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Name a tv show that you enjoyed but is not widely popular

266 replies

PoodlesRUs · 30/04/2025 00:01

Hoping some hidden gems might be found!

Tonight I saw A Woman of No Importance. It's a monologue performed by Patricia Routledge. I think it's from the 80s? Anyway, what I thought was a bit of satire really shone a light on loneliness and what a life ends up as, or can end up as. Also, PR didn't half know how to deliver a monologue! I'd pretty much only known her as Hyacinth Bucket.

OP posts:
StMarie4me · 30/04/2025 07:26

My favourite piece of television ever. Had a huge impact on me.
Also love Black Mirror- San Junipero
And Inside No. 9- The 12 Days of Christine.

abracadabra1980 · 30/04/2025 07:26

Kizzy (the Didicot?) 1980s kids TV programme about a gypsy girl trying to integrate into a mainstream school.

MrsLargeEmbodied · 30/04/2025 07:32

abracadabra1980 · 30/04/2025 07:26

Kizzy (the Didicot?) 1980s kids TV programme about a gypsy girl trying to integrate into a mainstream school.

i loved that

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TV
InterestQ · 30/04/2025 07:35

Gameface by Roisin Conaty. Wish they would make a third series. Brilliant.

clarepetal · 30/04/2025 07:41

Drifters. Although I've only seen the first series, so no idea what the others are like. Hilarious programme.

clarepetal · 30/04/2025 07:43

Also loved Utipia, it scared the shit out of me. And Kevin from Motherland was terrifying in it

Elderflower14 · 30/04/2025 07:47

Another vote for Lizzy.
Clarence starring Ronnie Barker as a shortsighted removal man.
Moving Story starring Warren Clarke about a group of removals men...

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 30/04/2025 07:48

PoodlesRUs · 30/04/2025 00:01

Hoping some hidden gems might be found!

Tonight I saw A Woman of No Importance. It's a monologue performed by Patricia Routledge. I think it's from the 80s? Anyway, what I thought was a bit of satire really shone a light on loneliness and what a life ends up as, or can end up as. Also, PR didn't half know how to deliver a monologue! I'd pretty much only known her as Hyacinth Bucket.

Do look for some of the other monologues by Alan Bennet - IIRC, Bed among the lentils, A chip in the sugar, can’t remember all the titles but they were all brilliant.
We saw one as a stage performance by Maggie Smith - it was wonderful.

Re TV shows, I love The Detectorists!

DappledThings · 30/04/2025 07:51

For All Mankind. Alternative history where the USSR got to the moon first which inspires the US to continue funding space exploration through the Cold War and beyond.

CrewOfTheRevenge · 30/04/2025 07:55

Another vote for Our Flag Means Death. As Taika summed it up…two men on a boat who fall in love. It’s sublime.

Elderflower14 · 30/04/2025 07:55

Lizzy
Kizzy

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 30/04/2025 08:01

SharpOpalNewt · 30/04/2025 01:03

That was really popular and won awards.

Show quote history

Yes, critically lauded, but I read it was cancelled because viewing figures were too low. And my sense from talking about it in real life is that it passed lots of people by. 🤷‍♀️

@PoodlesRUs I saw this posted somewhere recently, worth a look for Patricia Routledge appreciation. You are so right about her brilliant delivery. m.youtube.com/watch?v=UKTviQNM6KA

Tillow4ever · 30/04/2025 08:15

I have no idea how well known some of these are but here we go:

The Librarians
Warehouse 13
Fringe
Firefly
Dollhouse
Tru Calling
Dead Like Me
Cold Case
Quantico (hands down the best season 1 of any show I’ve seen)
Veronica Mars
2 Guys, a girl and a pizza place
The 4400
The Following

Probably loads more - we used to watch all sorts!

TealAndTurquoise · 30/04/2025 08:19

Alias which was a spy drama series from the 2010's starring Jennifer Garner. Also loved Fringe with Joshua Jackson and Anna Torv.

Edenmum2 · 30/04/2025 08:20

Dave. It’s perfection.

WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLady · 30/04/2025 08:20

The Other One recently added to Netflix is brilliant. Second Game Face. Was totally surprised how much i enjoyed it.

Also Back on 4OD. Two series comedy with David Mitchell and Robert Webb. It’s quite sweary and a bit rude but hilarious. Great cast including the wonderful Jess Gunning.

In a very different vibe the tv show of Count Arthur Strong makes me laugh with its silliness. Not as good as the radio show but I liked it.

Globules · 30/04/2025 08:20

Mindhunter, with Jonathan Groff on Netflix
Misfits on C4
Alias - got that on DVD box set
Wish me luck - 1980s drama set in WW2

SharpOpalNewt · 30/04/2025 08:21

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 30/04/2025 08:01

Yes, critically lauded, but I read it was cancelled because viewing figures were too low. And my sense from talking about it in real life is that it passed lots of people by. 🤷‍♀️

@PoodlesRUs I saw this posted somewhere recently, worth a look for Patricia Routledge appreciation. You are so right about her brilliant delivery. m.youtube.com/watch?v=UKTviQNM6KA

Show quote history

I thought it was only ever meant to be one/two series, as it was just telling the story of her life rather than an ongoing drama with a different story each week.

Ellmau · 30/04/2025 08:28

Leverage

Wanted - brilliant Australian thriller

The Rookie

Myblueclematis · 30/04/2025 08:35

InterestQ · 30/04/2025 07:35

Gameface by Roisin Conaty. Wish they would make a third series. Brilliant.

Edited

Yes, I really liked this, especially the episode with the horse.

The only other person I know who has watched it was a work colleague.

Roisin Conaty is also in Man Down with Greg Davies, I don't know anyone at all who has seen this. I've watched it several times, some of the episodes are so funny.

Memorable · 30/04/2025 08:39

Julia Davis is so brilliant in everything she does. Can recommend Camping from a while ago and also Hunderby

SushiDisco · 30/04/2025 08:44

Black sails! Not sure how it didn’t gain more popularity as it was brilliant.

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 30/04/2025 08:45

SharpOpalNewt · 30/04/2025 08:21

I thought it was only ever meant to be one/two series, as it was just telling the story of her life rather than an ongoing drama with a different story each week.

Show quote history

no, I don’t think that is the case. The cancellation was announced just after season 2 was released. Plenty of people expressed surprise or disappointment. It was ‘news’ (in low-level industry terms) rather than a foregone conclusion. https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/julia-canceled-max-1235868178/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/julia-max-canceled_n_65a5edaae4b06444b223e272/amp

There was a lot they could have carried on with if they’d been able to, as Julia Child’s career was hitting a new level at the point s2 ended. I thought they finished it really well though and made it satisfying.

Julia

‘Julia’ Canceled After Two Seasons at Max

"Julia" has been canceled at Max after two seasons, Variety has learned.

https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/julia-canceled-max-1235868178/

Iloveeverycat · 30/04/2025 08:48

raysan · 30/04/2025 00:28

Loved Flash Forward but i think it ended on a cliffhanger with no season 2, or 2nd season was slated so i never found out what happened.

Lie to me about detectives using micro expressions to solve crimes. Normal detective series but it was reslly compelling. Cannot find it now

I was so disappointed when flash forward ended and you didn't find out what happened.

Iloveeverycat · 30/04/2025 08:49

CraftyNavySeal · 30/04/2025 00:31

Pushing Daisies. Quirky supernatural detective show. Loved it but it was cancelled after 2 seasons!

Loved pushing Dasies I have the DVDs