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There are hundreds of TV shows released every year, so we don’t blame you if you haven’t watched — or maybe even heard of — all of them. But there are some overlooked series that should definitely be on your radar, no matter what.
Below, TVLine has selected 10 hidden gems that premiered in 2024 that you may have missed and/or that deserve more love in a very crowded TV landscape. There’s something for everyone among these underrated shows, including a soapy teen drama import, a couple of detective/P.I. stories and an addictive reality competition series.
We’ve also highlighted a returning musical comedy that is still in need of more eyeballs, because while it may get critical recognition, we can’t help but feel like not enough people know that one of TV’s best shows is currently streaming on Peaco*ck.
So put the following series on your To Watch list and don’t let #PeakTV be an excuse anymore to let them slip through the cracks, then hit the comments with your under-the-radar picks. (And remember, we’re only a little over halfway through the year, so there will very likely be more hidden gems to come!)
Diarra From Detroit (BET+)
Looking for a mystery series with sass and attitude? This BET+ original is just the thing. Diarra (played by creator Diarra Kilpatrick) is an eccentric high school teacher and soon-to-be ex-wife of a successful businessman. When her new boyfriend suddenly goes missing — despite having only dated a few times — she believes he’s been kidnapped. Ignoring warnings from her friends, she decides she’s got to find him and finds a lot more than she bargained for.
Where to Watch It: All eight Season 1 episodes are available to stream on BET+. No decision has been made on a second season. — Diedre Johnson
The Gentlemen (Netflix)
If you’ve found yourself tiring of TV’s endless string of dour crime dramas, consider The Gentlemen a perfect palate cleanser. Based on Guy Ritchie’s 2019 film of the same name, this slick, stylish series stars Theo James (The White Lotus) as a man who unexpectedly inherits his late father’s substantial fortune — and, along with it, exposure to an entire network of odd and dangerous criminals. The stakes get high, but The Gentlemen refuses to take itself too seriously.
Where to Watch It:All eight Season 1 episodes are available to stream on Netflix. There’s been no word on a potential second season. — Rebecca Iannucci
Maxton Hall — The World Between Us (Prime Video)
The German-language teen drama, about a scholarship student (played by Harriet Herbig-Matten) at a prestigious private school who learns of a rich classmate’s scandalous secret and then falls into a love-hate relationship with said classmate’s brother (Damian Hardung), isn’t breaking new ground. But the series hits all the familiar tropes in an incredibly satisfying way, the lead pair have palpable chemistry, and there’s a surprising amount of emotional vulnerability from all the characters. If you’re a teen-drama addict, consider this is a must-see binge.
Where to Watch It:All six Season 1 episodes are available to stream on Prime Video. Production has started on Season 2. — Vlada Gelman
Monsieur Spade(AMC)
In the mood for a good old-fashioned murder mystery? AMC’s elegantly filmed throwback revives the legendary private eye Sam Spade, with Clive Owen filling his famous shoes as he puts his investigative skills to the test searching for who killed a group of nuns at a convent in 1960s France. The dialogue from Emmy winner Scott Frank is fast-paced and sharp as a straight razor, and Owen brings a world-weary charm to the iconic lead role.
Where to Watch It:All six episodes of the limited series are available to stream now on AMC+, and will stream on Netflix beginning Aug. 19.— Dave Nemetz
My Lady Jane (Prime Video)
Take the irreverent humor of The Magicians, the historical and romantic machinations of Reign, and the cheeky narration of Pushing Daisies, and you’ve sort of got this rollicking dramedy that reimagines the life of Lady Jane Grey (played by Charmed’s Emily Bader), who was Queen of England for nine days before being beheaded. But that’s only half the show, because there’s a genre-redefining plotline (which was excluded from the trailer!) that is truly bonkers. Despite how you feel about that reveal, Bader and Edward Bluemel (as her love interest Lord Guildford Dudley) are charming, the dialogue is punchy and the girl-power soundtrack rocks.
Where to Watch It:All eight Season 1 episodes are available to stream on Prime Video. There is currently no word on a potential second season. — V.G.
Sugar (Apple TV+)
Apple TV+’s hard-boiled private eye drama starts out as a classic slice of L.A. noir, with Colin Farrell playing enigmatic detective John Sugar, who’s on the trail on the missing granddaughter of a big-time Hollywood producer. But midway through,Sugarturns into something completely different, in one of the wildest TV twists in years. Still, it’s compelling throughout, with smart dialogue, dreamy cinematography and a commanding performance from Farrell.
Where to Watch It:All eight Season 1 episodes are available to stream now on Apple TV+. There is currently no word on a potential second season. — D.N.
The Sympathizer(HBO)
This dense, thoughtful portrait of a North Vietnamese spy living in the United States after the war got most of its media attention thanks to Robert Downey Jr., who earned an Emmy nod for playing a dizzying array of supporting roles. But we were actually more drawn to lead actor Hoa Xuande, who does searing work as the Communist spy who is haunted by the terrible things he’s had to do to stay undetected. It’s a slow burn, but a rewarding one, with plenty to say on identity, loyalty and who really “wins” a war.
Where to Watch It:All seven episodes of the limited series are available to stream now on Max. — D.N.
The Trust (Netflix)
This fresh reality series offers 11 strangers $250,000 to split among themselves, and whether they choose to eliminate each other is entirely up to them. But temptations are offered along the way that test their greed (or lack thereof) in ways that will shock you. The show is unique and addictive, and we’re surprised it didn’t drum up more buzz when it dropped back in January.
Where to Watch It:All eight Season 1 episodes are available to stream on Netflix. There is currently no word on a potential second season.— Nick Caruso
We Are Lady Parts (Peaco*ck)
Yes, the hilarious British comedy about an all-female Muslim punk rock band premiered its second season this year, unlike the rest of the shows on this list. But we’ll never stop drumming for more people to check out this underrated musical gem, which was somehow even more stellar in Season 2 as the band grappled with small fame, competition and identity issues all while delivering original catchy tunes like “Malala Made Me Do It.”
Where to Watch It:Two seasons are available to stream on Peaco*ck. There is currently no word on a potential third season. —V.G.
The Woman in the Wall (Paramount+ With Showtime)
Ruth Wilson (The Affair) leads this gripping limited series about a troubled woman who wakes up to find a dead body in her Ireland home. But alongside that mystery, The Woman in the Wall offers a searing exploration of real Irish history, namely the Magdalene Laundries — typically Catholic-run institutions that housed “fallen women” — and the years of abuse they facilitated. It’s not subject matter made for a binge watch, to be sure, but it’s certainly one of this year’s most moving stories.
Where to Watch It:All six episodes are available to stream on Paramount+. — R.I.
