Echoes Of Great Shows
Echoes is the latest twisty-turny mystery on Netflix, akin to one of those airport thriller books. It’s fast-paced but also going to be a polarizing show for many people.
If you’ve finished watching this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing.
To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have.
Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Echoes.
Ringer
Similarities – Twins & Mystery
Back when The CW actually produced pretty compelling shows, Ringer ended up as an interesting and solid series with a similar twin motif as its centrepiece.
The plot stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, who takes on the role of twins Siobhan and Bridget. Bridget is now six-months sober but she happens to be a key witness to a murder. Right before she testifies, Bridget gets cold feet and visits her estranged sister in New York. When Siobhan seems to have committed suicide, Bridget takes over her life.
Mixing elements of soapy drama and psychological thriller, Ringer is very similar to Echoes.
Sharp Objects
Similarities – Mystery & Characters
Psychologically charged murder mystery Sharp Objects is as engaging as it is technically impressive. From the exquisite sound design to the perfect editing, every part of Sharp Objects has been finely tuned and crafted to create a compelling mystery.
The story follows troubled reporter Camille who begrudgingly finds herself assigned to reporting a violent murder case in her hometown Wind Gap. Haunted by a troubled past mired in violence and depression, Camille feels alienated from the adults, growing closer to the young girls whom the killer in town is targeting.
The show is as engaging as it is enthralling and definitely a must-watch if you’re looking for a compelling character-driven mystery.
You can read our thoughts on Sharp Objects in our full season review here!
I Know This Much Is True
Similarities – Twins & Intense Drama
Blood is thicker than water and in the case of the Birdsey Twins, that quote is seriously put to the test. Across 6 episodes, I Know This Much Is True explores the turbulent relationship between two brothers while presenting big themes about depression, grief and love.
The story begins with an introduction to our two main characters, Dominick and Thomas Birdsey. Suffering from serious mental health issues, the series opens with a sombre and shocking moment inside a library as Thomas recites passages from the bible and cuts his own hand off. This ultimately sets the tone and mood for what follows as Dominick struggles with the authorities to prevent his brother from being moved to a more secure and strict psychiatric hospital.
This lays the foundation for the narrative that follows but the underlying issues go deeper than that. Across the 6 episodes, layers are peeled off to reveal a very raw and emotional centre as Dominick’s baggage he’s been carrying all these years is laid bare.
Pretty Little Liars
Similarities – Soapy Drama & Fast Pace
Pretty Little Liars revolves around four friends who are stalked by an anonymous foe who reveals their darkest secrets. If that wasn’t enough, this quartet also work together to investigate the disappearance of their best friend; the Queen Bee of the group, Allison.
What begins as a simple mystery soon become so much more as twists and turns keep things suspenseful. There’s an element of Gossip Girl in here too but what keeps this one so interesting stems from finding out who “A” is and what these girls may be hiding from each other.
It can be a little slow moving at times but if you’re a fan of teen dramas then this one is worth sticking with for the long haul.
The Stranger
Similarities – Mystery
What would you do if a stranger told you your whole life was a lie? Harlan Coben’s The Stranger aims to answers this very question.
The story itself revolves around family man Adam. During his son’s football match, a strange woman arrives and tells him his wife Corinne lied about her pregnancy and miscarriage.
Adam is rattled to his core and as secrets are exposed and Corinne goes missing, what follows is a quest for the truth that takes plenty of turns along the way. Only, the truth is far more shocking and ugly than first meets the eye.
With Richard Armitage and Paul Kaye both firing on all cylinders, his thriller delivers a compelling and binge-worthy journey worth taking.
You can read our thoughts on The Stranger in our full season review here!
Orphan Black
Similarities – Tone & Mystery
Smartly written and incredibly moreish, Orphan Black is a fascinating mystery box.
The story here centers on a street-wise chameleon known as Sarah. After witnessing a woman’s suicide, she assumes the stranger’s identity – who just so happens to look identical to her.
Believing she can make some easy money and clear out the girl’s savings, Sarah is thrust head-first into a crazy mystery as she discovers the truth. With an assassin on the loose, seemingly hunting her down, this cat and mouse mystery opens up in the best possible way.
Across the five seasons there’s some great drama and lots of action. This one’s a must-watch.
Big Little Lies
Similarities – Family Drama & Relationship Issues
While the needless second season does dampen the experience somewhat, the first season of Big Little Lies is damn near perfect storytelling.
The story predominantly follows three Mums and their families. Boisterous Madeline struggles with her children growing up and not needing her anymore whilst simultaneously dealing with conflicted emotions toward current husband Ed.
There’s also some ensuing tension between Nathan and his new wife Bonnie, while Jane struggles after moving to town and finding her son Ziggy accused of biting Renata’s daughter at school. Their feud is the glue that holds everything together but there’s a much darker central mystery at work here.
That comes in form of Celeste who appears to have the perfect life with her twin sons and good looking husband Perry. Unfortunately under this sickly veil of smiles and laughter is a volatile relationship built on violence and fear. This one is a must watch.
You can read our thoughts on Big Little Lies in our full season reviews here!
Little Fires Everywhere
Similarities – Family Drama & Mystery
Little Fires Everywhere is a show that’s worth sticking with until the end. Hulu’s familial drama will almost certainly draw comparisons to Big Little Lies and with both Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon in the driving seat, it’s easy to see why.
Armed with an intriguing mystery, lots of commentary surrounding class and race along with a dynamic power struggle that changes and evolves throughout the season, Little Fires Everywhere is a smartly written drama and one of the better shows to come out of 2020.
The story begins with an intriguing mystery; Elena Richardson and her family look upon the burning wreckage of their family home. Someone has set it alight and all fingers point toward Elena’s troublesome youngest daughter Izzy. But is she really to blame?
This absorbing family melodrama portrays its socially charged themes across the different episodes beautifully. It’s not perfect but those little fires certainly grow into a raging inferno by the end.
You can read our thoughts on Little Fires Everywhere in our full season review here!
The Sinner
Similarities – Characters & Drama
From the onset, its obvious that there’s something unsettling lurking in the shadows of The Sinner. The first season starts just like a standard mystery thriller; a short build up leads to young mother Cora Tannetti stabbing a man on a beach for seemingly no reason.
With the crime already committed and shown in visceral detail, two key questions drives the show forward – why did she kill him and what drove her to commit this crime? The question hangs over the show like a black cloud and when Investigator Harry Ambrose begins digging deeper, a slowly opening puzzle box of clues sheds more light on the motive.
As truths surface and lies are uncovered, this methodically paced mystery keeps the suspense running right through to its climactic ending, playing as a why-dun-it rather than a who-dun-it.
As the seasons progress, Harry Ambrose is the glue that holds the seasons together as different crimes come to light. The first season is undoubtedly the strongest of the three though.
You can read our thoughts on The Sinner in our full season review here!
Alias Grace
Similarities – Past Trauma & Mental Health
Alias Grace features a layered plot involving a litany of flashbacks, a well-written, poetic script and an award-winning performance from Sarah Gadon.
The story begins in 19th Century Canada, where psychiatrist Dr. Simon Jordan weighs in on whether murderess Grace should be pardoned due to insanity.
Based on a true story, the narrative is told through a series of face to face discussions between Jordan and Grace, recounting her troubled life and the adversity this woman endured leading up to the murders she stands accused of.
Alias Grace is certainly one of the best period dramas streaming on Netflix – and a serious dark horse.
You can read our thoughts on Alias Grace in our full season reviews here!
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished with Echoes on Netflix!
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!