15 Best TV Shows Like Taboo You Need to Watch

Taboo is one of the underrated gems that you need to watch today if you are a fan of darker drama with a somewhat supernatural feel and great performances from amazing actors. That said, while Taboo currently has only one season, there is a chance that it will extend to more than that, and that means that you may want to watch something that’s quite similar to Taboo. In that regard, let’s look at the best TV shows that are like Taboo.

15. Hell on Wheels (2011 – 2016)

Hell on Wheels may not be British, but it is actually one of the series that has a similar kind of theme when you compare it to Taboo because of the fact that this is a compelling drama that centers on the life of one person. This is a series that didn’t get a lot of fanfare during its time, but it was able to last multiple seasons because of how good its storytelling is.

The story of Hell on Wheels is set during post-Civil War America when a former Confederate soldier struggles to put his past behind him. He is still bothered by the death of his wife at the hands of Union soldiers, and this puts him on a quest for revenge. This is a contemporary Western drama that allows you to see the journey of one man and the different things that he comes across in his tale.

14. Sherlock (2010 – Present)

It doesn’t take a lot of effort to describe what Sherlock is all about because almost everyone is familiar with the character and the story. However, this retelling of the Sherlock Holmes tale is set in modern-day London and allows you to see a more modern type of Sherlock while also getting to know more about how his mind works.

Anchored by the strong acting prowess of Benedict Cumberbatch, Sherlock is a great story that peeks into the mind of the great detective and how his thought process works. Of course, he is also forced to go up against some of the strongest and most dangerous minds in the Sherlock Holmes lore in this amazing series. And what makes it similar to Taboo is the fact that it is also a compelling drama series that will allow you to see some of the most dramatic stories ever told.

13. The Knick (2014 – 2015)

The Knick is a story that may have happened long after the events of Taboo when it comes to the historical timeline, but this is a series that comes with themes that are pretty similar to Taboo. One of the most obvious similarities between it and Taboo is the fact that the Knickerbocker Hospital of New York is forced to undergo huge changes in terms of its technology and medical innovations, and that means that there is a similarity with how the series focuses on how the characters are forced to adjust to huge changes in their lives.

Nevertheless, the story of The Knick is still quite unique in its own right because of how it allows you to see a character struggling with his own inner demons. This is a series that is authentic and is close to the heart of some of the viewers because of how relatable it is, and that’s why fans of Taboo should try to give it a shot if they want something that’s similar.

12. The North Water (2021 – Present)

The North Water is another one of those compelling drama series that combines a lot of the different dramatic elements that you can find in Taboo. You are talking about a person who wants to escape his past but is forced to face his inner demons, much like how the main character in Taboo is forced to face his own inner demons as well.

This series explores the story of an ex-army surgeon who ends up signing as the doctor of a whaling expedition. However, he ends up on a journey with a harpooner whose mentality is shaped to fit the harsh world he lives in. As such, while the surgeon tries to escape his past, he is forced to confront his demons when he finds himself on a journey with a psychopathic killer.

11. Wolf Hall (2009)

Wolf Hall is actually a story that talks about the adviser to Henry VIII, who you may be familiar with because he is one of the most notorious leaders in English history. Of course, fans of The Tudors will also be familiar with Henry VIII and his rise to power. Wolf Hall is generally a show that allows you to see a single character’s rise to power and his own journey, as this drama series mirrors some of the themes that you’re going to see in Taboo.

The story of Wolf Hall focuses on the rise of Thomas Cromwell, who served as one of the people advising Henry VIII. This series allows you to see the different political maneuverings that he had to do to reach the height of his power during what was a difficult time for England. It’s a great series that was brilliantly written despite the fact that it didn’t have the longest lifespan out of all of the different series we have on this list.

10. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell (2015)

This is probably the first time you’ve heard about this series, but this is actually a pretty good show during the 2010s, even though it didn’t have the same kind of fanfare as the rest of the shows on this list. Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is a series that was adapted from Susanna Clarke’s novel and is one of the most imaginative stories you will ever see on television.

The fact that Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell is a show that happens during the same era as Taboo makes it so similar to that series. This show also gives a different take on the time of Napoleon because of the fact that magic is real in this story, even though the practice of magic may be something that was considered taboo (pun intended). Nevertheless, the different rivalries and amazing themes covered by this series make it worth the watch.

9. Game of Thrones (2011 – 2019)

Game of Thrones is arguably the biggest series of all time because of how huge its budget is and how it was able to have a ridiculously large audience. While it takes place in an entirely fictional world and features fictional characters in a series that combines myths and supernatural elements, the fact that it has a lot of different antiheroes and compellingly relatable characters makes it similar to Taboo.

The story of Game of Thrones takes place in the fictional continent of Westeros that is in the middle of a civil war following the death of the king because many different lords and houses are claiming their own right to the throne. And in the middle of all the battles they wage against one another, a queen with three dragons and a horde of undead are all coming for the continent without them knowing what’s really coming for them.

8. Breaking Bad (2008 – 2013)

One of the greatest television shows in history is Breaking Bad, which has received a lot of awards for the amazing storyline and performances seen in this series. While it doesn’t happen in the same period or location as Taboo, what makes Breaking Bad similar to that show is the fact that it talks about similar themes, such as someone who acts as some sort of an antihero while he has to undergo a period of change wherein he is forced to fight his own inner demons.

Breaking Bad follows the story of a high school chemistry teacher diagnosed with cancer and is now forced to cook meth so that he can support his family. In a manner, you get to see how he becomes an antihero or even a criminal in this series while you get to see a lot of amazing performances from different characters who play their parts to perfection. And the best part is that the overall quality of the series was sustained throughout five long years.

7. Godless (2017)

Godless is another series that follows protagonists that are more or less antiheroes who have their own personal battles to fight. This is why the series has some similarities with Taboo, despite the fact that it is more grounded in reality. Nevertheless, there are some parallels between the two shows, and that’s what matters when it comes to how you see both of these series.

The story of Godless follows a notorious criminal and his gang members as they embark on a mission to take revenge on a certain person named Roy Goode, who betrayed them in the past and is now living in an isolated town ruled by women. When the town hears about the approaching gang of criminals, they band together to protect Roy in this violent and grim series that has a lot of strong female characters that anyone would certainly admire.

6. Black Sails (2014 – 2017)

Black Sails is a show that talks about pirates and is actually the prequel story to the famous Treasure Island story that features names such as Captain Flint and Long John Silver. So, why is it similar to the story or the theme of Taboo? Well, for starters, it’s a series that’s about antiheroes who have proven themselves to be just as human as any other character you can find on any show. On top of that, the main characters are all relatable in their own right.

As mentioned, Black Sails follows the stories of the different pirates before the events of Treasure Island. The basic gist here is that the main characters are on a quest to find a hidden treasure from the Spanish ship Urca de Lima. Of course, there are a lot of different obstacles along the way in this daring story of heroism, adventure, and personal rivalries. You will love the different political power playing going on between the different pirates in the story.

5. Whitechapel (2009 – 2013)

It isn’t a secret that London has had its own fair share of violence and murder throughout its long history, and that fact is seen in the series called Whitechapel, which is able to allow us to see a show that truly puts violence at the forefront of its narrative. It isn’t a very flashy series, but you’ll certainly love the fact that it pays homage to London lore and is one of the most intense historical drama shows you’ll find today.

Whitechapel follows the story of two people who are investigating a series of copycat killings that seem to mimic the styles that names like Jack the Ripper and the Kray Twins made famous. As such, they have to find a way to get to the bottom of these killings while also facing their own personal problems in this dark and gripping tale that makes you understand more about the long history of violence and killings in London.

4. Frontier (2016 – 2018)

Frontier is a series that stars Jason Momoa in a story that follows an outlaw trapper during the colonial era of the 1700s. At that time, the fur trade was a rising industry, and the main character is looking to find a way to get into the business to make money out of it as he challenges a huge company that has monopolized the fur trade in Canada.

Set in Canada, Frontier is an amazing story that will allow you to see something that’s similar to Taboo in the sense that it was able to mix drama and masculinity well enough in one package. It’s going to be a fun series to watch if you are into a bit of action and drama, as the series is able to blend a lot of different themes and styles well enough in one gripping and compelling show.

3. Ripper Street (2012 – 2016)

Ripper Street is another story that brings us to the streets of London, and that means that it already has a lot of similarities with Taboo. Of course, the drama and the intense storyline that follows this series make it one of the most compelling shows you can watch today if you are into something that’s similar to Taboo.

The story of Ripper Street follows police officers who are in the middle of a tough job of trying to keep the violence in the streets of London in check in the wake of the Jack the Ripper killings. It’s a shadowy series that combines a lot of different themes and elements that will allow you to see the evil and darkness in a lot of different people, such as killers and conmen.

2. Penny Dreadful (2014 – 2016)

Penny Dreadful is one of the series that perfectly captures some of the different themes that you will find in Taboo. This is a series that has plenty of supernatural elements and gothic themes that you can find in Taboo as well but is actually more on the supernatural side when it comes to the different characters and stories that it follows.

Basically, Penny Dreadful combines all of the different supernatural tales and stories that we have heard and read into one series because it’s a series that’s set in Victorian-era England and is full of monsters, creatures, and characters. Characters such as Van Helsing, Dorian Gray, Frankenstein, and Count Dracula are all present in this amazing story that combines the supernatural with a good narrative involving different personalities and creatures.

1. Peaky Blinders (2013 – 2022)

The show that is actually more similar to Taboo than any other show is Peaky Blinders because, other than the fact that it introduced Tom Hardy as an important character later in the series, it is a story about antiheroes that are all battling their own inner demons. It might not have elements that are supernatural in nature, but this series has all of the other elements covered, especially if you look at the horrific and twisted nature of some of the different characters involved in this series.

Peaky Blinders follows the story of a street gang that rules the city of Birmingham after the First World War. The characters try to use their wits and their different political maneuverings to try to gain money and power through illegal means in what is a story that is enigmatic, compelling, and quite sophisticated in the way that it handles its characters’ plots and developments