What to watch after ‘Stranger Things’ now that it’s over
What to watch after ‘Stranger Things’ now that it’s over
Each pick shares the DNA of ‘Stranger Things’ while taking the tone in a new direction.
If you just finished “Stranger Things” and watched that series finale hit on Wednesday, Dec. 31, yeah… it stings. This show’s been part of the TV conversation for almost a decade, and it somehow pulled off being huge, scary, funny, and genuinely emotional at the same time. You had bikes, basements, synths, monsters, and a cast you actually cared about. It sucks that the ride is over. But the good news is you don’t have to abandon that vibe entirely. There are a few shows that tap into the same energy, whether that’s creepy small towns, kids getting pulled into something way too big, or that slow, uncomfortable feeling that something’s wrong and nobody’s saying it out loud. If you’re staring at your TV screen, wondering what now, here’s where I’d go next.
Stranger Things
When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one strange little girl.
Loved ‘Stranger Things’? Watch: ‘Dark’
“Dark” starts off in a way that feels instantly familiar if you’re coming straight from “Stranger Things.” Small town. Woods everywhere. A kid goes missing. Alarms should already be going off in your head. But pretty quickly, this show lets you know it’s playing a very different game.
Where “Stranger Things” mixes scares with humor and nostalgia, “Dark” is serious business. It’s heavy, moody, and constantly asking you to pay attention. The story dives deep into time travel, family secrets, and how one event can echo across decades. There’s no comic relief character here to break the tension. It’s all puzzle, all the time. That said, it’s incredibly rewarding if you stick with it. If you loved the mythology, the long-running mysteries, and the theory-building side of “Stranger Things,” this will absolutely scratch that itch. Just be ready to concentrate.
Dark
A missing child sets four families on a frantic hunt for answers as they unearth a mind-bending mystery that spans three generations.
Try out: ‘Locke & Key’
“Locke & Key” might be the smoothest transition if what you’re missing most is the heart of “Stranger Things.” It’s centered on kids dealing with real loss, adjusting to a new town, and slowly realizing the house they’ve moved into is hiding something very strange. Instead of secret labs and alternate dimensions, you get magical keys that can do everything from open impossible doors to mess with your own head.
The vibe here is a little lighter. It’s spooky, but it’s not trying to traumatize you. There’s more fantasy and wonder mixed in with the danger. And what really works is the family dynamic. The siblings argue, mess up, protect each other, and slowly grow into their roles, which feels very much in line with the Hawkins kids. It also helps that the show tells a complete story across three seasons, so you’re not left hanging. If you want something fun, emotional, and still supernatural, this is an easy recommendation.
Locke & Key
After their dad’s murder, three siblings move with their mom to his ancestral estate, where they discover magical keys that unlock powers — and secrets.
Watch next: ‘Welcome to Derry’
If the parts of “Stranger Things” that stuck with you most were the genuinely scary ones, “Welcome to Derry” is where things get much darker. This is a prequel to “It,” (which I just read again this year… so good!) and it wastes no time setting the tone. Same basic idea. Small town. Kids disappearing. Something ancient and evil is lurking just beneath the surface… but this time, the safety net is gone.
There’s no Eleven here to flip a truck and save the day. The horror is heavier, bloodier, and way more relentless. The town itself feels cursed, like it’s been rotting for years. Where “Stranger Things” gives you moments of warmth and humor to balance things out, “Welcome to Derry” mostly sits in dread and lets it linger. If you’re in the mood for something scarier that still shares that kids-versus-evil DNA, this one absolutely delivers.
IT: Welcome to Derry
In 1962, amid a spate of unexplained disappearances of local children, a group of misfit friends begin to suspect a long-buried ancient evil lurking. As the kids set out to determine what’s really going on, a rising unease prompts several townspeople to work together to restore peace – all while a U.S. military operation seeks to exploit Derry for its own objectives.
Throwback pick: ‘Twin Peaks’
Watching “Twin Peaks” after “Stranger Things” feels like going back to the blueprint. This is the show that figured out how to do small-town mystery with something deeply unsettling underneath it. It starts with a young woman’s death, brings in an outsider to investigate, and slowly peels back a world where reality feels thin and unstable.
Fair warning: the pacing is slower, and the tone is much stranger. Sometimes very strange. It jumps from genuinely funny to deeply disturbing without warning, and it doesn’t always explain itself. But the influence is obvious. Parallel dimensions. Friendly towns hiding ugly secrets. Horror is sitting right next to humor. If you’ve ever wondered where a lot of “Stranger Things’” mood and ideas came from, this is required viewing. Just go in knowing it’s more about atmosphere than clean answers.
Twin Peaks
The body of Laura Palmer is washed up on a beach near the small Washington state town of Twin Peaks. FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper is called in to investigate her strange demise only to uncover a web of mystery that ultimately leads him deep into the heart of the surrounding woodland and his very own soul.
More to watch after finishing ‘Stranger Things’:
‘Archive 81’ | Netflix
Archive 81
An archivist takes a job restoring damaged videotapes and gets pulled into the vortex of a mystery involving the missing director and a demonic cult.
‘Safe’ | Netflix
Safe
After his daughter goes missing, a widower begins uncovering the dark secrets of the people closest to him.
‘The Umbrella Academy’ | Netflix
The Umbrella Academy
Reunited by their father’s death, estranged siblings with extraordinary powers uncover shocking family secrets — and a looming threat to humanity.
‘Dead Boy Detectives’ | Netflix
Dead Boy Detectives
Two teen ghosts work alongside a clairvoyant to solve mysteries for their supernatural clientele — until a powerful witch complicates their plans.