Few series were as thought-provoking and relevant as the technological exploration seen in HBO’s A-list talent like Anthony Hopkins, Evan Rachel Wood, and Ed Harris, the way Westworld paired themes of the ethics of artificial intelligence with an outrageous Wild West amusement park setting was truly ingenious.

It’s always difficult to know what to watch next after you’ve finished one of the best shows ever made and are desperately trying to find something that fills the void left by the series' absence. Luckily, several other great shows are just as engrossing, original, and insightful as Westworld, making them perfect choices for fans looking for their next binge-watch. Those who are looking for something as great as Westworld to watch next should look no further than these incredible shows.

10 Twin Peaks (1990 - 1991, 2017)

Twin Peaks laid the foundations for mystery box narratives like Westworld

A prime reason that viewers connected so much with HBO’s Westworld during its first season was its slowly unfolding mystery, interconnected timelines, and seemingly endless possibilities for twists and turns. While these types of cryptic and complex stories have become more common on television in the 21st century, none of them would exist without the influence of Twin Peaks. This classic mystery series from the 1990s was a trailblazing piece of television that had the entire world asking the pressing question of 'Who killed Laura Palmer?'

From the late filmmaking icon David Lynch and TV writer Mark Frost, Twin Peaks was the first show of its kind to embrace the potential for serialized television. With an ongoing mystery that required viewers to pay close attention to its litany of clues and secrets, Twin Peaks made for fascinating TV and laid the foundations for everything from Lost to Westworld. Add to this Lynch’s unique sense of surrealism and dreamlike logic, and you’ve got one of the most iconic cult classics there has ever been.

9 Justified (2010 - 2015)

Justified’s neo-Western style brings to mind the Wild West-themed setting of Westworld

There are two major strands of Westworld fans, and which camp you fall into will have a major implication for the type of show you’re looking for to fill that void. While some viewers will be seeking out more tech-heavy series that explore the implications of artificial intelligence, others will be more interested in the Wild West setting of its advanced theme park that’s populated with highly intelligent androids. If you prefer the western side of Westworld, then Justified is certainly the show for you.

With Timothy Olyphant as the tough deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, Justified was a modern Western series that explored an unconventional law officer's personal brand of Old West-style justice. Featuring fantastic ing performances from the likes of Walton Goggins, Justified not only boasted the same A-list talent as Westworld but also maintained its impeccable writing. As one of the greatest shows of the 2010s, those who haven’t caught up on Justified yet are missing out.

8 Severance (2022 - Present)

Severance’s dystopian subtext mimics the fractured nature of the society seen in Westworld

There’s a major push-and-pull within Westworld between the way that AI android hosts can be utilized and their right to personal autonomy and civil liberties. This brings up thought-provoking themes around the nature of selfhood that are also addressed in the sci-fi psychological thriller, Severance. With a unique premise, rather than focus on AI hosts who are being unfairly exploited by society at large, within Severance, it is individuals who are exploiting themselves by separating their consciousness into a work self and a home self.

The cognitive separation seen in Severance is referred to as an “innie” and an “outtie,” and this Apple TV+ series delves deep into the moral and ethical implications of such a practice. Severance explored the darkest side of corporate drudgery and addressed many of the same themes and ideas that made Westworld such a hotbed for discussion among viewers. With strong performances from the likes of Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, and John Turturro, Severance pairs top-tier writing, fascinating concepts, and richly psychological themes to become one of the best series currently on TV.

7 Deadwood (2004 - 2006)

Deadwood explores many of the same themes as Westworld

While Westworld and Deadwood share surface-level similarities due to their Wild West settings, the comparison goes far deeper than just this. As a show that highlights the encroaching influence of civilization on a small frontier town, the prime theme of Deadwood explores chaos versus order as the slow emergence of government showcased the final days of the Wild West. Similarly, Westworld depicts a society at a point of transformation as AI intelligence begins to fight back and demand autonomy.

Through power struggles, attempts at control, and dark morality seen in a lawless society, Deadwood and Westworld each addressed universal themes with thoughtful care and depth. With a standout performance from Ian McShane as Al Swearengen, the entire ensemble cast should get credit for turning Deadwood into perhaps HBO’s greatest period drama. With just three seasons and an epilogue movie, Deadwood is the perfect show to help you fill a Westworld-sized gap in your life.

6 The Leftovers (2014 - 2017)

The Leftovers features the same kind of thoughtful existentialism as Westworld

There’s a sense of grief, trauma, and existential questioning that ran through Westworld, as seen in hosts like Dolores's journey toward self-awareness and a discovery of their harrowing pasts. In The Leftovers, these same ideas are explored through the Sudden Departure, a global event that saw 2% of the world’s population inexplicably disappear. As society reckons with the fallout of this event, religious fanaticism and odd beliefs begin to take hold of the town of Mapleton, where Chief Kevin Garvey serves as a police officer.

While at first glance, the similarities between The Leftovers and Westworld won’t be immediately clear, their willingness to address the eternal search for meaning in a meaningless world means that these shows have a lot in common. The way that Kevin’s wife, Laurie, s the mysterious cult called the Guilty Remnant to try to make sense of this world-shattering event was similar to the hosts in Westworld exploring their newly discovered sense of free will. With both shows looking at the essence of what it means to be human, Westworld fans will find a lot to like about The Leftovers.

5 Mr. Robot (2015 - 2019)

Mr. Robot was a twist-filled journey into the unknown, just like Westworld

Mr. Robot was an intriguing mix of influence that brought together ideas previously seen in the likes of American Psycho, Fight Club, The Matrix, and Taxi Driver to create something totally new. With the Fight Club-esque twist of a split personality ruling somebody’s life, Mr. Robot featured plenty of twists and turns that kept audiences guessing in the same way that Westworld’s mystery box narrative was an intriguing puzzle just waiting to be put together.

With a unique sense of humor and a great performance from Rami Malek, Mr. Robot addressed themes of tech, society, and the destructive nature of capitalism in modern civilization. As a suspenseful cyber-thriller, Mr. Robot was influenced not only by the expanding influence of technology but also by political movements like Occupy Wall Street. As a clever, thought-provoking, and underrated prestige drama, Mr. Robot deserves more credit as one of the best shows of the 2010s.

4 Black Mirror (2011 - Present)

Black Mirror addresses the dark implications of technology in the same way as Westworld

The anthology sci-fi series Black Mirror is a trailblazing look at the dark side of technology in the modern era. With each episode telling a self-contained story with an entirely new cast, the anthology nature of Black Mirror meant he could always be on the cutting edge and even accidentally predicted technological advances. Known for its cynical worldview and jaw-dropping twist endings, Black Mirror is a masterclass in dystopian storytelling from British satirist Charlie Brooker.

While some episodes of Black Mirror were certainly better than others, at its best, it thoughtfully explored the dark implications of artificial intelligence and a society increasingly reliant on technology. Much in the same way that Westworld highlights the ethical dilemmas posed by technology that has achieved consciousness, Black Mirror forces viewers to confront the moral inconsistencies facing society as it currently stands.

3 Dollhouse (2009 - 2010)

Dollhouse addresses the ethics of artificial consciousness, just like Westworld

Dollhouse was a fantastic, albeit all too brief, TV series from Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon. As a sci-fi series that explored a corporation running underground establishments populated by artificially intelligent Actives known as Dolls, these sentient robots are fitted with temporary personalities and skills. With the premise that identity is malleable, Dollhouse tapped into the ethics of artificial consciousness and posed questions of whether it's right to load AI with multiple, ever-changing personalities.

With a fantastic lead performance from Eliza Dushku, Dollhouse was an intriguing series that was sadly canceled after just two seasons. While the questions posed by Dollhouse feel highly relevant today, back in 2009, artificial intelligence was not as commonplace, and the show failed to connect with mainstream viewers. Although Whedon never got to finish his five-season plan for the show, the two-season run of Dollhouse remains a cult favorite just waiting to be discovered by a new generation of viewers.

2 Dark (2017 - 2020)

Dark’s complex web of questions and intrigue mimics the appeal of Westworld

The German-language sci-fi thriller Dark took viewers on a genre-bending exploration through time in a multigenerational story that addressed big questions of duality, fate, and morality. Through a sprawling story that truly has to be seen to be believed, Dark managed to capture the same excitement and curiosity that made Westworld season 1 such an intriguing viewing experience. With elements of Twin Peaks mixed with Stranger Things, Dark also carved out its own unique identity and was like nothing else on Netflix.

Dark was one of the rare shows that got better with each subsequent season as it delved further into its complex mystery. With an insanely talented ensemble cast, it was incredible the way that actors were perfectly cast to play characters at different points in their life stories. While some viewers may be put off by foreign language series, I guarantee you won’t regret taking a chance on Dark.

1 Humans (2015 - 2018)

Humans exploration of the ethics of AI directly corresponded with themes seen in Westworld

Humans was a co-production between Channel 4 and AMC that adapted the Swedish sci-fi drama Real Humans. Dealing with pressing questions around the ethics of exploiting artificial intelligence, robotics, and their place in the future of mankind, it’s incredible just how comparable the themes of Humans were to Westworld. While Westworld embraced the more outlandish side of using AI for entertainment, Humans was more grounded in the everyday use and moral dilemmas of the anthropomorphic robots known as synths.

With a truly thought-provoking narrative, Humans tapped into important questions around the ethical use of AI at a time when viewers were ready to address this topic. Through a blend of intense drama and comedy, Humans was a riveting glimpse into the sociopolitical consequences of a technological development we are only just beginning to see the all-encoming influence of. If you’re looking for a new show to replace Westworld with, look no further than Humans.