Shows like Dark Desire
15 picks with a similar feel
What defines Dark Desire, going by its Boxlist taste profile: A layered mystery series that is serious and intimate. Best if you like depth over escapism. Its strongest markers on Boxlist are themes of unlikely connections, deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem, plus tags such as dark, seduction and teacher.
Here are 15 shows with a similar feel, ranked by how closely they match that profile. Treat them as picks to try, not a definitive list.
Based on Dark Desire (2020).
- 1
Presumed Innocent (2024)
TV7.9
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: infidelity, lawyer, murder.
- 2
Freud (2020)
TV7.5
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: dark.
- 3
The Night Of (2016)
TV7.9Slower burn
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, murder.
- 4
The Innocent (2021)
TV7.7
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: dark, murder.
- 5
How to Get Away with Murder (2014)
TV7.9
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, murder.
- 6
Perry Mason (2020)
TV7.5Slower burn
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer.
- 7
The Outsider (2020)
TV7.4
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, murder.
- 8
Defending Jacob (2020)
TV8.5
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer, murder.
- 9
The Lincoln Lawyer (2022)
TV7.7
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: lawyer.
- 10
The Good Wife (2009)
TV7.5
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: infidelity, lawyer.
- 11
Elite (2018)
TV8.2Easier to follow
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also weighty and intimate, with themes of unlikely connections and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 12
Home Before Dark (2020)
TV7.6
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem.
- 13
UNTAMED (2025)
TV7.2
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 14
Sherlock (2010)
TV8.5
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also intricate and weighty, with themes of deep rivalry and mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
- 15
Dexter: Resurrection (2025)
TV8.5
Why it's like Dark Desire: Also weighty and intricate, with themes of mysteries that are not what they seem. Common ground: murder.
Boxlist compares Dark Desire with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point. Ratings are TMDB audience scores out of 10.
Which of these suit you?
Take the taste test and every pick shows how well it matches you.
Take the taste testQuestions
- What should I watch if I like Dark Desire?
- Picks with a similar feel include Presumed Innocent, Freud, The Night Of and The Innocent. Each shares part of Dark Desire's taste profile, themes or tags; the full list has 15 shows.
- How are these shows like Dark Desire chosen?
- Boxlist compares Dark Desire with every show in its catalogue on ten taste scores (pace, tone, weight, realism and more), story themes, genres and TMDB keywords, and ranks the closest. Every pick has a TMDB rating of 7.2 or more from at least 150 votes, new releases wait until their ratings settle, and only one title per franchise makes the list. It is an approximation of feel, so treat it as a starting point.