WhatNext TV recommendations

Shows Like Maniac

If Maniac worked for you because of its big ideas, mystery, and long-form payoff, start with Carrie, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, and Lanterns. The list leans toward drama and sci-fi & fantasy stories with a similar sense of concept-heavy storytelling. It prioritises shared tone and story shape rather than relying on broad genre matching alone.

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24 recommendationsStart with Carrie, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, Lanterns

Recommendations tuned for fans of Maniac

Audience fit

Why Maniac fans may like these shows

If you enjoyed Maniac, try Carrie, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, and Lanterns. These recommendations focus on drama and sci-fi & fantasy shows that share mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a similar storytelling rhythm.

Ranked recommendations

The closest TV shows to watch after Maniac

Each recommendation includes the reasoning behind the pick, so you can see why it may suit fans of Maniac.

Carrie

Carrie is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, After her father's sudden, untimely death thrusts her into the unforgiving ecosystem of public high school, Carrie is forced to navigate a viral bullying scandal that tears through her community, the relentless…

It's Okay to Not Be Okay

It's Okay to Not Be Okay is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Comedy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Desperate to escape from his emotional baggage and the heavy responsibility he’s had all his life, a psychiatric ward worker begins to heal with help from the unexpected – a woman who writes fairy tales but doesn’t…

Lanterns

Lanterns is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Two intergalactic cops, new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.

Supernatural

Supernatural is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, When they were boys, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a mysterious and demonic supernatural force. Subsequently, their father raised them to be soldiers. He taught them about the paranormal evil that lives…

Scarlet Heart: Ryeo

Scarlet Heart: Ryeo is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, A story of a 25-year-old Go Hajin who is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty. She then wakes up in the body of Lady Hae Soo and finds herself amongst the ruling princes of the Wang Family.

True Blood

True Blood is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Drama Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Thanks to a Japanese scientist's invention of synthetic blood, vampires have progressed overnight from legendary monsters to fellow citizens. And while humans have been safely removed from the menu, many remain…

Shameless

Shameless is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Comedy Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Chicagoan Frank Gallagher is the proud single dad of six smart, industrious, independent kids, who without him would be... perhaps better off. When Frank's not at the bar spending what little money they have, he's…

Andor

Andor is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Sci-Fi & Fantasy and Drama Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, In an era filled with danger, deception and intrigue, Cassian Andor will discover the difference he can make in the struggle against the tyrannical Galactic Empire. He embarks on a path that is destined to turn him…

Murderbot

Murderbot is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Comedy, Drama, and Sci-Fi & Fantasy Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, In a high-tech future, a rogue security robot secretly gains free will. To stay hidden, it reluctantly joins a new mission protecting scientists on a dangerous planet... even though it just wants to binge soap operas.

House

House is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Dr. Gregory House, a drug-addicted, unconventional, misanthropic medical genius, leads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton–Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey.

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, An edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America's noblest professions. For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful…

Big Little Lies

Big Little Lies is a strong follow-up to Maniac because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, The tale of three mothers of first graders whose apparently perfect lives unravel to the point of murder.

What makes a good show like Maniac?

A good replacement for Maniac is not just another show in the same broad genre. The best matches keep the parts viewers remember most: big ideas, mystery, and long-form payoff, a atmospheric atmosphere and concept-heavy storytelling. That is why the ranking combines several signals before a title reaches the final list.

How these recommendations are chosen

Audience behaviour: Reddit-style co-mentions and pair signals help identify shows viewers naturally compare or recommend together. Recommendation graph: TMDB recommendation data helps identify titles that sit close to the anchor show. Story fit: genre overlap, semantic keywords and concept-specific guardrails reduce lazy matches that share only a surface-level category. Quality control: vote average, vote count, popularity and freshness checks help remove weak or low-confidence titles from public SEO pages.

Editor's verdict

The strongest starting point is Carrie, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, and Lanterns because the list balances similarity, quality and viewer behaviour. For best results, choose the recommendation that matches the part of Maniac you liked most: tone, characters, setting, mystery, tension or long-form payoff.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Which shows scratch the same itch as Maniac?

These are not just similar on genre. They were chosen because they offer a related mix of mystery, world-building and long-form payoff for viewers who connected with Maniac.

What should I watch after Maniac for more big-idea storytelling?

Carrie, It's Okay to Not Be Okay, and Lanterns are a good place to start if you want another series that unfolds gradually and rewards attention over time.

Are these recommendations more about mood or plot?

Usually both. The strongest matches tend to share atmosphere as well as structure, so the page does not just chase shows with similar premises.

How do I find more shows once I finish these?

Build up your favourites and ratings in WhatNext and the app can keep narrowing in on the sci-fi and fantasy shows that suit your taste best.

Keep exploring

Explore more recommendations

Shows like Carrie Shows like It's Okay to Not Be Okay Shows like Lanterns Shows like Supernatural Shows like Scarlet Heart: Ryeo Shows like True Blood Shows like Shameless Shows like Andor Shows like Murderbot Shows like House

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