(Credits: CBC Television)

Netflix drops so much content that sometimes even the good stuff gets buried under endless ‘Top 10’ lists.

Sometimes it is algorithm recs, and the rest are new shiny show drops that week. And while some series hog all the attention, there are others quietly sitting there, waiting for you to notice them. These are the shows that deserved way more hype than they got.

Think of this list as your rescue mission. These aren’t the shows you have already seen a hundred times. These are the ones you probably scrolled past and unknowingly kept in the “maybe later” watchlist and then forgot. But that later is now, as these are clever and, in some cases, straight-up brilliant watches.

What makes them underrated? They might not have got the flashy billboards or the viral TikToks or the endless memes going for them to grab eyes, but they did garner critical acclaim, cult followings, and enough juice to make you wonder how you slept on them this long. Some are dark thrillers, some are messy dramas, and one is an unexpectedly funny love story. Despite their vivid plots, all are guaranteed to make your “continue watching” row way more interesting.

So before you hit play on yet another rewatch of The Big Bang Theory, do yourself a favour and add these five underrated Netflix gems to your list, or watch them right now.

Five underrated Netflix series you probably skipped

Travelers (2016–18)

If you thought time-travel stories were all about glowing machines and sci-fi jargon, Travelers is here to prove you wrong. This Canadian series takes the same concept and flips it on its head. This show is about people from a doomed future who send their consciousness back into present-day strangers, taking over their lives while secretly trying to save humanity. Quite slick, eh?

What makes it shine is how grounded it feels. These “travellers” aren’t superheroes. These people are stuck juggling real-world problems like marriages, jobs, and kids while also preventing global catastrophe. It is part sci-fi, part human drama, and totally binge-worthy. Honestly, if you like clever twists and high-stakes storytelling, this is the show you did not know you needed.

Collateral (2018)

Here is a four-part miniseries that should have set the internet on fire, but instead slipped under the radar. Collateral stars Carey Mulligan (yes, the Oscar-winner) as a detective investigating a seemingly random pizza deliveryman’s murder in London. Except nothing is random here, and the case spirals into something more than just a murder investigation.

Collateral is sharp and gripping and exactly the kind of show that hooks you immediately. Mulligan is obviously magnetic, balancing wit and determination while pulling you through a mystery that is as much about society as it is about crime. And the best part: four episodes, that’s it. One weekend and you are done. It is as shocking as it is saddening that this didn’t get more love because it is exactly the kind of prestige drama people are always begging for.

Alias Grace (2017)

Before The Handmaid’s Tale blew up, Margaret Atwood’s Alias Grace quietly slipped onto Netflix. However, it did not receive the noise it deserved. The show is based on true events and follows Grace Marks, a 19th-century maid convicted of murder, as she recounts her story to a psychiatrist. Is she guilty? Is she innocent? Every episode toys with your head, and Sarah Gadon’s performance as Grace is hypnotic.

The vibe of the show is dark and endlessly compelling. It is not flashy or loud; instead, it is subtle and haunting in a way that sneaks up on you. By the finale, you will still be questioning what was real and what was manipulation. This is one of those period dramas that feels timeless, and honestly, is criminally underrated.

Marcella (2016–21)

If you love your detectives messy and broken and just a bad day away from falling apart, Marcella is your show. Anna Friel plays a London detective suffering from blackouts. She has rage issues and a personal life in shambles, all while she hunts down brutal killers. She is not your regular polished and perfect investigator that TV usually hands us; this one comes with a terrifying arc.

The series is twisty and addictive. Most of all, it is full of cliffhangers that dare you not hit “next episode”. Marcella herself is the kind of character you’ll love watching, even when she is making the worst decisions imaginable. She makes the whole thing unmissable. If you want a gritty crime drama with bite, this should be your next pick.

Lovesick (2014–18)

And finally, something a little lighter. Lovesick is a British rom-com about a guy who has to track down all his past hookups after being diagnosed with an STI. Sounds hilarious, right? Some might find it cringy, but it is actually whip-smart and extraordinarily funny.

What makes it work is how it uses that awkward setup to dive into love or friendship while managing all the disasters in between. The characters of this Netflix rom-com feel real, and that’s why it’s easy to relate to them quickly. This show has that cosy, bingeable quality that sneaks up on you. If you want an underrated gem that’ll make you laugh and maybe cry a little, Lovesick is waiting.