Engrossing Revenge Thrillers To Sink Your Teeth Int0
Kleo is the latest German thriller on Netflix, with great visuals, a well-written storyline and some delicious twists and turns.
If you’ve finished this one and are looking for something similar, 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 Kleo.
Killing Eve
Similarities – Characters & Action
Playing on the archetypal tropes you’d expect to see in the spy genre, Killing Eve confidently walks a fine line between dark comedy and gritty drama. The story predominantly revolves around two women; bored, excitement-starved MI6 agent Eve and illusive assassin Villanelle.
Their stories run parallel to one another during the opening few episodes before converging together in a deadly game of cat and mouse.
Across three seasons, some excellent acting make this a unique slice of the crime drama pie. It’s not perfect, and at times the story does suffer from some serious contrivances. Despite that though, Killing Eve is a great option for anyone after a lively and dramatic crime drama.
You can read our thoughts on Killing Eve in our full season review here!
Hannibal
Similarities – Violence & Characters
If you’re looking for a sinister thriller that hits all the right notes, look no further.
The story of Hannibal predominantly revolves around two key characters; the calculated cannibal Hannibal Lector and criminal profiler Will Graham. Interestingly, Will can “see” crimes as they happen which gives him an edge while out in the field.
Each episode has a different case to deal with but an overarching story tackles one murder in particular that brings both these characters together.
Mads Mikkelsen does an incredible job portraying Hannibal Lector and the chemistry between these two leads is enough to make for a unique offering in the crime drama genre.
You can read our thoughts on Hannibal in our full season review here!
Nikita
Similarities – Espionage & Female Protagonist
Much like Kleo, Nikita features a strong female as its central protagonist. The story itself does feel a little similar too, depicting a rogue assassin returning to take down the secret organization that trained her.
Where Nikita stands out though is with its action and there’s more than enough tension here to keep you watching through. With 4 seasons and lots of twists and turns along the way, this is definitely one of the more under-rated options out there.
Mr. Mercedes
Similarities – Cat & Mouse Chase
Mr Mercedes is a well crafted, enjoyable thriller from start to finish, even if it is a little slow paced during the halfway point of the series.
With a dual focus on the two excellent lead characters, culprit Brady and ex-Detective Bull Hodges, this character-driven romp is well worth checking out.
A shocking, gut wrenching opening immediately sets the tone and mood, giving Mr Mercedes an unremorseful, no-holds-barred feel.
After this short prologue, the story officially picks up 2 years later. Bill, the lead investigator in the Mercedes case, is now retired from police work with the unresolved case still haunting him. A strange message on Bill’s computer though, reignites the chase for our culprit, setting up a dangerous game of cat and mouse as Bill and Brady attempt to outsmart and out-manoeuvre one another.
You can read our thoughts on Mr Mercedes in our full season reviews here!
The Punisher
Similarities – Violence & Revenge
Violent, gritty and featuring some seriously well-choreographed fights, The Punisher is a brutal Marvel series. It does suffer from the usual baggage that comes with a lot of these Netflix offerings – especially in its bloated run-time – but the action more than makes up for it.
The story is simple and revolves around a man named Frank Castle, who sets out to avenge his murdered family. With military background, a no-nonsense attitude and plenty of action, The Punisher earns his lucrative title.
With two seasons to get through, The Punisher offers a fair amount of bang for your buck.
You can read our thoughts on The Punisher in our full season reviews here!
The Little Drummer Girl
Similarities – Revenge Plot
BBC dramas can usually go one of two ways, they’re either really gripping and enticing… or they’re not. Thankfully, The Little Drummer Girl falls into the former.
The narrative centers on a Palestinian assassin targeting prominent Israelis. In order to try and thwart that, a young English actress is recruited by Mossad to infiltrate the assassin’s terrorist cell. The only way for her to survive is to use all of her acting talents…but of course that also puts her at considerable risk.
Nail-biting and well written, this 6 episode series has enough depth to keep you watching until the end.
The Terminal List
Similarities – Revenge & Action
The Terminal List has all the ingredients to be a sure-fire hit. High-octane action, twists and turns along with enough treachery and intrigue to keep you guessing. Although we weren’t a big fan of this one, fans have undoubtedly rallied around this and it’s easy to see why.
Our protagonist here is a former Navy SEAL officer called James Reece (Chris Pratt). The story opens with a tense, covert mission deep in enemy territory that goes completely awry, leading to his team being slaughtered.
With the plan a bust, the soldiers head back to US soil and are debriefed. Mourning the loss of their brothers, Reece soon finds that the war has followed them home.
When his friends begin to die in mysterious ways, Reece quickly learns that there’s a conspiracy going all the way up the chain of command. Naturally, Reece begins to investigate further, setting up a kill list as he begins going after those responsible.
Hunters
Similarities – Germany & Action
At the heart of the story lies Jonah, a 19 year old that finds his life turned upside down when his Grandmother Ruth is killed in cold blood by a mysterious figure in the middle of the night.
At her wake, Jonah is approached by a man named Meyer, an old friend of Ruth’s who becomes entangled in his story after he goes after the man responsible for killing her. What follows is a journey that sees Jonah join this misfit group of fighters who hunt down various Nazi targets, with The Wolf and The Colonel topping the list.
Hunters is a lot of fun. There’s some genuinely memorable moments here, some of the action is really well-shot and the early episodes do an excellent job bringing you into the world. When the soundtrack works, it perfectly harmonizes with the action on screen and episode 7 itself is easily the highlight of the entire show, with some solid action and a tense hour to play with.
Inspector Woo
Similarities – Strong Female Protagonist & Action
There aren’t many K-dramas that feel similar to Kleo in tone but if any can do it, it’s Inspector Woo. This is, in its simplest form, one very close in style and tone to Killing Eve (which is also featured on this list.)
The plot shines a spotlight on Koo Kyung-Yi who’s in her 40’s. She’s a former police officer but now works as an insurance investigator as a private detective. With her smarts and intuition, she’s able to solve every case… until now.
When Kyung-Yi is faced with catching a serial killer – a female university student no less – past and present collide together as the sins of her past come back to haunt her.
Barry
Similarities – Comedy & Drama
With a delicious blend of comedy and drama, Barry is uniquely placed on the small screen. It’s a delightfully paced and palpable show, that’s only been excelling from season to season.
The story centers on a hitman from the Midwest who moves to Los Angeles and ends up caught in the city’s theatre arts scene. Unfortunately, his past isn’t ready to stay forgotten.
To give much more away about the story would be a disservice but if you’re after a visceral, funny and well-paced series – this one’s an absolute must-watch.
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching Kleo on Netflix.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!
I don’t see any real similarities between “Kleo” and “Killing Eve.” “Eve” is pretty humorless, and “Kleo” is
VERY funny, and often. I was not drawn to any character in “Eve,” but cared about (almost) everyone in Kleo.
Your other suggestions are good, though, thank you.
My .02 cents worth.