‘Manhattan’ & More: What Are The Smartest Shows On Television? (VIDEO)

The utterly fantastic Manhattan returned to WGN America last night for a second season, and it’s not just the best show you’re not watching — it’s also one of the smartest series on TV. Part of that is the subject matter, and part of it is the execution.

Manhattan follows the lives of the men and women behind the infamous Manhattan Project which means practically all the characters are certified geniuses. Still, the show’s drama stems from the interpersonal chaos that erupts when all of these great minds (and their loved ones) are crammed into a small camp and forced to lie to each other in order to survive. Manhattan uses the backdrop of World War II as a crucible to push its characters to their mental and emotional breaking points. The series also touches upon complex subjects like abortion, homosexuality, anti-Semitism, racism, sexism, fascism, and nuclear physics with unique insight.

We got a chance to visit the Santa Fe set of the show this summer and thought it would be fun to see how smart the cast is offscreen. We asked the entire cast who was the most intelligent off camera, and while it quickly became clear that Manhattan‘s stars are witty and well-educated, one cast member can actually do all of the complex physics equations that his character does on the show. Check out the video below to find out who it is!

If you’re only now getting hip to this brilliant show, you can stream the entire first season on Hulu.

[Watch Season 1 of Manhattan on Hulu]

If Manhattan‘s take on nuclear physics has you yearning for more shows on streaming to make you feel like a smarty-pants, here are four more of the smartest shows on streaming.

Breaking Bad

Breaking Bad is a genius show on a variety of levels. Not only is it artistically one of the best shows in TV history, but its lead character, Walter White, repeatedly dazzles us with his keen mastery of chemistry. Sure, he’s using all those complex equations to build a terrifying meth empire, but the math and science almost always check out. You can’t say that for a lot of the so-called geniuses on television. [Watch Breaking Bad on Netflix]

QI

QI is a quiz show with a twist. Instead of being asked trivia questions for a chance at a fortune, panelists — mostly the who’s who of British comedy — are repeatedly stumped by Stephen Fry for laughs. Each season of the show focuses on a topics that fall under a certain letter of the alphabet and each topic is rife with bizarre facts that will wow you. While it’s a long-running staple in the UK, the first four seasons of QI can only be legally streamed stateside on Acorn TV. [Watch QI on Acorn TV]

Sherlock

Sherlock Holmes might be the most famous literary genius of all time — and the BBC’s Sherlock is perhaps the most clever take on the dastardly brilliant private detective. The brilliant Benedict Cumberbatch stars as an arrestingly modern Mr. Holmes while Martin Freeman takes Dr. Watson into the 21st century by turning him into a tried and true best friend, and not a bumbling blowhard. [Watch Sherlock on Netflix]

Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey

In 1980, astronomer Carl Sagan captivated the world with his groundbreaking series about our universe, Cosmos: A Personal Odyssey. The show inspired legions of young Americans to pursue a career in science. One big Sagan fan? Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. After years of hosting PBS’s Nova and his own Star Talk, Tyson was enlisted to resurrect Cosmos as an epic series about the history of humanity and our place in the universe. It’s awe-inspiring, and yes, will make you smarter. [Watch Cosmos on Netflix]

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[Photos: Everett Collection & Acorn TV]