{"id":7323,"date":"2025-09-10T12:58:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-10T12:58:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/7323\/"},"modified":"2025-09-10T12:58:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-10T12:58:09","slug":"8-underrated-action-shows-that-hook-you-in-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/7323\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Underrated Action Shows That Hook You in Minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"

Some of the best recent additions to the action genre on television have exploded in popularity, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of iconic series that are still overlooked. These are action shows that hook us in the first 10 minutes<\/a>, never failing to capture our attention as the episodes progress. These TV series deserve to be household names alongside the likes of Reacher or The Boys.<\/p>\n

With thrilling fight sequences and compelling leads, it’s time that these titles had their due and were recognized for their contributions to the genre. There are plenty of thriller shows that have more action than plot<\/a>, but these works stand out because they blend genres and spend time crafting their characters, making the audience care about the story as we’re being enticed by the action.<\/p>\n

Into The Badlands (2015\u20132019)<\/p>\n

\"Daniel<\/p>\n

There are many different types of action and fighting styles seen in movies and TV shows, but martial arts might be one of the most thrilling to watch onscreen. The clear dedication and commitment to bringing some of the best fight choreography in recent history to life onscreen is what sets Into the Badlands apart from other action shows.<\/p>\n

Daniel Wu anchors the series as Sunny, a skilled fighter who gets swept up in a battle between warring lords and states, and becomes responsible for the safety of an enigmatic young man. As the series progresses, the plot strengthens, making it even more evocative, building on the power of the instantly memorable action sequences.<\/p>\n

Retro-futurism gets a whole new look in Into the Badlands, as even though the series is set in the future, it looks and feels straight out of the Middle Ages. Unafraid to bring all the guts, gore, and violence that the audience expects from an action-oriented show set in the past, Into the Badlands benefits from Wu’s skill as an actor and a fighter.<\/p>\n

Dark Angel (2000\u20132002)<\/p>\n

\"Dark<\/p>\n

Dark Angel Jessica Alba as Max<\/p>\n

In just two seasons, Dark Angel covers more ground than many contemporary action TV shows thanks to the work of James Cameron, who co-created the series. Starring Jessica Alba in what would become her breakout role, Dark Angel also features one of Jensen Ackles’ best TV roles<\/a>. This gives fans of the actors and of Cameron plenty of reason to dive into the early 2000s action sci-fi series.<\/p>\n

Dark Angel is a high-concept show that follows Alba’s character, Max, a genetically altered woman with incredible strength and skill, who escapes the facility where she was experimented on. There’s a long history of superpowered women in speculative fiction television, but Dark Angel makes this concept fresh with its many tangled mysteries.<\/p>\n

In the years since the short-lived series has been off the air, Dark Angel has become even more overlooked, failing to find the same longevity as projects like Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Xena: Warrior Princess. However, it’s the sharp edge of the action sequences and the power of Max as a character that make fans of the series so dedicated to Dark Angel.<\/p>\n

See (2019\u20132022)<\/p>\n

\"Baba<\/p>\n

Baba Voss (Jason Momoa) looking angry in See.<\/p>\n

Jason Momoa leads the case of Apple TV+’s See, a series that quickly carved out a place for itself within the post-apocalyptic and science fiction genres. Apple’s streaming service has cemented itself as a powerhouse, particularly within sci-fi, and its projects, like See, which help maintain this reputation, as the visuals, story, and action will capture your attention.<\/p>\n

The premise of See revolves around two children who are born with the ability to see in a distant future when humanity no longer possesses this sense. Set in a feudalistic future, See follows Momoa as the warrior Baba Voss, and the series takes full advantage of Momoa’s reputation as an actor who can carry a fight sequence.<\/p>\n

By leaning into the grittier side of the visual style, See will remind audiences of similar action shows that are set in another time and touch upon speculative fiction themes. See season 1 has to accomplish a lot in terms of world-building and setup, but it’s worth sticking with the show, as it only gets more complex and interrogative as the seasons progress.<\/p>\n

Warrior Nun (2020\u20132022)<\/p>\n

\"Ava<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Warrior Nun is one of the many brilliant fantasy action series that Netflix has canceled before its time. Warrior Nun broke boundaries by centering on a compelling female protagonist, Ava Silva, who must fulfill her destiny of fighting demons. It’s easy to compare Warrior Nun to shows like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the series distinguished itself in just two seasons.<\/p>\n

As the title suggests, there are many parts of Warrior Nun’s magic system and lore that rely on religion and mythology, but this builds the mystery and intrigue of the story. Alba Baptista, who plays Ava, is far from the only great actor in the show, as the entire ensemble of Warrior Nun comes together to make the magic system accessible and the action as thrilling as possible.<\/p>\n

While we don’t have Warrior Nun season 3 to look forward to, this doesn’t mean that the installments available to watch now should be overlooked. Action fans who don’t typically seek out fantasy might be hesitant to dive into Warrior Nun. However, the series is a true blend of genres, adding tension to the battles through the weight of the mythology and Ava’s character development.<\/p>\n

Colony (2016\u20132018)<\/p>\n

\"Will<\/p>\n

Fans of Lost will instantly recognize Josh Holloway, the lead of Colony, from his time on the mystery box TV series. Colony is a TV show we thought would be the next Lost<\/a>. Though the sci-fi series only ran for three seasons, it made its mark on the science fiction and action genres. This has allowed Colony to age well, making it fun to watch today.<\/p>\n

Set in the future, Colony follows Holloway’s character, Will, as he attempts to protect his family while staying true to his values in the wake of an alien invasion on Earth. Though the premise is a little out there, Colony uses the fantastical elements as a metaphor for very real issues of resistance, oppression, and totalitarianism within the context of the story.<\/p>\n

As the seasons progress, Colony succeeds in keeping the audience guessing, slowly revealing additional context and answers surrounding the aliens’ arrival and their goal in harnessing the power of the human race. In terms of action, Colony sees Will use his background as an FBI agent and Army Ranger in his double life as a collaborator and a resistance fighter.<\/p>\n

Watchmen (2019)<\/p>\n

\"Regina<\/p>\n

Watchmen Image Regina King Cropped<\/p>\n

The fact that HBO’s Watchmen was canceled after season 1 is still disappointing, as the live-action adaptation of the comic book series could’ve run for many years to come. With a stellar ensemble cast featuring Regina King, Tim Blake-Nelson, and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Watchmen took its source material and updated it for the modern era, infusing it with gripping contemporary elements and conversations.<\/p>\n

King is a standout of the series as Angela, AKA Sister Night, bringing dramatic weight to her action sequences and character-driven scenes. Though Watchmen takes liberties with the source material, this is what has made the show more relevant than ever as the years have progressed. Audiences looking for their next favorite action show must tune into Watchmen\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b.<\/p>\n

Watchmen digs into the relationship between policing, vigilantism, and extremist groups, examining white supremacy and pushing its characters to their limits throughout the episodes. It’s always doubly impactful when an action series is fueled by such important themes and conversations. Watchmen demonstrates how to balance its complex stories brilliantly.<\/p>\n

Lioness (2023\u2013Present)<\/p>\n

\"Joe<\/p>\n

Fans of the Taylor Sheridan TV universe will find a lot to love about one of his most underrated original shows, Lioness. Though Lioness doesn’t belong to the Western genre, it builds even more excitement because it’s a globetrotting espionage thriller that centers on strong female characters, distinguishing itself from many contemporary action series.<\/p>\n

As an anthology series, Lioness starred Nicole Kidman in season 1, Zoe Salda\u00f1a in season 2, and is sure to introduce an amazing new lead in the forthcoming third installment. Though Lioness has found a decent audience on Paramount+ since its premiere, it isn’t discussed as much as it should be, considering the positive trajectory of the show.<\/p>\n

Lioness might not break boundaries when it comes to the tropes and formulas that we see across the genre, but the lead performances and well-choreographed fight sequences take the show to the next level. Like all the series Sheridan has a hand in, Lioness has a distinct visual style that transports the viewer right into the heat of the story alongside the characters.<\/p>\n

Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2024\u2013Present)<\/p>\n

\"Donald<\/p>\n

Donald Glover and Maya Erskine sitting on a bench in Mr & Mrs Smith<\/p>\n

Loosely based on the 2005 movie of the same name, Prime Video’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith takes espionage and romance to the next level with its brilliant work. Donald Glover and Maya Erskine star as the title characters who are partnered by a mysterious spy organization and tasked with completing dangerous missions that supply the action and thrill of the show.<\/p>\n

What separates Mr. & Mrs. Smith from other action shows is the fact that the series focuses on the relationship that develops between its two leads. By using the heightened situations and events of the story as a way to explore the ups and downs of falling in and out of love, the show maintains an emotional anchor while building physical tension.<\/p>\n

Though Glover and Erskine won’t be reprising their roles in Mr. & Mrs. Smith season 2, their story sets the stage for an incredible anthology series to come. We’ll miss the chemistry between season 1’s leads, but the good news is that season 2 is set to star Sophie Thatcher and Mark Eydelshteyn, who will carry on the series’ legacy (via Cosmopolitan<\/a>).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Some of the best recent additions to the action genre on television have exploded in popularity, but that…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":7324,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[146,85,46,411],"class_list":["post-7323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-tv","tag-entertainment","tag-il","tag-israel","tag-tv"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7323"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7323\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}