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Sitcoms have it easy because of their rewatchability. Drama series, on the other hand, have an uphill battle because not everyone is always in the mood for doom and gloom, and even when they are, they want a known quantity like Breaking Bad or The Sopranos. But there are more than a few shows out there that deserve better than they’re getting. Here are five underrated drama shows that nobody talks about.
5) Southland
Not every police procedural can be Law & Order: SVU. However, Southland gives Dick Wolf and Co. a run for their money by heading to Los Angeles and focusing on a group of cops who are just as likely to talk about their feelings as to arrest a perp. Leading the charge are Michael Cudlitz‘s John Cooper and Ben McKenzie’s Ben Sherman, two characters who walk to the beat of their own drum when they’re on patrol. Despite giving its unique characters five seasons to develop, Southland takes a back seat to the bigger procedurals.
4) The Good Fight
The Good Wife will never appear on a list like this because it’s widely considered one of the best modern courtroom dramas. Julianna Margulies chews up the scenery as she navigates life as both a lawyer and the wife of an influential figure. Christine Baranski also brings her A-game, so it should come as no surprise that she gets a spinoff of her own, The Good Fight. Rather than keeping her character, Diane Lockhart, buttoned up, the show knocks her down a peg, making her more vulnerable than ever. Six seasons’ worth of episodes should be enough to keep The Good Fight in the ring, but it’s still ignored like an annoying younger sibling.
3) Ray Donovan
Sure, it might be hard to argue that nobody talks about a TV show with seven seasons and a movie, but there’s a certain stigma around Ray Donovan. A lot of people seem to think that it’s a “dad show” and nothing more. That’s far from the case, though, as the titular “fixer” is easily Liev Schreiber’s most nuanced character. Schreiber also gets plenty of help from his castmates, with Ray Donovan featuring its fair share of heavy hitters, such as Ian McShane, Katie Holmes, and Jon Voight. Hopefully, the years will be kind to Ray Donovan, and it’ll be remembered as one of the best dramas of the 21st century.
