Five shows to watch if you love ‘Stranger Things’
When the Hawkins gang first appeared on the Netflix screens armed with their telekinetic champion, nobody knew what the decade-long journey would entail. As the seasons progressed, the audience grew fascinated with the monstrous canon. But now that fans are past four seasons, the wait before the fifth and final season is the only time to buckle up for the remaining otherworldly adventure. And what better way to warm up than with a detour to Stranger Things-like shows?
A Stranger Things-like show can mean different things to different people. For some, it could look like mysterious supernatural forces plaguing the town, missing persons, monstrous takedowns, or unlikely superheroes. But since interpretation is relative, diversity is imminent.
So, while you wait on your toes for the last ride to the small town in Indiana, Best of Netflix has handpicked five shows on Netflix that bring similar vibes. The likelihood of chance encounters with Eleven is slim. But that’s something you might want to save for Stranger Things season five.
For those feeling Strange-ly nostalgic or just craving Hawkins-like horror, here are five Upside Down suggestions on Netflix to beat the blues.
Five shows to stream on Netflix if you love Stranger Things:
I Am Not Okay with This (Jonathan Entwistle, 2020)
Based on Charles Forsman’s graphic novel, I Am Not Okay with This is a coming-of-age black comedy series, which was cut short due to the Covid-19 pandemic. At the core of the story is a teenager grappling with an unexpected discovery of psychokinetic powers, which are simulated by emotions. But how is it similar to Stranger Things? Well, in more ways than one.
Much like Eleven, the teen protagonist Sydney Novak has ghosts of the past, complex family dynamics, and turbulent relationships. Both explore the unexplained phenomenon of telekinesis and themes of identity and self-discovery. Lastly, Stranger Things and I Am Not Okay with This are set in small fictional towns which harbour big secrets and bigger mysteries.
Sense8 (Lana Wachowski, Lilly Wachowski, Tom Tykwer, James McTeigue, and Dan Glass, 2015-2018)
Telepathy and telekinesis always make things interesting, thanks to Eleven in Stranger Things. But in Sense8, eight strangers scattered all across the world share a psychic link. They are called the “sensates.” But beyond the links of psychic ability, Sense8 also involves government organisations with secret agendas and sinister driving forces.
The notion of found family is established incredibly in the disparate worlds of Stranger Things and Sense8. And both utilise sci-fi to explore identity and connection in the human world.
Dark (Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese, 2017-2020)
Things really started cooking with Stranger Things when Will Byers mysteriously disappeared. And although a missing child’s story may not be the most original trigger point, Dark is hauntingly original. The search for Will led to Hawkins’ chance encounter with Eleven. And the hunt for missing Erik Obendorf, followed by Mikkel Madsen, pushes Winden natives into a search for the unknown.
Like Hawkins, Winden’s people also uncover the mysterious, sinister, and supernatural phenomenon underlying the town. And brewing underneath is a generational conspiracy that might sound eerily identical.
Raising Dion (Carol Barbee, 2019-2022)
Based on Dennis Liu’s comic book and short film, Raising Dion follows the story of a widow, Nicole, whose journey of single parenthood turns dramatically when Dion, her son, starts showcasing superpowers. As Nicole goes to extra lengths to keep her son’s abilities a secret, it reminds one of Jim Hopper’s dedication and perseverance to protect Eleven.
Both series are set in small towns hiding secrets no one truly knows at the beginning. And like Eleven, Dion’s superpowers invite uncanny threats.
The Umbrella Academy (Steve Blackman, 2019-2024)
Based on Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s comic book series, The Umbrella Academy on Netflix has certain eerie similarities with the Stranger Things canon. It tells the story of a dysfunctional family of adopted superhero siblings who were born simultaneously at noon on October 1st, 1989. Although the children were born under mysterious circumstances, Sir Reginald Hargreeves, a whimsical tycoon, adopted seven to form his own superhero squad, The Umbrella Academy.
Like Eleven from Stranger Things, they all have varied supernatural abilities. Both evoke nostalgia and highlight the notion of a found family. But the most biting similarity? They are mostly named by numbers.