The Most Underrated TV Shows of All Time
These under-the-radar gems never got the fanfare they deserved.
Listen, we applaud the dedication it takes to memorize every line from your favorite TV show—be it a new release you can't help but keep bingeing or a classic series you love to rewatch. But if your watchlist is itching for freshness, plenty of excellent underrated series are waiting in the wings.
Whether they were confusingly marketed, dwarfed by competitors, broadcast by a smaller network, or just fell out of the spotlight long before they should have, some must-watch TV shows deserved better. Many are readily available to stream now, meaning there are plenty of shows—from romance to innovative sci-fi to overlooked comedies—you may have missed that you can finally get around to. Below, find the most underrated TV shows of all time.
'3rd Rock From the Sun' (19962001)
This sitcom was popular while it was on, but has since gotten second place compared to other contemporaries (Friends, Seinfeld, and so on). It was a highly over-the-top show, with aliens coming down to Earth to live in human bodies and—most unsuccessfully—trying to blend in.
'12 Monkeys' (20152018)
Like many items on this list, this is an adaptation with a killer premise that people slept on when it originally aired. It loosely follows the '90s movie of the same name (in which time travelers hope to stop the "Army of the 12 Monkeys"), but be prepared for the season to go in different directions.
'The Affair' (20142019)
Talk about a case of he said, she said. The Affair follows a unique structure, presenting various character perspectives on the disintegration of a family due to the husband’s (Dominic West) infidelity. The series unfurls a dizzying examination of memory, loyalty, and gender roles, rendering it a must-watch.
'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.' (20132020)
This series was a Marvel spinoff after the first several installments into the cinematic MCU. It was quite compelling—especially when it was revealed that the agency S.H.I.E.L.D. was (spoiler alert!) infiltrated by bad guys, including some of our main characters.
'Banshee' (20132016)
If you like the darkness of The Boys and its main antagonist played by Antony Starr, watch his early work here. Starr portrays a criminal on the run from the law (and a scary crime lord) who assumes the identity of an Amish town's murdered sheriff. Very graphic violence ensues.
'Barry' (20182023)
We know that Barry won several Emmys and garnered a great deal of critical praise during its run, but for all its acclaim, it's still underrated. The show co-created by/starring Bill Hader follows the titular Barry as he tries to leave his life as a hitman and inadvertently becomes an actor—only to realize that Hollywood is way worse. It gets dark, sure, but it's still great.
'Baskets' (20162019)
This one got overlooked for being stranger than audiences were expecting (as opposed to the over-the-top humor its star Zach Galifianakis is traditionally known for). But the actor plays two roles—one of them a failed clown—and it lends to some impressive awkward, sly humor.
'Bates Motel' (20132017)
If you liked the classic horror film Pyscho, but came away wondering, Wow, how did Norman end up this way? Well, Bates Motel is a show for you. It's a modernized retelling of the iconic serial killer character. Fair warning: It really goes there with its oddball, sometimes graphic horror, but the payoff for fans of the Hitchcock film is worth it.
'Better Off Ted' (20092010)
You can think of this as The Office, but more prescient of our modern times: Ted (Jay Harrington) works for Veridian Dynamics, which (literally) does not care about anything but profit. Harrington is hilarious in the satire, but Portia de Rossi is the true scene-stealer as his boss.
'Better Things' (20162022)
If you missed this comedy, great news: There are five seasons you can watch right now. You may be particularly relevant to the audience if you are a parent, as it follows a single mother raising her three daughters. Pamela Adlon co-created, stars, and wrote and directed much of the series, basing it on her own experience—so you know this one's full of heart.
'The Bureau' (20152020)
If you have a penchant for international TV (as you should, there's lots of great stuff happening abroad!), put on The Bureau. Sometimes viewed as the best series to come out of France, it details the lives of the security service's agents.
'Condor' (20182020)
The classic thriller Three Days of the Condor starring Robert Redford movie gets a millennial television update with essentially the same premise: a spy comes back to his office, only to realize all of his coworkers have been murdered and he has to go on the run. It's as good as it sounds.
'Daria' (19972002)
A cartoon? Catered to angsty teens? Talk about bottled lightning. While Daria was ahead of her time, her wry humor and unflinching sarcasm will resonate with anyone who's felt they don't quite fit in with the norm, high schooler or otherwise.
'Dead Like Me' (20032004)
This premise speaks for itself: Sometimes, when a person dies, they become a "grim reaper," collecting the souls of people who have recently passed and ferrying them (metaphorically) to their destination. George Lass (Ellen Muth) dies and becomes one of them.
'Derry Girls' (20182022)
There are about a million jokes in every episode of Derry Girls (about a group of schoolgirls in Northern Ireland during The Troubles). If you've watched, this is your sign to rewatch—and if you haven't, this is your sign to put it on your watch queue immediately.
'Devs' (2020)
With creator Alex Garland (the renowned sci-fi filmmaker behind Ex Machina) at the helm, this trippy sci-fi series is as good as it gets. It centers around a young employee (Sonoya Mizuno) who, in her quest to uncover her boyfriend's (Karl Glusman) mysterious death, discovers a conspiracy at her workplace.
'Fringe' (20082013)
The creators of Fringe may have regretted calling it that (since the show never quite hit the mainstream, despite its solid reviews). But the show became a certified cult classic as it got momentum in its later seasons, with the Fringe Division giving us X-Files energy but a modern sensibility.
'Halt and Catch Fire' (20142017)
If you've ever longed to live (or relive) the early days of computing and the internet, this '80s and '90s-set show is for you. With the bonus of stars Lee Pace and Mackenzie Davis, it's a must-watch.
'Hannibal' (20132015)
The absolute brilliance of this show is that Hannibal Lector, arguably the most psychopathic written character of all time, is 1. played by the likable Mads Mikkelsen, and 2. is actually not an unlikeable guy. This show will mess with your head in the best way.
'Happy Endings' (20112013)
What happened to Happy Endings was the inverse of what happened to New Girl (both were about friend group shenanigans): New Girl became more popular, and somewhat broader in its humor, over time. Happy Endings tailored more and more to its audience, losing some viewers—but staying very funny.
'High Fidelity' (2020)
While it was positively reviewed, the gender-swapped TV version of High Fidelity—based on Nick Hornby's book about a record store owner who views love and life through music—was only canceled after one season. Nevertheless, the inimitable Zoë Kravitz stans out as a contemporary, Brooklyn-based version of Rob.
'In Treatment' (20082010; 2021)
Who hasn't wanted to be a fly on the wall during other people's therapy sessions? Thanks to this show, you can be! Paul Weston (Gabriel Byrne, who's always great but is exceptional in this) is a therapist to several troubled people—and he's not untroubled, either.
'The IT Crowd' (20062013)
You'll see recognizable famous faces on this show, which could be considered their breakout: Chris O'Dowd, Richard Ayoade, and Matt Berry, oh my! The U.K. comedy also perfectly encapsulates the drudgery of working—where else—at an IT department.
'The Killing' (20072012)
If you’re a true crime fan or mystery bookworm longing for a new procedural to obsess over, The Killing is an ideal watch. Detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) has been assigned a new partner to train, Detective Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman), whose chemistry will delight Scully-Mulder stans everywhere. Tasked with investigating a recent murder of a high school girl, the detectives find themselves with a complex case involved in local politics and familial grief on their hands.
'The Knick' (20142015)
At the Knickerbocker Hospital in the early 20th century, doctors are trying wild (and sometimes unsanctioned) medical procedures. No one is more cutting-edge and reckless than the cocaine-addicted Dr. John Thackery (an extremely good Clive Owen). Helmed by Steven Soderbergh, this is great TV.
'Mr. Robot' (20152019)
Granted, Mr. Robot was a cultural phenomenon in the first season. But if you happened to miss the rest of the series, it remained strong and scarily relevant to our modern times. Elliott (Rami Malek), a troubled hacker, is recruited (and entangled with) the mysterious fsociety.
'The Newsroom' (20122014)
The Newsroom is perhaps more relevant today than when it was canceled a decade ago. Following a famous fictional news anchor (played by Jeff Daniels) embroiled in a controversy, this show provides inside baseball to network news, while investigating the inner workings of information wars, among other related topics.
'Nip/Tuck' (20032010)
Whether you're intrigued by body horror or a fan of Ryan Murphy-helmed series, Nip/Tuck is bound to have you glued to your seat from episode 1. At the start, we meet Dr. Sean McNamara (Dylan Walsh), a friendly plastic surgeon who, along with his snack of a business partner, Dr. Christian Troy (Julian McMahon), runs a successful plastic surgery practice in Miami. Settling between absurd satire and distressing thriller, Nip/Tuck explores the brutality of beauty standards—and then some (it is the brainchild of Murphy, after all).
'The OA' (20162019)
Fantasy and sci-fan fans, meet your next binge-watch. The OA begins when Prairie (Brit Marling), a formerly blind woman who went missing seven years prior, returns with her sight intact. And so begins this layered, multi-dimensional mystery about where she’d been hidden and why.
'Party Down' (20092010; 2023)
Another "canceled too soon" show (albeit due to low ratings), this show has a lot of famous faces. Adam Scott, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, and Lizzy Caplan, among others, star as caterers trying to "make it" in L.A. After years off the air, it was brought back for a long-awaited, charming revival in 2023.
'Pushing Daisies' (20072009)
Call this one a casualty of one of the aughts' writer's strikes, which put the show on hiatus indefinitely. The premise is a teeny bit complicated: Ted (Lee Pace), can reanimate dead people—but if he keeps them alive for more than a minute, someone else dies. And if he touches them again, they die too. It's fascinating—and somehow a comedy.
'Severance' (2022 )
This sci-fi thriller may start a little slow, but as soon as its mystery unfolds, it proves it's one of the most exciting TV shows. Adam Scott plays Mark, who agrees to "sever" his brain, so none of his memories from the workday go home with him and he has no recollection of his personal life at work. As soon as his colleagues question the truth behind their questionable workplace, it gets weird—and trust us, you'll be hooked.
'Sports Night' (19982000)
For some early Aaron Sorkin content (pre-West Wing, even!), Sports Night falls into the category of "canceled too soon." It follows a sports news show constantly under deadline and pressure, featuring that classic Sorkin-ese language and romantic drama.
'Station Eleven' (20212022)
This dystopian series hit a bit too close to home when it was released during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it follows a fictional pandemic that wipes out most of the population, leaving stragglers to pick up the pieces. But adapted from Emily St. John Mandel's National Book Award finalist novel, this dystopian series is quite good. If you liked The Last of Us, throw this on.
'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' (20082009)
Like many of the shows on this list, this series had its ups and downs. (Early on, it struggled to find its footing a bit). But nothing beats a badass Lena Headey in her pre-Game of Thrones days, playing Sarah Conner right after the conclusion of Terminator 2.
'Trial and Error' (20172018)
This hilarious show only got a devastatingly short two seasons, but it's comic gold. Local lawyer Josh (played by Nicholas D'Agosto) has to represent zany defendants with an even zanier legal team in an even zanier Southern town.
'The Wilds' (20202022)
If you’re a fan of Yellowjackets, chances are you’ll love The Wilds. A group of kids are signed up for a retreat, only to have their plane fall into the ocean en route to their destination. This show is like a marriage of Lord of the Flies meets Lost, with some unique twists and commentary on girlhood along the way.
'Wynonna Earp' (20162021)
With some seriously passionate fans (particularly of the main queer romance, WayHaught forever!), this show has lived on as a cult classic. If you're unfamiliar, it's Western sci-fi, with the descendant of Wyatt Earp fighting all the reincarnated outlaws he killed.
'You’re the Worst' (20142019)
Perhaps no show captures the frustration of modern dating better than You're the Worst. It catalogs the on-off-on-off-on-off relationship between Jimmy (Chris Geere) and Gretchen (Aya Cash)—and simultaneously manages to be appropriately cynical and quite sweet.
