Netflix is one of the most popular streaming giants in the modern day and age. The subscription service has a massive catalogue of pathbreaking shows and movies that have stretched the boundaries of storytelling. However, Netflix is also notorious for cancelling shows too early and not letting a show reach its full potential. In other instances, many shows slip under the radar due to competition and are forgotten, even if they are brilliantly created.
Therefore, here are 10 such Netflix shows that should be watched more by viewers because they offer intriguing storylines and are undeservingly underrated.
The Get Down, Love on the Spectrum, and other Netflix shows that are underrated but should be a must-watch
1. After Life

Created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais, this British comedy drama from Netflix also features Gervais in the lead role. The show has three seasons and aired from 2019 to 2022.
The show is about Tony Johnson (Gervais), a newspaper writer. Tony’s life turns upside down when his wife dies from breast cancer. Even though Tony is depressed and has suicidal thoughts, he decides to live life recklessly and punish the world instead, for his wife’s death. However, the show has heartfelt moments as Tony eventually begins to care for people and tries to be a better human being who can process his grief in better ways.
The show is poignant, with moments of comedy, and is one of the more nuanced and complex offerings from Netflix. Therefore, it is one of the underrated shows from the streaming giant that must not be forgotten.
2. Crashing

Starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Julie Dray, and others, this comedy series is another British project from Netflix. The show is also created and written by Waller-Bridge, who is known for her writing talents. The series has just one season, and it is one of the most underrated shows by Netflix. Since it is not long, the show can be binge-watched quickly.
It follows the lives of six young people in their 20s who live together as property guardians in a disused hospital. In return, the building is to be kept safe for cheaper rent, and they all must follow strict rules. As the six people live jointly, they navigate through the personal baggage and relationships between them.
The series is offbeat, hilarious, and has genuine emotions. Fans of Phoebe Waller-Bridge should definitely watch this one.
3. The Get Down

Another show with just one season from Netflix, which can be binge-watched quickly. This musical drama series is created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis and features Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, and others. The show is set in the 1970s and features the South Bronx region of New York City.
The show is an ode to music as it follows the rise of hip-hop and the disco genre through the point of view of a group of teenagers. The show has beautiful cinematography, gorgeous costumes, and layered musical numbers. The protagonist is Zeke (Smith), who sees the changes happening in music around him. The drama focuses on both the growth of music and Zeke's personal life.
It is one of the few shows by Netflix that blends personal drama with the evolution of music and its effect upon people.
4. Sense8

Created by The Wachowskis and J. Michael Straczynski, this sci-fi drama series from Netflix features Aml Ameen, Bae Doona, and others. The show has two seasons and a special series finale, which was produced due to the criticism the streaming giant received for canceling the show on a cliffhanger.
The series focused on eight people from different parts of the world who discovered that they were sensates and emotionally and mentally linked to each other. The series was noted for its exploration of themes like gender, identity, sexuality, and the message of peace and empathy.
It is one of the most underrated shows by the streaming giant that does not deserve to be forgotten because it was experimental, expansive, and thought-provoking. The series had a complex world, and it was a high-concept show that pushed the boundaries of series and storytelling.
5. Special

Based on the memoir by Ryan O’Connell, this comedy and drama show from Netflix was created by O’Connell. The show also features him along with other cast members like Jessica Hecht, Punam Patel, and others. The show is a semi-autobiographical account about O’Connell’s life as a gay man in Los Angeles and as someone who is also dealing with cerebral palsy.
The show is one of the most wholesome yet underrated series by the streaming giant, as it shows how O’Connell builds friendships, relationships, and self-sufficiency. The show was a critical success, though it has now flown under the radar. With only two seasons in tow, the show can be watched easily. The series has a lot of feel-good moments and is full of charisma and kindness.
The series is one of the few shows with cerebral palsy and LGBTQ+ themes at the center, and it is all about finding one’s way in life, making it highly relatable.
6. All of Us Are Dead

Based on the webtoon of the same name by Joo Dong-geun, this South Korean coming-of-age horror series has just one season and is another underrated gem from Netflix. Starring Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, and others, this show focuses on a group of high school students in South Korea who find out that a zombie outbreak has happened and must survive.
After a science teacher at the school unleashes a deadly virus due to a failed experiment, the zombie outbreak begins within the school. The infection spread rapidly across the city, and authorities are struggling to respond. Amidst all this, a group of students gets cut off from the world and must rely on each other’s support and courage to survive the zombies and get out of the school.
The second season of the show is reportedly coming, and even though the series gained a lot of views upon release, it has become underrated. Therefore, more people should check out this modern horror classic, which has plenty of suspense and gore.
7. Love on the Spectrum

Created by Karina Holden and Cian O’Clery, this reality series is based on the Australian show of the same name. The Netflix show is also directed by O’Clery and has three seasons. The show has a unique premise as it focuses on autistic cast members, who explore the modern dating world and build relationships.
Unlike other dramatic reality shows, this one is sweet and meaningful. It explores how individuals face difficulties in social situations and have trouble engaging in conversations. Each contestant has their own challenges, like ADHD and more, but they all want to find their special person.
The show reportedly has more seasons to come, and it is a must-watch for viewers as it sheds new light on the themes of autism, ADHD, and more.
8. Ripley

Based on the 1955 novel by Patricia Highsmith, this neo-noir psychological thriller miniseries by Netflix is created by Steven Zaillian and features Andrew Scott, Dakota Fanning, and others. The show revolves around Ripley (Scott), who is a down-and-out con man in 1960s New York. However, his life changes when a wealthy man hires him to convince his son to return home from Italy.
When Ripley meets Dickie Greenleaf, the rich heir who has been living comfortably and luxuriously abroad, Ripley decides to enter a life of deceit and fraud. The show was a critical success and was noted for its direction, writing, and performance of Scott. The show makes a few changes to the book’s story, but it is charming and thrilling throughout. The series is an underrated classic, as it did not get many views upon its release.
9. Feel Good

Starring Mae Martin, Lisa Kudrow, and others, this British comedy and drama show by Netflix was created by Mae Martin and Joe Hampson. The show has two seasons, and it aired from 2020 to 2021. It is a semi-autobiographical romantic comedy where Martin plays a fictionalized version of herself.
The show focuses on George (Charlotte Ritchie) and Mae’s romance in Manchester. While Mae is a Canadian comedian, George is a middle-class English woman. The show has heartfelt moments as Mae struggles with drugs and George is hesitant about coming out regarding her sexuality.
The show is a must-watch as it offers a realistic look at love and relationships with balanced humor on themes about love, sexuality, and addiction. It is a poignant and funny series that needs more viewership. Fans of Mae Martin must definitely check this out.
10. Dear White People

Based on and a continuation of the 2014 movie of the same name, this comedy-drama show by Netflix has four seasons and aired from 2017 to 2021. The series features Logan Browning, Brandon P. Bell, and others. The show focuses on a group of black college students who study at an Ivy League institution. Created by Justin Simien, the series focuses on issues regarding modern race relations in America and progressive politics.
The series has biting comedy and touches upon important issues; however, the series is underrated and needs to be viewed more. The show has heartfelt moments and balances humor and social commentary. Each character on the show has a lot of depth and nuance, and the series offers meaning and relatability, unlike other shows that offer nothing meaningful. Therefore, it is one of the must-watch shows.