10 Amazing TV Shows It Feels Like No One Watched

In the era of must-watch TV shows where countless new series premiere annually across cable, streaming, and broadcast, quality programming slips by unwatched at an extraordinary rate. Prestige dramas and clever comedies fail to enter the cultural conversation or get renewed despite critical acclaim. Even major stars or directors can’t lift a show from ratings obscurity. While buzzworthy, big-budget programs soak up subscribers via extensive marketing campaigns, hidden gems fall by the wayside from lack of exposure. Of course, word of mouth helps worthwhile productions find dedicated fans in time. Still, due to the overwhelming choices audiences face nowadays, viewers overlook unconventional, yet rewarding offerings.

Without bandwagon momentum or an established brand attachment driving sampling, certain creative works only reach people already searching them out. Fortunately, patient audiences can binge the best TV shows long after premiere through. At a time when television broadly pushes artistic boundaries, expanding options leads to more diverse storytelling. Therefore, one person’s canceled-too-soon favorite persists to be discovered and celebrated. Even if it flies under the radar upon release, the afterlife of post-network TV allows the most extraordinary shows to build followings gradually.

10 The Knick

An Ambitious Period Medical Drama That Deserved More

Despite critical acclaim, the Cinemax period medical drama The Knick, directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Clive Owen, failed to attract a large audience. Set in 1900s New York, the show centered on a cocaine-addicted surgeon pioneering new techniques while confronting racism and classism. Explicit scenes of early surgery highlighted both medical innovations and horrifying practices. Though following the successful formula of other cable dramas exploring precise historical moments through flawed protagonists, The Knick’s unflinching subject matter and stark cinematography likely limited its appeal. Nevertheless, the series offered a gripping portrait of advances in medicine, and deserves recognition as an ambitious, unsettling, and thought-provoking drama.

9 Halt and Catch Fire

A Great Show That Fell Short Commercially

The Silicon Valley-esqe show Halt and Catch Fire, follows the tech boom of the 1980s and ’90s. Focusing on visionary engineers striving to transform technology, the show balances an aspirational optimism about innovation with the harsh realities faced by those who dare to change the world. Though the characters are fictional, their attempts to surpass corporate tech giants Apple and Google resonate with the endless drive and inevitable disappointments of entrepreneurship. While Halt and Catch Fire had too niche of an appeal to find a wide audience during its initial 2014-2017 run, its nuanced portrait of tech idealists makes it a hidden gem worth discovering.

8 Reaper

A Slacker Comedy With Paranormal Elements And Witty Writing

Reaper aired from 2007-2009 on the CW, and attracted a small, but passionate fanbase during its short two season run. Centering on aimless store employee Sam, it infused supernatural stakes into workplace comedy when Sam learns his parents sold his soul to the Devil. Forced into becoming a bounty hunter dragging escaped souls back to hell, Sam faces fantastical threats while trying to come to terms with his fate. Despite cult appeal, the show’s quirky sensibility struggled to find an audience amid CW teen soaps popular at the time. However, with a clever take on selling one’s soul to the corporate grind, Reaper deserves a second life.

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7 The Righteous Gemstones

A Unique Comedic Lens On Organized Religion

Premiering on HBO in 2019, The Righteous Gemstones satirizes celebrity megachurch culture through the exploits of a dysfunctional televangelist family. Led by patriarch Eli Gemstone (John Goodman), his scheming children Jesse, Kelvin, and Judy live in luxury funded by their congregation’s donations. Created by Danny McBride, the comedy balances razor-sharp critiques of hypocrisy with absurd laughs at the Gemstones’ greed and pettiness. Despite its stellar cast, the provocative subject matter is probably what limited its audience. With a season 4 renewal, the show’s fearless meditation on moral bankruptcy makes The Righteous Gemstones a daring and entertaining show about those who profit off faith.

6 The Great

A Witty Take On Historical Dramas

A satirical take on the rise of Catherine the Great, Hulu’s The Great combines lavish period drama with modern wit. Starring Elle Fanning as the idealistic young Catherine and Nicholas Hoult as her debauched husband Peter III, the series filters 18th century court intrigue through contemporary humor. The show triumphs through magnetic lead performances and an irreverent tone. Premiering in 2020, yet failing to enter the cultural zeitgeist, The Great deserves renewed attention for bringing a playful edge to historical dramas, despite being cancelled by Hulu after season 3. Led by Fanning and Hoult’s chemistry, the series breathes new life into a powerful historical figure.

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5 Better Things

An Authentic Blend Of Comedy And Drama

The FX series Better Things, co-created by and starring Pamela Adlon deserves more recognition for its poignant, yet hilarious portrait of working mother Sam Fox. The show depicts her juggling her acting career in Los Angeles while single parenting three daughters and caring for her aging, eccentric British mother. Despite earning critical praise, including for its direction, music supervision, and performances, Better Things failed to gain traction with mainstream audiences. Detail-oriented and full of heart, Better Things crafted a celebration of the daily joys and frustrations of womanhood, as a mother, daughter, and individual trying to balance it all.

4 High Maintenance

A One-Of-A-Kind Examination Of The Human Condition

Initially premiering on Vimeo in 2012 as a web series, before moving to HBO in 2016, the comedy High Maintenance stood out for its anthology-style take on a Brooklyn pot dealer. Created by then-married duo Ben Sinclair and Katja Blichfeld, Sinclair stars as an unnamed dealer who briefly interacts with a different client each episode. Additionally, the show spotlights eccentric and relatable New Yorkers in concise vignettes tied together by Sinclair’s empathetic character. The show received critical acclaim and was praised for its fresh premise, but High Maintenance struggled to attract viewers due to its loose narrative structure and low-fi production. However, it remains a charming ode to community.

3 Mr. Inbetween

Deserves More Recognition For Its Portrayal Of A Likeable Killer

The FX crime drama Mr. Inbetween ran for three seasons before ending in 2021, garnering critical acclaim, however, it failed to gain widespread attention. Starring Australian actor Scott Ryan as hitman-for-hire Ray Shoesmith, the series nails a tricky tonal balance between grim violence and dark humor. As Ray navigates the criminal underworld of his native Australia, he also deals with the emotional consequences of his bloody work life affecting his family and loved ones. While the show’s premise is similar to the more viewed shot Barry, this hidden gem immerses viewers in Aussie culture. Mr. Inbetween stands out through Ryan’s magnetic performance and the show’s examination of morality.

2 Treme

A Humanistic Portrait Of New Orleans

Treme is an HBO series named after the New Orleans neighborhood that ran for four seasons depicting the city’s recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Avoiding sensationalism, Treme offered an authentic portrait of locals rebuilding their lives and culture through hardship. The expansive ensemble of characters, from Mardi Gras Indians to professors, honored the diversity of African-American, Creole, and immigrant communities that give New Orleans its unique vibrancy. While the show was praised for its humanistic tone and granular detail, Treme likely struggled for not putting enough attention towards a strong narrative. Nevertheless, viewing New Orleans with a more nuanced lens through Treme makes this show worth watching.

1 Reservation Dogs

A Celebration And Critique Of Indigenous Traditions

Led by Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi, Reservation Dogs brings an Indigenous lens to the coming-of-age genre. The FX comedy follows four Native American teenagers in rural Oklahoma who turn to petty crime to fund their California dreams, all while honoring a late friend’s memory. The cast of Reservation Dogs features fresh talent alongside acting veterans, and the predominantly Indigenous-made production authentically captures reservation life. Sadly, Reservation Dogs has flown under the radar despite glowing reviews praising its original perspective. Full of bittersweet, hilarious, and poignant moments, the show explores community and loss through a vibrant cultural backdrop unseen on contemporary TV. Reservation Dogs puts a fresh spin on universal adolescent themes.