We’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of 1899, the mysterious mutlilingual thriller from Netflix ever since it was announced to be in development. Now, it’s finally here, and it’s gathered a lot of praise.
1899 tells the story of numerous people from different walks of life travelling on a mysterious ship from Europe to New York. It quickly becomes clear through the episodes that each passenger on the Kerberos is harbering a secret; they’re all running from something. Things become increasingly complex for the passengers, however, when the ship comes into contact with another passenger ship, the Prometheus, which had been thought missing for the previous four months.
The show is definitely a hit for Netflix, and the creators, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, have planned the series to be a three season journey. It looks at this minute that their wishes could come true, given all of the reception the show has been getting since its release.
For the meantime, however, we’ve compiled a list of 5 shows similar in nature to 1899 that viewers could binge whilst waiting for news on whether the show will be returning for further adventures.
Dark
Dark is probably the most similar show to 1899, and is also created and developed by the creators of 1899, so watching this will ensure you’re in the same wheelhouse. The show is set in an eerie small, German town and follows the lives of four families whose past, present and futures are all tied together and into the history and the happenings of the town. Given it’s created by the same people who created 1899, there are bound to be some similarities.
From the beginning, Dark is filled with mysterious symbols, themes, and characters, each who play an overrarching role within the series as a whole. Whilst the series keeps viewers engaged and questioning at each episode, Dark eventually wraps up the storyline after three seasons and all of the questions are answered. This is quite similar to 1899, which also has recurring symbols and puzzles with profound meanings and consequences for the characters and plot.
All three seasons of Dark are available on Netflix.
Lost
Lost is a mystery-adventure series following the survivors of a horrific plane crash who find themselves stranded on a mysterious island. Eventually, the passengers discover that not all is what they think on the island and they are perhaps not alone.
Much like 1899, Lost keeps viewers questioning at every episode and guessing what could come next. Furthermore, it is widely ranked by critics as one of the greatest television series of all time.
Sense8
Sense8 is another mind-bending, confusing show that will have you on the edge of your seat with every episode. The series focuses on eight individuals from various walks of life and different countries aroundthe world. Each of the characters share a connection, and can almost feel one another. They must work together to figure out what is happening to them and the dark past that connects them together.
The series is created by The Wachowski sisters and J. Michael Straczynski. Both shows are extremely similar in the way that the characters find themselves connected. In 1899, the characters are connected by their disturbing past that led them to the Kerberos in the first place. In Sense8, past trauma influences the decisions made by the characters and as a result, dives deeply into the human psyche.
The show is also available on Netflix.
Manifest
Manifest is a supernatural mystery series focusing on the dissapearance and later reappearance of a passenger flight five years later. Chaos ensues when government officials — and indeed the wider population — begin questioning where the plan was for the previous five years and why the passengers haven’t aged. Things become even more complex when it becomes clear that for the passengers, no time has passed at all.
Manifest is a marvellous work of fiction, but the broader thinking and concept is based on (or at least, seems to be) real-life events. Similarly, 1899 focuses on conspiracy theories surrounding the “devils triangle” and as a result, connections can be drawn.
Season 4 part 1 is currently available to stream on Netflix.
The OA
The OA is a supernatural mystery series focusing on Prairie Johnson, a missing whoman who returns to her hometown seven years after her dissapearance. Interestingly, there is one thing different: she is no longer blind. The shows are extremely similar in their portrayal of cataclysts. Whilst the Prometheus is the catalyst for events in 1899, and indeed its return sets several things in motion, Prairie’s return is also a catalyst for events within the series and shee too has been missing for an extended period of time.
The OA is another series available on Netflix.
