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15 Shows Like The White Lotus For Dark Comedy Dramas

February 17, 2023
shows like the white lotus

In an era with dozens of shows from different genres littering streaming platforms, audiences have started looking for something that goes against the grain, an alternative to the mainstream. This is where the dark comedy genre comes into play.
One of these shows heralded for its weird mix of comedy and drama is The White Lotus, and if you are in search of similar series, check out our list of shows like The White Lotus. The show has surged into popularity due to this unique style, being a satirical comedy also structured as an anthology. The White Lotus was created by School of Rock screenplay writer, Chris White, and has garnered rave reviews for its compelling, even if sometimes uncomfortable means of comedic storytelling.
If this niche TV comedy-drama is what rocks your boat, here are 15 other TV Shows just like The Black Lotus for lovers of dark comedy.

List of Shows Like The White Lotus

  1. After Life
  2. Archer
  3. Love + Death + Robots
  4. Shameless
  5. Dead To Me
  6. Daybreak
  7. Rick and Morty
  8. Fleabag
  9. Bojack Horseman
  10. Lemony Snickets and A Series of Unfortunate Events
  11. Insatiable
  12. The Boys
  13. Preacher
  14. The End of The F***ing World
  15. I Am Not Okay With This

1. Afterlife (2019-2022)

Afterlife is a British black comedy-drama similar to The Black Lotus, which stars popular UK comedian and satirist Ricky Gervais. The show follows newspaper writer Tony Johnson, who suffers the devastating loss of his wife, and decides to pay back the world by losing his filter and saying whatever he wants, despite how they would feel.

A balancing act between dark comedy and a tear-jerker of a drama, the show is bound to keep you holding back a few chuckles in response to some of its darker humor. If you’re looking for shows like The White Lotus, you must check out Afterlife.

2. Archer (2009- till date)

Archer is an animated comedy series which centers on Sterling Archer and his co-workers at an American intelligence agency based in New York and headed by Sterling’s mother, Mallory. Similar to a show like White Lotus, this show uses satire by creating hilarious situations out of the usually serious and gritty spy genre.

The show is heralded for each season’s unique themes and atmosphere, climaxing in later seasons where the show explored multiple universes, with the characters reprising their roles, albeit with subtle and sometimes noticeable twists. If you enjoy the humour in shows like The White Lotus, you should check out Archer.

3. Love, Death + Robots (2019-till date)

This is another animated series, and an anthology just like The White Lotus. The show contains different narratives in each episode, with a variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and dark comedy. The show also uses a wide variety of animation techniques that will help keep things fresh for you throughout the entirety of the series.

Love, Death + Robots is also similar to Black Mirror, but more suited to a younger audience than the latter. The show has gained critical acclaim and won several Primetime Emmy Awards during its runtime.

Also Read: Shows like Curb Your Enthusiasm

4. Shameless (2011-2021)

Shameless is an American comedy series created by Paul Abbott, an adaptation of a UK show of the same name. The show follows the dysfunctional family headed by Frank Gallagher, father of six children. He is highly neglectful of them and instead spends his days indulging in booze and drugs.

The series showcases some dark humor using these bizarre scenarios that such a plot would birth, similar to The White Lotus. Frank’s children are left to their own whims and have to fend for, and protect themselves from the evils that life has to offer. Shamless is one of the best shows like The White Lotus that you can watch.

5. Dead To Me (2019-2022)

Dead To Me is a dark comedy-drama just like The White Lotus which stars Hollywood star Christina Applegate, who plays Jen Harding and Linda Cardellini, who plays Judy Hale. Jen Harding, who is a widow, meets Judy Hale during one of her support group meetings, and surprisingly due to their opposing temperaments gradually grows closer to her.

Their relationship grows deeper, and secrets previously unknown are brought to the light, leading to a lot of drama ensuing in their respective lives. The show has been praised for its perfect mixture of humor and drama. If you’re looking for more shows like The White Lotus, you should watch Dead to Me.

6. Daybreak (2019)

If you’re looking for a unique comedic take on serious supposedly serious subject matter just like The White Lotus, then you will like Daybreak, which is a post-apocalyptic comedy-drama television series, which is set in a time where most of the world’s adult population has been infected with a virus, which has turned them to zombies.

The series follows Josh Wheeler, who is played by Colin Ford, a high school student who has been searching for his missing girlfriend. If you’re looking for a unique take on the post-apocalyptic genre, but with humour similar to The White Lotus, this show is for you.

7. Rick and Morty (2013-till date)

A show that still runs today, Rick and Morty is an adult animated science fiction show that first premiered in 2013. The show follows the adventures of Rick Sanchez, a drunk and a nihilistic scientist and his grandson Morty Smith, a soft-spoken boy who assists Rick during his many inter-dimensional adventures.

The series uses dark humor and satire well, just like The White Lotus, spoofing on serious science fiction themes, and family sitcom tropes, pushing these premises as far as logically possible to produce some insanely hilarious scenarios. If this sort of writing is what interests you, then I recommend you watch this show, which has developed something of a cult following due to its fresh take on adult animated series.

Also Read: Shows like Atlanta

8. Fleabag (2016-2019)

Fleabag is a dark British television series and stage play, created, written, and performed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge. The show follows the story of a young woman named “Fleabag.” The series explores themes of relationships, sex, grief, and family, through the lens of a one-woman show.

The show uses dark humor to laugh away some of its darker themes, similar to shows like The White Lotus. If you’re looking for more of that then I recommend this show due to its intricate writing, and great acting performances.

9. BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)

If you’re looking for shows that use dark comedy in exploring usually ignored themes such as depression, addiction, and the futility of life, then BoJack Horseman is the show for you. Bojack Horseman is one of the best shows like The White Lotus that you can watch.

This adult animated comedy-drama show follows BoJack Horseman, voiced by Will Arnett in a world where humans and human-like animals live side-by-side. BoJack is a once-successful TV star trying to find his way back into the limelight, and also find some meaning in a life in which he has grown increasingly disillusioned, drinking his woes away. BoJack Horseman has been praised for its writing, and if you’re looking for a show that tackles heavy topics like the ones listed above, then you can try out this critically acclaimed show.

10. Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events (2017-2019)

Three orphans being hunted by their uncle, who tries to take their dead parents’ fortune might normally make for a sad story. However, Lemony Snicket’s turns these expectations on its head, similar to shows like The White Lotus.

The series follows the adventures of these three orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, who are sent to live with various guardians after their parents’ death, who do their jobs to usually low levels of competence. This leaves space open for Count Olaf to carry out a series of dastardly schemes on the children, who mostly have to fend for themselves.

11. Insatiable (2019-2022)

Insatiable is a dark comedy-drama TV series that follows the story of Patty Bladell, who is played by former child star Debby Ryan. Patty Bladell is a victim of bullying back in high school, but after a freak accident leaves her with a wired shut jaw, she loses weight and she returns to school with the aim of seeking revenge on those who wronged who had bullied her.

Similar toThe White Lotus, and maybe even more appropriately BoJack Horseman, this series uses dark comedy to critically explore themes ranging from bullying, anger, dysmorphia, and revenge. If this interests you, then this might just be the show for you.

12. The Boys (2019-till date)

The Boys is an American superhero television series that turns all the tropes of the superhero genre on its head. The Boys is a hyper-violent show that twists serious themes such as power, corruption and capitalism, with satirical humor, similar to shows like The White Lotus.

The series has been praised for its masterful writing, acting, and cinematography, and the way it goes against the mainstream style of storytelling in the superhero genre. If you’re a fan of superheroes and series like The White Lotus, then you must check out The Boys.

13. Preacher (2016-2019)

Preacher is a TV series based on a comic book series of the same name. The show follows the story of Jesse Custer, played by Dominic Cooper, a small-town preacher who is granted supernatural powers. This power grants him the ability to make others do his bidding.

Preacher, similar to the previous show on the list, is a dark, and violent series that mixes comedy into the usually gritty supernatural drama genre, although it’s humour is quite similar to series like The White Lotus.

14. The End of The F***ing World (2017-2019)

The End of the F***ing World is a British dark comedy-drama television series based on a comic book series of the same name. The show follows the story of James, played by Alex Lawther, a self-diagnosed psychopath with the aim of finding someone to murder, and Alyssa, played by Jessica Barden, a rebellious teen, who he embarks on a journey across England with.

The End of the F***ing World uses dark comedy, similar to shows likeThe White Lotus, using humor to explore themes such as youth, family, sex, and crime.

15. I Am Not Okay With This (2020)

Sydney is the main character in this show, played by Sophia Lillis. She is a high school student who is struggling with the death of her father and her recently acquired telekinetic powers.

The show is a dark comedy just like The White Lotus that explores themes ranging from growing up, grief and sexuality.

Honorable Mentions

Here are a few series like The White Lotus that didn’t make the list that you can also check out: 

1.      F is for Family

2.     Maniac

3.     Mine

4.     Kevin Can Fuck Himself

N.B: Till date refers to the date of publishing of this article.

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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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