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TV

The 10 Most Underrated TV Series You Should Watch

Some shows shine brightly but never get the attention they deserve. These are the hidden gems of television, productions that have been unfairly overlooked or underrated despite their quality storytelling, complex characters, and impeccable production values.

From intense psychological dramas to sci-fi thrillers that push the boundaries of the imagination, these series offer unique and memorable experiences. While many have won critical acclaim and awards, they have yet to capture a mass audience. Yet it is their distinctive and sometimes daring approach that makes them a must-see for any viewer looking for something more than conventional content.

We have compiled what we think are the 10 best and most underrated series of recent years that you should watch, and we have also ordered them from worst to best according to IMDb.

  1. ‘Patriot’
  2. ‘Penny Dreadful’
  3. ‘The Leftovers’
  4. ‘Rectify’
  5. ‘Banshee’
  6. ‘Halt and Catch Fire’
  7. ‘The Americans’
  8. ‘The Knick’
  9. ‘The Expanse’
  10. ‘Hannibal’

‘Patriot’

  • Platform: Prime Video
  • Length: 46 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 2
  • Year: 2015
  • IMDb Score: 8,2

This black comedy series follows an intelligence agent who struggles to maintain his mental health while fulfilling his mission. With its unique tone and focus on the absurdity of the spy life, ‘Patriot’ has been praised for its originality and humor, but has failed to find and consolidate a wide audience.

‘Penny Dreadful’

  • Platform: Fubo, Paramount+
  • Length: 54 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 3
  • Year: 2014
  • IMDb Score: 8,2

This series blends characters from Gothic literature such as Dracula, Frankenstein and Dorian Gray to create a dark and intriguing story. Starring Eva Green and Josh Hartnett, ‘Penny Dreadful’ is known for its dark atmosphere and intricate storytelling. The series has been nominated for several awards, including BAFTA, but has not received the widespread recognition we feel it deserves.

‘The Leftovers’

  • Platform: MAX
  • Length: 58 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 3
  • Year: 2014
  • IMDb Score: 8,3

In a world where 2% of the population mysteriously disappears, ‘The Leftovers’ explores the psychological and emotional impact on those left behind. With a deep and emotional narrative, the series has been acclaimed for its direction and performances, particularly that of Justin Theroux. Despite its lack of major awards, it is considered an underrated gem of modern television.

‘Rectify’

  • Platform: AMC+
  • Length: 47 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 4
  • Year: 2013
  • IMDb Score: 8,3

Rectify’ follows Daniel Holden, a man who is exonerated after spending 19 years on death row. The series focuses on his struggle to reintegrate into society and the effects of wrongful incarceration. With an introspective narrative and powerful performances, it has received critical acclaim but has gone largely unnoticed by the general public.

‘Banshee’

  • Platform: MAX
  • Length: 51 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 4
  • Year: 2013
  • IMDb Score: 8,4

An ex-con assumes the identity of a sheriff in a small Pennsylvania town. ‘Banshee’ combines intense action with a plot full of twists and complex characters. Although it has not won many major awards, the series has been praised for its frenetic pace and unique approach to the action genre.

‘Halt and Catch Fire’

  • Platform: AMC+
  • Length: 45 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 4
  • Year: 2014
  • IMDb Score: 8,4

Set in the 1980s and 1990s, this series chronicles the computer revolution through the lives of engineers and entrepreneurs. With well-developed characters and an accurate portrayal of technological history, ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ has been critically acclaimed, but is another series that we feel has not received and reached the audience it deserves.

‘The Americans’

  • Platform: Hulu
  • Length: 48 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 6
  • Year: 2013
  • IMDb Score: 8,4

This spy series follows two KGB agents posing as an American couple during the Cold War. With a taut narrative and stellar performances from Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys, ‘The Americans’ has won several awards, including Emmys, but remains underappreciated by a wider audience.

‘The Knick’

  • Platform: MAX
  • Length: 54 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 2
  • Year: 2014
  • IMDb Score: 8,5

Directed by Steven Soderbergh and starring Clive Owen, the series is set in a New York hospital in the early 20th century. ‘The Knick’ explores the medical advances of the time and the personal struggles of its characters. Despite its cinematic and critical quality, it has not achieved widespread recognition.

‘The Expanse’

  • Platform: Prime Video
  • Length: 54 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 6
  • Year: 2014
  • IMDb Score: 8,5

Set in a future where the solar system has been colonized, ‘The Expanse’ explores themes of politics, intrigue, and space exploration. The series has been praised for its scientific realism and expansive storytelling. Despite its quality and fidelity to James S.A. Corey’s novels, it has not reached the level of popularity of other science fiction series.

‘Hannibal’

  • Platform: Prime Video, AMC+, Shudder
  • Length: 43 minutes per episode
  • Seasons: 3
  • Year: 2013
  • IMDb Score: 8,5

Based on the characters of Thomas Harris, ‘Hannibal’ follows the relationship between talented psychiatrist Hannibal Lecter and FBI agent Will Graham. A mix of psychological horror and exquisite cinematography, the series has been praised for its aesthetics and performances, especially by Mads Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy. Despite its early cancellation, it has a loyal fan base.