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10 Shows like Blindspot For Fans Of Intense Crime Dramas

December 5, 2022
shows like blindspot

The highly engaging crime drama television series Blindspot saw its series finale in 2020. If you too miss the show, we have curated a list of great shows like Blindspot. The TV show Blindspot is a highly well-received series following a mysterious and heavily tattooed woman with no recollection of her past or identity. It casts well-known actors like Sullivan Stapleton and Jaimie Alexander. The show did let in a little suspension of disbelief; on the whole, it was an entertaining, action-packed thriller. The writing was compelling, and the crisp delivery of dialogues made Blindspot the great show it is. If you are looking for shows filled with mystery, twists and turns, etc, we are sure you will find a couple of great picks in our list below. 

List of TV Shows Like Blindspot

  1. Quantum Leap
  2. Absentia
  3. The Blacklist 
  4. Quantico
  5. The Sinner
  6. Fringe
  7. The 4400
  8. Emergence
  9. Alias
  10. Homeland

1. Quantum Leap (2022)

Quantum Leap is a revival sci-fi series of the original 1989 show. The story picks up 30 years after (2022) the final events from 1992—Physicist Ben Song (Lee) is a member investigating the mysterious disappearance of Dr Sam Beckett (Bakula). Dr Beckett makes an unauthorised leap into the past, and when he gets there, he has amnesia. 

Now, the team must try to figure out how to restart the project hoping to understand Dr Beckett’s intentions. Today, television is as invested as ever in time travel, body swapping, brain hacking — and the chaos and dissociation left in their wake. Suppose you have seen the original show or want to see a standalone revival of the show that influences the cultural idea of time travel. In that case, Quantum Leap is a perfect choice for shows like Blindspot. 

2. Absentia (2017)

Absentia is an American thriller drama television series featuring Castle’s Stana Katic, a.k.a Detective Beckett. Here, she plays the main role of FBI Agent Emily Byrne, who disappears while chasing a serial killer. She is found in a cabin 6 years later with no memory of what happened while she was missing.

Agent Emily readjusts to life by working on a new series of murders. We can witness the character go through a far more deeply tormenting psychological trauma than you ever saw in Blindspot. Have you seen shows like Castle, and are you a fan of shows like Blindspot? Then, absentia is the right pick for you. 

3. The Blacklist  

The Blacklist is an American crime thriller series following a wanted fugitive called ‘Red’ who mysteriously surrenders himself to the FBI and offers to help catch criminals. The Blacklist is regarded as one of the best shows on tv by critics and viewers alike. 

The action-packed twisted thriller of The Blacklist and a quirky sense of humour make this show great for shows like Blindspot. The characterisation and the storyline in this show are incredibly well-developed, and it is sure to become one of your favourites. 

4. Quantico (2015)

The show Quantico gained high anticipation when it was first released due to Priyanka Chopra’s popularity. However, what kept the viewers hooked was the premise. FBI agent Alex Parrish (Chopra) finds herself in the heart of the attack on the Grand Central Terminal in New York. Parrish becomes a prime suspect and is arrested for treason.

Determined to show her innocence and catch the culprit, Parrish recalls her time of training in the Quantico base. Quantico has a decent cast and uses a sort of game-like effect, making me feel like I’m invited to play in the guessing game. So if you are searching for shows similar to Blindspot, you might want to try watching this one. 

5. The Sinner (2017)

The Sinner show was inspired by Petra Hammeshfahr’s novel. This is an American Police Procedural anthological series. The Sinner has received outstanding reviews from critics and viewers alike. In this investigative show, Detective Harry Ambrose investigates a new murder each season, where he is exposed to new crimes. He is often trying to understand the inner motives behind the actions of the criminals. 

The talented Bill Pullman acts as the central character of the show, Detective Harry Ambrose, and viewers look at the world through his point of view. The show’s obsession towards finding the answer to ‘Why would someone commit a crime?’ gives the audience the opportunity of looking at the criminal state of mind in a more dynamic way. Excellent performances highlight the political, religious and dark philosophical intricacies. If you are in search of series similar to Blindspot, you will like The Sinner’s darker take.

6. Fringe (2018)

Fringe is categorised as a sci-fi crime drama series, but it is more than just a standard procedural drama. The show explores the concept of a parallel universe, alternate versions of people, and creative science experiments. Inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone, the show excels in the mysteries of speculative fiction. The show begins with the casework of Fringe division, a Joint Federal Task Force mainly supported by the FBI.

At the centre of the story are Agent Olivia Dunham, Scientist Dr Walter Bishop and his estranged son Peter Bishop who is known to be ‘Jack-of-all-trades’. Peter discovers that he is from a parallel universe, and it is through such personal experiences that we see the scientific advancements of this incredibly created world. With exceptional story writing, the concept of the multiverse and great performances by the cast, I personally had a great time watching this show. If you are searching for shows like Blindspot, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

7. The 4400 (2004)

The Sci-fi tv series The 4400 follows the sudden reappearance of 4400 missing people. They were all presumed dead or reported missing over many decades, but when they return to their former lives on Earth, it is with startling powers. Among those assigned to unravel their mystery is an earnest crime investigator whose nephew is one of the returned.

Mahershala Ali is fantastic in his role as Richard! The characters stay consistent throughout the entirety of the series. The plot is pretty predictable at points but still very engaging. The characters’ storylines really seem to fit and make sense. Every episode of The 4400 will keep you wanting more if you enjoy series like Blindspot. 

8. Emergence (2019)

Emergence is an American mystery-themed thriller television series. A character-driven genre thriller, Emergence centres on a police chief who takes in a young child found by her near the site of a mysterious accident and the girl has no memory of what happened. The investigation draws her into a conspiracy–one that is larger than she imagined by her, and the child’s identity is at the centre of it all.

With solid dialogues and great editing, the show movies at a quick pace. Perfect for a one-day binge, you might just feel like yearning for more episodes or just more of Tollman. Emergence, akin to TV shows like Blindspot, is a sci-fi series done right. 

9. Alias (2001)

Alias is a brilliant show starring Hollywood’s talented Jennifer Garner alongside Micheal Vartan and Bradley Cooper. This star-studded show has everything you might be looking for; there are Russian spies, criminal empires and a complicated father-daughter dynamic. Jennifer plays the role of a CIA agent called Sydney Bristow, who is chasing an elite criminal organisation called the SD-6

Sydney Bristow is a master of disguise, a Bond/ Bourne type of secret agent, who regularly kicks ass and somehow manages, despite near-death encounters, to flash her beautiful smile. The storylines are always intriguing and have several interesting and engaging characters. You might just get hooked on Alias, if you are searching for more tv shows like Blindspot. 

10. Homeland (2011)

Homeland as a show is known for its long-running seasons (seasons in total). The success of the show is both in its compelling thriller and engaging character drama. The story follows a CIA operative called Carrie Mathison. She is chasing an American prisoner who is suspected of having joined forces with Al-Qaeda. 

As a fan of the show, I appreciate the high emotional intelligence the characters and the creators of this show hold. Not only is Homeland packed with great actors, but also great writing that makes the storylines believable and compelling. If you are searching for shows similar to Blindspot, Homeland should be the right choice for you. 

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few amazing action-packed series like Blindspot that didn’t make this list, be sure to check them out as well: 

  1. Deception
  2. 24
  3. Bodyguard
  4. Jack Ryan 
  5. Unknown
  6. Dollhouse
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When Lost aired over a decade ago, its successful narrative created a pop culture impact and changed the landscape of television. If you are a fan and want to watch shows like Lost then you can have a look at this list we made just for you.

Lost

The hugely successful television series Lost aired in 2004. The premise, as we know, deals with a group of people surviving a commercial passenger plane crash on a remote island. The show masterfully explores supernatural and sci-fi elements on this mysterious south Pacific island. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTu8iDynwNc

The use of cliffhangers at the end of each episode of Lost kept the viewers on the edge of their seats, desperately craving for the next episode to come. Even though it's a large ensemble cast, most of the characters receive a justifiable personal arch. Lost was inspired by the movie Castaway and became one of the most expensive pilots to be shot at the time! Lost continues to be appreciated for its originality in storytelling and dynamic character arcs. 

List of TV Shows Like Lost

  1. The Leftovers
  2. Manifest
  3. Lost Room
  4. Twin Peaks
  5. The Prisoners
  6. Battlestar Galactica
  7. The New People
  8. Flight 29 Down
  9. Fringe
  10. Alcatraz
  11. Under the Dome
  12. Dark

1. The Leftovers (2014)

IMDB ratings: 8.3/10

Cast: Carrie Coon, Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman and Margaret Qualley

Creator: Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta

The director of Lost, Damon Lindel also created a supernatural drama series called The Leftovers. The show begins 3 years after an unexplainable global event called ‘Sudden Departure’  where almost 2 per cent of the population, nearly 140 million people, disappear. The Leftovers isn't about WHY people are gone, it's about how the ones who remain dealt with their loss, people often try to comfort themselves with dreams, angels, gods, or even death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLT3YUALJno&t=8s

The Leftovers will leave you with so many questions but beyond words, you have to feel it and savour its unanswered questions to find peace. The Leftovers is an incredible television series that starts incredibly well but loses its way by the series's end. I have to say though, Carrie Coon has brilliant moments in the end. The Leftovers is so weird, fragmented and nonsensical at times that it reminds me of Lost. If you are looking for shows like Lost, I recommend that you give The Leftovers a try.

2. Manifest  (2018) 

IMDB ratings: 7.1/10

Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Josh Dallas and J.R. Ramirez 

Creator: Jeff Rake


The Manifest is a supernatural drama show about a bunch of people who discover that they lost 5 years of their lives when they landed in New York after their aeroplane faced severe turbulence. All the people on the plane were presumed to be dead. Now, these people have to find a way to adjust themselves to a new life around their loved ones. Mild spoiler! They learn their loved ones and the rest of society is not as they left it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1hNAIzkQWY

I found that the show’s premise was very intriguing and the actors give a very convincing performance. The narrative details of the show, however, in my opinion, are a bit sloppy and inconsistent. The writers surely have room for improvement but their concept is incredibly thrilling. Every episode of Manifest keeps you on your toes. Manifest has completed 3 seasons up until now and continues to be on air. Manifest is a pretty good choice if you want to watch TV shows like Lost.

3. Lost Room (2006)

IMDB ratings: 8.1/10

Cast: Peter Krause, Julianna Margulies and Peter Jacobson

Creator: Christopher Leone, Laura Harkcom

This lesser-known show The Lost Room is an American Sci-fi television miniseries which only had 3 episodes of 90 mins each and no follow-up seasons. The show was based on a very unique idea where the room in question (known as the ‘Lost Room’) and the objects in the said room had supernatural powers. This strange room is set in a 1960s motel along the iconic U.S. Route 66. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DfWrECLnFYU

One day the protagonist (Peter Krause) Joe Miller’s daughter disappears inside the room. Joe, with the help of objects present in the room, tries to find his daughter Anna (Elle Fanning). The story of Lost Room was intensely engaging. I found the direction and the actor’s performances to be absolutely brilliant. It baffles me that the creators did not return to make another short season within the same concept. If you have been searching for TV series like Lost then I can assure you that Lost Room will be worth a watch.

4. Twins Peaks (1990) 

IMDB ratings: 8.8/10

Cast: Kyle MacLachlan, Mädchen Amick, Sherilyn Fenn and David Lynch

Creator: David Lynch

David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer. Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zwn9ou_nf-I

With the mysteries, the supernatural elements and the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the cinematography of the show was truly ahead of its time. Kyle’s Dale Cooper was especially entertaining. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch, I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!  If you are in search of TV shows like Lost then Twin Peaks won’t disappoint you.

The Prisoners (1967)

IMDB ratings: 8.5/10

Cast: Patrick McGoohan, Angelo Muscat and Geroge Markstien

Creator: Patrick McGoohan


The Prisoner centres around an unnamed British agent (Patrick McGoohan) who tries to flee his country after abruptly quitting his high-ranking government job. He is abducted and held captive in a strange ‘sea-side’ village that is isolated from the rest of the world. This village is a highly secure and monitored place filled with weird technology. There are only 17 episodes to this late 60s show but it manages to bring up such surreal surprises, it's sure to leave a great impact on the viewer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JrNr85fPms

The Prisoner’s unique concept influenced many popular shows including Lost. The creators of Lost even cited the show. I was very impressed by how ahead of its time The Prisoners proves to be. If you want to watch more shows similar to Lost the Prisoners should definitely be on your list.

6. Battlestar Galactica (2004)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Katee Sackhoff, Edward James Olmos and Tricia Helfer 

Creator: Glen A. Larson

The 2004 Battlestar Galactica is a reboot of the original 1978 miniseries of the same name. Do not be mistaken by the title, the show is not related to Star Trek.  Battlestar Galactica is set in the 7th millennium AD and follows Cylons, the robot enemy of humanity that resurfaces to destroy the 12 colonies of Mankind. Only a few survive and are able to escape on ships led by a powerful warship called Battlestar Galactica. Mankind struggles to fight the Cylons and work their own political agendas and disputes while finding their long-lost 13th colony Earth.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnYsf2Yv8i8

The show is a dark, intense and gritty socio-political commentary with EPIC cinematic value. The script is especially clever and as a huge fan of sci-fi shows, this show ticks the boxes in all the right categories. When the show was released, it blew the viewers and critics away. As far as an obsessive and gripping story goes, Battlestar Galactica is one of the most similar to shows like Lost. 

7. The New People (1969)

IMDB ratings: 7.3/10

Cast: David Moses, Zooey hall and Tiffany Boiling

Creator: Larry Gordon Aaron Spelling

The New People is an American Tv series that aired only for 1 season and is focused on a couple of college students who survive a plane crash. The incident takes place while they were returning from a trip to Southeast Asia, their plane crashes on an island in the south of the Pacific ocean. 

By now this show must already be sounding a lot like Lost to you, and it surely is. The remaining group of people discover an unusual truth about the island: there’s an above-ground unused nuclear test site filled with supplies for the survivors. If you want to see more plane survival stories like Lost then The New People should definitely be on your list.

8. Flight 29 Down (2005)

IMDB ratings: 7.2/10

Cast: Allen Alvarado, Halle Hirsh and Corbin Bleu

Creator:  Stan Rowgow D. J. MacHale

The show Flight 29 Down is a drama series about a group of pre-teens/teens who are stranded on a South Pacific island after their plane crashes in a tropical storm while they were flying from an eco-adventure camping trip in Palau. The show is in many ways a younger version of the Adult-centred show Lost but sans the supernatural elements. I’d say that the show draws inspiration from the show The New People.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLeG0w3kL8k

Flight 29 Down uses the technique of a video diary as a plot device for the viewers to keep up with the story of these children. It was very engaging to watch young intelligent characters finding their way on the island. The first two seasons of the show are quite engaging but I seemed to lose interest in its 3rd and final season. Regardless, Flight 29 Down is a really good series to watch if you want to see TV shows like Lost.

9. Fringe (2008)

IMDB ratings: 8.4/10

Cast: Anna Torv, John Noble and Joshua Jackson

Creator: J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci

Fringe is a popular Sci-fi crime drama television series. It may seem like a standard procedural drama at first, but the show actually explores the parallel universe, alternate versions of people filled with crazy scientific experiments. I personally had a great time watching this show.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29bSzbqZ3xE

Fringe is actually inspired by shows like Lost, The X-files and The Twilight Zone. The 3 main characters of the show work with a special division called Fringe. There are so many brilliant twists and turns in Fringe that in my opinion, the show is at the top of its category. If you are searching for TV series like Lost, I strongly recommend you watch Fringe. 

10. Alcatraz (2012)

IMDB ratings: 6.9/10

Cast: Sarah Jones, George Garcia and Jonny Coyne 

Creator: Elizabeth Sarnoff, Steven Lilien, Bryan Wynbrandt

This American fiction show is based on the infamous Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary built on Alcatraz island in San Francisco Bay. The prison is now closed but once kept some of the most dangerous criminals of America. The show takes the liberty to make a show around the conspiracies of the place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V514ACIGp_k

In the interesting premise we see that under unknown circumstances, 256 inmates and 46 guards of the prison disappear without a trace. Later the disappeared ones start to appear one by one without ageing a day and resume their criminal activities with no realisation of disappearance. A special government unit is dedicated to finding and putting those criminals back in prison. If you are looking for mystery shows similar to Lost, try watching Alcatraz. 

11. Under the Dome (2013)

IMDB ratings: 6.5/10

Cast: Alexander Koch and Rachelle Lefevre

Creator: Stephen King

Based on a novel written by the sci-fi legend Stephen King, Under the Dome tells the story of the residents of the fictional small town called Chester's Mill, when a huge, transparent and indestructible dome suddenly cuts them off from the rest of the world. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Y5YeYrqUk

Now the trapped residents try to find a way to discover the truth, origin and purpose of these domes. This journey forces them into situations where they learn more about each other than they ever knew. Under the Dome may not be on the top of this list but it’s quite a decent watch if you’re looking for mystery shows similar to Lost. 

12. Dark (2017)

IMDB ratings: 8.7/10

Cast: Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari and Gina Stiebitz

Creator: Baran bo Odar, Jantje Friese

The German-language Netflix series Dark is an interesting blend of Science fiction and Mystery. Truly a compelling and mind-bending story to watch. At the beginning of Dark, many children suspiciously start disappearing in the German town of Winden. The dark past of generational mysteries of 4 families living in the town namely, Kahnwald, Nielsen, Doppler, and Tiedemann is brought to light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrwycJ08PSA

After the discovery of a wormhole, the lives of the families intertwine more than one can imagine. I believe every element of the show is top-notch, especially Dark’s cinematography, which is a TRUE masterpiece. If you are looking for TV series similar to Lost then the intense and gripping story of Dark is sure to keep you engrossed.

Honourable Mentions

Here are a few TV shows like Lost that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless: 

  1. Carnivale
  2. Yellowjackets
  3. Game of Thrones
  4. Black Mirror
  5. Flashforward
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