Stuck in a TV rut? Tired of the same old procedurals, hangout comedies, superhero series, and remakes or reboots? If you’re nodding your head yes, and you’re up for something a bit more bizarre, check out one of these gems. Not only are they weird, but they all lasted more than one season.
Dark
This German Netflix original series is a three season sci-fi thriller full of twists, turns, and interesting characters. Oh and it’s got a 95% rating on Rotten Tomatoes to boot.
Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency
Jonesing for an off-kilter murder mystery series, this one may be for you. This BBC America series ran for two seasons, but you can stream it on Hulu.
Fringe
J.J. Abrams’ Fringe aired for five seasons on FOX, but don’t let it’s broadcast network origin story deceive you. This show is weird and lovely and ended on its own terms so enjoy the ride. Find it on Amazon Prime.
Future Man
This Hulu original series ran for three seasons and only got progressively more insane over time and that’s saying a lot since there’s a dick swap storyline in the first season. There’s also time travel, the end of the world, and a lot of humor you’d expect from a Seth Rogan produced comedy.
Hannibal
Yes, this show is based on an existing property, but in the hands of Bryan Fuller it got weird and I mean that as a compliment. Also, I’m perpetually in awe that this show aired on a broadcast network and lasted for three seasons. (Thank you NBC, I guess, for your lack of support and oversight.) Stream it today on Hulu.
Happy!
This Christopher Meloni led SyFy comedy, based on a graphic novel, is about an ex-cop turned hitman who, according to IMDB, “befriends his kidnapped daughter’s imaginary friend – a perky blue flying unicorn” after a near-death experience. Definitely not a premise you hear all too often. Check it out on Netflix if you like dark humor and don’t mind violence.
Legion
This is not your average superhero series. In fact this Marvel series might be the most black-sheep of the bunch. Never intended to be a part of the official MCU canon, FX’s Legion very much has the sensibility and darkness of other FX series but with a tangential tie-in to the X-Men. Stream all three seasons on Hulu.
Pushing Daisies
I’m pretty much a Bryan Fuller loyalist so this show had to make the list as it’s one of his most whimsical and hard to describe series to date. There’s jokes, murder mysteries, a pie shop, and one character even has the ability to make dead things alive again so that either sounds interesting or off-putting. I’ll let you decide. Pushing Daisies also stars some heavy hitters like Lee Pace, Chi McBride, Kristen Chenoweth, and more!
The Leftovers
Forever on my to-watch list, The Leftovers is continually touted as an amazing show, albeit one that is super hard to describe. It seems super bleak, but sometimes the best shows are. Find out for yourself, the entire series is streamable on HBO Max.
The OA
Here’s another series with supernatural elements and a missing person. If that checks any of your must-watch boxes, then this Netflix original series is a solid add to your list. Interesting tidbit about The OA, series creator Brit Marling pulls double duty and also stars in the series. Talk about a labor of love.
Twin Peaks
Is this the OG WTF series? I feel like it might be. I mean David Lynch is notorious for creating unique and mind-bending pieces of entertainement. Whether you watch the original run or the 2017 follow-up third season, I’m sure you’re in for a wild treat. At the very least you can find out who killed Laura Palmer. The first two seasons can be streamed on Hulu or Paramount+, the third season is exclusively on Showtime.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
A kidnapping plot as a comedy? Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt manages to do just that. Perhaps just a bit too odd for NBC’s taste, who initially passed on the pilot, this series found a home on Netflix for four seasons. There’s heart, there’s laughs, there’s trauma, and there’s even an interactive choose your own adventure special, guest starring Daniel Radcliffe.
Wayward Pines
Based on a book series of the same name and executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan (possibly the king of “what did I just watch”), Wayward Pines is another one of those shows set in a small town where people go missing and lots of other bizarre things happen. Can’t ever trust those tiny towns I guess. Both seasons are currently available to stream on Amazon Prime.
Wilfred
I watched all four seasons of this dark comedy and yet it feels like a fever dream. How the hell did a show about a guy hanging out with an imaginary(?) talking dog last this long? It’s also the second entry on this list to include Elijah Wood in a starring role. What an interesting career he’s had to date. Whether you’re a fan of his or of rascally dogs, FX’s Wilfred can be found on Hulu. (The original Australian version, which had just two seasons but the same Wilfred, is also available online, on Peacock and Tubi.)
For even more offbeat entertainment you may want to check out any number of animated series such as Sealab 2021, Cake, Big Mouth, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Undone, or really anything found on Comedy Central, FXX, or the Adult Swim block on Cartoon Network.
