Based on Bret Easton Ellis' novel, The Shards follows a privileged teenager and his circle of friends in 1980s Los Angeles as a serial killer terrorizes the city. It sounds like the perfect teen thriller to sink your teeth into, but so far, it disappointingly hasn't delivered the deep mystery that was expected of it. Many reviews have described the series as stylish and occasionally entertaining, while others criticized its lack of focus. | © FX
A television adaptation starring Nicole Kidman and Jamie Lee Curtis should have been a success, but Scarpetta unfortunately didn't live up to the hype. Based on Patricia Cornwell's popular Kay Scarpetta novels, the series follows the titular medical examiner as she investigates gruesome cases. Critics found the show overly complicated at times but enjoyable enough to keep things exciting. Scarpetta wasn't so much a horrendous show, but it needed more to stand out in a rather saturated crime genre. | © Blumhouse Television Amazon / MGM Studios
Serving as both a spin-off and sequel to Yellowstone, Marshals follows the story of rancher Kayce Dutton after the events of the original series as he joins the U.S. Marshals. Viewers felt that the new show lacked the distinctive atmosphere and family drama that made its predecessor such an incredible watch. As a whole, the series feels generic, with the Yellowstone name doing a lot of heavy lifting when it comes to appeal. | © Paramount Television Studios
Unchosen centers on a young woman who was raised in a sheltered religious community. All of that changes when a mysterious outsider enters her life. The psychological thriller has an intriguing premise, but many argued that the show has slow pacing, one-too-many plot holes, and an unsatisfying conclusion. One critic went on to say that the show was a "total waste" of Asa Butterfield's talent. | © Netflix
Ryan Murphy's The Beauty turns beauty standards into a body-horror TV show that follows an outbreak that transforms people into seemingly perfect versions of themselves. The series drew intense, polarizing reviews. Some praised it for its striking visuals and willingness to embrace unconventional ideas, while others argued that it was messy and too confusing to understand. | © FX
Netflix's television adaptation of Man on Fire had the massive task of following the popular 2004 movie starring Denzel Washington. Yahya Abdul-Mateen II takes on the role of John Creasy, a complicated former Special Forces mercenary. The show has uneven storytelling and generic sequences, with Abdul-Mateen II being the only shining aspect. | © Netflix
The Last Thing He Told Me returned with a second season in 2026, but the mystery thriller failed to create the same level of hype as its predecessor. Many argued that the new story struggles to justify its existence and doesn't provide enough reasons to continue the main character's journey. Garner continues to stand out in her role as Hannah Hall, but the show, as a whole, is frustratingly convoluted. | © 20th Television
Imperfect Women seems like it'd be an incredible show, as its cast features Elisabeth Moss, Kerry Washington, and Kate Mara. Joel Kinnaman and Corey Stoll are also part of the main cast. The psychological thriller show follows three longtime friends whose lives are upended by a crime. Sadly, its exploration of female friendship didn't resonate with many, and others claimed that the show lacked originality. It's an extreme shame this show wasn't a hit, considering its premise was rather unique. | © Apple Studios
Anna Pigeon is a crime drama that is based on novels by Nevada Barr. It follows the titular investigator as she tackles crimes in remote and dangerous locations. The series has a decent mystery narrative, but its execution is questionable. For the most part, the adaptation didn't quite capture what made the source material so thrilling. We'll add that lead actress Tracy Spiridakos does a great job in the role, though. | © Cineflix Studios
Finding Her Edge follows a young figure skater attempting to revive her career while navigating family expectations, old relationships, and a new skating partner. There were plenty of mixed feelings about this show. The dialogue felt unoriginal at times, and the character development could have been structured better or, at least, been clearer. Also, for a show that focuses on a complicated love triangle, the romance sequences could have been handled better. | © Netflix
Vanished had plenty going for it on paper, with Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin leading a mystery thriller about a woman whose boyfriend disappears during a romantic vacation in Paris. Unfortunately, the four-episode miniseries struggled to live up to its pretty interesting premise. Many found the story overly soapy and predictable. On top of that, the show's story felt rushed. Put them all together, and it's easy to see why the show received a rather poor reception. | © MGM+
Will Ferrell's The Hawk puts the comedian in the role of a former professional golfer desperately trying to convince everyone that his best days are still ahead. The comedy has decent comedic bits, but many found the series inconsistent and overly reliant on Ferrell's acting chops. Still, there was a lot missing that could've made the show a whole lot better. | © Netflix
Oasis is a Spanish mystery thriller TV show that takes place at an exclusive luxury resort where everything goes wrong after police arrive to investigate a mysterious disappearance. The setup promises a polished murder mystery filled with interesting characters, but many criticized its lack of substance. Character development was thin, and the show's narrative plot was filled with clichés. As a whole, the show was beautifully shot, but it wasn't so engaging. | © Netflix
After years of waiting, Euphoria finally returned in 2026. Sadly, the third season proved to be a major disappointment. There just wasn't a lot going right for it. The five-year time jump, drastic changes to the characters, and increasingly bleak storylines left many questioning whether the series had lost what made its first two seasons so compelling. Its critical reception was particularly rough by Euphoria standards, with Season 3 becoming the show's first "Rotten" season on Rotten Tomatoes. | © A24 / HBO Entertainment
Though it has only been released recently, Alley Cats has emerged as one of the most poorly reviewed streaming series of 2026. The Netflix series, created by Ricky Gervais, follows a group of cats as they navigate various challenges. Unfortunately, many of the jokes didn't land, with viewers finding the material repetitive and the satire less sharp than Gervais' better-known work. | © Netflix
There have been plenty of hit TV shows in 2026, but not every new series or season has impressed. Some have fallen surprisingly flat despite their talented casts and promising premises. That said, here are 15 of the worst streaming TV shows that we've seen so far this year.
