The Best Underrated TV Shows, Ranked By Fans

We’re already staring down an Emmys gauntlet between The Last of Us, The White Lotus, Severance, Squid Game, and The Bear … and it’s only April. I haven’t even mentioned the surprise new hits that are surely set on hoisting a few awards of their own as well. The Pitt was easily one of the most important shows of the past decade.

The two worlds diverged thirty years ago and developed in different directions. The show explores themes of identity through identical counterparts who made different life choices. Simmons brilliantly portrays two versions of the same character with subtle yet clear distinctions. After a virus wipes out humanity, Phil “Tandy” Miller thinks he’s the last person alive. He’s selfish, needy, and lies constantly, yet somehow you still root for him.

The movie received positive critical and commercial reviews and was even nominated for the best television movie at the Emmys. Robin Roberts is a pathbreaking journalist and television personality and has made sure that the stories of powerful women are presented on screen. The movie looks at the life of Mahalia, amidst the civil rights movement for African Americans. Brooks delivers a powerful and mesmerizing performance as Mahalia and embodies the charisma of her character. The actress proves that she can take on character-driven roles and deliver them flawlessly.

Street Food

Banshee is quite underrated but it is entertaining and thrilling. This AMC dramedy follows Dud, an optimistic ex-surfer who joins a fraternal order after finding a ring on the beach. The lodge members search for meaning through ancient alchemical mysteries. Wyatt Russell portrays Dud with charming sincerity as he finds community after personal losses. The show blends magical realism with working-class struggles in Long Beach, California.

Feel Good

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. The OA begins when Prairie (Brit Marling), anime quiz a formerly blind woman who went missing seven years prior, returns with her sight intact.

The show takes big swings, killing characters unexpectedly and constantly changing locations. Unlike most post-apocalyptic stories, this one cares more about petty arguments over the last bottle of wine than surviving zombies. Kristen Schaal is particularly great as the neurotic Carol, who becomes Tandy’s unlikely partner. This noir-influenced detective series follows ex-cop Hank Dolworth and his best friend Britt Pollack, who run an unlicensed private investigation business in San Diego.

Pushing Daisies looks like nothing else on television – it’s a candy-colored storybook world with a narrator guiding you through each episode. Lee Pace and Anna Friel have amazing chemistry despite never being able to touch. The supporting cast, especially Kristin Chenoweth as a nosy waitress, brings perfect comic relief. The show solves murders while exploring deeper themes of loss and connection.

Peacemaker, A Minecraft Movie, and other Danielle Brooks movies and TV shows that are a must-watch

“Pen15 is relatable, charming, and HILARIOUS! You immediately forget that the two main characters are actually two grown women. For anyone who spent the 2000s in middle school and high school, it is a must-see.” This afterlife comedy stars Kristen Bell as Eleanor Shellstrop, a selfish woman who mistakenly ends up in “The Good Place” after her death. She tries to hide her past while becoming a better person with help from her soulmate. The show constantly reinvents itself with shocking twists each season. NBC allowed creator Mike Schur to complete his planned four-season arc. Few sitcoms have so successfully combined philosophical concepts with laugh-out-loud comedy.

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. 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. “This show is one of the best HBO has ever produced, and Game of Thrones probably would never have been able to exist without it — hell, it’s basically Game of Thrones, only it really happened.”

From executive producer Mike Schur and creator Shea Serrano comes Primo, a hilarious coming-of-age comedy based on Serrano’s real life growing up in San Antonio. But familia is familia, so that means some serious sibling rivalry (has a board game between siblings ever ended well?) and a family barbecue that will never be forgotten — for better or for worse. Some of the best Danielle Brooks movies and TV shows are those that highlight the wide range of the actress.

With the bonus of stars Lee Pace and Mackenzie Davis, it’s a must-watch. 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. 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. 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.

After receiving a mysterious email from a former fraternity brother, Chuck is exposed to a series of encoded images that implant the secrets of the U.S. government into his brain. CIA agent Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski) is assigned to manage Chuck and use him in missions in which he may be an asset, and the two ultimately develop a complicated romance amidst a whirlwind of top-secret adventures. A concluding film will finally give The Venture Bros. a satisfactory send-off, meaning you have plenty of time to catch up on this equally funny and somber adventure series. Once everything is said and done, chances are you’ll wish that the adventure was never going to end. Things get a bit more complicated for the duo after Ned brings the love of his young life, Chuck (Anna Friel), back from the dead only to realize he has to avoid touching her for the rest of time to preserve her life.