Underrated Drama Series Nobody Talks About (But Should)

Some dramas arrive with quiet premieres and build steady followings without dominating the conversation. This list brings together series that delivered careful worldbuilding, distinctive settings, and meticulous craft across writing, acting, and production.

Each entry includes the basic facts that help you decide what to try next. You will find creators, main cast, original networks, episode counts, production notes, and filming locations so you can get a clear picture of what each show offers.

‘Rectify’ (2013–2016)

Created by Ray McKinnon for SundanceTV, ‘Rectify’ follows a man released from death row and the ripple effects on his family and hometown. The series runs for four seasons and thirty episodes and was produced by Gran Via Productions and Sundance Productions.
Aden Young leads the cast with Abigail Spencer, J. Smith-Cameron, Adelaide Clemens, and Clayne Crawford. Filming took place in Georgia with locations in Griffin and surrounding communities, and the show received a Peabody Award for storytelling.

‘Halt and Catch Fire’ (2014–2017)

Developed by Christopher Cantwell and Christopher C. Rogers for AMC, ‘Halt and Catch Fire’ charts the personal and business shifts around early personal computing and the dawn of the web. The series spans four seasons and forty episodes and was produced by AMC Studios.
Lee Pace, Scoot McNairy, Mackenzie Davis, and Kerry Bishé star in an ensemble structure that moves from Texas to the West Coast. Interior and exterior work was handled largely in the Atlanta region with detailed period production design supporting the technology timeline.

‘Patriot’ (2015–2018)

Created by Steven Conrad for Prime Video, ‘Patriot’ centers on an intelligence officer whose work blends corporate cover, international travel, and complex family ties. The show runs for two seasons and eighteen episodes under Amazon Studios.
Michael Dorman, Terry O’Quinn, Michael Chernus, Kathleen Munroe, and Kurtwood Smith head the cast. Production shot in the Midwest in the United States as well as in Luxembourg and the Czech Republic with storylines set across government and private sector spaces.

‘Counterpart’ (2017–2019)

From creator Justin Marks for Starz, ‘Counterpart’ explores parallel worlds through a Berlin based diplomatic outpost with security and espionage at its core. The series totals two seasons and twenty episodes and was produced by MRC.
J. K. Simmons plays dual roles alongside Olivia Williams, Harry Lloyd, Nazanin Boniadi, and Sara Serraiocco. Filming used locations in Berlin and surrounding areas and the production integrates multilingual dialogue and detailed agency procedures.

‘The Knick’ (2014–2015)

‘The Knick’ was created by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler for Cinemax and focuses on a New York hospital during a transformative period in medicine. The series spans two seasons and twenty episodes with all episodes directed by Steven Soderbergh.
Clive Owen and André Holland lead a cast that includes Juliet Rylance, Eve Hewson, and Jeremy Bobb. Production relied on extensive research into medical techniques with sets and props built to reflect historical surgical practices and Cliff Martinez composed the score.

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

Created by Jonathan Tropper and David Schickler for Cinemax, ‘Banshee’ follows a former convict operating under a stolen identity in a small town with intersecting criminal and local interests. The series delivers four seasons and thirty eight episodes.
Antony Starr stars with Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, Hoon Lee, and Frankie Faison. The show lists Alan Ball as an executive producer, filmed largely in North Carolina, and features a mix of practical stunts and contained location work.

‘Quarry’ (2016)

‘Quarry’ comes from Graham Gordy and Michael D. Fuller for Cinemax and adapts Max Allan Collins novels about a Marine sniper who returns home and is drawn into contract killing. The series completes one season with eight episodes.
Logan Marshall-Green, Jodi Balfour, Peter Mullan, and Damon Herriman appear in primary roles. Production used New Orleans and Mississippi River settings to stand in for Memphis with period detail in wardrobe and vehicles matched to the story era.

‘Berlin Station’ (2016–2019)

Created by Olen Steinhauer for Epix, ‘Berlin Station’ follows a CIA office managing assets and leaks across European capitals. The series runs for three seasons and twenty nine episodes.
Richard Armitage stars with Rhys Ifans, Richard Jenkins, Michelle Forbes, and Leland Orser. Filming took place in Berlin and Budapest with support from local crews and the show incorporates multiple languages and agency protocols.

‘Kingdom’ (2014–2017)

Created by Byron Balasco for Audience Network, ‘Kingdom’ is set inside a family run mixed martial arts gym and tracks training, management, and competition. The series extends to three seasons and forty episodes.
Frank Grillo anchors the cast with Kiele Sanchez, Matt Lauria, Jonathan Tucker, and Nick Jonas. Production filmed in the Los Angeles area with fight choreography designed around real weight classes and training regimens.

‘The Deuce’ (2017–2019)

Developed by David Simon and George Pelecanos for HBO, ‘The Deuce’ examines the rise of adult entertainment and changes in city policy and policing around Times Square. The series covers three seasons and twenty five episodes.
James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal lead an ensemble that includes Gbenga Akinnagbe, Dominique Fishback, and Chris Bauer. Filming used New York streets and extensive set redressing to recreate period storefronts, signage, and transit details under the Blown Deadline banner.

‘Treme’ (2010–2013)

Created by David Simon and Eric Overmyer for HBO, ‘Treme’ focuses on musicians, chefs, and neighborhood leaders rebuilding lives and businesses in New Orleans. The show spans four seasons and thirty six episodes.
Wendell Pierce, Khandi Alexander, Clarke Peters, and Rob Brown appear with frequent guest performances from local artists. Production filmed on location across neighborhoods and featured licensed music performed by regional players.

‘The Bureau’ (2015–2020)

Known in French as ‘Le Bureau des Légendes’ and created by Éric Rochant for Canal Plus, ‘The Bureau’ follows a Directorate General for External Security unit managing deep cover agents. The series reaches five seasons and fifty episodes.
Mathieu Kassovitz stars with Sara Giraudeau, Jean-Pierre Darroussin, and Florence Loiret Caille. Filming took place in France with international units and the production includes technical consulting on tradecraft and administrative detail.

‘Giri/Haji’ (2019)

Created by Joe Barton for BBC Two with international distribution, ‘Giri/Haji’ is a bilingual series about a Tokyo detective searching in London while navigating family and police obligations. The limited series contains eight episodes.
Takehiro Hira and Kelly Macdonald lead a cast that includes Yōsuke Kubozuka, Aoi Okuyama, and Will Sharpe. Production filmed in Tokyo and London with scenes that integrate English and Japanese dialogue and stylized transitions.

‘McMafia’ (2018)

Developed by Hossein Amini and James Watkins for BBC One and AMC, ‘McMafia’ is inspired by the nonfiction book of the same name by Misha Glenny and follows global finance intersecting with organized crime. The series runs for one season with eight episodes.
James Norton stars with David Strathairn, Juliet Rylance, and Merab Ninidze. Filming took place across multiple countries including the United Kingdom and Eastern Europe with a focus on financial hubs and cross border logistics.

‘Fortitude’ (2015–2018)

Created by Simon Donald for Sky Atlantic with North American broadcast on Pivot, ‘Fortitude’ takes place in an Arctic community where law enforcement and science teams respond to unusual incidents. The series spans three seasons and twenty six episodes.
Richard Dormer, Sofie Gråbøl, and Stanley Tucci appear among a rotating ensemble. Production filmed in Iceland and the United Kingdom with remote location work and cold weather logistics shaping sets and schedules.

‘Ripper Street’ (2012–2016)

Created by Richard Warlow for BBC One and later co produced with Amazon, ‘Ripper Street’ follows H Division officers working cases in Whitechapel after a period of public fear. The series delivers five seasons and thirty seven episodes.
Matthew Macfadyen leads with Jerome Flynn, Adam Rothenberg, and MyAnna Buring. Filming was based in Dublin with large standing sets and period wardrobe teams managing uniforms and streetwear across multiple time spans.

‘The Shadow Line’ (2011)

Hugo Blick created ‘The Shadow Line’ for BBC Two as a limited crime drama examining a murder investigation from both police and criminal perspectives. The series completes seven episodes and presents a closed story.
Chiwetel Ejiofor, Christopher Eccleston, Stephen Rea, and Rafe Spall form the core cast. Production filmed around London with a visual plan focused on night interiors and composed street scenes.

‘Hap and Leonard’ (2016–2018)

Based on novels by Joe R. Lansdale and developed by Nick Damici and Jim Mickle for SundanceTV, ‘Hap and Leonard’ pairs two friends in East Texas as they cross paths with crime and local power. The show runs three seasons and eighteen episodes.
James Purefoy and Michael Kenneth Williams star with Christina Hendricks, Jimmi Simpson, and Bill Sage. Although set in Texas, production filmed in Louisiana and each season adapts different books with new supporting casts.

‘The Honourable Woman’ (2014)

Created by Hugo Blick for BBC Two and SundanceTV, ‘The Honourable Woman’ follows an Anglo Israeli business leader whose organization operates within international oversight and private security pressure. The limited series has eight episodes.
Maggie Gyllenhaal leads with Andrew Buchan, Stephen Rea, and Lubna Azabal. Filming took place in the United Kingdom and Morocco and the series received major awards recognition including a Golden Globe for lead performance.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

Developed by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian for HBO, ‘The Night Of’ adapts the British series ‘Criminal Justice’ to New York and traces a complex legal case from arrest to courtroom. The production consists of eight episodes.
Riz Ahmed and John Turturro head a cast that includes Bill Camp, Amara Karan, and Jeannie Berlin. Location work used New York precincts, courthouses, and correctional facilities with detailed legal procedure shown across the run.

‘Bloodline’ (2015–2017)

Created by Todd A. Kessler, Daniel Zelman, and Glenn Kessler for Netflix, ‘Bloodline’ follows a family running a hotel in the Florida Keys as long held secrets disrupt business and personal plans. The series spans three seasons and thirty three episodes.
Kyle Chandler, Ben Mendelsohn, Linda Cardellini, and Sissy Spacek appear in principal roles. Production filmed on location throughout the Keys with coastal weather and tidal conditions shaping schedules and set builds.

‘The OA’ (2016–2019)

Co created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij for Netflix, ‘The OA’ blends mystery and character study across two parts with distinct settings and ensembles. The series contains sixteen episodes.
Brit Marling stars with Jason Isaacs, Emory Cohen, Phyllis Smith, and Kingsley Ben-Adir. Production worked in the United States with additional location work for dreamlike sequences and the show incorporates choreography and original music cues.

‘Mr Inbetween’ (2018–2021)

Created by Scott Ryan for Australian television with US distribution on FX, ‘Mr Inbetween’ follows a working class fixer balancing parenting, friendships, and contract work. The series runs three seasons and twenty six episodes.
Scott Ryan stars with Justin Rosniak, Chika Yasumura, and Damon Herriman. Filming took place in Sydney and nearby suburbs with compact episode runtimes and a focus on street level locations.

‘Top of the Lake’ (2013–2017)

Created by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee and produced for international partners including BBC and SundanceTV, ‘Top of the Lake’ unfolds across two seasons with separate cases and casts. The series totals thirteen episodes.
Elisabeth Moss leads the ensemble with David Wenham, Peter Mullan, and Gwendoline Christie across different installments. Production filmed in New Zealand for the first story and in Australia for the second with landscapes integrated into investigative work.

‘The Bridge’ (2013–2014)

Developed by Meredith Stiehm and Elwood Reid for FX, ‘The Bridge’ adapts ‘Bron/Broen’ to the US Mexico border through a case that crosses jurisdictions. The series has two seasons and twenty six episodes.
Diane Kruger and Demián Bichir star with Annabeth Gish and Thomas M. Wright. Filming used locations in California and Texas to represent El Paso and Ciudad Juárez and the production coordinated with multiple agencies for procedural accuracy.

Share the one drama you would add to this list in the comments.