Have you streamed the latest PBS drama, Alice and Jack? At the core of the story are Alice, an investment banker; Jack, the scientist, and the 16 years they spent together and apart. They start with a single date, and even though they split up at times, they keep finding their way back to each other.
Their relationship sees tons of ups and downs, leading to both a bittersweet and satisfying ending. If the show’s slow-burn romance captivated you, making you scour the internet for similar shows, here are our 10 best suggestions.
You’re the Worst (2014)
In the comedic-drama series You’re the Worst, protagonists Jimmy (a writer who gets caught up in his own life) and Gretchen (a public relations professional who destroys herself) deal with the challenges of being together. They cross paths at a wedding when Gretchen steals a present, and Jimmy is booted out for insulting the newlyweds. Amidst their hectic lives, they start spending more time together and find themselves pulled closer, even though they both don’t want a committed relationship.
Outlander (2014)
The historical drama Outlander chronicles the story of married WWII nurse Claire Randall as she goes on an unanticipated time trip from 1945 to 1743. Jamie Fraser, a Highland warrior, is someone she has encountered in the past and developed feelings for. As Claire attempts to negotiate the pitfalls and machinations of 18th-century Scotland, she gets embedded in the Jacobite risings. Claire and Jamie’s bond stays across time and difficulties in this multi-season miniseries adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books.
This Is Us (2016)
The Pearson household is told in This Is Us from several perspectives and eras. Jack and Rebecca are the main characters, together with their three children, Randall, Kate, and Kevin. Throughout the story, we see the lives they lead and the ties between them portrayed in both flashbacks and the present. Kevin and Kate were birthed as twins on the same day that Jack turned 36, while their sibling Kyle was pronounced dead after birth.
They adopt Randall, who was abandoned at a fire station, and he, too, shares the same birthday as everyone. Similar to Alice and Jack, the show explores their shared adventures, love, heartbreak, and more.
Call the Midwife (2012)
A crew of midwives who practice as nurses in London’s East End are the center of Call the Midwife. The show takes place in the latter part of the 1950s and early 1960s. The story starts at Nonnatus House, where Jenny Lee, a recently licensed midwife, joins the other midwives and novices. The show depicts their daily life and the issues they confront as nurses in the economically disadvantaged neighborhood of Poplar, focusing on the wide range of patients and their encounters with them.
Downton Abbey (2010)
Downton Abbey takes place between 1912 and 1926 on the titular Yorkshire estate. In the years after the end of the Victorian period, it follows the gentry Crawley household and the housekeepers who worked for them. At the start of the show, the Crawley family’s plans for succession are derailed by the disaster of the Titanic.
But it’s not just the Titanic, as World War I, the Spanish flu epidemic, as well as the Irish War of Freedom are just a few of the major historical events that affect the household and the servants during the course of the show.
Sweet Magnolias (2020)
The protagonists of Sweet Magnolias are three South Carolina natives and longtime mates from Serenity. A mother of three, Maddie Townsend is juggling the challenges of separation and returning to the working world. Restaurant proprietor and cook Dana Sue Sullivan faces hurdles in her career as well as her life. Successful attorney Helen Decatur handles matters of the heart and careers.
They help each other through the ups and downs of love, work, and family life. During the course of the three seasons, we see how their lives interweave as they try to achieve their dreams in the tiny, tight-knit town while dealing with the challenges of love and career.
The Good Wife (2009)
In The Good Wife, we accompany Alicia Florrick as she returns to her legal profession following the incarceration of her spouse, who is a state attorney, due to a money laundering and sex scandal. With the comeback to a renowned Chicago law firm comes the added pressure of juggling two kids, public attention, and the minutiae of legal disputes, but Alicia faces this challenge head-on. The best thing about the show is the way she overcomes obstacles and moral quandaries in the political and legal spheres on her way to becoming a respected attorney.
One Day (2024)
The two-decade-long romance between Dexter Mayhew and Emma Morley is chronicled in this masterpiece of a show, beginning with their graduation on July 15, 1988. After spending the evening in tandem, they agree to stay mates and meet each other every year. Emma moves to London and starts working as a server while he tours the globe on his and his parent’s dime.
They remain friends through thick and thin, regardless of Dexter’s flourishing TV job and Emma’s teaching profession. Every year on July 15, they go through the same roller coaster of emotions: love and heartache, hoping for a more stable next year.
My Life with the Walter Boys (2023)
A horrific catastrophe in My Life with the Walter Boys completely changes the course of Jackie Howard’s existence. Jackie’s godparents, the Walters, or their twelve boys invite her to leave New York and settle with them in Colorado. Since it is an entirely new place, Jackie faces the challenges of making friends and adjusting to life in a house full of twelve guys, all of whom have their own unique personalities and quirks. If you’re looking for an impromptu journey through family, change, and the twists and turns of life, then it doesn’t get any better than My Life with the Walter Boys.
Tell Me Lies (2022)
Tell Me Lies tracks Lucy Albright and Stephen DeMarco’s volatile relationship, which starts when they cross paths in college and continues throughout. Their chemistry is undeniable, but their relationship is troubled by secrets and personality clashes. The eight-part show tells us about their unhealthy relationship, which includes other romantic pursuits and also an awful college murder. Lucy is stuck in a vicious loop of returning to Stephen, even though she is aware that it is bad for her.
There we have it, our list of 10 shows like Alice and Jack. Did any of your favourites make the list? Let us know in the comments below.