Here are my favorite mystery shows that play with time or dimensions. I’m going to try my best to not give anything away, but just know that there are A TON of things that I’ll have to leave out to not ruin the many surprises in these shows. Just go watch them – you won’t be disappointed.
1. Outer Range
Outer Range mixes a family drama with sci-fi. Imagine Yellowstone but with a lot more weirdness going on. When a big circular hole appears out of thin air on his farm, a farmer tries everything he can to keep it secret from his family and neighbors. What is it? And why doesn’t he want anyone to know about? You’ll have to watch to find out. Every character in this show is hiding something, and episode by episode things slowly come to light and start making sense. It’s a wild ride with tons of twists and turns. This show was way better than it had any right being. I do have to warn you that it was cancelled after its first 2 seasons. It had really good ratings, but it was just too expensive. And you’ll notice the high quality production, excellent acting and amazing story if you give it a watch. I’m still hoping someone will pick this show up for more seasons, because there’s still a lot of story left to tell.
It stars Josh Brolin, Lili Taylor and Tamara Podemski.
2. The OA
This one is a bit older. A blind woman returns to her adoptive parents after a seven-year disappearance. She now calls herself “the OA,” has unexplained scars on her back, and has her eyesight restored.
She refuses to explain her disappearance to the FBI or to her parents. Instead, she shares her story with a small group of five local strangers. The show follows her along this story showing a wild, emotional and intense story of a scientist who is obsessed with near death experiences and her time with him. I really can’t say much more than this without ruining a bunch of the story. It’s really best that you go in completely unprepared.
It stars Brit Marling and Jason Isaacs.
3. Russian Doll
I love time loop movies. Groundhog Day, Palm Springs, Edge of Tomorrow. They’re just all so amazing. The only problem I have with them is that they all feel too short. If you’re like me and want a longer and funnier time loop experience – then give Russian Doll a try. Watch the main character, Nadia, die over and over and over again as she tries to figure out why her night keeps repeating. There are 2 seasons of this amazing show, and the second season has its own fun with time manipulation. This was a hit on Netflix. If you haven’t seen it yet, this is your reminder.
It stars Natasha Lyonee and Charlie Barnett.
4. The Resort
The Resort is about a couple who are simply trying to enjoy a nice holiday when they stumble across an old unsolved missing persons case. As they try to piece together the events from the past – they end up in more and more dangerous and unexpected situations.
I only watched this one recently, so I’m a bit late to the party – but it really blew me away. If you like shows like The White Lotus, The Afterparty or The Residence – then you know what to expect from this show. It’s a massive mystery story but with extra sci-fi thrown in for good measure.
It stars Cristin Milioti and William Jackson Harper.
5. Shining Girls
This show is about a woman who survived an attack by a serial killer. The trauma of that attack lives with her every day. When she learns of a recent murder that’s similar to her own attack, she begins investigating the case to try to find the killer. It’s a super suspenseful, slow-burn thriller with a rewarding story, and big twists. I will watch literally anything that stars Elisabeth Moss, but I was not expecting the story to be this good and to hook me so hard. Make time for this one, you won’t be disappointed.
It stars Elisabeth Moss and Jamie Bell.
Top 5 Time-Bending Mystery Shows
All of these TV shows are excellent, so I’m certain that you’ll enjoy all of them.
And if you want some really mind-boggling mysteries to solve at home, try out our murder mystery case files. You’ll have to solve multiple objectives to find the killer, while avoiding red herrings and solving secret codes. We provide optional clues that’ll nudge you along when you get stuck, so everyone can have fun with them.
Sherwin has been designing and selling murder mystery cases from 2023. His murder mystery case files have received rave reviews and he has since expanded into murder mystery dinner party games as well. Prior to this, he spent 10 years creating high quality digital products for his customers.
