The April 2024 Netflix release of the unsettling and unexpected hit Baby Reindeer renewed viewers' interest in the insidious stalker genre. For those seeking other shows featuring stalkers, there's good news - plenty of series showcasing the disturbing, scary, and complex subject have been released by various networks over the last decade.
The programs on this list cover the perturbing world of stalking in all forms - from a stereotypical hooded figure following victims in Pretty Little Liars to an unassuming psychologist whose obsession with her patients spirals out of control in Gypsy. These shows are cautionary tales and warn us that even privacy is an illusion - if someone out there wants to take it from us, it's not that difficult. If you're a fan of dark stories that you make look over your shoulder just to double-check someone isn't there, this list is for you.
- 122 VOTES
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Spanning several seasons, You follows the strange and disturbing life of Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), a bookstore manager in New York who falls a little too fast and little too hard for aspiring writer and college student Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail). It soon becomes apparent that Joe isn’t a regular guy - he obsesses over Guinevere and has no qualms pushing himself into her life and crossing any and all boundaries to achieve his dream of being with her.
Joe cyberstalks Guinevere and follows her every move, eventually escalating his actions by breaking into her home and declaring his love for her. During his stalking, he delusionally creates a life for them in his head and narrates it to viewers. His alarming habits continue from season to season as he takes on other identities and starts over in other locations, each time finding a new victim. The show does a convincing job depicting the cycle of obsession and delusion stalkers engage in throughout their lives; it became a hit with viewers for its unique perspective told from the stalker's point of view.
- 211 VOTES
Mr. Mercedes
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In another TV adaptation of a Stephen King book, Mr. Mercedes depicts the obsession a detective and a killer have with each other. Season 1 revolves around retired police detective Kermit William "Bill" Hodges (Brendan Gleeson), who is being taunted by Brady Hartsfield (Harry Treadaway), a killer he failed to catch years prior. Brady harasses Bill with letters and videos, which leads Bill to realize the killer knows personal details of his and his family’s life.
As in many stalker scenarios, Brady’s behavior boldly escalates; in this case, he attempts to manipulate Bill to commit suicide, breaks into the Hodges home, and eventually engages in murder. Brady’s knowledge of technology is a huge aid in stalking Bill and getting away with it for so long. The ramifications of this start driving Bill mad as he attempts to stay one step ahead of Brady, but never quite can. The series comprises four seasons, all of which build upon Brady’s villainous actions. Critics had a generally favorable view of the show, which successfully incorporated all three of King’s Mr. Mercedes books into its seasons.
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- 326 VOTES
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Once in a while, a story comes around that leaves viewers haunted for a long time to come. This is one of them. Based on the true tale of Richard Gadd, who also wrote and starred in the show, it follows a young man named Donny Dunn who is relentlessly stalked and assaulted.
The fictionalized representation of Gadd, Donny is an aspiring comedian who quite literally proves that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. While working at a London pub, he offers an upset woman, Martha Scott, a free cup of tea. This simple action results in her giving Donny the nickname Baby Reindeer and becoming completely and utterly obsessed with him. She begins cyberstalking Donny and eventually moves on to showing up at his comedy shows and his work.
Martha claims she's in love with Donny, to which he responds with an attempt to let her down politely. Her actions escalate, resulting in assaults against Donny and his partner. The series sees Donny navigate the complexities of being a male stalking victim while coming to terms with his sexuality, past trauma, and a work industry also full of predators.
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- 413 VOTES
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Following the Los Angeles Police Department's Threat Assessment Unit, Stalker depicts various instances of stalking in stand-alone episodes. Detectives are charged with assessing the threat level of each case and deciding when to intervene. A law enforcement perspective creates a new way of depicting stalking on TV. The perps are portrayed as complex people, and stalking is shown to encompass a wide range of actions, from the known following and harassment of victims to outright assault and murder.
The series also points out that anyone can be a stalker, and anyone can be stalked. Despite its attempt at creating a solid crime drama based on an important subject, it received overall negative reviews and lasted only one season.
- 53 VOTES
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Based on a book by Stephen King by the same name, Lisey’s Story is a strange venture into a woman’s struggle to overcome grief. Widow Lisa “Lisey” Landon (Julianne Moore) is mourning the loss of her writer husband Scott Landon (Clive Owen). While dealing with her own emotional turmoil and a paranormal mystery, she must also confront a very real threat in the form of stalker Jim Dooley (Dane DeHaan), who believes Lisey is hiding unpublished manuscripts of Scott's.
He watches Lisey’s every move, calls her, and sends her threatening letters and even a deceased animal. His behavior eventually escalates to violence when he attacks Lisey in her home, tortures her, and nearly kills her. She had previously contacted police, but they told her they weren't able to do much. DeHaan does a powerful job depicting the aggression and ever-growing obsession stalkers experience towards their victims. King was heavily involved in the production of the series, which comprised nine episodes.
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- 612 VOTES
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Beauty, wealth, and secrets. This mix builds the foundation for the teen drama Pretty Little Liars, in which members of a clique are stalked, harassed, and tortured by a mysterious entity named A, who made their presence known after the disappearance of former ringleader Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse). A is somehow aware of a number of the young women's deepest and darkest secrets. Often appearing as a hooded figure dressed in black, the stalker imagery throughout the series is stereotypical, but still manages to cause alarm.
Through ominous letters and phone calls, which escalate to actual attacks, A makes sure to let the friends know there is nothing they can hide. The plot plays out like a murder mystery in which the victims and perp play a constant cat and mouse game, but it's not overly mature or complex, which enables younger viewers to also enjoy it.
Pretty Little Liars has spawned several spinoffs, and while the ending left some fans with something to be desired, it still created a solid fandom that had viewers invested in figuring out who the stalker was.
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- #283 of 302 onThe Best TV Shows Of The Past 20 Years
- 71 VOTES
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Taking aim at cyberstalking, Eye Candy revolves around young tech genius Lindy Sampson (Victoria Justice), who deals out justice in New York City. Her journey begins when she unknowingly matches with a stalker on an online dating app; upon learning who he truly is, she decides to dig into his past crimes. The stalker uses technology to find and track his victims before he finds them in real life, proving that online privacy should be taken just as seriously as physical privacy.
Technological assistance is a theme not all stalking shows emphasize, but Eye Candy definitely does. The series received mixed reviews and was only on the air for one season.
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- 80 VOTES
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In a unique take on the stalker genre, Gypsy explores the experience of victims who knowingly allow a stalker into their private thoughts and the lives of loved ones. It focuses on psychologist Jean Holloway, who crosses every professional boundary possible under the guise of helping patients.
She makes a habit of finding and stalking people in the lives of her patients who’ve caused them grief. In one such endeavor, she becomes fixated on Sidney Pierce, the ex-girlfriend of one of her patients. Jean manipulates and lies to everyone around her, her habits escalating in each episode.
The series is the flip side of a very real-life issue in which some patients become obsessed with their therapists or other healthcare workers.
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- 93 VOTES
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In this three-part British series, lawyer Will Burton (David Tennant) unwittingly invites terror into his life when he decides to take on a case defending suspected killer and stalker Liam Foyle (Toby Kebbell). Despite suspecting that Liam is indeed guilty of the crimes he’s being charged with, Will moves forward with the case and wins. He refuses to shake Liam's hand at the end of the trial, leaving the latter feeling slighted and vindictive.
Liam begins stalking Will's wife Kate and son Jamie as revenge. This culminates in Liam murdering Kate, leaving Will aching for vengeance and justice. Liam manages to get a verdict of not guilty for Kate's murder, only to begin stalking his new attorney - proving that people who engage in such behavior can always find new victims. Will eventually manages to get revenge, though not in a manner he expected. The limited series was received positively, and Tennant won a BAFTA Award for his portrayal of Will.
