Lights, camera, action, but the action is high-octane, well-choreographed, exciting, and fun. It’s easy to just turn on a show everyone’s talking about and watch it from start to finish—but what about some hidden gems? A recommendation by that one friend that never misses or an article you stumbled upon while scrolling the Internet for inspiration. Some deep cuts are found in the unlikeliest places.
It’s hard to claim some of these shows are deep cuts. Some of them are also critically acclaimed and beloved action shows that people seem to have forgotten about or overlooked in favor of something more popular or commercially appealing. Here are the eight best action shows nobody talks about, and if they do, it feels like they’re screaming into the ether for everyone to finally watch them.
8
‘Criminal Code’ (2023–)
Whether you’re into international shows or not, Criminal Code will be the perfect choice for any fan of high-octane action. This series has been a steady part of Netflix’s action series roster for a couple of years; Season 1 came out in 2023, Season 2 in 2025, and the show’s been renewed for Season 3. It was based on and inspired by some real events and crimes that took place on the “Triple Frontier,” aka the border between Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay, but the DNA-based investigations twist that was added to the series makes it more high-stakes and exciting.
Criminal Code follows federal agents investigating an epic heist near the border of Paraguay. By collecting DNA evidence from the scene, their proof links them back to a higher conspiracy. The team consists of Brazilian agents, and, according to some reviewers, the cases they work on are often based on real crimes or similar events that often take place in Brazil, or did before. If you like movies like The Fast and the Furious or most of Jason Statham‘s action flicks, Criminal Code is the show for you.
Video game fans have been greatly enjoying their favorite stories finally coming to life in high-quality TV adaptations. From Halo to Fallout, some of the biggest fan-favorite games have gotten good adaptations over the last few years. So, why aren’t more people talking about Twisted Metal? This video game is a mix of racing and combat, and the TV series based on it follows the lore, being adapted pretty faithfully to the small screen. Its biggest distinction from other adaptations is its relentless dark humor, which is greatly combined with clever action scenes and choreography.
Twisted Metal is set in a post-apocalyptic future, where the world is a wasteland; it follows John Doe (Anthony Mackie), a milkman who cannot remember his past and is given a delivery assignment that could help him leave his dangerous life on the road. The setting is reminiscent of Mad Max, and the country is now known as the Divided States of America. Mackie takes the chance to be his charming, funny self here, and he’s joined by Stephanie Beatriz, who is just as similar as she is unlike her character in Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Rosa Diaz. There’s a killer clown, some cannibals, a group of women vigilantes, and insane amounts of fun. The action is greatly coordinated and there’s a lot of greatness about Twisted Metal that should be appreciated more.
6
‘The Continental’ (2023)
The Continental is a show belonging to the John Wick universe, and it’s a prequel series that follows some of that world’s fan favorites, mainly Winston Scott, portrayed by Ian McShane. In The Continental, Winston is young and is played by Colin Woodell; we see how he became the manager of The Continental and the mission that brought him to it. Winston also meets Charon, played by Ayomide Adegun, and we get a glimpse into the forming of their friendship as well. The Continental is tightly bound to the John Wick lore, so non-fans or someone less involved with the movies might have a hard time following them; this is probably why it’s not as talked about as it frankly should be.
Despite that, The Continental, like the John Wick movies, is high-octane and pure action. There are some side stories we may not fully be warmed up to, but the main narrative revolving around the hotel, its “visitors,” and its employees is interesting enough to keep viewers hooked. It’s a three-episode miniseries that you’ll breeze through, not only because of intense and beautifully coordinated action and fight scenes, but also because it’s a joy to look at due to stunning costumes and set design.
5
‘The Brothers Sun’ (2024)
After Michelle Yeoh got an Oscar for Everything Everywhere All At Once, it seems she got offered more roles that gave her a chance to show off her martial arts skills. The Brothers Sun is a clever and funny series about a Taiwanese family living divided between Taipei and Los Angeles; the matriarch, Eileen (Yeoh), lives with her younger son, aspiring improv actor Bruce (Sam Song Li) in Los Angeles, while her older son and Bruce’s brother, Charles (Justin Chien) lives in Taipei and works for his father, a notorious gang leader.
The show depicts Eileen’s efforts to shield Bruce from a life of crime, but Charles’ arrival in LA causes chaos and awakens a lot of memories within her. Yeoh portrays a seemingly innocent woman whose ruthless side comes out the more Charles and Bruce get into trouble. Fans of martial arts and dark comedy will greatly enjoy The Brothers Sun; sadly, stories that feature racially diverse protagonists rarely get extended, and so this one, too, was canceled after its first season. A show with potential like this one had a chance to be great and an iconic part of Asian representation in America. The one season is still exciting enough to be enjoyed whenever, wherever.
4
‘Bloodhounds’ (2023–)
I would be remiss of me not to mention the somewhat untapped world of K-drama on Netflix, but before you roll your eyes, hear me out. Do you like MMA-style fight scenes? Are you a fan of relentless car chases across busy cities? Do you get a thrill from watching close-quarters combat come to life someplace other than a fighting ring? Bloodhounds is a South Korean eight-episode series that promises all that. Season 1 is a standard installment of epic combat and a fight for justice; it establishes a ruthless antagonist and a likable pair of protagonists whose strengths lie in their charm and kindness.
Bloodhounds is set during COVID, when a lot of business owners had to take out loans in order to keep their physical shops afloat. These shops were the only form of revenue for some of these people, but cruel loan sharks found a way to take advantage of these people. Bloodhounds follows two young boxers trying to stop loan sharks from shaking down innocent people, uncovering a larger conspiracy beneath a small front. If you’re not against subtitles and all for action, that is a feast for the eyes, you’ll enjoy Bloodhounds.
3
‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)
This is a Jonathan Tropper stan account, and appreciating his work feels like an underrated activity. Tropper is the creator of Banshee, one of the wildest “small town, big trouble” stories you’ll ever see. Fans of The Boys will (barely) recognize Antony Starr as the lead, though his signature blonde Homelander look is here replaced by a buzz cut and a scruffy beard; he’s flawed, impulsive, and, well, a criminal, but he’s an intriguing and pretty likable protagonist whose past tries to catch up with him wherever he goes. If you like intriguing side characters, Banshee has so many of them that you’ll find it hard to choose.
Banshee is the name of the town where the story is set, somewhere in Pennsylvania. An ex-con (Starr) arrives in town at the same time as Banshee’s new sheriff, Lucas Hood. However, Hood is immediately killed in a bar brawl, and the con assumes his identity, posing as the sheriff. He finds out very soon that life in Banshee is nothing short of complicated, including the ongoing conflict between the Amish kingpin, Kai Proctor (Ulrich Tomsen), the Aryan Brotherhood, and the Native American residents of the area. Though Starr is great as the lead, standouts are Hoon Lee and Tom Pelphrey, whose on-screen appearance in Banshee is hypnotic and mesmerizing. It’s a heavily underrated series with a lot of promise to become a cult show one day.
2
‘Gangs of London’ (2020–)
Gangs of London is one of the best action shows on Apple TV+, and it’s a wild ride from start to finish (although it’s ongoing, so there’s no definite “finish” just yet). Every season successfully one-ups the previous one, giving us a feast for the eyes as we witness fabulously choreographed action scenes and close-quarters combat. Everything was filmed with such style and flair that it feels weird to enjoy people killing other people so much. This show also features some of the most gruesome and creative torture methods you’ll ever have seen; it’s truly not for the faint of heart, but it’s a great time for everyone else. Oh, and it was created by Gareth Evans. You know, The Raid guy? Yeah, now you’re getting it.
Gangs of London is set in, you guessed it, London, and follows, you guessed it again, some of its most notorious (fictional) gangs. Arguably the biggest crime lord of the series is Finn Wallace (Colm Meaney), who is preparing his son, Sean (Joe Cole), to take his place. Finn’s right-hand man is Ed Dumani (Lucian Msamati), who has a personal pretense for Finn’s crown, and he grooms his own son, Alex (Paapa Essiedu), to also take Finn’s place. Sean and Alex are friends, so this dynamic is complex; their plans are hindered when an undercover detective, Elliott (Sope Dirisu), infiltrates their gang in an attempt to take everyone down. Dirisu is a killing machine here; his action scenes alone are intense and incredible, but overall, there’s so much action, you’ll be thirsty. It’s a miracle this show isn’t bigger.
1
‘Warrior’ (2019–2023)
I did say this is a Tropper stan account, and Tropper one-upped himself after Banshee by creating Warrior, a story that Bruce Lee devised and wanted to turn into a series. His daughter Shannon Lee acted as an advisor and executive producer, and it depicts the immigrant experience and how their efforts shaped America. The main characters are Chinese immigrants, from regular workers to gangs and prostitutes; the secondary protagonists are Irish immigrants, from freedom fighters to police officers; and the third party are American-born politicians, policemen, and influential, wealthy figures.
Warrior is set in San Francisco during the 1870s Tong Wars; “tong” means “clan,” and the gangs in Chinatown in San Francisco clashed over dominion of the area. One new arrival, Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), steps foot in town in search of his long-missing sister, Mai Ling (Dianne Doan); he also joins the most powerful local tong, the Hop Wei, after meeting the gang leader’s son, Young Jun (Jason Tobin). Warrior is one of the most beautifully written and directed action series, maybe ever. It’s full of brilliant stunts and fights, choreographed by some of the world’s biggest martial arts experts, and its blend of history, crime, action, and drama is unmatched. The show was picked up by Cinemax, canceled after two seasons, then picked up by HBO Max for a third season; after Max canceled it, the show became a steady part of Netflix’s programming, and people still hold out hope that Netflix might give it another chance. I still believe.
Warrior
- Release Date
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2019 – 2022
- Network
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HBO Max
- Showrunner
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Jonathan Tropper
