With so many critically acclaimed and viral series available on streaming platforms, there is hardly a shortage of good television to watch. While there is a distinct enjoyment in partaking in worldwide phenomena likethe Last of Us,Euphoria, orHouse of the Dragon, audiences can also appreciate a range of underrated series that deserve way more hype than they’ve gotten. There certainly are plenty of high-profile series returning soon, including a new season ofWhat We Do In the Shadows, the return ofFuturama, and a newStar Warsseries withAhsoka, but what about something a little different?
Update August 26, 2025: This article has been updated bySean Shumanwith more underrated TV shows you may have never heard of that make for a great watch.
If you are aimlessly browsing through Netflix’s seemingly endless catalog but can’t seem to find something that captures your interest, or looking for something a little different from the traditional best-of-television list, allow us to give a few recommendations. From offbeat comedies to high-budget science fiction, here are 25 shows you might not have heard of but should definitely check out.
25MXC (Most Extreme Elimination Challenge)
An ancient relic from the days before high-speed internet was practically a utility,MXC(Most Extreme Elimination Challenge) is a show whose existence may seem perplexing at first. An Americanized re-dubbing of the Japanese game showTakeshi’s Castle,MXCtakes footage from the series and re-contextualizes it into a non-stop parade of jokes and quips laced over some incredibly creative obstacle course challenges. ImagineWipeout, but a lot more crass and a bit less Japanese.
Starring “Vic Romano” (Victor Wilson) and “Kenny Blankenship” (Chris Darga), this brazenly absurd reinterpretation of a Japanese classic is admittedly a little antiquated. After all, if you want a wacky game show nowadays, you can just skim the internet for one. Still, this underrated parody series takes a rapid-fire approach to its humor, guaranteeing a few good laughs out of what are dozens upon dozens of jokes.
24The Sifl and Olly Show
A long-forgotten MTV series that somehow predicted “electronic cigarettes” in the late 90s,The Sifl and Olly Showis one that reflects the decade’s rebellious sensibilities. Created by musicians Matt Crocco and Liam Lynch, who would later compose music for MTV’sClone High,The Sifl and Olly Showis a series about sock puppets. Taking the form of a public access variety show, Sifl and Olly host a variety of skits, phone calls from viewers, satirical infomercials, interviews, and musical segments.
Despite flying under the radar for decades,The Sifl and Olly Showhas some pretty prominent fans: Aaron McGruder (The Boondocks) and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5,Thor) have voiced their approval of the series in the past, and the series as a whole remains a cult favorite for 90s kids. Lasting for only a few seasons, thissurreal sketch showis perfect for late-night streaming sessions.
Eurekawas one of multiple shows that originally debuted on SyFy in the mid-2000s, alongsideWarehouse 13andFringe. But, compared to its contemporaries, it’s a bit more unique. Set in the titular utopian town in the middle of Oregon, a lone US Marshall (Colin Ferguson) finds himself making a mind-blowing discovery. After an electromagnetic shield hiding the town’s existence is peeled away, the Marshall ends up taking the role of the town’s sheriff. From there, the town’s super-scientist inhabitants find themselves regularly messing with technology that could doom the very fabric of reality, with our newly-appointed sheriff left to clean up the resulting mess.
Nominated for multiple awards due to its brilliant special effects,Eurekais still highly regarded by those who stuck around during its original television run. While critical reviews were mixed overall, there’s still a fun time to be had in this delightful science-fiction series.
22Aeon Flux
A visual powerhouse from MTV of all things,Aeon Fluxis easily the most visually-stimulating remnant of the Liquid Television era. Created by Peter Chung, this series takes place in a visually-distinct dystopian future, borrowing heavily from German Expressionism and formerly-taboo cultural topics. Denise Poirier stars as our title character, a secret agent entrusted to eliminate targets controlled by her former lover-turned-villain, Trevor Goodchild. While the first two seasons are mostly silent, the third season would introduce dialogue, with more time devoted to exploring its philosophical cyberpunk world.
With a live-action reboot of the series still supposedly in development, you’d be hard-pressed to miss out on this brilliantly surreal animated series. It’s something that’ll stick with you long after you finish watching it, not just because of its off-color visuals, but for the themes and ideas addressed throughout as well.
21The Venture Bros.
One of Adult Swim’s longest-running shows was also one of its most subdued.The Venture Bros., a series that saw infrequent updates every few years, remains one of the late-night network’s most beloved shows. Originally atribute to superhero showsand classic Saturday morning cartoons, this series chronicles the somber lives of the Venture family: super-scientist Rusty Venture, his inept sons Hank and Dean Venture, and the family’s bodyguard, Brock Samson. But, instead of taking an episodic approach, this gargantuan series gradually morphs and changes with every season, telling a bittersweet story of overcoming failure from multiple perspectives.
A concluding film will finally giveThe 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.
20Why Women Kill
Streaming on Paramount +,Why Women Killis a hidden gem that starts off strong with the stories of three vastly different couples. Season one boasts a talented cast that includes Lucy Liu, Ginnifer Goodwin, Alexandra Daddario, and Jack Davenport. The story is broken up into three separate timelines. In 1963, Beth Ann Stanton is a devoted wife and doting homemaker to husband Rob, until the truth of his infidelities and even more heinous betrayals come to light. In 1984, Simone Grove is a fashionable and socially prominent figure in her community. The twice-divorced wife of Karl Grove relishes in being the envy of all — until the illusory facade of her marriage is peeled away by the revelation that Mr. Grove is actually gay. Finally, in 2016, Eli Cohen and Taylor Harding are a thoroughly modern couple with a fittingly alternative marriage. Having long enjoyed an open marriage, the pair now opens their home to the beautiful Jade, Taylor’s longtime lover. As the initially happy living arrangement invites danger into their lives, the pair soon discover that perhaps three is a crowd. Season one stands out as a masterclass in humor and heart, with a bit of nostalgia highlighted in the costuming and sets, and the ensemble cast delivers the drama and comedy with equal aptitude.
Season two is arguably less captivating than the first, though the opening sequences establish a distinct sense of whimsy and mystery that set it apart from season one. Furthermore, this season is focused on just one timeline. In 1949, Alma Filcott longs for more than the simple life of a veterinarian’s wife. In addition to her animal-loving husband not being as harmless as he seems, her fixation with social acceptance leads her down a dark and murderous path.
This drastically underrated comedy has long flown under the radar as compared to the much more widely renowned NBC original series.Chuckrequires the viewer to suspend disbelief quite a bit, but the humor makes it easy to do that. Chuck Bartowski, portrayed by Zachary Levi, has been down on his luck since his expulsion from Stanford University for something he didn’t even do. He works as a member of the “Nerd Herd” at the Burbank Buy More, a parody of Best Buy and its Geek Squad. 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.
Chuckmanaged to survive five seasons on NBC, despite the network repeatedly attempting to cancel the show, a fate thwarted by the uproar created by the show’s loyal fans. In fact, it is because of the ardent fan campaigning that about halfway through the series, you have to look past some comically blatant product placement from Subway. This is because, in an effort to save the show from NBC’s ax, fans rallied for the popular restaurant chain to fund the show, and thus, keep it on the air. Though the series ended in 2012, fan subreddits have remained active and leading man Zachary Levi has expressed continued interest in aChuckmovie adaptation.
This action-packed psychological thriller follows rogue Division agentNikita Mears (Maggie Q)as she tries to take down the covert organization that recruited her as a troubled teenager and subsequently murdered her fiancé. Using a young girl named Alex (Lyndsy Fonseca) as a mole on the inside, Nikita fights against the network of spies and assassins she once worked for.Nikitaran for four seasons on The CW, earning an 85% fresh tomatoes rating on Rotten Tomatoes despite relatively low viewership.
This HBO original, named for one after a New Orleans neighborhood, follows the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina as residents of the city struggle to rebuild their city and bring back normalcy amidst their own personal struggles and ambitions. The series, which ran for four seasons, earned praise for its realistic portrayal of New Orleans culture. This is a particularly notable merit given the often mythicized portrayals of the city in popular culture.
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Featuring a wide range of characters representing the diversity of the city and a holistic view of reconstruction efforts,Tremeuplifts its tone as seasons progress and hope is restored among the people. Especially for the thousands of students that make New Orleans their temporary home each year to attend prestigious universities, the series should serve as an educational study of a city with unparalleled resilience and spirit and with more to offer than what meets the tourist’s eye.
2025-07-10
Starring James Franco,11.22.63follows Jake Epping as he is entrusted with the secrets of time travel by his friend, Al. He is tasked with attempting to stop the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. Epping’s story is made further complicated by developments in his new life in the past, with his attachments threatening to unravel and disrupt his mission.
