Lesser-Known TV Shows That Are Totally Worth Watching

If you’ve already burned through the big-name hits, there’s a deep bench of under-the-radar series packed with standout writing, world-building, and performances. Below is a curated list spanning crime, comedy, sci-fi, and international drama, each with a quick download of what it’s about, who made it, where it aired, and what makes its setup distinctive. You’ll find single-season gems alongside multi-season journeys, from UK cult favorites to French spy craft and Australian dark comedy. Use it to discover your next binge or to finally try that niche series you’ve heard about in passing.

‘Patriot’ (2015–2018)

Created by Steven Conrad and released on Prime Video, ‘Patriot’ follows an intelligence officer whose cover job in a Midwestern industrial piping firm complicates his covert mission. Michael Dorman leads the cast alongside Terry O’Quinn and Kurtwood Smith. The show blends geopolitical maneuvering with corporate bureaucracy, frequently intersecting in Luxembourg, Milwaukee, and beyond. It runs for two seasons with a tightly serialized plot that rewards close attention.

‘Counterpart’ (2017–2019)

Airing on Starz, ‘Counterpart’ stars J.K. Simmons in dual roles as a low-level Berlin bureaucrat and his hardened doppelgänger from a parallel world. The series explores espionage protocols, quarantine regimes, and competing agencies across two diverging Earths. It was created by Justin Marks and features a strong international ensemble. Two seasons build a complete arc across twenty episodes.

‘Detectorists’ (2014–2022)

Written and directed by Mackenzie Crook for BBC Four, ‘Detectorists’ centers on two hobbyists in the fictional town of Danebury searching fields for forgotten artifacts. Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones star, with a gentle focus on community clubs, local councils, and rural rights-of-way. The series mixes archaeology tidbits with British countryside specifics, including permissions and landowner etiquette. It spans three series with specials that revisit the characters later on.

‘Lodge 49’ (2018–2019)

Produced by AMC, ‘Lodge 49’ is set in Long Beach and follows a drifting ex-surfer who stumbles into a fraternal order called the Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx. Wyatt Russell headlines a cast that digs into mutual-aid rituals, lodge archives, and local business intrigues. The show interweaves alchemical lore with blue-collar economics and small-claims legalities. It runs for two seasons and builds out a detailed lodge mythology.

‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

Co-produced by BBC Two and Netflix, ‘Giri/Haji’ tracks a Tokyo detective searching London for his missing brother, entangling yakuza politics with Metropolitan Police investigations. The series is bilingual, shifting between English and Japanese with on-screen text, animation flourishes, and stylized interludes. Takehiro Hira and Kelly Macdonald lead a cross-continental ensemble. It is a single-season story structured as a closed-ended crime saga.

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

Developed for Cinemax, ‘Banshee’ follows an ex-convict who assumes the identity of a small-town sheriff in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. Antony Starr stars, with plots involving tribal law, local crime syndicates, and county politics. The show is known for meticulous fight choreography and practical stunts within a serialized crime framework. Four seasons chart escalating conflicts among law enforcement, crime families, and community leaders.

‘Fortitude’ (2015–2018)

A Sky Atlantic thriller set in a remote Arctic settlement, ‘Fortitude’ blends police procedural elements with environmental research and epidemiological concerns. The narrative involves scientists, local officials, and visiting detectives confronting unusual crimes in extreme conditions. Richard Dormer anchors a cast that changes across seasons as investigations widen. The series shot on location to capture polar landscapes and the hazards affecting the town’s economy and health.

‘Rectify’ (2013–2016)

From SundanceTV and creator Ray McKinnon, ‘Rectify’ follows Daniel Holden after his release from death row as the legal system reassesses his case. Aden Young leads a cast that examines parole conditions, community backlash, and family dynamics in a small Southern town. The show carefully tracks therapy, employment challenges, and court motions that shape post-incarceration life. Four seasons provide a legal and personal journey grounded in procedural details.

‘Kingdom’ (2014–2017)

An Audience Network drama set around the Navy St. MMA gym in Venice, ‘Kingdom’ explores training camps, weight-cut protocols, and promotion politics. Frank Grillo plays a gym owner and coach, with Jonathan Tucker and Nick Jonas as fighters navigating contracts and injuries. The series shows sanctioning rules, matchmaking pressures, and the business side of combat sports. Three seasons follow multiple fighters’ careers inside and outside the cage.

‘Utopia’ (2013–2014)

Channel 4’s ‘Utopia’ centers on a group that discovers a manuscript tied to a clandestine organization known as The Network. Created by Dennis Kelly, it folds in virology concepts, eugenics debates, and black-ops procurement tactics. The production uses striking production design and graphic-novel-style framing to mirror the manuscript’s mystique. Two series complete a conspiracy narrative across interconnected cells and safe houses.

‘Terriers’ (2010)

FX’s ‘Terriers’ follows two unlicensed private investigators operating in San Diego’s Ocean Beach. Donal Logue and Michael Raymond-James lead cases involving real estate fraud, municipal corruption, and neighborhood activism. The series was created by Ted Griffin with Shawn Ryan as an executive producer. Thirteen episodes form a contained story that threads episodic cases into a larger land-grab scheme.

‘Please Like Me’ (2013–2016)

An Australian dramedy created by Josh Thomas, ‘Please Like Me’ blends slice-of-life storytelling with frank depictions of mental-health care, including inpatient and outpatient settings. The series maps family dynamics, house-mate logistics, and dating misadventures in Melbourne. Production moved to a co-airing arrangement with a U.S. cable channel during its run. Four seasons balance comedic beats with clinical detail and social-service navigation.

‘Quarry’ (2016)

A Cinemax series based on Max Allan Collins’ novels, ‘Quarry’ tracks a Marine sniper returning home and being recruited into a criminal syndicate. Set in Memphis, the show covers black-market operations, union conflicts, and river-port logistics. Logan Marshall-Green leads an ensemble that intersects with local law enforcement and federal agents. One season delivers a self-contained arc spanning eight episodes.

‘Mr Inbetween’ (2018–2021)

Created by and starring Scott Ryan, ‘Mr Inbetween’ expands the world of the film ‘The Magician’ into a grounded look at a working-class fixer in suburban Sydney. The show details job invoicing, custody schedules, and criminal contracting that bleed into everyday life. Episodes are concise, often under a half hour, with careful continuity across arcs. Three seasons aired on FX and Foxtel, concluding the character’s story cleanly.

‘The Bureau’ (2015–2020)

Canal+’s ‘The Bureau’ (‘Le Bureau des Légendes’) dramatizes day-to-day operations inside France’s DGSE, focusing on undercover legends and long-term assets. Mathieu Kassovitz stars, with arcs covering cyber operations, Middle East fieldwork, and inter-service rivalries. The series is noted for tradecraft details such as dead drops, surveillance countermeasures, and identity maintenance. Five seasons build a cohesive, escalating portrait of modern intelligence work.

‘Halt and Catch Fire’ (2014–2017)

An AMC drama from Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers, ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ charts the personal-computer boom through a Texas start-up and later the rise of networked computing. Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, and Kerry Bishé lead an ensemble that moves from hardware cloning to online services. Production weaves in industry practices like reverse engineering, venture funding, and early internet communities. Four seasons trace multiple product cycles and team reshuffles across changing tech hubs.

‘The Knick’ (2014–2015)

Directed by Steven Soderbergh for Cinemax, ‘The Knick’ follows surgeons and staff at New York’s Knickerbocker Hospital as they tackle cutting-edge procedures and public-health crises. Clive Owen stars, with storylines covering surgical innovation, hospital administration, and the interplay of philanthropy and municipal politics. The series foregrounds anesthesia, sanitation, and medical recordkeeping as they evolve. Two seasons present interconnected cases and institutional reforms.

‘Warrior’ (2019–2023)

Inspired by writings from Bruce Lee and developed by Jonathan Tropper, ‘Warrior’ is a San Francisco–set crime saga originally on Cinemax and later on a major streaming platform. Andrew Koji headlines as a Chinatown immigrant navigating tong rivalries, policing, and city hall maneuvering. The show incorporates labor disputes, municipal ordinances, and immigration policy into its gangland plots. Three seasons map turf shifts, alliances, and law-enforcement strategies across the Barbary Coast.

‘ZeroZeroZero’ (2020)

An international crime limited series on Prime Video from Stefano Sollima, ‘ZeroZeroZero’ adapts Roberto Saviano’s nonfiction book about a single multi-ton cocaine shipment. The narrative tracks producers, brokers, and buyers across multiple continents with shipping logistics, port inspections, and shell companies at its core. Casting spans Mexico, Italy, and the United States, depicting cartel politics and financial structuring. One season delivers a complete, globe-spanning supply-chain story.

‘Perpetual Grace LTD’ (2019)

Created by Steven Conrad and Bruce Terris for Epix, ‘Perpetual Grace, LTD’ centers on a con that spirals into clashes among clergy, local officials, and small-time operators along the borderlands. Ben Kingsley and Jimmi Simpson lead a cast that navigates probate, property transfers, and cross-jurisdictional policing. The plot leans on confidence tricks, false filings, and insurance angles. A single season wraps a complex scheme with interlocking character motives.

‘Babylon Berlin’ (2017– )

A German series from Tom Tykwer, Achim von Borries, and Henk Handloegten, ‘Babylon Berlin’ follows a Cologne detective assigned to Berlin’s vice and political squads during the Weimar era. It details party militias, financial scandals, and police bureaucracy alongside cabaret culture and rail logistics. The production uses large-scale sets and extras to reconstruct administrative and transit systems. Multiple seasons build out cases that intersect with ministries, unions, and newspapers.

‘The Honourable Woman’ (2014)

Hugo Blick’s limited series for BBC Two and SundanceTV, ‘The Honourable Woman’ examines a business empire connecting British, Israeli, and Palestinian interests. Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as an executive navigating procurement contracts, NGO oversight, and intelligence interventions. The plot foregrounds export controls, data security, and humanitarian auditing. Eight episodes form a tightly structured political thriller.

‘McMafia’ (2018)

A BBC One and AMC co-production created by Hossein Amini and James Watkins, ‘McMafia’ explores global organized crime through finance, commodities, and front companies. James Norton plays a London banker dealing with cross-border enforcement, compliance regimes, and illicit capital flows. Filming spans multiple countries to show intermediary hubs and regulatory arbitrage. One season tells a full arc of mergers between legitimate business and criminal networks.

‘Signal’ (2016)

A Korean procedural for tvN written by Kim Eun-hee and directed by Kim Won-seok, ‘Signal’ links detectives across time via a mysterious radio. Cases draw from real unsolved crimes, emphasizing evidence handling, statute-of-limitations rules, and task-force coordination. The structure alternates between parallel investigations that affect each other’s timelines. One season combines serialized character work with case-of-the-week rigor.

‘Travelers’ (2016–2018)

Created by Brad Wright and co-produced for Showcase and Netflix, ‘Travelers’ follows operatives who assume contemporary identities to prevent future catastrophes. The series codifies mission protocols, cover maintenance, and inter-team communications, including contingency rules and leadership hierarchies. Eric McCormack leads a cast balancing domestic lives with clandestine directives. Three seasons deliver mission arcs that hinge on ethics, logistics, and unintended consequences.

‘Glitch’ (2015–2019)

An Australian supernatural drama from Tony Ayres and Louise Fox for ABC and later Netflix, ‘Glitch’ begins when several deceased locals return in perfect health. The town’s police, council, and medical services confront jurisdiction issues, exhumations, and identity reinstatement. Storylines track estate claims, next-of-kin conflicts, and scientific study of the phenomenon. Three seasons provide interlinked mysteries centered on a rural community.

‘Dark Winds’ (2022– )

Developed by Graham Roland for AMC and based on Tony Hillerman’s novels, ‘Dark Winds’ follows Navajo Nation police detectives Joe Leaphorn and Jim Chee. The production films in the Southwest and incorporates tribal jurisdiction, federal partnerships, and cultural protocols into casework. Zahn McClarnon and Kiowa Gordon lead investigations that span thefts, homicides, and financial crimes. Ongoing seasons expand task-force collaborations and community impacts.

‘The Returned’ (2012–2015)

The French series ‘The Returned’ (‘Les Revenants’) for Canal+ centers on a mountain town where people long presumed dead reappear. Authorities and families address documentation gaps, school and housing reintegration, and public-order challenges. The show features an original score by Mogwai that underscores a measured, procedural atmosphere. Two seasons assemble interlocking files, disappearances, and municipal responses.

‘Flowers’ (2016–2018)

A Channel 4 dark comedy from Will Sharpe, ‘Flowers’ chronicles the eccentric Flowers family with storylines involving mental-health care, publishing contracts, and academic employment. Olivia Colman and Julian Barratt headline a cast dealing with guardianship, licensing, and professional obligations. The series mixes household logistics with formal therapy and workplace policies. Two seasons complete a family saga with structured milestones.

‘Chance’ (2016–2017)

A Hulu neo-noir created by Kem Nunn and Alexandra Cunningham, ‘Chance’ follows a San Francisco neuropsychiatrist drawn into criminal investigations. Hugh Laurie and Ethan Suplee anchor cases that touch expert testimony, patient confidentiality, and private-security firms. The plot engages with property crimes, identity fraud, and medical-legal intersections. Two seasons map escalating risks across clinics, courts, and the Bay Area’s underworld.

‘The Shadow Line’ (2011)

A BBC Two crime thriller created by Hugo Blick, ‘The Shadow Line’ follows parallel investigations run by police and organized crime after a high-profile killing. Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Eccleston, and Stephen Rea lead an ensemble that navigates covert units, informant handling, and ministerial oversight. The series examines evidence suppression, chain-of-command tensions, and the use of shell entities in narcotics distribution. One tightly plotted season delivers a complete, closed-ended story.

‘Hinterland’ (2013–2016)

Produced for BBC Wales and S4C, ‘Hinterland’ (also released bilingually as ‘Y Gwyll’) centers on a detective team working cases across rural Ceredigion. The show foregrounds jurisdictional coordination between local and national units, with frequent reference to land rights, waterways, and agricultural estates. Its bilingual production highlights Welsh cultural institutions and signage. Three seasons combine self-contained cases with ongoing arcs tied to regional history.

‘The Kettering Incident’ (2016)

An Australian mystery drama from creators Vicki Madden and Vincent Sheehan, ‘The Kettering Incident’ situates a doctor’s return to her Tasmanian hometown amid disappearances and environmental disputes. Storylines involve forestry concessions, protest actions, and scientific sampling protocols. The series blends municipal politics with ecological monitoring and lab procedures. One season delivers an interlinked set of investigations anchored to the town’s geography.

‘No Man’s Land’ (2020)

A Hulu and Arte co-production, ‘No Man’s Land’ follows multiple vantage points across the Syrian conflict, including foreign volunteers, intelligence services, and local militias. The show details smuggling routes, border crossings, and digital surveillance. It depicts interagency cooperation and competing objectives among European and regional actors. One season presents a multinational cast and intertwined operations.

‘The Booth at the End’ (2011–2012)

Distributed by FX and later streaming platforms, ‘The Booth at the End’ revolves around a mysterious figure who negotiates transactional deals from a diner booth. Each episode tracks clients tasked with specific actions and the verification mechanisms used to confirm results. The format emphasizes ethics, documentation of tasks, and third-party corroboration. Two short seasons create a linked anthology with recurring patterns.

‘Rubicon’ (2010)

An AMC drama created by Jason Horwitch, ‘Rubicon’ focuses on analysts at a private intelligence think tank contracted by government agencies. The series highlights open-source intelligence, pattern recognition, and interdepartmental clearance levels. It shows briefing culture, contractor oversight, and the bureaucracy of national-security decision-making. One season builds a conspiracy narrative through analytic tradecraft.

‘Black Spot’ (2017–2019)

A French–Belgian thriller originally titled ‘Zone Blanche’, ‘Black Spot’ is set in a forested commune with unusually high crime statistics. Local authorities manage limited resources while working with gendarmes and environmental services on disappearances and poaching. The show integrates terrain mapping, forensic ecology, and rural governance. Two seasons explore municipal challenges amid escalating cases.

‘The Bridge’ (2011–2018)

A Scandinavian co-production for SVT and DR, ‘Bron/Broen’ begins with a body discovered on the Øresund Bridge, forcing joint Swedish–Danish policing. Procedures include bilingual interviewing, evidence sharing, and cross-border extradition rules. The series evolves through distinct case arcs with refreshed antagonists. Four seasons document changing team dynamics across linked investigations.

‘Occupied’ (2015–2020)

Created by Jo Nesbø for TV 2 Norway, ‘Okkupert’ (‘Occupied’) imagines a near-future geopolitical crisis that places Norway under external pressure over energy policy. The show portrays cabinet-level decision-making, EU diplomacy, and information campaigns. It tracks media strategy, civil resistance, and security-service tactics. Three seasons move from emergency decrees to longer-term administrative control.

‘Lilyhammer’ (2012–2014)

A Norwegian–American dramedy for NRK and Netflix, ‘Lilyhammer’ follows a former mob associate entering witness protection in Lillehammer. The series covers identity reassignment, small-business licensing, and municipal regulations as he launches local ventures. It explores cultural adaptation, policing practices, and immigration bureaucracy. Three seasons chart community ties and legal entanglements.

‘Bordertown’ (2016–2020)

Also known internationally as ‘Bordertown’, ‘Sorjonen’ is a Finnish crime series centered on an investigator who relocates to a border city near Russia. Cases feature cross-border trafficking, forensic linguistics, and cooperation with federal units. The show uses multi-episode case blocks to track specialized offenders and victimology. Three seasons plus a follow-on film extend the setting’s continuity.

‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ (2004)

A Channel 4 cult comedy presented as a recovered hospital-horror series, ‘Garth Marenghi’s Darkplace’ satirizes low-budget production practices. Episodes include in-universe commentary on voice-over, ADR, and continuity errors. The show credits a fictional author–director–star whose novels and scripts frame the broadcast. One short season provides a complete meta-text with recurring gags and faux archival materials.

‘Colin from Accounts’ (2022– )

An Australian comedy for the Foxtel Group and streaming partners, ‘Colin from Accounts’ follows two strangers connected by a minor traffic incident and a dog. The series emphasizes workplace structures, medical bills, and apartment-share logistics in Sydney. Writing and lead performances come from creators Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall. Ongoing seasons track relationship milestones alongside everyday administrative hassles.

‘The Devil’s Hour’ (2022– )

A Prime Video psychological thriller created by Tom Moran, ‘The Devil’s Hour’ intersects serial investigations with social services and family court involvement. The plot threads include police interview protocols, offender profiling, and witness safeguarding. Peter Capaldi and Jessica Raine anchor cases that loop through community support frameworks. Multiple seasons expand the investigative scope while maintaining continuity of evidence.

‘Patria’ (2020)

Based on Fernando Aramburu’s novel and produced for HBO Europe and Movistar+, ‘Patria’ examines decades of political violence in the Basque Country through two intertwined families. It depicts victim-compensation systems, memory initiatives, and reintegration processes. The series coordinates courtroom scenes, municipal records, and community mediation efforts. One limited season adapts the novel in full with a chronological structure.

Have a favorite hidden gem we missed—share your picks in the comments so everyone can find their next off-the-radar watch.