Overlooked TV shows

JackTC · 28-04-2021 3:26pm #1

We hear about the likes of Breaking Bad, Sopranos and The Wire constantly. What are some of your tv shows that don't get the recognition they deserve.

For me it's Broadchurch. I genuinely think it's one of the greatest tv shows ever made and storytelling at its best.

Some people might say Broadchurch is very popular, but I think it deserves a place up there with Sopranos, BB, Game of Thrones, etc,...

billyhead · 28-04-2021 8:15pm

JackTC wrote: »

We hear about the likes of Breaking Bad, Sopranos and The Wire constantly. What are some of your tv shows that don't get the recognition they deserve.

For me it's Broadchurch. I genuinely think it's one of the greatest tv shows ever made and storytelling at its best.

Some people might say Broadchurch is very popular, but I think it deserves a place up there with Sopranos, BB, Game of Thrones, etc,...

Seen it. It's very good. The chemistry between the 2 leads is brilliant.

AmyMurphy22 · 28-04-2021 8:16pm

Is the sopranos really that good?

Agent Coulson · 28-04-2021 8:44pm

Homicide Life on the Street you don't have those HBO shows without it.

Babylon 5 the show that gave us a full story told over 5 seasons where every episode was a chapter in that story with no standalone episodes.

StevenToast · 28-04-2021 8:47pm

AmyMurphy22 wrote: »

Is the sopranos really that good?

Yes

PsychoPete · 28-04-2021 8:48pm

Banshee

JP Liz V1 · 28-04-2021 9:20pm

A one season show The Unusuals think it lead the way for Brooklyn Nine Nine

cmac2009 · 28-04-2021 9:36pm

Halt and catch fire. Superb writing, characters that you become invested in and a great premise. It was like saying goodbye to good friends when it ended. Four seasons seemed the perfect length as well. Over looked perhaps due to the tremendous amount of quality TV around at that time.

Poochie05 · 28-04-2021 10:15pm

Southland

grassylawn · 28-04-2021 10:15pm

Ajin

HeidiHeidi · 28-04-2021 10:16pm

AmyMurphy22 wrote: »

Is the sopranos really that good?

Yes

I think it's the only long series I stuck with from start to finish.

gmisk · 28-04-2021 10:23pm

Two that spring to mind
- Party down
- you're the worst

Another one which I really enjoyed was bunheads very light and fun (same writer as the Gilmore girls)

NewRed2 · 28-04-2021 10:26pm

Giri Haji
Lilyhammer
Kingdom
Narcos
The Night Of

BrenMar · 28-04-2021 10:30pm

What we do in the Shadows.

Comic Book Guy · 28-04-2021 10:35pm

The Leftovers

ShineOn7 · 29-04-2021 12:11am

Comic Book Guy wrote: »

The Leftovers

A massively acclaimed show

Not really overlooked at all

blackwave · 29-04-2021 5:43am

Justified

ButtersSuki · 29-04-2021 5:55am

Action

NIMAN · 29-04-2021 6:06am

AmyMurphy22 wrote: »

Is the sopranos really that good?

Yes.

Currently rewatching it and its as good as I remember it all those years ago, maybe better.

For me, best TV boxset show ever. And its over 20 years old.

angel eyes 2012 · 29-04-2021 6:16am

NIMAN wrote: »

Yes.

Currently rewatching it and its as good as I remember it all those years ago, maybe better.

For me, best TV boxset show ever. And its over 20 years old.

I've rewatched a number of times, and it has aged really well. It gets funnier too as you get to know what motivates and frustrates the various characters.

I almost envy anyone who hasn't seen it, they have the whole series before them including the Pine Barrens episode.

eddiervp20 · 29-04-2021 6:36am

Has to be Kingdom for me, Some great acting in it

Roanmore · 29-04-2021 7:23am

blackwave wrote: »

Justified

Definitely. The cast throughout the whole show was superb, some great characters in there.

the purple tin · 29-04-2021 8:38am

Sense 8.
Utopia - the English original.
Back - Mitchell and Webb reunited.

FortuneChip · 29-04-2021 8:46am

Justified
Banshee
Leftovers

I know all are critically held in high regard, but they're a long way from the mass presence if the usual heavyweights

Cina · 29-04-2021 9:34am

Rectify. One of the best shows ever.

29-04-2021 10:04am

AmyMurphy22 wrote: »

Is the sopranos really that good?

Yup. I've been flying through a re-watch.

angel eyes 2012 wrote: »

I've rewatched a number of times, and it has aged really well. It gets funnier too as you get to know what motivates and frustrates the various characters.

The amount of laughing and cringing I'm doing on this re-watch is unreal. So many sideways looks I hadn't caught before, seeing innocent foundations for what happens later. It really is incredible in every sense.

29-04-2021 10:11am

Banshee was a very welcome surprise considering how sceptical I was.

Seems gritty crime is the most popular theme so allow me to continue that with warrior.

Season 1 and 2 on hbomax now having been created by cinemax then cancelled. Hbomax just renewed it for season 3. Excellent version of the bruce lee idea based on Chinatown in san Francisco during the tong wars.

From a sci fi genre, korean show 'sweet home' was far better than it's synopsis would suggest. They seem to have an ability for character creation that still manages great characters and unnerving monsters.

Ashbourne hoop · 29-04-2021 10:16am

AmyMurphy22 wrote: »

Is the sopranos really that good?

Yes. The best tv show ever. Basically changed TV forever. I've rewatched it numerous times, and it's still class.

Thelonious Monk · 29-04-2021 10:36am

HBO's Rome, I really loved it.

billyhead · 29-04-2021 10:37am

The Shield is brilliant.

29-04-2021 10:57am

Quarry - just 8 episodes but worth a look.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980696/

Sephiroth_dude · 29-04-2021 12:00pm

Pure Mule

the purple tin · 29-04-2021 12:04pm

Devs.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8134186/

How Soon Is Now · 29-04-2021 12:10pm

The man in the high castle.
I really enjoyed it and didn't hear much about it other than it being on Amazon.

The last season isn't as strong as the rest but not in a way it ruins the story or anything.

Penn · 29-04-2021 12:14pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

A massively acclaimed show

Not really overlooked at al

I'd call it overlooked and it would have been my first pick too. It's very critically acclaimed, but so few people have watched it from my experience. I even only watched it for the first time last year, and many people I know who'd be regular boxset watchers and the like either never watched it or never heard of it.

pixelburp · 29-04-2021 12:33pm

As with a lot of these kinds of threads, the debate could be had as to what qualifies as "overlooked". By whom? Critics or audiences; 'cos some suggestions were not ignored by the former, if even they couldn't claim many of the latter.

At first blush, my instinct would be to suggest something inherently "cult" or niche; so while it had a fairly healthy thread here on Boards, Netflix's "Dark" appeared to skirt along the margins, never entering many discussions in the mainstream press (and lord knows how it managed ratings wise given Netlfix's famously secretive data-points thereof)

How Soon Is Now · 29-04-2021 12:35pm

pixelburp wrote: »

As with a lot of these kinds of threads, the debate could be had as to what qualifies as "overlooked". By whom? Critics or audiences; 'cos some suggestions were not ignored by the former, if even they couldn't claim many of the latter.

At first blush, my instinct would be to suggest something inherently "cult" or niche; so while it had a fairly healthy thread here on Boards, Netflix's "Dark" appeared to skirt along the margins, never entering many discussions in the mainstream press (and lord knows how it managed ratings wise given Netlfix's famously secretive data-points thereof)

Dark is one alright. If that show had of been in English or made in the US it would have been hugely popular.

stoneill · 29-04-2021 12:40pm

I would go with
The Frankenstein chronicles
Taboo
Penny Dreadful ( not the Los Angeles one)
Sharpe and the subsequent series'

readyletsgo · 29-04-2021 12:41pm

ShineOn7 wrote: »

A massively acclaimed show

Not really overlooked at al

It was know about, but people didn't give it a chance because it was so, well, depressing.

Man I adored that show!

bauney · 29-04-2021 12:45pm

Treme
The Deuce
Both from the director of The Wire (David Simon)

29-04-2021 12:52pm

I did a rewatch of The Sopranos during dry January and February.

It has aged exceptionally well. I was a student, first job sort when it originally aired. Without getting too TV critic about it, I could really resonate with some of the themes much better now I was older. Loss being the main one.

It’s hardly overlooked though. It’s widely regarded as the best tv show ever made. I can’t disagree with that.

Utopia - the Channel 4 original that was axed after two seasons. The visuals, the soundtrack; the storyline - it had everything. Such an original show. The Famous Five meets the X-Files meets Twin Peaks meets an LSD trip.

HBC08 · 29-04-2021 12:59pm

Boardwalk Empire.
For me its top three of all time.
Already mentioned but another vote here for The Deuce.

RandomViewer · 29-04-2021 1:03pm

Sledgehammer, 80s pxxxtake at Dirty Harry type cops

the purple tin · 29-04-2021 1:11pm

RandomViewer wrote: »

Sledgehammer, 80s pxxxtake at Dirty Harry type cops

Trust me. I know what I'm doing. :cool:

The Raging Bile Duct · 29-04-2021 1:12pm

JackTC wrote: »

We hear about the likes of Breaking Bad, Sopranos and The Wire constantly. What are some of your tv shows that don't get the recognition they deserve.

For me it's Broadchurch. I genuinely think it's one of the greatest tv shows ever made and storytelling at its best.

Some people might say Broadchurch is very popular, but I think it deserves a place up there with Sopranos, BB, Game of Thrones, etc,...

Broadchurch had a brilliant first season and an absolutely atrocious second season. One of the worst turnarounds I've ever seen in television.

Someone mentioned Halt and Catch Fire. Loved that and it deserves more recognition.

gibgodsman · 29-04-2021 1:28pm

Banshee
Justified
How to get away with Murder

Just 3 of the shows I have never really heard anyone discussing over here but were absolutely brilliant from start to finish

Hurrache · 29-04-2021 1:37pm

Poochie05 wrote: »

Southland

Saw the thread and said I'll mention that. Southland is brilliant and I'm still surprised it hasn't continuously popped up on terrestrial or streaming TV.

And another one for Banshee from me.

I enjoyed both more than the Sorpanos, the show people use to measure excellence in TV.

RandomViewer · 29-04-2021 1:51pm

Torchwood, the 2 BBC2 seasons,

odyssey06 · 29-04-2021 1:56pm

Ultraviolet, a Channel 4 miniseries which took an X-Files take on the Vampire mythology.
There were only 6 episodes, definitely binge-worthy.

Excellent cast including Idris Elba, Jack Davenport, Stephen Moyer, Susannah Harker.
I wasn't familiar with the work of Australian actor Philip Quast but thought he was very good in it.

odyssey06 · 29-04-2021 2:01pm

Bosch.

One to seek out if you like The Wire, though not on the same level as that show.

Keyzer · 29-04-2021 2:05pm

The Leftovers

An absolute masterpiece...

Overlooked TV shows

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