The SoapCentral Suggestion List: 5 most slept on TV shows of all time that deserved a fandom

If you’re a TV lover, you know the frustration of discovering slept on TV shows that are absolute gems, yet nobody else seems to have heard of them! They are the ones that fell in the cracks, boycotted mainstream popularity appeal, or just couldn't gain the viewers they deserved.

Cutthroat drama, smart comedy, or out-of-the-box storytelling, whatever it is, these TV programs do something unique, but end up off the map. Nothing is worse than watching a show you adore and having no one to discuss it with.

That is the problem with so many underappreciated television programs: they have loyal fans, just in small numbers. With that in mind, let’s dive into five of the most slept on TV shows that deserve a second chance and maybe a proper fandom!

Here are the 5 most slept on TV shows of all time that deserved a fandom

1. Black Sails

Black Sails is the best pirate drama television ever made, yet it is still a slept on TV shows to date. The show is set during the early 18th century and revolves around the notorious pirate Captain Flint, portrayed by Toby Stephens, and his navigating of foul alliances, mutinies, and the killer pirate politics game.

As opposed to some pirate television drama with plenty of "yo-ho-ho" moments, Black Sails is marked by character growth, sophisticated storytelling, and morally dubious decision-making. Black Sails is the Robert Louis Stevenson prequel to Treasure Island, but on its own, with dark intrigue, deceptions, and melodramatic plot twists.

It was complained about on the grounds of its political drama and character build-up compared to Game of Thrones, but it never attained the same level of mass viewership. With four seasons of high-quality drama, this slept on TV show remains a hidden treasure for fans of historical storytelling and adult drama.

2. Spartacus

From a historical drama and gut reaction standpoint, Spartacus is the underappreciated TV show it absolutely couldn't have been. Following the life of the historical gladiator from betrayal to rebellion, the show has bloody fight scenes, politics, and backstabbing.

Over the course of four seasons, Spartacus tackles issues such as freedom, revenge, and loyalty, with characters as complex and multidimensional as they are fascinating. Apart from the stunning fight choreography, the show gives top billing to the political and psychological battle beneath each war and gives viewers a multi-layered vision of rebellion and leadership.

With high-end production and dedicated viewers, graphic material and adult subject matter beat out its popularity in mass. Today, it’s celebrated as one of the most slept on TV shows for anyone who appreciates intense historical drama with cinematic flair.

3. The IT Crowd

The IT Crowd is a sitcom, but a neglected TV show with enduring cultural relevance. Rooted in the cellar of an office with a bin light, it chronicles the misadventures of Roy and Moss, IT department staff, and bumbling manager Jen as they struggle to deal with computer disasters and office disasters.

The attraction of this British TV series lies in its new-age sensibility, the comingling of geek pop culture humor and quirky character dynamics. With dumb technical mistakes to sidesplitting communication breakdowns, each episode is a masterclass in timing, target office satire, and comedy.

In spite of its short 25-episode, four-season lifespan, it had a hardcore global following, particularly among geeks and fans of British sitcoms. Its short run and niche subject matter contributed to its status as a slept on TV show, but its influence on comedy and geek culture is undeniable.

4. Spaced

Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright were hardly yet international stars when they wrote Spaced, a program which revolutionized comedy for the geek and the film buff. This British farce follows two housemates, Tim and Daisy, through life, love, and addiction to mass culture, all under the frantic and frenetic eye of Edgar Wright.

Spaced is an overrated television program because it takes mass sitcom rules and combines them with bizarre narrative, accelerating visual humor to disorienting heights, and loads of mass culture in-jokes. Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz enthusiasts would owe their appreciation of humour and visual aesthetics to the Cornetto trilogy, and the program itself was only tainted by its truncated 14-episode season after all the praise it had garnered.

All else aside, though, its influence on modern comedy can't be overestimated, and it's a definite must-see for anyone who cares about geek culture, movie joke references, and wittily written humor.

5. Freaks and Geeks

Freaks and Geeks ( Image via YouTube / Paramount Movies )

Slept on TV shows list is never complete without the brief but idyllic existence of Freaks and Geeks, the cult favorite that maintains such a strong fan base, given that it only lasted for a single season.

It's a 1980s-set high school and tracks along with misfits and outcasts into their worlds, looking at the rules of adolescence, cliques, and parent-child relationships with zeal and sincerity. With career-making turns by James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Linda Cardellini, the show captures the nerdiness, the comedy, and the tragedy of adolescence utterly perfectly in a way that few programs have been able to achieve.

Though its short lifespan kept it from being loved by everyone, writing, character arcs, and popularity made it a classic upon initial release. Today, it is widely regarded as one of the most slept on TV shows and a must-watch for those who appreciate coming-of-age stories done right.

Why slept on TV shows matters

Programs that do not compete on quality are not necessarily edited by ratings or popularity. They have creative production, writing, and acting lost due to scheduling, niche popularity, or advertising. Watching such programs gives customers a chance to get a glimpse of undiscovered gems, argue over underappreciated plots, and discover content that branches out of traditional TV culture.

These programs also create devoted cult audiences, which have a tendency to create fan fiction, cyber discussion boards, and blind fanatic adoration in those who are their devotees. For anyone exploring TV beyond the obvious hits, slept on TV show are a goldmine of discovery.

Whatever floats your boat, whether it's period drama, graphic gladiator warfare, office farce, geeknstuff, or lovesick teenager soap, there’s a slept on TV show for everyone

They guarantee that a small sub-average audience isn't lost for lack of poor quality, it's just that you may be part of some kind of members' club of viewers who actually care about the quality of these lost classics! So next time someone asks for a binge-worthy show that isn’t overhyped, consider diving into one of these slept on TV shows.