Tom Hanks rarely plays morally ambiguous characters; you can probably count on one hand the number of times he’s played an outright antagonist. However, one of Hanks’ most interesting performances came at a time when he was at the peak of his success. He could have chosen to make the kind of movies that audiences were accustomed to seeing him in, but he chose to star in the sophomore feature of a breakout director, where he played a Mafia fixer who goes on a revenge mission against his boss, with his son tagging along for the dangerous ride. The movie was released in 2002, the same year as the far more accessible crime caper Catch Me if You Can, directed by Steven Spielberg and headlined by Leonardo DiCaprio.

Hanks was coming off two highly acclaimed performances in Saving Private Ryan and Cast Away. A decade had passed since he won two back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump, and was famously snubbed for his work in Apollo 13. Despite his prior recognition for Saving Private Ryan and Cast Away, Hanks did not receive an Oscar nomination for the 2002 movie. He wouldn’t receive another Oscar nomination until 2020’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood. However, his 2002 movie has emerged as a cult classic in the last two decades, and his performance in it is now regarded as one of his finest.

Here’s How Long You Have Left To Watch Tom Hanks’ Crime Drama on Peacock

We’re talking, of course, about Road to Perdition. Directed by Sam Mendes as his follow-up to American Beauty, Road to Perdition remains one of the most unlikely comic book adaptations of all time. It also featured Paul Newman, Stanley Tucci, Daniel Craig, Jude Law, and Jennifer Jason Leigh. The film grossed more than $180 million worldwide against a reported budget of $80 million, with praise going to the performances, the cinematography by the late Conrad L. Hall, and the original score by Thomas Newman. Road to Perdition now holds a “Certified Fresh” 82% score on the aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, where the critics’ consensus reads, “Somber, stately, and beautifully mounted, Sam Mendes’ Road to Perdition is a well-crafted mob movie that explores the ties between fathers and sons.” The movie is currently streaming on Peacock in the United States, but it will be removed from the platform on May 1. Stay tuned to Collider for more updates.

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Release Date

July 12, 2002

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Runtime

117 minutes

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David Self

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Looks like things might not be as tense as they once seemed. Social media is buzzing after NoCap surprised fans by bringing Summyah Marie onstage during a recent college performance, leaving many questioning where the two currently stand.

Related: Whew! NoCap Tweets Trippie Redd Over Rumors Involving Streamer Summyah Marie & She Claps Back (PHOTOS)

NoCap Serenades Summyah Marie Onstage During TSU Performance

On Friday, April 24, streamer and comedian Bendadon went live while attending NoCap’s performance at Texas Southern University’s Spring Fest. During the set, NoCap shocked both the crowd and viewers online with a surprise moment.

Mid-performance, NoCap briefly walked offstage before returning with streamer Summyah Marie by his side. As she took center stage, he began serenading her while performing one of his songs, with Summyah singing along.

Clips from the moment quickly circulated across social media, with Bendadon later adding his own reaction online, writing, “Aaaaahhhhhhh True Love Wins 😩🥹❤️‍🩹.”

A Look Back At NoCap & Summyah Marie’s Messy Online History And Viral Back-And-Forths

NoCap and Summyah Marie have had a rocky relationship in the public eye. The internet first began paying attention to their dynamic after a viral moment involving Summyah and a member of Floyd Mayweather’s entourage. At the time, Summyah mentioned she had a boyfriend, sparking speculation.

Shortly after, NoCap took to social media, posting, “Stay loyal to the game, not me,” which led to a back-and-forth between the two online.

In another instance, Summyah was later spotted on a trip to Turks and Caicos with Trippie Redd, prompting NoCap to respond on X  with a pointed message directed at the rapper, writing “Don’t act funny ’cause you with dat h** n****, still better be on that album.” Summyah quickly clapped back, referencing his earlier comment by writing, “Be loyal to the game f* n****.”

Social Media Reacts

Social media users reacted to Summyah Marie joining NoCap on stage in TSR Teens’ comment section.

Instagram user @takiyahhowardd wrote, “I was gone judge but den I realized I do the same shi so nvm 😭”

Another Instagram user @sbzly__ wrote, “oh no, the 2nd hand embarrassment is killin me thru the screen rn”

While Instagram user @jonellechristopher wrote, “Aww they love each other I think that’s cute. Tthey young no kids they can play around a lil bit”

Instagram user @s.sneakyyy wrote, “Ben like the messy big cousin 😭😂😂😂”

Another Instagram user, @shalexuz, wrote, “too many birds on the ground not enough in the sky”

While Instagram user @theywannabekaay2 wrote, “I truly think men get a kick out of embarassing women and the women take them back 😭”

Instagram user @baddielishha wrote, “Summyah girl he was talking about you bad but ima shut up 🤣”

Another Instagram user @heregirl3 wrote, “He way to disrespectful for her to still be lingering around”

While Instagram user @heregirl3 wrote, “Wdc we can’t help her she don’t wanna be saved”

Related: Let’s Be Clear! Summyah Marie Sets The Record Straight After Rumors Claim She’s On Vacation With London On Da Track (VIDEOS)

Social media users are in shock after learning iconic actress Helena Bonham departed season 4 of HBO Max’s popular series “The White Lotus.” The news of Bonham’s departure comes just days after the network began production on the season in France. In a statement, a company spokesperson confirmed Bonham’s exit and shared additional details about the character she was set to play.

Bonham, who had roles in “Harry Potter” and “Alice in Wonderland,” departed the upcoming season of “White Lotus,” according to various outlets, including PEOPLE and Deadline.

“With filming just underway on Season 4 of The White Lotus, it had become apparent that the character which Mike White created for Helena Bonham Carter did not align once on set,” a spokesperson said about the casting change. “The role has subsequently been rethought, is being rewritten and will be recast in the coming weeks.”

The spokesperson went on to praise Bonham’s talent while revealing that the show’s creator, Mike White, and producers hope to work with the 59-year-old in the future.

Helena Bonham Exits ‘White Lotus’ Days After Filming For The Series Began In France

“The White Lotus” received a fourth season renewal in January 2025, according to E! News. Production on the upcoming batch of episodes began in early April 2026.

While details about the season have been kept private, it was confirmed that the new iteration of the show would be filmed in France at the Château de la Messardière in Saint-Tropez, a Victorian-style palace that’s been transformed into a luxury hotel.

Although Bonham has departed the series, season 4 of “White Lotus” still features an all-star cast, including Alexander Ludwig and former Disney star AJ Michalka. Joining them are Chris Messina, Marissa Long, Steve Coogan, Caleb Jonte Edwards, Chloe Bennet, Max Greenfield, Charlie Hall, Kumail Nanjiani, and Jarrad Paul.

AJ Michalka Opens Up About Auditioning Process

Michalka is no stranger to being in front of the camera. The “Potential Breakup Song” singer starred in the Disney film “Cow Belles” and the ABC sitcom “Schooled.” In an interview on the “Just Trish” podcast, Michalka opened up about how she landed the role in season 4 of the Emmy-winning series.

During the interview, Michalka revealed she had actually auditioned for a role in the show’s third season but didn’t get it. However, she must’ve left a lasting impression on creator Mike White, because the “Survivor” alum asked her to return a year later.

“So, I taped. We had a day off in Marfa, Texas, my drummer played a character in the show, Aly played a character in the show, my brother-in-law—her husband—filmed it. And we just did it in a hotel room and we sent it off,” Michalka shared.

After sending in her tape, Michalka said she had to wait a bit to hear back from HBO; however, when she did, it all made sense. “I think Mike just knows, as soon as he sees it,” Michalka said about the casting process. “He’s like this person is right. He’s so smart.”

Michalka Hasn’t Been On A Set In Three Years

Elsewhere during the interview, Michalka recalled the “really fun and positive” experience she had booking the gig.

“As an actor, you kind of do this all the time, and I just kind of got asked while we were on tour, ‘Would you tape for this?’ and I was like, ‘Absolutely,’” she said.

Channeling the character might be a challenge for Michalka at first, given she hasn’t been on a set in three years. “Like we’ve been focused on music so it’s like to have the opportunity and for that to come back into my life, I was like, this is a really beautiful moment, like I’m super, super grateful,” she said.

Although social media users are looking forward to the new season, some are disappointed after learning of the recent cast changes. “Dang, I was most excited for [Bonham],” someone wrote on Reddit.

“All I hope is that it was purely because she didn’t fit the theme or direction of the show and not actually some sort of behind the scenes drama,” someone else posted.

“This is disappointing,” a third shared. “She was a pretty impressive get for the series, maybe the biggest name that’s been on the show. I want to know what really happened, though.”

Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker might be divorced, but that’s not stopping them from clapping back at each other on social media. Kandi dropped a promo video for her one-woman show, ‘I Do, I Did, I’m…DONE,’ and brought in a very special guest — her mother, Joyce Jones. During the clip, Mama Joyce had a flashback to a past episode of ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ in which she had words with Todd. Chile, Todd peeped the video and wasted no time calling Kandi out, but she came right back with a little shade of her own.

RELATED: Todd Tucker Sparks Reactions After Sharing Message For Kandi Burruss Ahead Of Her One-Woman Show (PHOTO) 

Todd Tucker Calls Kandi Burruss Out Over Promo Video

Okay, so BOOM! Kandi Burruss recently dropped a video on Instagram to promote her one-woman show. The clip shows Mama Joyce in the kitchen, singing the lyrics to ‘Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.’ Right in the middle of it, Mama Joyce flashes back to an old ‘RHOA’ moment where she told Todd Tucker that there’s “no river high enough, no ocean deep enough, and ain’t no desert hot enough to keep her off his a**.”

Kandi doesn’t appear in the promo, but she can be heard in the background trying to get her mom’s attention. After her attempt, Joyce finally snaps back to reality. Todd ended up peeping the clip, saw himself in it, and quickly called out Kandi for using him to promote her show. He jumped right in her comment section and wrote, “They will use me until I’m all used up! and I was suppose to be the opportunist! Damn get your tickets!”

But Kandi didn’t let it slide. She responded to him, saying, “@todd167 please stop playing victim… wrong road…wrong road.” 

Todd Accuses Kandi Of Using Their Marriage For Clout

Todd didn’t stop there. He spun the block in Kandi’s comment section again. He responded to her claims that he’s playing victim and accused her of using their relationship for clout.

“I’m not playing victim we exploited our relationship on the way in so we might as well do it on the way out. Get yall tickets!” Todd wrote.

The Roomies Seemingly Side With Todd

The Shade Room’s Instagram comment section was flooded with reactions after the screenshot of Kandi Burruss and Todd Tucker’s responses went up. Plenty of folks agreed with Todd, saying if Kandi says she’s done, she needs to really mean it.

Instagram user @callherkyak wrote, “I’m on Todd side like why keep mentioning him.” 

Instagram user @bella.sylk wrote, “If Todd made a video about them Kandi would be crying with a mouth full of teeth.” 

While Instagram user @sheenadarae wrote, “He’s right though. Tables turned, he would be labeled an opportunist.” 

Then, Instagram user @tstubb1717 wrote, “I love you Kandi, but Todd is right on this one.” 

Another Instagram user @alexes_ciarra wrote, “Todd said this was not the scheme he set up 😂” 

Instagram user @lawyerbae206 wrote, “If y’all are done, be done!! SMH!! 😩 With all due respect, I never liked that scene. It was mean and disrespectful!” 

Then, another Instagram user @kinda.sorta.keetha wrote, “Realistically, Todd ain’t really said nothing too wrong here 🥴” 

Finally, Instagram user @mrsjmarielp wrote, “He’s not wrong…you can’t poke a person even if they were wrong. Just leave him alone.” 

Todd Previously Sparked Reactions With Message For Kandi

This isn’t the first time Kandi and Todd have addressed each other online. In March, Todd raised eyebrows when he made a lil’ jokey joke while promoting Kandi’s one-woman show. He slid into his ex-wife’s comment section, writing, “Yo a** aint done lol just kidding! Go Support your girl Kandi!!!! @citywineryatl on April 27th.” Kandi didn’t respond, but plenty of fans still questioned his intentions.

RELATED: Todd Tucker Has Social Media Cuttin’ UP With Reactions After Unveiling Fresh NEW Look (VIDEOS) 

Sydney Sweeney had a great view of singer-songwriter Ella Langley’s set at Stagecoach 2026 courtesy of her boyfriend, Scooter Braun.

Viral footage showed the Euphoria star, 28, sitting on Braun’s shoulders and rocking out while Langley performed at the Indio, California, country music festival on Friday, April 24. Sweeney sang along to the music and even smiled at the person filming the now-viral moment.

Sweeney was also seen taking in BigXthaPlug’s set at Stagecoach’s Mustang Stage on Friday, where she interacted with fans and posed for photos from the front row, per USA Today.

Us Weekly has reached out to representatives for Sweeney and Braun for comment.

The couple were first spotted together last June when they both attended Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s star-studded wedding in Venice, Italy. A source exclusively told Us in June 2025 that Sweeney was “not exclusively dating anyone right now but is having fun with Scooter.”

“It is not serious,” the insider added. “[She is] dating around and in her single era without having any pressure.”

The source indicated that Braun, 44, was “very into” Sweeney and had “been trying to see her in between her work commitments.” (Braun was previously married to health activist Yael Cohen Braun from 2014 to 2022. They share three children: sons Jagger and Levi, 11 and 9 respectively, and daughter Hart, 7.)

The romance seemed to heat up last autumn, when they attended a Halloween event together and Braun attended Sweeney’s space-themed birthday party.

Us exclusively learned in October that the new romance was completely different for Sweeney than anything she’d experienced with past partners.

“They are dating and it has become more serious. Still not putting a label on it, but Sydney has been having a lot of fun with Scooter,” an insider told Us. “It has been low-pressure for both of them and has been a different relationship for Sydney. Scooter has introduced her to new perspectives, especially when it comes to business.”

Earlier this month, Braun packed on the PDA with Sweeney when he accompanied her to the Euphoria season 3 world premiere at Hollywood’s historic TCL Chinese Theatre. Us reported at the time that Sweeney and the music manager had progressed to a “committed” relationship.

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“They are the real deal, and their relationship has become very serious,” a source told Us. “People around them thought that this would be just a fling, but they are committed.”

Related: Is Sydney Sweeney Dating Scooter Braun? What We Know So Far

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Sydney Sweeney and Scooter Braun sparked dating rumors after spending time together in Venice. Sweeney and Braun were first linked in September 2025 after a video of the pair attending Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez’s lavish Italy wedding that June started circulating online. At the time, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that Sweeney is […]

The insider added, “[Sweeney] really appreciates Scooter’s support with all her projects. [She] loves hearing his feedback. … [He is] emotionally invested in her career and wants the best for her.”

They finally went Instagram official on April 15, when Braun joked that he was a “lucky bastard” in the caption of a black-and-white photo of the two together.

Some shows arrive with a lot of noise, and some just sneak up on people until suddenly everybody’s talking about them at weird hours of the night. DTF St. Louis feels very much like the second kind. HBO Max’s darkly comic crime thriller has become one of the platform’s most-watched current shows, and it’s doing it with the kind of offbeat hook that makes viewers curious enough to keep going.

DTF St. Louis is sitting at No. 5 on HBO Max’s worldwide chart, and the day before it was even higher at No. 4. Its FlixPatrol title page also shows a strong overall run on the service, with the series spending weeks in the Top 10 and posting over 5,000 HBO Max points in its recent performance window.

That kind of momentum makes sense for a show that mixes mystery, dysfunction, and a little bit of pure “what on earth is going on here?” energy. It’s weird enough to feel different, but structured enough to stay bingeable, which is basically the perfect combo for late-night streaming. HBO Max has had no shortage of big-ticket titles lately, but DTF St. Louis has carved out its own lane by being messy, intriguing, and just unpredictable enough that stopping after one episode feels unlikely. At this point, it’s not just a niche favorite. It’s a real chart player.

Is ‘DTF St. Louis’ Worth Watching?

Collider’s review stated that DTF St. Louis is at its best when it leans into its nasty, awkward, dark-comedy side. The series follows a messy affair, a suburban unraveling, and a murder that throws everything into chaos. On paper, that sounds like a strong setup, and for a lot of the show, it is. Aidan Kelley felt that the series kept switching between a sharp dark comedy and a more standard murder mystery, and the second part is much less interesting.

It’s a shame that the show’s murder-mystery elements slip too far into by-the-numbers territory, as the large bulk of DTF St. Louis is another sharply written and consistently engaging miniseries that HBO should be proud of. It has all the risky, dark humor that the network has become so famous for, as well as three phenomenal performances, and both of those elements alone are enough to recommend the show as the next weekly binge for fans of awkward, appropriately mean-spirited humor like Curb Your Enthusiasm and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It may have its quirks, but DTF St. Louis is still worth swiping right on.

DTF St. Louis is streaming now.

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Release Date

2026 – 2026-00-00

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HBO

Showrunner

Steve Conrad

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Directors

Steven Conrad

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Writers

Steven Conrad

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Christian clothing brand “God Is Dope,” founded by Sharod Simpson, is under fire, allegedly for taking payments and ignoring customers. Now, consumers are speaking out, explaining that after placing their order, they received no tracking information, and got zero response from customer service.

So what’s really going on?

The Shade Room’s Justin Carter is looking into things on ‘TSR Investigates.’

Christian Clothing Brand “God Is Dope” Comes Under Fire

According to Carter, earlier this month, he received a message from customer Sharon West-Smith alleging that she had placed an order in February that was never received. This, allegedly, despite sending countless emails and voicemails.

“I have to say I’ve probably spent over $3,500 with them,” she told Carter. “…bought all of their collections. I love their brand, first of all… I’ve been ordering from them forever. But lately, I don’t know what’s going on.”

Per West-Smith, she followed up — and even mailed the company a letter. With no responses, she then began requesting refunds. Then, at some point, West-Smith located Sharod Simpson’s personal Instagram account. She shared her grievance and got a reply, but still no help.

Consumers Speak Out

At that point, Carter did a deep dive on the brand’s social media presence, locating comments that appear to have been ignored. Another customer who was highlighted: Catrillia Harris. Furthermore, Harris explained to Carter that it seemed like the more she ordered from the brand, the more it became unreliable. And eventually, she began having to dispute the transactions with her bank.

Scroll up to watch as consumers share their experiences and what they believe is happening with the “God Is Dope” company. Additionally, Carter speaks on an old clip of Sharod Simpson opening up about his company and its shortcomings. Lastly, Carter shares how the founder replied when TSR reached out to him for more answers.

RELATED: Chick-fil-A Staff Go Viral — Then Lose Their Jobs | TSR Investigates

In recent years, many miniseries have earned awards and acclaim, hailed by audiences and critics alike as some of the best shows of all time. A few of them, like Netflix’s Emmy-winning drama Adolescence, have even gone on to have a significant social impact, sparking important conversations about society’s most pressing issues. But as much as we love these popular shows, there are also a ton of great miniseries that haven’t received the attention they deserve.

Some of these are niche gems that flew under the radar, and others are acclaimed hits that were wildly popular at one point but have since faded from the limelight. But even though they may be underrated, these shows still have what it takes to truly enthrall an audience. Read on to discover our handpicked selection of underrated miniseries that you’ll wish you had watched sooner.

1

‘The Underground Railroad’ (2021)

Image via Amazon

Based on Colson Whitehead’s eponymous 2016 novel, The Underground Railroad is a magical realist historical fantasy drama created and directed by Barry Jenkins. Set in the 1800s, the series reimagines the real-life Underground Railroad, the network of abolitionists who helped transport escaped slaves from the South to the North, as an actual subterranean train to freedom. Thuso Mbedu, Chase W. Dillon, Joel Edgerton, Fred Hechinger, Peter Mullan, Mychal-Bella Bowman, and Sheila Atim star in lead roles, with recurring characters played by Aaron Pierre, William Jackson Harper, Lily Rabe, Chukwudi Iwuji, Will Poulter, and more.

A mesmerizing series adapted from a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Underground Railroad was universally acclaimed when it premiered in May 2021. With stellar performances and an unflinching narrative, it’s a television masterpiece that’s equal parts beautiful, horrifying, and painfully human. The series earned several accolades, including seven Emmy nominations, a BAFTA, a Peabody Award, and the Golden Globe for Best Limited or Anthology Series or Television Film, but it’s still sorely underwatched these days.

2

‘Small Axe’ (2020)

Image via Amazon Prime Video

A British anthology series that includes five films set across three decades, Small Axe was created and directed by Steve McQueen and explores the history of West Indian immigrants in London. Each of the films follows a separate story set against the backdrop of real-life events that happened in the 1960s, ’70s, and ’80s. The anthology is brought to life by an ensemble cast that includes the likes of Letitia Wright, John Boyega, Malachi Kirby, Micheal Ward, Shaun Parkes, and more.

Small Axe premiered three of its episodes at the 2020 New York Film Festival and screened two at the Cannes Film Festival the same year, earning critical acclaim from both. A powerful, educational, and unapologetic series that movingly chronicles the political and personal experiences of London’s West Indian community, all five of these films have earned universal acclaim, as has the anthology as a whole. Though it isn’t quite as well-known internationally as it ought to be, the series garnered several accolades, including a Golden Globe, a Peabody Award, and six BAFTAs out of 15 nominations.

3

‘Devs’ (2020)

Image via Hulu

Created, written, and directed by Alex Garland, Devs is a sci-fi thriller miniseries that revolves around a ground-breaking quantum computing project and its enigmatic founder, Forest (Nick Offerman). Sonoya Mizuno stars as Lily Chan, a software engineer working at Forest’s tech company, who is pulled into a complex and dangerous investigation after the mysterious death of her boyfriend. The show also features Jin Ha, Zach Grenier, Stephen McKinley Henderson, Cailee Spaeny, Karl Glusman, and Alison Pill in lead roles.

A truly mindboggling work of science fiction, Devs is a fascinating Silicon Valley thriller that explores themes of free will vs. determinism and the very nature of reality. A highly imaginative sci-fi drama, the series received four Emmy nominations and earned praise from critics and viewers alike for its cinematography, performances, writing, and direction. It’s a rather dense and complicated story, which may be why it hasn’t quite gotten the attention it deserves from wider audiences, but it’s also one of the best sci-fi shows of all time.

4

‘One Day’ (2024)

Image via Netflix

A romantic drama limited series, One Day is an adaptation of the eponymous 2009 novel by David Nicholls, previously adapted as a 2011 film. The series version stars Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall as Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew, two people from vastly different backgrounds who meet shortly after graduating from the University of Edinburgh and continue to catch up with each other on the same day every year for the next 20 years. The show also features Eleanor Tomlinson, Essie Davis, Tim McInnerny, Toby Stephens, and more in supporting roles.

Released on Netflix just in time for Valentine’s Day 2024, One Day was a huge hit with streaming audiences at the time, but it’s far more than just an easily forgotten seasonal series. A sweeping, romantic story exploring intricate personal dynamics over a lifetime, the show is a grounded and heartwarming journey that’s enjoyable no matter the time of year. Though still a bit underrated outside of genre circles, One Day has earned praise from critics and fans for its writing, direction, and performances, especially those of its two leads.

5

‘The English’ (2022)

Image via Prime Video

Written and directed by Hugo Blick, The English is a revisionist Western miniseries starring Emily Blunt and Chaske Spencer. The show follows Englishwoman Lady Cornelia Locke (Blunt), who arrives in the American West in 1890 seeking revenge on the man responsible for her son’s death, finding an unlikely ally in ex-cavalry scout Eli Whipp (Spencer), a member of the Pawnee Nation. Rafe Spall, Tom Hughes, Stephen Rea, Valerie Pachner, Toby Jones, Ciaran Hinds, and more appear in recurring roles.

Easily one of the most underrated Western shows of recent years, The English may not have received the mainstream attention it deserves, but it did earn highly positive reviews from critics at the time of its release. A visually stunning drama anchored by the highly compelling performances of its lead stars, it’s an ambitious Western series that’s a delight to watch even when its plot runs into the occasional rough patch. The show garnered nominations for five British Academy Television Awards, winning the award for Best Costume Design, and Emily Blunt’s performance earned her a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series.

6

‘A Very English Scandal’ (2018)

A dramatized exploration of the real-life 1970s Thorpe scandal, A Very English Scandal is a British historical drama miniseries created and written by Russell T. Davies and based on John Preston‘s eponymous 2016 book. Hugh Grant stars as Liberal Party MP Jeremy Thorpe, who tries to get his former lover Norman (Ben Whishaw) killed for the sake of his political career. The show also stars Alex Jennings, Patricia Hodge, Monica Dolan, Paul Hilton, Jonathan Hyde, and more in key roles.

Though it isn’t quite as widely discussed as it used to be, A Very English Scandal was quite popular when it premiered in 2018, earning highly positive reviews from critics and viewers. The show was awarded four BAFTAs out of 12 nominations, and its success led to the production of two more based-on-truth miniseries, A Very British Scandal (2021) and A Very Royal Scandal (2024). Anchored by its stellar performances, A Very English Scandal is a thoroughly engaging watch that may not be all that historically accurate but is still very entertaining in its exploration of sex, ambition, politics, and systemic homophobia.

7

‘The Little Drummer Girl’ (2018)

Based on John le Carré’s eponymous 1983 novel, The Little Drummer Girl is a British spy drama miniseries directed by Park Chan-wook. Set in 1979, the show stars Florence Pugh as a young aspiring actress who is recruited by Mossad agents to infiltrate a Palestinian group. Michael Shannon and Alexander Skarsgård co-star as the Israeli agents running the operation, with Michael Moshonov, Simona Brown, Clare Holman, and Charles Dance in other lead roles.

A gripping geopolitical thriller that presents a nuanced and layered picture of the Israel-Palestine conflict, The Little Drummer Girl is a show that has taken on greater significance in light of the present political climate. A masterpiece of writing, direction, acting, and production, this slow-burning spy drama keeps things suspenseful while exploring the lasting impact of British foreign policy in the Middle East and the morally ambiguous motivations of characters on both sides. The series earned near-universal acclaim when it first premiered in 2018, and though it’s not as talked-about these days, it’s easily one of the most absorbing John le Carré adaptations ever made.

8

‘Lovecraft Country’ (2020)

Inspired by Matt Ruff’s eponymous 2016 novel, Lovecraft Country is a horror drama series developed by Misha Green that serves as a continuation of the book rather than a direct adaptation. Jonathan Majors stars as Atticus Black, a young Black man traveling across 1950s America in search of his missing father with his friend Letitia (Jurnee Smollett) and his uncle George (Courtney B. Vance). In the process, they face both the human horrors of racism and segregation and terrifying monsters pulled from the pages of H.P. Lovecraft.

Lovecraft Country technically wasn’t planned as a miniseries, but it was sadly canceled after just one season. That one season, however, was highly acclaimed by critics and viewers, earning praise for its performances, writing, and historical narrative. Balancing social drama with riveting horror, this thrilling reimagining of Lovecraftian lore earned numerous accolades, including 18 Emmy nominations, and the series was named one of the top 10 TV shows of 2020 by the American Film Institute.

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Lovecraft Country

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Release Date

2020 – 2020-00-00

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Network

HBO

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Directors

Daniel Sackheim, Cheryl Dunye

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