12 Netflix Series That Prove the Best Shows Aren’t Always the Popular Ones

12 Netflix Series That Prove the Best Shows Aren’t Always the Popular Ones

Netflix has hundreds of shows, but not all of them become viral sensations. Some of the most creative, thought-provoking, and beautifully crafted series fly under the radar while flashier programs grab headlines.

Hidden gems often offer richer stories, deeper characters, and bolder risks than mainstream hits. If you’re tired of watching what everyone else is talking about, these 12 underrated series will remind you that popularity doesn’t always equal quality.

1. Giri/Haji (2019)

Giri/Haji translates to “duty/shame,” and this bilingual thriller lives up to its complex title. A Tokyo detective travels to London searching for his supposedly dead brother, only to uncover a dangerous web connecting two cities’ criminal underworlds.

The show switches seamlessly between Japanese and English, creating an authentic cultural bridge rarely seen on screen. What makes this series shine is its refusal to be just another crime drama. Characters feel real, flawed, and deeply human.

The storytelling balances intense action sequences with quiet, emotional moments that hit surprisingly hard. Stunning cinematography and an unforgettable dance sequence in the finale elevate it beyond typical genre fare.

2. I Am Not Okay with This (2020)

High school is tough enough without discovering you have telekinetic powers triggered by anger. Sydney navigates crushes, friendship drama, and her father’s death while objects explode around her when emotions run high.

Based on a graphic novel, the show captures that specific teenage feeling of being overwhelmed by everything at once. The series never takes itself too seriously despite heavy themes. Dark humor balances the coming-of-age struggles, making Sydney’s journey feel both fantastical and relatable.

Unfortunately, Netflix canceled it after one season, leaving fans hanging. Still, those seven episodes pack more heart and originality than most shows manage in multiple seasons.

3. Feel Good (2020–2021)

Comedian Mae Martin pours their life into this semi-autobiographical series about addiction, love, and identity. Mae plays a fictionalized version of themselves, a Canadian comic in London who falls for George, a woman who’s never dated another woman before.

Their relationship becomes the lens through which the show explores sobriety, codependency, and self-acceptance. What sets Feel Good apart is its unflinching honesty. Addiction isn’t glamorized or neatly resolved. Relationships are messy, beautiful, and complicated.

Martin’s performance feels vulnerable and genuine, never asking for sympathy but earning empathy. It’s funny when it needs to be and heartbreaking when it counts.

4. The Midnight Gospel (2020)

Imagine if a podcast about death, meaning, and existence got transformed into a kaleidoscopic animated adventure. Clancy, a spacecaster, travels through dying worlds interviewing beings while chaos erupts around him.

The animation is wild, colorful, and constantly surprising, but the real substance comes from actual podcast conversations about heavy philosophical topics. Creator Duncan Trussell uses real interviews with spiritual teachers, therapists, and his own mother, who was dying of cancer during recording.

That final episode hits with unexpected emotional force. It’s weird, wonderful, and unlike anything else on Netflix. You might not understand everything, but you’ll feel something profound.

5. The OA (2016–2019)

Prairie Johnson returns after being missing for seven years, now calling herself “The OA” and claiming to have died multiple times. She gathers a group of misfits to teach them mysterious movements she says can open portals to other dimensions.

Sounds bizarre? It absolutely is, but that’s exactly why it works. Co-creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij crafted something genuinely original in an era of remakes and reboots. The show demands patience and rewards attention to detail.

Its controversial interpretive dance sequences became memes, but they’re integral to the story’s mythology. Netflix’s cancellation after two seasons left major questions unanswered, making it a beautiful, frustrating masterpiece.

6. Russian Doll (2019–2022)

Nadia keeps dying at her 36th birthday party and waking up in the same bathroom, reliving the night over and over. Natasha Lyonne brings sharp wit and vulnerability to this Groundhog Day-style mystery with much darker edges.

Each death reveals new clues about why she’s trapped and what she needs to fix. The show goes deeper than typical time-loop stories. It explores trauma, family history, and how our choices ripple through time.

Lyonne’s chemistry with co-star Charlie Barnett adds unexpected warmth. The second season expands the concept in surprising ways, proving the creators had more than one trick up their sleeves. It’s funny, sad, and endlessly clever.

7. Kingdom (2019–2020)

Zombies invade Korea’s Joseon period in this thrilling mashup of historical drama and horror. Crown Prince Lee Chang investigates a mysterious plague turning people into flesh-eating monsters while political enemies plot against him.

The result is breathtaking: elaborate costumes, stunning landscapes, and genuinely terrifying zombie sequences. Kingdom proves genre-blending can create something fresh and exciting. The political intrigue is as gripping as the horror elements.

Characters face impossible choices between saving themselves or their people. Action choreography is top-notch, with battles feeling visceral and desperate. If you’ve never watched Korean television, this series is an excellent gateway. Just be ready for subtitles and sleepless nights.

8. Dark (2017–2020)

Children disappear in a small German town, revealing a time-travel mystery spanning four generations. Dark demands your full attention with its intricate plot connecting multiple timelines and families. Characters appear as children, adults, and elderly versions, all played by different actors you must track carefully.

This isn’t casual viewing. You’ll want to take notes, create charts, and possibly question your understanding of physics. But for viewers who enjoy complex storytelling, Dark delivers unmatched satisfaction.

The show planned its three-season arc from the beginning, ensuring every detail matters. Its exploration of fate, free will, and family cycles creates a perfectly constructed puzzle box. German television at its absolute finest.

9. Unbelievable (2019)

Based on true events, this limited series follows a teenager accused of lying about her rape and two detectives who discover a serial predator. Toni Collette and Merritt Wever deliver powerhouse performances as the investigators, while Kaitlyn Dever breaks your heart as the victim failed by systems meant to protect her.

Unbelievable handles its sensitive subject matter with rare care and respect. It never exploits trauma for drama, instead focusing on the investigation and the survivors’ resilience.

The show sparked important conversations about how sexual assault cases are handled. It’s difficult to watch at times but essential viewing. The finale provides catharsis without tying everything into an unrealistic neat bow.

10. The Get Down (2016–2017)

The Bronx in the 1970s burns literally and metaphorically as hip-hop and disco emerge from chaos. Directed by Baz Luhrmann, this musical drama follows teenagers navigating poverty, violence, and dreams while creating the music that would change culture forever.

The energy is electric, the soundtrack is incredible, and the choreography dazzles. Despite being Netflix’s most expensive series at the time, The Get Down was canceled after one season. Budget concerns overshadowed its artistic achievements.

The show captures a pivotal cultural moment with style, heart, and respect for hip-hop’s pioneers. Performances from Justice Smith and Herizen Guardiola shine. It’s a love letter to music, ambition, and survival.

11. Sense8 (2015–2018)

Eight strangers across the globe suddenly share thoughts, skills, and emotions through a psychic connection. Created by the Wachowskis, Sense8 is wildly ambitious, filming in eight countries with a massive international cast. A Korean businesswoman can suddenly fight using a Mexican actor’s martial arts skills.

An Icelandic DJ feels an Indian woman’s joy at her wedding. The show celebrates diversity, identity, and human connection on an epic scale. LGBTQ+ representation feels natural and joyful.

Action sequences are inventive when cluster members combine abilities. Yes, it’s sometimes messy and overly sentimental, but its heart is enormous. Fans fought for and won a finale movie after cancellation, proving its devoted following.

12. Love on the Spectrum (2020–2021)

This Australian docuseries follows young adults on the autism spectrum as they explore dating and relationships. Participants share their hopes, fears, and experiences with disarming honesty. You’ll laugh, cry, and root for everyone finding connection in their own unique ways.

What makes Love on the Spectrum special is its respect for its subjects. People aren’t treated as inspiration or spectacle but as individuals with desires, personalities, and agency.

The show educates without lecturing, showing how autism affects social situations differently for each person. It’s genuinely heartwarming without being manipulative. Michael and his dinosaur facts will steal your heart. Prepare to smile through tears and text everyone you know about it.