You tell the story of Joe Goldberg, a murderous guy who becomes fixated on many women. It would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago to have a thriller like You on TV; these days, it’s just one of several programmes that implore viewers to sympathise with a murderer. Serial killers are a familiar sight on television, with a plethora of episodes showcasing these horrible characters. But for very different reasons, television has also handled a plethora of other horrific stories that are just as dark, if not darker, than You. In a time when depressing television is the standard, viewers have options when it comes to what to watch. So here is a list for you to watch the dark Tv series that you absolutely like:

The Handmaid’s Tale

Description

The bleak parallel universe of The Handmaid’s Tale is the setting. There, the US has devolved into an authoritarian nation where women are denied rights and seen as less than human. June Osborne, who witnesses all of Gilead’s tragedies, provides a lot of the narrative viewpoint for The Handmaid’s Tale. The Handmaid’s Tale continues to be such a depressing show that seems to go out of its way to torment and punish its characters, which is why a lot of people have given up on it. Officially, the sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale will not be returning; perhaps, however, it will end on an optimistic note.

• Genre – Drama
• Actors – Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley, Alexis Bledel
• Director –  Bruce Miller
• Age Restriction – U/A 16+

Rating

IMDB: 78.4/10 (254K+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 83% (360 Reviews)

Breaking Bad

Description

Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, the prequel spin-off, are regarded as some of this generation’s best television shows. Watching Breaking Bad draws viewers in with the intriguing premise of a mild-mannered chemistry teacher who transforms into a ruthless drug lord. Breaking Bad’s electric energy comes from the contrast between Walter White’s previous life and his new beginnings, but the programme is also very bleak. Walt grows more at ease, leaving corpses in his trail as a result of his unwavering will to live and triumph. Many personalities reach their lowest periods in life, and some abhorrent things are committed.

• Genre – Crime
• Actors – Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, RJ Mitte, Dean Norris
• Director – Vince Gilligan
• Age Restriction – A

Rating

IMDB: 9.5/10 (2M+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 96% (250 Reviews)

Hannibal

Description

Thomas Harris’s book series is lovingly adapted and remixed by Hannibal, however, with an emphasis on the perilous chemistry between Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham. A masterwork of long-form and serialised storytelling, Hannibal gains from the dramatic irony of the audience’s knowledge of Hannibal’s murderous nature. It’s as amazing as it is unsettling how Hannibal manipulates everyone around him. Will Graham starts down a dark path, believing that he would be happiest if Hannibal were his killer? While Hannibal specialises in macabre subject matter, it also enjoys eerie set pieces in which killings are skillfully rendered.

• Genre – Crime
• Actors – Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Abrams, Caroline Dhavernas
• Director – Bryan Fuller
• Age Restriction – A

Rating

IMDB: 8.5/10 (272K+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 92% (39 Reviews)

Chernobyl

Description

Because they are based on actual tragedies rather than grandiose works of fiction, many gloomy dramatic television shows are extremely powerful. The 2019 film Chernobyl is a harsh retelling of the devastating 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. These historically accurate dramas can occasionally strike too close to home. Although viewers anticipate Chernobyl to be a disturbing narrative, it’s amazing how much this series goes to represent loss and growing anguish. Despite their tremendous effect, many viewers may never want to witness some of the horrible images from Chernobyl again.

• Genre – History, Drama
• Actors – Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, Adam Nagaitis, Paul Ritter, Jessie Buckley
• Director – Craig Mazin
• Age Restriction – U/A 16+

Rating

IMDB: 9.3/10 (846K+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 95% (104 Reviews)

Twin Peaks

Description

While murder and deception are major topics for both you and Twin Peaks, only the latter ventures into bizarre, otherworldly realms. Twin Peaks, particularly after the third season that debuted 25 years after the first, is widely regarded as David Lynch’s masterpiece. Lynch is still an unmatched avant-garde storyteller. As ancient evil and dark realms emerge, Special Agent Dale Cooper looks into the death of a well-liked small-town girl. This is merely the tip of the iceberg. Twin Peaks explores a horrifying pessimism that is only conceivable in Lynch’s creations.

• Genre – Drama
• Actors – Kyle MacLachlan, Chrysta Bell, Richard Beymer, Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook
• Director – David Lynch, Mark Frost
• Age Restriction – U/A 16+

Rating

IMDB: 8.5/10 (74K+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 94% (99 Reviews)

Edge Of Darkness

Description

Despite being directed by Martin Campbell of Casino Royale, Edge of Darkness is a six-episode British criminal drama and political thriller from 1985 that is mostly unknown to audiences today. After his daughter is killed, Ronald Craven, a bereaved police officer, is at his wits’ end. He is exposed to cover-ups and conspiracies by the authorities. Craven loses faith in the system and the task he has dedicated his life to. When he has nothing left to lose, he crosses dangerous lines. Like Joe Goldberg in You, Craven transforms into a force of nature, but it’s tragic because all he wants is the truth about his daughter’s passing.

• Genre – Crime, Drama
• Actors – Kevin Bacon, Aldis Hodge, Lauren E. Banks, Jonathan Tucker, Mark O’Brien
• Director – Chuck MacLean
• Age Restriction – U/A 16+

Rating

IMDB: 6.6/10 (98K+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 55% (218 Reviews)

Broadchurch

Description

The popularity of dark detective programmes has been rising, and a lot of them might come across as simplistic in their treatment of similar subjects. In this genre, Broadchurch assisted in creating a new benchmark. The three-season British drama masterfully captures the effects of grief on the community following the death of a small-town youngster. In addition to examining how this tragedy was solved, Broadchurch delves into how the people living in this town change when their lives are scrutinised. You also emphasise that Broadchurch serves as a warning that evil may hide anywhere. The series’ primary actors, Olivia Colman and David Tennant, give outstanding performances.

• Genre – Crime, Mystery
• Actors – David Tennant, Jodie Whittaker, Arthur Darvill, Olivia Colman, Andrew Buchan
• Director –  Chris Chibnall
• Age Restriction – U/A 16+

Rating

IMDB: 8.4/10 (125K+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 92% (110 Reviews)

Oz

Description

HBO has established itself as a reputable outlet for grim, gloomy programmes. Oz from 1997 contributed to the network’s development of this reputation. With a close examination of the lives of the inmates and guards in the experimental section of a state prison, Oz aired for six seasons. Because anxiety and paranoia drive every episode, Oz doesn’t go for the same lightheartedness as, say, Orange is the New Black. Like you did with Joe, Love, Henderson, and Ron, Oz forces its viewers to spend time with some very horrible people.

• Genre – Crime, Drama
• Actors – Harold Perrineau, Eamonn Walker, Kirk Acevedo, Ernie Hudson, Terry Kinney,
• Director – Tom Fontana
• Age Restriction – A

Rating

IMDB: 8.7/10 (105K+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 93% (49 Reviews)

Dexter

Description

There is a lot of similarity between Dexter and You: both shows rely on the viewer to believe in and support a serial murderer who lives in plain sight. Given that the character’s moral compass sets him apart from the other monsters he slays, Dexter makes an effort to be somewhat altruistic in his goal. The storyline of Dexter Morgan’s declining morals is gripping, but the programme isn’t hesitant to take unexpected and upsetting twists. The killings that break out every season are unsettling, but it’s more painful to see innocent people falsely accused of Dexter’s crimes and the lives of loved ones destroyed in the process.

• Genre – Crime, Drama and psychological thriller
• Actors – Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, C.S. Lee, David Zayas, James Remar
• Director – James Manos Jr.
• Age Restriction – U/A 16+

Rating

IMDB: 8.7/10 (757+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 71% (236 Reviews)

The White Lotus

Description

The show maintains an element of surprise till the very end and is genuine. Mike White has previously acted in Pitch Perfect 3 and School of Rock. The first season centres on the shockingly affluent visitors and the strikingly disheartened employees of the opulent White Lotus Hotel. The satirical series offers a compelling perspective on racial and social injustice while revealing the lives of the team and its guests. Many scenes in this sinister and twisted programme will make you wince, but they will also force you to consider the state of modern society.

• Genre – Crime and comedy
• Actors – Murray Bartlett, Connie Britton, Jennifer Coolidge, Alexandra Daddario, Jake Lacy, Natasha Rothwell
• Director – Mike White
• Age Restriction – A

Rating

IMDB: 8/10 (197+ Votes)

Rotten Tomato: 92% (192 Reviews)

Conclusion

To sum up, these gritty and gloomy TV series won’t make you feel down, but they will make you think differently and feel uneasy for a few weeks. Their vivid and savage depictions of crime, corruption, and the frail human mind are designed to frighten as much as to amuse. You are left with both questions and solutions by them. The mood, not the action, is what characterises the genre. These programmes move at a deliberate, frequently excruciating pace because of their stunning photography, eerie soundtrack, and poignant performances. Ultimately, the characters that exist in a morally ambiguous state are the ones who truly resonate with you.