Earlier this year, The Vampire Diaries left its longtime home on Netflix and is now currently available to stream on Peacock. Although the NBC streaming service is still relatively new to the game, getting that series was a big move as it is one of the most iconic shows of the 2010s.
While those huge shows from the era are easy to pick out like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Bates Motel, Peacock also offers up some great hidden gems. Those are the series from the decade that weren't watched all that much or were forgotten about but deserve more shine.
Mr. Mercedes (2017-2019)
There are so many Stephen King adaptations that are famous throughout history but he has written so much that it lines up that some have flown under the radar. Among them is Mr. Mercedes, which is a TV take on the Bill Hodges novels written by him.
The story centers on a detective who is haunted by a killer from years earlier who took more than a dozen lives when he drove a Mercedes into a crowded line of people. It features notable actors like Brendan Gleeson, Holland Taylor, and Mary-Louise Parker, yet it was little seen on the Audience network. When Audience was discontinued, the show didn't get to live on.
Kingdom (2014-2017)
There was a short time when Kingdom found some fame as a run on Netflix saw it rise to one of the streaming platform's most watched shows. That didn't last too long though, so there are still plenty of people who don't know what this series is about.
Starring Frank Grillo, Kiele Sanchez, Matt Lauria, and Nick Jonas, Kingdom is a family drama set in the world of mixed martial arts. Another Audience Network series, Kingdom was seen as a strong entry into the world of sports TV shows thanks to the emotional weight of the plot and the performances of the cast.
Betty En NY (2018-2019)
Most soap operas that are popular today are the ones that have been on television for decades already. So, it's always refreshing when a new telenovela stands out, which is just what Betty en NY pulled off. The show was based on a 1999 telenovela Yo Soy Betty, la fea.
If that title sounds familiar, that's because it is the source material for the popular American series Ugly Betty. This take on the tale sees Elyfer Torres as the titular Betty and it's as hilarious as you'd expect. In typical telenovela formula, it has over 120 episodes despite only consisting of one season.
Magic City (2012-2013)
Most of the time, when a show airs on a premium cable network is only available on demand through them. However, some underrated Starz series are available elsewhere and one of them is Magic City.
A lot was made about Magic City when it premiered given the cast lead by Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Olga Kurylenko and the stylish visuals but it didn't attract the audience the network hoped for. The show follows a Miami hotel owner who strikes a deal with a mob boss to ensure his establishment is successful. At only two seasons, it makes for an ideal binge.
Limetown (2019)
The talented Jessica Biel has turned her attention to starring in and producing TV shows over the past few years. Her most famous one is The Sinner, which has made it so Limetown went unnoticed by a lot of people even when it is just as good, if not better.
Limetown is based on a podcast of the same name and focuses on a journalist who looks into the mysterious disappearance of 300 people at a research facility. Reviews were solid, especially for the performances of Biel and Stanley Tucci, yet the Facebook Watch series was canceled after just one season.
Midnight Texas (2017-2018)
Thanks to a long and successful run on HBO, the vampire show True Blood is something that pretty much everyone knows about. What's less known is Midnight Texas, which is based on another series of books written by Charlaine Harris, who penned the stories that True Blood was adapted from.
This is another supernatural story and is set in the titular remote town where everything from vampires to witches to psychics resides. It didn't catch on with audiences the way that the HBO show did but it remains a solid and enjoyable supernatural thriller.
The Fall (2013-2016)
If a show has Gillian Anderson in it, there's a good chance it'll be worth checking out. She has shined in The X-Files, The Crown, Sex Education, and more but one of her more underrated roles came in The Fall, which lasted for three seasons.
The Irish series sees a detective (Anderson) investigate a serial killer (played by Jamie Dornan). What unravels is a gripping story with plenty of twists to keep you hooked if you gave this a binge. Dornan won a handful of awards for his performance, while Anderson was nominated for a few.
Necessary Roughness (2011-2013)
Football is seemingly the perfect sport for the television medium, evidenced by the likes of Friday Night Lights and All-American. Fans of those series would likely welcome a peek at Necessary Roughness, which takes a different approach but is still centered on football.
Instead of centering on the players, the main character is a therapist (Callie Thorne) who gets a job with a pro team. She's often underestimated but steps up and forges intriguing bonds with those around her, while the comedic elements keep this fun.
Covert Affairs (2010-2014)
The 2010s saw a slew of spy shows come to the forefront whether it was Nikita or the final few seasons of Chuck. The USA Network's Covert Affairs may not have been as popular but those who watched it know it was just as good.
Starring Piper Perabo as Annie Walker, the show follows the CIA trainee as she is abruptly thrust into the role of a field agent and must adapt on the fly. From harrowing situations to strong chemistry between the entire cast, this is a hidden gem to get hooked on.