00:00In the era of peak TV and busy schedules, it can be almost impossible to keep up with
00:12your old favorites, let alone discover new programming worth checking out. Luckily for
00:16all of us, The Hollywood Reporter's own Tim Goodman has launched the first installment
00:19of what will be a recurring series unearthing the hidden television gems you may have missed.
00:23As Goodman puts it, this isn't about one-upping plugged-in viewers or even bringing
00:27remedial viewers up to speed. It's simply about discovery. So, let's get started.
00:32First on Goodman's list of three is Detectorist. The show's first two seasons are on Netflix
00:37and its third and final is on Acorn. The series follows two metal-detecting enthusiasts in rural
00:42England and creator Mackenzie Cooke stars alongside Toby Jones. Writes Goodman,
00:46The series is about friendships and relationships and personal happiness, but all of that seems
00:50unforced as the slice of life unfolds. What's magnificent for anyone who is frantic with
00:55day-to-day distractions is that Detectorist shows you what it might be like to live your
00:59life a little more slowly, a little less connected, a whole lot more simply and straightforwardly.
01:04Goodman has been consistent with his love of the A-word, ranking it his number six
01:08series in 2016 and number two in 2017. Our critic continues his support of the show now, writing,
01:13The A-word tells the story of an autistic young boy named Joe, played by
01:29Max Vento, and Goodman says the freshness of the premise works wonders. He also praises two
01:34essential aspects of the show writing. The soundtrack, Joe connects to music like no other,
01:39and the rural setting, the Lake District in England, are inspired choices. The series might
01:43not be as emotionally enriching and entertaining as it is if either element were significantly
01:47different.
01:48In 2017, Goodman ranked back at number four on his list of standout television and he is urging
01:53you once more to check it out. Says our critic,
01:56I laughed so hard at some parts of this series that I was crying tears. But ultimately,
02:00the most impressive thing about the show is how Simon Blackwell constructed it to be both
02:04dramatically interesting and way more subtle than most comedies. That drama and comedy comes
02:09in the form of David Mitchell's character, Steven, as he's about to take over a rural pub
02:12owned by his father. When Andrew, played by Robert Webb, shows up at the funeral for dad,
02:17all kinds of chaos about identity begins.
02:19Back is a different kind of comedy than Detectorist, writes Goodman. Less laid back, more
02:24adventurously seeking ridiculous moments. And both are vastly different from the more
02:28serious, The A Word. But all three are definitively hidden gems that you should
02:32discover at once.
02:34To read more on Tim Goodman's picks of what you should be watching in the era of
02:36peak TV, head to THR.com. And tell us, will you be carving out time to watch any of the
02:41shows he's suggested so far? What are some of your own favorites that you'd like to add
02:44to the list? Let us know in the comments. For The Hollywood Reporter News, I'm Lindsay
02:48Rodriguez.
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