Keeping up with shows in the streaming age is an endless endeavor. No matter how many weekends you spend bingeing the latest content, there will always be something else to catch up on. But now that we’re coming up on the , it’s time to look back at what slipped through the cracks and is worth watching over the holidays before 2026 brings a fresh wave of TV hits.
From experimental animation to international thrillers, here are all the television programs you might have overlooked during the past year, and it’s still possible to stream them now.
7. Dimension 20: Cloudward, Ho!
The independent comedy platform Dropout likely offers the best bang for your buck among streaming services: it costs significantly less than Netflix, yet I tune in just as frequently. The year 2025 introduced a new installment of its popular series featuring improv comedians playing Dungeons and Dragons. In this season, the performers embark on a steampunk adventure featuring sky-bound pirates, uncharted territories, a quest for family, and plenty of aiolis.
This is an ideal moment to start watching Dimension 20, as its newest season—a post-apocalyptic journey described as “Mad Max with a friendlier vibe” titled Gladlands—debuts on January 7, 2026.
Dimension 20: Cloudward, Ho! is now streaming on Dropout.
6. Murderbot
Martha Wells’ The Murderbot Diaries novels won over science fiction fans worldwide with their signature irreverent style, leaving many to question how this would adapt to an Apple TV series. The adaptation succeeds admirably, largely due to Alexander Skarsgård’s eccentric portrayal of the main character.
The series was recently , so viewers can watch knowing more content is coming.
Murderbot is now streaming on Apple TV.
5. Cassandra
Netflix excels at offering obscure international series that are surprisingly outstanding, and one of this year’s standouts is Cassandra, an unusual German production about a decades-dormant smart home that reactivates with lethal intentions. The concept blends elements of M3GAN with the Disney Channel film Smart House, unfolding numerous mysteries throughout its run. Describing it further would risk spoilers, but the viewing experience is unexpectedly captivating.
Cassandra is now streaming on Netflix.
4. Common Side Effects
Programming on Adult Swim, particularly animated series, typically stays fairly superficial. Common Side Effects breaks that mold entirely, offering an intellectual, skeptical perspective on the pharmaceutical sector. The show chronicles the discovery of a mysterious fungus that literally cures everything, exploring the consequences when corporations and government authorities comprehend its implications for society. The tone is surprisingly earnest, though humor remains present throughout, even if it diverges from typical Adult Swim comedy.
Common Side Effects is now streaming on HBO Max.
3. The Lowdown
If there were a prize for the most buzzed-about series that nobody actually discussed, The Lowdown would win hands down. The FX neo-noir drama failed to generate much attention during its September debut, yet possesses considerable merits. Sterling Harjo, the mind behind the contemporary cult favorite Reservation Dogs, serves as creator, while Hawke appears alongside fellow veteran actor Keith David. Fans of gritty mysteries with added vibrancy will find this series appealing.
The Lowdown is now streaming on FX on Hulu.
2. Paradise
Paradise delivered one of the most powerful pilot episodes I’ve ever encountered. What began as a conventional murder mystery surrounding a presidential assassination evolved into something entirely different whe, by the conclusion of Episode 1, viewers discovered the story takes place in an enormous subterranean community built for doomsday preparedness. Instantly, the show transcends political thriller conventions, transforming into a science-fiction conspiracy narrative filled with flashbacks that reveal the world’s fate.
Paradise is now streaming on Hulu.
1. The Eternaut
This Argentine production, based on a classic Argentine graphic novel, chronicles a group of survivors attempting to rebuild their lives after a bizarre snowfall wipes out most of humanity. Initially appearing to be a strange natural disaster, the event soon unveils itself as the opening phase of an extraterrestrial invasion, forcing the remaining people to unite.
The show has been in development for quite some time—since February 2020—and with a second and final season approaching, viewers should absolutely get caught up on what might be Netflix’s finest secret treasure.