If you’re still reeling from the emotional gut-punch of Adolescence, you’re not alone. The four-part British series has taken Netflix by storm, quickly ranking among the platform’s most-watched global hits. Its gripping one-shot cinematography and raw portrayal of family, guilt, and justice made it impossible to look away. But now that it’s over, what should you stream next?
We’ve rounded up three Netflix series that offer the same kind of emotional intensity, clever storytelling, or haunting atmosphere. Whether you’re into high-stakes interrogations, time-bending mysteries, or dark tales of youth gone astray, here’s what to queue up next.
Criminal — A High-Tension Crime Drama in a Single Room
If Adolescence had you holding your breath with every tense conversation, you’ll find Criminal equally compelling. This international crime anthology unfolds entirely within the claustrophobic walls of a police interrogation room, where detectives question suspects accused of harrowing crimes. Each episode is a slow burn, packed with psychological pressure and verbal chess matches that keep you guessing until the very end.
What makes Criminal stand out is its unique format: the show was produced in four different countries—France, Germany, Spain, and the UK—with separate casts and languages, but the same minimalist setup. It’s proof that great drama doesn’t need car chases or explosions—just a table, a suspect, and a secret waiting to unravel.
Bodies — Time-Bending Mystery with a Familiar Face
While Bodies is more of a black sci-fi thriller, fans of Adolescence will immediately recognize Stephen Graham, who played the emotionally torn father in the latter, taking on a powerful new role. Based on the graphic novel by Si Spencer, this series follows four detectives in four different time periods—1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053—all investigating the exact same murder. Yes, the same body appears in each timeline.
What starts as a period crime drama turns into something far more expansive, with political conspiracies, time travel, and a mysterious figure named Elias Mannix tying everything together. Bodies isn’t just about solving a murder—it’s about understanding how history, ideology, and fate intersect. If you loved the slow-burn revelations of Adolescence, this show’s multi-layered storytelling will be right up your alley.
Deliver Me — A Bleak, Brilliant Look at Youth and Violence
Brace yourself for Deliver Me, a Swedish mini-series that doesn’t flinch in the face of hard truths. Following two teenage boys, Billy and Dogge, who are lured into a local gang, this show explores how quickly innocence can be lost in the face of survival, poverty, and manipulation. Their bond begins to fray under the weight of loyalty and violence, culminating in a tragic act that changes everything.
The story is both intimate and devastating, zooming in on personal relationships while confronting the wider social forces that trap young people in cycles of crime. At the center is Farid, a police officer who must untangle what drove one best friend to pull the trigger on another. Raw, emotional, and impossible to forget, Deliver Me is perfect for viewers looking for drama with real-world weight.
So if Adolescence left you emotionally shredded (and let’s be honest—it did), these three series will keep you in that Netflix-induced emotional whirlwind just a little bit longer. Each one delivers tension, tragedy, and top-tier storytelling—exactly what you need when you’re not quite ready to leave the drama behind.
