Photo-Illustration: Illustration by Ari Liloan; Photo by Showtime
The phrase “Peak TV” has defined this decade in television. Typically, that phrase implies the boom in programming, and the long-foretold moment when we would reach a peak in the number of shows produced each year.
At the end of this decade, though, it’s also important to look back on another kind of TV peak: the literal ones. From mountains to cliffs to steep hills, peaks were all over TV in the past 10 years. They offered metaphors for self-growth, terrifying heights to push someone from, and remote locations for romantic and/or criminal actions.
Join us now on a tour of the peaks of television in the 2010s.
Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: The Return
The mountain Nathan makes people climb to get a gas rebate, Nathan for You
Photo: Courtesy of Comedy Central
The hiking trail for Tom’s “agricultural walk” at Argestes, Succession
Photo: Courtesy of HBO
The To’hajiilee hills, Breaking Bad
Photo: Courtesy of AMC
The Arctic Circle mountains, Fortitude
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
The mountain Lorelai uncharacteristically decides to hike, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Photo: Courtesy of Netflix
The mountain range Rick can see from his private pooping spot, Rick and Morty
Photo: Courtesy of Adult Swim
The hill Nora climbs to rescue a goat, The Leftovers
Photo: Courtesy of HBO
The Catskills, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Photo: Amazon Studios
The cliffside mountaintop where Will finally confronts Hannibal, Hannibal
Photo: Courtesy of NBC
Fraser’s Ridge, Outlander
Photo: Courtesy of Starz
The mountain Tina climbs to get rid of her nickname, Bob’s Burgers
Photo: Courtesy of FOX
The Southern Alps of New Zealand, Top of the Lake
Photo: Courtesy of SundanceTV
The mountain Joe climbs to find himself, Halt and Catch Fire
Photo: Courtesy of AMC
The Appalachians, Justified
Photo: Courtesy of FX
The French Alps in Haute-Savoie, Les Revenants
Photo: Courtesy of SundanceTV
The mountain where Patrick proposes to David, Schitt’s Creek
Mountain Man, Adventure Time
Photo: Courtesy of Cartoon Network
The mountains surrounding Lodge Lodge, Riverdale
Photo: Courtesy of The CW
The beachside cliffs of Big Sur, Mad Men
Photo: Courtesy of AMC
Gene Cousineau’s cabin in the San Bernardino Mountains, Barry
Photo: Courtesy of HBO
The Matterhorn, The Night Manager
Photo: Courtesy of BBC
The Mountain, Game of Thrones
Photo: Courtesy of HBO
