15 Underrated Shows You Should Add to Your Streaming Queue, STAT

As an entertainment editor, I'm almost always preoccupied with the most popular content. Shows like The Bear, Severance and Under the Bridge have been on my radar since day one, but to be honest, I've watched enough television to know that plenty of hidden gems are just as binge-worthy. For instance, Class of '07 is legit one of the funniest shows I've ever seen on Prime Video—and no one is talking about it. The same goes for Soo Hugh's brilliant drama, Pachinko, which is easily one of the best shows on Apple TV+ right now.

So, if you're all caught up on your favorite shows and looking to update your streaming queue, allow me to introduce 15 highly underrated TV shows that don't get nearly as much attention as they should.

1. Pachinko

• Who’s in it: Soji Arai, Jin Ha, Jun-woo Han, In-ji Jeong
• How many seasons: 1
• For fans of: Different Dreams, Little America
• Genre: Drama

Based on Min Jin Lee's best-selling book of the same name, Pachinko follows four generations of a Korean immigrant family, spanning from 1915 to 1989. In 1931, Sunja gets married and moves to Osaka, Japan, in hopes of securing a better future for her family, but it becomes a challenge to survive in a country that sees them as outsiders. Aside from great acting and stunning visuals, the series tackles important themes like poverty, loss, racism and discrimination.

2. Dinosaur

• Who’s in it: Ashley Storrie, Kat Ronney, David Carlyle, Lorn Macdonald
• How many seasons: 1
• For fans of: Starstruck
• Genre: Comedy, Drama

Nina is a 30-something woman living with autism, and she lives a comfortable life with her sister and BFF, Evie. However, Nina goes into panic mode when, after just six weeks of dating, Evie rushes into an engagement with her boyfriend. The heartwarming comedy includes a refreshing take on autism, and the sisterly bond between Nina and Evie is unmatched.

3. Class of '07

• Who’s in it: Emily Browning, Megan Smart, Caitlin Stasey
• How many seasons: 1
• For fans of: The Wilds, Yellowjackets
• Genre: Comedy, Drama

The Australian comedy follows a group of Catholic school grads as they attend a high school reunion party. Unfortunately, the celebration takes a drastic turn when they learn that a huge tidal wave has left the rest of the world submerged in water, leaving them all stranded on campus. The underrated TV show's intense drama is balanced with silly humor, but best of all, it brilliantly tackles the ripple effects of high school trauma and the nuances of female friendships.

4. Top Boy

• Who’s in it: Ashley Walters, Kane Robinson, Jasmine Jobson
• How many seasons: 3
• For fans of: Gangs of London, The Wire
• Genre: Crime Drama

Thirteen-year-old Ra'Nell gets pulled into a dangerous life of drugs and gangs after his mother, Lisa, has a mental breakdown and gets hospitalized. This underrated TV show is raw, gritty and incredibly gripping, thanks to phenomenal casting, emotional storylines and edge-of-your-seat suspense.

5. Criminal: United Kingdom

• Who’s in it: Katherine Kelly Lee Ingleby Mark Stanley Rochenda Sandall
• How many seasons: 2
• For fans of: Mindhunter, The Sinner
• Genre: Drama, Mystery

This mind-bending anthology series revolves around a group of British investigators as they interrogate suspects who are connected to certain cases. Philip Mutz, PureWow’s VP of News and Entertainment, said in an episode of Stream On, "If you love a gripping crime drama, it's gonna be for you. The acting is stellar, particularly because the show brings in incredible talent to play these suspects who are being questioned. It's really just a roller coaster ride."

6. Search Party

• Who’s in it: Alia Shawkat, John Reynolds, John Early
• How many seasons: 5
• For fans of: Barry, The Other Two
• Genre: Dark comedy

The dark comedy follows a group of college graduates who team up to investigate the sudden disappearance of their friend. However, a lot of disturbing secrets come to light as they continue their search. Rachel Gulmi, PureWow’s Managing Editor of Branded Content, said on Stream On, "Season four was a bit of a departure from the first three, but I still liked it. I stayed up until 3 a.m. because I had to finish it, it's just, it's wild."

7. Vigil

• Who’s in it: Suranne Jones, Rose Leslie, Shaun Evans
• How many seasons: 2
• For fans of: Line of Duty, True Detective: Night Country
• Genre: Drama

Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva and Inspector Kirsten Longacre are tasked with investigating the death of a passenger on a ballistic missile submarine, which occurs just moments after the mysterious disappearance of a Scottish fishing trawler. As they continue their search for the truth, tensions rise between the the Scottish authorities, the Royal Navy and the British Security Service.

8. Hijack

• Who’s in it: Idris Elba, Neil Maskell, Eve Myles, Christine Adams
• How many seasons: 1
• For fans of: 24
• Genre: Thriller

This heart-pumping thriller occurs on a hijacked plane, where Sam Nelson, a skilled negotiator in the business industry, tries to use his high-risk strategies to save the lives of all the passengers. Produced by Elba, this series chronicles each consecutive hour in real-time. It's packed with suspense and Elba delivers an unforgettable performance.

9. Banshee

• Who’s in it: Antony Starr, Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison
• How many seasons: 4
• For fans of: Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Quarry
• Genre: Action

Starr plays an ex-con who moves to Banshee, Pennsylvania, and assumes the identity of Lucas Hood, a murdered sheriff, to hide from a dangerous crime lord. While there, he attempts to start a new life and reconcile with his old flame, Anastasia. However, he struggles to maintain his new identity, and his past begins to haunt him.

10. Acapulco

• Who’s in it: Eugenio Derbez, Enrique Arrizon, Damián Alcázar, Camila Perez
• How many seasons: 2
• For fans of: The White Lotus, Red Oaks
• Genre: Comedy

The charming, feel-good series follows Maximo, a young man who lands his dream job at a luxury resort and strives to build a successful career. Viewers get to see his fascinating journey as the show jumps back and forth between the present day and 1984, detailing his bitter rivalries, past loves and endless efforts to impress his manager.

11. The OA 

• Who’s in it: Brit Marling, Emory Cohen, Scott Wilson, Phyllis Smith
• How many seasons: 2
• For fans of: Dark
• Genre: Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Drama

A blind young woman named Prairie Johnson went missing seven years ago, but now, she has suddenly returned with her sight fully restored and her memories erased. Many accept her return as a miracle, but others suspect that there's more to her than meets the eye.

12. Paper Girls

• Who’s in it: Ali Wong, Adina Porter, Jason Mantzoukas
• How many seasons: 1
• For fans of: Misfits, Stranger Things
• Genre: Drama, Sci-Fi

I'm still not over the fact that this underrated gem lasted for just one season, but each episode is still worth the watch. The series follows four girls who, while delivering papers, unknowingly time travel to the year 2019. After getting caught in a war between factions of time-travelers, the girls must confront their future selves and work together to save humanity.

13. The Resort

• Who’s in it: William Jackson Harper, Christin Milioti, Nina Bloomgarden, Skyler Gisondo
• How many seasons: 1
• For fans of: The White Lotus, Only Murders in the Building
• Genre: Drama

In hopes of reigniting the spark in their marriage, Noah and Emma decide to celebrate their ten-year anniversary by staying at a resort in the Mayan Riviera. However, their romantic getaway takes a wild turn when they get involved in a bizarre mystery that occurred more than a decade ago. If you're looking for a fun whodunnit that expertly balances suspense with humor, add this one to your list.

14. The Chestnut Man

• Who’s in it: Danica Curcic, Mikkel Boe Følsgaard, David Dencik
• How many seasons: 1
• For fans of: Mindhunter, Mare of Easttown
• Genre: Drama

When police discover the dead body of a woman who's been brutally murdered, they also see a small figurine made of chestnuts at the crime scene. Detective Naia Thulin and her partner, Mark, team up to investigate, but the case gets even more complicated when they learn that the chestnut man is connected to another girl who went missing a year ago.

15. Blood & Water

• Who’s in it: Ama Qamata, Khosi Ngema, Gail Mabalane
• How many seasons: 4
• For fans of: Pretty Little Liars
• Genre: Drama

The compelling South African teen drama follows Puleng Khumalo, a teenager who transfers to a prestigious high school in hopes of finding her long-lost sister, who was abducted at birth. Karelle McKay, Assistant Editor of News and Entertainment, says, "The main characters are mostly of South African descent—a rarity for a streaming series. It’s so refreshing to see this type of representation on screen at a time when platforms are actively trying to increase diversity and inclusion within shows and movies."