By [ad_1]
The level of artistry and talent that’s present in the television industry has only grown more impressive in the past few years. There are now more places to consume content than ever before, with many of these channels and streaming services priding themselves in prestige programming that redefines what’s possible in the medium. It’s never been more exciting to be a fan of television, but this abundance of content also means that it’s much easier for smaller shows to slip through the cracks or for there to not be enough time in the day to check out every new series.
2021 was an exceptional year for new television shows, but it’s likely that some of these hidden gems got overlooked by audiences and deserve to be added to any 2022 must-watch list.
10 Chucky’s TV Series Is The Surprise Highlight Of SyFy’s Schedule
The Child’s Play series introduced audiences to murderous possessed doll, Chucky in 1988. He’s led a franchise of seven films, as well as a modern reboot. It’s remarkable that there’s still much to say in the Child’s Play franchise and the killer doll most recently headlined his own SyFy horror series, Chucky. Chucky is extremely satisfying for both hardcore fans of the films, as well as younger newcomers. Chucky has a second season on the way and it’s currently some of the best content on SyFy, but it got lost with the network’s more disposable programming.
9 Dopesick Shines A Light On A Tragic Epidemic And Is Garnering Awards Praise
Dopesick is an eight-episode descent into addiction, loss, and corporate greed in what’s easily one of Hulu’s most impressive limited series. Dopesick hit Hulu in October 2021, which allowed this taut look into America’s war with opiod addiction to fly under the radar, but it’s likely to break through to a bigger crowd in early 2022. Michael Keaton, Kaitlyn Dever, Will Poulter, and Michael Stuhlbarg lead the brutal story of Purdue Pharma’s normalization of Oxycontin as pain relief treatment. Dopesick made waves at the Golden Globes and is likely to do the same at this year’s Emmy Awards.
8 Ultra City Smiths Is A Stunning Stop-Motion Crime Saga That Nobody Knows About
Steven Conrad is an unsung genius in the television industry who’s responsible for ambitious series like Patriot and Perpetual Grace, LTD. Conrad’s latest series, Ultra City Smiths, is a brilliant pastiche of crime dramas and film noirs, presented as an adorable piece of stop-motion puppetry.
This mix of baby-faced figures who are entrenched in moody stereotypes and endless corruption results in such a special and unique series. Ultra City Smiths is only six episodes and it’s one of the strongest shows from 2021, but it being restricted to the obscure streaming service, AMC Plus, led to its low profile.
7 Physical Features A Punishing Protagonist That’s Not For Everyone
Apple TV Plus has been able to carefully refine its library and the majority of their productions are some of the best shows that are currently airing on TV. The biggest productions of Apple TV Plus, like Ted Lasso, The Morning Show, and Foundation have received the most attention, while newer efforts like Physical have quietly come and gone. Set in 1980s San Diego, Rose Byrne stars as Sheila Rubin, a miserable housewife who constantly suffers from impulse control issues. Sheila’s life opens up in new and rewarding ways once she embraces aerobics, which sets her down an unexpected path of empowerment.
6 Brand New Cherry Flavor’s Trippy Visuals And Horror Should Have Dominated Netflix
Netflix has produced amazing original horror content, but the streaming service cycles through new programming at such a rapid pace that it’s easy to miss a show when it first drops and then never hear about it again. Brand New Cherry Flavor is a kaleidoscopic nightmare and one of the scariest things to ever air on Netflix. It feels like a lost David Lynch film from the 90s. Rosa Salazar gives her all in her electric performance as Lisa Nova, a jilted burgeoning filmmaker who’s desperate to get revenge on the producer that takes advantage of her and her movie.
5 Station Eleven’s Moody Apocalypse Drama Dropped At A Contentious Time
Station Eleven hit HBO Max at the end of 2021. Its focus on a post-apocalyptic version of the world that tries to pick up the pieces following a deadly flu pandemic likely hit too close to home for many prospective viewers. Morose meditations on death and the end of the world are wearing thin at this point, but Staton Eleven works as well as it does by avoiding the tropes of most apocalypse narratives.
A roving timeline celebrates the power of storytelling and how stories are what unite the disparate pieces of the world together. It’s a powerful, inspirational story that everyone deserves to experience.
4 Kevin Can F*Ck Himself Is Too Smart For Its Own Good
Kevin Can F**k Himself is one of the more ambitious comedies to come along in years and it’s even more surprising that this odd genre hybrid is on AMC. Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy stars as a disgruntled housewife who has had enough of her lazy, oafish husband. Kevin Can F**K Himself pokes fun at the tired stereotypes that continue to define family sitcoms as it presents its insufferable material with Kevin through a three-camera perspective, complete with a canned laugh track, while Allison’s reflective moments by herself are presented dramatically with a single-camera structure.
3 The Sex Lives Of College Girls Needs Time To Find Its People
Mindy Kaling has gained experience writing television comedies for more than a decade, and The Sex Lives of College Girls skews towards a younger audience of fresh college students. Mindy Kaling’s characters frequently feel overwhelmed by life, but it feels appropriate here as characters approach crossroads and figure out who they are. Each of the central characters feel distinct and their friendship and chemistry is effortless. The first season of The Sex Lives of College Girls has wrapped up and a second season is already announced, which means that it’s likely that more people will begin to check out this satisfying new comedy.
2 Ten-Year Old Tom Is An Animated HBO Max Original That Deserves A Bigger Showcase
Steve Dildarian’s The Life and Times of Tim was an animated anomaly on HBO’s schedule back in 2008 that never gained the audience that it deserved. Dildarian’s newest animated vehicle, Ten-Year Old Tom, is cut from the same cloth as Tim. It’s a hilarious and thoughtful examination of humanity’s many faults and the chaotic stresses that consume society. The overwhelming nature of the world is filtered through a confused and frantic child, Tom, who often becomes a lightning rod for cruel karmic twists of fate. Hopefully Ten-Year Old Tom will get a second season to further develop its charm and bring in a larger crowd.
1 Fairfax Is Strong Animated Comedy With A Distinct Voice That’s Hidden Away On Amazon Prime
Amazon Prime is slowly building an admirable library of adult animated programming, and 2021 marked the premiere of the eight-episode Fairfax. Fairfax doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel and it’s content focusing on a group of four middle school friends from Los Angeles’ Fairfax Avenue that are obsessed with social media credibility and internet fame. Fairfax is an effective deconstruction and parody of modern social structures that lovingly pokes fun at the state of the world, but still creates deeply empathetic characters. Confident writing and a clear voice make Fairfax a hit, but not enough people are aware of Amazon Prime’s growing animated output.
About The Author
[ad_2]
