Most Underrated TV Shows of All Time

They all deserve more viewers.

Most Underrated TV Shows of All Time

Hundreds of TV shows air every year, but only a fraction of them are breakout hits. A bunch are garbage. And some shows, no matter how good they are, fail to find the audience and/or critical claim they deserve. These are those shows.

The underrated dramas, rom-coms, thrillers, comedies and science fiction shows all deserve more viewers. Take a look and see if you can find a whole new show to binge.

40. Moone Boy

Genre: Sitcom

Years: 2012-15

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 18

Network: Sky One/Hulu

Bottom Line: Moone Boy

"Moone Boy" is a light-hearted Irish sitcom created by and costarring Chris O'Dowd. It's a genuinely funny and heartwarming show about a 12-year-old boy with an overactive imagination and his imaginary friend (played by O'Dowd). It's set in the late 1980s/early 1990s Ireland.

"Moone Boy" is only 18, 30-minute episodes and easily worth a binge one weekend. Luckily, the show ended on its own terms. You can find it on Hulu.

39. The Orville

Genre: Science-fiction/comedy/drama

Years: 2017-present

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 36

Network: Fox/Hulu

Bottom Line: The Orville

Critics didn't really like Seth McFarlane's "The Orville," but audiences ended up loving it.

Set 400 years into the future, "The Orville" focuses on a mid-level exploration ship and its eccentric crew and its captain, Ed Mercer (played by McFarlane). Good comedy science fiction is difficult to come by, but luckily, "The Orville" isn't all about laughs — it's more of a love letter to "Star Trek: The Next Generation" than anything else.

The first season is a little rough and has some stupid contemporary humor (why would anyone remember pop culture references from 2020 400 years from now), but by Season 2, it's solid, campy sci-fi goodness.

Many diehard TNG fans consider "The Orville" the closest thing to the classic series, and that's including the new "Star Trek" shows like "Picard" and "Discovery."

The show originally aired on Fox but was moved to Hulu.

38. The Detour

Genre: Comedy

Years: 2016-19

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 42

Network: TBS

Bottom Line: The Detour

For fans of National Lampoon's "Vacation" movie series, TBS' "The Detour" is worth giving a shot.

Like the films it's inspired by, "The Detour" is about a family on vacation who run into a series of compounding problems, until the whole thing spirals out of control.

It's goofy, completely absurd and has some great writing and good acting. Unfortunately, TBS cancelled the show after Season 4.

37. Bates Motel

Genre: Psychological horror

Years: 2013-17

No. of seasons: 5

No. of episodes: 50

Network: A&E

Bottom Line: Bates Motel

"Bates Motel" is a show that's a contemporary prequel to the Alfred Hitchcock classic "Psycho."

Vera Farmiga stars as Norman Bates' mother, Norma, and Freddie Highmore stars as a teenage, serial-killer-in-the-making Norman.

Despite Farmiga winning an Emmy and and Saturn Award for Best Actress, and the show itself winning three People's Choice Awards, the show never really garnered the audience it deserved. But luckily, the show was able to live out its intended lifespan, with the creator wanting to end it after Season 5.

Those who love horror — and shows that weren't canceled too soon — should take a look.

36. Preacher

Genre: Southern Gothic/black comedy/supernatural

Years: 2015-19

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 43

Network: AMC

Bottom Line: Preacher

Based off the cult-hit comic book, "Preacher" is about an alcoholic preacher who ends up housing a strange supernatural entity inside of him. Now possessing a strange new power, Preacher sets out to literally find God himself, and brings along a vampire and a murder-happy ex-girlfriend.

For fans of dark comedies and supernatural shows, "Preacher" is definitely worth giving a shot. It's strange, gory and a whole lot of fun.

35. Banshee

Genre: Action/drama

Years: 2014-16

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 38

Network: Cinemax

Bottom Line: Banshee

"Banshee" is about a mysterious ex-con who assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff in the small Pennsylvanian town of Banshee.

The stranger, known as Lucas Hood, has some unfinished business in the fictional town, which has to do with some stolen jewels and repairing his relationship with the love of his life and daughter. But his criminal past will come back to haunt him, as will the various denizens of Banshee, like Amish gangsters and corrupt FBI agents.

"Banshee" is a fantastic, fun choice for those who love action shows. It has some fantastic fight choreography and over-the-top action while not becoming totally ridiculous.

34. Bored to Death

Genre: Comedy

Years: 2009-11

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 24

Network: HBO

Bottom Line: Bored to Death

"Bored to Death" is an HBO comedy show that features an all-star cast of Jason Schwartzman, Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson. It's about a struggling author and unlicensed private eye (played by Schwartzman) who, after his girlfriend dumps him, puts an ad on Craigslist offering his detective services.

Despite the cast, "Bored to Death" flew under the radar and failed to capture an audience beyond Season 3. It's a small show with a laid-back indie feel and an odd cast of characters.

And, of course, the acting is great.

33. Longmire

Genre: Western/crime/drama

Years: 2012-17

No. of seasons: 6

No. of episodes: 63

Network: A&E/Netflix

Bottom Line: Longmire

"Longmire" is a murder mystery crime show set in a rural Wyoming town, with Robert Taylor playing Walt Longmire as the lead character. Longmire is a heartbroken man still grieving over the sudden death of his wife trying to piece his life back together while solving crimes.

It's easy to overlook "Longmire" as being another paint-by-numbers network crime show. But it's not. It's a smart show with great acting, fantastic cinematography and clever writing.

Far less slick than "Justified," "Longmire" settles into that good, old-fashioned Western TV-show feel that would be downright cozy if it weren't for all the murder.

32. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

Genre: Sitcom/dark comedy

Years: 2005-present

No. of seasons: 16

No. of episodes: 170

Network: FX

Bottom Line: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" might be the greatest comedy of the past two decades years, but it's rarely ever acknowledged as one.

IASIP has a legion of diehard fans and a following strong enough for FX to have kept the show on the air since 2005, making it the longest-running live-action comedy series in America, but it's still underrated. The show has never been nominated for a major Emmy and has been pulling in ratings of well under 1 million viewers per episode since Season 9.

IASIP is about a gang of sociopathic idiots who own a bar called Paddy's Pub in Philadelphia. It's "Seinfeld" on crack, but also better than "Seinfeld" — or at least it is for those who share its twisted sense of humor. Each season brings something new, and it's one of those rare shows that hasn't declined in quality despite having been on the air for so long.

Danny DeVito supercharged the show when he joined during the second season, and in 2020, FX renewed IASIP for another four seasons.

31. Boardwalk Empire

Genre: Crime/drama

Years: 2009-14

No. of seasons: 5

No. of episodes: 56

Network: HBO

Bottom Line: Boardwalk Empire

"Boardwalk Empire" is one of those shows that recieved universal critical acclaim but never really found its audience.

Much of that reason is because "Boardwalk" is a slow burn, and doesn't go out of its way to grab the viewer. Comparisons to "The Sopranos" didn't help, either, since "Boardwalk" was the epic series' replacement after "Sopranos" ended. It also got lost in the shuffle, having to compete with the likes of "Breaking Bad," "Mad Men" and "Game of Thrones."

Which is a shame. "Boardwalk" is a fantastic period crime drama with real-life characters like Al Capone and Lucky Luciano. Give it another try, stick with it, and you'll be hooked.

30. The OA

Genre: Sci-fi/fantasy

Years: 2016-19

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 16

Network: Netflix

Bottom Line: The OA

"The OA" is about a blind woman who resurfaces after going missing for seven years.

She gathers a group of misfit high school students and a teacher, and tells them of her strange story of captivity. Meanwhile, she tries to fit back into regular society, even though she has been changed for good.

"The OA" is a love-it-or-hate-it type of show, with thought-provoking imagery and heavy philosophical subject matter.

29. Love Death + Robots

Genre: Adult animation/anthology

Years: 2019

No. of seasons: 1

No. of episodes: 18

Network: Netflix

Bottom Line: Love Death + Robots

"Love Death + Robots" is an anthology series of short, six- to 17-minute animated episodes that all involve sex, death and/or robots. It's the spiritual successor to 1981's "Heavy Metal," so if you like that film, you'll like this.

"Love Death + Robots" is a quick and extremely entertaining show that can be binged in about two-and-a-half hours. It's a fresh and fun take on the adult animation genre that deserves more buzz.

28. The Tick

Genre: Superhero/comedy

Years: 2016-18

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 22

Network: Amazon Video

Bottom Line: The Tick

"The Tick" was one of the freshest comedies of 2016, but its bafflingly large budget couldn't justify its viewership, which we assume was rather small since Amazon canceled the show after just two seasons.

There's a lot of fun to be had in its 22 short episodes.

27. Pushing Daisies

Genre: Fantasy/comedy

Years: 2007-09

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 22

Network: ABC

Bottom Line: Pushing Daisies

Lee Pace plays a piemaker who can bring the dead back to life with a simple touch in "Pushing Daisies."

This show won numerous accolades during its short, two-season run but was canceled due to low viewership numbers. Showrunner and creator Bryan Fuller ran into creative disputes with ABC execs, too.

Given that the show is only two seasons long and over a decade old, most people don't give this show a chance. They should.

26. Patriot

Genre: Dark comedy/spy thriller

Years: 2015-17

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 18

Network: Amazon Video

Bottom Line: Patriot

"Patriot" is a dark comedy about an intelligence officer (Michael Dorman) going undercover at a Milwaukee factory to prevent Iran from going nuclear. Mostly, though, it's a critique about the failings of capitalism.

"Patriot" was one of Amazon's best shows, but a lack of viewership led to the streaming giant snuffing this one out.

25. Superstore

Genre: Comedy

Years: 2015-2021

No. of seasons: 6

No. of episodes: 113

Network: NBC

Bottom Line: Superstore

"Superstore" is about a group of employees working at Cloud 9, a Walmart-esque big-box store located in St. Louis, Missouri. It's kind of like "The Office," but more upbeat and with more jabs at modern consumerism.

When you're done rewatching "The Office" (blasphemy, we know), give "Superstore" a go.

24. Mr. Robot

Genre: Thriller

Years: 2015-19

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 45

Network: NBC

Bottom Line: Mr. Robot

"Mr. Robot" is like "Fight Club," only with more hacking and less fighting. The show centers on an alienated, cynical young security engineer who is recruited by an anarchist hacking group. Their mission: Destroy all debt records from the world's largest bank.

"Mr. Robot" is a critically acclaimed show that started with a viewership of 1.2 million viewers but petered out with just a 0.32 rating by the end of its run. It deserves more attention.

23. Schitt's Creek

Genre: Comedy

Years: 2015-20

No. of seasons: 6

No. of episodes: 80

Network: CBC

Bottom Line: Schitt's Creek

It takes about six episodes of "Schitt's Creek" before the show clicks. That's a lot to ask of most people, and most viewers didn't stick around for this show, which was plagued by low ratings for most of its life. But when it came to Netflix, it found a cult following. The finale drew in 1.3 million viewers, the highest ever.

"Schitt's Creek" is about a horrible, wealthy family who lose their fortune and have to relocate to the motel in the tiny town of Schitt's Creek — a town they once bought as a joke.

There, they get to live with the town's salt-of-the-earth populace.

22. Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Genre: Comedy

Years: 2013-present

No. of seasons: 8

No. of episodes: 153

Network: NBC

Bottom Line: Brooklyn Nine-Nine

"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" is a cult favorite show that, thankfully, continues to get more and more recognition although its run is over.

The procedural comedy about Brooklyn's 99th district police department has been praised for its handling of LGBTQ characters.

And following its cancellation in 2018, fans raised such a ruckus on social media that NBC bought the show from Fox and revived it.

21. You're the Worst

Genre: Comedy

Years: 2014-19

No. of seasons: 5

No. of episodes: 62

Network: FX

Bottom Line: You're the Worst

"You're the Worst" suffers from a terrible title, but it's an incredibly funny show about terrible people. The show is about two toxic people who fall in love with one another.

But unlike shows like "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "Seinfeld," which revel in their characters' horribleness, the show turns inward, exploring the reasons why these characters are so terrible.

20. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

Genre: Sitcom

Years: 2012-13

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 26

Network: ABC

Bottom Line: Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23

"Don't Trust the B--- in Apartment 23" stars Krysten Ritter as an obnoxious party animal who pays for her apartment by continually searching for roommates, demands up-front payment, and then forces them to leave. But when her next roommate (Dreama Walker) decides to stick around, the two form a friendship.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23" features a hilarious performance by James Van Der Beek, who parodies himself as a man trying to revive his dying acting career. Viewership dropped throughout the second season, and ABC canceled the show midseason, shoving the remaining unaired episodes on streaming.

19. Carnivale

Genre: Fantasy/drama

Years: 2003-05

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 24

Network: HBO

Bottom Line: Carnivale

"Carnivale" was ahead of its time. Had this show aired during modern streaming times, it surely would have been a hit.

But "Carnivale" is a slow burn and slow-paced, which led to low ratings. There were supposed to be six seasons, but HBO wrapped the magical circus up in just two.

"Carnviale" is an absolutely beautiful show with rich themes of myth and religion running throughout it.

18. Halt and Catch Fire

Genre: Period drama

Years: 2014-17

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 40

Network: AMC

Bottom Line: Halt and Catch Fire

"Halt and Catch Fire" was critically lauded when it aired, but could not find a viewership. The show struggled with low ratings throughout its entire run, with only the first episode cracking one million views. The final two seasons only had around 330,000 people watching.

Which is a shame, because "Halt and Catch Fire" is an expertly done period piece about the growth of the internet and personal computing in the 1980s. It doesn't sound exciting, but it is.

17. Happy Endings

Genre: Sitcom

Years: 2011-13

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 57

Network: ABC

Bottom Line: Happy Endings

"Happy Endings" is a sitcom that was met with a "meh," but slowly picked up steam and became a critical favorite. The show, which follows six friends in Chicago, kept up decent ratings until its third season, when ratings fell off a cliff.

The sad thing is, it wasn't the show's fault. ABC changed its timeslot to Friday nights and lost several million viewers.

"Happy Endings" still has a solid following. The cast came back in 2020 for a special charity event episode, which was held over Zoom.

16. Lovesick

Genre: Sitcom/rom-com

Years: 2014-18

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 22

Network: Channel 4/Netflix

Bottom Line: Lovesick

Originally titled "Scrotal Recall" in Britain, "Lovesick" took a name change after Netflix commissioned the series after the first season.

"Lovesick" is about Dylan (Johnny Flynn) who, after being diagnosed with chlamydia, tracks down all of his previous sexual partners in order to tell them of his newly discovered STD.

"Lovesick" is a show you'd probably pass on while scrolling through Netflix. It shouldn't be. "Lovesick" is told through flashbacks, with each episode giving new information about Dylan, his friends and his relationships. It's expertly done and well-acted. Don't let the rom-com genre fool you, either. This one is bitingly funny.

15. Better Off Ted

Genre: Sitcom/satire

Years: 2009-10

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 26

Network: ABC

Bottom Line: Better Off Ted

"Better Off Ted" is a workplace comedy with a unique twist. Instead of pushing paper, these employees work for a futuristic, ridiculously evil corporation and need to weigh the risks and rewards of carrying out their employer's nefarious projects.

"Better Off Ted" suffered from having an awful title and struggled with low ratings throughout its brief two-season run. It has since become a cult favorite after finding new life on streaming.

14. Hannibal

Genre: Crime/thriller

Years: 2013-15

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 39

Network: NBC

Bottom Line: Hannibal

Ask any television aficionado what their top 10 favorite shows in the last 10 years were. Chances are, "Hannibal" is on that list.

While this show was critically acclaimed and won several awards, the show had terrible ratings among the key target demographics (the executive producer also blamed piracy).

13. Ash Vs. Evil Dead

Genre: Comedy/horror

Years: 2015-19

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 30

Network: Starz

Bottom Line: Ash Vs. Evil Dead

Bruce Campbell reprises his role as the iconic Ash and goes on a deadite-murdering spree with two young sidekicks in "Ash Vs. Evil Dead."

This show deserved so much more attention than it received. By the time Starz decided to take a chainsaw to the show, "Ash vs. Evil Dead" was averaging only 177,000 viewers per episode of its third and final season.

It was an understandable decision by Starz. We just wish this show was on a network more people watched TV shows on.

12. Peaky Blinders

Genre: Historical fiction/crime

Years: 2013-19

No. of seasons: 5

No. of episodes: 30

Network: Netflix/BBC

Bottom Line: Peaky Blinders

"Peaky Blinders" is a brilliantly gritty British crime drama loosely based on the real-life urban street gangs of the 1920s in England.

Frequently cited as one of the best TV shows you're not watching, "Peaky Blinders" is a modern classic that will prove itself to anyone who gives it a chance.

"You do not f---- with the peaky f---ing blinders!"

11. Peep Show

Genre: Comedy

Years: 2003-15

No. of seasons: 9

No. of episodes: 54

Network: Channel 4

Bottom Line: Peep Show

"Peep Show" is a well-known cult favorite in Britain, but it's not popular in America. It's not surprising, though: "Peep Show" is shot entirely from first-person perspectives.

The camerawork can make you feel a bit queasy at first and the perspectives take some getting used to, but after a few episodes, it starts to become familiar.

"Peep Show" is an absolute must for those who enjoy British humor and want something different.

10. Brass Eye

Genre: Satire

Years: 1997

No. of seasons: 1

No. of episodes: 7

Network: Channel 4

Bottom Line: Brass Eye

"Brass Eye" was Britain's short-lived "The Daily Show." Featuring rapid-fire wit and some downright bizarre humor, "Brass Eye" went down in British television infamy after a 2001 special.

The show is extremely hard to find. Its 1994 predecessor, "The Day Today," is also an incredible show.

Both were created by surrealist comedian Chris Morris.

9. The Eric Andre Show

Genre: Surreal comedy

Years: 2012-present

No. of seasons: 6

No. of episodes: 60

Network: Adult Swim

Bottom Line: The Eric Andre Show

This parody of public television with Eric Andre is the most absurd show to come from Adult Swim since "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!"

The show features celebrity guests, musical guests and skits, all of which are saturated in surreal comedy. You're more likely to have seen this popular meme than watched the show.

8. 12 Monkeys

Genre: Science fiction

Years: 2015-18

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 47

Network: Syfy

Bottom Line: 12 Monkeys

Syfy's "12 Monkeys" is loosely based on the 1995 time-traveling film with Brad Pitt. Like the movie, the TV show centers around a time traveler (Aaron Stanford) who needs to travel from 2043 to 2015 in order to stop the release of a plague-causing virus that wipes out seven billion people.

"12 Monkeys" is one of those rare SyFy originals that's well-written, well-casted and beautifully shot. Thankfully, SyFy let the show wrap up in the fourth season rather than canceling it before the story was finished.

7. Party Down

Genre: Sitcom

Years: 2009-10

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 20

Network: Starz

Bottom Line: Party Down

"Party Down" is an impressively funny show about a Los Angeles catering company and its idiot employees.

Despite having a solid cast of comedy veterans and being very well-received from the beginning, nobody watched it.

Starz ended the party after two seasons and 20 episodes.

6. Nathan For You

Genre: Cringe comedy/reality

Years: 2013-17

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 32

Network: Comedy Central

Bottom Line: Nathan For You

"Nathan For You" is one of the most criminally underrated comedies of the past 10 years. In the show, Nathan Fielder assumes the role of a business consultant who, ostensibly, is there to help real-life struggling businesses.

In reality, Fielder comes up with the most ridiculous marketing stunts possible, like poop-flavored yogurt and a hot dog stand where cutting in line is encouraged.

Fielder's stone-faced awkwardness while talking to bewildered people makes the show incredibly entertaining.

5. The Venture Bros.

Genre: Animated comedy

Years: 2003-18

No. of seasons: 7

No. of episodes: 81

Network: Adult Swim

Bottom Line: The Venture Bros.

"The Venture Bros." fans have been on a roller coaster since the series first aired in 2003, with the show being fraught with numerous delays and, eventually, a premature cancellation (season eight was still being written).

We expect "The Venture Bros." to rise again, but for those looking for a downright hilarious cartoon that parodies the Space Age adventure fiction of the 1960s, you can't do any better.

Even if you're not looking for that very specific genre, this show is one of the best that Adult Swim ever produced.

4. The Leftovers

Genre: Supernatural/drama

Years: 2015-2017

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 28

Network: HBO

Bottom Line: The Leftovers

What would happen if 2 percent of the world's population vanished without a trace? That's the central theme of "The Leftovers," which received universal praise but never found a strong audience.

The shows' intriguing premise gets even weirder as the show moves along, eventually becoming one of the most mesmerizing and mystifying shows ever made.

3. The Knick

Genre: Period drama

Years: 2014-15

No. of seasons: 2

No. of episodes: 20

Network: Cinemax

Bottom Line: The Knick

"The Knick" is about a New York City hospital in the year 1900 and opium addict Dr. John Thackery (Clive Owen) and a highly qualified Black surgeon newcomer (Andre Holland).

"The Knick" had an enormous budget, with each episode costing $3 million to $6 million. Unfortunately, "The Knick" could not retain enough viewership to warrant the cost.

Despite being well received critically, Cinemax canceled the series after just two seasons.

2. Review

Genre: Mockumentary

Years: 2014-17

No. of seasons: 3

No. of episodes: 22

Network: Comedy Central

Bottom Line: Review

"Review" is a mockumentary reality show in which host Forrest MacNeil takes on any life experience that viewers ask him to. Like becoming a racist, getting addicted to cocaine and eating 30 pancakes.

Then he rates the experience. Imagine the best anchor bits from "The Daily Show," only in longer form.

This show flew under the radar and only lasted for 22 episodes before being canceled. Comedy Central had a five-star show on its hands but didn't put in the effort to grow this show's audience.

1. Rectify

Genre: Drama/Southern Gothic

Years: 2013-16

No. of seasons: 4

No. of episodes: 30

Network: Sundance TV

Bottom Line: Rectify

"Rectify" is an extremely well-reviewed show about Daniel Holden (Aden Young), a man who wrongfully spent 19 years on death row and his reintegration back into his hometown.

The show has been lauded for its realistic portrayal of Holden's trauma and the community's response to his exoneration.

Yet it is frequently cited as being underappreciated and had a low viewership throughout its four-season run.