# Shows you're probably not watching but should be **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 4, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603 "2016-11-04T13:41:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/1 "2016-11-04T13:41:39Z")
This is the place for you to recommend to people shows they should be watching but are not that popular or known. Here’s a one of mine: You should be watching **Superstore**. It’s on NBC on Thursdays and is extremely funny. Really well drawn funny characters. Some episodes have a subtle message without being preachy. If you like light workplace comedy it is one of the funniest current ones. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/2 "2016-11-04T13:45:00Z")
Hmmmm… Preacher? I know there are threads on this board about it, but I certainly had waited to watch it and had it on low priority. It ended up being my favorite new show of the year. I laughed a lot more than I expected, which was the real surprise. It was hilarious at times. Total surprise. I’ve not read the comic. Stranger Things Really, it was as good people said. I loved it. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/3 "2016-11-04T13:54:14Z")
I just recently discovered “Black Mirror” – which is genius in all kinds of ways. It’s an anthology series that leans heavily into thriller and science fiction territory a la “the Twilight Zone” or “the Outer Limits”, although with decidedly modern sensibilities. It’s also more pointedly focused on technology and the way it shapes our lives and society. Much like the TZ or OL too, this series is very smartly written and there’s a level of realism at the heart of the show that really elevates it. It’s science fiction to be sure (or absurdist black humor in the case of “National Anthem”), but the premises for the stories aren’t so far removed from what could happen, and the characters behave like real people making real-world decisions, rather than ciphers who exist to illustrate a moral. I think the best episodes IMO are “Fifteen Million Merits” and “White Bear”. The latter in particular is one of the most frightening and morally complex things I think I’ve ever seen on a TV show. So, I’d definitely recommend it but with a fair warning that the show can sometimes leave you creeped out, and not in the most pleasant way. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/4 "2016-11-04T14:13:51Z")
_The Good Place_. Probably the smarted comedy on TV today. What’s especially great about it is that the show has an overaching plot (each episode is listed as a Chapter) – and is not afraid to change the status quo. Several times, when you thought the show would settle into a pattern, they break the pattern and go where you never expected from a sitcom. The characters also show facets to their personalities that aren’t obvious at first. It also has surprising depth. And it is _very_ funny. Ten Danson and Kristin Bell are just great. William Jackson Harper gets most of the best lines (responding to Bell’s character) and Jameela Jamil does very well in a complex role. I’ll second _Black Mirror_, though it has been getting a lot of buzz these days. “White Bear” is so memorable; I get a chill everytime someone says, “Have fun!” I haven’t started on the third season, though: I have to be in the right mood to watch it, and it’s not a show you can binge on. I’m also a big fan of _Crazy Ex-Girlfriend_. The musical numbers are always fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![SykoSkotty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@SykoSkotty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SykoSkotty)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/5 "2016-11-04T14:22:15Z")
_This Is Us_ Great storyline and a very unique spin on traditional family drama. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/6 "2016-11-04T17:42:46Z")
Black Mirror’s episode “White Christmas” is haunting enough that I’ve never re-watched it. I shudder thinking of…I won’t spoil it. Black Mirror is a great show. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/7 "2016-11-04T17:57:46Z")
> [@SykoSkotty](#): > > _This Is Us_ > > Great storyline and a very unique spin on traditional family drama. This is one of the very few of the new shows I’m watching. And it seems designed to appeal to fans of Parenthood. But it’s not from Jason Katims (who was behind Parenthood and the television adaption of Friday Night Lights). ---
**Author:** ![Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Cornelius\_Tuggerson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cornelius_Tuggerson)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/8 "2016-11-04T18:12:13Z")
[The Leftovers](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2699128/). Despite not being part of the target audience I find the plot very engaging and am looking forward to season 3. Also the opening sequence for season 1 is just plain epic. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/9 "2016-11-04T19:36:43Z")
Hmmm… there are no shows I’m “probably not watching.” ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/10 "2016-11-04T19:54:03Z")
My favorite new show of the season is _Pitch_ on Fox, about the first female pitcher in Major League Baseball. The premise is interesting, the story doesn’t always go where you think it will go, and the acting is absolutely superb. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/11 "2016-11-04T20:40:02Z")
[19-2](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3340712/) Set in Montreal. I watch it on [AcornTV](https://acorn.tv/)(Roku) along with lots of other great British and Australian shows. Not sure where else it’s available to stream. An IMDB review: > [@](#): > > The show is not action based in the way that you might expect from a show about a police squad. Sure there is a fair amount of action, fights and gun play, but that’s not where the shows strength is. Instead the show is about the characters and the drama between them. This is not typical episodic TV where the characters face a new challenge at the beginning of every episode, and then resolve it by the end of the episode so everything is back to being the same. In 19-2 the storyline stretches across multiple episodes. If you start watching the series he middle of the season it will take you a few episodes to get up to speed, probably a good idea to watch the earlier episodes online first. > > The cast of 19-2 is fantastic and the story unfolds more like a feature film than TV. > > if you’re looking for a shoot 'em up action show then there are other shows you might like better, but I can easily recommend 19-2 to anyone looking for a deeper drama series. I [said it here.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=793455) Season 3 is now available on AcornTV. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/12 "2016-11-04T20:41:26Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > _The Good Place_. Probably the smarted comedy on TV today. I just caught this for the first time last night, never having heard of it before. It was funny, and interesting, and I think I’ll go back and start from the beginning. But when I saw the title of the thread, that’s the first show I thought of. You beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/13 "2016-11-05T00:52:39Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > My favorite new show of the season is _Pitch_ on Fox, about the first female pitcher in Major League Baseball. The premise is interesting, the story doesn’t always go where you think it will go, and the acting is absolutely superb. Good choice. The twist at the end of the first show hooked me. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2016, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/14 "2016-11-05T01:24:34Z")
The new show I’ve found myself looking forward to the most is _Better Things_, with Pamela Adlon and with Louis CK as producer. It’s got some funny stuff and some really sweet moments between the mother and her daughters. It shows a realistic world where a single mother has problems with time management, guilt, and misunderstandings. But it’s all good. ---
**Author:** ![GinoC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f4b2a3/32.png) [@GinoC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GinoC)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/15 "2016-11-06T02:31:03Z")
Detectorists on Netflix. It’s understated, funny, and heartwarming in a way that the British seem so good at pulling off. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/16 "2016-11-06T04:07:40Z")
I have no idea which networks these are on, I torrent them all. _ **Brooklyn Nine Nine** _. Consistently funny sitcom, kind of like if Scrubs was set in a police station. (_Sirens_ was good too, but that’s already been cancelled) _ **Hooten and the Lady** _. A _Romancing The Stone_ kind of adventure comedy series. Way better than I anticipated, with apparently quite a location budget. _ **Blunt Talk** _. This season has been focused on a lot of weird sex themes, but it’s an otherwise unpredictable quirky comedy with very likeable characters. _ **People Of Earth** _ looks like it’s going to be good, but we’re only a few episodes in so far. Alien abductee sitcom. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/17 "2016-11-06T04:38:02Z")
_ **Lucifer** _. It’s in its second season now, and it just keeps getting better and better. They just ordered more episodes, so season 2 will be 22 instead of 13. ---
**Author:** ![Shalmanese](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/45deac/32.png) [@Shalmanese](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shalmanese)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/18 "2016-11-06T05:05:46Z")
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend! It won two emmys in its freshman year, it was Vulture’s best TV show of 2016 and it’s currently sitting at a 0.2 in the ratings. A lot of people are put off by the title or by it being a musical but it’s one of the most slyly feminist, inclusive and insightfully empathetic shows about mental illness while also being hilariously funny and emotionally affecting. The second season is currently airing on Fridays on the CW and the first season is streaming on Netflix. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/19 "2016-11-06T06:02:30Z")
I very strongly second **The Good Place** and **Crazy Ex-Girlfriend**. **Black Mirror** is good, although not quite consistent enough to be truly great. The other best new show I’ve recently seen is **Happy Valley** , another British production that is on Netflix in the US. It’s a BBC show about a tough-as-nails female cop in a depressed area of England… but more about her and her relationships than about solving crime, although there’s a fair bit of that. Absolutely top-notch, particularly the lead actress (Sarah Lancashire), who’s giving the best TV performance since Walter White. (Two seasons already streamable, third has been confirmed upcoming.) ---
**Author:** ![Tapiotar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3be4f8/32.png) [@Tapiotar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapiotar)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2016, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603/20 "2016-11-06T10:44:31Z")
I also recommend Lucifer and the Good Place. The Good Place consistently surprises me and makes me laugh. I’m always pleasantly surprised by how well all the sets are carried out, the level of details in the backgrounds that enhance the story, and the use of light and shadow and reflection int he filming. Those are the only two shows I’m watching anymore, so Im glad to see these recommendations. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shows-youre-probably-not-watching-but-should-be/770603.md?page=2)