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Top Underrated TV Shows You Should Be Watching

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCSB chapter.

There are a lot of popular tv shows trending right now, from Stranger Things to Riverdale. However, as we are currently living in the golden age of tv, with more shows than there ever have been, there are a lot of great ones that don’t get enough recognition. These are the top underrated tv shows that YOU, yes you, should be watching!

1. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Photo via Pinterest

CW’s musical comedy, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, is currently airing its third season. The show’s creator, writer, and lead actress, Rachel Bloom, states, “The title ‘Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’ is meant to be a deconstruction of a stereotype, and the whole show is about deconstructing the boxes that we’re supposed to be put into.” The show starts with Rebecca Bunch, a hot shot lawyer in New York, realizing that her successful life does not give her happiness. She runs into an ex boyfriend from her teenage years and decides to relocate to his hometown of West Covina. Although much of the public has been sleeping on this hilarious and fresh show, the critics have not. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has been nominated for four Emmy and two Golden Globe awards.

2. The Good Place

 

Photo via The Good Place

This NBC show has the weirdest, yet best concept I have seen for a comedy show. Recently deceased, Eleanor Shellstrop, is relieved to find herself in “The Good Place” in the afterlife. However, the reasons why and how she came to this place is unbeknownst to her, and this place is not all it seems to be.

3. The 100

Photo via The 100 Wiki

CW’s “The 100”, is a post apocalyptic show that is packed with action and drama. Although this show takes place years after the Earth has been destroyed by nuclear weapons, the moral and social dilemmas they face can be very indicative of our world today. There are so many strong female characters in this show that makes my heart leap.

4. The Bold Type

Photo via The Bold Type

Freeform’s The Bold Type, features three career driven millennial women working at Scarlet magazine in New York City. This show covers topics such as islamophobia, sexual assault, women’s rights, questioning sexuality, and much more. This is definitely the best “Girl Boss” show I have seen.

 

5. Scorpion

Photo via Scorpion

Scorpion is a very unknown TV series that follows a misfit group of brilliant people who have their own specialty. The team, named Scorpion, works for  government agencies to help defend against threats that other minds could not. The group full of geniuses sometimes find it hard to navigate social cues of the normal minded world, and so they have new team member Paige, to help them out. This show is so witty and exciting, so if you like both comedy, drama, and cop shows, this show is for you.

6. Master of None

Photo via Netflix

Aziz Ansari’s Netflix show, Master of None, is incredibly honest and unique, describing the stories of modern young people in New York. It discusses topics such as racism, homophobia, sexism, and the trials and tribulations of 21st century dating. This show has been nominated for one Golden Globe and three Emmy awards.

7. Black Mirror

Photo via IMDb

Although this show may not be as unknown as the other shows, I still believe that Black Mirror deserves to be just as popular as other blown up shows, like Thirteen Reasons Why. This show is like a modern version of The Twilight Zone, as it discusses very real possibilities for our society’s future. Each episode is about completely different plots, characters, and places, and each one reflects an issue we currently have in our world, that could spiral into an extreme. Each episode will blow your mind so prepare to be forever changed. The shows’s episode, “San Junipero”, recently won an Emmy in 2017.

8. Merlin

Photo via BBC

Although this show has been over for years, I always find myself coming back to rewatch it. BBC’s Merlin, is about the well known legend Merlin, along with King Arthur and his round table. This adaptation of these famous characters is fun, witty, and action packed. The characters are all so lovable and in depth, and have great and hilarious quotable lines. If you want to watch a fantasy show full of intense plot and comedy, watch Merlin!

 

Ava Kargosha is a first year Psychology and Brain Sciences major at UCSB. She loves reading, writing, drinking Arnold Palmers, and frantically catching up on TV shows.
Hi, Collegiettes! I'm Carmen, a Communication major at University of California, Santa Barbara and one of two Campus Correspondents for UCSB. I would love to one day work in either fashion, food, tech, financial services or philanthropy. My dream is to find a job that somehow combines several of those elements. Until I get there, I'll be munching on copious amounts of Trader Joe's dried mango, jamming out to my man, Frank Sinatra, and focusing on creating intriguing content! If you like my writing, talk to me. ;)