8 TV Shows From 2024 That Nobody Talked About (But Everyone Should Be Watching)
Photo: David Hiser, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Here's the thing about the streaming era: there's almost too much good TV. Every week another platform drops something new, the algorithm shoves the same three blockbuster shows in your face, and quietly — almost apologetically — a dozen genuinely brilliant series go unwatched. At Yrly Hub, we spend a lot of time sorting through the noise so you don't have to. Think of this as your personal cheat code to the good stuff.
These eight shows didn't dominate your social feed in 2024. They didn't get a splashy billboard in Times Square. But critics who caught them? They were floored. Here's why each one deserves a spot on your watchlist right now.
1. English Teacher (FX on Hulu)
If you've been sleeping on this one, wake up. English Teacher is a sharp, wickedly funny single-camera comedy set inside a Texas high school, following a gay teacher navigating the absurdity of modern education, parental outrage, and Gen Z students who are somehow both exhausting and endearing. Brian Jordan Alvarez — who also created the show — is a revelation. The humor is dry, the social commentary lands without being preachy, and each episode clocks in at a breezy 25 minutes. It flew under the radar largely because FX comedies rarely get the marketing muscle of a prestige drama. Big mistake by audiences.
Where to watch: Hulu
2. The Sympathizer (Max)
HBO dropped this one in the spring and it got some buzz, but nowhere near what it deserved. Directed by Park Chan-wook (Oldboy, The Handmaiden) and starring Hoa Xuande in a career-making dual role, The Sympathizer is a darkly comedic spy thriller told through the eyes of a communist double agent navigating the fall of Saigon and life in the United States. Robert Downey Jr. plays multiple characters — all representing different faces of American imperialism — in a casting choice that's as provocative as it sounds. It's dense, cinematic, and unlike anything else on TV. It likely got overlooked because it demanded actual attention, and 2024 audiences weren't always in the mood for that.
Where to watch: Max
3. Sugar (Apple TV+)
Apple TV+ keeps quietly making some of the most interesting television around, and Sugar is another example. Colin Farrell plays a modern-day private detective in Los Angeles with a retro noir sensibility — think Bogart energy in a world of Instagram influencers. The show starts as a stylish mystery and then, around episode four, takes a turn that genuinely recontextualizes everything you've seen. We won't spoil it. The reason it got overlooked? Apple TV+ still struggles with discoverability, and the show's slow-burn first half probably lost casual viewers before the fireworks started.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
4. Ripley (Netflix)
Okay, this one did get some critical attention, but it still didn't break through to mainstream conversation the way it should have. Andrew Scott plays Tom Ripley — the charming, murderous con man — in a stunning black-and-white limited series that looks more like a Criterion Collection film than a Netflix drop. Shot entirely in Italy, every frame is a photograph. It's slow, deliberate, and absolutely mesmerizing. The black-and-white aesthetic probably scared off viewers who wanted something flashier. Their loss.
Where to watch: Netflix
5. The Gentlemen (Netflix)
Guy Ritchie brought his signature chaos-and-charm energy to a Netflix series, and somehow it didn't become the cultural moment it deserved to be. Theo James plays an aristocrat who inherits his family's English estate — along with a massive weed empire hidden underneath it. It's slick, funny, and moves like a freight train. The ensemble cast is stacked, the dialogue crackles, and it's one of those rare shows you can watch with friends who have completely different taste and everyone ends up happy. It got lost in Netflix's endless content churn, which is genuinely criminal.
Where to watch: Netflix
6. Disclaimer (Apple TV+)
Alfonso Cuarón directing Cate Blanchett in a psychological thriller limited series — how is this not the biggest show of the year? Disclaimer tells the story of a successful documentary filmmaker whose perfect life unravels when a novel written by a stranger seems to be about a secret from her past. The storytelling structure is deliberately fragmented and disorienting in the best possible way. Again, Apple TV+ discoverability issues strike. If this had dropped on Netflix, it would've been inescapable.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
7. Presumed Innocent (Apple TV+)
Yes, three Apple TV+ entries. No, we're not on their payroll. Presumed Innocent is just that stacked. Jake Gyllenhaal plays a prosecutor accused of murdering his colleague — and former lover. Based on Scott Turow's classic legal thriller, this eight-episode series is tense, twisty, and genuinely unpredictable. Legal dramas are a dime a dozen, but this one has real psychological depth. It got decent ratings for Apple but never cracked the broader cultural conversation.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
8. Slow Horses Season 4 (Apple TV+)
Look, we know Slow Horses has its fans, but it still isn't the household name it deserves to be. Gary Oldman plays Jackson Lamb, the most brilliantly difficult spy boss in television history, leading a team of disgraced MI5 agents through another labyrinthine conspiracy. Season 4 might be the show's best yet. If you haven't started this series, do yourself a favor and begin at Season 1 this weekend. It's one of the most consistently excellent spy dramas ever made, American or otherwise.
Where to watch: Apple TV+
Why Do Great Shows Keep Getting Ignored?
Honestly? The algorithm is only part of the answer. Streaming platforms prioritize content that generates immediate engagement — clicks in the first 48 hours, watch-through rates, social media spikes. A slow-burn thriller or a quiet character study rarely wins that sprint, even if it's the better long-term watch. Shows that require a little patience or come from smaller creators don't get the promotional push, so they never get the audience they deserve.
That's exactly why Yrly Hub exists. We're not here to tell you what's trending. We're here to tell you what's good. Bookmark this list, queue up a couple of these, and thank us later.
