The disruption of ordinary life by a deadly pandemic, an outrageous display of police violence, and a tumbling economy have left Americans isolated, frozen, and terrified. For many, the television screen has become the only contact with the outside world and the only source of entertainment. In recent years, cable television networks have drawn our attention by deep content and expert presentation. At this time, two cable series have debuted that are novel and far from our usual preferences for content. The two series are "The Plot Against America" and "Penny Dreadful: City of Angels." The plots of the two series are notably similar in time period and focus on subcultural groups. The possible reasons for their timeliness and for their relevance to today's issues are explored.