Underrated TV Shows That Deserve More Love #AtoZChallenge

Not all good shows get the love they deserve.
The reasons can be so many - too complex, too serious, too funny, too real, too satire-y... sometimes a good show is just released at the wrong time and lost in the shadows of other more popular shows. With the advent of online streaming, downloading and binge watching though, we have been blessed with the chance to find so many gems that lost the battle on television ratings but won the war to be loved by the public.

These were shows that were well above the average and yet for some or the other reason, never got the love they deserved while they were on air. So which shows pop in your mind when I talk about Underrated shows? Here is my list. 

Supernatural

People assume this is a 'monster of the week' horror show which is so sad because Supernatural has to be the best ode to family and how far one will go for them. Great effects, genuinely heartfelt emotions, super cool lead duo, excellent classic rock, smart storylines (except Season 7 - always ignore Season 7)... what more do you want? The two brothers, Sam & Dean have died (and been reborn) for you!

Sure, they've also opened the gates of hell, pissed off God, made deals with the devil, have the King of Hell literally on their speed dial, have the most flawed angel as a friend and gone evil at times, but hey! Who doesn't, right?

Arrested Development

The brainchild of Oscar winning director Ron Howard, this comedy launched the careers of many future movie stars.
The tale of this scheming 'riches to rags' dysfunctional family works brilliantly when binge watched as you get to see why it is one of the best scripted comedies ever. Jokes for the tenth episode get their foreshadowing and setup in the second episode and the plot weaves so beautifully into previous episodes that you can only stand and applaud once you realize what they just pulled off.
I repeat, binge watch this. Thank me later.

Will & Grace

It won 16 Emmys. And yet, noone has heard of it. Everyone shouts 'FRIENDS' 'FRIENDS' when we talk about late 90s comedy shows. The antics of this neurotic insecure woman, her gay best friend and their two friends was on par, if not better than FRIENDS, with hilarious gags and audacious jokes flying quick and fast. 8 seasons of comic gold.

Firefly

Space Cowboys who just want to survive after a universal civil war but face constant challenges, including the vile flesh-eating Reavers.

Directed by THE Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Avengers). Cancelled after one season, there was so much anger from fans that finally an actual movie 'Serenity' - which was really good - was made to give closure. 

P.S. Nathan Fillion fans, that's your captain. For more Joss Whedon underrated, you can also seek out the sci-fi mystery DollHouse.

Undateable

It is not brilliant. But it is very good humour by a bunch of talented comedians. A well meaning bar owner tries to help his romantically challenged friends find love... even if they don't want his advice often! In Season 3, the show moved into a live show format and honestly, I find it funnier now, seeing the actors struggle to gain control of their expressions as their co-actors go off script and screw around with them.

Broadchurch

Damned if I know why it is not more popular. BBC at its insightful best. This mini-series starring David Tennant deals with the murder of a young boy in a small town and how the investigation and media affect the people who all seem to have something to hide.  Beautifully shot, great star cast. 

Veronica Mars

People mistake this teen detective show as some sort of a Nancy Drew rip-off. The world Veronica Mars lives in is a lot darker than Drew ever faced, as this rape victim fights her own demons while balancing a turbulent high school life with being a good detective and helping her friends. The show mixes humour, a bad ass heroine, good sleuthing skills and some very unexpected twists to provide a satisfying experience. 

Again, a show so good that after its cancellation, it has had its own movie.

Cougar Town

Slow to gather its footing, this show was written off early. But the cul-de-sac crew of middle aged neighbours dealing with divorce, insecurity and wine (oh, so much wine) finally found its footing as a lighthearted pleasant 'gathering of friends\ genre comedy which also manages to slips in a moral lesson... well, the creator of the show Bill Lawrence is also the creator of Scrubs so what did you expect. I count this as the best show by an ex-Friends alumni (Courtney Cox), honestly.

Fringe

I have spoken in detail about this highly intelligent 'X-Files meets Matrix meets Homeland' show.

The rest:

Oh Man. Too many coming to mind so let me just add it here -

Comedies: Ground Floor, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Exes, Rules of Engagement.

Crime Procedural: Luther, The Fall.

Drama: Mr Robot, The Americans, Orphan Black, Sense8,  Spartacus.

So here's your chance. Which show did you love watching and wonder why no one else had heard of? Which shows deserved more love? 

Tell me and I will add it here. Let's make an awesome list, what?

Update: Shows you have requested to be added here:

• Night Manager. 
• Roswell. 
• Monroe
• Angel. 
• BTVS 
• Scrubs. 
• Scandal. 
• Revenge. 
• ALIAS 
• Lost. 
• Suits. 
• Gossip Girl.
• Nikita
• Blood & Oil
• Monk
• Mentalist
• Packed to the Rafters
• Boardwalk Empire
• Dharma & Greg
• Charmed
• The Thin Blue Line

To see all the shows  I have talked about till date, please CLICK HERE.