Top 10 Most Underrated Shows of 2015

Tis the season for every type of list imaginable. Christmas lists, shopping lists, best of, worst of, most binge-worthy, new, etc. Well, this year, Talk Nerdy With Us has decided to make a list as well.

As we were trying to decide what type of list we wanted to make, we asked ourselves what type of list might benefit our readers the most. That’s when it occurred to us that we should make a list of some of the current shows that you should be watching but probably aren’t!

Check out our Top 10 Most Underrated Shows of 2015 (in no particular order) and tell us what you think of them in the comments below.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Mondays on The CW) – This quirky show with the controversial title and off-putting musical comedy spin deserves far more attention than it’s getting from everyone but critics. Its creator and star, Rachel Bloom, was just nominated for a Golden Globe and I must say that the nod is well-deserved. If you’re unsure of whether or not you want to give this show a chance, all you need to do is check out a song or two on YouTube. Even if you hate anything musical, give a single song a chance – whether it be The Sexy Getting Ready Song, The Sexy French Depression Song, Hey Sexy Stranger or any of the others. I guarantee you’ll be rolling with laughter within just those two minutes and will find yourself desperately wanting to see (and hear) more.

Jane the Virgin (Mondays on The CW) – Jane is a realistic yet over-the-top telenovela-style narrated comedy that shows the most realistic depiction of early motherhood and multi-generational living that I’ve ever seen. The Villanueva women are a force to be reckoned with. Even when they’re angry with each other, they’re always there for each other when needed. The multi-tasking, sleep-deprived, deer-in-the-headlights, overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety and worry that come with being a mother are all portrayed seamlessly by the fabulous Gina Rodriguez (2014 Golden Globe winner & 2015 Golden Globe nominee). Fantastic performances also by Andrea Navedo, Jaime Camil, Ivonne Coll, and everyone’s favorite narrator, Anthony Mendez. If you haven’t seen this show, give it a shot. You won’t regret it.

Mom (Thursdays on CBS) – Situational comedies have struggled since the 90’s, but this one brings a sense of humor to some serious subject matter. It’s realistic and heart-warming at times but also finds the humor in being a recovering addict who occasionally screws up and relapses. The struggles are real. There are plenty of “If I don’t laugh, I’m going to cry” moments. It’s a beautiful show with a relevant theme that’s hilarious at the same time. Complete wins all the way around.

Finding Carter (Tuesdays on MTV) – It’s not often that you find a show with a premise that hasn’t really been done before. This one at least comes close. At first it sounds like more of a Lifetime movie but once Carter is fingerprinted and found to be the long-lost kidnapped child of an author and a cop, things definitely get interesting. If you like non-stop emotion, mistakes that have real consequences, and some pretty outrageous twists, you’ll love this show. 

The Fosters (Mondays on ABC Family/FreeForm) – One of the most original shows on TV, this series depicts a family that everyone can relate to. The parents are a pair of loving, strong-willed women who struggle with their relationship, guiding their teenage children to adulthood, exes, and so much more. The children themselves are very real. It’s impressive to see a bio child, adopted children, and foster children in the same household and watch how they handle varying real life scenarios that they come up against. Over all, it’s a wonderful modern story of life, love, and family that shouldn’t be passed up. 

Orphan Black (Coming Soon on BBC America) – One woman plays the role of 9+ people and does it so well that you forget that they are all played by the same person. Tatiana Maslany brings the punches to this all too little known cult classic whose fans are known as #CloneClub. The show has dynamic characters and storylines that will boggle your mind and often make you wonder what you’re doing with your life. If you’ve ever wondered what the pros and cons of cloning might be, you should definitely check this one out.

Faking It (Coming Soon on MTV) – In an interesting twist from the norm, at the school portrayed in Faking It, those who might typically be outcasts or made fun of are the popular ones and those who are expected to be popular are anything but. The show centers around two girls pretending to be lesbians as a ploy for attention and to become popular because everything else they’ve tried hasn’t worked. What could have been a very offensive premise has been pulled off beautifully by the two leading ladies, both of whom are refreshing and talented. Fun but gut-wrenching, Faking It deserves much more credit than its given.

Black Sails (Coming Soon on Starz Network) – A prequel to the novel, Treasure Island, this show takes things to a whole different level.  The first few episodes have an edge of cheesy fluff to them, but then it goes dark. Very dark. There are constant politics and schemes under the spectre of war. The viewer sees exactly how pirates live and die by their own rules.  Mixing completely new characters with fictionalized historical figures, a picture is painted of a war that is truly pirates against the world. Fantastic acting, modern-day concepts,  period costumes and drama, what’s not to love?

Reign (Fridays on The CW) – A fictionalized version of Mary Queen of Scots’s life, this show has not been able to bring in viewers as it may have hoped simply on the basis that it’s not always historically accurate. However, in spite of that, it is a well-acted, fascinating show that drips with intrigue, scandal, and power plays. Craig Parker and Megan Follows are delightful as villains whose most despicable acts can still be understood. Adelaide Kane plays Mary as strong, decisive, and willing to make tough choices and sacrifices that even her husband, the King of France, balks at. Her performance proves that you don’t have to be emotionless to be strong. Certain things about the show may take a little getting used to but it is worth the effort of getting past them to see the substance and depth under the surface.