In the age of digital streaming, new TV shows are popping up like weeds, on a near-constant basis. Streaming platforms make a good portion of their money from producing original series, whether they are based on source material or not. This means that it’s harder than ever for a TV show to have its big break, or to make it into the mainstream, with many shows falling well short of the mark, no matter how bad or good they are.
The 2020s has been especially bad for this, because no streaming is more popular than ever, and it’s impossible to keep up with every single new series or miniseries that appears in the library of your streaming service(s) of choice. Even though many TV shows haven’t gotten as much attention as they need, that doesn’t mean they’re bad. These are the most underrated shows of the 2020s so far, which you should definitely watch if you haven’t already.
Created by Rhett Reese, Michael Jonathan Smith, and Paul Wernick
Twisted Metal is a Peacock original post-apocalyptic action-comedy series based on the vehicular combat video games of the same name. The show never really took off as much as some of the more famous TV adaptations of games, likely due to the smaller streaming service it was released on (or at least in comparison to heavy-hitters like Netflix or Disney+). While it’s far from perfect, it does a pretty good job of embodying the explosive, over-the-top action of the games.
Featuring all of the fan-favorite characters that gamers love so much, Twisted Metal was met with generally positive reviews, though nothing super major. With a second season on the way, Twisted Metal is a perfect series for fans of Mad Max and all of the wild car combat that is contained within. Unashamedly bonkers, this video game-to-TV adaptation may not be as famous as it should be, but it’s pretty fun, regardless.
- Release Date
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July 27, 2023
- Network
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Peacock
- Directors
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Jude Weng, Bill Benz
- Writers
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Grant DeKernion, Francesca Gailes, Alyssa Forleiter, Shaun Diston, Becca Black, Alison Tafel
9
‘Resident Alien’ (2021–)
Created by Chris Sheridan
Resident Alien is a sci-fi dramedy about an alien life form that crash-lands on Earth and kills a physician named Harry (Alan Tudyk), taking on the doctor’s appearance and taking over the doctor’s practice. However, as the alien fakes his way through his appointments and meets various friends, he comes to appreciate the quirks of humanity and finds himself defending them from other invading alien life forms throughout the series.
At three seasons long, Resident Alien currently remains in a state of limbo. It was renewed in June of 2024, but it is set to transfer networks before the release of its fourth season. This series is totally weird, but it revels in its quirkiness, utilizing some bizarre and awkward humour to provide laughs and entertainment value. Along with a sci-fi, it’s also got the elements of a sitcom, and of a murder mystery. There’s a little something for everybody in this one, no matter what your fancy is, so it’s not exactly fair that it isn’t more popular, now is it?
8
‘The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself’ (2022)
Created by Joe Barton
The Bastard Son & The Devil Himself is based on a trilogy of low fantasy novels by Sally Green, and follows Nathan (Jay Lycurgo), a 17-year-old boy who has grown up under the watchful eye of a council of witches, without his knowledge, of course. The reason for their spying is due to the fact that, unbeknownst to Nathan, he is the illegitimate son of the world’s most dangerous Blood Witch, who belonged to an order at war with the council that has been watching him.
Now, being the subject of a literal witch hunt, Nathan finds himself caught between the two sides of a secret war that has been raging for centuries. Along the way, he meets other witches and learns to harness his own powers while avoiding those who would see him dead. In spite of overwhelmingly positive reviews, Netflix inexplicably decided to axe the series after its first season, but this is likely due to the fact that it never really got the attention that it warranted, something which hasn’t changed in the three years since its release.
7
‘Tales From the Loop’ (2020)
Developed by Nathaniel Halpern
Tales From the Loop is an eight-part miniseries based on an art book by Swedish artist Simon Stålenhag, though the narrative largely takes place in a rural town in Ohio called Mercer. Mercer might seem unassuming at first glance, but it’s actually home to a gigantic underground facility dedicated to experimenting with quantum physics, which is colloquially known as “The Loop.” The purpose of The Loop is to make concepts otherwise deemed to be science fiction into reality, which comes with its advantages and drawbacks.
Judging by its title, one might think that this is an anthology series, but it isn’t. There is an overarching narrative that must be watched in order, and no episode has self-contained stories or anything. The Amazon Prime Video original explores the dangers of experimenting with the secrets of the universe, but also seeks to show the audience the beauty of the world around us and how utterly fascinating the laws of the universe are. Though it was received well, this series is still waiting for its big break.
6
‘Devs’ (2020)
Created by Alex Garland
Alex Garland, who directed sci-fi classics Ex Machina and Annihilation, takes the reins on Devs, a sci-fi techno-thriller series that bafflingly only lasted one season. The series is about a quantum computing company called Amaya, which is run by a mysterious man named Forest (Nick Offerman). But the main character is Lily (Sonoya Mizuno), a software engineer at Amaya who gets tangled up in a mystery after her boyfriend is hired at the company, but dies on his first day on the job.
In spite of its high viewership at the beginning, many still haven’t seen this sci-fi masterpiece, even in spite of its excellent reviews. Many critics were quick to commend Devs for its philosophical undertones, slow-burning pacing, complex storyline, and perfect ending, allowing it to keep its audience invested right through until the very end. But of course, it definitely could do with some more love—perhaps if it had been a bigger success in viewership, it wouldn’t have been canceled so promptly.
5
‘Slow Horses’ (2022–)
Created by Will Smith
Slow Horses is a British spy thriller series created by Will Smith. No, not that Will Smith. This Will Smith is an English stand-up comedian and screenwriter rather than an American Hollywood actor. This show has been staying pretty consistent, racking up four seasons in only three short years, so there’s never been any uncertainty about the future of the series as of yet. There are a lot of big stars in this show, including Sophie Okonedo, Hugo Weaving, and Gary Oldman, among others, so there’s no question that the acting in the show is good.
The story is about the Slough House, which is a branch of MI-5 reserved for operatives or agents who have seriously messed up their duties, but not badly enough that it warrants being immediately fired. As the workers in Slough House are repeatedly assigned annoying, repetitive tasks in the hopes that they will get bored and quit, they surprisingly find themselves taking on a massively important case that threatens all of Britain. Tense, yet never without its comedic moments, Slow Horses never really had the chance to break out into the big leagues. Even though it is decently popular, it deserves a lot more love.
4
‘Deadloch’ (2023–)
Created by Kate McCartney and Kate McLennan
Deadloch is a black comedy-crime series from the land down under, centring on the fictional town of the same name near the Tasmanian coast. This uneventful little town doesn’t see a whole lot of action, but is unexpectedly horrified when a dead body washes up on shore. This prompts two police detectives to tackle the case. There’s just one problem: both of them are complete polar opposites, and must learn how to avoid clashing with each other too much as they investigate the heinous crime.
As they investigate, secrets are revealed and the mystery gets more and more complex, proving that the town of Deadloch may be a lot more than meets the eye. The show has been understandably popular in its home country of Australia, but hasn’t quite broken into the international spotlight quite as much. Luckily, it’s not too late, because the acclaimed Australian show is currently still going on, just waiting for dark comedy or murder mystery fans to give it a go.
3
‘Somebody Somewhere’ (2022–2024)
Created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen
Somebody Somewhere is an HBO dramedy starring Bridget Everett as Sam, a middle-aged woman who returns to her hometown following the death of her sister, leaving her feeling alone and helpless. To try and fit in with other lost souls, she takes up a new hobby: singing. Through her vocals, she meets a whole community of like-minded people in similar situations, helping her adjust to life in her hometown after being gone for so long.
This series has a 100% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes, with a similarly high audience score, but unfortunately lasted only three seasons. Maybe it was because it wasn’t viewed enough, or maybe it was because it told the story it needed to tell. But that doesn’t change the fact that TV viewers don’t really talk about this show enough. Not only is it quirky and unforgettable, but it’s also deeply relatable, as it grapples with themes that everyone deals with at some point or another.
2
‘Essex County’ (2023)
Directed by Andrew Cividino
Essex County is a Canadian miniseries based on a graphic novel of the same name by Jeff Lemire. The story follows Lester (Finlay Wojtak-Hissong), who has been sent to live with his Uncle Kenny (Brian J. Smith) following the death of his mother from cancer. Lester’s father is largely absent in his life, to the point that Lester doesn’t even really know who his dad is, leaving his mom’s brother as the only person capable of taking care of him. Lester is a lonely boy, spending most of his time pretending to be a superhero, which often results in him being bullied by the other kids at school.
As Lester struggles with his identity and the concept of growing up, he finds that Uncle Kenny’s close friend Anne (Molly Parker) is having a hard time with the concept of aging, too, as she takes care of her sick uncle with dementia. Essex County was a brilliant tribute to the award-winning graphic novel upon which it was based, one that shows the true heart of rural Canada, and Canadian culture as a whole. Hockey is a major theme in the series, as well as its carefully executed themes of finding oneself and the beauty of youth. It’s touching, melancholy, but homey and familiar, and is a super easy watch at only five episodes. It’s a real shame that this show never got the attention it so desperately deserved.
1
‘Lost Ollie’ (2022)
Created by Shannon Tindle
Lost Ollie isn’t just an underrated television show, it’s easily the greatest fantasy miniseries of all time. With a stunning blend of live-action and stop-motion animation, Lost Ollie is a nostalgic tale for viewers of all ages about a boy’s stuffed rabbit who is accidentally left behind, and that embarks on a quest to reunite with his owner. This four-part Netflix original was met with near-perfect reviews, each one praising its heartwarming, simplistic storyline, emotional value, and the team behind the camera, who have crafted something unbelievably special.
As Ollie (Jonathan Groff) makes his way back to his beloved Billy (Kesler Talbot), he meets many new friends, who are lost toys themselves, and learns many valuable life lessons about the joys of childhood, and about emotional problems that every kid faces at one point or another. With a bittersweet ending and a wonderful story reminiscent of the audience’s own childhood toys, Lost Ollie feels like a new Toy Story for a modern age, and is, without question, the most underrated show of the decade.
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