17 Underrated TV Shows We Begged Our Friends to Start Watching This Year

"In the weeks leading up to the premiere of The Characters, Netflix touted the sketch series as 'outlaw comedy,' giving eight rising stars in the comedy world each 30 minutes to create their own hilarious world. Starring comedians like John T. Reynolds, Kate Berlant, John Early, and Natasha Rothwell, every half-hour episode is smart as hell and an utter delight. Of all the episodes, Rothwell's is an easy favorite thanks to a riff on Game of Thrones spoilers and a spot-on rap about basic b*tches with Saturday Night Live's Cecily Strong ('Got The Bachelor and Shonda on my DVR / I order a vodka cran at every bar')." — Quinn Keaney, assistant editor

"While it hurts my soul that more people aren't obsessed with The Last Man on Earth, I do understand. It's a dark comedy about the end of the world with a small cast and a lead who is the actual worst. Let me clarify: Will Forte is the best at being the worst. The show has gotten even funnier in its third season, and it simply refuses to produce a boring episode." — Maggie Pehanick, editor

"If you've grown weary of TV and movie reboots, you're definitely not alone, but The Exorcist is an exception. In this TV show based on a movie, based on a book, the plot is fairly similar to its original incarnations: girl possessed by a demon, mother worries, two priests work together to save her. The story takes place in the same universe as the film, only 40 years later (which is referenced in a shocking twist a few episodes in), and instead of flimsy jump scares, the thrills and visual frights carry real weight. If you choose to give it a chance, at least stick it out until episode three — it's on par with any horror show out right now." — QK

"What?! A show set in Los Angeles that has nothing to do with Hollywood?! Overturning expectations is Insecure's MO. It's incredible to see smart, hilarious, gorgeous, successful women of color in lead roles. The relatable scenarios surrounding dating, relationships, self-confidence, and friendship are just the icing on the cake. I'm shocked more people aren't talking about it, and I'm crossing my fingers HBO sees as much potential as I see." — Ryan Roschke, assistant editor

"In recent years, shows about people mysteriously and miraculously returning from the dead have been popping up left and right. Let me assure you that Glitch is the first one worth watching since the original French version of The Returned (Les Revenants). At only six episodes, this Australian sci-fi drama about a group of six strangers who pull themselves from their graves one night — naked, gasping, and in perfect health — is twisted, fantastically acted, and addicting. Struggling to piece together what brought these people back will have you on the edge of your seat, and the final few twists go right for the jugular." — QK

"Judd Apatow's romantic comedy on Netflix seemed to come and go without much fanfare or buzz, but I ate up every episode. The show's title often seems ironic in certain episodes — yes, it's a story about two opposites falling for each other (Gillian Jacobs and Paul Rust), but their road to get there is quite often discouraging and depressing (much like dating in real life). The real shining star of this show, though, is Jacobs. As Mickey, a self-destructive addict with a need to be loved, she's transcendent." — Shannon Robson, director

"I'm hoping that the reason more people aren't buzzing about Queen Sugar is due to the fact it's on Oprah Winfrey's OWN network instead of a more accessible channel, because it's a tour de force. The family drama is based on the novel by Natalie Baszile about the lives of three estranged siblings who have to take on the family's 800-acre sugarcane farm after the death of their father. It's been brought to the screen by Winfrey and Selma director Ava DuVernay (who actually directs the first two episodes) and has a whole bunch of powerhouse talent (especially True Blood alum Rutina Wesley, who kills it). Some of the plot can get muddled at times, but it's hard to notice thanks to each episode's truly stunning shots of rural Louisiana." — QK

"Comedian Maria Bamford's Lady Dynamite is not only legitimately hilarious, but it's unlike any other show on TV right now. With her fourth-wall breaks, open acknowledgments that 'this is a TV show,' and the way she addresses mental illness (Bamford struggles with OCD and bipolar disorder in real life), it's an underrated triumph. As if all that wasn't enough, there are also TONS of memorable cameos from beloved comedians like Patton Oswalt, Ana Gasteyer, Jenny Slate, Judd Apatow, and Sarah Silverman." — QK

"One of my biggest regrets of 2016 is not forcing everyone I know to watch this show — lord knows I tried. HBO has a number of high-profile, big-budget shows, but Vice Principals sadly slipped under the radar for many viewers. Danny McBride and Walton Goggins play dueling VPs who band together to take down an interim principal (Kimberly Hebert Gregory) in this comedy, and their dynamic made me laugh more than any other show." — MP

"Before High Maintenance hit it big on HBO, it gained cult-status popularity as a web series on Vimeo. Because of that, I was a little tentative about watching: could it live up to the hype? In my opinion, it has, and then some. The pot dramedy about a weed dealer named The Guy (Ben Sinclair) feels original, creative, and thoughtfully done, and even if you're as straight edge as they come, you'll no doubt enjoy the series thanks to its emphasis on character rather than just weed." — QK

"In addition to giving me a strong and complex female character (Kylie Bunbury, playing the first woman to play in the MLB), a crazy twist, and a reason to finally get into baseball, Pitch has also gifted me with an unexpected surprise: Mark-Paul Gosselaar's glorious beard. There have been rumblings that the drama might get sent to the dugout (#sports), but hopefully Fox notices the chord Pitch is striking with its audience." — QK

"As someone who is still mourning Parenthood, Life in Pieces has been providing me with all the family feels I need on a weekly basis. Sure, it's more of a comedy than a tearjerker, but it's similarly filled with wildly talented people: Josh Brolin and Dianne Wiest are at the head of a clan that includes Colin Hanks, Betsy Brandt, Thomas Sadoski, and Zoe Lister-Jones. So many funny people!" — MP

"Ever wondered what Veronica Mars would be like if she was actually a high-functioning zombie working at a morgue and helping a detective solve murders? Enter The CW's iZombie. Veronica Mars creator Rob Thomas backs the show, which means there's plenty of relationship drama, badass burns, and bizarre cases of the week (which the main character, Olivia, solves by eating the deceased's brain and getting visions of their death). Not to mention, I could watch actor Rahul Kohli (who plays Olivia's medical examiner pal Ravi) stare at a wall for hours and still be entertained. Its second season ended earlier this year, so now's the time to catch up!" — QK

"If you're a fan of The Walking Dead, this might be right up your alley. Outcast is adapted from TWD creator Robert Kirkman's comic of the same name and is a tense thriller about a man (Patrick Fugit) struggling to find out why the people in his life have always fallen prey to demonic possession while simultaneously helping a priest rid their small town of some particularly horrifying demons. It's atmospheric, restrained without being boring, and, above all, genuinely terrifying." — QK

"I casually (sorry) watched this Hulu series when it premiered last year, and it slowly grew on me then, but it was never really at the top of my must-watch-day-it-premieres list. That all changed with season two, when the characters of brother and sister Alex (Tommy Dewey) and Valerie (Michaela Watkins) became far more developed and nuanced, and the show started to revolve more around their family dynamic than their dating lives. It's technically a comedy, but it's an anti-sitcom; the laughs are usually dark and smirky, the characters are real and sometimes really bug you (the way real people do), and problems aren't solved by the end of the episode. That said, it doesn't make you feel bad, but it will make you feel." — SR

"Actress Pamela Adlon racked up fans on Louis CK's comedy-drama Louie, and her latest TV show, Better Things, is worth a watch. It just finished off its first season on FX and chronicles the life of a single mom named Sam Fox, a divorced actress who's trying to raise her three daughters by herself. It's full of female empowerment, realistic situations, and laugh-out-loud moments that leave me ravenous for the next episode. I keep hearing people refer to it as 'the next Louie,' but they're wrong; it's in a league of its own." — QK

"A few weeks ago I discovered Amazon's incredible British comedy Fleabag, and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it since. Clocking in at just six 30-minute-long episodes, it's made for a quick weekend binge-watch, and I promise you won't be disappointed. Actress Phoebe Waller-Bridge writes and stars in the hilarious series about a flawed, realistic woman (never referred to by name) who is coming to terms with the recent death of her friend, all while handling depression, her dating life, a failing business, a snobby (but endearing) Type A sister, and a psychotic stepmother. Does that sound like a downer? Alright. It's a little bit of a downer, sometimes, but that's the beauty of Fleabag. Waller-Bridge is a master of blending life's most tortuous, painful moments with awkward, comedic situations (like a breakup with your boyfriend after he catches you masturbating to a video of President Obama, for instance), and I bow down to her talent." — QK