This article contains mentions of murder, abuse, and sexual assault.
SomeTV showsare so disturbing and haunting that they require audiences to be prepped for the darkness. Disturbing TV dramas exploring dark and taboo topics will stay in the audience’s minds for years. TV shows that utilize their dark storylines and sinister and terrifying villains to force audiences to ponder over the thought-provoking series have cemented their status as incredible TV shows.
Ranging from heartbreaking and tragic TV shows toviolent and bloody TV showsrevolving around murder and crime,there is no shortage of amazing and compelling TV dramas that are disturbingly dark. As TV shows explore dark topics, graphic depictions of violence and sensitive issues are inevitable, and viewers must prepare their brains to watch the disturbing shows. Delightfully dark TV shows are guaranteed to shock and entertain their audiences with their compelling plots and characters.
10Big Little Lies (2017-Present)
An Intense Cover-Up With An Incredible Cast
Big Little Liesis a mystery black comedy series revolving arounda group of mothers whose seemingly perfect lives are thrown into chaosafter a single mother and her son move into town. Tensions rise after the single mom Jane Chapman’s (Shailene Woodley) son Ziggy (Iain Armitage) is accused of abusing a classmate, and the shocking turn of events results in a murder.
Big Little Lies
Cast
Big Little Lies is a television drama from 2017 based on Liane Moriarty’s novel. It features three mothers of first-graders in Monterey, California, whose seemingly idyllic lives begin to deteriorate amid secrets, lies, and a mysterious murder investigation intertwining their personal narratives.
The marriage between Celeste (Nicole Kidman) and Perry Wright (Alexander Skarsgård) is central to the mystery series, as the couple’s perfect relationship is revealed to be a facade as Perry is an abusive, violent, and controlling husband. The depiction of Perry’s violence against Celeste and Jane, along with its lingering impact on the women and children in his life, isa chilling examination of marital abuse and sexual assault.Big Little Liesseason 3has been confirmed.
A Dark Comedy & Investigation Story
Thethrilling dark comedyseriesBad Sistersfollows the close-knit Garvey sisters after the death of Grace’s (Anne-Marie Duff) husband, John Paul (Claes Bang). The five Garvey sisters, Eva (Sharon Horgan), Grace, Ursula (Eva Birthistle), Bibi (Sarah Greene), and Becky (Eva Hewson), find themselves at the center of the investigation into the sudden death.Bad Sistersis primarily a comedic thriller, making each surprisingly dark moment in the series shocking and terrifying.
Bad Sisters
Bad Sisters is an Apple TV+ exclusive series based on the Flemish TV original Clan. The Garvey sisters are a group of five blood-related siblings bonded closely after the untimely death of their parents. Tragedy strikes once again when the husband of Grace Williams (Anne-Marie Duff) dies. The other four sisters, however, haven’t hidden their disapproval of Grace’s husband, John Paul Williams, due to his poor treatment of her on an abusive level. His life insurer notes this and launches an investigation into John’s death. Bad Sisters will take viewers back and forth into the past and present as they unveil the truth about what happened around John’s death.
John Paul’s horrendous abusive and manipulative treatment of his wife Grace, their daughter Blánaid (Saise Quinn), and his sisters-in-law makes him a terrifyingly real and distressing antagonist.Bad Sisterscontains disturbing depictions of abuse, sexual assault, and death, that audiences need to prepare for before watching the dark comedy.
8Yellowjackets (2021-Present)
Survival Horror At Its Best
Yellowjacketsisa horror thriller survival showthat revolves around a high school girls' soccer team that is stranded in the wilderness after their plane crashes, and the lives of the survivors 25 years after the plane crash. While it is unclear whether the events that take place in the wilderness are supernatural, it is confirmed that the young teens go through unspeakable horrors to survive.
Yellowjackets
Yellowjackets is a television series exploring the survival ordeal of a high school girls' soccer team stranded in the remote wilderness after a plane crash. It interweaves psychological horror and coming-of-age themes, simultaneously depicting their harrowing transformation and its lasting impact on their lives 25 years later.
With thesurvivors of the plane crashhaunted by the deaths of their friends and by their actions in the wilderness,Yellowjacketsis a compelling psychological drama TV show thatdoesn’t shy away from exploring the worst of humanityand how far people are willing to go to survive, even if survival means cannibalizing their friends and loved ones.
7Sharp Objects (2018)
Murder Mystery From The Writer Of Gone Girl
Sharp Objectsis a psychological thriller TV show based on the award-winning authorGillian Flynn’s novel of the same name. The drama follows Camille Preaker (Amy Adams),a crime reporter who is forced to return to her hometownto investigate the brutal murders of two young girls.
The vicious and violent murders of the two teen girls, Camille’s traumatic past, alcoholism, and self-harm, makeSharp Objectsa tense and disturbing miniseries.
Camille returns to her childhood home and finds herself trapped under the watchful and critical gaze of her socialite mother, Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson).Sharp Objectsutilizes the dysfunctional relationships between Camille, Adora, and Camille’s half-sister Amma (Eliza Scanlen), turning the psychological thriller intoa truly terrifying and chilling drama series.
Sharp Objects
Sharp Objects is an HBO thriller mini-series that centers on reporter Camille Preaker, a woman with a dark past returning to her hometown. Returning to Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate two murders, she takes up at her childhood home, where she must now contend with her mother, who will force her to reckon with her past.
6The Wire (2002-2008)
Possibly The Best Crime Show Of All Time
The cult classicpolice procedural seriesThe Wireis an exploration of Baltimore’s narcotics scenethrough the lens of both drug dealers and police officers. The beloved TV showThe Wireis a gritty and dark show revolving around law enforcement and criminals. However,The Wireisn’t only an examination of crime and corruption, it is also a bleak exploration of life in Baltimore.
The Wire
The Wire, debuting in 2002, is a series that explores the complex world of Baltimore’s narcotics scene, presenting perspectives from both law enforcement and their targets. It delves into how the war on drugs has evolved into a self-perpetuating institution, blurring moral boundaries between right and wrong.
The Wirehighlights how factors like systemic oppression and existing power structures keep people trapped in a cycle of poverty and violence. The grim and dark TV show doesn’t have optimistic heroes leading the charge and is instead filled with flawed and complex characters. The intense and thought-provoking crime drama series isfilled with tragedy, violence, drugs, injustice, and corruption.
5Mindhunter (2017-2019)
A Psychological Thriller That Ended Too Soon
The psychological crime thriller seriesMindhunteris based on the true-crime bookMindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unitby John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker. The TV show follows two FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) and a psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv) asthey work towards understanding how a serial killer’s mind worksin hopes of solving crimes.
Mindhunter
From executive producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron comes Mindhunter, a series that chronicles the founding of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit used to track and apprehend serial killers. Mindhunter follows Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they work to establish a framework for understanding the minds of some of America’s most dangerous serial killers. Mindhunter adapts a number of true crime stories, including the BTK murders and the notorious Co-Ed Killer, Edmund Kemper.
Set in the late 1970s and early 1980s,Mindhunterexplores the early days of criminal psychologyand criminal profiling. The disturbing TV show takes a deep dive into the minds of dangerous serial killers and their crimes. Like most crime drama TV shows,Mindhunteris filled with investigations into the brutal murders committed by serial killers and their motives. Despite being critically acclaimed,Mindhunterwas canceled after two seasons.
4Unbelievable (2019)
An Amazing Performance From Kaitlyn Dever
Unbelievableis a crime drama miniseries based on the true storyof a young woman who is charged with filing a report about being raped. The police and people’s despicable treatment of Marie (Kaitlyn Dever) is made more horrific and chilling with the knowledge thatthe show is based on real events. The critically acclaimed TV show features a devastatingly realistic portrayal of the failures of the justice system and the lack of compassion for survivors of sexual assault.
Unbelievable
Starring Toni Collette and was created by Susannah Grant, Michael Chabon, and Ayelet Waldman. The 2019 miniseries takes an introspective look at a serial assault case that took place in Washington State and Colorado
The show explores the aftermath of surviving a sexual assaultwithout sensationalizing the case or relying on shock value. However,Unbelievablehas a dark and serious premise, and audiences have to be mentally prepared for the intense, dark, and realistic TV show.
3Black Mirror (2011-Present)
A Bleak Sci-Fi Series
Black Mirroris an anthology TV series that explores a variety of genres and settings over the course of the show. Most episodes ofBlack Mirrorare stand-alone stories that revolve around technology and media, comment on social issues, and are set in a dystopian future.
With each Black Mirror episode being vastly different and most of them having distressing elements, audiences have to prepare themselves for a wide variety of disturbing content.
Black Mirroris known for featuring unpredictable and disturbing storylinesthat are guaranteed to linger in the audience’s mind even years after its release. The very first episode ofBlack Mirror,“The National Anthem”, features a man being coerced into having sex with a pig on live television.
Black Mirror
Black Mirror is a dystopian anthology series that explores the unsettling and profound impact of modern technology on society. Premiering in 2011, it examines various scenarios where technological advancements intersect with human nature, creating thought-provoking narratives about contemporary and future issues.
A majority of the subsequent episodes of the anthology series are filled with disturbing content like gruesome violence and torture. With eachBlack Mirrorepisodebeing vastly different and most of them having distressing elements, audiences have to prepare themselves for a wide variety of disturbing content.
2The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-Present)
A Depressing & Poignant Story
The TV showThe Handmaid’s Taleis set in a dystopian future where a totalitarian society has created new social classes that brutally and violently oppress women. Despite the abundance of TV shows set in a violent dystopia,The Handmaid’s Talemanages to be the most terrifying, disturbing, and chilling TV show. Due to its dark premise,The Handmaid’s Talehasmany scenes that depict coercion, sexual violence, torture, and abuse.
The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale is a television adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel, released in 2017. It is set in a dystopian future where a woman is compelled to live as a concubine under a strict fundamentalist theocracy.
June Osborne’s (Elizabeth Moss) dedication to escaping to Canada with her husband and daughter is inspiring. However,The Handmaid’s Tale’sdystopian setting and dark premise mean that June, along with countless other female characters, are consistently facing deadly situations, psychological torment, and dehumanization. The truly dark and disturbing show is a powerful exploration of resistance that requires preparation prior to watching.The Handmaid’s Taleseason 6is scheduled to premiere on June 30, 2025.
1BoJack Horseman (2014-2020)
A Heavy Animated Series
BoJack Horsemanis an animated tragicomedy series revolving around the titular anthropomorphic horse BoJack Horseman, an actor on a mission to make a comeback via a tell-all biography and become relevant in the entertainment industry again.
10 Moody Mystery Shows That Give You A Sense Of Dread
It’s important for every mystery series to create a compelling atmosphere, and these TV shows create an undeniable air of apprehension.
The jaded, cynical, and selfish BoJack manages to ruin self-sabotage himself and ruin the lives of everyone around him with his destructive actions. The satirical comedy series is surprisingly emotional, andBoJack’s despicable behavior and actionsmake fora tragic leading protagonist.
BoJack Horseman
Once the famous star of a hit sitcom, BoJack Horseman has fallen on tough times. Stuck in a major career slump and longing to relive his glory days, BoJack attempts to once more become relevant in an industry that has long since turned its back on him. With a few dysfunctional friends at his side, BoJack begins his long-overdue career comeback.
BoJack Horsemanis constantly taking viewers by surprise with its dark moments and tragic characters. The former child actor’s portrayal of addiction and depression is an emotionally heavy and heartbreaking performance.BoJack Horseman’sexploration of trauma and abusecements the show’s place as an incredibly compelling, dark, and tragic TV show.
