10 Most Underappreciated TV Shows Of The Decade (So Far)
9. Orphan Black
Orphan Black is regularly included on lists of underrated TV shows or ‘shows you aren’t watching’, and it’s mainly due to the show’s reputation as a perpetually snubbed awards runner up. It might operate similarly to a lot of the wacky post-Whedon sci-fi shows currently invading Netflix and network TV in equal measure, but Orphan Black stands out thanks to its killer premise and multiple awards-worthy performances by Tatiana Maslany.
The word multiple is intentional here, because Maslany portrays several clones, with distinct looks, personalities and accents. We originally see her as Sarah Manning, a prolific con artist, but her life is quickly upended when she spots an identical double committing suicide on a train platform. Before anyone can get to the body, Sarah adopts the woman’s identity, that of detective Beth Childs.
From here, Orphan Black descends into a twist-filled sci-fi thriller, a charming and witty ensemble piece wherein the bulk of the cast is portrayed by the same person. It might buckle somewhat underneath its own ideas as the series progresses, but its snappy dialogue, character-fuelled drama, and evolving mystery never fails to impress.
Orphan Black does boast an impressive cult following, but in the mainstream it remains one of the best shows still waiting to be discovered. The show achieved a lot of its success through being consistently snubbed by the Emmys (though Maslany did finally win last year).
As Maslany herself put it: "The lack of a nomination, whatever that meant, was actually the best publicity we could have ever had — it definitely put us on the map!"