We all know how good Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead are, but what about those vastly underrated television shows no one is talking about?
If you’re looking for a new show to watch — maybe you just finished watching 13 seasons of Grey’s Anatomy in a month and a half and are currently bereft of anything to watch (no? just me?) — then consider these high quality shows that don’t have the popularity they deserve.
‘The Bold Type’
It’s a new show on Freeform that just finished its 10 episode first season. It’s about three friends who work at a magazine. It effortlessly blends political issues with good female-centered stories. Honestly, it’s a good answer to “please give us more stories that are actually about women.”
If you’re a 20-something just trying to make it in this harsh world, then you’ll relate to this group of friends and you won’t know how much you needed it until you’re tearing up during the last episode.
It’ll make you laugh, cry, and pray that it gets picked up for a second season.
‘iZombie’
If you’re thinking, “Ugh, not another zombie show,” then you’re already wrong about iZombie. It’s a comedy with a female lead who is forced to act like different personalities every episode based on whose brain she eats. She gets visions from those ingested brains and uses them to solve crimes. Are you interested now?
Rose McIver is a delight no matter whose brain she ate that day, and if you haven’t caught a glimpse of the handsome and charming Dr. Chakrabarti, you’re just missing out. Oh, and One Tree Hill fans — Robert Buckley (a.k.a. your love, Clay) is in this, too, looking as fine as ever.
‘Star Trek: Deep Space 9’
Everyone always talks about Star Trek: The Next Generation, but no one talks about how amazing Deep Space 9 is. The captain is a black man, there are strong female leads like Major Kira and Lieutenant Dax, and the frenemy relationship between Odo and Quark is the best.
Instead of being an “alien of the week” show like TNG, it has multiple season arcs, which just makes the show better, in my opinion. Instead of taking place on a starship traveling through space, it takes place on a space station at the edge of the quadrant next to a wormhole.
DS9 shows that the idealism the Federation preaches might be great for humans, but it doesn’t always work or apply to other alien races. Navigating those differences and learning what makes us the same is why DS9 is probably the best Star Trek show.
‘Great British Baking Show’
If you’ve ever watched an American cooking show and you just get overwhelmed by how cut-throat (ha) and competitive it is, then this show is for you. Honestly, you just want to watch people make food, right?
Prepare your heart for a dozen amateur bakers with British accents who just want to win for pride’s sake. That’s it. No prize money — just a cool cake stand and the ability to say you won the Great British Baking Show. Everyone is so nice and supportive on this show. If one of the bakers is done with the challenge and another is panicking, they will offer to help. Who does that?! British amateur bakers who you’re in love with now, that’s who.
It’s a calm and happy show that will leave you feeling cleansed and a bit hungry.
‘Agent Carter’
If there’s any show that left me absolutely heartbroken after I heard it was cancelled, it’s Agent Carter. A female lead who kicks ass while all of the men around her tell her she can’t? Give me more, please!
There are only two seasons of Agent Carter (sob), but they’re no less than fantastic. There are female villains, supportive men who say, “Do as Peggy says,” and great costumes. Hayley Atwell is the perfect Peggy Carter and this is a show that was cancelled far before its prime.
‘GLOW’
Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. Remember Alison Brie of Community and Mad Men fame? She’s back as a gorgeous lady of wresting. GLOW will make you crack up and feel like you pulled off a suplex in the ring.
It’s wild and silly and full of leotards that show off way too much upper thigh. You know the ones. GLOW is the show you watch when you want to forget it’s 2017 and you want to see women being funny in ridiculous costumes.
‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’
Not really into anime? Neither was I until I watched Fullmetal Alchemist. It’s a sweet show about two brothers who are trying to get their bodies back — one of the brothers is just a soul in a metal suit. It’s a long story that’s explained at the beginning. Basically, they made a mistake that cost them a lot and they’re just trying to make it right.
Then, they discover a government and military-wide conspiracy that results in the death of thousands of people. It sounds intense, but it has its lighter moments. Fullmetal Alchemist also has a couple of badass women like General Armstrong and Winry the automail engineer. Even if you don’t like anime, you’ll like this show.
‘Dollhouse’
If you’ve watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer, then you’ll be excited to see Eliza Dushku (Faith) in a leading role where she shines. This show is the epitome of underrated because it was cancelled after only two seasons, but those two seasons are solid.
Dollhouse is about a company that has the ability to wipe your personality and plunk a new one in there for whatever their clients need. It sounds insane, but it’s actually really great. It forces most of the actors to act like dozens of different people throughout the series, so you know the talent is top notch.
Dollhouse also stars the most underrated actor of all time (in my opinion): Enver Gjokaj.
‘The Mindy Project’
The Mindy Project is so good that it got picked up by Hulu after NBC cancelled it, but I don’t see a lot of people talking about it. It’s funny, odd, and just downright underrated (probably because it’s on Hulu).
It’s about (you guessed it) Mindy, an OB/GYN who is kickass at her job, but not so great at relationships. Hilarity ensues with the quirky cast of characters in her private practice office. Other than Mindy Kaling, you might recognize Ike Barinholtz, Ed Weeks, and Fortune Feimster.
It just started its sixth and final season on Hulu, so by the time you finish watching the first five, the sixth will be done and you can watch all of it without having to wait a week for a new episode. It’s perfect timing!
‘Supergirl’
If you think Wonder Woman was the first time a strong female superhero was on screen, then you’re sadly mistaken and have been missing Supergirl all this time.
Supergirl has the same message of love and acceptance that made Wonder Woman great, and what’s even better is that there are two full seasons for you to watch and a third premiering on Oct. 9. Supergirl isn’t dark like so many superhero shows and movies. It’s cheerful, yet action-packed, and funny, yet tackles important issues like feminism.
‘Game of Thrones’
LOL just kidding. Everyone can stand to calm down a little about Game of Thrones.
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