10 Underrated TV Thriller Series You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The thriller genre is vast, meaning a handful of great thriller series have gone unnoticed over the years. Such shows are up to par with some of the best thriller TV shows of all time but haven't earned as much attention. Many of the more underrated shows are thriller miniseries, operate at a slower pace, and are released in other parts of the world.

These are just a handful of variables to explain why underrated shows like Top of the Lake and The Kettering Incident are likely to be missed by general audiences. Despite being underrated and often overlooked, thriller series like The Killing and The Night Of boast a compelling balance of mystery and drama, ensuring audiences aren't bored or able to see various plot twists coming. Lacking the legacy and popularity of other shows in the genre, several underrated thriller series are still waiting to be discovered.

10 The Twelve (2019)

Jurors Must Decide The Fate Of An Accused Murderer

A Belgian series picked up by Netflix in 2020, The Twelve centers around a group of people called in for jury duty. The twelve jurors sit in for a murder case where a headmistress is accused of killing two different people years apart. On paper, The Twelve appears to be another nail-biting crime thriller that's little to no different from others in the genre.

However, what sets the series apart from others and what makes it worth watching isitsexploration of the jurors' emotions and reactions to the crimes and evidence presented. The reactions and thought processes vary across the board, keeping the results of the final verdict up in the air for the majority of the series. Though there are only 10 episodes in The Twelve, its premise offers the chance for a new case to be presented to a new set of jurors with every season, as seen in the Australian version of the series.

9 The Killing (2011-2014)

Homicide Detectives Work To Solve Mysterious Cases

Based on the Danish series Forbrydelsen, The Killing begins by following two homicide detectives (Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman) hoping to solve the unexpected murder of a teenage girl. Set in Seattle, Washington, the series benefits from the wet and gloomy surroundings, which adds to its effectively chilling atmosphere. The Killing explores the dark truths about both the various murder cases themselves and the people involved in solving them.

Like many detectives, Enos' Sarah Linden must find a way to navigate the pressure and emotional toll the job has on her, and the actor portrays these emotions effortlessly.

The Killing is a great mystery TV show led by a woman, and Enos delivers a particularly celebrated performance. Like many detectives, Enos' Sarah Linden must find a way to navigate the pressure and emotional toll the job has on her, and the actor portrays these emotions effortlessly. Critical acclaim for the series' later seasons died down, but The Killing's tension and slow burn that made it a hit in the first place remain staples of the show until its final episode.

8 The Third Day (2020)

Chronicles A Couple's Arrival On A Mysterious Island

Inspired by classic folk horror films like The Wicker Man, HBO's The Third Day avoids being a direct copy by implementing a unique and chilling premise that differentiates the show from other thriller series. Split into three parts, The Third Day follows a man's journey to a mysterious island, exploring his connection to its history and traditions.

The structure of the series is unlike others in the genre, turning some audiences away as easily as it drew others in. The first part of the series is split into three episodes that focus on Jude Law's Sam and his initial arrival on the island.

The second part is an immersive 12-hour livestream that saw Sam further involved with the island's rituals and celebrations. The last three episodes make up the third part, where Sam's wife, played by Naomie Harris, comes to the island to find him. The Third Day contains an absorbing mystery and keeps audiences hooked until the very end.

7 The Kettering Incident (2016)

A Town Is Shrouded In Mystery

Over eight episodes, the truth about a coastal town in Australia is uncovered in The Kettering Incident. Starring Elizabeth Debicki as the series' protagonist, Anna Macy, The Kettering Incident sees Anna return home fifteen years after her best friend, Gillian, mysteriously vanishes.

When she arrives back home, another local girl has gone missing in a similar way as Gillian, leaving Anna determined to get to the bottom of the town's mysteries. Like many of the best Australian thrillers, The Kettering Incident uses its environment to its advantage. The struggling forests in the area are another point of conflict in the series, this time between loggers and environmentalists.

Kettering's environmental struggle and the sudden disappearances of residents provide the foundation for the series' thrills and unpredictable mysteries. Premiering in Australia and earning an average response from critics, it's easy to see how The Kettering Incident has gone under the radar, but it's still a thriller worthy of attention.

6 Shining Girls (2022)

Following Her Attack, A Woman Tracks Down The Person Responsible

Based on author Lauren Beukes' novel of the same name, the Apple TV+ series Shining Girls is an ambitious thriller that's full of twists. The series is led by Elisabeth Moss, who plays Kirby Mazrachi, a woman in Chicago determined to track down her attacker years later after she notices a pattern of similar attacks taking place. The series' use of time travel procedures and deeper meanings behind Kirby's journey can be confusing at times.

It's easy to see how audiences ignored or quit Shining Girls once the plot became too involved, but it's a series worth another try. The narrative differences between the original book and the show help to create a show audiences have an easier time investing in, such as making Kirby the series' central protagonist and further fleshing out the perpetrator character.

5 Counterpart (2017-2019)

Two Opposing Earths Are In Conflict

Created by one of Shōgun's co-creators, Justin Marks, Counterpart is a fascinating sci-fi thriller that takes audiences on a journey between two vastly different worlds. In the series, Howard Silk (J. K. Simmons) works at the Office of Interchange, unsure of the purpose his daily tasks at work serve.

It's soon unveiled that his world, Alpha, is one of two parallel Earths that were created following a science experiment in the late '80s. Conspiracies and the belief that those in the Alpha world are behind the deadly flu impacting the Prime world cause tension between the two.

Many of the series' characters are seen in both worlds, with their actors taking on the responsibility of playing two widely opposing figures at the same time. As the series' lead, Simmons is especially impressive in his role. While some critics and audiences may have felt the second season became too complicated with its storytelling, Simmons' strong performance and the thrills established by season 1 remained positively intact.

4 Utopia (2013-2014)

A Popular Comic Book Predicts Real-Life Tragedies

Audiences outside the UK are likely to have first come across Utopia's American version, released in 2020. Created by Gillian Flynn, Utopia was considered unwatchable, having stripped away the best qualities of the original series released in 2013. With a passionate cult following, Utopia followed a group of comic book fans who believed a popular series had predicted several devastating epidemics.

Utopia has a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

When the group of fans gets their hands on a sequel predicting future events, they are sought out by a secret organization known as "The Network." The unsuccessful 2020 version might have caused audiences to overlook the original, which is unfortunate considering Utopia's clever blend of thrills, conspiracies, and dark comedy.

Utopia is uniquely stylish and takes inspiration from real-life events. Though the series has been criticized for its use of real-life events and its depicted violence, it was still largely well-received and earned several award nominations for its writing and performances.

3 Top Of The Lake (2013-2017)

A Detective Tackles Difficult Cases

Created and written by Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, Top of the Lake is a chilling drama series that follows Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss) in various investigations. The first installment of the series takes place in New Zealand, where a 12-year-old girl has gone missing.

The second installment, Top of the Lake: China Girl, is set in Sydney and follows the investigation of a deceased girl found on Bondi Beach. Top of the Lake tackles difficult subject matters in each series, with the writing and Moss' performance being considerate channels for such topics.

Actors like David Wenham, Holly Hunter, Gwendoline Christie, and Nicole Kidman appear in each of the series' installments and deliver strong performances. Top of the Lake has earned consistent praise from critics and audiences for its tight writing and handling of its disturbing content, balancing its social commentary with an effective mystery.

2 Escape At Dannemora (2018)

Inspired By A Real-Life Prison Escape

Several crime shows are based on real life, as the details of the crimes require little dramatization for a gripping TV show. Escape at Dannemora is one of them, with the thriller series pulling inspiration from the 2015 Clinton Correctional Facility escape, in which convicted murderers Richard Matt and David Sweat successfully escaped from prison with the help of prison employee Joyce Mitchell (Patricia Arquette). Matt and Sweat are played by Benicio del Toro and Paul Dano, respectively.

Escape at Dannemora takes its time to lay out the prisoners' plan. While the slower pace may not be for everyone, patient audiences are awarded a captivating look at Matt, Sweat, and Mitchell's motives and the interpersonal relationships between them. Ben Stiller's direction is admirable, and the cast's performances are some of the best in their respective careers, earning several notable nominations at the Emmys and Golden Globes.

1 The Night Of (2016)

A College Student Is Accused Of Murder

It doesn't take long for audiences to get drawn into the mystery of The Night Of. The crime thriller miniseries earned acclaim following its 2016 release, receiving several Emmy nominations and wins, including one for Riz Ahmed's leading performance. As expected with a miniseries, conversations surrounding the show have died down in recent years, and The Night Of has become a thriller series overlooked by many.

Though The Night Of doesn't completely reinvent the genre, the thrills and plot twists are meticulously placed, ensuring audiences remain invested throughout the series' eight episodes.

The show is based on the 2008 British series Criminal Justice and follows Ahmed's character and his lawyer, played by John Turturro. Ahmed's Nasir Khan is a Pakistani-American college student who is accused of murdering a woman. Mixed in with the typical procedural format is a complex narrative that highlights the difficulties Nasir faces within the justice system. Though The Night Of doesn't completely reinvent the genre, the thrills and plot twists are meticulously placed, ensuring audiences remain invested throughout the series' eight episodes.

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