Thanksgiving and winter break are quickly approaching, which means lots of time for watching TV. Here are five pairs of shows where if you liked one, you’ll probably like the other!
1. If you liked The Wilds, try Yellowjackets.
In The Wilds, a group of teenage girls on a plane to a retreat crash on an abandoned island. In Yellowjackets, a high school girls’ soccer team who are on a plane to a competition crash into the Canadian mountains and wilderness. Both shows have stories centering on a predominantly teen girl cast, feature complex female characters and relationships, start with a plane crash, and are about the fight for survival outside of civilization. Additionally, both shows have excellent queer representation and tackle difficult topics.
In The Wilds, the girls’ circumstances may not be an accident, while in Yellowjackets the team’s struggle is compounded by eerie, possibly supernatural happenings. Yellowjackets is definitively horror, and it establishes in the first episode that the girls will resort to drastic measures before their eventual rescue. The greatest difference in the shows, however, is that Yellowjackets is split between the girls’ time in the mountains and their life as adults years later as someone attempts to blackmail them over what they’ve done, while The Wilds is more linear with just some flashbacks.
2. If you liked Our Flag Means Death, try Black Sails.
Our Flag Means Death is a comedy about a bumbling pirate captain and the infamous pirate Black Beard. Black Sails is a dark drama about a pirate captain’s search for revenge, meant as a prequel to Treasure Island. Both stories blend historical events with fiction and contain characters both real and historical. Black Sails also features famous fictional pirates from other media. Both stories center on queer and marginalized pirates and show the dynamics between a pirate crew. Both also happen to be about a pirate captain with noble origins and depict their nobility as villains.
Be warned that Black Sails is drastically darker. The show does not shy away from the violence of pirates, nor is it a comedy. In fact, it can be really sad! However, it is known for doing the opposite of the “bury your gays” trope, so take comfort in that. It’s also a much more serious critique of imperialism and has a lot to say about the world and storytelling that is still quite relevant.
3. If you liked Glow Up, try Next in Fashion.
Glow Up is a makeup competition show. Next in Fashion is a fashion design competition show. Both are exceptionally wholesome as they show kind competitors and judges who genuinely want to support one another. Glow Up shows a range of makeup styles and types of competitions, from using the face as a canvas for very literal art to making TV-ready fake injuries. Next in Fashion shows its contestants making entire unique outfits from scratch. It also starts with them working as pairs, which helps keep its friendly atmosphere the whole way through. One of the hosts for Next in Fashion is Tan France from Queer Eye, which is an added bonus. Both are very sweet shows brimming with creativity and talent.
4. If you liked Person of Interest, try Leverage.
Person of Interest is about an eclectic group of people who attempt to stop violent crimes before they happen using the Machine. Leverage is about a team of thieves with all different specialties who help the poor and get back at greedy people in power. Both have the absolute best found families, lovable characters, and great plots about how much rich people suck. They are both somewhat older shows, but they stand up pretty well to the test of time. Both are somewhat formulaic, with the team taking on a new mission each episode except for a few continuous plotlines, but they’re plain good fun. You will become very emotionally attached very quickly to these shows’ unconventional criminal protagonists.
5. If you liked Sex Education, try Never Have I Ever.
Sex Education is about the teenage son of a sex therapist who begins counseling his hopeless classmates. Never Have I Ever is about a teen girl’s goal to have sex with the most popular boy in school following a devastating trauma in her life. Both shows are frank and honest and looks at teens’ romantic and sex lives in a nuanced and careful way. There is so much heart and love in each show. Both are funny and bittersweet. Both shows depict characters who are authentic and flawed like real teens, and they show sympathy and understanding to their protagonists as they grow up and often fuck up. Both shows are over the top but earnest looks at high schoolers navigating relationships of all kinds.