By: Kristen Anderson

There are canceled TV shows that viewers collectively mourned, baffled that the networks didn’t appreciate what they had—shows like Freaks and Geeks, Firefly, and Pushing Daisies. Some of these canceled shows had oral histories written about them, fandoms that are still devoted to them years later, reunions and rumors of revivals well after they were off-air.

And then there are shows that went quietly into the night with cancellations that mostly elicited, “Yeah, that sounds about right” reactions. But big network streaming services don’t discriminate—loading their entire catalogs full of forgotten shows online and bringing them back from the dead by making them available to new audiences.

Three shows come to mind as really good revisits (or first-time check-outs), fun shows with mystery elements that have kept me hitting the “yes, I’m still watching” button. It wouldn’t surprise me if you’ve never heard of them, but I think they’re worth your time. Especially if, like me, you find basic network mystery shows oddly comforting.

The distinction between network shows and cable shows reminds me of the perceived differences between “prestige horror” and “regular” horror movies—in this case, the new breed of cable and streaming mysteries (Mindhunter on Netflix, Sharp Objects on HBO) are prestige and, and the “Big 3” network horror is thought of as a little less layered and edgy.

And while that’s a generalization that isn’t always true, sometimes it is and it’s exactly what I want. Just like prestige horror and good old slashers, there’s a place for both, a creep-out factor for every mood. Compared to the R-rated violence on cable, network shows are generally pretty friendly to the squeamish. Sure, you might see a gnarly flesh wound get inflicted on someone, but you probably won’t feel like you’re INSIDE the flesh wound, and therein lies the difference. I can live with gore but it’s not my favorite, and it’s kind of nice to not be on high alert for something super gross while still watching something creepy. Sometimes it’s appealing not to be in an anticipatory mode, and if you can turn that off while still enjoying your favorite genre, even better.

Here are three shows that will let you do just that.

Whodunnit

This show came out on ABC in the summer 2013, a delightful, offbeat edition to the usual network slate of summer competition and game shows. The basic plot is that 13 contestants are put in a mansion called Rue Manor where a killer is picking them off one at a time—the twist? The killer is one of the contestants. The contestants have to use their investigative skills on the “crime scenes” of their former co-contestants each week and make a case for the person they think is the killer and explain how the deed was done. The killer, who abhors incompetence, picks off the person who was most incorrect, thereby starting the process all over again. After nine episodes, the person who correctly names the killer wins $250,000.

The premise alone is both confusing and brilliant. First of all, it’s really a “howdunnit” far more than a “whodunnit”—the bulk of the episodes are spent figuring out how the crime was committed with the clues they have, and the actual killer is an afterthought because there are never clues pointing to anyone. The contestants mostly have to guess “whodunnit” based on who they like the least.

Also, in order to go along with the premise of the show, the contestants have to act like they’re genuinely concerned that they could be murdered. This requires normies to use acting chops they may or may not have, and some lay it on thicker than others. (Sample line from Dana: “I think it's torturous at Rue Manor. The killer’s killing me softly every day. I feel like I’ve died a thousand deaths already.”)

It’s also just weird and confusing for the viewer, so much so that some people thought they were watching real murders. This forced production to add interviews with the ousted contestant covered in the special effects makeup used for the death scene to reassure people at home. 

But those things work more in the show’s favor than to its detriment. The WTF-ness of it all is part of its appeal—and the show knows it. It’s a goofy show, dramatic with a big wink.

Our host is a classic locked-room mystery staple: an English butler named Giles, played by Gildart Jackson, who seems like he’s having a great time—and p.s., is married to Melora Hardin, aka Jan from The Office, in real life. He’s being forced to help orchestrate the game by the killer, who sends Giles letters with clues about each murder to read aloud to the contestants, usually with some tough wordplay and overall questionable writing. They sign off one note after an ice-based murder with “My sincerest cold-dolances.” Diabolical.

One of the most standout elements of the show are the reenactment-style death scenes. We, the audience, know who the killer has selected to die before the rest of their housemates do because the filming style switches from classic reality show cam to something a little more cinematic, and we watch the chosen murder victim act out their deaths in ridiculous ways. One person is shot out of a hot tub into a pool, someone else flees the mansion in a golf cart that explodes, a pajama-clad victim runs through the mansion on fire....I could go on, but for now I’ll just say it rules.

Obviously, I’m being a little facetious, but it does actually rule. Whodunnit is a ton of fun with some genuinely creepy moments, and I wish it had stuck around. Unfortunately, there was a steep drop in viewership from the first to second episode, ostensibly because of the confusing setup, but I think those premiere-watchers missed out. Fortunately, since it’s streaming for free on ABC.com, you can pick up the slack.

Harper’s Island

Currently streaming for free on Pluto TV, Harper’s Island is a slasher TV show that originally aired on CBS in 2009 touting Scream and I Know What You Did Last Summer vibes, which placed it squarely within the realm of my interest. It’s the story of a group of friends reuniting at the island they grew up on for a wedding, bringing along some new faces...and getting picked off ONE BY ONE (keep an ear open for the eerie child voice that says these words in every episode). But that kind of thing isn’t new to this place.

The friends just happen to be convening on the island seven years after a previous rampage, when killer John Wakefield stalked the island and murdered six people, including the mother of our main character, Abby. But he couldn’t be behind this new killing spree, because he was killed by Abby’s father, the sheriff. Wasn’t he?

Obviously, there’s a suspicion that somehow the murderer is Wakefield, and it’s a really fun twist on a familiar format to have a presumed killer already rather than it be a total mystery. It adds a different flavor of menace: rather than an anonymous evil in the shadows, our characters have a sense of who it is and their motives, and each of them brings their own baggage to that—but there’s also enough doubt to keep it interesting.

Harper’s Island presents us with a cast of characters comprised of obvious suspects, red herrings and presumed innocents who might not be so innocent, after all. It’s a soap opera-slasher with a little star power from Harry Hamlin as the Single Dude Party Uncle and even a sinister father who doesn’t believe his daughter’s betrothed is good enough for his girl. Like any good soap opera, there’s a little bit of the cheese factor that will also be familiar to fans of the “group of hot young people” horror boom of the late 90s to 2000s. It’s not quite like a teen horror movie but it’s certainly not NOT one, since the main characters are in their mid 20’s and still bring the party spirit, romantic entanglements and drama.

Each show has an onomatopoeic title linking to the way someone is killed in the episode—think “Wap!” and “Kablam!” and at least one person on the island dies per show. CBS used this to mount an interactive element with the viewing audience, offering a chance to win $1,000 if you correctly guessed who would die next. They also built the world online through the now-defunct Harper's Globe, a website that was ostensibly the website of Harper's Island's local newspaper. 

Harper’s Globe was the home of a public video diary from a reporter getting tangled up in the Wakefield murders in her own way, completely separate from the characters of the main show. It was basically a prequel, with video content uploaded daily leading up to the Harper’s Island premiere. The videos are still viewable by searching "Web series - Harper's Globe” on Youtube, and while it’s not necessary at all to the enjoyment of the main show, it could be fun to watch them, first.

 (This kind of online supplemental material will feel familiar to listeners of Hunt A Killer’s fictional horror podcast, Blackwood. There’s also a little of that Blair Witch Project companion faux documentary, Curse of the Blair Witch, about Harper’s Globe.)

It’s a genuinely good show with great reveals, schlocky-fun kills and a couple of surprisingly emotional moments that are totally worth your time for 13 episodes. And even though it didn’t continue on to more seasons, it was one of the earlier shows conceived as an anthology a la American Horror Story, so everything is completely wrapped up and you won’t be left with annoying unanswered questions. Just the question of why more people didn’t watch this when it was on!

Honorable mention: Happy Town

Available to stream on ABC.com, I give this 2010 show a soft recommendation. Made with clear allusions to Stephen King and Twin Peaks (even the musical cues are similar), Happy Town is about the town of Haplin, Minnesota, home to the “Our Daily” bread factory that makes the air smell like warm rolls. But it’s a weird place full of characters besieged by tragedy at the hands of a kidnapper and presumed killer they call the Magic Man because of his ability to just make people disappear. It’s got a “wholesome town with a dark underbelly” thing going on in the gentlest of ways, and a cast including Sam Neill and Steven Weber that happily gobbles up the scenery like so many croissants. Where else can you find Frances Conroy wryly saying, “I find bread inherently boring” to a teen who sits up a little straighter with sudden interest?

It’s worth watching for the silliness and creepy vibe (albeit forced) and less for the actual plot, which, I warn you, will leave you somewhat unsatisfied—you do find out who the Magic Man is by the end, but like the flipside of Whodunnit’s challenges, you’ll be left wondering about the “how” and “why.” But if a mystery with wackadoodle energy sounds good to you, you’ll probably enjoy all eight episodes.

The next time you don’t know what to watch, why not watch something a little off the beaten path...say, so off the beaten path that it was effectively fired forever from being on television? These shows may technically be dead, but that’s no reason not to dig ‘em up and enjoy.