3 shows to watch if you loved watching Black Mirror

There's something about Black Mirror that makes you think long after the credits are done rolling. Perhaps it's the unsettlingly familiar futures, or the unsettling manner in which it reflects our real lives with a tech-surprise you weren't expecting. Whatever the case, once you've binge-watched all of the episodes, the hunt is on for something with the same effect. And there isn't always an easy find for a show that strikes the same chord without repeating the same formula.

If you want a show with the same intellectual unease, speculative fiction, and off-kilter sense of unease, you're in luck. Although no show is exactly like Black Mirror, some touch on similar themes of dystopia, humanity's relationship with technology, or psychological disintegration in novel ways.

Let's examine three shows with that same intellectual vibe without being a carbon copy

1. Inside No. 9

Inside No. 9 was developed by Steve Pemberton and Reece Shearsmith. It is an anthology series that turns a bit more with every episode. Each episode takes place within a new "Number 9" setting—whether it's an apartment, dressing room, or train car—and while not every episode is as technology-driven as Black Mirror, they tend to play with psychological horror, social conflict, and twisted morality. The writing is excellent, very often darkly comedic, and every story carries a punch that lands hard, especially if you like surprise fiction.

What sets Inside No. 9 apart is its inability to stick to one genre. You might get black comedy, gothic horror, crime drama, or even a silent episode—all packed into 30-minute packages. It's an anthology like Black Mirror, so you never know what emotional rollercoaster each episode will propel you onto. No flashy future tech here, but it still manages to make you feel uneasy in all the right places.

2. The Twilight Zone (2019 remake or original)

It's difficult to discuss Black Mirror without tipping a hat to The Twilight Zone. Rod Serling's original series established the tone for speculative fiction decades before digital terrors became standard. The 2019 revival, hosted by Jordan Peele, follows the same format: individual episodes combining science fiction, fantasy, and psychological horror with real-world concerns such as surveillance, fear, and social pressure. If Black Mirror ever seemed like a contemporary Twilight Zone, well, that's because it was based on it.

The reboot keeps the show's hallmark twist endings and moral quandaries. But its themes are frequently retooled to reflect contemporary fears, such as technology, race, and political polarization. Though the execution is distinct in tone and style from Black Mirror, the DNA is the same: a mirror held up to society, but warped slightly to reveal something unpleasant.

3. Devs

Directed and written by Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation), Devs is a limited series that deals with free will, determinism, and the consequences of quantum computing. The series follows a young software developer who probes a secretive technology company after her boyfriend's death under unclear circumstances. Against the Silicon Valley backdrop, the series hybridizes philosophical questioning with tech-realism and atmospheric visual storytelling.

What makes Devs comparable to Black Mirror is its realistic approach to cutting-edge technology and the disturbing questions it poses regarding human agency. The pace is slow but measured, rewarding viewers who appreciate rich, high-concept storytelling. It doesn't cut between narratives like Black Mirror, but its one, unified narrative goes just as deep into the moral and existential implications of digital power.

Each of these series offers a distinct flavor, but they all have one thing in common with Black Mirror: they get you thinking. Whether it's sick morality, speculative technology, or psychological unraveling, these shows don't merely entertain—they stick with you.

Also read: 10 Soap Operas that will have you hooked from the start

Edited by Sezal Srivastava

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