Admit it! During the lockdown, you have finished more than a dozen TV series,
and probably re-watched some of them too! Tiger King for the win!
Jimmy: Carole Baskin, have you ever, ever met a guy quite as amazing as me, Joe Exotic.
In case you’ve run out of shows to binge-watch, here are some
less popular suggestions for your consideration. Trust me, you’ll regret not discovering them
sooner. Let’s press play on these 11 Most Underrated TV Shows of The 2000s!
What’s up, fact-natics! This is Discovery Amuse,
serving up your daily dose of the most outrageous, outlandish, and out-of-this-world fun facts!
Stay tuned because our top pick might just be the best show on TV that you’ve never seen!
Man: So good, how is this so good? Woman: What time is it?
#11: Peaky Blinders
Man: All guns and no balls, right Billy Boy?
If you’re still not watching this period British crime drama,
then what the heck are you waiting for?
Airing on BBC since 2013, Peaky Blinders is set in early 2oth century Birmingham, when a
notorious urban street gang led by Tommy Shelby would stop at nothing to move up in the world.
Apart from its stellar cast led by Cillian Murphy, there’s a number of reasons this show is totally
worth your time. For one, fans praise the show for its fast pace, gripping script and top-notch
direction that perfectly captured the chaotic period in England’s history. No surprise there,
considering the show’s estimated cost of at least $1.5 million per episode!
Stans also agree that the show will keep you on the edge of your seat,
and the spectacular acting will have you thinking about the show for days! The
series still has at least two more seasons in the works so there’s no better time to
start watching than now. And that is… Man: By order of the Peaky Blinders!
Keep watching because our number 1 pick was even
proclaimed the smartest TV series of the 21st century!
#10: Hannibal
Can you smell what Hannibal Lecter is cooking?
Well, if the chef is a cannibalistic serial killer then you better think
twice before munching on that medium rare steak. As long as you’re not having dinner
while bingeing on this show then there shouldn’t be any problems.
Hannibal: The blood was from a cow, in the derogatory sense.
This psychological thriller, based on Thomas Harris’ novels,
focuses on the relationship of FBI agent Will Graham and forensic
psychiatrist-slash-murderous cannibal Dr. Hannibal Lecter.
The conflict arises from Lecter being Graham’s worst enemy, yet also his best confidante.
Graham: if by limitations you mean the difference between sanity and
insanity, I don’t accept that. Lecter: Then what do you accept?
The series received critical acclaim for the brilliant performances of the cast. Pundits even
say the character of the cannibalistic villain is actor Mads Mikkelsen’s finest work to date. But
perhaps because of its obscene take on violence, the show was cancelled just three seasons in.
Now that it’s already on streaming platforms like Amazon and Netflix, the question is
whether there will be enough clamor to bring it back for a fourth season after a long hiatus.
#9: Wynonna Earp
Woman: Please let me out. Woman: Checks, they’re not just for kids.
The supernatural Western horror TV series revolves around a young woman named Wynonna Earp,
who’s tasked with killing resurrected outlaws once killed by his great-great-grandfather,
and sending them back to hell. Woman: I am a lesbian.
Wynonna: But you’ve never been through an
experimental phase. Woman: No one knows.
Much like its bonkers premise, the show doesn’t take itself too seriously. And its sharp-tongued,
gunslinging lead has captivated a cult following who are looking for some over-the-top,
supernatural clusterfork! But don’t underestimate its unabashed silliness,
because Wynonna Earp was hailed by Variety as one of the best TV shows of 2017,
and it ranked high up in the New York Times list of must-see shows on Netflix!
#8: Rome
I don’t blame you for not remembering tis obscure
HBO historical drama from 2005, but this one’s an oldie but a goodie.
Caesar: They have declared in effect, that all of you
are criminals! Soldiers: No!
Set in 1st century BC, the show essentially chronicles Rome’s transition from Republic to
Empire. The two lead characters, soldiers named Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo,
find themselves intertwined with actual historical events,
and the complex power struggle that defined the Roman empire.
Filmed in multiple locations in Italy, the UK and the US, and featuring key historical personalities
such as Julius Ceasar, Octavian, Mark Antony and Cleopatra, Rome was arguably the most ambitious
show to be produced not just for HBO but in all of cable TV. It was such an epic spectacle
that most didn’t even think possible for TV. How about a $100 million budget for its pilot alone!
But despite glowing reviews and several award nominations,
the show was cancelled in 2007 just two seasons in with a total of 22 episodes,
because the low viewership just couldn’t justify the cost.
Man: I see. Come old friend, we have to move.
#7: Carnivàle
Another criminally underrated show from HBO that got cancelled way too soon
is this fantasy drama set in the 1930’s which, at its core, is about the struggle of good and evil.
It follows the story of a traveling circus run by a figure called Management, as it picks up a
young man named Ben Hawkins who has healing powers and hides a mysterious past. On the other side,
there’s a Methodist preacher named Brother Justin, who also develops strange abilities of his own.
Man; Can you not see that you are a prisoner of your own past.
Only I can set you free from this bondage. It’s time to choose Sofia.
Carnivale set an audience record with its pilot,
and drew mostly positive ratings throughout its first season. It even won 5 Emmys in 2004
and received other nominations and awards during its run. But the show’s slow-burn pace tested the
patience of its viewers, and the original six-season plan was cut short to just two.
#6: Superstore
Man: This chant
seems a little on the long side.
Putting the unsung heroes of big-box stores front and center is NBC’s sitcom
Superstore, which centers around a ragtag group of
employees who work at a fictional store in St. Louis, Missouri called Cloud 9.
Garrett: Oh, great job Mateo. Glenn:
Hey we’re all staying late to do more work, I’m so sorry, I just found out about it.
Hailed by the LA Times as one of TV’s best new comedies, the workplace comedy had consistent
footing since it aired, but it never really took off to the great heights it deserved.
Sadly, in early 2021, NBC announced its cancellation following the departure of
America Ferrera who’s one of its major cast members and executive producers.
#5: Schitt’s Creek
Jimmy: Every time I say the word Schitt’s Creek,
we’re required to put the words Schitt’s Creek on the screen.
To be fair, everyone’s drinking the Schitt’s Creek Kool-Aid now,
after it dominated various awards shows just as it wrapped up its sixth and final season.
Woman: Moira, I have to ask you. Are those wigs real hair? I just wanna…
Moira: Please don’t, no Marie doesn’t want to be manhandled.
For the few who remain uninitiated, Schitt’s Creek is a Canadian sitcom created by father
and son duo Eugene and Dan Levy, that follows the ultra-rich Rose family who had to star over
from scratch after losing all their fortune. When all of their properties were seized
by the authorities after being defrauded, the family was left with no choice but to
stay in a run-down motel at a small town called Schitt’s Creek, the only property they have left.
Johnny: David, what you just saw was your mother and I having an intimate moment. And I refuse to
feel guilty about being in bed with my wife. Alexis: Eew.
This “little show that could” had mostly flown under the radar of network viewers
during its first few seasons, but it slowly garnered a cult following on its 4th season.
Fast forward to 2020, and the sitcom finally earned the respect and attention it deserved,
when it swept all the major comedy awards during the 2020 Emmy Awards.
So you better hop on the Schitt’s Creek bus if you don’t wanna suffer some serious FOMO.
Moira: Please, everyone stay calm.
Whatever you do, do not look them in the eye. Alexis: Mom, you’re making them angrier.
#4: 12 Monkeys
The 1995 sci-fi flick 12 Monkeys starring Brad Pitt and Bruce Willis became such a cult hit,
that a TV adaptation didn’t come as a surprise.
VO: In 2017, a plague
killed 7 billion people, and only a fraction of the world’s population survived.
I bet that intro line alone caught your attention.
This show follows scavenger James Cole who was recruited by a team called Project Splinter
to travel from 2043 to 2015 to stop the release of a deadly virus by an organization called
the Army of the 12 Monkeys. He enlists the help of virologist Dr. Cassandra Railly
and the two of them battle the dangerous high-ranking members of the sinister Army.
VO: You made time travel work,
but I never knew why, until now.
Though critical response was mixed, this defunct SyFy post-apocalyptic drama
is totally worth a second look as it gives us a
glimpse of the futility of life in the midst of the end of the world.
#3: The Leftovers
Imagine people you love disappearing in a just the blink of an eye for seemingly no reason at all.
Woman: So many of our loved ones were lost 3 years ago, we still wonder where they went and why.
That’s the main premise of this HBO supernatural mystery drama which premiered in 2014.
The plot of The Leftovers begins three years after the so-called Sudden Departure, the global
event that wiped out 2% of the world’s population, like a milder version of the Blip in the Avengers.
The series follows the lives of police chief Kevin Garvey, masterfully played by Justin Theroux,
and his family along with other characters left to adjust to life after the Sudden Departure.
Kevin: I didn’t tell them about you because you’re not here. I love my family, I love them.
Its first season received mostly positive reviews but it’s not until seasons two and
three that critics started hailing it as one of the greatest TV shows of all time, by elegantly
tackling the most complex existential questions, and the purpose of mankind’s existence.
#2: Mr. Robot
Elliot: Though she’s a psychologist, she’s really bad at reading people,
but I’m good at reading people. My secret, I look for the worst in them.
If that isn’t the most cynical line on a TV show ever, I don’t know what is.
Mr. Robot is a drama thriller created for NBC that premiered online in 2015.
The story revolves around Elliot Anderson, the breakout role for Oscar winner Rami Malek. Elliot
is cybersecurity engineer in New York City suffering from a host of mental disorders,
who turns to hacking as a way to connect with people. He is then recruited by a
mysterious anarchist known as Mr. Robot, played by Christian Slater, to join a group of “hacktivists”
that aims to cancel all consumer debts brought about by a huge corporation.
Elliot: This is the thrill of pawning the system.
This is the greatest trash. God access. The feeling never gets old.
The show ran until 2019 for four seasons. It received praise for the
spectacular performance by Malek and Slater and the series bagged multiple
awards from the Golden Globes and the Emmys during its stellar run.
Before we go to our number 1 pick, do us a solid
and make sure to smash the subscribe button and hit the notification bell!
Don’’t forget to choose “all” so you won’t miss out on any of our latest life-changing,
boredom-busting content! And of course, be sure to turn on notifications in your app’s settings!
#1: The Venture Bros.
Topping our list is this adult animated TV series created by
Jackson Publick for Adult Swim, Cartoon Network’s late night programming block.
It chronicles the lives of the Venture family, focusing on the twins Hank and Dean,
and their bizarre escapades with their loving but insecure, unethical and underachieving
super-scientist dad, Dr. Rusty Venture. Man: Oh, I’m so devil-may-care with my
billions of dollars. But don’t worry son, I have a huge insurance policy so you’ll be fine.
One of the longest running original series of Adult Swim,
The Venture Bros. premiered on August 2004, and bid adieu in 2018. Beneath the trappings
of its storyline and characters which were re-imaginings of Jonny Quest from the 60s,
the show highlighted remarkable growth for its characters Hank and Dean,
who learned to navigate failure, accept change and ultimately find their place in the world.
Hank: I’m not Wonderboy, I’m Hank Venture. And I wanna go home.
Man: Please don’t leave me again, Wonderboy. Top-notch comedy with loads of old-school
references and over-the-top villains, it’s no wonder that The Venture Bros was declared by IGN
as one of the best adult animated series of the 21st century.
So, which one of these shows would you start binge-watching,
stat! Let us know in the comments section below.
Take home any of our exclusive gear by browsing our merch shelf,
or clicking the link in the video description! And while you’re at it,
take our quiz to find out how you can earn extra cash online doing what you do best! Awesome right!
Now here’s something to consider for your next
movie night. Check out our list of the 8 Horror Movies Based on True Stories!
‘Til then, stay chill, fact-natics! And see you in the next video!