Whatchu’ Gun’ Do?
If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing. To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have. Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Them.
Channel Zero
Similarities – Horror & Anthology
With four delightfully sinister tales to choose from, Channel Zero’s four-season run makes for really compelling horror viewing. However, our top pick remains seasons 1 and 3 in terms of similarities to the spooks served up in the early episodes of Them. With a new spin on The Tooth Fairy (pictured above) and some seriously creepy dolls, this is matched by season 3’s Dream Door plot which is equally as endearing. The characters are interesting and the plot is suitably suspenseful. The other two seasons not mentioned tackle a variety of different ideas, making for a really unusual and intriguing horror anthology. You can read our thoughts on Channel Zero in our full season reviews here!
Lovecraft Country
Similarities – Horror & Style
Lovecraft Country won’t be for everyone, and lovers of Lovecraftian stories may not actually enjoy this one. Admittedly, we weren’t sold on this but it’s undeniably similar to Them. Both shows tackle racism with supernatural elements included. The story here though follows Atticus Freeman, who teams up with his friend Letitia and his Uncle George on a road trip across 1950’s America. Desperate to find his Father, what he finds instead are a mix of terrifying creatures, fantastical witchcraft and racist terrors. With a unique style and some nice ideas, Lovecraft Country bungles its execution at times which will undoubtedly turn some people away. However, others will undoubtedly take to what this series offers so it’s definitely worth giving this one a go. You can read our thoughts on Lovecraft Country in our episode reviews here!
The Handmaid’s Tale
Similarities – Oppression
Expertly written and artistically presented, The Handmaid’s Tale is a surprisingly robust dystopian sci-fi series. Boasting strong narration from lead protagonist June to help get us accustomed to this nightmarish world, the world building throughout the show is incredibly stylish, using a clever blend of flashbacks and modern-day drama to tell this harrowing tale. With all identification and any semblance of human rights for women destroyed overnight, what follows is a shocking, realistically depicted decline of society into a nightmarish dystopian hell. Within this bleak darkness of despair, hope begins to blossom from a small group of rebels who aim to overthrow the fundamentalist theocratic dictatorship and relinquish their grip over America. Split across three seasons and with a fourth on the horizon, The Handmaid’s Tale is one of the more unique shows in this category and should whet the appetite for anyone after a compelling story. You can read our thoughts on The Handmaid’s Tale in our full season reviews here!
Alias Grace
Similarities – Abuse & Mental Health
Alias Grace features a layered plot involving a litany of flashbacks, a well-written, poetic script and an award-winning performance from Sarah Gadon. The story begins in 19th Century Canada, where psychiatrist Dr. Simon Jordan weighs in on whether murderess Grace should be pardoned due to insanity. Based on a true story, the narrative is told through a series of face to face discussions between Jordan and Grace, recounting her troubled life and the adversity this woman endured leading up to the murders she stands accused of. Alias Grace is certainly one of the best period dramas streaming on Netflix and one of the dark horses available to watch on the platform. You can read our thoughts on Alias Grace in our full season reviews here!
Watchmen
Similarities – Themes & Characters
While Watchmen is a series predominantly tackling superheroes, there’s an undercurrent of racial and societal examination that make it such an enthralling watch. Watchmen is as grim as it is artistic, playing up the political aspects of the comics it’s based upon. For those unaware, Watchmen takes place in an alternate history where masked vigilantes are treated as outlaws. Playing up the political aspects of the comic, this 9 part miniseries delivers a concise and incredibly endearing stand-alone season of action. The various heroes (using that term lightly here) all feel part of this world, and thematically the series knocks it out the park. You can read our thoughts on Watchmen in our full season review here!
The Haunting Of Hill House
Similarities – Horror
Technically sound and featuring a lot of well-worked scares, The Haunting Of Hill House is a stunningly well executed show, one that weaves a group of perfectly written characters with a story that never feels like careering off track. In its simplest form, Haunting Of Hill House is a typical haunted house series with flashes between the past and present making up the bulk of this show. The poor family at the center of this conflict are haunted by memories of their old home and the terrifying events that befell them there. Word of mouth helped this show grow a lot when it released back in 2018 and it deserves recognition for managing to keep up suspense and tension over 10 hours – which is certainly no easy feat. Haunting Of Hill House is quite simply a benchmark for all TV horror to aspire toward. You can read our thoughts on The Haunting Of Hill House in our full season review here!
The Terror: Infamy
Similarities – Horror & Racism
If you’re looking for a historical slice of fiction with a slightly different angle but an equal emphasis on racism and supernatural spirits, The Terror: Infamy is definitely worth a watch. Unlike the first season’s frozen wasteland, Infamy changes the setting to World War II in the heart of America. With the Pacific invasion well underway, innocent Japanese are thrown in internment camps. Only, there’s something supernatural lurking in the shadows, ready to strike out at any moment. Creepy and playing on conventional folklore tales, Infamy doesn’t quite nail its execution as well as the first season. However, it’s certainly a unique and interesting watch nonetheless. You can read our thoughts on The Terror: Infamy in our full season review here!
Homecoming
Similarities – Style
After the success of Mr. Robot, creator Sam Esmail set his sights on a new venture – noir-thriller Homecoming. This intriguing thriller essentially splits its focus between the past and present. Main protagonist Heidi works as a waitress in present day America but at a company called Homecoming in the past. This company, run by sleazy boss Colin, aims to rehabilitate damaged soldiers back into civilian life through an experimental, privately funded program. One of the stars of said program is vet Walter who has all the makings to be the perfect test subject. With a significant chunk of Heidi’s memory mysteriously missing, Investigator Carrasco begins to piece together what happened in the present day timeline. With 30 minute episodes and an uneasy dread clinging to large parts of the story, the aesthetic and visual design is very similar to Them. While the second season isn’t quite as effective as the first, there’s a lot to like here nonetheless. You can read our thoughts on Homecoming in our full season review here!
Roots (1977)
Similarities – Slavery & Unflinching Look At America
Although Roots was rebooted back in 2006, it’s the original 1977 version that really strikes a chord. For those unaware, Roots plays out as a TV event following the dramatization of author Alex Haley’s family line. Starting with Kunta Kinte’s enslavement around the year 1750, Roots follows Kunta’s journey to white supremist America, where he’s sold at a slave market. What follows is an incredible family journey, spanning multiple generations while looking broadly at the evolving landscape of America. To give much more away would be a disservice to this series, but suffice to say it’s an incredible journey. Well written and essential viewing, Roots is one of the best miniseries released in quite some time.
When They See Us
Similarities – Racial Inequality
Split across four feature-length episodes, When They See Us is a brutal, sobering look at racial inequality within the American Justice system. Coerced into admitting to a rape they didn’t commit, five black teenagers are pinned down for the rape and severe assault of a white jogger running through Central Park at night. With their stories failing to add up and the police under pressure to make an arrest, they coerce all the teenagers, some of which under the legal age, into admitting to the crime and hurriedly put them on trial. It’s a shocking, emotionally stirring mini-series but an essential watch for sure. You can read our thoughts on When They See Us in our full season review here! What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
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