Series Spotlight, Vol. 2

Some television series are too awesome to fall into oblivion. After all, even after a totally uncalled-for cancellation, a series can still be worth watching, and rewatching, then letting some time pass before watching yet again. So here’s another group of undervalued or surprise hits—may you be hooked by these spoiler-free summations and begin a new binge session soon thereafter!

My Lady Jane (2024)

Ever wished for a loosely historical fantasy that cared more about crafting a witty and action-packed script than a drawn-out romance? My Lady Jane has you covered. Raunchier than the book it’s based on, My Lady Jane imagines a world where King Henry VI’s illness is coming from *ahem* inside the castle, protestants are essentially Animorphs, and Jane Grey isn’t beheaded after her short stint as the Queen of England. Instead, we follow the booksmart, feisty, and quick-witted Jane as she attempts to thwart her mother’s plans to marry her off, rein in a supernatural condition, root out her cousin’s would-be killer, outsmart an increasingly unhinged Mary Tudor coming for her crown, and what was that other thing? Oh yeah, reign over all of England. It’s got a real Jane Austen meets  Stardust kind of vibe. Whether it’s the humor, drama, adventure, or big-chick-energy soundtrack that draws you in, prepare to be properly entertained by Jane and Guilford’s banter, Jane’s mother’s guffaw-inducing advice, or the wry observations of a narrator who could go toe-to-toe with that of Jane the Virgin. Though it lasted but one magnificent season, this is one show that’s not meant to be

See also: The Nevers (2021–2023). Besmirched by critics and somehow scarred both by Joss Whedon’s involvement and lack thereof, this series remains a worthwhile period piece infused with supernaturally augmented characters. Rooted in a heartwarming brains-meets-brawn friendship, The Nevers tells a story of (primarily) women who must band together to navigate the mistrust of the general populace while searching for the origin of their mysterious supernatural gifts and the newfound agency it gives them. Plus that walking-on-water fight scene!

See also, also: The Princess (2022 movie). Speaking of royalty who won’t behave… you may even spot a familiar face among the court. 

My Lady Jane can be streamed on Amazon Prime.

Arcane (2021-2024)

Strap in for a Spiderverse-calibre animated series stuffed to the brim with compelling and complex character arcs and moral dilemmas. Designed as a tight two-season arc, Arcane explores a “haves versus have-nots” fantasy world teetering on the edge of war, primarily following two sisters who get caught up in the divide and find themselves, their relationship, and their destinies forever warped because of it. Even if animated series aren’t your usual go-to, be heartened that Arcane deserves the heaps of critical praise it has garnered—not just for being a successful video game adaptation, but for meaningfully diving into themes of family, sacrifice, loyalty and betrayal, and regret and (self-)forgiveness. Mixing fight scenes with political maneuvers and tear-jerking confessions, the adrenaline-pumping yet often heart-wrenching plot of Arcane gives its audience a lot to ponder, from character psychologies (shoutout to Jinx) to societal philosophies; while you desperately want the characters to peaceably unite, you also understand the forces keeping them apart—no cheap plot gimmicks here.

As if that’s not enough, this series would make for a great character study of villains who think themselves heroes, heroes who don’t realize they’ve become villains, heroes who do realize they’ve become villains, and individuals who simultaneously inhabit both roles. Must power always corrupt? Does everyone deserve a second chance? Is it ever too late to forgive? If you like engaging with moral quandaries that stick with you beyond the final scene, perch yourself on the edge of your seat for the explosive, magical hoverboard ride that is Arcane. Oh, and bring a mop, because every episode is positively dripping with angst and/or Jinx’s sarcasm.

Arcane can be streamed on Netflix.

Avenue 5 (2020-2022)

Trying to catch muddy pigs is no fun. But watching people slip around while trying to catch muddy pigs is great fun. And that’s essentially what this show is. From incompetent leadership to a decidedly unhelpful head of customer relations, Avenue 5 has understandably been likened to Veep in outer space: its main characters trade a barrage of imaginative insults, more concerned with protecting their reputations and passing the blame than caring for their passengers. And yet repeatedly save themselves and the ship they must. Surrounded by literal Karens and shit storms, the perpetually stressed-out Avenue 5 crew made up of know-it-alls and know-nothings must navigate a never-ending cycle of perilous predicaments and an ever-lengthening journey time. It’s a classic case of ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire… into the actual sun.’ Add to this a supporting cast reminiscent of the townspeople from Parks and Recreation—what with their eccentricities, petty complaints, and interpersonal conflicts—and you have crafted, in the most schadenfreude manner, the space cruise from hell. Whether running out of oxygen or (gasp!) food flavorings, Avenue 5 teaches us that you can mine comedy from problems astronomical and mundane, with quotable scripts and deadpan deliveries that are truly out of this world.

Avenue 5 can be streamed on HBO Max.

High Potential (2024– )

I know what you’re thinking: ‘Ugh, another know-it-all consultant does the police’s job for them. Bor-ing!’ But the writers behind High Potential have managed to give audiences a fresh take on the genre, due in large part to Kaitlin Olson’s performance as Morgan Gillory, a single mom with a penchant for problem-solving and a photographic memory, plus a little attitude. This show feels cool because Morgan isn’t always trying to play it cool; her superhuman abilities don’t overshadow her own humanity. Picture House without the self-loathing, Sherlock without the aloofness, or The Mentalist without the smugness. (Okay, not without all the smugness.) The point is, Morgan wears her heart on her sleeve—she loses her temper, is afraid for herself and others in danger, and cracks wise with her kids and her cop coworkers. She’s less concerned with taunting her partners with the information she has and they don’t, and more concerned with solving crimes and getting justice for the victims she visibly empathizes with. Sure, she often delights in flouting protocol and flaunting her wells-deep knowledge, but the show is all the funnier for it. Add to that the zany editing style that illustrates Morgan’s who-dunnit speculations, attempting to give us some insight into how her brain works, and you have a show that makes the police procedural feel new again. I can’t remember the last time that happened… but I bet Morgan can.

See also: If you like the setup but prefer your police dramas to be more dour, head on over to Unforgettable. There you’ll find an obsessive-to-a-fault detective with perfect recall, haunted by the one thing she can’t remember—her sister’s murder. Dun dun dunnn. 

High Potential can be streamed on Hulu.

Resident Alien (2021–2025)

Alan Tudyk is in this. Oh, you need more? Family-friendlier than the other space show on this list, Resident Alien sets up that familiar “alien comes to Earth intending to destroy it, only to get to know (and love) humans along the way” plot. Yet the goofiness with which it fulfills this storyline is downright charming. This fish-out-of-water (or rather, person-off-of-planet) comedy truly squeezes the most out of Tudyk’s voice acting, face pulling, and all-around quirky-character-creating talents, as he is thrown into the role of alien-pretending-to-be-a-human-pretending-to-be-a-doctor, always on the verge of revealing his identity with his beyond-blunt and indifferent observations about humankind. Not to mention his multiple child nemeses, his description of E.T. (“sexy and he so knows it”), or his inability to focus when pizza is nearby. The good news is Tudyk’s costars are up to the task of matching his antics, each as wonderfully eccentric yet endearing as the next: the try-hard mayor, the self-important sheriff (and Cletus the dog!), and the admirably long list of women who prop up the Colorado town, from long-suffering deputy Liv and empathetic, voice-of-reason Asta to impulsive bartender D’Arcy and tenacious mother and lawyer Kate.

This series survived nearly as many close calls with cancellation as its characters did with planetary annihilation (which was, to use the show’s catchphrase, some bullshit). And you have to think its heart is to thank for its survival, simultaneously poking fun at human foibles and showcasing their strengths. Because amidst the government conspiracies, murder plots, and alien invasions, this series also takes time for meaningful character growth, complete with heartbreaking lows and heart-mending highs. The bonds formed by these characters over five seasons, the community they build with each other and with the audience, is enough to send your enjoyment of this adorable series into hyperdrive.

Resident Alien can be streamed on Netflix.

Taskmaster (2015– )

Only in recent years has this British series broken into mainstream popularity with US audiences, but it has been comedy perfection since its start. Ten years (and 20 series!) ago, Little Alex Horne convinced a handful of comedians to complete ridiculous, often irritating tasks on camera, all so that their triumphant or tragic (but always hilarious) attempts can later be mocked and awarded points by the Taskmaster. These tasks range from deceptively simple to nefariously complex, challenging contestants’ close reading, critical thinking, memorization, artistic, and athletic skills. Frequently featuring coconuts, eggs, rubber ducks, and Swedes, the tasks command contestants to engage in everything from songwriting and scavenger-hunting to potato-throwing and pineapple-hiding. Whether they are tasked with finding satsumas in socks, literal bean counting, or painting portraits with absurdly long paintbrushes, contestants must always be wary of tricky wordings, terrible puns, hidden clues, and most importantly, the clock. From start to finish, it’s as unpredictable as it is entertaining.

Each series brings together a mix of contestants: those diving in with little forethought, those trying (though rarely succeeding) to outsmart the tasks, those growing increasingly cross with Alex, those who can’t be bothered, and those just there to be agents of chaos. Will anyone make it through with their dignity intact? Is all the information they need really on the task? Will the writers ever run out of wacky ways to throw to commercial? Taskmaster’s many spin-offs and series (a.k.a. seasons, for US viewers) are a testament to fact that the comedic task-assigning formula doesn’t get old; like different flavors of the same candy, the Australian and New Zealand iterations in particular are just as enjoyable as the original UK show. I put it to you to watch them all. Your time starts now.

Taskmaster UK can be streamed on its official YouTube channel.