From 'Decoupling' to 'Tokyo Vice': 10 Underrated TV Shows You Might Miss in 2022

Catch up on some of 2022's most underrated shows before we head into 2023.

There are too many TVs these days. Everyone is in the TV game: from traditional networks like NBC and CBS to premium cable companies like HBO and Showtime, streaming services like Netflix, and even other big names like Amazon and Apple.

Viewers' attention is drawn in so many directions that you're bound to miss a show that would become a cultural phenomenon or an Emmy darling. While shows like Yellowstone and House of the Dragon draw record audience numbers in 2022, there are still plenty of shows that aren't known.

‘American Gigolo’ (2022 - )

Paul Schrader's 1980 neo-noir crime drama American Gigolo is a cult classic from a filmmaker known for writing some of the most complex, morally gray characters ever written. screen. Showtime's adaptation of American Gigolo may not be up to Mr. Schrader's standards, but it's worth checking out thanks to a couple of terrific starring performances.

The play tells the story of a gigolo, Julian Kay (Jon Bernthal), who is released from prison after being exonerated for a murder he did not commit. Throughout the show, he and the Sunday Detective (Rosie O'Donnell) dive into the underworld of the sex trade, Prostitution to unravel Julian's past and find out what happened. It's dark, moody, sexy, and, while unlike the movie, it's worth your time.

‘Let the Right One In’ (2022 - )

2022 is a big year for vampire TV, and Showtime's new take on the Swedish vampire classic Let the Right One In may be the best year yet. Transplanting the Swedish child vampire tale to New York City, this new story is more inspired by the original than a simple adaptation.

The show centers on Mark (Demian Bichir) and Eleanor (Madison Taylor Bates), a father and daughter who move back to New York to keep his vampire daughter safe. When Eleanor befriends their lonely neighbor Isaiah (Ian Foreman), their lives become complicated as Ian's mother Naomi (Anika Noniros) begins to suspect her Something is wrong with the new neighbors. Let The Right One In is a thrilling, scary, and moving story of how far we are willing to go for the ones we love.

‘Dark Winds’ (2022 - )

In recent years, television has been at the forefront of advancing representation in Native American communities thanks to shows such as Reservation Dogs and Yellowstone. dark wind, based on Tony Hillerman's Leaphorn & Chee detective stories are another example of a story that has long been unknown.

Set in the 1970s, the show follows Detectives Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon) and Chee (Kiowa Gordon) as they tackle a shocking double murder that makes them question everything they know. The show has everything you'd expect from a crime thriller, with McLanon delivering one of the most overlooked performances of 2022.

‘Uncoupled’ (2022 - )

Co-created by iconic Sex and the City creator Darren Star, you can't be blamed for thinking that his new show, Uncoupled, bears some resemblance to his past work: Another show about a group of singles in a A show navigating the complex world of sex and dating in New York City, but this time focusing on the lives of gay men.

What sets Uncoupled apart from other shows is its central character, Michael (Neil Patrick Harris). After a sudden and shocking breakup, Michael returns to the dating scene after a long absence, only to find that everything has changed. The specificity of being gay in 2022 creates plenty of tension and comedy, Making Uncoupled one of the best new comedies of the year.

‘I Love That For You’ (2022 - )

Saturday Night Live star Vanessa Beyer has always been underrated as a performer. She can play innocent, sweet and silly characters more than anyone. In the end, Vanessa Bayer made her stand out with her performance in "I Love That For You," which was fantastic.

The show was loosely inspired by Bayer's real-life struggle with childhood cancer and her time on SNL: The Home Shopping Network replaced SNL on the show. She plays Joanna, a woman who dreams of hosting her show on SVN. When the opportunity seems to be being taken away from her, she chooses to gain sympathy by lying about her cancer. It sounds dark, but the show is hilarious! That's thanks in part to its incredible cast, which also includes comedy icons Matt Rogers, Molly Shannon and Jennifer Lewis.

‘Loot’ (2022 - )

From Succession to Triangle of Sadness to Glass Onion, you're bound to turn on your TV and see a show or movie satirizing the idiot rich who run the world. Apple TV+'s Loot is about how a rich man like Elon Musk grows up and learns to use Their privilege to improve the world. Is this fantasy? Possibly, but it's good to believe, and with a cast that includes Maya Rudolph, Joel King Booster, and Ron Funches, it's fun.

Reflecting the reality of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' divorce, which made MacKenzie Scott one of the richest men on earth, Rudolph plays Molly Novak, who becomes independently rich and doesn't know what to do with it. As she got more involved in her philanthropy, she started to go from being a reclusive billionaire to someone who was really into helping.

‘The Big Brunch’ (2022 - )

Part of our cultural obsession with The Great British Baking Show is that most American reality shows are about pitting people against each other out of greed and desperation. Meanwhile, TGBBS are just good people who love their craft and have a good time. Now, America is finally getting its own sweet cooking show in the form of Dan Levy's The Big Brunch on HBO Max.

The Big Brunch brings together chefs from across North America to compete for $300,000 in cash prizes over a series of brunches. reward? Each contestant was chosen because They are dedicated to improving communities through food. The show tries really hard to emphasize the importance of the work these chefs do and how each of them does things in their own unique way. No drama, no fights, and no real negativity. It's just a positive display about great people and the universal power of food.

‘The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey’ (2022 - 2022)

Samuel L Jackson is one of the most popular actors of all time. His incredible screen presence has captivated audiences for decades. The Apple TV+ miniseries "The Last Days of Ptolemy Gray" may be his best performance yet.

Jackson plays the titular Ptolemy Gray, an elderly man facing death who is undergoing therapy to restore his memory and bring forth revelations about his past. His performance is very emotional and complex. It's one of Jackson's rare roles, and one you can't miss.

‘Tokyo Vice’ (2022 - )

We don't see enough Michael Mann movies these days. After making classics like Heat, Thief, Manhunter and Collateral, we've only gotten one Michael Mann movie in the last 10 years. Now, thanks to Tokyo Vice, we're getting eight mini-Michael Mann movies per season. To be fair, he only Mann's visually grim, intense crime-drama style is imbued in "Tokyo Vicente" as the show's executive producer.

Based on the true-life memoir of the same name by journalist Jake Adelstein, the show follows Jake (Ansel Elgort) as he infiltrates Tokyo's criminal underworld in an attempt to prove himself as a reporter. Along the way, he meets detective Hiroto Katagiri (Ken Watanabe), who teaches Jack the unspoken rules of Tokyo and the gang. A little understated after its HBO Max debut, Tokyo Vice is an incredible show that deserves more love.

‘Somebody Somewhere’ (2022 - )

Sometimes you just need a show that makes you feel good about things, even when life gets tough. This is someone somewhere. It finds joy in a world that knocks you down and keeps you beaten.

The show stars Bridget Everett as Sam, who has been unable to fit into the small town she grew up in. She's dealing with the loss of her sister, complicated relationships with her family, and a dead-end job, where she meets Joel (Jeff Shearer), Another drifter introduces her to a community of outsiders who show her that happiness is still possible.