7 Greatest 2010s Shows Nobody Remembers

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Published Feb 18, 2026, 9:39 AM EST

Gabrielle Ulubay is a Music writer at Collider. She has previously been published in The New York Times, Bustle, HuffPost Personal, and other magazines, and wrote at Marie Claire for nearly three years. Her interests have spanned film, politics, women's lifestyle, and, of course, music. She has a BA in history from Northeastern University and a MA in Film and Screen Media from University College Cork, Ireland, which have facilitated her passion for using art and media to analyze the sociopolitical landscape. Born and raised in New Jersey, she has since spent time in Boston, Ireland, Cuba, and Montreal, and currently lives in New York City. You can find highlights of her work at gabrielleulubay.com.

Each decade sees hundreds of television shows crop up on traditional networks and online streaming services alike. The 2010s are no different, boasting legendary, action-heavy blockbusters like Game of Thrones along with still quotable comedies like New Girl and Jane the Virgin. However, like any other era, this decade was also marked by dozens of shows that were beloved by fans at the time but have now faded into relative obscurity.

From network cop and spy shows to soap opera-esque dramas, ahead are the best television obscurities of the 2010s. Some of these shows simply ran their course, while others were canceled relatively early in their run due to changing viewing habits, declines in viewership, or writers’ room changes. Regardless, these shows’ originality should have rendered them iconic, or at least more acutely remembered.

7 'Burn Notice' (2007–2010)

Michael Westen and Fiona walk near storage units in Burn Notice.

Amid a sea of police procedurals, it’s always a delight to find an action show that deviates from the norm. Burn Notice, which aired on the USA Network for seven seasons, focuses on a former spy named Michael Westen (Jeffrey Donovan), who was fired from his intelligence agency and cut off from the only world he ever knew. In the show’s opening credits, Westen explains that he was given a “burn notice,” or a so-called pink slip, that dismissed him because he was supposedly unreliable. This rendered him moneyless, jobless, and with no documented work history. The show picks up with Westen in Miami, where he’s supported by his ex-girlfriend, Fiona Glenanne (Gabrielle Anwar), and his old friend, Sam Axe (Bruce Campbell).

While Westen, Glenanne, and Axe work to discover who “burned” Westen and ruined his life, they also work for private clients, embarking on explosive, espionage-like adventures in each episode. Dark and witty, Burn Notice was hailed for its smart writing and originality. Not only did the show depart from the police procedural norms of the era, but it also took place in a unique location — Miami — rather than more popular urban locations such as New York. Furthermore, the show’s steamy romantic scenes and daring escapades won over countless adventure fans. Indeed, Burn Notice was so popular that it spurred a series of tie-in novels as well as a prequel movie, Burn Notice: The Fall of Sam Axe. The show only ended because its creators felt the story had run its course.

6 'Castle' (2009–2016)

Nathan Fillion's Richard Castle handcuffed to Stana Katic's Kate Beckett on ABC's Castle poster

Castle was one of the most unique police procedurals of the 2010s. It delved into the unconventional partnership between Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) as they solved crimes for the NYPD. In a reversal of traditional gender roles, Beckett is a hardened detective while Castle is a sensitive best-selling novelist who consults with the NYPD because of the expertise he’s built up from writing mystery novels. Unlike shows like Law and Order or CSI, Castle leads with comedy, significantly alleviating the heaviness of each episode’s murders.

Much like Fox’s Bones, Castle also puts the romantic tension between its two leads at the center of the show. In fact, Castle executes its romantic subplot far better than Bones does: Whereas Bones lost much of its grit when its two leads got together, Castle retained its tension and avoided turning the tough, strong Beckett into the sappy, near-unrecognizable character that Brennan (Emily Deschanel) became.

5 'Royal Pains' (2009–2016)

The cast of Royal Pains stands together on a beach with the ocean in the background.

Royal Pains ran on the USA Network for eight seasons, but few viewers seem to remember it today. A lighthearted blend of comedy and drama, the show followed the adventures of Hank Lawson (Mark Feuerstein), a disgraced surgeon who starts practicing concierge medicine in the Hamptons after he loses his job. Throughout his new gig, he finds himself flabbergasted by the sense of entitlement among the wealthy, often tasked with triaging their ridiculous and often amusing issues.

Released in the wake of the Great Recession, Royal Pains was a much-needed product of its time. It provided levity and entertainment to viewers during a string of years that most of the nation found stressful. Furthermore, it poked fun at the ultra-wealthy and their habits — something that many Americans found cathartic at the time.

4 'Scorpion' (2014–2018)

The cast of CBS's Scorpion gathered together

Scorpion, often stylized as , is an action-packed drama series that aired for four seasons on CBS. Loosely based on the story of real-life genius Walter O’Brien (played by Elyes Gabel in the show), it follows a group of geniuses who work closely with the FBI to solve complex emergency situations both in the United States and abroad. From terrorism to diplomatic mishaps to everyday people trapped in deadly situations, the Scorpion team handles it all.

Scorpion was both suspenseful and comedic, garnering fans through its eclectic cast of socially awkward geniuses who form tight bonds with one another. Viewers particularly loved the dynamic between O’Brien and Paige Dineen (played by Katharine McPhee), a non-genius who helps the team better communicate with the outside world. Heartwarming and easy to watch, Scorpion was unfortunately cancelled after its fourth season due to a decline in viewership.

3 'Witches of East End' (2013–2014)

Jenna Dewan and Eric Winter together in Witches of East End

Sexy, dramatic, and packed with powerful female leads, Lifetime’s Witches of East End would have been wildly popular among today’s Bridgerton and Agatha All Along fans. The series, which is based on Melissa de la Cruz’s novel of the same name, centers on a single mother of two daughters, all of whom are witches with powerful — and at times frightening — magical powers. Its mood and premise are reminiscent of the popular WB show Charmed, which aired in the 1990s and early 2000s, as well as Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman’s 1998 hit Practical Magic.

However, Witches of East End is far darker and campier than its fellow witchy media. It’s steeped in Norse mythology and delves into reincarnation, immortality, and possession. These elements are offset by copious amounts of sex, leading reviewers to compare the show to a soap opera. After a sharp dip in ratings, it was canceled after only two seasons.

2 'The Mentalist' (2008–2015)

Simon Baker as Patrick Jane smiling in The Mentalist.

Considering the popularity of serial killer documentaries, movies, and television shows today, it’s surprising that CBS’s The Mentalist hasn’t made a comeback. The series centers around Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), a popular con artist who spent years posing as a psychic medium in order to make money from vulnerable individuals. In reality, Baker was simply a highly observant, charming grifter. Eventually, he's targeted by a serial killer, Red John (played by Xander Berkeley and voiced by Simon Baker), whom he helped the police profile. The killer murdered his wife and young daughter.

In the wake of this unbelievable trauma, Jane begins working as a consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI). His unusual tactics spur an entertaining cat-and-mouse dynamic between him and senior CBI agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney). Thus, The Mentalist was a perfect balance of dark and lighthearted elements, often making its emotionally heavy scenes more palatable, with tasteful juxtapositions of comedy and wholesome friendship.

However, The Mentalist lost its steam in its last two seasons. Once the team caught Red John, the heart and grand mystery of the show was lost, leaving its plot relatively aimless. Furthermore, the introductions of so many new characters detracted from the show’s core relationships. It was canceled due to low viewership in 2015.

1 'Leverage' (2008–2012)

Gina Bellman, Aldis Hodge, Timothy Hutton, Christian Kane, Beth Riesgraf pose for the show "Leverage"

Leverage was one of the most entertaining shows of the 2010s. It had heart, romance, comedy, and endless adventure, centering on a group of former criminals who embark on complicated heists in order to right the wrongs that powerful, wealthy individuals commit against everyday people. A cross between The A-Team and the legend of Robin Hood, the team radiated a sense of goodness and hope without detracting from the badass personas of its characters.

Leverage was enjoyable for several reasons. First, its characters demonstrated tremendous personal growth both individually and as a group, gradually embracing each other as a family after initially insisting they were lone wolves. Secondly, its heists were satisfying, action-packed, and even funny — perfect for fans of films like The Italian Job, Ocean’s Eleven, and Snatch. Finally, Leverage was unbelievably funny, yielding quotable one-liners with every episode. It’s no wonder the show was revived in 2021 as Leverage: Redemption (though that endeavor was short-lived, having been canceled after only three seasons).