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Some of the best TV shows are those that nudge the viewers to rack their brains a little more. These TV shows present complex storylines and character arcs that mess with the viewers’ heads, but in a good way. They force the audience to pay close attention and are intellectual fodder for the viewers.
From mind-bending plots that have numerous flashforwards and flashbacks, to intricate plots about time travel that span generations, TV shows today want their viewers to sit in rapt attention. Therefore, for those people who love to stimulate their minds, here is a list of 10 TV shows that are complex, daunting, but also rewarding.
The OA, Lost, and other TV shows that are complex and need constant attention
1. Orphan Black
Created by Graeme Manson and John Fawcett, this Canadian sci-fi thriller series features Tatiana Maslany, Dylan Bruce, and others. The show revolves around Sarah Manning (Maslany), one of the several genetically identical human clones who were illegally created in an experiment.
The show is thought-provoking as it explores themes about human cloning, its moral and ethical implications, and identity. The series has received critical and commercial praise, and it is one of those TV shows that viewers will have to watch with a lot of attention, as there are many clones in the show, and their stories overlap.
As Sarah learns about her origins and goes out on a search for other clones, the series offers many twists and turns and will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. The show is cerebral and inventive, and such TV shows require a lot of attention.
2. Dark
One of the most popular sci-fi thriller shows of the past decade, this German series is known for its expansive and ambitious storyline that stretches across multiple timelines and characters. Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, this is one of those TV shows that viewers will have to pay close attention to while watching.
The show follows a group of characters in a small town in Germany, Winden, where, in the aftermath of a child’s disappearance, all of them learn about their shared connections and a time travel conspiracy that spans several generations. Noted for its complex narrative, musical score, tones, and writing, the show is one of those TV shows that will suck in the viewers with its hypnotic premise and will force viewers to pay close attention.
3. The Leftovers
Starring Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, and others, this supernatural drama show is created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta and is based on Perrotta’s 2011 novel of the same name.
The show presents a world where a mysterious global event has wiped out 2% of the world’s population. In the aftermath of this event, the lives of a police chief, Kevin (Theroux), the widow Nora (Coon), and Reverend Matt (Christopher Eccleston) all become focal points of the series.
The show has not only developed a cult following, but it is recognized as one of the best shows of all time. Noted for its writing, acting, and thematic depth, such TV shows are complex, but are worth watching. The show combines religion, philosophy, and science compellingly, and there are a lot of flashbacks and flashforwards that require careful attention.
4. The OA
Created by Brit Marling, Zal Batmanglij, and others, this mystery drama series features Brit Marling, Emory Cohen, and others. The show blends sci-fi, supernatural, and fantasy elements, and it is one of those TV shows where viewers have to stay alert while watching.
The show focuses on Prairie Johnson (Marling), who has come back after being missing for seven years and can now see, when she was blind before. She calls herself the OA, and one of the most controversial parts about the show is that it was cancelled by Netflix after season 2, even though it ended on a cliffhanger.
However, the series is packed with twists and turns and is thematically rich, making it well worth the viewers’ time. Such TV shows are a rarity now, and therefore, their complex plot requires close attention.
5. Russian Doll
Starring Natasha Lyonne, Greta Lee, and others, this comedy and drama show is also created by Lyonne, along with Leslye Headland and Amy Poehler. The show focuses on Nadia Vulvokov (Lyonne), a software engineer who has been mysteriously caught in a time loop that occurs on her birthday, where she repeatedly dies and has to restart the process again.
Now, Nadia must try to solve this loop and figure out how she got caught in it. Even though it is a comedy drama, it is one of those TV shows that will leave the viewers confused if they don’t watch closely.
The show has undertones of time travel, philosophy, and science, which are often mind-boggling. The show has only two seasons till now, and the second season gets even more complex as Nadia is sent back in time to 1982.
6. Black Mirror
Created by Charlie Brooker, this British anthology series is one of the most cerebral and intelligently made shows of the modern period. Each episode of the show has a separate story that is connected by the themes of science and technology.
The show essentially presents dystopian scenarios, where people are suffering in various ways because of the unchecked growth of science and technology. The show touches upon social issues through technology and media. Such TV shows demand close attention from the viewers as the plot is not immediately apparent.
Haunting, bleak, and grim, the show features premises that critique the use of unchecked technology. Such TV shows not only require rapt attention on behalf of the viewers, but they also offer an important social commentary about where our society is heading in this technological age.
7. Lost
A show that defined the early aughts, this sci-fi and adventure drama series was created by JJ Abrams, Jeffrey Lieber, and Damon Lindelof. The show began around a group of survivors of a commercial flight, after their plane crashed into a mysterious island in the South Pacific Ocean.
The show has a large ensemble cast and features a lot of flashbacks and flashforwards that dig deep into the characters and therefore require a lot of attention from the viewers. It is one of those TV shows that got even more convoluted and complex as the seasons progressed, and even though it was criticized for excessive complexity in the latter seasons, the show is still a cultural benchmark.
Both narratively and thematically, there is a lot that needs understanding, and many people even have to keep a notebook ready to understand all that happened in the show.
8. Twin Peaks
Created by Mark Frost and David Lynch, this surrealist mystery and horror drama show is one of the most iconic series from the 1990s. Starring Kyle MacLachlan, Dana Ashbrook, and others, the show revolutionized the TV industry as it brought complex storytelling and nuanced plots in an era where TV shows were filled with dramatic soap operas.
The show focuses on FBI agent Dale Cooper (MacLachlan), who travels to the small town of Twin Peaks, where a local teenager, Laura Palmer, has been killed. It is one of those TV shows that requires the viewers’ undivided attention, as each scene can throw in a surprise.
It is offbeat, zany, and surreal. The show spawned a media franchise and is a pop culture staple, with many scenes and dialogues still being referenced. The otherworldly show has a lot of intricate details that require attention, and it is one of those TV shows that viewers have to closely follow.
9. Game of Thrones
Based on George RR Martin’s series of high fantasy novels, this fantasy drama show is created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss and features a huge ensemble cast. One of the most influential and popular shows of the past decade, it is also an intriguing and exceedingly complex TV show.
The show has become a cultural benchmark and focuses on the noble families of the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, where political conflict leads to these families vying for the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms. The show is vast, sprawling, and has a multitude of characters, each with their own agenda.
There are many interconnected story arcs in the series, and that makes it one of those complex TV shows that require close attention. Secrets, deceptions, and wars are around every corner of the show, and viewers need to watch this one closely.
10. Stranger Things
Created by The Duffer Brothers and starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, and others, this sci-fi and horror series has taken the world by storm with its impressive storytelling, relatable characters, and nostalgic fervor.
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One of the most popular shows of the present time, the series is set in the 1980s and focuses on a group of people in the small town of Hawkins in Indiana, where an illegal experiment has opened the gateway between Earth and a dangerous otherworldly dimension, which has terrifying monsters.
While the show might seem easy at first, as a group of kids fight against the monsters, the lore becomes more complex as the seasons progress. The 4th season of the show delves into the origins of the monsters, and it is both philosophical and complex. Therefore, it is one of those TV shows that requires close attention. With its final season coming soon, viewers must rewatch the earlier seasons for a refresher of the series.
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