12 Shows Like Yellowjackets To Watch While You Wait For Next Season

In case you didn't notice, the Showtime series "Yellowjackets" has become something of a sensation. Deadline reports that Showtime's Gary Levine stated that "Yellowjackets" is the network's "second-biggest series debut ever on streaming." The series has quickly gathered a rabid fan base, with viewers enthusiastically dissecting the plot and trying to unravel its many mysteries. With an all-star cast and crew and enough intrigue to keep fans going in between episodes, it's no surprise the show has become such a hit.

However, as Season 1 has come to a close, with a second season thankfully on the way, it's only natural that fans might want something to watch in the interim. Finding something to fill the void "Yellowjackets" has left is a tall order. Though the show has some clear influences -– "Lord of the Flies" and the 1993 film "Alive," most notably -– there's not much else like it on television. With its unique combination of high school drama, suburban ennui, mystery, horror, and supernatural elements, "Yellowjackets" stands out in today's TV landscape.

Fans shouldn't worry about finding a new obsession, as there are still a few shows that fans of "Yellowjackets" might find particularly appetizing (no pun intended). Do you like "Yellowjackets" but find it a bit too gory and want something more grounded in reality? We've got you. Do you love the darker and more horrific elements of "Yellowjackets" and want even more of it? We've also got you. Read on to hear about 12 shows like "Yellowjackets" to watch while you wait for next season.

"The Leftovers" is another show created by "Lost" writer Damon Lindelof, and in some ways, it's more similar to "Yellowjackets" than it is to "Lost." While "The Leftovers" doesn't follow a plane crash or depict time like "Yellowjackets" and "Lost" do, the existential questions it poses -– about the nature of survival, and what it really means to live –- have a lot in common with the world of "Yellowjackets." "The Leftovers" takes place in upstate New York three years after a global event called the Sudden Departure, during which 140 million people disappeared into thin air. In a world where nearly every person on earth has lost someone in such shocking circumstances, life can never be the same again.

As in "Yellowjackets," "The Leftovers" initially presents itself as a simple story of survival, albeit in a very different way than in "Yellowjackets," that moves in some very surprising directions, weaving in some ambiguous supernatural elements. "The Leftovers" also features one of the stars of "Yellowjackets" –- Jasmin Savoy Brown, who plays young Taissa.

"The Leftovers" wades more into existential territory than "Yellowjackets," which focuses more on individual characters and their own motivations rather than universal lessons. However, they both ask rather profound questions about the nature of human beings, and what it takes to survive. If you're ready for another show that will make you question the meaning of life, then "The Leftovers" should be next on your list.

There have been a lot of gritty teen shows over the years, and one of the very best of them is the HBO Max series "Generation." Though it received far less attention than "Euphoria," another HBO show, "Generation" is arguably the better show out of the two. Led by veteran actor Justice Smith alongside a cadre of talented newcomers, the series follows a group of Orange County teenagers as they navigate high school and deal with issues like family, sexuality, and identity.

Like "Yellowjackets" and "The Wilds," "Generation" takes it as a given that teenagers have much more on their plates than adults give them credit for. Like those two shows, "Generation" depicts beautifully nuanced narratives of teenage queerness and identity without reducing these stories to being about something as simple as labels.

"Generation" dives into some of the darker issues teens face, such as drug use, age-inappropriate relationships, and teen pregnancy. However, where the plotlines of shows like "Euphoria" or "Skins" sometimes feel overdone, "Generation" generally feels grounded in character motivations rather than spectacle. While "Yellowjackets" certainly has its moments of fantasy, it too is grounded in the unique perspectives of each character. While "Generation" was sadly canceled before Season 2 happened, Season 1 is still worth watching.

If your favorite theme in "Yellowjackets" is the cannibalism -– weird, but no judgment –- then you might want to add "Hannibal" to the queue. Created by "Pushing Daisies" alum Bryan Fuller, "Hannibal" follows the Thomas Harris book series about Hannibal Lecter and serves as a prequel to "The Silence of the Lambs." The series focuses on Hannibal (Mads Mikkelsen) and his unique relationship with criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy).

Aided by his team, including FBI Agent Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne) and psychologist Dr. Alana Bloom (Caroline Dhavernas), Will sets out to stop a serial killer terrorizing the area, not knowing the killer is his therapist and friend, Hannibal Lecter. Unlike "Yellowjackets," where the cannibalism is presented in a much more gory, surrealist way, "Hannibal" presents cannibalism in an almost elegant fashion. One of the central exercises in the show is that Hannibal, after killing his victims, lovingly prepares and cooks them, serving beautiful and mouth-watering dishes to his friends –- Will included. If this stomach-churning premise doesn't turn you off, then maybe "Hannibal" will be your next obsession.

Though "Yellowjackets" is not quite a comedy, it does have some extremely funny moments. Remember when Misty stopped Nat from doing drugs in literally the most absurd way possible? If you want something more in the realm of dark comedy, you might consider checking out "The End of the F***ing World." Based on a series of comic books, the show follows Alyssa (Jessica Barden), a popular girl who still doesn't feel like she fits in, and James (Alex Lawther), who is convinced he's a psychopath. After making an unexpected connection, the two decide to go on a road trip in search of Alyssa's father, who left when she was young.

James, who thus far has been killing only animals, decides it's time to level up and start killing humans, and he has the perfect idea for who his first victim should be. The series is even more enthralling than it reads on paper, evolving into a road trip series, a coming-of-age story, and a romance, all in one. With some violence and misanthropy thrown in, what's not to love? If you're drawn to violence and comedy all wrapped in one, then this British series should be your next stop.

One of the most intriguing aspects of "Yellowjackets" is how it illustrates perspective. Whose perspective do we trust, especially after hunger, hallucinogenic drugs, and the trauma of the whole experience are thrown into the mix? Is Taissa possessed by some sort of supernatural being, or is she just sleepwalking and traumatized? Can we even trust Shauna –- who is known to kill and skin rabbits from the yard and lie to her family -– about literally anything?

If questions like these are what intrigue you about "Yellowjackets," you might want to add "The Affair" to your list. As you might be able to guess, the Showtime series follows an affair between two married people. A teacher and family man with four kids spending the summer in the Hamptons, Noah (Dominic West), begins an affair with Alison (Ruth Wilson), a waitress struggling in her marriage following a tragedy. The most compelling aspect of the series is how it depicts perspective. The titular affair is shown from both Noah and Alison's point of view, which frequently leaves the audience unsure of who to trust.

What begins as a simple story of an extramarital affair slowly morphs into something much more complex when the perspectives of Alison's husband, Cole (Joshua Jackson), and Noah's wife, Helen (Maura Tierney), become a part of the series. These fractured perspectives once again make it difficult to decipher what actually happens between the characters, heightening the idea of the unreliable narrator even further. If detailed character studies are your jam, "The Affair" might be for you.

Before "Yellowjackets," there was "The 100," a post-apocalyptic teen series that aired on The CW. "The 100" takes place nearly 100 years after a nuclear war has destroyed most of civilization. The series focuses on the survivors of the war, who have lived for the last 97 years on space stations orbiting Earth. With their resources dwindling, leaders of the community known as the Ark decide to take drastic measures and send 100 juvenile delinquents back down to Earth to see if it's habitable. They find that not only is Earth habitable, but there is another group of people, known as the Grounders, that have been living there the whole time.

Unsurprisingly, conflict ensues. Tension also emerges between the teenagers that first landed on Earth, led by Clarke Griffin (Eliza Taylor), and the adults that follow. Owing to the fact that it aired on The CW, "The 100" is definitely not as violent as Showtime's "Yellowjackets," but it's certainly darker than one might expect from the network.

As on "Yellowjackets," the characters on "The 100," many of whom are teenagers, are forced to make horrible decisions to survive that haunt them later on. The plot gets a little convoluted in later seasons, but it's a surprisingly complex and profound offering for something marketed to teens. That said, viewership also dropped off after a particularly controversial plot point in Season 3, which you should not look up if you want to stay spoiler-free. If you like watching teenagers in brutal, post-apocalyptic situations, then get on board.