Gen V and the 7 most underrated TV shows of 2023

There's no doubt 2023 has been an incredible year for TV, but there are always more than a few shows that slip through the cracks. We don't have time to watch everything, of course. As the year winds down, we wanted to make sure our readers at Bam Smack Pow don't miss anything. We shared the list of the year's eight most underrated TV shows of 2023.

Let's get the list started with one of the best Prime Video shows of the year and a spinoff of The Boys, Gen V.

Gen V

It doesn't get much better than Gen V. The spinoff of The Boys premiered on Prime Video in September, and I would say it was a pretty under-the-radar release. Yes, you had a lot of The Boys fans tuning in, but it's so hard to get eyes on a new show in 2023, but this was clearly one of the best. I think it's going to be so much more popular by the time Gen V season 2 premieres in late 2024 or 2025. We're still trying to find out when production begins.

Gen V is set in the world of The Boys, and it follows a group young Supes at the prestigous Godolkin University where they try to further their abilities. Things aren't as they seem, though. As always, there's something much darker just below the surface. It also ties directly into season 4 of The Boys, which drops in 2024. Jaz Sinclair, Chance Perdomo, Lizze Broadway, Asa Germann, Maddie Phillips, London Thor, and Derek Luh star in Gen V.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

Superman and Lois

Superman and Lois is easily one of the most underrated shows of the year. It's such a bummer what's happened to The CW and the cancellation/end of the Arrowverse and the DC shows. Superman and Lois is basically the last show standing. It's been renewed for a fourth and final season on The CW, which is slated to premiere in 2024. It's time to catch up on Superman and Lois before the final season premieres.

Tyler Hoechlin and Bitsie Tulloch stars as Clark Kent, also known as Superman, and Lois Lane. The third season of the series was released in the first half of 2023, and unfortunately, the fourth season has been delayed by the Hollywood strikes. Hopefully, we'll see Superman and Lois season 4 sooner than later.

Where to watch: The CW / MAX

Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Percy Jackson and the Olympians just premiered on Disney+ on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. It's one of the newest shows on the list, and it's so new that maybe there's just a little delay in this show becoming super popular. It's easily the best kids show of the year, possibly of all time.

Okay, that's a little dramatic, but Percy Jackson is really good. It's based on Rick Riordan's best-selling book series of the same name, and it tells the story of a young demigod on a quest to find Zeus's missing Master Bolt. Walker Scobell, Leah Jeffries, and Aryan Simhadri star in the Disney+ series. New episodes are dropping weekly until the season finale on Jan. 30, 2024.

Where to watch: Disney+

Criminal Code

If you're into crime, heist, and detective shows, Criminal Code is absolutely the show for you to watch on Netflix. The Brazilian Netflix original series premiered in November. It's popular around the world, but the series is not super popular in the United States yet. It's already renewed for season 2, though, so you need to catch up as soon as possible.

The series tells the story of a group of criminals robbing banks and more in very aggressive ways without leaving much behind for investigators to follow. After the group kills a detective's partner during an escape from prison, a detective and his team try to track down the group. There are so many twists and turns in the first season. If you're up for a thrill ride, Criminal Code is the show for you.

Where to watch: Netflix

Gotham Knights

Like Superman and Lois, Gotham Knights was one of the final DC shows in the works on The CW. Unfortunately, this show has come to an end. The CW canceled Gotham Knights after one season. The show, which stars Oscar Morgan, Olivia Rose Keegan, and Navia Robinson, got off to a slow start, but it finished the first season quite strong. It's just a bummer that this is the end.

Still, if you missed Gotham Knights, you should definitely watch the series on The CW and MAX. The series tells the story of Turner Hayes, who is framed for Batman's murder. Hayes, with the help of friends and others, tries to prove his innocence, but this story is much deeper than that.

Where to watch: The CW/MAX

Outer Banks

If you're into action and adventure shows with teen drama and angst, Outer Banks is absolutely the show for you, and it's so underrated. It should be one of the most popular shows on Netflix. Even though it's been three years and three seasons of Outer Banks, people are still sleeping on the most fun and dramatic show on Netflix.

Chase Stokes, Madelyn Cline, Rudy Pankow, Madison Bailey, Jonathan Davis, Carlacia Grant, and Drew Starkey star in the hit Netflix series about the Pogues, a group of friends who in the treasure hunt of their lives in the Outer Banks. The third season premiered on Netflix in February, and even before the season premiered, Netflix renewed the show for a fourth season, which is slated to premiere in 2024.

Where to watch: Netflix

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters is one of the best adventure shows of the year, and it's not getting nearly the love it deserves. The series premiered on Apple TV+ in November with new episodes dropping weekly. Like Percy Jackson and the Olympians, fans might not have had a chance to catch up on this series. It's also an Apple series, which means it's just not going to have the reach that a Netflix, Hulu/Disney+, or Prime Video series

The series features a great cast, including Anna Sawai, Kiersey Clemons, Ren Watabe, Mari Yamamoto, Anders Holm, Joe Tippett, Elisa Lasowski, Wyatt Russell, and Kurt Russell. Monarch Legacy of Monsters tells the story of a group of people who watch and track monster activity following Godzilla's return.

Where to watch: Apple TV+

One Piece

One Piece premiered on Netflix in August, and it was one of the more popular shows of the year. Still, One Piece is underrated in a lot of ways. The show hasn't caught on mainstream in the US despite how popular the manga by Eiichiro Oda and the anime of the same name are. Luckily, One Piece is renewed for season 2, and Netflix seems very invested in making sure this show is set up for success on Netflix.

The series tells the story of Luffy D. Money (Iñaki Godoy) and the ragtag team of Straw Hat Pirates, who band together to try to find the legendary One Piece, the treasure of Captain Gold Roger, the King of the Pirates. Unfortunately, we won't see One Piece season 2 on Netflix in 2024, but it will be released in 2025

Where to watch: Netflix