Never Stop Watching
Joss Whedon’s latest teen drama is an interesting medley of alt-history and supernatural fantasy. With some sharp wit and nice ideas, there’s certainly a lot to like here.
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 The Nevers.
Angel
Similarities – Dysfunctional Team
Whereas Buffy The Vampire Slayer gains the plaudits for its smart writing, trail-blazing female characters and some excellent storytelling, Buffy’s spin-off Angel is arguably every bit as endearing.
In fact, at times Angel dives a lot deeper and darker into its mythology and ideas than Buffy, fronting David Boreanaz as the tortured vampire with a soul.
Setting up residence in LA, Angel is joined by an eclectic group of characters including Cordelia who makes the jump from Buffy across to this series. While many will lament the open, frustrating cliffhanger during the final episode, Angel is easily one of the better shows from the 90’s and a real gem well worth watching.
You can read our thoughts on Angel in our full season reviews here!
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Similarities – Tone & Dysfunctional Team
Buffy The Vampire Slayer is one of the most influential shows to pave the way for strong female characters. Its forward thinking ideas around relationships, storytelling and timeless comedy makes it a show that holds up to this day.
The story revolves around a teenager called Buffy Summers who finds out she’s a slayer – a young girl destined to push back the forces of evil that spew out the aptly titled Hellmouth located in the town of Sunnydale.
Easily one of the best shows from the 90’s, Buffy The Vampire Slayer is a quintessential slice of spooky action and another must-watch if you’re in the mood for empowering female action.
You can read our thoughts on Buffy The Vampire Slayer in our full season reviews here!
His Dark Materials
Similarities – Prophecy & Magical Items
His Dark Materials is a wonderful fantasy series. Excellent acting and a faithful story adaptation of Philip Pullman’s novels combine beautifully with the world building on offer, making for a wholly absorbing and satisfying watch. The show never outstays its welcome either across its three seasons.
The story follows the journey of Lyra Belacqua, a young girl who inhabits a world where human and daemon share an intricate link together. As kids start going missed, snatched up from the streets by the Gobblers, Lyra finds herself coming in possession of the mysterious alethiometer.
When her best friend Roger goes missing, what begins as a simple search and rescue mission quickly becomes so much more as this expansive, dangerous and wondrous show becomes one of the small screen’s best fantasy offerings.
You can read our thoughts on His Dark Materials in our full season review here!
A Discovery Of Witches
Similarities – Drama & Fantasy
A Discovery Of Witches is a well written drama with some truly beautiful imagery across its run-time. That’s to say nothing of the characters who are interesting and endearing.
The basic premise revolves around a world where witches, vampires and demons live discreetly among humans. Our central protagonist is Diana Bishop, who happens to be the last living witch. What ensues from here is a heady blend of romance, fantasy and drama across 2 seasons – the second of which cutting us back in time for a who’s who of historical figures.
While the first season is far stronger, there’s a lot to like here and fans of romance and fantasy offerings should be in their element.
You can read our thoughts on A Discovery Of Witches in our full season reviews here!
Warrior Nun
Similarities – Action & Thriller
Warrior Nun has absolutely no right to be as enjoyable as it ends up being. The dialogue is corny, the action sequences silly and the entire premise rests on a bizarre medley of ideas. And yet it just seems to work. Every part of this series perfectly lends itself to the teen drama genre.
The story here revolves around Ava, an orphaned teen who wakes up in a morgue only to discover she now possesses superpowers. As the chosen Halo Bearer, she sets to work operating as a demon-hunting nun.
The 10 episode run-time offers a lot of material to get through and it seems likely that Netflix will green-light a second season for this.
The Umbrella Academy
Similarities – Dysfunctional Team & Powers
The Umbrella Academy is really the full package. Slick action, a great ensemble of characters and some excellent story beats make this superhero story one of the best Netflix Originals on the platform.
Both seasons build up nicely with a decent amount of time dedicated to fleshing out every character and giving them a compelling arc. While the world-ending cataclysmic event is still here, it’s handled in a pretty smart and original way.
The action sequences are well shot and the simple story surrounding this misfit group of child-heroes teaming up to save the world is as engrossing as it is watchable. It’s also one of the better examples of a show outdoing itself in the second season. A must watch.
You can read our thoughts on The Umbrella Academy in our full season reviews here!
Penny Dreadful
Similarities – Unconventional Team-Up
Set in Victoria London, Penny Dreadful combines blood-soaked horror and mystery beautifully into one atmospheric series. The story essentially sees explorer Sir Malcolm Murray, American gunslinger Ethan Chandler, scientist Victor Frankenstein and medium Vanessa Ives uniting to combat supernatural threats together.
It’s a simple enough premise but where this show excels is in its storytelling and acting. Everything about Penny Dreadful oozes charisma and despite a slightly slow start during season 1, it quickly grows into a real powerhouse on the horror circuit.
It’s beautifully produced too, with some lavishly dressed sets and some well-rounded characters. This one is well worth checking out.
The Magicians
Similarities – Magic & Teen Angst
The Magicians is essentially Twilight meets Harry Potter. For some, this clash of tones will be an instant turn-off but for those invested in A Discovery Of Witches, this will certainly whet the appetite.
In its simplest form, the story revolves around a group of students who discover they’re graced with magical abilities after being recruited to a secretive academy. At the heart of all this lies our main character, Quentin Coldwater, who enrolls at Brakebills University for Magical Pedagogy.
Serving as an interesting juxtaposition is Quentin’s childhood friend Julia, who finds her hopes and dreams shattered when she’s denied entry to this very same university. Instead, she searches for magic elsewhere.
While a little campy and cheesy at times, The Magicians does well to flesh out its five seasons. If you’re sold after the first couple of episodes, you’re in for a real treat with this one.
Wynonna Earp
Similarities – Call To Action & Teen Drama
On the surface, Wynonna Earp looks like another generic teen fantasy offering. However, where the show excels is in its source material, which draws on the IDW Comic of the same name.
The story here sees Wynonna Earp following her great great grandfather’s footsteps as she battles demons and other creatures. Armed with a dysfunctional group of allies and some unique abilities, this fantasy drama is armed with four seasons of action.
If you enjoyed that elements of The Nevers, you should find enough to whet the appetite here.
The Irregulars
Similarities – Alt-History & Teen Group
Netflix’s latest teen drama blends some familiar characters with the unfamiliar. While this one is more of a polarizing choice, it does have a lot of similarities to The Nevers.
This time though, we’re plunged into an alt-Victorian world on the brink of being consumed by darkness. Whispers grow of a big threat and for one of the girls, Jessie, she’s experiencing frightening visions.
This falls to sister Bea to rally the group together, thrusting them headfirst into the throngs of the supernatural thanks to Dr Watson recruiting her to his cause.
With no Sherlock in sight, a very moody Watson offers Bea money in exchange for solving several gnarly and twisted cases. It’s not perfect but it is another alt-history romp.
You can read our thoughts on The Irregulars in our full season review here!
So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching The Nevers on HBO.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!