Top 10 underrated shows of 2019, from 'Criminal' and 'Schitt's Creek' to 'Mr. Inbetween' and 'The Boys'
This has been a year of big shows that swept awards. Ask people what their favorite shows is and you can hear names like 'Breaking Bad', 'Stranger Things' and 'Game of Thrones'.
However, there are some shows that may not have hit the limelight but are still worth watching. These shows have punched well above their weight and it's time we give them the attention they deserve.
1. 'Criminal' (Netflix)
The police procedural made headlines for casting David Tennant and Hayley Atwell as part of the drama. The show's premise is pretty distinct — a 12-episode anthology series split across four countries, UK, France, Germany, and Spain.
Each episode sees detectives and a suspect in the confines of an interrogation room. It does go a tad over the top, but in the end, it is a series that evokes the same intrigue factor as 'Unbelievable'. The episodes are brave, ambitious and utterly compelling.
'Criminal' has its highs and lows. The method in which it is staged deserves plaudits. There is not much change in the locations — it's either the police building or the view of the city from the hallway.
Unexpected turns add to the list of "Why-is-Criminal-worth-it?". It's these unexpected twists by suspects that crank up the tension. 'Criminal' is dense, smart and redefines the term "investigation". If you're one for minimalist dramas that keep you glued, then this one's for you.
2. 'Schitt's Creek' (Pop TV)
A comedy that also falls under the heartwarming show bit. It follows the Rose family, who after losing all of their money are forced to move to Schitt's Creek. It is the first Canadian comedy series to be nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Comedy Series.
It is also the first to win an MTV Movie & TV Award, winning Best Comedic Performance for Daniel Levy in 2019. The series will air a sixth and final season consisting of 14 episodes beginning on January 7, 2020.
3. 'The Boys' (Amazon Prime)
'The Boys' is a show that’s easy to overlook. With all the DC and Marvel superhero shows that clog up our news feeds every week, it's hard for any other superhero franchise to get a word in edgewise.
The show follows a group of anti-superhero vigilantes in a world whese superheroes are violent, corrupt, sleazy and don’t give a rat's ass as long as their PR team continues to make them look good.
Poking holes in superhero conventions, the show takes a cynical look at superheroes, likening them more to decadent celebrities than arbiters of justice. Hyperviolent and hilarious, 'The Boys' is a must-watch for both fans of the superhero genre as well as those who are sick to death of it.
4. 'Undone' (Amazon Prime)
This is a philosophical show about death, culture, history and the concept of time.
Animated through a rotoscope style that blends video visuals with art sequences for one of the most visually stunning shows of the year as the protagonist Alma falls in and out of dream sequences, time jumps, and talks with her father about the nature of existence.
'Undone' is deep and impressive, not to forget ambitious. The series can go a long way if the streaming network markets the series well. In short, a hit for Amazon.
5. 'Love, Death + Robots' (Netflix)
The series is a re-imagining of David Fincher and Tim Miller's long-in-development reboot of the 1981 animated science fiction film 'Heavy Metal'. This is an anthology series that tackles wild ideas and each episode encompasses love ( add sex to the list), death and a combination of cutting edge robot tech.
The show is a multi-faceted collection of some great inventive stories. From a monster powered by a human brain to a bunch of robots going around like tourists in a post-apocalyptic earth, the series is rich and compelling.
6. 'Tuca and Bertie' (Netflix)
A ground-breaking series that has concepts of sexual harassment, trauma, and sexuality explained in a surreal and humorous way. Call it a gem made for women, but it is a series that is a comic treat for all.
Created by cartoonist Lisa Hanawalt, it follows "the friendship between two 30-year-old bird-women who live in the same apartment building, Tuca, a cocky, care-free toucan, and Bertie, an anxious, daydreaming songbird.
7. 'Wayne' (YouTube Premium)
Wayne follows the adventures of its lead character as he makes his way across the country — righting every possible wrong he can along the way. In return, all he hopes of is retrieving a car intended to be left for him by his dead father.
Such are his methods of correcting problems that Wade Wilson would probably be spellbound for some time. Quality entertainment is what Wayne is all about.
In an acclamatory critique, Rolling Stone's Alan Sepinwall gave the series a rating of 3½ out of 5 stars and was similarly approving saying, "Both the show and Wayne's attempts to right the world's wrongs don't always work, but they mean well and are rarely dull."
8. 'Catastrophe' (Amazon)
A romantic comedy that falls under the slice of life category. The fourth and final series of the show began broadcasting on January 8, 2019, premiering on March 15, 2019, in the US.
The series follows two single people who become a couple after the woman unexpectedly becomes pregnant following a fling while he is visiting London on a business trip. Starring Sharon Horgan and Rob Delaney, the show opened to positive critical acclaim.
A para from THR about the show reads: "Sometimes in a marriage, you do what's needed to get by. Sometimes what's needed is some funny, bent truth — and 'Catastrophe' gave a fantastic glimpse of that over four seasons."
"Even if those four seasons, in our dreams, would have been joyfully filled out with another four episodes each," the statement adds. Proof enough?
9. 'Jett' (Cinemax)
The action crime drama follows Jett Kowalski, a "fresh out of prison, world-class thief Daisy" forced back into doing what she does best by dangerous and eccentric criminals determined to exploit her skills for their own selfish means.
Starring Carla Gugino and Giancarlo Esposito, the show received favorable reviews with critics lauding Gugino's performance. The slick action series marks another fun and heavy tonnage entry in Cinemax's stable of expanded B-movie genre content. And it's a great showcase for Gugino.
10. 'Mr. Inbetween' (FX)
'Mr. Inbetween' has been created by, written by and stars Scott Ryan as Ray Shoesmith, a criminal for hire who is struggling to balance his roles as a father, boyfriend, ex-husband, and friend.
The six-part Australian Black comedy-drama television series draws inspiration from the 2005 feature film 'The Magician'. Bald, cool and composed, Ray is at peace no matter what situation he is in.
It is a fresh take on a man who finds himself stuck in the dark, deadly world of crime but still manages to keep his personal life separate. Season 1 turned out to be a fresh outlook on the villainous side and season 2 only took the storyline one notch higher.
Let us know what are some of the shows you thought are underrated and deserve a watch.