Modern television has a habit of spelling everything out. With viewers constantly checking their phones or scrolling through another app, today’s writers often overexplain the plot just to make sure nobody gets left behind. This makes plotlines easier to follow but lacking any real depth.As such, older shows that didn’t have to keep their viewer’s attention span in mind might just be too complicated for a modern audience to follow. We have gathered here what we believe are the main shows that, shown to someone that isn’t used to them, would have trouble watching it through the end.cnx.cmd.push(function() {cnx({playerId: "106e33c0-3911-473c-b599-b1426db57530",}).render("0270c398a82f44f49c23c16122516796");});IMDbTwin PeaksDavid Lynch and Mark Frost created what many consider the most confusing television program ever made. This supernatural soap opera features a portal to an alternate dimension and layered storytelling that fans are still unpacking decades later.IMDbThe WireCreated by former police reporter David Simon, this HBO crime drama ran for 60 episodes over 5 seasons between 2002 and 2008. The dense, realistic narrative requires serious attention to keep track of its sprawling, interconnected cast.IMDbThe SopranosThis iconic series features slow, deliberate pacing that modern audiences, who are often trained for fast and bite-sized content, might struggle with. Following the psychological depth of the characters requires a level of patience viewers rarely expect today.IMDbNeon Genesis EvangelionThis anime features an increasingly complex narrative filled with labyrinthine plots and intricate themes. It can be incredibly hard to parse, often leaving fans wondering if they actually understand it while providing far more questions than answers.IMDbThe PrisonerThis 1967 series heavily relied on deliberate ambiguity and unconventional storytelling. Its convoluted plots challenged viewers at every turn, building up to a bizarre and surreal finale that still leaves modern audiences scratching their heads in confusion.IMDbBabylon 5Dedicated viewers were rewarded with complex characters and compelling, fulfilled plot lines across a multi-season story. Because the creators took 5 years to tell this ongoing narrative, missing even a single episode could leave you completely lost.IMDbThe X-FilesCreated by Chris Carter, this science fiction drama spanned 9 seasons and 202 episodes on Fox between 1993 and 2002. Its sprawling, evolving conspiracy mythology demanded that fans pay close attention long before binge-watching was an option.IMDbDeadwoodAiring on HBO from 2004 to 2006, this Western tracks a camp’s growth into a town in 1870s South Dakota. The heavy, poetic dialogue and dense political maneuvering require total focus to understand who is betraying whom.IMDbCarnivàleCreated by Daniel Knauf for HBO, this surreal drama ran for 2 seasons from 2003 to 2005. Set in the 1930s during the Great Depression, its dense mythology and slow burn left many casual viewers feeling entirely lost.IMDbSix Feet UnderCreated by Alan Ball for HBO, this heavy drama ran for 63 episodes across 5 seasons from 2001 to 2005. The deeply psychological narrative demanded emotional patience, refusing to hand audiences simple resolutions for its flawed characters.IMDbHomicide: Life on the StreetChronicling a fictionalized Baltimore Police Department unit, this NBC police drama ran for 122 episodes between 1993 and 1999. It completely avoided tidy conclusions, requiring audiences to sit with messy, unresolved cases that mirrored actual detective work.IMDbThe Twilight ZoneCreated by Rod Serling, this CBS anthology ran for 5 seasons from 1959 to 1964. Each standalone story threw characters into disturbing and unusual events, demanding viewers actively think about the philosophical moral before the surprise ending.IMDbStar Trek: Deep Space NineCreated by Rick Berman and Michael Piller, this science fiction series spanned 176 episodes from 1993 to 1999. It abandoned the easy episodic format for serialized political conflicts and moral ambiguity that required viewers to stay invested.IMDbThe ShieldAiring on FX from 2002 to 2008, this crime drama was created by Shawn Ryan. Starring Michael Chiklis as a corrupt Los Angeles detective, the show’s intricate web of lies and cover-ups demanded viewers remember every minor detail.IMDbFringeCreated by J. J., this science fiction series rapidly evolved from a standard procedural into a wildly complex narrative. Following the alternate universes and convoluted timelines requires a modern viewer to put their phone down and actually focus.IMDbMad MenThis acclaimed period drama is famous for its incredibly slow pacing and heavy reliance on subtext. Viewers looking for rapid-fire plot twists will struggle, as the show asks you to read between the lines of every quiet conversation.The post 16 Classic Shows too Complicated for a Modern Audience appeared first on Den of Geek.