The Leftovers was one of the greatest HBO shows of the 2010s, and there are very few series like it — but one of the best replacements was streaming at the same time and had three seasons on Hulu. Created by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta, The Leftovers kicked off with an incident dubbed the Sudden Departure, which caused two percent of Earth's population to vanish into thin air. This left the rest of humanity grappling with these mysterious disappearances and whether there was a deeper meaning behind them.

Although The Leftovers is a mystery box series, it stands out from similar shows, as it never quite answers its biggest questions. Instead, it leaves much of what happens up to viewer interpretation, preferring to focus on the characters and their reactions to the Sudden Departure instead. Impressively, this actually benefits The Leftovers, despite a lack of answers hurting other mystery box shows. And those looking for a similar storytelling approach, as well as overlapping themes and plot elements, would be wise to pick up a three-season Hulu series from around the same time: The Path.

The Path Came Out While The Leftovers Was Airing, But It's A Perfect Follow-Up

It Has Similar Themes & Is Just As Mysterious

The Leftovers' ending proved satisfying, there wasn't an obvious series to pick up after finishing it. However, the underrated Hulu drama The Path was streaming from 2016 to 2018, and it made a surprisingly great follow-up — though viewers might not have realized it at the time.

Mari Ibarra (Alexa Barajas) wearing a yellow hoodie and sitting in the cabin in Yellowjackets

8 Mystery Box Shows That Fell Off Once They Started Answering Their Biggest Questions

It's tough to nail the mystery box formula on television, and while these shows started strong, they began to lose steam in the later seasons.

Posts

Starring Breaking Bad alum Aaron Paul, Hannibal star Hugh Dancy, and Michelle Monaghan, The Path is nearly as bizarre as The Leftovers from the very beginning. While it doesn't open with anything as jarring as the Sudden Departure, the series introduces a fictional cult called Meyerism, digging into its dynamics and most prominent . This will appeal to those interested in The Leftovers' Guilty Remnant, but the similarities go beyond that.

Like The Leftovers, it meshes the elements of a mystery box show with those of a more straightforward drama.

After Paul's Eddie Lane has a mysterious vision, his beliefs are called into question, bringing the character and viewers on a journey to learn the "truth" about Meyerism and its founder. This premise gives The Path a few key mysteries, but like The Leftovers, it meshes the elements of a mystery box show with those of a more straightforward drama. Because of this, its approach to its plot and characters feel similar, making The Path a must-watch for fans of the HBO series.

The Path Takes A Similar Approach To The HBO Show With Its Mysteries & Storytelling

The Hulu Show Leans Into Its Characters Over Twists And Turns

The Path's cancellation after season 3 could be responsible for some of its mysteries never getting solved, but the lack of answers isn't all that disappointing. This is because the Hulu series functions as more of a character study than anything else, making it feel reminiscent of The Leftovers. It's more interested in exploring how the people involved in Meyerism respond to the community and the revelations that come out about it. It gives answers at times, but that isn't the central focus, and the show is better for it.

The Path takes a heavy interest in belief and faith, giving it overlapping themes with The Leftovers.

Additionally, The Path takes a heavy interest in belief and faith, giving it overlapping themes with The Leftovers. Each series explores these themes through different means — and the Sudden Departure arguably gives The Leftovers higher stakes — but those intrigued by people's perceptions of the world will no doubt find both shows compelling. There are other reasons to check out the three-season Hulu drama, too, especially if you're still looking to fill the void left by The Leftovers.

The Leftovers Fans Will Appreciate The 3-Season Hulu Drama For Other Reasons Too

Both Series Have Great Casts, Impressive Writing, & Feel Distinct

The mysteries, storytelling approach, and themes are the most obvious reasons fans of The Leftovers should pick up The Path, but the Hulu series has other strengths worth noting. Like The Leftovers, it has a fantastic cast, with stars like Paul, Dancy, and Monaghan giving stellar performances that deserve far more attention. The writing is also nuanced and thoughtful, and the premise makes The Path feel unlike anything else on TV. These are all qualities that elevated The Leftovers, so there's a good chance viewers will appreciate them here as well.