Russian Doll is one of Netflix’s most popular and greatest series. The second season of Amy Poehler’s show about a woman who continues reliving her own death recently premiered, and those who have finished it are no doubt eager for more.
Russian Doll returns to Netflix for a seven-episode second season after a highly successful first season that received four Primetime Emmy Award nominations, increasing the total number of episodes to 15 through two seasons. The second season, like the first, was critically lauded and left fans wanting more.
While the wait for more Russian Doll is likely to be lengthier, there are plenty of other series that are similar in terms of female leads and dark humor. With that in mind, after watching the 15 episodes of Russian Doll on Netflix, here are 15 additional shows that should appeal to the similar demographic.
Barry (2018)
All of these shows have one thing in common that the Russian Doll parallels don’t: dark humor. It’s a big part of the Netflix blockbuster, and it frequently makes us chuckle and shift in our seats due to discomfort. Barry has that dark sense of humour. This HBO classic is about a hitman who aspires to be an actress. Even though he merely wants to live a regular life, he carries death with him everywhere he goes.
Barry and Russian Doll are not only award-winning dark comedies, but they also star two of the greatest Saturday Night Live stars of all time. Amy Poehler and Bill Hader, to be precise. With season two approaching, now is the ideal time to begin watching Barry. Especially if you enjoy dark comedy.
Being Human (2009)
This strange supernatural drama shares the same “cult” mentality as Russian Doll. Being Human is a BBC show about three extraordinary creatures living together, as you may know. A ghost, a werewolf, and a vampire, in no particular order.
Annie, the ghost, will remind you of Nadia in that they both have to deal with new events in a macabre manner. Russian Doll, like Being Human, has the potential to build a cult following as it evolves.
Deadbeat (2014)
Russian Doll is a Hulu original sitcom about a regular guy who can communicate with ghosts. The main character does not find that something strange is going on in his life; it has been going on when we first met him. This show, on the other hand, has a lot of comic mystery.
Is it a suspenseful comedy? In any case, the show combines them in a manner similar to Netflix’s most recent blockbuster, and it’s well worth watching if you haven’t already. Plus, there’s only three seasons of TV, so you’ll be able to finish it quickly.
Fleabag (2016)
The comedy Russian Doll is about dying. Of course, it’s a comedy about a fake death, but that’s still the essence of the story. Death is very real in Fleabag, but it’s also very humorous. The mother of the titular woman has died, and her reaction is equally as toxic as Nadia’s at the start of Russian Doll.
Fleabag, on the other hand, defies realism by having the protagonist describe her thoughts to the camera while events unfold around her. Fleabag is ideal not only for fans of Russian Doll, but also for fans of comedies about people who aren’t sure what they want.
I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
The Netflix original series I Am Not Okay With This has enough of the dark humor seen in Russian Doll. The series is based on Charles Forsman’s comic book of the same name, which was later adapted into a Netflix original series, The End of the F***ing World.
In this story, a high school student discovers she has telekinetic abilities but is unsure how to use them. The show, on the other hand, is about her attempting to fit in at school while clearly living as an outsider who doesn’t know how or wants to. Anyone who adores Nadia in Russian Doll will recognize the outsider here.
Jessica Jones (2015)
Jessica Jones is a Marvel series unlike anything else. Jones was a street-level hero like Daredevil and Luke Cage, and she was intimately linked to the latter in the Marvel Netflix series. However, the program was about something more than just her being a heroic private investigator.
Jessica Jones was about a shattered woman who fought to survive each day. It’s a topic that also appears in Russian Doll, however it lacks the darker comedy of the Netflix series.
Killing Eve (2018)
Killing Eve has concluded its four-season run on BBC in the United Kingdom and AMC in the United States. The plot revolved around a British intelligence officer on the hunt for an assassin. The cat and mouse game varies throughout the run as both women get obsessed with each other.
There’s a lot more here than the basic story synopsis, just like Russian Doll. The relationship between these two ladies is complicated, and it was all flipped on its head in a great way towards the end, even if the conclusion left much to be desired.
Love (2016)
There isn’t a supernatural element in every show on this list. Indeed, many of them share the same sense of humour. The first of these shows is Love. Love is a dry, rather grounded take of modern-day romance.
Its characters are similar to Nadia in that they are unsure about what they want out of life. We also placed Love on this list since, like Russian Doll, it’s a Netflix original series.
Man Seeking Woman (2015)
The movie Man Seeking Woman is both realistic and unrealistic. There’s nothing mystical about it; it’s just about a guy who can’t seem to find love. However, the way the plot unfolds is quite wonderful. As we see Josh, the protagonist, traverse the challenging world of dating, we are given information in the shape of a visual metaphor.
If Josh doesn’t like a blind date, she appears on the show as an actual troll, complete with Harry Potter make-up. Or, if Josh thinks he’s accomplished something, he’ll get a call from the President himself. Man Seeking Woman is an interesting show to watch. You can kind of figure out what’s going on with Josh, but only by the funny incredible things his imagination conjures up.
Night Gallery (1970)
Of course, certain shows with strange or enigmatic storytelling have to be included. What better program to recommend than Rod Serling’s 1970s anthology series of terrifying twists and shuddering shocks, Night Gallery? Rod Serling is well recognized for his work on The Twilight Zone, which preceded Night Gallery.
Unfortunately, The Twilight Zone’s well-deserved fame can occasionally eclipse its younger sibling, which is a shame. Night Gallery is a fascinating show in and of itself, especially if Russian Doll has left you wanting more fantastic mystery.
Orphan Black (2013)
The story of Russian Doll is about a woman who was going through a difficult time and needed answers. There were many secrets to be revealed, and the series unfolded like a puzzle. That reminds me of Orphan Black, an older AMC show.
A girl in Orphan Black encounters someone who looks just like her and understands that there may be several versions of her all across the world. This sparked a complex and entertaining drama about cloning and the battle for the lives of the several copies of this woman. Orphan Black will get a spin-off in 2023 after five seasons.
Pushing Daisies (2007)
Pushing Daisies is a show that you should see. You should watch it regardless of whether you enjoyed Russian Doll. But, since you’ve come this far on a list of Russian Doll-like shows, let me explain why it’s here. Both Russian Doll and Pushing Daisies have a social experiment vibe about them. They take a group of perfectly ordinary individuals and add just a hint of the remarkable to them.
The test group then reacts, with amusing, poignant, and always entertaining results. Like Russian Doll, Pushing Daisies places regular individuals in strange situations, this time dealing with a fantastic take on death. Look for amazing character work, stunning images, and possibly a song. Oh, and the mysteries are fantastic as well.
The Almighty Johnsons (2011)
The type of fantasy in Russian Doll has a distinct flavor. Yes, it’s a fiction about an impossible event, but it’s done rather realistically. Nadia may be waking up on the day she dies over and over, but she’s not about to get atop a dragon any time soon.
The Almighty Johnsons are enjoyable because of their groundedness. It’s a narrative about an apparently ordinary family who are actually Norse Gods reincarnated. They must navigate modern-day New Zealand, coping with jobs, relationships, and simply coexisting as normal people. The Almighty Johnsons is a certain hit for fans of realistic fantasy. Currently available on Netflix.
The Good Place (2016)
You’re undoubtedly already a fan of The Good Place, so this should come as no surprise. However, if you missed it and enjoyed Russian Doll, you should use that enthusiasm to kickstart your viewing.
The Good Place, like Russian Doll, deals with themes of mortality and morality. It has an intriguing mystery and some surprising turns. Furthermore, the characters are endearing despite their flaws, and they’re among the funniest fictional characters on television right now. The Good Place may not have the same edge as Russian Doll (don’t anticipate any F-words), but it does have equally delightfully flawed characters. It also features Ted Danson.
Timeless (2016)
Timeless is a series about time travel. In this game, a team sets out to travel through time in order to stop another team from changing history. When they reach at each location, the team must use their previous experience to notice any differences and prevent them from disrupting the mission in order to protect the future.
Nadia lived and then died in the first season of Russian Doll, only to revive and try it all over again. Timeless is an excellent companion series because it deals with attempts to modify history and figure out the disparities that need to be resolved.
