It’s been a little while since the final episode of Stranger Things. We laughed, we cried, and we drove ourselves to delusion, wanting more. Although the finale is not without its problems, it stands as an overall satisfying conclusion to the beloved series we’ve all been heavily invested in over the last decade. If you’re anything like me, I’d bet money that that post-show blues are hitting pretty hard right now. Do not fret, my friends. If anything remains constant in this world, it’s that there is no shortage of great TV out there. That includes plenty of substitutes to fill that Stranger Things-sized hole in our hearts. Mystery, horror, kids with superpowers, ’80s nostalgia, you name it. To save you from doing some digging, here are seven shows to dive into next.
1. IT: Welcome To Derry
From one creepy monster terrorizing a bunch of little kids to another… it’s a natural pipeline, really. If it’s more of that small-town horror vibe you’re after, Welcome to Derry absolutely delivers. Much like the later seasons of Stranger Things, Welcome to Derry centers around a group of kids as they face off against a powerful, extra-dimensional villain who preys on fear. Only, instead of Vecna, it’s Pennywise the Dancing Clown. This show is bloody, intense, and delightfully brilliant. Plus, it introduces Pennywise in a way we’ve never quite seen him before. As a huge fan of both Stranger Things and Welcome to Derry, the parallels are uncanny. Hence, why the series sits at the top of this list.
Where to watch: HBO Max
2. The Umbrella Academy
For more superpowered fun, check out The Umbrella Academy. After 43 women around the world inexplicably gave birth at the same time on the same day (none of whom were pregnant before), a billionaire seeks out and adopts seven of them. Each one has a unique ability, from super strength to teleportation to mind control. Flashing forward to the future, the siblings must band together to save the world from imminent demise. What unfolds is an action-packed, intensely fun watch. The Umbrella Academy shares a few common themes with Stranger Things: childhood trauma, found family, etc. Despite a few, let’s just say, controversial choices in season four, it’s a solid show overall.
Where to watch: Netflix
3. Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets follows a high school girls’ soccer team after a brutal plane crash leaves them stranded deep in the wilderness. Desperate for survival, the team quickly descends into brutality. Annnnddd a wee bit of cannibalism. The series is certainly much darker compared to Stranger Things, but enthralling nonetheless. Flashing back and forth between past and present, more and more is revealed as the show unravels. Yellowjackets absolutely captures that haunting element of horror, so if that’s your vibe, give it a try. Not to mention the fact that it boasts a stellar cast. Ella Purnell and Sophie Thatcher in one place? Yes, please.
Where to watch: Paramount+
4. Locke & Key
Locke & Key is another great fantasy horror thriller to add to the list of things to watch after Stranger Things. After their father’s death, three siblings move into a strange house where reality isn’t quite what it seems. They encounter a collection of magical keys with special abilities, unlocking old family secrets that should’ve stayed buried in the past. And the siblings aren’t the only ones who are dying to get their hands on these keys. Locke & Key is wonder, mystery, and horror all wrapped into one. The series echoes some of the more supernatural, captivating elements prevalent in Stranger Things. Plus, there are three entire seasons of wondrous chaos to enjoy.
Where to watch: Netflix
5. Paper Girls
Paper Girls is a great follow-up to Stranger Things for a few reasons. Not only does it have the makings of a wonderfully suspenseful science fiction mystery, but it also plays on the ’80s nostalgia that we love so dearly. The series is set in 1988. Well, sort of. That’s because we’re trading cross-dimensional for time travel. The morning after Halloween, four paper girls on separate routes accidentally time-jump to the future. Finding themselves caught between two warring factions of time travelers, the girls must work together to, you guessed it, save the world. Unfortunately, Paper Girls wasn’t picked up for a second season. Still, it’s a fun, exciting watch with some wholesome themes.
Where to watch: Prime Video
6. The Midnight Club
I stand by the fact that The Midnight Club is one of Netflix’s underrated gems. It falls under a similar genre as Stranger Things: a little bit of horror, a little bit of mystery, etc. At a mysterious manor for terminally ill children, five patients meet at midnight to exchange scary stories with one another. Each episode follows a different haunting tale, focusing on a different character’s story. Simultaneously, more dark secrets are discovered about the manor’s unsettling past. Sadly, the supernatural thriller fell victim to the tragic curse of Netflix cutting it after only one season. The Midnight Club is well worth the watch, nonetheless.
Where to watch: Netflix
7. I Am Not Okay With This
Finally, we wrap this list up with yet another show involving a group of outcast teens and a female protagonist with superpowers as they navigate the complexities of life. There’s even a supernatural, shadowy villain. From the tone to the subject matter, I Am Not Okay With This is pretty on par with Stranger Things thematically. The two series even share a producer. I Am Not Okay With This centers around a young teen as she juggles the weight of high school, family, and her sexuality. Add to the list the challenge of dealing with brand-new superpowers. If you haven’t checked it out already, the series is a great substitute for the emptiness Stranger Things left us behind with.
Where to watch: Netflix
Although Stranger Things might have finally come to an end after all these years (Yes, there really is NO secret final episode), that doesn’t mean we have to rot away in a corner somewhere. The world is full of streaming services with new and exciting TV shows to binge. There’s plenty more fish in the sea, as they say. Heck, there are seven in this very post. Take your pick and watch one. If that still doesn’t satisfy your desire for an entertaining, high-stakes, sci-fi-esque series, there’s always the option of a complete Stranger Things rewatch. Happy marathon watching!