Heading back into university, many of us rely on our beloved TV shows to keep us sane during the inevitably trying times at Cambridge. However, while we rewatch our favourite sitcoms over and over, we are soon clamouring for something more; once we’ve completed the classics like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad we can be left overwhelmed by the seemingly infinite choice of TV shows available. 

As a result, I’ve taken it upon myself to create a watchlist of amazing but criminally underrated TV shows released over the last decade. These projects, though (deservingly) highly acclaimed by critics, somehow never broke into the mainstream and ended up buried under the constant swarm of new media. These are often the most creative, and their innovative storytelling and genre-defying tropes make them real gems. In contrast to big-budget productions that cater to broad audiences, these lesser-known series often experiment with unconventional narrative structures – whether it’s slow-burn pacing that leads to major emotional payoffs, or intricate, layered plots with well-developed multi-faceted characters. I hope that these can provide – if not a more enjoyable –  a different viewing experience. 

Rectify (Sundance TV)

2013-16, 4 Seasons 

Synopsis: As a teenager, Daniel Holden was convicted of the heinous crimes committed against his girlfriend and spent 19 years on death row until new DNA evidence clearing his name came to light. Returning to his southern state of Georgie, the show navigates his adjustment to life outside of prison, family, and the wider townsfolk across thirty episodes. 

Why I recommend: This southern gothic slow burn is the best character study I have seen on television.  The pacing is well worth the time you invest as it is deeply meditative, thought provoking, and masterfully handles the emotional beats. The bittersweet tone of the entire series is something unique to this show, and it is so creatively nuanced I have had no problem rewatching over and over. Fiction appears to mirror reality in the show. Damien Echols of the ‘West Memphis 3’ who was released from prison after almost two decades due to newfound DNA evidence in a case much like the show's fictional one, wrote he “began to wonder how much of my story had crept into the script”. All four seasons received critical acclaim with the final season holding a Metacritic score of 99 and a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 100%. 

Dark (Netflix)

2017-20, 3 Seasons 

Synopsis: Dark is Netflix’s first original German language series; an intense, complicated, and high-energy thriller set in multiple universes and timelines. The plot follows the consequences of a child’s disappearance across four separate and dysfunctional families, revealing a time-travel conspiracy branching storylines away from the present year to the 1950s and 2052. It navigates the complexities of time and humanity across three seasons with “one of the most shocking and emotional conclusions to a TV show” (Emma Stefansky). 

Why I recommend: From the exceptional ensemble case, incredible sound design and score, and award-winning visuals, the show has lots of appeal, but most of all is the wildly original plot and incredibly unique themes executed in a very accessible and engaging way. The BBC named Dark as the '58th Best TV Series of the 21st Century', with season two maintaining a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes across its 30 reviews. 

Lodge 49 (Hulu)

2018-19, 2 Seasons

Synopsis: Inspired by The Crying of Lot 49, this dramedy show follows an ex-surfer (Wyatt Russell, before Marvel fame) called Dud. Despite losing his father and family business, Dud is a disillusioned optimist via whom the show explores community, purpose, and life itself, as he happens upon a lodge full of mystery.

Why I recommend: This is a beautifully philosophical show ideal for anyone seeking something off the beaten path. The themes of hope, disillusionment, optimism (and pessimism) all resonated with me as a student heading into the new year, but it was overwhelmingly heartwarming and at times very funny. This show can resonate with you long after its conclusion, as its charm and earnestness continues to sit with me. Please everyone watch this show so it gets picked up by another studio, thank you. 

Counterpart (Starz / Amazon Prime Video)

2017-19, 2 Seasons

Synopsis: J.K. Simmons gives an incredible dual-lead performance as a low level bureaucrat and his parallel universe counterpart who's an accomplished secret agent. The show's premise is pretty crazy – two parallel worlds are engaging in an increasingly tense cold war mediated by secret agents and spies, when a powerful rogue outfit chooses to take drastic action. We follow J.K. Simmons as he discovers that his tedious government job is actually part of the management of the parallel universe. 

Why I recommend: In everything from Whiplash to Spiderman, we’ve all seen J.K. Simmons steal the show, but nothing flexes his acting chops more than Counterpart. His incredible dual performance should be reason enough to watch this show, and if not the incredibly unique premise should seal the deal. It is a fun, energetic, and complex, with the fast pacing yet intricate plot   

Halt and Catch Fire (AMC, for purchase on Apple / Amazon)

2014-17, 4 Seasons

Synopsis: Described as the Mad Men of the tech industry, this show covers the decade of the personal computer revolution, and a company that witnesses the growth of IBM and hopes to challenge it with a historical idea. 

Why I recommend: Rated the 55th greatest TV series of all time by Rolling Stone, this show is definitely worth sticking through, with the later seasons being big improvements on the first. The way the show tackles navigating a cutthroat industry, failure, ambition, and complex personal relationships is to be marvelled. I found the ending season to be one of the best to a TV show that I’ve ever seen, and I hope you all watch it and come to agree with me.