One of the most underrated recent shows on television is Hulu's Ramy. The show was created by and stars comedian Ramy Youssef as the titular character, a first-generation American Muslim-Arab trying to find direction in this life through spirituality while dealing with countless temptations and obstacles.
The show is an excellent mix of drama and comedy with some scenes touching on very serious themes in provocative ways only for the next scene to be laugh-out-loud funny. While Ramy certainly has its own distinct style, there are some other great dramedy shows that strike that difficult balance extremely well.
Crashing
Though short-lived, Crashing was an entertaining HBO dramedy starring stand-up comedian Pete Holmes in a semi-autobiographical story. Holmes plays a man whose world is turned upside down when his wife cheats on him and he ends up homeless. As a way of coping, he begins pursuing stand-up comedy while crashing on friends' couches.
As with Ramy, it is apparent that Crashing is a very personal story for Holmes, who is not afraid to explore some of the harshest aspects of his life. It also touches on religion as Holmes is a Christian man who begins to question things as his life spirals.
High Fidelity
Though fans might be more familiar with the movie version starring John Cusack, Hulu's High Fidelity series managed to be its own unique take on this story. The series stars Zoë Kravitz as a young woman who owns a record store and spends her time making "top five" lists and reflecting on her many failed relationships.
Relationships are a big part of Ramy as well, with Ramy also struggling to find a healthy and happy romance. Kravitz makes for a great lead character and the pop culture discussions of the show are very entertaining.
Man Seeking Woman
While FXX's Man Seeking Woman tips more into the realm of comedy than drama, it is a type of comedy that is very unexpected and unique. The show stars Jay Baruchel as a young man who searches for true love but finds himself involved in several surreal and awkward situations.
Ramy is another show that can get very creative with comedy, sometimes even embracing a dream-like feel. Man Seeking Woman goes even further with its incredibly strange yet hilarious gags. The episodes can involve goblins and Hitler, but the show always manages to ground itself in the relatable struggles of single life.
BoJack Horseman
Ramy is not afraid to show its main character as a flawed person. As he tries to find the right path for himself, Ramy makes a lot of mistakes, some of which make him seem unlikable. However, it makes his journey all the more compelling for the audience.
Another dramedy that really embraces the flawed protagonist is Netflix's BoJack Horseman. While some people might have dismissed this animated show about anamorphic animals working in Hollywood, it is a surprisingly profound and intense exploration of one horse's personal demons and his own abhorrent behavior.
Lodge 49
Before Wyatt Russell was everyone's most hated Captain America in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, he starred in the tragically underrated AMC series Lodge 49. Russell plays Dud, an optimistic surfer who finds himself living an aimless life following the death of his father. After discovering the fraternal order known as the Order of the Lynx, Dud joins in hopes of getting his life back on track.
The show feels like an interesting companion piece to the second season of Ramy, in which Ramy seeks the guidance of a Muslim leader. Both shows explore a young man who thinks they have found enlightenment only to encounter further struggles.
Insecure
Another aspect of Ramy that has gotten a lot of praise has been how the show tells stories that are generally not seen on television. Its depiction of the Muslim community is handled in a positive, realistic, and enlightening way. The same could be said for Issa Rae's HBO series Insecure, which shines a spotlight on the Black female experience.
Rae helped develop the show as it explores the lives of several Black women who deal with struggles, letdowns, and triumphs with their professional and personal lives.
Fleabag
A big standout part of Ramy is how Youssef's own voice can be so clearly heard. Having such a strong voice at the center of the show is also a benefit of Phoebe Waller-Bridge's hugely acclaimed Prime series Fleabag. Though the show called it quits after just two seasons, it left a huge impact.
Waller-Bridge stars as a Londer who, much like Ramy, finds her own impulses getting in the way of trying to get her life in order. The show's second season also deals with the main character seeking guidance from a spiritual figure with unexpected results.
Never Have I Ever
Ramy explores the difficulty and awkwardness a first-generation immigrant experiences in their 20s. Netflix's Never Have I Ever explores the same struggles but seen from the perspective of a high school girl.
The Netflix series follows Devi, a young Indian-American dealing with the pressures of being a teenager and an overbearing mother while also coping with the recent death of her father. The show is a charming and funny teen show but it also features a positive depiction of an immigrant family.
Atlanta
Donald Glover continued to show his incredible range of talents with the brilliant FX series Atlanta. Glover plays a struggling young man who hopes to finally get his life on track by becoming the manager for his cousin, an up-and-coming rapper.
The show deals with race, gender, and celebrity in profound, clever, and funny ways. And while Glover is the star of the show, several of the most memorable episodes focus on some of the other characters in the series, similar to the structure of Ramy, which helps it tell a variety of stories.
Master Of None
Ramy and Netflix's Master of None feel very similar in a lot of ways, but also establish themselves as their own special thing. Both deal with first-generation young men trying to find their own identity in America, not always fitting in, and looking for happiness. In Master of None, instead of spiritual happiness, Aziz Ansari's Dev is looking for true love.
Master of None is another show that is not afraid to play around with its format. It really shines when it seeks to tell smaller and intimate stories in unique ways.