Underrated TV Shows You Should Watch in 2026

Looking for brilliant TV shows that flew under the radar? While popular series dominate conversations, countless underrated gems offer equally compelling stories. These shows often feature clever writing, unique perspectives, and standout performances, yet they never received the widespread attention they deserved.

Exploring these overlooked series rewards you with fresh narratives and creative risks. It also supports the talented writers and actors behind them. This guide highlights underrated shows across comedy, science fiction, and crime to help you find your next must-watch series.

Why Overlooked Shows Deserve Your Attention

Mainstream hits are popular for a reason, but focusing solely on them means missing exceptional storytelling. Television platforms now produce more content than ever, allowing for niche and innovative projects that don’t rely on massive budgets or star power.

These underrated shows often build passionate fan communities and receive critical praise, even if their viewer numbers are modest. By seeking them out, you discover rising talent and narratives that challenge conventions. You might even find a series that resonates more deeply than the latest widely advertised hit.

Qualities of a Worthwhile Hidden Gem

How can you identify a show that’s genuinely underrated and not just mediocre? Certain consistent markers indicate a series is a hidden treasure. First, look for complex characters who drive the story with believable motives and growth.

Innovative storytelling is another key sign. This might be a fresh twist on a familiar genre or a narrative structure that keeps you engaged. Many underrated shows also offer perspectives from outside the mainstream, focusing on diverse experiences or specific subcultures.

Finally, check if a show has a strong reputation among dedicated fans and critics, even if it lacks broad fame. A series that improves over its seasons, taking bigger creative swings, is often a rewarding find.

Underrated Comedies with Heart and Humor

Beyond dramatic hits, the TV landscape includes brilliant comedies that never found a massive audience. These series deliver sharp humor, heartfelt moments, and truly original concepts, providing a perfect break from heavier viewing.

1. Minx 

Minx is a prime example. This series, set in 1970s Los Angeles, follows an earnest feminist who partners with a low-rent publisher to create the first erotic magazine for women. It combines period charm, smart commentary, and laugh-out-loud moments. Despite critical acclaim, its journey—moving from HBO Max to Starz before concluding—meant it struggled to maintain viewer momentum.

2. Acapulco

Acapulco on Apple TV+ is another overlooked joy. This bilingual, upbeat comedy tells the story of Máximo Gallardo’s rise at a glamorous resort in 1980s Mexico. Its warm, nostalgic tone and charismatic lead performance by Eugenio Derbez make it a consistently delightful watch that has yet to break into the mainstream conversation.

For something uniquely quirky, Los Espookys is a surreal Spanish-language comedy about friends who turn a love of horror into a business. Its commitment to oddball humor and macabre details created a dedicated cult following, though the language barrier may have limited its initial reach.

Compelling Sci-Fi Concepts You Might Have Missed

Science fiction television offers some of the most ambitious ideas, but not all these ventures get the spotlight. These underrated sci-fi series explore mind-bending premises with intelligence and compelling character drama.

1. Travelers 

Travelers is a standout Canadian series that ended in 2018. The show involves operatives from a dystopian future who send their consciousness back in time into the bodies of 21st-century people about to die. Their mission is to alter key events and save humanity. The show is praised for its tight writing, ethical dilemmas, and strong ensemble cast, led by Eric McCormack. It developed a loyal international fanbase through Netflix but never achieved widespread name recognition.

2. Counterpart

Counterpart is a brilliant espionage thriller with a sci-fi twist. J.K. Simmons plays dual roles as a man who discovers his agency guards a portal to a parallel Earth. The show explores identity and destiny through its Cold War-style intrigue. It aired on the Starz network, which limited its initial audience, but its sophisticated plotting and Simmons’s performance make it a must-watch for fans of thoughtful science fiction.

Fresh and Quirky Crime Stories

The crime genre is crowded with procedurals, but some of the most inventive series are also the least known. These shows blend mystery with distinctive styles, humor, or perspectives you won’t find elsewhere.

A fantastic recent example is Poker Face. Created by Rian Johnson, this Peacock series stars Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale, a casino worker with a supernatural ability to detect lies. She hits the road in her Plymouth Barracuda, solving a new murder in each episode in a style reminiscent of Columbo. Despite critical acclaim and Lyonne’s Emmy nomination, the show was surprisingly canceled after two seasons.

High Desert features Patricia Arquette as Peggy, a former addict who decides to become a private investigator in a small Californian desert town. The show blends dark comedy with a poignant character study. Arquette’s acclaimed performance anchored this Apple TV+ series, but it remained under the radar for many viewers.

For 2026, several promising crime series based on novels could become new hidden gems. Run Away, a Netflix adaptation of a Harlan Coben thriller about a father searching for his missing daughter, kicks off the year on January 1. Later, The Puzzle Lady will offer a cozy mystery twist, and Scarpetta will bring Patricia Cornwell’s famed medical examiner to the screen with Nicole Kidman.

How to Find More Hidden Gems?

Knowing where to look makes discovering underrated shows much easier. Start by exploring dedicated sections on streaming services like “Critically Acclaimed” or “Award Winners.” These sections often highlight quality shows that weren’t massive hits.

Pay attention to year-end “Best Of” lists from a variety of critics, not just the major publications. Niche websites and fan communities for specific genres are also excellent sources for recommendations. Finally, when you find a writer, director, or actor you love, seek out their other, less-hyped projects.

The television landscape is richer than ever, with quality hiding in plain sight. By venturing beyond the algorithm’s top suggestions, you can find stories that surprise, challenge, and entertain in unique ways. Your next favorite show is likely waiting to be discovered.