Good TV makes us think and feel deeply. That’s certainly true of The Sandman, Netflix's adaptation of Neil Gaiman's seminal comic. A complicated, layered story about an eternal being named Dream, there isn't much else out there with a similar vibe.
But there are some shows can may scratch that itch. Whether you want fantasy or sci-fi, there are options out there worth checking out. We’ve got a selection from both genres to make sure you find something that satisfies you.
American Gods
Like The Sandman, American Gods is based on work by Gaiman, so it's a great place to start. American Gods tells a story about a battle between Old Gods (pagan gods from around the world, like Odin) and New Gods that humanity has unwittingly created, like Media and the Technical Boy.
The first season is the trippiest as we meet all of these deities and learn about their conflict. Our hero is Shadow Moon, who just wants to grieve after the death of his wife. Instead, he is drawn into a world he doesn’t understand that puts his life at risk and teaches him things he never wanted to learn.
American Gods is available to stream on STARZ.
Dark
One of the things that The Sandman does so well is interweave storylines for its various characters. If you want another show like that, then you’ll want to turn to the three-season series Dark. This is a crime drama that involves time travel and complex relationships. Watch it in German with English subtitles if you want to fully appreciate the story.
Dark starts with the disappearance of two children from a small German town, a town with a sinful past that needs to be explored. With supernatural elements and a past timeline that plays an important part, you’ll find yourself drawn in immediately.
Dark is available to stream on Netflix.
Altered Carbon
How about a cyberpunk series? Altered Carbon is based on the 2002 cyberpunk novel by Richard K. Morgan. It’s set more than 300 years in the future in a society that has been transformed thanks to technology. Human beings can transfer their consciousness into other bodies called sleeves, meaning death no longer has to be permanent.
But that doesn't mean death can’t mean something. Takeshi Kovacs is the only surviving soldier of a group of elite warriors who attempted an uprising. He’s now being released from prison thanks to a wealthy politician named Laurens Bancroft, on one condition: he needs to solve Bancroft’s murder.
Altered Carbon is available to stream on Netflix.
Good Omens
Once more, we have a series based on a novel by Gaiman, although in the case of Good Omens, he wrote it with the late Terry Pratchett. Like The Sandman, Good Omens offers us a couple of stories that all end up coming together. It’s a story of saving the world, only without really meaning to or expecting to.
The apocalypse is coming, and the Four Horsemen (with motorbikes for horses) are getting ready to find the Antichrist. The demon Crowley and angel Aziraphale, long-time friends despite being in opposite camps, team up to stop the end of the world, having grown comfortable with their lives on Earth.
There’s also a witch with terribly worded prophecies, a descendant of a witch hunter, and more. How will they all fit in? Can they save the world? And what happens after that?
Good Omens is available to stream on Prime Video.
The Magicians
How about a show filled with magic, quests, and musical numbers? The Magicians follows a group of college students who get to learn how to become magicians, only things are turned on their head when a great evil is released.
One of the best things about this series is the way the characters develop into full, rich human beings, even those you think initially are only there just for some comedic relief. Even if you’re not a fan of musical numbers, I encourage you to watch those episodes because of the way they help with character and story development. They’re not just added in for the sake of it!
The Magicians is available to stream on Tubi.
More recommendations:
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