There have been so many engrossingdark TV seriesthat took viewers on mind-bending journeys and truly played with their heads. While modern television has embraced much darker and more sinister stories in recent decades, it takes a truly great show to bury underneath the surface of a series’ narrative and deliver philosophically rich stories that strike a chord for their deep, probing themes that leave a mark on viewers consciousness well after the credits have rolled. A thought-provoking series that can play with viewers' expectations often marks the difference between a simply good show and a truly great one.
Many of thebest TV shows of all timewere dark in nature and did not underestimate viewers' intelligence with deeply complex and intricate narratives. Highlyinfluential series likeTwin Peakslaid the groundwork for television to embrace more challenging and experimental stories. At the same time, creators worldwide, such as the Japanese showrunners ofAlice in Borderland, have left viewers dumbfounded due to the power of their twist-filled narratives. Across many genres,there have been countless dark TV shows that have played with viewers' heads.
10Alice In Borderland (2020 - Present)
2 Seasons
Onegreat and gory show that will make viewers look awaywasAlice in Borderland, a dark dystopian Japanese series where the residents of mysteriously abandoned Tokyo must compete in deathly games to ensure their survival. Based on a manga by Haro Aso, this Netflix thriller played with viewers' heads as contestants risked their lives in heart-racing games that saw the losers obliterated by laser beams. With an intricate narrative and complex puzzles to be solved,Alice in Borderlandkept viewers on the edge of their seatswith consistent twists and turns throughout.
Alice in Borderlandbrought up questions about the true nature of the games its characters were forced to play, the intentions of whoever masterminded its dystopian landscape, and the enigmatic playing cards that represented the types of games they played. Set in an unforgiving world where every player was out for themselves,Alice in Borderlandwas an exciting head-scratcher that once audiences felt they figured out the true meaning of, another curve ball would be thrown their way.
Alice in Borderland
Cast
Alice in Borderland follows a video-game enthusiast and his two friends who find themselves transported to an alternate Tokyo. There, they must participate in perilous games for survival.
9Hannibal (2013 - 2015)
3 Seasons
The NBC psychological horror seriesHannibalrecaptured the creepy magic of the Thomas Harris novels they were based on to give audiences a new reimagining of Dr. Hannibal Lecter, who became infamous through Anthony Hopkins' performance inThe Silence of the Lambs. In this deeply dark and stylish series, Dr. Lecter was played by Mads Mikkelsen, with Hugh Dancy portraying the forensic psychiatrist destined to become his enemy. As a deeply compelling series,Hannibaldrew viewers in with complex character relationships and the deeply unnerving juxtaposition of mouth-watering food with Hannibal’s cannibalistic tendencies.
Hannibalwas a clever crime series that rose above the often cliche-ridden genre to produce a cult show that was prematurely canceled after just three seasons. With haunting characterizations and purposeful violence,Hannibalcontinually messed with viewers' heads as it showcased the calculated and gruesome world of a mindful serial killer. Having received critical acclaim throughout its run,Hannibalwas one of the best horror TV shows of all time.
Hannibal
Created for TV by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a TV adaptation/reimagining of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel. The show follows the exploits of FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and their perpetual game of cat and mouse that unfolds over the series. When a string of murders in Minnesota requires a brilliant mind to crack the case, Will Graham is called in to investigate - but due to the intimate and terrifying nature of the crimes, he is appointed Dr. Lecter to act as his psychiatrist. The truth of Dr. Lecter is that he is Will’s target - but to complicate matters, he’s the only person that can truly understand him.
8Black Mirror (2011 - Present)
6 Seasons
There have been two major consistent themes throughout the anthology seriesBlack Mirror. The first was a probing exploration of the dark side of technology and society’s relationship with it. The second was deeply upsetting narratives that forced audiences to reckon with the most abysmal sides of human experience, leaving them feeling hollow and painfully aware of the existential nature of life itself. By carrying these philosophies through almost every episode,Black Mirrorbecame one of the most richly rewarding and deeply unsettling satires ever to grace television screens.
As a series created by British satirist Charlie Brooker, the most effective episodes ofBlack Mirrorwere a dark reflection of societal woes set in an imagined future that felt terrifyingly close to becoming a reality. From the grim punishment continually forced upon an unknowing amnesia-suffering criminal in “White Bear” to the eternal torture of the virtual experience seen in “USS Callister,”Black Mirrorhas consistently messed with viewers' heads and has made for often shocking and uncomfortable viewing.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
7Dark (2017 - 2020)
The mind-bending German-language time travel Netflix seriesDarktook viewers on a complex story through multiple timelines that required an audience member’s full and unwavering attention. What started as a mystery drama about a young boy’s disappearance grew into a sprawling, intergenerational story that will have viewers jaws on the floor with the intricate plotting and thought-out story structure of its narrative. As a show unlike anything else on Netflix,Darkcarefully laid a breadcrumb of clues before its web of mysteries all came together in a satisfying conclusion after three seasons.
With an engrossing slow-burn pace, deep philosophical and ethical themes, and richly developed characters and motivations,Darkwas truly one of the greatest TV shows of modern times. As a highly ambitious show that was not afraid to take chances and never underestimated the audience’s intelligence,Darkwas a creepy blend of sci-fi, horror, noir, and coming-of-age stories. With an exhilarating plot that grew more intriguing with each season,Darkhad to be seen to be believed.
Dark
Dark is a German science fiction thriller focusing on four families in a small town impacted by the disappearance of a child. As they search for answers, they uncover a web of interconnected secrets, revealing complex temporal and familial relationships spanning multiple generations.
6Mindhunter (2017 - 2019)
Netflix’s psychological crime seriesMindhunterwas a fascinating look behind the development of the FBI’s use of criminal profiling and the founding of their Behavioral Science Unit. Through a blend of fact and fiction,Mindhunterfollowed agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany)as they interviewed real serial killers like Ed Kemper and David Berkowitz to gain insight into the psychology of murderers to help solve ongoing investigations. This unique series played with viewers' heads as it forced them to confront the darkest sides of human nature and killers’ sinister impulses.
With a pilot episode directed by David Fincher,Mindhuntermaintained a cinematic quality throughout its woefully short two-season run and stood as one of the smartest and most thought-provoking series Netflix ever made. Sadly,Mindhunterwent on hiatus, and it was eventually confirmed to be canceled (viaCollider), with Fincher stating it was because it was too expensive to produce. While this was a crying shame that left some plot points inMindhunterunresolved, its two seasons were one of the streamer’s crowning achievements.
Mindhunter
From executive producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron comes Mindhunter, a series that chronicles the founding of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit used to track and apprehend serial killers. Mindhunter follows Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they work to establish a framework for understanding the minds of some of America’s most dangerous serial killers. Mindhunter adapts a number of true crime stories, including the BTK murders and the notorious Co-Ed Killer, Edmund Kemper.
5The Twilight Zone (1959 - 1964)
5 Seasons
When it comes to dark TV shows that played with viewers' heads,The Twilight Zonewas truly the grandfather of them all. As an anthology series that blended sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and drama in deeply thought-provoking episodes,The Twilight Zonelaid the groundwork for everything fromBlack Mirrorto the body horror of David Cronenberg. With iconic intros and conclusions from the series showrunner and writer Rod Serling,The Twilight Zonehas become such a touchstone of popular culture that even the name itself has become shorthand for weird and unusual happenings.
The reasonThe Twilight Zonehas endured so well in the six decades the original series has been off the air was because it made viewers think in a way that much TV from that era did not. The greatest episodes ofThe Twilight Zonewere packed with philosophical intrigue and insightful wisdom on human life and experiences. From its iconic twist endings to legendary performances from future stars like William Shatner,the paranormal and Kafkaesque consequences ofThe Twilight Zoneinclude some of television’s greatest moments.
4Russian Doll (2019 - 2022)
The Netflix comedy-dramaRussian Dolltook the well-worn premise of time loops seen in classics likeGroundhog Dayand gave it a dark spin as a young woman continually relived her 36th birthday. WithNatasha Lyonne as Nadia Vulvokov, this thoughtful series explored themes of life, death, meaning, and purpose in a unique and highly entertaining story that shifted tones from laugh-out-loud hilarious to woefully sad. With a highly bingeable first season,Russian Dollblended mystery, horror, and drama with a compelling narrative of great depth.
Things got even more intense inRussian Dollseason two as Nadia discovered a wormhole to 1982, where she traveled to the past while stuck in the body of her own mother, who was simultaneously pregnant with her. This mind-bending concept explored the unsettling consequences of generational trauma and was a deeply insightful and often horrifying examination of psychological themes. With great depth, strong writing, and incredible performances,Russian Dollcertainly played with viewers' heads.
Russian Doll
Russian Doll follows a cynical young woman named Nadia on her journey as the guest of honor at a seemingly inescapable party one night in New York City. After dying on the night of her party, Nadia keeps repeating the same day - over and over again, with death assured before each day ends. However, when she meets Alan Zaveri, a man who is experiencing the same phenomenon, the pair work together to hopefully break the cycle once and for all.
3Severance (2022 - Present)
1 Season
While it’s often said that people have a work self and personal self as employees compartmentalize the different factions of their lives, this has never been more thoroughly explored than in the comedy-dramaSeverance. This series, starring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, told the story of a man splitting his consciousness in two, with one part of himself going to work each day and the other leaving the office with no memory of his working life. The juxtaposition and potential horror of this situation were the driving forces ofSeverance’snarrative.
While this idea of forgetting one’s workday may sound aspirational, in truth, this would leave an employee who was essentially a slave to their job, who never got to experience life off the clock, not even to sleep.The philosophical and ethical questions thatSeveranceconjuredwere truly fascinating as they opened the door to exploring the moral dilemma of exploiting oneself. With ample ground for more content, it will be exciting to see how much furtherSeverancedigs into the human condition and soulless nature of working life in Season 2.
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
2The Leftovers (2014 - 2017)
Lostco-creator Damon Lindelof teamed up with the author Tom Perrotta for an adaptation of the latter’s fascinating novel,The Leftovers. This unique HBO series explored life three years aftera mysterious event called the ‘Sudden Departure’ that meant 2% of the world’s population had inexplicably vanished, leaving the rest of the world to deal with the consequences and find their own main as to its causes. This dark and fascinating show brought up themes of religion, belief, grief, and mankind’s innate desire to apply meaning to unfathomable and impenetrable events.
While the first season ofThe Leftoverswas a faithful adaptation of Perrotta’s novel, this mystery series dug even deeper into its complex themes in later seasons. Through the at-times spiritual story of Justin Theroux as Kevin Garvey, a local police chief whose estranged wife has joined a cult named the Guilty Remnant,The Leftoverstold a thought-provoking and deep philosophically rich narrative. WhileThe Leftoversmay not be as accessible as other must-watch TV series, it was extraordinarily rewarding for viewers who connected with its heartfelt and dense themes.
The Leftovers
The Leftovers is a three-season drama that follows a group of people as they deal with the effects of the sudden disappearance of 2% of the word’s population. It was created by Lost co-producer Damon Lindelof and Election writer Tom Perrotta, with famous actors such as Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler, Margaret Qualley, and Justin Theroux in the ensemble cast.
1Twin Peaks (1990 - 1991, 2017)
Twin Peakswas one of the most influential TV series ever made, whose serialized mystery signaled the dawning of a new television era where viewers were expected to follow an ongoing storyline rather than episodic stories they could jump in on at any time. Created by the surrealist auteur film director David Lynch and television writer Mark Frost,Twin Peakswas a dark show that mixed comedy with melodramatic soap opera stylings and complex dreamlike logicto unravel the mystery of Laura Palmer, a deceased local teenage girl whose body was discovered in the pilot episode.
This fascinating story truly messed with viewers as it blended offbeat humor with complex characterizations as the eccentric FBI Agent Dale Cooper became increasingly embroiled in the strange happenings of the tightknit community ofTwin Peaks. As a cult favorite that built up a loyal following,Twin Peaksreturned for a third season in 2017, which picked up where the show left off 25 years later. While this was a welcome return to the strange world ofTwin Peaks, this inscrutabledark TV seriesconjured up more questions than it answered.
Twin Peaks
Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura’s life wasn’t as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season.
