Bel-Air today

• HBO Max
• Amazon Prime
• Apple TV
• Vudu
• Youtube
• iTunes