Five most underrated shows to watch on Netflix
In the vast ocean of Netflix content, it is very easy for some gems to go unnoticed. While mainstream shows dominate the platform like child’s play, numerous shows go unnoticed despite their brilliance and fail to get the attention they deserve.
To be fair, one has to dive deep into the platform’s ocean of content to discover these gems. So many viewers keep looking for underrated shows that offer compelling narratives, stellar performances, and unique perspectives.
While exploring these hidden treasures can be a refreshing experience, we often dig deep to find that one show that’ll hit the spot. But this process demands too much time. Moreover, the process of finding an underrated show results in two ways. Either you don’t land on one and end up watching your comfort show for the hundredth time, or the food on your plate gets over by the time you put your finger on one such gem.
But you do not have to worry this time because we have done the job for you. If you are tired of seeing the same titles on every “Top 10′ list, here are five underrated shows on Netflix that deserve your attention.
Here are the five Netflix gems flying under the radar
5. Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories (Joji Matsuoka, Nobuhiro Yamashita, 2016-2019)
You know it is going to be a visually beautiful show when it contains two elements: Japan and food. This Japanese anthology series comprises short and deeply human stories set in a tucked-away Tokyo eatery that opens at midnight. The creators have beautifully structured each episode around a dish ordered by a customer that slowly unwraps their lives through meaningful conversations and flashbacks.
There is no shocking twist or revelation in the show, but raw emotion and warmth that feels like a hot ramen bowl on a cold night. Japanese television is so much more than just anime. So, if you are looking for a comfort watch, it is time to rearrange your watchlist.
4. A Man on the Inside (Rebecca Asher, Morgan Sackett, Michael Schur, and Anu Valia, 2024)
They say, when in doubt, let Michael Schur help you out. This gem of a writer has given the world many shows like The Office and The Good Place, which are hard to go unnoticed. But A Man on the Inside somehow has slipped into the underrated category, and it is time to change it.
Starring Ted Danson as the lead, this British documentary show peels back the layers of how deep-cover operations work. This show is the one if you are looking to watch a true crime show with emotional fallout and ethics that stick.
3. Criminal: UK (Jim Field Smith, 2019-2020)
It is now time to spice up the game and get into the detective and suspect genre. Criminal: UK is a show that takes you into a new interrogation room every time and gives you a realistic experience of how things work. Each story in the show is about a psychological tug of war between the suspects and detectives, and it will get you hooked.
This show is a classic example of the fact that street chase scenes do not always leave people breathless. All you need is good actors, tight dialogue delivery, and a character who has something to hide.
2. Sacred Games (Vikramaditya Motwane and Anurag Kashyap, 2018-2019)
India’s addition to the world is not just adding spices to the food, but cinema as well. For the longest time, Bollywood had the image of producing content full of lots of drama and dance numbers. But when it comes to OTT, it is on a next level. Sacred Games is one of those shows that changed the landscape of Netflix India.
This crime thriller blends Mumbai’s gritty underworld politics with twisted mythology and bold storytelling. The story begins when a cop, Sartaj Singh, receives a cryptic phone call from a notorious gangster who narrates him a story that opens numerous gates of incidents that happened in the past and present while hinting at those that might happen in the future. If you are looking for storytelling with bite, this one delivers.
1. The Valhalla Murders (Þórður Pálsson, Thóra Hilmarsdóttir, and Davíð Óskar Ólafsson, 2019)
Who does not love a decent murder mystery? No matter how many there are, one always ends up craving the next. The Valhalla Murders is one such show that should be on your watchlist if you are a fan of the genre. Set in the cold background of Iceland, this Nordic Noir follows two detectives who unravel the secrets of a murder linked to a disturbing photo.
What makes this Netflix show stand out is its atmosphere. The cold weather of Ireland makes the vibe of the show even colder, making a perfect setting for the storyline.