5 Shows to watch if you love ‘Black Mirror’

Netflix just released season 5 of Black Mirror (or at least part of it) I’m so excited it’s back!

I love the way the show tells its bizarre stories and the way it uses technology as a common theme. I’ve watched all 3 episodes of season 5, and so far these newer episodes are just okay. I’m hoping they release more that give me a punch in the gut like some of the older episodes (and Bandersnatch).

Every time Black Mirror season comes around, I find myself itching for more shows similar to it. So I made a list of my personal favorites that I’d recommend. You can also stream them all online at the moment.

These are all anthology series, so the episodes or seasons will focus on different characters each time. And like Black Mirror, they’re all hit or miss. Some episodes knock it out of the park and some aren’t very good. But I think they’re worth a try if you’re looking for something new to watch!

1. The Twilight Zone

The first and most obvious choice is The Twilight Zone. (I’m referring to the 2019 remake here but of course you could always go back and watch the original show as well.) Jordan Peele’s take on the classic show delivers strange and sometimes creepy stories, usually with some kind of moral or lesson to learn take away from each one.

It hasn’t had as much buzz because it only airs on CBS All Access and people are reluctant to sign up for yet another service. But if you can get a try or pay for one month and binge watch the first season, I think it’s worth $5.99!

2. Room 104

This show is just plain weird. Sometimes the episodes are really good and sometimes they don’t make any sense and seemly have no point to them at all. But that’s kinda what I like about it, that’s a mixed bag and I have no idea what they’re gonna do next.

If you’ve never heard of it, it’s just a collection of weird or crazy short stories (the episodes are less than 30 minutes each) that all take place inside of the same hotel room. That’s it. I don’t know if there’s any rhyme or reason to it, but it’s definitely fun to watch just to see what happens….if you think you can handle the randomness. It airs on HBO, so if you still have your subscription (now that GOT has ended) then you can binge watch it on demand!

3. The Haunting of Hill House

I don’t know if this show was originally supposed to be an anthology, but the creators recently announced that they’ll focus on a different story for season 2, so that now makes it an anthology!

If you don’t like “scary” stuff then this show might not be for you, but I still think it’s worth a try. The first season was based on the Shirley Jackson book of the same, about five adult siblings whose paranormal experiences at their childhood home (Hill House) continue to haunt them in present day. But for me, what puts it on this list ahead of shows like American Horror Story and Slasher (besides the fact that it’s better) is the trippy timelines, editing, and effects. Just the overall way the way the story is told leaves you questioning what’s real and what’s not. I love that.

The second season will be titled The Haunting of Bly Manor, and will be based on the Henry James novella The Turn of the Screw. It’s a ghost story originally published in 1898 about two orphans, as told by a young governess who looks after them. It’s scheduled to come out in 2020, so you have plenty of time to watch the first season on Netflix!

4. Castle Rock

Castle Rock is a show that deserves so much more attention than it gets. It’s a psychological horror anthology series based on characters from various Stephen King stories. Each season will focus on a different story in the town of Castle Rock.

I was hesitant to include another horror series here (I probably need to make a whole different list for that) but this show is too good to pass up. It’s very slow moving and you may not always understand what’s going on, but it’s so good and includes such a talented cast. Give this one a try! It’s available to stream on Hulu.

5. Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

Lastly, I CAN’T make a list like this without including one of my personal favorites, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction. This show is much older than the others and to be honest the quality isn’t on par with what you’d expect. The acting and production are just plain bad but there’s something about this show that I just love.

Each episode gives you 5 short stories, which are all strange or unusual in some way. Your job as a viewer is to guess which ones are real and which ones are fake. At the end of the episode, your host Jonathan Frakes tells you the answers (see this meme for example ?). It’s brilliant. There’s really nothing else like it, and I kinda wish they’d remake it or bring it back for new episodes! If you’re looking for a good laugh or if you can stand the low budget style of this show then you might like it too. ??‍♀️You can watch it now on Amazon Prime!

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So that’s my list of suggestions! If you have any others, please share. I’m always looking for more shows like this.