10 Hidden Gem TV Shows You Need to Stream Now

While we all know about big-name shows like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad, there are plenty of hidden gems that deserve your time too.

I’ve rounded up a list of shows that I thoroughly enjoyed, but which people often haven’t heard of when I recommend them. They are all available for streaming, so you can jump in immediately.

10

Agent Carter

Long before the great exclusive Disney+ shows in the Marvel universe like Loki and Hawkeye, ABC produced a handful of live-action shows, one of which was the excellent Agent Carter. Hayley Atwell reprises the role of Peggy Carter from 2011’s Captain America movie—while familiarity with the character helps, it’s not essential.

Set in 1940s America, Carter is constantly underestimated by her male colleagues, so she is regularly forced to take matters into her own hands to investigate threats against the world.

Agent Carter strikes a good tone, with exciting action and high stakes, all the while maintaining a sense of humor. I live in hope that it’s resurrected for a third season.

Disney+

Agent Carter is sparky and good fun, even if you’re not deep in the Marvel universe.

9

High Potential

You may know Kaitlin Olson from her chaotic role in It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, but here she’s on more likeable form as a cleaning lady for the LAPD. After using her high IQ to help solve a murder case, she’s enlisted as a consultant.

High Potential is a blend of light drama and comedy, with a supporting cast that nicely support Olson’s charm. The different crime each episode keeps things fresh—though there is, of course, an overarching mystery.

Hulu

It’s great to see Kaitlin Olson knock it out of the park in High Potential, in a show that hopefully has many more seasons to come.

8

Dickinson

One of Apple TV+’s best shows is Dickinson, which debuted with the streaming service and lasted for three brilliant seasons. It’s a comedy-drama about the young poet Emily Dickinson, played by Hailee Steinfeld.

Dickinson is an odd show, at times knowingly silly and at others poignant, but it works well. It uses the American poet’s work as a jumping off point to reimagine her life and society, told with amusing anachronisms.

Apple TV+

Don’t let this Apple TV+ launch show disappear into the history books—there isn’t anything quite like Dickinson.

7

Russian Doll

Played superbly by Natasha Lyonne, Nadia is a New York game developer who finds herself stuck in a time loop celebrating her 36th birthday. She encounters a stranger experiencing the same loop, so the two of them team up to uncover what’s happening to them and escape.

Even if you think you’ve seen enough time travel stories to last a lifetime, I urge you to watch Russian Doll. It goes to unexpected places and pulls off different tones with panache.

Netflix

Russian Doll is far more than a Groundhog Day rip-off, and Natasha Lyonne is an outstanding lead.

6

Detectorists

You wouldn’t think that a comedy about metal detecting in a small English town would work, but it succeeds wonderfully in the bingeable Detectorists, starring Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones.

It’s a very gentle sitcom that follows the character’s lives, relationships, and their unique hobby. Not a lot happens, but that’s part of what makes it so wholesome, and it’s a great show if you’re looking for something to cheer you up.

Amazon Prime Video

Detectorists is an endearing half-hour British comedy—a perfect accompaniment on a rainy day.

5

Everything Sucks!

Everything Sucks! is a sweet coming-of-age comedy-drama set in the late 90s in a real town called Boring. It’s about a group of kids at a local high school who are filming a movie for their A/V club. The production serves as a nice backdrop to explore the group’s friendships, families, and identities.

The performances are great, especially Peyton Kennedy and Jahi Di’Allo Winston as Kate and Luke respectively. Everything Sucks! also features a pre-breakout Sydney Sweeney as Emaline, a junior with a flair for the dramatics.

Netflix

Despite its name, Everything Sucks! certainly doesn’t suck. It’s a shame the show only lasted for one season.

4

Love

The suitably titled Love is a Netflix comedy-drama that explores dating and relationships, primarily between Paul Rust’s Gus and Gillian Jacobs’ Mickey, two very different characters who are both difficult in their own ways—much to the frustration of each other and their friends.

Love is funny, but it’s also heartfelt and sincere. It was co-created by Judd Apatow, director of movies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, alongside Rust and Lesley Arfin.

Netflix

Dating is confusing and messy, especially in the modern world. It’s portrayed perfectly in Netflix’s Love.

3

Derry Girls

Derry in Ireland is the setting for this hilarious and heartwarming comedy about a group of teenagers at a Catholic girls’ school and their everyday lives after the Northern Ireland conflict.

The show was watched by millions in the United Kingdom when it first aired, so it’s not so much a hidden gem in its native country, but it definitely deserves more appreciation globally.

Netflix

Derry Girls is both sweet and silly, refusing to outstay its welcome with three high-quality seasons.

2

Sneaky Pete

Sneaky Pete is an Amazon Prime Video exclusive that has a glorious premise. Marius is a conman locked up in prison with a man called Pete. When Marius is released, he quickly finds himself in trouble, so he assumes Pete’s identity and then integrates with his former cellmate’s estranged family in a bid to lie low.

Pete’s family are by no means angels, so the dynamics between them and Marius make for good viewing, and the show maintains a strong pace throughout, with plenty of twists and capers to keep you hooked.

Amazon Prime Video

With a strong cast and an inviting premise that is a thrill to see play out, Sneaky Pete is a hit.

1

Black Sails

Black Sails is one of the best shows I’ve ever seen. It’s an incredibly enjoyable action-adventure, set in the 18th century as pirates hunt for treasure and vie for power. It’s visually stunning—you can almost smell the blood and sweat—and well acted, especially Toby Stephens as Captain Flint.

The final season actually sticks the landing, which is rare for a show of this scale. Plus, for the pirate fans out there, Black Sails acts as a prequel to the book Treasure Island, and features depictions of real pirates like Blackbeard, Anne Bonny, and Jack Rackham.

Netflix

Black Sails is a thrilling, epic tale of swashbuckling set during the Golden Age of Piracy.

I wish I could rediscover these shows for the first time, so consider yourself lucky if you’ve never seen some of them because you have hours of quality entertainment ahead. In the meantime, I’ll keep streaming my favorite comfort shows.