7 Shows To Fill The "Stranger Things"-Sized Void
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Stranger Things Season 4 has come to an end, and there’s…a LOT to unpack. But do I have time to process every single plot twist and upsettingly unclear death right now? Not really, no. If you’re in the same Upside Down-bound boat as I am, here's an UNRANKED list of TV shows I recommend starting to ease the pain of (finally) finishing Stranger Things Season 4.
1.Psych (2006–14)
I know I literally just said this list is unranked, but if I had to recommend only one series to start after Stranger Things (which thankfully, I don’t) it would be Psych. This unfailingly fantastic series has everything a Duffer Brothers stan could possibly want: an iconic power couple (Shawn and Gus), abundant '80s references, a begrudgingly lovable cop, and a protagonist with some unusual abilities. Raised by a detective father trying to set him up to follow in his footsteps, Shawn Spencer (James Roday) now makes a living pretending to be psychic so he can solve mysteries without the hassle of a badge. He and his childhood best friend Gus (Dulé “I can fix that” Hill) zip around Santa Barbara in their version of the Mystery Machine (a blue Toyota Echo) translating obvious evidence into “psychic visions” much to the frustration of basically everyone in their lives. Shawn has got Steve Harrington charisma, a Dustin Henderson dynamic going with Gus, a total Hopper/Eleven thing with his dad (Corbin Bernsen), and (unfortunately) the lukewarm chemistry of Nancy and Jonathan with his will-they-won’t-they counterpart, Juliet (Maggie Lawson). Psych’s got impeccably curated theme episodes, the occasional Scooby Doo-style touch of the paranormal, and a pineapple hidden in every episode. There are currently eight seasons worth of mysteries to solve, plus three straight-to-streaming movies to enjoy. You're welcome.
Watch it on Prime Video.
2.The Hardy Boys (2020–)
Based on the widely adored book series, Hulu’s The Hardy Boys follows brothers Frank and Joe Hardy, who, after their mother is brutally murdered (in the first 15 minutes of the show — no real spoilers here), are relocated to the small, seemingly quiet town of Bridgeport for the summer. Meanwhile, the boys’ father sets out to crack his late wife’s murder case. Drenched in vague '80s aesthetics and classic mystery vibes, this nostalgic detective series should scratch that Stranger Things itch, especially if the most recent season has you longing for the simpler, sweeter plot lines of seasons 1 and 2.
Watch it on Hulu.
3.The Wilds (2020–)
A group of teen girls are all set to jet off to a luxe, sorority-esque retreat when their place crash lands on a seemingly deserted island. Now, I know what you’re thinking — you’ve probably already seen Yellowjackets and are writing off The Wilds as I type, but I swear to you the two series take dramatically different turns very early on and both equally deserve your Stranger Things-starved attention. I can't say much about The Wilds that won’t spoil the magic of going into this show totally blind, but I will say this: What could have turned into Lord of the Flies has instead transformed into one of the best teen dramas of the 21st century and perhaps the only real contender to threaten Lost as the greatest desert island series in history. Friendships are formed, real danger is thwarted, P!nk songs are sung, and gay characters actually get to kiss — it’s everything you could want in a Stranger Things replacement series.
Watch it on Prime Video.
4.Yellowjackets (2021–)
If you prefer your teen wilderness survival drama in a slightly ~edgier~ package, Yellowjackets might be more your speed. A girls high school soccer team crash lands in the Ontario wilderness, and things devolve from complicated to messy pretty quick. Told across two timelines riddled with paranormal teases, it’s got an excellent '90s aesthetic and an even better soundtrack. But if you can’t get Chrissy’s traumatic death scene from Season 4 of Stranger Things out of your head, I’m not sure you’ll want to let the unwavering violence of Yellowjackets in. That being said, if you're looking for more of that hair-raising body horror the Duffer Bros sprang on us this season, you can find it in Yellowjackets.
Watch it on Showtime.
5.The Society (2019)
OK, one more Lord of the Flies-esque recommendation and then I’m done, I swear. This canceled-too-soon Netflix series is bolstered by an all-star lineup of up-and-coming teen drama actors, which include it girl Gideon Adlon opposite my tweenage Switched at Birth crush (Sean Berdy) and the swoonworthy Alex Fitzalan, who will also momentarily steal your heart in Season 2 of the aforementioned series, The Wilds. In The Society, every high schooler in town is headed on a big camping trip when a particularly nasty storm hits. Forced to turn around, the busload of teens find their hometown entirely empty upon their return. Without any adult supervision, the group fractures violently fast. Just like this most recent season of Stranger Things, The Society doesn’t shy away from some pretty haunting subject matter. It's a lot, and you'll probably be left with more questions than answers, especially due to Netflix’s utterly reprehensible decision. But the pain is worth it — trust me, friends don't lie.
Watch it on Netflix.
6.Outer Range (2022)
Yellowstone but make it sci-fi but NOT like Westworld. Royal Abbott (Josh Brolin) is a Wyoming rancher dealing with some typical, and not so typical, issues. He’s feuding with the neighboring ranch over land rights, dealing with a missing family member who’s been gone nearly a year, and, oh yeah, there’s this giant, likely alien-made black hole on the edge of his property. In the same way that the Upside Down is a constant presence throughout Stranger Things, the Hole (also referred to as the Void) is essentially the main character in Outer Range, competing for top billing (at least in my heart) with Schitt’s Creek’s frequently undressed Noah Reid. With only one, slow-burning season to explore the mysteries of the Hole so far, I can’t promise you that Outer Range is a Stranger Things-level sci-fi mystery just yet, but I can tell you that Josh Brolin looks great in a cowboy hat.
Watch it on Prime Video.
7.Wayward Pines (2015–16)
US Secret Service agent Ethan Burke (Matt Dillon) is investigating the disappearance of two fellow agents when he winds up in a car accident that leaves him shaken and confused on the outskirts of Wayward Pines, Idaho. After locating one of the missing agents, who has somehow settled down entirely in a suspiciously brief amount of time, Burke begins to understand just how little anyone (audience included) understands about what’s going on in Wayward Pines. Executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan, this campy sci-fi mystery is a roller coaster ride from start to finish, so strap in and hold on tight to Dillon’s chemistry with Spy Kids mom (and my childhood crush) Carla Gugino and the overall enthralling but bewildering energy of Wayward Pines. It's Twilight Zone meets The Leftovers meets Twin Peaks. Expect an obscene number of plot twists, very few answers, and an overall great time.
Watch it on Hulu.
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