Top 10 Underrated Current TV Shows You Should Be Watching
It's time to branch out and watch some of these underrated shows you may not even have heard of! We highly reccomend shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Good Behavior, Better Things, Casual, Fleabag, Lady Dynamite, Insecure, UnReal and Search Party!
#10: “SMILF” (2017-)
The title of this Showcase series is a play on the acronym for MILF, with the “S” standing for “Single.” It was created, written and directed by Frankie Shaw, who you may recognize from “Mr. Robot.” Based on her short film, the comedy has a cast that boasts actors like Rosie O’Donnell and Connie Britton. It follows titular single mother Bridgette, played by Shaw herself, as she navigates the single life with her son Larry in tow. Not only does the show put new twists on familiar storylines, but it’s also raw, funny and semi-autobiographical. Is it any wonder it was renewed for a second season after only a handful of episodes had aired?
#9: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” (2017-)
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If you’re looking for a show set in the ‘50s and focusing on the exploits of a Jewish housewife who decides to become a stand up comic after her cheating husband abruptly leaves her, then this is the show for you. “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” is a healthy mixture of fresh faces and seasoned talent that, when put together, forms the basis of a wholly unique show that’s a ton of fun to watch. The first season won Golden Globe awards for Best Actress and Best Television Series, so now everyone and their grandmother will be talking about it. Which means you’d be wise to get on board ASAP!
#8: “Good Behavior” (2016-)
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User and abuser Letty Raines is quite the protagonist. When we first meet her, she is being released from prison on good behavior, but a thief and con artist like her is bound to find trouble eventually. Far from a one-note drama, “Good Behavior” is a multi-faceted look at a deeply flawed woman whose goal is to be reunited with her 10-year old son Jacob. Featuring a brilliant performance from lead actress Michelle Dockery, not to mention the rest of the show’s stellar cast, “Good Behavior” is definitely the black sheep of our list; a show that is guaranteed to leave you equal parts totally baffled and completely entertained.
#7: “Casual” (2015-)
“Casual” is the laugh a minute Hulu series from Academy Award nominated director Jason Reitman that has somehow managed to go unnoticed. The plot of this offbeat comedy is simple enough: Valerie, a recently divorced mother of one must deal with the trials and tribulations of being single while living with her immature younger brother Alex. However, the dynamic between the two siblings, not to mention Valerie’s unconventional relationship with her daughter Laura, is freakin’ hilarious. Seriously, stop sleeping on this show people, it’s the diamond in the rough that deserves your attention!
#6: “Better Things” (2016-)
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Created by and starring television mainstay Pamela Adlon, “Better Things” is the down to earth dramadie you need right now. The FX series is two seasons in as of early 2018, so you’ll have plenty of binge-watching material once it inevitably hooks you thanks to its big laughs, heartfelt performances and stream of awesome guest stars. Of course you can’t mention “Better Things” without mentioning the show’s co-creator, director and writer Louis C.K., who FX cut ties with due to his numerous confirmed acts of sexual misconduct. And while there’s no escaping the fact that the embattled comedian was a big reason for the show’s success, we think it will do just fine without him.
#5: “The Affair” (2014-)
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A multiple Golden Globe winner, including one for Best Television Series – Drama in 2015, “The Affair” is painfully underrated. This hard-hitting Showtime series focuses on… you guessed it, an affair. But of course, television these days is never that simple. The show is an investigation into the hearts and minds of its protagonists Noah and Alison, two people who meet in the resort town of Montauk, New York and engage in a passionate adulterous relationship. “The Affair” is a show for people who love nothing more than to see two actors at the top of their game, because leads Dominic West and Ruth Wilson are just that.
#4: “Fleabag” (2016-)
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We already know your first question: why is it called “Fleabag”? Well, as it happens that’s the name of the protagonist, played to perfection by London native Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Waller-Bridge is also the show’s creator and writer and boy does she do a bang up job. Set in London, the show revolves around the misadventures of Fleabag as she sometimes deftly but mostly horribly attempts to navigate the complicated world of sex and relationships. The show is hilarious and comes in at under 30 minutes per episode…so what are you waiting for? You could be the first to tell your friends about this awesome comedy.
#3: “Insecure” (2016-)
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It’s time to get on the “Insecure” train, because it’s leaving the station whether you’re ready or not. The HBO original series is in a word, sidesplitting. The show has received widespread acclaim from critics and holds a 100% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes as of early 2018, which for most people is the final word in whether or not they are going to watch something. Of course we aren’t just telling you to watch “Insecure” because it’s got great ratings. It’s a unique exploration into what it’s like to be a young black woman living in America and struggling with issues such as identity and agency in the modern world.
#2: “UnREAL” (2015-)
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“UnREAL” takes viewers on a backstage journey into the heart of the fictitious dating program Everlasting, in order to showcase just how crazy things can get behind the camera. Everlasting is reminiscent of a real life dating show and that’s because one of the creators previously worked on “The Bachelor”. The show features a couple of fantastic performances from lead actresses Shiri Appleby and Constance Zimmer, who play a young producer looking for a second chance and her ratings-obsessed boss respectively. Always on the prowl for the next drama-soaked scenario to spice up their show, the two women will do whatever it takes to ensure Everlasting gets picked up for another season. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions: “Drunk History” (2013-) “SMILF” (2017-) “Sneaky Pete” (2015-)
#1: “Search Party” (2016-)
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This is the dark comedy that should be on everyone’s radar, but perplexingly and somewhat irritatingly, isn’t. “Search Party” stars Alia Shawkat of “Arrested Development” fame along with a host of awesome actors who collectively make up a cast that will make you laugh like you’ve never laughed before. The show is about Dory, a young woman who learns that her college acquaintance Chantal has gone missing and decides to try and find her. A heartwarming show with enough twists and turns to keep you entertained and enough punch lines to keep you giggling, “Search Party” is a truly a triumph from start to finish. Now get out there and tell some people about it!
