The thriller genre of TV shows relies on twists to draw its audience in and convince them to keep watching the series as more questions are answered. While it’s expected that many of the most mysterious series will keep their secrets close and leave the audience wondering what will happen next, some reveal an enormous plot twist from the beginning, setting the stage for a spell-binding show.

The biggest plot twists in TV history have been in projects that belong to the thriller and mystery box genres, as they rely on shock factor and surprise to create emotional and dramatic impact. In many cases, the characters are just as unsettled by the twists and events that happen onscreen because they’re in the dark, watching their lives be disrupted by the inciting incident of the story.

All of these series are thriller TV shows everyone should watch, as not only are they action-packed and intriguing, but they are also emotional, character-driven narratives that communicate universal truths about the human experience. Additionally, since it’s human nature to want to unravel the layers of a mystery, it makes sense that these works would capture our attention.

Dark (2017–2020)

Credit: Julia Terjung / Netflix

As one of the best mystery box TV shows in history, Dark would be gripping even without its sci-fi elements. However, the German Netflix show is as high-concept as it gets, building a world that audiences won’t be able to get enough of until they have all the answers. Beginning with the disappearance of a teenager, it doesn’t take long for Dark to introduce the concept of time travel.

One of the series’ central characters, Jonas (Louis Hofmann), is reentering the dynamic of the small town, Winden, and learning about what’s changed since he’s been gone, as the series introduces the audience to the main players. As the viewer gets deeper into the first episode, it’s shown that the missing child didn’t disappear to another place, but another time, which is just the beginning of Dark‘s secrets.

Orphan Black (2013–2017)

Out of all the best sci-fi thriller TV shows on Netflix, Orphan Black is one of the most shocking, beginning with an intense plot twist and only growing more complex as the episodes progress. Tatiana Maslany leads the series as Sarah Manning, a struggling young woman who learns that not only does she have a doppleganger, but this person was driven to the brink.

Sarah witnesses her take her own life in the pilot. Though it’s disturbing and upsetting, Sarah is a consummate survivor, and it doesn’t take her long to figure out a way to use this as an opportunity. Slipping into the life of her mysterious twin, Sarah realizes that this woman’s identity and secrets are just the tip of the iceberg, and that her very existence is a danger to herself and those she holds close.

Dead To Me (2019–2022)

The chemistry between Linda Cardellini and Christina Applegate is more than enough reason to watch Dead to Me, Netflix’s dark comedy that might only have run for three seasons, but it made its mark. When the series begins, it seems that Jen (Applegate) and Judy (Cardellini) are in the same position, as they meet in grief counseling and appear to be suffering from similar losses, forming a bond over this.

However, at the start of the series, their newfound friendship begins to unravel when the audience discovers that it was Judy who killed Jen’s husband, whom she’s been mourning since the beginning of the episode. This creates inherent tension between the two women, though Jen is left in the dark for much longer, making Dead to Me a much more layered story than it might initially appear.

Dark Matter (2024–Present)