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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:
UnctuousUnicorns · 30/04/2025 15:16

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.

Was going to say this, DH and I watched the lot, cracked us up. I also loved "Flowers". Away from comedy, "Life After Life" was brilliant. I also enjoyed "This Way Up".

Ihateboris · 30/04/2025 15:19

Nurse Jackie
Gomorrah

restbite · 30/04/2025 15:25

fringe

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TV
theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 30/04/2025 15:35

Snowfall - drama set in LA about the crack epidemic during the 1980’s.

One of the best series I’ve ever seen but nobody else has watched it.

There were 6 series (60 episodes!) but nobody I know has watched it or heard of it 😲

Thmssngvwlsrnd · 30/04/2025 15:38

Ooh, I loved those monologues OP.

I used to love Ever Decreasing Circles from the 80s. Available on YouTube.

CarpetKnees · 30/04/2025 17:08

If you enjoyed that monologue, you should definitely hunt for all of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. Would probably be somewhere on You Tube.

Most recently, I really, really enjoyed Patience on Channel 4. A depiction of a young woman with Autism who worked as a civilian for the police, seeing patterns and solving puzzles, whilst struggling with other aspects of daily life.
It was superb yet got no publicity although so much love was poured on Ludwig.

I also enjoyed the Bletchley Circle last year, which was a 4 part (I think) mini series based on some women who had worked at Bletchley Park during the war but then had to return to ordinary life where no-one knew anything of their past lives, or acknowledged their extraordinary abilities.

LittleBitofBread · 30/04/2025 17:12

CarpetKnees · 30/04/2025 17:08

If you enjoyed that monologue, you should definitely hunt for all of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. Would probably be somewhere on You Tube.

Most recently, I really, really enjoyed Patience on Channel 4. A depiction of a young woman with Autism who worked as a civilian for the police, seeing patterns and solving puzzles, whilst struggling with other aspects of daily life.
It was superb yet got no publicity although so much love was poured on Ludwig.

I also enjoyed the Bletchley Circle last year, which was a 4 part (I think) mini series based on some women who had worked at Bletchley Park during the war but then had to return to ordinary life where no-one knew anything of their past lives, or acknowledged their extraordinary abilities.

I feel like I watched The Bletchley Circle years ago, but I guess it's still around on catch-up. I seem to remember it being a very good cast? And nice clobber, hair, make-up etc. Grin

Mimn · 30/04/2025 17:18

Deathraystare · 30/04/2025 06:47

Keeping up appearances comes up a lot on my you tube! Lots of laughs and flowery frocks!!

Show quote history

You must listen to the Luxury Podcast which William Hanson (the posh etiquette guy) and Jonathan Vernon-Smith talk about each episode. They have relaunched it recently with etiquette things on various subjects.

Here's one of the KUA podcasts https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s02-e03-the-candlelight-supper/id1552612086?i=1000539837831

S02 E03: The Candlelight Supper

S02 E03: The Candlelight Supper

Podcast Episode · The Luxury Podcast · 27/10/2021 · 45m

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s02-e03-the-candlelight-supper/id1552612086?i=1000539837831

Mimn · 30/04/2025 17:21

Liked The Duchess of Duke Street and Fall of Eagles

MorrisZapp · 30/04/2025 17:27

Ripper Street. Early Doors.

B1indEye · 30/04/2025 17:28

CarpetKnees · 30/04/2025 17:08

If you enjoyed that monologue, you should definitely hunt for all of Alan Bennett's Talking Heads. Would probably be somewhere on You Tube.

Most recently, I really, really enjoyed Patience on Channel 4. A depiction of a young woman with Autism who worked as a civilian for the police, seeing patterns and solving puzzles, whilst struggling with other aspects of daily life.
It was superb yet got no publicity although so much love was poured on Ludwig.

I also enjoyed the Bletchley Circle last year, which was a 4 part (I think) mini series based on some women who had worked at Bletchley Park during the war but then had to return to ordinary life where no-one knew anything of their past lives, or acknowledged their extraordinary abilities.

There's a UK version of Patience, it's on iPlayer I think, I don't know if the content is exactly the same but the premise is. It's also a girls name but I don't remember what, maybe Astrid

Ignore me, Ive got it the wrong way round, I thought you were talking about the less well known original version 😂

icebearforpresident · 30/04/2025 17:30

theriseandfallofFranklinSaint · 30/04/2025 15:35

Snowfall - drama set in LA about the crack epidemic during the 1980’s.

One of the best series I’ve ever seen but nobody else has watched it.

There were 6 series (60 episodes!) but nobody I know has watched it or heard of it 😲

Excellent user name @theriseandfallofFranklinSaint

I’ll back you up on this one, Snowfall was phenomenal. Think it’s still on iPlayer but it’s definitely on Disney+

LittleBitofBread · 30/04/2025 17:31

MorrisZapp · 30/04/2025 17:27

Ripper Street. Early Doors.

Ripper Street is seriously underrated and under watched, wasn't it? The language was amazing, and it was such a convincing portrayal of that time and place.

SodOffbacktoaibu · 30/04/2025 17:35

Early Doors .... Craig Cash and an amazing cast including a young James McEvoy. I love it. Hilarious.

SodOffbacktoaibu · 30/04/2025 17:36

Oh and Industry. Absolutely amazing. Can't wait for the next series. Such awful but utterly compelling characters

Cynic17 · 30/04/2025 17:36

Desperate Romantics, on the Beeb about 15 years ago. All about the Pre-Raphaelites. Funny and interesting, starring a pre- fame Aidan Turner as Rossetti.

PinkPootle75 · 30/04/2025 17:39

The flatshare

Sasha07 · 30/04/2025 17:40

I loved Wayward Pines and Hemlock Grove. No one irl have heard of them but someone recognised them last time I posted on a similar thread, so that was nice 🤣

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 30/04/2025 18:01

I haven’t noticed anyone mention the German TV series Dark. It’s on Netflix it’s brilliant and I got my username from it. It can be watched dubbed but I recommend doing in the original language

Also, The OA on Netflix but that’s not worth watching now because they axed it on a cliffhanger after two series and I was so invested in it and what they were doing with it. Not over its cancellation still. I WANT TO KNOW

Spidey66 · 30/04/2025 18:05

How do You Want Me? With Dylan Moran and Charlotte Colman. I think it was the last thing Charlotte Colman did before she died.

also Early Doors. I don’t understand why that wasn’t more popular than it was. It even had a young James McEvoy in it!

Spidey66 · 30/04/2025 18:06

oh I see others have mentioned Early Doors!

FlyingUnicornWings · 30/04/2025 18:06

SnowflakeSmasher86 · 30/04/2025 00:41

We studied this in English Lit in the 80s/90s. Brilliant writing. Alan Bennett’s Talking Heads if I recall?

Some of my lesser known favourites (in no way similar to your OP, or indeed to each other) are:

Smash - about the production of a broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe

Stath Lets Flats - hilariously awkward comedy about a Greek Cypriot letting agent

Younger - absolute trash but strangely addictive series from the makers of Sex & the City, about a 40 year old woman posing as a 26 year old to get back into work after being a SAHM.

Fisk - Australian series about a bumbling female lawyer, she’s brilliant and the supporting characters are all hilarious too.

Show quote history

Stath Lets Flats is beyond hilarious. Totally underrated. “Oh my gilly gosh!

Spidey66 · 30/04/2025 18:08

FairlyFarleigh · 30/04/2025 09:59

Don't hate me... but I loved After Life. It was both moving and funny, and uses social awkwardness around grief brilliantly. It's very slow- moving so you see the central bereaved character gradually emerging from the blackest and bleakness point of grief and depression into something hopeful, and helping others too. There's a star turn by a dog and Penelope Wilton is lovely. Great cast.
The fact it was written by Ricky Gervais makes me respect him more.

Loved After Life, and Derek, also misunderstood.

OldSchoolCasualty · 30/04/2025 18:08

@purpleme12 YES! I came down here to say Hex, one of my all time favourite shows, I think it was on Sky when sky wasn't as widespread.
Grimm was a wonderful show no one seems to know about!
@frogshat I loved Monkey Dust! it's a bugger to find it now!
Does anyone remember 2DTV? that was great, and no one ever remembers it.

K8Davidson · 30/04/2025 18:10

AnneLovesGilbert · 30/04/2025 09:45

Orphan Black!

Absolutely incredible and ended perfectly. I don’t know anyone else who’s watched it and you should!

Orphan Black for me too. It’s my favourite series ever.

Life on Mars was fantastic too.

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