The Best 2010s TV Shows You Probably Didn’t Watch
The 2010s unleashed more television than anyone could reasonably keep up with, and plenty of strong series slipped past even dedicated viewers. This list rounds up shows across genres and countries that aired during that decade, focusing on distinctive premises, notable creative teams, and the essential details that help you decide what to try next.
You’ll find information on where each show originated, who made and starred in it, how many seasons it ran, and what makes its premise stand apart. Every entry sticks to useful facts so you can quickly zero in on what fits your taste without wading through commentary.
‘Terriers’ (2010)
FX’s ‘Terriers’ is a crime drama about two unlicensed private investigators working cases in and around Ocean Beach, San Diego. It stars Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James, with the series created by Ted Griffin and executive produced by Shawn Ryan. The season blends standalone mysteries with a larger conspiracy that threads through its thirteen episodes.
Filmed on location in Southern California, ‘Terriers’ features a supporting cast that includes Laura Allen, Rockmond Dunbar, and Kimberly Quinn. The soundtrack leans into coastal vibes, and the show’s case-of-the-week structure steadily feeds into an overarching real-estate corruption plot.
‘Rectify’ (2013–2016)
‘Rectify’ follows Daniel Holden, a man released from death row after new DNA evidence leads to his conviction being vacated. Created by Ray McKinnon for SundanceTV, the series explores the legal, personal, and community fallout of his return to a small town in Georgia across four seasons.
The show features Aden Young, Abigail Spencer, J. Smith-Cameron, Clayne Crawford, and Adelaide Clemens. It was produced by Gran Via Productions, filmed primarily in Georgia, and earned recognition from major critics’ groups and awards bodies for its writing and ensemble.
‘The Knick’ (2014–2015)
Set at New York’s Knickerbocker Hospital, ‘The Knick’ centers on surgical innovation and public-health crises at the dawn of modern medicine. Cinemax commissioned the series, which stars Clive Owen as Dr. John W. Thackery alongside André Holland, Juliet Rylance, and Eve Hewson.
Steven Soderbergh directed every episode, also serving as cinematographer and editor under longstanding pseudonyms. Across two seasons, ‘The Knick’ integrates period-accurate medical techniques, extensive research, and detailed production design to depict early-twentieth-century hospital life.
‘Halt and Catch Fire’ (2014–2017)
AMC’s ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ charts the personal and professional battles behind the rise of personal computing and the early internet. Created by Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers, the series stars Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, and Kerry Bishé.
It moves from the tech scene in Texas to a startup environment on the West Coast, tracing product launches, corporate maneuvers, and shifting partnerships across four seasons. The production filmed largely in the Atlanta area, with meticulous prop and set work to mirror evolving hardware and software.
‘Patriot’ (2015–2018)
‘Patriot’ is an espionage drama from Amazon Studios about an intelligence officer who takes a non-official-cover job at an industrial piping company to influence a geopolitical outcome. Created by Steve Conrad, it stars Michael Dorman, Terry O’Quinn, Kurtwood Smith, and Michael Chernus.
The series is known for original in-world folk songs performed by the protagonist that summarize mission complications. It filmed in the American Midwest and Europe, runs two seasons, and uses company politics, procurement trips, and interdepartmental audits as key plot engines.
‘Counterpart’ (2017–2019)
Starz’s ‘Counterpart’ is a science-fiction thriller set around a secret crossing to a parallel world, managed by a Berlin-based agency. J. K. Simmons leads the cast in dual roles, with Olivia Williams, Nazanin Boniadi, and Harry Lloyd among the ensemble. The show was created by Justin Marks.
Across two seasons, ‘Counterpart’ mixes spycraft with mirror-identity puzzles and inter-world diplomacy. It filmed extensively in Germany and the United States, using distinct production design and costuming to differentiate the two realities.
‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)
‘Banshee’ follows an ex-con who assumes the identity of a small-town sheriff while maintaining ties to his past. Produced for Cinemax, it stars Antony Starr, Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, and Hoon Lee, with Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler as creators.
The series blends organized-crime storylines with rural law enforcement cases and ran for four seasons plus a digital prequel. It filmed primarily in North Carolina, employing elaborate stunt work and fight choreography across major arcs.
‘Manhattan’ (2014–2015)
‘Manhattan’ dramatizes the secretive scientific and military efforts behind the development of the atomic bomb at Los Alamos. Created by Sam Shaw for WGN America, the series stars John Benjamin Hickey, Olivia Williams, Ashley Zukerman, and Rachel Brosnahan.
It explores compartmentalization, security clearances, and the pressures on families living within a restricted community. The production shot in New Mexico with large-scale period sets and props, and it completed two seasons.
‘Lodge 49’ (2018–2019)
AMC’s ‘Lodge 49’ follows a laid-back ex-surfer who stumbles into a fraternal lodge in Long Beach and becomes involved in the lives of its members. Created by Jim Gavin, the series stars Wyatt Russell, Brent Jennings, Sonya Cassidy, and Linda Emond.
The show weaves together blue-collar business subplots, lodge rituals, and the history of a fictional order. It ran for two seasons, with production across multiple U.S. locations and a recurring focus on small-scale enterprises, real-estate pressures, and community bonds.
‘Utopia’ (2013–2014)
‘Utopia’ is a British conspiracy thriller from Channel 4, created by Dennis Kelly. It follows a group of strangers targeted by a clandestine organization after discovering the manuscript of a graphic novel that seems to predict real-world events.
The cast includes Fiona O’Shaughnessy, Alexandra Roach, Adeel Akhtar, and Neil Maskell. Across two series, ‘Utopia’ uses coded documents, virology plots, and a shadowy syndicate to drive a cat-and-mouse narrative across the UK.
‘Deutschland 83’ (2015)
‘Deutschland 83’ is a German drama about a young East German border guard drafted into espionage and embedded with the West German military. Created by Anna Winger and Jörg Winger, it stars Jonas Nay with supporting performances by Maria Schrader and Ulrich Noethen.
It was broadcast domestically on RTL and became one of the first German-language dramas to air on SundanceTV in the United States. The season spans eight episodes, shot in Germany, and features period military protocols, tradecraft, and Cold War details.
‘Please Like Me’ (2013–2016)
Australian dramedy ‘Please Like Me’ was created by Josh Thomas, who also stars, and initially aired on ABC2 with U.S. distribution on Pivot and later streaming platforms. The show follows the lead character as he navigates friendships, family changes, and work, with episodes written and produced by a small creative team.
The ensemble includes Thomas Ward, Debra Lawrance, Caitlin Stasey, and Hannah Gadsby. Filmed primarily around Melbourne, the series ran for four seasons and engages topics such as mental health care, caregiving, and shared housing logistics.
‘Detectorists’ (2014–2017)
‘Detectorists’ centers on members of a local metal-detecting club searching farmland for finds while balancing everyday jobs and relationships. Created by Mackenzie Crook for BBC Four, it stars Crook and Toby Jones, with Rachel Stirling, Aimee-Ffion Edwards, and Lucy Benjamin.
The show filmed in rural Suffolk and Essex, features real-world hobbyist practices, and details permissions, rallies, and finds recording. It ran for three series with a later special, and it spotlights club governance, archaeological liaison, and countryside access rules.
‘The OA’ (2016–2019)
‘The OA’ is a science-fiction mystery from creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij for Netflix. It follows a woman who reappears after a long disappearance with a new mission and unexplained abilities, drawing together a small group to help her.
The cast includes Marling, Jason Isaacs, Emory Cohen, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Phyllis Smith. The series is structured in two parts, incorporates multiple perspectives, and features choreography, near-death research, and interdimensional theories as central story elements.
‘Quarry’ (2016)
‘Quarry’ adapts the crime novels by Max Allan Collins and follows a Marine who returns home and becomes entangled with a network of contract killers in Memphis. Produced by Anonymous Content for Cinemax, it stars Logan Marshall-Green, Damon Herriman, Jodi Balfour, and Peter Mullan.
The production uses Mississippi River locations, regional music supervision, and detailed period costuming. The season comprises eight episodes, each interlacing personal fallout from combat with the logistics of an underground crime economy.
‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)
‘Giri/Haji’ is a bilingual crime series co-produced by BBC Two and Netflix that moves between Tokyo and London. Created by Joe Barton, it stars Takehiro Hira, Kelly Macdonald, Will Sharpe, Yōsuke Kubozuka, and Aoi Okuyama.
The narrative follows a Japanese detective searching for his brother amid a yakuza conflict that spills into the UK. It combines police procedure with cross-border jurisdiction issues, features dialogue in Japanese and English, and completes its story in one series.
‘The Honourable Woman’ (2014)
‘The Honourable Woman’ is an eight-part political thriller created by Hugo Blick for BBC Two and SundanceTV. It stars Maggie Gyllenhaal as a business leader navigating complex public and private obligations in the UK and the Middle East.
The production filmed in multiple international locations, with a cast including Andrew Buchan, Stephen Rea, Lubna Azabal, and Katherine Parkinson. The series earned major accolades, including a Golden Globe for Gyllenhaal’s performance.
‘The Returned’ (2012–2015)
French series ‘The Returned’ (‘Les Revenants’) from Canal+ depicts a mountain town where several deceased residents suddenly come back with no memory of dying. It is loosely inspired by the film ‘They Came Back’ (‘Les Revenants’) and features an ensemble centered on families, first responders, and local authorities.
The production shot in southeastern France and uses a recurring lake and dam setting as key locations. Mogwai composed the original score, and the show ran for two seasons, tracking community response, forensic questions, and municipal disruptions.
‘Review’ (2014–2017)
‘Review’ is a Comedy Central series based on the Australian format ‘Review with Myles Barlow’. It stars Andy Daly as a critic who evaluates life experiences by undertaking them himself, with a framework that treats each assignment as a segment within a fictional review show.
The cast includes Jessica St. Clair, Megan Stevenson, and James Urbaniak. The series ran for three seasons, uses an episode-by-episode anthology structure, and maintains internal continuity through the consequences of earlier “reviews.”
‘Nathan for You’ (2013–2017)
‘Nathan for You’ is a hybrid reality-comedy series created by Nathan Fielder and Michael Koman for Comedy Central. It documents a consultant proposing unconventional strategies to small businesses, with episodes built around planning, execution, and follow-up.
The show features extended arcs across multiple installments, culminating in a feature-length special. It includes recurring collaborators, on-location shoots around Southern California and beyond, and a production approach that blends documentary methods with structured beats.
‘Happy Valley’ (2014–2023)
‘Happy Valley’ is a BBC One crime drama created by Sally Wainwright that follows a police sergeant in the Calder Valley as she balances complex cases with family responsibilities. Sarah Lancashire leads the cast, with Siobhan Finneran and James Norton in key roles.
The series spans three installments released over a long interval, each focusing on discrete investigations alongside continuing story threads. It filmed in West Yorkshire, features coordination with regional police advisors, and has been recognized with major UK television awards.
‘Kingdom’ (2014–2017)
‘Kingdom’ is a family and sports drama set around a mixed martial arts gym in Venice, California. Created by Byron Balasco for Audience Network, it stars Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Jonathan Tucker, Matt Lauria, and Nick Jonas.
The production integrates real training facilities, fight choreography designed with professional consultants, and weight-class details. It ran for three seasons and follows promotion contracts, injuries, weigh-ins, and the business side of combat sports.
‘The Bridge’ (2011–2018)
Nordic series ‘The Bridge’ (‘Bron/Broen’) opens with a body found on the Øresund Bridge, forcing Swedish and Danish police to cooperate. Sofia Helin and Kim Bodnia star in the first two installments, with Thure Lindhardt joining later as a lead.
Co-produced by Sveriges Television and DR, the show spans four series with cross-border investigations and parallel cases. It filmed in Copenhagen and Malmö, using bilingual dialogue and alternating jurisdiction to structure each season’s casework.
‘Dark’ (2017–2020)
German series ‘Dark’ from Netflix revolves around four families connected by disappearances in a small town and the discovery of a time-bending mystery. Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, it features an ensemble cast including Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, and Lisa Vicari.
The production filmed around Berlin and Brandenburg, with extensive location continuity to track characters across multiple timelines. It runs for three seasons and is structured as a closed story with a planned beginning, middle, and end.
‘The Leftovers’ (2014–2017)
HBO’s ‘The Leftovers’ is based on the novel by Tom Perrotta and was developed by Damon Lindelof and Perrotta. It follows communities worldwide after a sudden, unexplained disappearance event affects a significant portion of the population, focusing on one extended family and their circle.
The ensemble includes Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, Regina King, Christopher Eccleston, and Ann Dowd. Max Richter composed the score, and the series completed three seasons that shift locations and explore government responses, new religious movements, and grief support structures.
Share the under-the-radar series you’d add to this list in the comments.
