5 Near-Perfect Netflix Shows Nobody Seems To Remember

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As a big TV watcher, I’ve noticed Netflix has this weird pattern. Some of their shows become instant classics, but others are genuinely great and nobody seems to talk about them. It’s frustrating because Netflix makes a ton of content, but they also have a reputation for canceling shows before they really get a chance to find their audience.

Netflix has a huge number of shows, and while many don’t last long, some truly excellent series have been hidden among them. But Netflix is just one part of a crowded entertainment world, and with so much content available, great shows often get overlooked because they aren’t well-promoted and don’t reach the widespread recognition they deserve.

Sense8

It’s surprising that Sense8, created by the Wachowskis, didn’t become more popular. The show is remarkable – a truly expansive and diverse series for Netflix. Sense8 centers around eight individuals from around the world who are mentally and physically linked. They can communicate with each other telepathically, experience each other’s feelings, and even share skills when someone needs help.

The series follows eight individuals living in cities around the globe – Nairobi, Seoul, San Francisco, Mumbai, London, Berlin, Mexico City, and Chicago. Filmed on location in these diverse places, the show weaves between their stories, highlighting the strong and touching emotional bonds that form between people from very different backgrounds.

Like many science fiction shows, Sense8 features a complex plot where individuals with a special connection are pursued by a group wanting to exploit their abilities. The show relies on visual storytelling and subtle clues, so viewers need to be attentive to follow the twists and turns.

Look, this show isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea – it asks a lot of its viewers. But honestly, that’s maybe why it didn’t become a massive hit. For those willing to put in the effort, though, the incredible detail and world-building create a truly immersive experience. I really think it deserves to be talked about in the same breath as something like Twin Peaks – a show that also found its audience through word-of-mouth and critical appreciation, rather than mainstream appeal.

Messiah

The show Messiah faced a unique challenge: its compelling premise also made it difficult to gain widespread recognition. It explores a fascinating ‘what if’ scenario: what if the stories from religious texts were happening right now? Messiah centers on Al-Masih, a man who appears to be performing miracles similar to those attributed to figures like Jesus, Muhammad, and Moses.

As a huge movie buff, I was really hooked by Messiah. The show does a great job of keeping you guessing about Al-Masih – is he the real deal, or is there something else going on? You see him gaining tons of followers, but also attracting the attention of skeptics and even the CIA. What’s brilliant is that the show never fully confirms or denies his powers. They hint at a past where he studied illusion, making you question everything, but then he does things that just seem…impossible to explain. It’s that constant back-and-forth that really kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the ten episodes.

The first season of Messiah, which premiered in January 2020, concluded with strong evidence suggesting the central figure, Al-Masih, was who he claimed to be. However, the show didn’t definitively confirm or deny his identity, and was unfortunately canceled shortly after. This lack of resolution prevented the series from fully developing Al-Masih’s character, but it works well as a compelling exploration of faith and belief rather than a deep dive into a single person’s story.

The Rain

With so many shows focusing on viruses and the end of the world, The Rain stands out for being different. While Germany’s Dark is often praised as a good alternative to Stranger Things, The Rain from Denmark doesn’t get the same recognition for trying to be like The 100.

The Rain takes inspiration from popular shows like the 2014 Netflix hit and The Last of Us, but quickly establishes its own unique story. The series follows two siblings who emerge into a world devastated by a virus spread through rainfall, which wiped out most of Scandinavia. While they search for a cure and try to survive, the heart of the story is the changing relationship between the brother and sister.

This show is aimed at young adults, and it’s best to view it as one. However, it’s worth watching—at least until another story about the world ending due to rain or some other weather event comes along.

Maniac

This short series is a visual treat, with colorful and surreal imagery. It tells a surprisingly simple, yet expansive story, and features strong performances from Emma Stone and Jonah Hill. The show beautifully combines a personal look at feelings and mental health with an engaging science fiction setting – offering the best of both character-focused and plot-driven storytelling.

I was completely captivated by this film! It centers around Owen, a man battling paranoid schizophrenia, and Annie, who’s struggling with depression. They meet during a drug trial, but things get really strange, really fast. What makes it so compelling is that you can’t fully trust what either of them is telling you – their perspectives are so unreliable, it throws everything into question and makes the story incredibly unpredictable.

Owen and Annie participate in a drug trial promising a cure for all mental illnesses, but the line between what’s real and imagined quickly blurs. Doubts arise about the company running the trial, and about Owen and Annie themselves: Owen isn’t following the drug’s instructions, and Annie has secretly used it before.

Set in a version of America saturated with advertising, the show offers a bleak look at society and individual lives. It’s a powerful and thought-provoking series – arguably better than Nine Perfect Strangers – and it’s a shame it didn’t get the recognition it deserved.

Feel Good

Mae Martin excels at creating fictionalized versions of themselves, arguably even more so than in shows like Seinfeld. Their latest Netflix series, Wayward, further demonstrates their talent for storytelling, but they already proved their skill with their acclaimed 2020 dramedy.

Created by and starring Mae Martin, Feel Good draws heavily from their own life, looking at their journey as a comedian and their struggles with addiction. The story is largely told through their complicated relationship with their partner, George. While most TV shows are either clearly funny or serious, Feel Good uniquely blends both drama and comedy, and does so very well.

You can really feel Mae’s sincerity, and it’s clear they’ve been through incredibly difficult experiences. However, they share these stories with both humor and a sense of amazement, never downplaying the seriousness but always showcasing their talent as a comedian.

Lisa Kudrow is fantastic as Mae’s mom, delivering every line with perfect comedic timing – it’s arguably the best work of her career. Overall, Mae Martin succeeds in Feel Good where Seinfeld fell short: seamlessly blending their unique humor with genuine emotion, and doing so with remarkable humility.

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2025-12-01 04:40