5 Criminally Underrated Psychological Thriller TV Shows You Need To Watch

Streaming catalogs are packed with crime and suspense shows, but the truth is a lot of great ones slip through the cracks – it’s inevitable. Not every series gets talked about, not every show makes it to social media buzz, and because of that, some productions end up buried by the algorithm, even when they deliver top-notch storytelling. That’s where the “forgotten” psychological thrillers come in. You know the kind, with paranoia, tension, and broken characters that grab you right away and make you want to binge just to see how everything unfolds? If you think you’ve seen it all in the genre, chances are you’ve missed some gems.

Here are 5 psychological thriller shows that prove exactly why the genre is still one of the most addictive on TV. Unfortunately, they were either overlooked or seriously underrated, but each one has the kind of story that will leave you kicking yourself for not watching sooner.

5) The Watcher

When it first came out, The Watcher wasn’t exactly what people expected. Coming from the same creator behind American Horror Story and Monster, you’d think the writing would be beyond reproach. But while it may have become a joke for some because it feels more like drama than a psychological crime thriller, the show is far from disposable. It follows a family that moves into a beautiful house in New Jersey, only to start receiving letters from a mysterious, obsessed neighbor. A simple true-crime setup evolves into a story of paranoia, isolation, and growing mistrust with each episode.

Overall, the reception was mixed, mostly because viewers wanted a clear answer – and it never delivers one. But that frustration is exactly what gives the series its weight: it captures the psychological terror of never knowing who’s watching you. The Watcher is a thriller that doesn’t hand the villain to you on a silver platter, which is probably why it’s been underrated. Some people dismissed it for not resolving everything, but the psychological depth is far more compelling than most give it credit for.

4) Castle Rock

No beating around the bush, Castle Rock should have been a bigger hit. Adapted from some of Stephen King’s countless works, it’s executed in a way that’s both creative and attention-grabbing: the show blends references and characters from King’s universe, but instead of just recycling familiar stories, it builds its own narrative. In anthology format, the first season follows lawyer Henry Deaver (André Holland) returning to his hometown, where he comes across a mysterious inmate who sets off a chain of dark secrets in the community. For King fans, it’s a treat; for general audiences, it’s simply one of the most intriguing ideas on TV.

So why is it underrated? A lot of people probably expected direct fan service and were disappointed. But that’s the point: Castle Rock works because it dares to be more atmospheric than obvious. It’s a thriller that plays with memory, guilt, and the weight of the past, using psychological horror to build tension in every scene. It’s definitely not perfect (though it deserves credit as one of the best King-related series), but it demands attention for being brilliantly bold in its approach.

3) The Sinner

At first glance, The Sinner might have seemed like just another police drama with a lot of crime, but it’s way more than that. Another anthology-format show, each season kicks off with an ordinary person committing an inexplicable crime, and Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) tries to figure out what led them there. The first season, for example, hits hard: a woman kills a stranger in public for no apparent reason, and the explanation is far more disturbing than it seems. It’s impossible not to be intrigued (no wonder it caused such a buzz when it first aired).

Over time, though, it started to get overlooked and, as a result, underrated. The reason is simple: it never had flashy marketing, and it doesn’t rely on shocking violence or constant edge-of-your-seat suspense. But that’s exactly what makes it stand out. The Sinner is about the “why,” not the “who did it,” which can make it feel slower at times. It’s one of the few crime shows that consistently explores trauma, memory, and guilt, making it a psychological thriller that genuinely focuses on the human mind. It’s completely worth watching.

2) The Devil’s Hour

Hardly anyone has heard of The Devil’s Hour, and that’s a huge mistake. The show is simply phenomenal, starting with its premise alone: Lucy (Jessica Raine), a woman who wakes up every night at 3:33 AM, haunted by bizarre visions while also getting caught up in a police investigation that seems to spiral out of control. It’s part crime mystery, part psychological study, and part ghost story. It mixes a bit of everything, and on top of that, the writing is tight and smart.

Sure, not everyone vibes with slow-burn pacing, but we’re talking psychological thrillers, which almost always need to take their time. However, that doesn’t make it boring in the slightest. The Devil’s Hour excels because it doesn’t hand answers to you – clues, fragments, and dialogue slowly piece together until it all explodes in the end. It’s the kind of thriller that makes you second-guess everything. The reason it didn’t get hype is just lack of visibility, as plenty of people haven’t even heard of it. But for fans of the genre, this is a must-watch.

1) Ripley

For anyone who’s already seen or read The Talented Mr. Ripley, Ripley might actually be even better. The series is proof that adapting something already known can still strike gold. Tom Ripley (Andrew Scott) is a con artist hired to travel to Italy and convince a millionaire’s son to come back home. On paper, it seems like a simple job, but it quickly spirals into envy, manipulation, and murder. Unlike the Matt Damon movie, this adaptation has plenty of time to dissect the protagonist’s psychology – and it does so brilliantly in every way.

The truth is, Ripley struggled with audiences mostly because many ignored it, thinking it was “just another adaptation” – that’s the only reason it’s underrated. However, to be blunt, it’s one of the sharpest versions of Patricia Highsmith’s work. The pacing isn’t exactly fast, and the choice to film in black and white might seem bold to some, but that’s exactly what gives it the cold, calculated aura the character demands. It’s a masterclass in building psychological suspense without leaning on clichés. Easily one of the best thrillers ever made for TV.

Have you watched any of these shows? Do you think they deserved more attention? Was there one you didn’t like? Let us know in the comments!

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