A recent social media discussion has highlighted a multitude of television shows that, despite critical acclaim or dedicated fan followings, never achieved widespread mainstream recognition. The conversation, initiated on Threads by user @kevinpatrickrobbins, invited participants to share "underrated series that are actually must-watch."
Among the most frequently mentioned and passionately defended series were "Halt and Catch Fire," "Somebody Somewhere," and "Dark." "Somebody Somewhere," a critically acclaimed series, was cited by one user as deserving of a broader audience and "should never have stopped when it did." Similarly, the German sci-fi drama "Dark" continues to resonate with viewers years after its release, with one commenter stating, "I think about this show regularly still."
Other notable suggestions spanned various genres and origins. "The Riches," starring Minnie Driver and Eddie Izzard, was praised for its sharp writing and strong performances, though its second season was considered by some to be a decline in quality. The ABC comedy "Better Off Ted" and the ABC mockumentary "Sports Night" were also lamented as shows that deserved more attention. The Apple TV+ science fiction series "Foundation," based on Isaac Asimov's novels, was singled out by a viewer unfamiliar with the source material as a favorite.
Several British series garnered significant attention, including "Upstart Crow," a historical comedy featuring David Mitchell as William Shakespeare, and the police drama "Happy Valley," starring Sarah Lancashire. The BBC comedy "Coupling" was noted for its sharp writing, though its popularity in the United States was questioned. "In the Flesh!," a BBC series set in a post-zombie apocalypse world that explored themes of discrimination and trauma, was described as "extremely dark, extremely sad and one of the best written shows ever," with its cancellation after two seasons lamented.
International productions also featured prominently. The French series "Call My Agent!" was lauded as "genius," while the Italian period drama "The Law According to Lidia Poët," noted for its impressive costumes, was recommended for fans of British costume dramas. The Danish series "Rita" and the Australian prison drama "Wentworth" were also highlighted.
The issue of shows being canceled prematurely, often after only one season, was a recurring theme. "The Peripheral," starring Chloe Grace Moretz, and "Ultraviolet," featuring Jack Davenport, were specifically mentioned as victims of the writers' strike, which impacted production schedules and resulted in the cancellation of numerous shows. "Continuum," a Canadian time-travel series, and "The Number 1 Ladies Detective Agency," an HBO series based on a book series, were also noted for their short runs.
Fans also expressed strong opinions on shows like "Carnivále" on HBO and "Patriot" on Prime Video, describing them as "peak prestige TV" and "quirky, dark, thoughtful." The FX series "Terriers" was praised for its unique premise of an ex-cop and former criminal working as private detectives, while the Netflix series "Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories" was commended for its charm and culinary focus. The Hulu series "Pen15" and the Prime Video series "The Man in the High Castle" also received enthusiastic recommendations.
Other series that appeared on the extensive list included "The Fall" with Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan, the British comedy "We Are Lady Parts," the FX series "The Grinder," the Prime Video series "The Narrow Road to the Deep North," and the Comedy Central series "Review."