WhatNext TV recommendations

Shows Like Tempest

If Tempest worked for you because of its big ideas, mystery, and long-form payoff, start with The Diplomat, The Day of the Jackal, and The Agency. The list leans toward drama and war & politics stories with a similar sense of concept-heavy storytelling. It prioritises shared tone and story shape rather than relying on broad genre matching alone.

23 recommendationsStart with The Diplomat, The Day of the Jackal, The Agency
Tempest poster

Recommendations tuned for fans of Tempest

Audience fit

Why Tempest fans may like these shows

If you enjoyed Tempest, try The Diplomat, The Day of the Jackal, and The Agency. These recommendations focus on drama and war & politics shows that share mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a similar storytelling rhythm.

Ranked recommendations

The closest TV shows to watch after Tempest

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

The Diplomat poster

The Diplomat

The Diplomat is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, Amid an international crisis, a US diplomat contends with her high-profile job as ambassador to the UK and her strained marriage to a political star.

The Day of the Jackal poster

The Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Mystery Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, An unrivalled and highly elusive lone assassin, the Jackal, makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. But following his latest kill, he meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who…

The Agency poster

The Agency

The Agency is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Mystery Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, Covert CIA agent Martian is ordered to abandon his undercover life and return to London Station. When the love he left behind unexpectedly reappears, their romance reignites, pitting his career, his real identity and…

Madam Secretary poster

Madam Secretary

Madam Secretary is a strong follow-up to Tempest 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, After years away from the CIA, Elizabeth McCord is pulled back into the political arena. The newly appointed Secretary of State is tough, fair, and smart, driving international diplomacy, wrangling office politics, and…

Lioness poster

Lioness

Lioness is a strong follow-up to Tempest 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, Cruz Manuelos, a rough-around-the-edges but passionate young Marine, is recruited to join the CIA's Lioness Engagement Team to help bring down a terrorist organization from within. Joe, the station chief of the Lioness…

House of Cards poster

House of Cards

House of Cards is a strong follow-up to Tempest 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, Betrayed by the White House, Congressman Frank Underwood embarks on a ruthless rise to power. Blackmail, seduction and ambition are his weapons.

The Terminal List poster

The Terminal List

The Terminal List is a strong follow-up to Tempest 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, Navy SEAL Commander James Reece turns to vengeance as he investigates the mysterious forces behind the murder of his entire platoon. Free from the military's command structure, Reece applies the lessons he's learned…

Slow Horses poster

Slow Horses

Slow Horses is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Mystery Story-shape signal: this title was selected because its themes and tone are a close fit. In practical terms, Follow a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents—and their obnoxious boss, the notorious Jackson Lamb—as they navigate the espionage world's smoke and mirrors to defend England from sinister forces.

The Night Manager poster

The Night Manager

The Night Manager is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Mystery Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, Former British soldier Jonathan Pine navigates the shadowy recesses of Whitehall and Washington where an unholy alliance operates between the intelligence community and the secret arms trade. To infiltrate the inner…

Rabbit Hole poster

Rabbit Hole

Rabbit Hole is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama and Mystery Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, Nothing is what it seems when John Weir, a master of deception in the world of corporate espionage, is framed for murder by powerful forces with the ability to influence and control populations.

24 poster

24

24 is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama Recommendation graph signal: this title appears close to the anchor show in recommendation data. In practical terms, Counterterrorism agent Jack Bauer fights the bad guys of the world, a day at a time. With each week's episode unfolding in real-time, "24" covers a single day in the life of Bauer each season.

John Adams poster

John Adams

John Adams is a strong follow-up to Tempest because it offers mystery, world-building and payoff over time and a comparable sense of concept-heavy storytelling. Shared genre fit: Drama Quality fallback: this title survived the same relevance and quality filters as the main recommendations. In practical terms, Adapted from David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography, this lavish seven-part miniseries chronicles the life of Founding Father John Adams, starting with the Boston Massacre of 1770 through his years as an…

What makes a good show like Tempest?

A good replacement for Tempest 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 The Diplomat, The Day of the Jackal, and The Agency because the list balances similarity, quality and viewer behaviour. For best results, choose the recommendation that matches the part of Tempest you liked most: tone, characters, setting, mystery, tension or long-form payoff.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Which shows scratch the same itch as Tempest?

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 Tempest.

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

The Diplomat, The Day of the Jackal, and The Agency 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.

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