Blockbuster television shows often seem like they are more than the sum of their parts. With a certain visibility, television shows can even turn into cultural currency, becoming fuel for everyday small talk or Twitter hashtags.

Alongside the many lauded TV shows of late, there are critically hailed gems lurking beneath the surface. Compared to titans like “Mad Men” and “Game of Thrones,” these underrated series are not as included in popular discourse.

While HBO has a lightning rod in “Girls,” the network also features the less appreciated “Veep.” “Girls” is often said to be a subversive take on “Sex and the City,” swapping idyllic boyfriends for troubled ones and the glamorous Upper East Side for grimy Brooklyn. “Veep” does something similar with another series from the early 2000s — Aaron Sorkin’s “The West Wing.”

“The West Wing” presented an idealized reflection of the Clinton years, featuring an exceedingly intelligent Democratic president with a good heart. But “Veep” pulls back this facade,  harshly satirizing the doublespeak of Washington politics and the 24-hour news cycle. The leading lady, Vice President Selina Meyer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), acts like a buffoon. The veep’s stump speeches are emotional drivel, and she makes shocking, nasty comments when behind closed doors.

Where President Bartlet (Martin Sheen) of “The West Wing” walked through the Oval Office with purpose and aplomb, Meyer stumbles with every step. For those who can’t flip past CNN fast enough when channel surfing, “Veep” is sure to entertain.

ABC’s “Nashville,” another underrated series, is a refurbishment of the soap opera. The show tells the story of established country star Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton), who is threatened by the blossoming career of Juliette Barnes (Hayden Panettiere), a singer popular among the teeny-bopper subset.

So much of “Nashville” feels informed by the histrionics of cheesy soap opera fare from the 80s, namely “Dallas” and “Dynasty,” but it refuses to go where those shows did. Where Krystle and Alexis Carrington from “Dynasty” fought brutally, Jaymes and Barnes are forced to collaborate on a concert tour. “Nashville” realistically portrays their frenemy relationship, as the two vacillate between loathing and tolerating each other. In this way, “Nashville” resists the cliché but misses none of the drama — the plot twists are numerous but often unpredictable.

The fate of the series itself is sometimes just as unpredictable, and such was the case with HBO’s “Enlightened,” which met its end earlier this year. With the advent of
artful television, it is unavoidable that some favorites fall by the wayside. Remember “Enlightened.” Spread the word for vulnerable favorites while you still can.

A version of this article appeared in the Tuesday, April 30 print edition. Jake Folsom is a staff writer. Email him at [email protected].