With so many shows out there, it's easy to miss a few gems! Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best live action shows from 2014 to 2024 that haven’t gotten the recognition they deserve.
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00:00 "Why are you standing so far away?"
00:01 "Just to be out of slapping range."
00:05 Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best live-action shows
00:10 from 2014 to 2024 that haven't gotten the recognition they deserve.
00:15 "Okay, that's too much?"
00:16 "No, that's just, I wasn't expecting that."
00:18 Number 10. Narcos.
00:22 Following the end of Breaking Bad, audiences were probably itching for another prestige TV
00:26 drama about the illegal drug trade. Many likely found it in Ozark. But an equally worthy successor
00:32 was Narcos, which fell into relative obscurity.
00:35 "I'm going to tell you who I am. I am Pablo Emilio Escobar Gaviria.
00:41 My eyes are everywhere. You can't do a single shit in the Antioquia department without me knowing."
00:50 Based on the real-world exploits of Pablo Escobar and the Medellín cartel,
00:54 Narcos is a series that may lack many sympathetic characters,
00:58 but is nonetheless richly entertaining.
01:00 "At the time, Pablo was just a blip on my radar. I didn't know I was about to be a blip on his."
01:07 While some criticized the show for its uneven accents and portrayal of modern Colombian history,
01:11 others applauded its portrayal of the drug trade as more nuanced compared to similar shows.
01:16 "I'm not a rich person. I'm a poor person with money.
01:20 And for that reason, I think I understand the people that New Liberalism is trying to give a voice to."
01:29 Wagner-Mora's killer performance as Escobar drew praise for the series,
01:33 along with the strong performance of a pre-Mandalorian Pedro Pascal.
01:37 How to make a great comedic docuseries? First, you gotta hire John Wilson.
01:45 "What about mankind in general?"
01:47 "Oh, mankind, like, the whole world? I mean, it's not bad. It could be better,
01:52 but I'm happy with my life."
01:53 This Nathan Fielder-produced HBO show can be called unlike anything else on television.
01:58 Often filmed on the streets of New York City,
02:01 it covers topics ranging from cooking risotto to cleaning out your ears.
02:04 "You should try and consult a specialist who has sophisticated technology to get you all cleaned
02:11 out." Wilson, an unconventionally awkward narrator, takes to the streets to ask everyday
02:15 people about a singular subject. This approach occasionally leads him down strange paths,
02:20 such as a trip to a Mandela Effect conference in an episode about memory. But whatever the subject,
02:26 it's sure to be covered in a way that's both uniquely funny and oddly empathetic to our
02:31 shared human experiences. "You tried a couple of other sports, but you couldn't really get excited
02:38 about what you were watching. And the only part that caught your attention was when nobody was
02:45 playing." Number 8. Pachinko. Several of the original shows and films on Apple TV+ have
02:50 broken into the mainstream, namely Best Picture winner Coda and beloved sports comedy Ted Lasso.
02:56 "I really say that?" "Yes, you did, over there after the Man City loss."
02:59 But many more seem to receive a disheartening lack of promotion. Pachinko is one of its lesser-known
03:05 offerings, although we're of the opinion that it should be an international sensation. The
03:09 story centers around the same family across four generations. "I want to know why." "He told you
03:14 why. They don't think you're ready. Keep busting ahead, doing what you're doing, and next year..."
03:18 "I helped close the T-Stone merger, handled Brixley's buyout, number one on My Year's
03:23 leaderboard for two years." "It's not your year, okay?" It often feels universal in its portrayal,
03:29 in spite of its specific focus on the experience of Korean immigrants in Japan.
03:33 Its decades-spanning story brings history to life in a way that is as well-paced as
03:38 it is emotionally moving. "Number seven, Legion. As the Marvel Cinematic Universe built up its
03:52 third phase with films like Spider-Man Homecoming, Thor Ragnarok, and Avengers Endgame, this creative
03:57 X-Men series fell by the wayside. "Really?" "No. I do get better drugs, though." "Really?" "No.
04:04 It's just Thursday." Although it included Marvel characters, the FX series was separate from the
04:11 MCU as well as the timeline of Fox X-Men films. Legion was largely overlooked by general audiences
04:17 in spite of its critical acclaim. "Did the voices tell you to do that?" "No. No. No, they tried to
04:25 stop me. They didn't like it." It's a show that isn't afraid to take risks with its narrative
04:30 or visuals, a fact that becomes immediately clear during its pilot episode's dance number and slow
04:35 motion sequence. Sure, it's not for everyone, but for those who understand its magic, it is a show
04:40 worth getting lost in. "Number six, Reservation Dogs. This show made history when it burst onto
04:46 the scene in 2021, becoming the first American series to feature an entirely indigenous writer's
04:52 room. "Now what?" "I don't know. Try honking." "Honking." The unprecedented representation
04:59 among the cast and crew led to Reservation Dogs being one of TV's most accurate and groundbreaking
05:04 portrayals of contemporary life on the res. "I know you're saving up money to go to California,
05:08 but I know those kids ain't as serious as you. So, when you get tired of them, I'll be willing
05:14 to let you into our group." After decades of the same stereotypical representations in mainstream
05:19 media, Reservation Dogs regularly subverts expectations with clever writing, compelling
05:24 performances, and an astonishing amount of heart. Its three seasons received critical acclaim,
05:30 but we can't help but think it deserved a little more shine. "I just had to do it, you know? And
05:36 it felt good, it felt right, but for what now?" "Number five, Hacks. The show may be called Hacks,
05:45 but its writers are anything but." "She is intrigued by the idea of you writing jokes for
05:51 her." "The QVC Moo Moo lady?" "They're caftans." "Didn't she, like, burn her husband's house down?"
05:58 "Yes." The dramedy series stars Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder as two comedians thrust into
06:06 an unexpected working relationship in spite of their generational differences. Although the pair
06:10 initially butts heads, they slowly come to realize that they have a lot to learn from each other,
06:15 and their comedy can reach new heights when they work together. "Got jokes for that?"
06:19 "Um, I'm just learning about all this stuff, so I'm gonna need a minute before I come up with
06:29 something funny." "Okay, honey, you take your minute." Yes, the show has received several Emmy
06:34 nominations and a few wins, but it somehow missed the boat on receiving the appropriate fanfare.
06:40 At once a hilarious comedy, moving drama, and high point in LGBTQ+ representation on television,
06:46 don't miss out on Hacks. "Oh my god, Ava, why? Why?" "I know, but even if I had known, I had to
06:54 be honest." Number four, Insecure. Based in part on Issa Rae's award-winning web series,
06:59 Awkward Black Girl, Insecure is a frank and funny look at life as a black woman. "My dad said,
07:05 'Ain't nobody checking for bitter-ass black women anymore.'" "Denise, that's detention. Apologize
07:12 now." "Sorry." "That's okay. And tell your dad that black women aren't bitter, they're just tired
07:18 of being expected to settle for less." While Rae's expert sense of humor is what draws most people
07:23 in, the series is also notable for its complex characters. The fictionalized version of Issa
07:28 makes mistakes just as any normal person would, and has her share of flaws. "Killing my vibe.
07:33 I'm killing my vibe. I'm trying to get there." "All right, nerd." "Oh, look at me. I'm trying to
07:37 get home before curfew." "No, but for real, we should go, because they will actually give our
07:42 table away." These ups and downs are given real dramatic weight alongside the laughter. The
07:47 journey of her relationship with Yvonne Orgy's Molly Carter also stands out as a high point
07:52 throughout the series. "Wait, you don't remember?" "No, I don't." "All right, well, good, because,
07:59 I told you stuff, too." "Oh, right, you did. Like how you told me you auditioned for B2K?"
08:05 "Oh, look who got her memory back."
08:08 3. Search Party Do you love a good mystery? Are you
08:13 captivated by courtroom comedies? Is unexpected horror your favorite kind of plot twist?
08:18 "She's gone missing." "What do you mean, gone missing?"
08:21 "She's like, a missing person. There's posters of her, like, all over the city."
08:25 "Dory, what happened to her?" "I mean, she's missing."
08:29 If you answered yes to any of these questions, it's time you checked out Search Party. This
08:34 millennial dark comedy was a victim of circumstance, beginning life on TBS and
08:38 then suffering an almost three-year pause before relocating to HBO Max.
08:42 "Chantal, you say you don't have your real passport with you?" "No, I left everything
08:45 behind." "Oh, my God." "Chantal, that's a federal felony, do you know that?"
08:49 "Why didn't you say this earlier, Chantal?" "I did, I just did. So, if you're not
08:53 comfortable, you should get out." It's a show unafraid to take big swings,
08:57 frequently switching up its tone and genre with surprising ease. Alia Shawkat gives a
09:02 powerhouse performance in the leading role, portraying an often intensely dramatic character
09:07 alongside a cast of hilarious co-stars. Plus, the show's talented crop of guest stars isn't
09:12 half bad either. "I don't believe it. No, not you, Richard. Someone slashed my tires.
09:21 Clearly, they're jealous of unapologetic wealth."
09:24 2. For All Mankind
09:27 What if the Soviet Union landed on the moon first and the space race never ended?
09:31 "A man is about to set foot on the moon." This is the question at the heart of For All
09:37 Mankind, which explores an alternate reality with an original cast of characters based loosely on
09:42 real astronauts and engineers. It's a strange experience to watch real-world situations,
09:47 and even presidential speeches, be turned on their head to fit the reality of this new world.
09:52 "In ancient times, men looked at stars and saw their heroes in the constellations.
09:58 In modern times, we do much the same."
10:02 That subversion is also the very thing that makes For All Mankind so interesting. The audience can
10:08 only guess where it's headed next, and its unpredictability is as exciting as it is
10:13 thought-provoking. "We can't let them throw away everything we've built."
10:17 "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
10:27 Before we unveil our top pick, here are some honorable mentions.
10:30 The Affair, a harrowing relationship drama with an ever-shifting point of view.
10:35 "Wanna see it?" "Uh, no, I'm okay, no, it's okay. Thanks, I should really..."
10:40 "Wanna pass your bedtime?" "Right."
10:44 The Get Down. Baz Luhrmann's disco and hip-hop musical was taken from us far too soon.
10:49 "While the get-down plays on one, he cues the same part on two.
10:52 Now, I don't know how he knows exactly when to do it, but the moment one finishes,
10:59 bang, he flips the mixer, he goes on and on."
11:02 Dead to Me. Sometimes, tragedy is the start of a beautiful friendship.
11:07 "I haven't talked about him much since he died."
11:10 "Well, we can stop. I want to pry." "Oh, it's... it's nice."
11:16 High Maintenance. Who knew a show about a weed dealer could be so poignant?
11:20 "The cruise is about the searching for everything worthwhile in existence.
11:23 I mean, I will appreciate the beauty of a flower, and then likewise, I will stand
11:31 exhibitionistic and have the flower appreciate the beauty of me."
11:35 The After Party. A hilarious whodunit with serious style from creator Christopher Miller.
11:40 "I'm not talking about Brett, I'm talking about you."
11:42 "Look, I told everyone that I was going upstairs to talk to Xavier. Why would I do that,
11:49 and then kill him? That would be super dumb."
11:52 "Love makes you do dumb things."
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12:10 Number 1. Killing Eve. We should consider ourselves lucky to live in a world with a
12:14 homoerotic spy thriller written by Phoebe Waller-Bridge and starring Sandra Oh.
12:18 "Don't tell anyone I asked for that."
12:20 "Of course. All our hotlines are completely confidential, madam."
12:23 "Piss off."
12:24 "Thank you."
12:26 So why is it that Killing Eve never really got the acclaim it deserved?
12:30 Sure, Jodie Comer won an Emmy in 2019, but every other Emmy the series was nominated for was lost,
12:36 even during its acclaimed first season.
12:38 "I need someone to help me. I don't want to do this anymore. I know what I am. I know I'm not normal."
12:52 Maybe it was the network or perhaps its unabashed commitment to its uniquely complicated female
12:57 leads. No matter the reason, the show is definitely one worth watching for any fan of the genre.
13:03 And yes, we know the ending didn't go over well with the show's dedicated fan base.
13:07 "I did it, Eve."
13:10 "Don't you mean we did it?"
13:14 "Yeah, but mostly me."
13:17 But ultimately, with Killing Eve, it's about the journey more than the destination.
13:21 Which show from the past decade do you think deserves more love? Let us know in the comments.
13:26 "Eventually we all have to accept reality. So, here it is.
13:35 I am a person. You are not."
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13:47 [Music]