5 Best Kept Secret Shows from the Past 5 Years
5 Best Kept Secret Shows from the Past 5 Years
Translation: TV Shows you should know about but likely don’t.
In my last post, I mentioned a [Best Kept Secret Show] which was borne from the seedling of a post idea about really GOOD shows that no one knows about, but should. I have an oddly possessive relationship with such secret shows. I feel a thrilling sense of power knowing that only a select few are watching and discussing these shows—and even more people should be. Then again, isn’t the whole point of this Substack for me to be finding shows and films that I fancy and bringing them to you, regardless of my motives?
Scratch everything. Let’s start over.
Hi, my name is Beth [and I love recommending shows and films]. I’m here to introduce you to five shows you might be familiar with, but may not have seen yet, and share why you should check them out. So let’s not delay. They are in no particular order of goodness.
💀 Best Kept Secret Show #1 - 70s Crime Thriller on the Rez
Dark Winds (2 seasons, both seasons available on Netflix) [Trailer] Based on the "Leaphorn & Chee" novel series by Tony Hillerman, this AMC show is time well spent. With its recent Netflix debut, for the week” of August 19-25, 2024, Dark Winds Season 1 ranked sixth on Netflix's Global Top 10 chart, boasting 2.3 million views and 10 million hours viewed.” So I suppose the cat’s out of the bag here, but the beauty of this AMC-Netflix distribution is that it’s bringing this compelling Western story about a New Mexico bank heist and a related murder(s) in the Navajo Nation to light. The characters, notably those living in the Navajo Nation are the ones we are most invested in. Jessica Matten, Kiowa Gordon, and Zahn McClarnon (Reservation Dogs, Doctor Sleep) are the standouts, and it’s nice to see Noah Emmerich (Stan from The Americans) here. Fans of the TV series Fargo should give this one a go.
Bonus: Learning about Tribal police and how their jurisdiction works with federal and state agencies has been a bonus. Granted, the federal and state are comprised of some baddies in this story, but either way, the power dynamic and institutionalized prejudice is a latent or expressed viewing staple.
🔍 Best Kept Secret Show #2 - All is Not Well in Tehran
Tehran (2 seasons on Apple TV+) [Trailer] follows an Iranian-Jewish Mossad agent, Tamar (Niv Sultan), on her first mission in Iran's capital Tehran. It’s a fast-paced, high-thinking (chess game), adrenaline-pumping show that keeps you engaged and always on the edge of your seat. Paradoxically, it’s also a show that boldly explores the complexities and nuances of ethnic and religious identity, which in our present times, we shouldn’t shy away from, however difficult or uncomfortable it may be. Glenn Close joins in Season 2 which is so random, it had me scratching my head (though not as much as seeing her in the trailer of the Lee Daniels film, Deliverance in a performance that can only be described as her 101 Dalmatians Cruella de Vil meets Mamaw from Hillbilly Elegy), but, in any event, back to this show, both seasons deliver. Season 3 release was delayed based on the October 7th Hamas attacks on Israelis and the ongoing hostage situation, nearly a year later.
Bonus: The chemistry between Shaun Toub as Faraz Kamali, an Iranian intelligent officer, and Sultan’s Tamar. Every cat-and-mouse moment between him and Sultan ups the ante on this show.
🔍 Best Kept Secret Show #3 - Women be Women
Bad Sisters (Season 2 coming out on Apple TV+ in November, Season 1 now streaming)[Trailer] British-Irish actress Sharon Horgan (Catastrophe, This Way Up, and SO many other things) stars as the head of a family of sisters, known as the Garvey sisters, who, in addition to losing their parents young, are also dealing with losing their once spirited sister, Grace (Ann-Marie Duff) to an abusive husband and watching her become a walking shell of her former self.
The show is a dark comedy in which each episode you are hoping that the women are successful in their attempts to rid the world of Grace’s husband and then like any Breaking Bad trope, they just sink deeper into a mounting debt of issues brought about by all these minor catastrophes (See what I did there?) without solving their initial problem.
Bonus: Eve Hewson (Bono’s daughter) is the youngest sister who plays the role of youngest sib with such authenticity. Very much enjoyed her performance here.
[For more musings on Bad Sisters & Pickleball]
🧛 Best Kept Secret Show #4 - Only Vampires in this Building
Interview with a Vampire (2 seasons, the first season is available on Netflix) [Trailer] Forget the ‘90s film with Pitt as Louis, Cruise as Lestat, and Dunst in her breakout role as the child vampire, Claudia. Or you know what? Don’t forget it. Watch it again and then watch this show after reading Anne Rice’s original work which might be disguised in vampire clothing and take us to dark, erotic, bloodlust places, but it’s really about more universal themes of desire, ambition, relationships, love, and sacrifice. But also, the sex scenes don’t hurt.
Bonus: The actor playing Lestat (Sam Reid) kills it. He’s so convincing and bone-chillingly good as this complex and morally ambiguous character, with soul-crushing gazes that don’t tire. I heard in season 2 there’s less of him (thanks
for setting expectations here and the reco), but good news - It’s gotten a season 3 pickup.Fan of TV recommendations? It’s a rhetorical question, of course. You’re here. Check out
’s Stack. It’s a delightful go-to place for diverse representations onscreen. Her latest Top 10 list of favorite new shows is here
👑 Best Kept Secret Show #5 - Who Knew? Spoiled Monarchs Are a Hoot
The Prince (Only one season, unfortunately. It’s on Max) [Trailer]
Disclaimer: With relatively recent health misfortunes befalling Princess Kate and King Charles, it may seem a bit insensitive to call up this show, which got slammed for being insensitive when it was released in 2021, but it’s a biting satire that is so damn good, I can’t dismiss its sheer entertainment value.
The animated series, created by Gary Janetti who has written for Family Guy and served as an executive producer on Will and Grace, focuses on Prince George, Prince William’s son and heir to the throne. For those familiar with Family Guy, George, as depicted here is very much a Stewie Griffin stand-in - precocious and sarcastic to a deafeningly high pitch. While its title speaks to one character, the show is a satire about the dysfunction of the monarchy with each Royal getting their due. It’s incredibly witty and every episode guarantees at least 5 chuckles. The writing here is fantastic.
CALLING ALL DOCTORS: Every time I write a post (and ideally edit and revise for clarity), I have an immediate knee-jerk reaction to hitting the “GO” button. I don’t want to wait. You too? It’s akin to the feeling of needing to purge my body of something. Maybe it’s like a fart. Anyone else experienced this?
BONUS BETH Film Stuff
JOIN my October film club where we’ll be watching and chatting about these romance films via chat. BUT FIRST, please make sure to upgrade your membership. This club will only be available to paid subscribers.
Upgrading allows me to spend more of my day creating these posts and consuming even more content.
❗New Show Alert: English Teacher on Hulu [Trailer] - Abbott Elementary meets Danny McBride’s Vice Principals is the best way to describe this. Queer high school English teacher who is Latino but “looks like a regular White guy” (this is an approximation of a quote from the show) finds himself in all kinds of awkward, messy Millenial teacher meets Gen Z students moments. It’s funny enough and a good way to spend time before or after OMITB watches on Hulu. It has a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score if this means something to you
Let’s Discuss
Have you watched any of these shows?
What shows are part of your “Top 5 Best Kept Secret Shows” list?
Can you keep a secret? Or would you rather spill the beans?
This list features a lot of crime and thriller titles, which I enjoy, but I also love lighter fare, including comedy and romance that capture the "stuff of life." Should I create another "Top 5 list" to balance things out? Pick #5 might be a good segue.
Wow. I have not seen any of these. Bad Sisters intrigues. Love Sharon Horgan.
The only one of these series I have seen is Bad Sisters and I really enjoyed it! Looking forward to Season 2! I've seen the first two episodes of The English Teacher but I'll reserve my comments until I've seen more of the season. Two more "secret" shows I like:
Life and Beth - Amy Schumer and Michael Cera were quite good in this dramedy that should have gotten more attention, particularly for the second season.
Stath Lets Flats - a very funny British comedy starring Jamie Demitriou. I think it's still available on Max