30 puzzle TV series for true intellectuals

30. Hotel room

Hotel room

• USA, 1993.
• Drama, detective.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 6.5.

The action of three episodes of this series takes place in the same hotel room, but at different times. Visitors discuss their personal lives, scandal and even plan crimes.

Such a selection simply must begin with a piece David Lynch - masters of tangled stories and psychological thrillers. Now "Hotel Room" is undeservedly forgotten, although references to it can be found in several modern TV series: from "Room 104" to "Why Women Kill".

29. Pines

Wayward pines

• USA, 2015-2016.
• Thriller, drama, fantasy.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 7.4.

Secret Agent Ethan Burke travels to the small town of Wayward Pines to investigate the disappearance of two of his colleagues. And one of the disappeared is the former lover of the protagonist. Not far from his destination, he has an accident and wakes up in the hospital. Burke soon discovers that in Wayward Pines, all residents are being watched, and the city is surrounded by a wall. There are more and more questions.

Immediately you need to take into account that this series was produced and even shot by the famous M. Night Shyamalan - author of “Sixth sense"And" Invincible. " Therefore, you can expect anything from the plot, even a sudden change in genre.

28. Criminal

Criminal

• UK, France, Germany, Spain, 2019.
• Detective.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7.4.

In police stations in four countries, detectives interrogate suspects. In every case, you need to find your own approach to a possible criminal in order to make him speak the truth. And the dialogue turns into a psychological duel.

The creators of the series did something very unusual. «Of a criminal”Filmed in four countries with local actors and directors and in different languages. The action always takes place in three rooms: the interrogation room, the observation room and the corridor. But more importantly, The Outlaw manages to show an exciting and intricate plot, even though the heroes just sit still most of the time.

27. Too old to die young

Too old to die young

• USA, 2019.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7.4.

Police officer Martin is trying to find his partner's killer. But the hero hides evidence from colleagues and plunges into the world of the yakuza, the Russian mafia and the Mexican cartels. Soon Martin himself turns into a hitman. Meanwhile, his partner's killer tries to hide.

Legendary director of "Drive" and "Neon Demon" Nicholas Winding Refn switched to a serial format. Or rather, he just shot a movie about 13 hours long. All his typical techniques have been preserved. A simple crime drama quickly develops into an allegorical parable filled with symbolism. And the ending only adds to the ambiguity.

26. Stories from the Loop

Tales from the Loop

• USA, 2020.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7.5.

The small American town sits above the Loop, the center where scientists conduct experiments and "make the impossible possible." Because of this, absolutely fantastic events often happen to the inhabitants: schoolchildren stop time, two friends change bodies, and the guard moves to a parallel world.

The series is based on the story art book by Simon Stolenhag. In the book, the author organically combined retro aesthetics with futuristic technologies. The same can be seen in screen version: the heroes live as if in the eighties and nineties, but at the same time an incredible robot can walk through the forest. Each episode tells a separate story, although all the characters are related to each other. And it is impossible to predict in advance not only the development of events, but also the atmosphere of the series. After all, fiction here side by side with a very realistic drama.

25. House with a servant

Servant

• USA, 2019 - present.
• Horror, thriller.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7.6.

A young family hires a nanny for their child. The girl who came to their house is withdrawn and very religious. But the problem is not only her - everything is very strange with the baby and the mother.

Another series from M. Night Shyamalan. The first episodes can be crazy. The whole action takes place in one house, and there are only four main characters. But it's hard even to understand: the director is showing some mystical events, a confusing detective story, or just a family drama.

24. Castle Rock

Castle rock

• United States, 2018 - present.
• Horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 7.6.

The head of the Shawshank prison commits suicide. His successor decides to open one of the abandoned blocks and discovers in it a mysterious person who knows only Henry Deaver, who left Castle Rock long ago. Deaver returns to his hometown, but further events take on an increasingly creepy turn.

This series is a kind of compilation of creativity Stephen King. The authors decided not to film any one book, but simply to write dozens of references to famous novels in the plot. As a result, they mixed detective story, mysticism, alternative realities and many more unexpected twists and turns. And the second season of Castle Rock already tells a completely new story.

23. Maniac

Maniac

• USA, 2018.
• Science fiction, drama, comedy.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7.8.

Owen has serious mental problems, which are exacerbated by the constant criticism of his family. Annie has been unable to forgive herself for her sister's death for years. The heroes meet in an experimental clinic, where they are offered to undergo new treatment and fix their lives. Soon, Owen and Annie realize that the two of them can overcome any difficulties.

The director of the first season of "True Detective" Carey Fukunaga took as a basis a little-known Norwegian TV series and turned it into a complex story filled with "logic of sleep" and retrofuturism. The heroes live in an alternate world where technology has taken a different path. But more importantly, much of the plot takes place in the characters' fantasies. Therefore, they can turn even into Indians, even into special agents. And it will be very difficult to figure out what the action is leading to and what each character hides.

22. Developed

Devs

• USA, UK, 2020.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 7.8.

The programmer Sergei is invited to the secret department of the Amaya company, where a team of "developers" works with a new quantum computer. He soon disappears. Sergei's fiancee Lily Chan - also an employee of this firm - is sure that the leadership is behind the loss. She starts her own investigation.

The author of the very difficult sci-fi films "Out of the Car" and "Annihilation" Alex Garland has released his most intricate project. It is a mixture of classic detective stories and complex theories. To fully understand TV series, you need to know the principle of a quantum computer, the de Broglie - Bohm theory, or at least some information about determinism. Well, follow the plot very closely. Although you can just enjoy the beautiful picture - Garland shoots very gracefully.

21. Terror

The terror

• United States, 2018 - present.
• Horror, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.0.

Each season of this anthology tells a different story. In the middle of the 19th century, an expedition under the command of explorer John Franklin on the ships "Terror" and "Erebus" sailed to the northern coast of Canada. Both ships get stuck in ice. And soon the teams are faced with a supernatural enemy. The events of the second season are set in a Japanese camp during the Second World War, where mysterious murders take place.

The creators of "Terror" wittily mix real events with fantasy and horror, repeatedly surprising the viewer with unexpected developments. Indeed, the reasons for the death of John Franklin's expedition are still unknown, and there are many legends about military camps.

20. The man in the high castle

The man in the high castle

• USA, UK, Canada, 2015–2019.
• Science fiction, drama, thriller.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.0.

In an alternate world, Germany and Japan were victorious in World War II. Washington is destroyed by the atomic bomb, and the United States is divided among the victors. Suddenly, in the 60s, a newsreel appears, which shows a different version of the development of events. The film is being hunted by the American underground, the Nazis and many others.

The series is based on the novel of the same name Philip K. Dick. Moreover, during the work, the author used fortune-telling from the book I Ching, and therefore he himself did not know how the work would end. The screen version quite quickly departs from the literary basis and further complicates the plot, adding parallel worlds to the intricate relationships of characters and politics.

19. Bodyguard

Bodyguard

• UK, 2018.
• Thriller, drama, detective.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8.1.

Former military man David Budd happened to be on the train next to a terrorist and managed to prevent the death of people. He was promoted to be the personal bodyguard of Home Secretary Julia Montague. Budd does not agree with the policy of the new boss, but becomes personally attached to the woman. Meanwhile, an assassination attempt is being planned on Montague.

The six-part project turned out to be one of the main television events of 2018 in the UK: the series was watched by almost a quarter of the country's population. The thing is that literally in every episode "Bodyguard"Incredible plot twists take place - both in the relationships of the heroes and in political intrigues.

18. Sharp objects

Sharp Objects

• USA, 2018.
• Drama, detective.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8.2.

The magazine editor sends reporter Camilla Pricker to her hometown. She should write an article about the disappearances and murders of children. But once again meeting with a cold and cruel mother, Camilla recalls the death of her sister and childhood problems.

Famous Jean-Marc Vallee knows how to combine twisted plots with the analysis of psychological trauma. In Sharp Objects, the murder investigation runs parallel to the protagonist's memories of her early years. And it is not known which of these parts is more difficult.

17. Cancellation

Undone

• USA, 2019 - present.
• Science fiction, drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8.2.

All of Alma's days were mixed into a monotonous gray mass. She still misses her father, who died 20 years ago, and is very worried that her sister will marry and move away from her. After a car accident, Alma ends up in the hospital and realizes that she is now able to travel in time. Either the deceased father himself, or his ghost asks the girl to help him escape.

In the series from the author of the legendary “BoJack Horse»Raphael Bob-Waksberg is primarily attracted by the video sequence: he was filmed with live actors, and then turned into a cartoon. This approach allows you to show the most insane distortions of space and movement of the heroine. The sequence of actions is sometimes very difficult to grasp, because the same events occur several times. And in the end, each viewer will have to independently decide how real what is happening.

16. Dirk Gently Detective Agency

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

• USA, 2016-2017.
• Science fiction, detective, comedy.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.3.

Todd Brotzman is plagued by failure. It all starts with everyday little things, but then he finds the body of a millionaire in a hotel room, and at the elevator he meets himself in very strange clothes. Soon after, detective Dirk Gently rushes in to Todd, who believes that absolutely all events in the world are connected with each other. New partners begin to investigate the case. Although they themselves do not really understand which one.

This series is partially based on the works of Douglas Adams, and therefore it has a lot of humor and just a crazy plot. Energy vampires time travel, movement of souls, a parallel universe in children's drawings - everything is possible in the world of "Dirk Gently".

15. Stay alive

Lost

• USA, 2004-2010.
• Science fiction, drama, thriller.
• Duration: 6 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.3.

A plane flying from Sydney to Los Angeles unexpectedly crashes. 48 surviving passengers find themselves on a deserted island in the ocean. Soon they begin to understand that everything that happens to them is no coincidence.

This series could claim to be one of the most convoluted television projects. The multitude of symbols, unexpected finds and the connection between what is happening with the past of each hero allow us to come up with dozens of explanations. There is only one drawback - the controversial ending of "Lost" disappointed most of the fans.

14. Abandoned

The leftovers

• USA, 2014-2017.
• Science fiction, drama, detective.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.3.

Three years ago, there was a "Sudden Exit" all over the world: 2% of the population simply disappeared from the face of the Earth. After that, the world changed and, of course, new cults appeared. Relatives of Police Chief Kevin Garvey Jr. got into the sects. Meanwhile, other families struggle to cope with their experiences and face the cult of the Guilty.

One of the creators "Stay alive»Damon Lindelof decided to film Tom Perrotta's book even before it was published. Really complex plot deserves attention: against the backdrop of the supernatural story of "Sudden Exit" many lines and characters are intertwined, forcing viewers to guess about the future of the heroes and their relationships.

13. Legion

Legion

• USA, 2017–2019.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.3.

As a child, David Haller was admitted to a psychiatric hospital with paranoid schizophrenia and split personality. In fact, he is the strongest mutant, with many superpowers. David himself almost believed in his own madness. But then he meets a beautiful girl.

"Legion" refers to the universe "X-Men». But the plot here is not at all like traditional superheroics. Part of the action takes place in the fantasies of the protagonist, and therefore it is sometimes very difficult to find logic in what is happening.

12. Kingdom

Riget

• Denmark, Italy, Germany, 1994-1997.
• Horror, fantasy, drama.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.3.

Strange things are happening at the Royal Copenhagen Hospital. A patient addicted to spiritualism hears the cry of a long-dead girl, a pathologist wants to get the liver of a man dying of cancer, and a surgeon hides his mistake during an operation. All this is accompanied by otherworldly phenomena, jokes and many secondary storylines.

Work Lars von Trier always look complicated and metaphorical, so the genre of "Kingdom" is even difficult to define. There is a lot of mysticism in the plot, but there is also enough room for humor: in each episode, two dishwashers with Down syndrome discuss the events. In addition, von Trier, as usual, shoots with a hand-held camera with a sharp cut and a yellowish filter. As a result, not everyone will be able to understand where the author is serious and frightening, and where he simply teases the viewer.

11. Paper house

La Casa de Papel

• Spain, 2017 - present.
• Thriller, detective.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.4.

The man under the pseudonym The Professor gathers a team of criminals to commit the most daring robbery in history. They break into the Spanish Royal Mint and take hostages. However, the ideal plan is thwarted by the behavior of some team members.

The popular Spanish TV series, which has been picked up by streaming service Netflix, starts out as a common heist story. But there are many subtleties in it: it will not be easy for the viewer to guess all the details of the Professor's plan. And besides, the police and special services are trying to outwit the criminals, and the hostages are also making their contribution. With each episode, things only get more complicated.

10. Hannibal

Hannibal

• USA, 2013–2015.
• Drama, detective, thriller.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.5.

The prequel to the famous "Silence of the Lambs" talks about maniac Hannibal Lecter. He was a successful psychotherapist and often consulted the FBI. After one case, Lecter befriended top agent-profiler Will Graham. But subsequently, their closeness grew into an irreconcilable confrontation.

All of the previous stories about Lecter were intense, but simple enough. However, Brian Fuller, a lover of art house and complex metaphors, undertook to make a series about the legendary maniac. He not only turned the series into a stunningly beautiful story, but also added a lot of mind games and even surrealism to it. And often the hallucinations of the heroes seem no less believable than what is actually happening.

9. Big little lies

Big little lies

• USA, 2017–2019.
• Drama, detective.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.5.

A single mother with a dark past comes to a quiet city. She quickly finds friends, but the enemies do not keep themselves waiting. Initially, it is known that everything will end in murder, but what circumstances will lead to it will become clear only in the finale.

Once again, Jean-Marc Vallee with his love of non-linear storytelling. “Big Little Lies” offers an unusual detective story: the viewer does not know not only the name of the killer, but also the identity of the victim. The main plot gradually introduces all the characters, forcing you to guess which of them will decide on a crime. And most importantly, in the final it will turn out that everything is clear from the beginning, you just need to compare the facts. Although this only applies to the first season. The second changed the atmosphere of the detective to social drama.

8. Mr robot

Mr. Robot

• USA, 2015-2019.
• Thriller, drama, crime.
• Duration: 4 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.5.

The ingenious programmer Elliot Alderson works for an information security company. And he also dreams of destroying a society built on the power of corporations. One day, Elliot meets the mysterious Mr. Robot, who is ready to help him organize the revolution.

The action of "Mr. Robot" takes place in a world very similar to ours. That is why the almost fantastic plot is sometimes interspersed with footage of speeches of real politicians and businessmen. But it is much more important that at a certain moment in each season everything literally turns upside down, forcing you to look at what is happening differently. It's not for nothing that the main character constantly talks to himself.

7. The haunted house on the hill

The Haunting of Hill House

• United States, 2018 - present.
• Horror, drama.
• Duration: 1 season.
• IMDb: 8.7.

A family with five children acquires an old mansion on the outskirts. Parents plan to sell it profitably after renovation, but it turns out that the house holds many frightening secrets. And even after many years, ghosts do not give rest to everyone who lived in this cursed place.

Despite the set of typical horror, the series initially develops as a very leisurely drama. Each of the main characters is given a whole episode to tell about his life. And then all the storylines from the past and the present are connected in the most unexpected way.

6. World of the wild west

Westworld

• USA, 2016 - present.
• Science fiction, action, drama.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.7.

In the future, theme parks were opened for the rich. In the World of the Wild West, visitors can take part in exciting adventures. And they will be accompanied by androids indistinguishable from humans. Moreover, guests can do whatever they want with the cars, even rape and kill. After each death, robots have their memory erased and repaired. But one day it turns out that not all the inhabitants of the park have forgotten the past. And the time for change comes.

The idea behind this series is very simple. Moreover, it is based on the film of the same name, where the whole plot consisted in the uprising of machines. The series "Westworld" is gradually turning into an increasingly confusing story, where you need to follow different timelines and try to distinguish people from androids.

5. Darkness

Dark

• Germany, USA, 2017 - present.
• Science fiction, thriller, detective.
• Duration: 2 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.7.

In a small German town, located not far from the nuclear power plant, two children are missing. One of the heroes finds a strange note that needs to be read on a certain day. And at the same time, a mysterious stranger appears in the city. All this is somehow connected with the life of several families.

Initially, many thought that "Darkness" was the German equivalent of "Very strange things». But with each episode, the action becomes more confusing here. By the second season, very few people will be able to understand timelines and causation. Indeed, in this project, even the future affects the past.

4. Black mirror

Black mirror

• UK, 2011–2019.
• Science fiction, thriller, drama.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.8.

The anthology series is dedicated to the impact of technology on human life. Each episode tells a fantastic story about virtual reality, mass media and new inventions. And many of the stories shown are very close to our world.

«Black mirror"Gave rise to a new wave of popularity of fantastic anthologies with social connotations. Also released on Netflix is ​​the film Black Mirror: Bandersnatch, in which the viewer can influence the development of the plot. And this is the clearest reflection of the credibility of the ideas from the series.

3. Twin Peaks

Twin peaks

• USA, 1990–2017.
• Detective, thriller, fantasy.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 8.8.

In the small town of Twin Peaks, the brutal murder of local beauty Laura Palmer took place. The FBI sends a young employee, Dale Cooper, to investigate. He soon realizes that otherworldly forces are involved in the case. But the inhabitants of the city themselves have enough secrets.

The series by David Lynch has long been a real legend. In the second season, the name of the killer of Laura Palmer was revealed, but the story ended with an ambiguous ending. And 26 years later, a sequel was released. But the third season, instead of answering questions, only confused fans even more. In addition, over the past years, they have released a full-length film "Fire, Come With Me" and several books on the series. They will help you get to know the world of Twin Peaks better and will answer some questions. But still, the viewer will have to disassemble most of Lynch's ideas on their own.

2. Twilight Zone

The twilight zone

• USA, 1959-1964.
• Science fiction, horror, thriller.
• Duration: 5 seasons.
• IMDb: 9.0.

Long before Black Mirror and other popular science fiction anthologies, screenwriter Rod Serling created “Twilight Zone». Each episode of this series unfolds a story related to other worlds, aliens or unusual technologies. But in fact, the whole project was about people.

One of the most important TV series in the history of science fiction started back in the late 50s. For five seasons, the authors have released more than 150 episodes. It is surprising that classic stories are not outdated to this day, almost every episode pleases with a completely unexpected twist and important moral. And every viewer can choose their "Twilight Zone": the series was resumed three times, most recently under the direction of Jordan Peele in 2019. In addition, there is a full-length film on which he worked himself Steven Spielberg.

1. True detective

True detective

• United States, 2014 - present.
• Drama, detective, thriller.
• Duration: 3 seasons.
• IMDb: 9.0.

The three seasons of the detective series tell separate stories. Two police officers investigate the brutal murder of a woman, returning to the case even years later. An interdepartmental group then investigates the death of a senior official. And in the third season, the partners are looking for the missing girl after the death of her brother.

First of all, "True Detective" catches on a gloomy, almost noir atmosphere. But the format of the anthology allows the audience to intrigue not only with the search for a criminal. Here it is impossible to predict not only the results of the investigation, but also the moral itself. The first season is as close as possible to the classic detective story. The sequel already talks about people who cannot find their place in society. And the third season completely turns the detective's ideas, forcing one to think about the responsibility of the police themselves.

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What challenging series did you like? What did you watch from the list? If your favorite project was not included in this article, tell us about it in the comments!