Stranger Things season 5 is finally arriving this year, but the wait feels endless! With months still to go before the first batch of episodes drops on Netflix, fans are itching to return to the eerie and thrilling world of Hawkins. Believe me, we're just as anxious and excited as you are, eagerly counting down the days.
So, what is one to do in the meantime? The good news: you don’t have to just stare at the calendar. There are plenty of other fun and thrilling sci-fi shows out there that will keep you entertained until Stranger Things returns, and we've got three fantastic picks that are perfect for filling the void. We shared them all below!
The Umbrella Academy
Look, you don't even have to go far because The Umbrella Academy is available to stream on Netflix just like Stranger Things. What's even better is that the sci-fi show has already concluded its run, so you can binge the entire series without waiting for new episodes. That's four seasons of action-packed and wildly unpredictable superhero drama all ready to dive into whenever you want!
Comic book fans will likely already be familiar with The Umbrella Academy since it’s based on the acclaimed series of comics by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. The plot centers around a dysfunctional family of adopted super-powered siblings who reunite after their father’s mysterious death, only to uncover dark secrets and face looming threats that could alter the fate of the world.
Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and many others make up the cast.
Resident Alien
Resident Alien is another fun sci-fi show worth checking out if you haven't already. Like The Umbrella Academy, it's adapted from another piece of work. It's based on the comic book of the same name by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse.
Created by Chris Sheridan, the show's plot revolves around an alien named Harry who crash-lands on Earth and assumes the identity of a small-town doctor in Patience, Colorado. While originally sent to eliminate humanity, Harry soon finds himself questioning his mission as he begins to experience human emotions, form unexpected connections with the townspeople, and even starts solving local mysteries.
Emmy-nominated actor Alan Tudyk stars in the lead role of Harry. Also in the cast are Sara Tomko, Corey Reynolds, Alice Wetterlund, Levi Fiehler, Judah Prehn, Elizabeth Bowen, Meredith Garretson, and others. All four seasons are available to stream on Peacock.
Orphan Black
Suppose you're a true Tatiana Maslany fan. In that case, you'd know that before she became the She-Hulk in the Disney+ series She-Hulk: Attorney at Law or found herself dealing with a cursed toy monkey in the horror flick The Monkey, she earned widespread acclaim for her groundbreaking role in Orphan Black. And she wasn't just playing one character in the sci-fi series. She portrayed several distinct clones, each with their own personalities, voices, and quirks. Talk about impressive!
Graeme Manson and John Fawcett are the creative masterminds behind this show. The series follows Sarah Manning (Maslany), a woman who uncovers that she’s one of multiple clones caught up in a deadly conspiracy, pushing her to fight for her identity and survival against dangerous enemies.
Joining Maslany in the cast are other talented actors, including Dylan Bruce, Jordan Gavaris, Kevin Hanchard, Michael Mando, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Evelyne Brochu, Ari Millen, and Kristian Bruun. There are five seasons of Orphan Black, and they're all available to stream on AMC+ right now.
Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 releases on Netflix on Nov. 26, followed by volume 2 on Dec. 25, and volume 3 on Dec. 31.