While we’re all still salty that Prodigal Son was canceled, it doesn’t stop us from loving the series. Here are five similar shows to also check out.
Prodigal Son was unfairly canceled after two seasons. While the show’s second season wasn’t as popular as the first, we have to point out that it moved to Tuesday nights—a night that isn’t great for FOX and hasn’t been for a while. In fact, other shows before it had ended up canceling after moving to Tuesdays including Lucifer and The Gifted.
You’ve likely watched the two seasons over and over again. Now you need more shows that are like it. The good news is there are a lot of great options available. This list only includes five shows, but there are so many others. The Fall and Dexter are certainly worth additions that didn’t quite make it to the list.
5 shows like Prodigal Son
The Alienist
If you love period crime dramas, you’ll want to turn your attention to the TNT series The Alienist. There are two seasons of the series, with each season focused on one main case.
This show follows Criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, newspaper illustrator John Moore and police department secretary Sara Howard. Psychologists were known as Alienists in the past, and we watch how Kreizler uses his knowledge of the human mind in a world where psychology and behavioral sciences aren’t all that accepted yet. On top of that, we have Sara, a woman, who is working in an area that is not for women of the time.
Watch The Alienist on Max.
Vienna Blood
Another period drama that is more than worth checking out is Vienna Blood. This one follows Max Liebermann, a student of Sigmund Freud, who uses his knowledge of psychology to help get to the bottom of murders in the area.
Detective Rheinhardt is not impressed with the idea of a new way to do police work. However, he soon realizes that Max is able to gain results. It’s great to see how their relationship blossoms as Rheinhardt is more open to Max’s strange ways.
Vienna Blood is available to stream on PBS Masterpiece.
Criminal Minds
The great thing about Prodigal Son is the look at behavior to help figure out the suspect. Criminal Minds really pulled us into this with the BAU. Now is the time to watch the series, if you haven’t already. And if you have, why not watch it again?
The series follows the FBI team that uses behavior and psychology to figure out what type of “UnSub” they’re looking for. They help local police forces get to the bottom of the cases by looking at previous victims, behavior patterns, and more.
Not only are there 15 seasons of the regular season, but there is also Criminal Minds: Evolution, which is more like a 16th season of the series. There is also the spin-off Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.
Criminal Minds is available to stream on Paramount+.
Bates Motel
In Prodigal Son, we get a look at what can make someone a serial killer. We see as Malcolm Bright try everything he can not to become like his father, and there is a moment where his sister shows signs of being just like her father, too. Well, Bates Motel gives us a look at what happens when someone doesn’t try to stop themselves.
The series is a prequel to the movie Psycho. It follows a young Norman Bates, who is going through a slow descent into madness. The trigger seems to be his father’s death and his mother, Norma, taking him to Oregon. All Norma wants to do is save her son, but is it possible?
Bates Motel is available to buy on Amazon Instant Video, iTunes, and more.
Killing Eve
The last on our list is the British series Killing Eve. It follows Eve, who is a British intelligence investigator tasked with tracking down an assassin. She isn’t afraid to work off the books when she needs to, just like Malcolm Bright.
Eve also has an obsession with assassins. She ends up in a cat and mouse game with her prey, and sometimes, Eve ends up being the prey and needs to find a way out. While the ending of the series is disappointing for many, the lead up to that is more than worth watching.
Killing Eve is available to stream on AMC+.
What are you watching as a Prodigal Son fan? Share your thoughts in the comments below.