5 Best International Fantasy TV Shows to Watch While Waiting for Stranger Things S5
These projects will make the wait for Stranger Things less excruciating.
With the fifth season of Stranger Things is not even around yet, we want something mysterious right now. Fortunately, the movie industry hasn't suffered from a shortage of Stranger Things-style mystery projects in recent years.
Whether you prefer French stories about undead or Norse myths in a modern setting, there's sure to be something for you in this list.
1. Ragnarok, 2020-2023
Country: Norway
Magne and Laurits and their mother move to the Norwegian town of Edda, where their parents once lived. Edda was the last town in Norway to abandon its belief in the Scandinavian gods and embrace Christianity. The boys ' mother is offered a job at a local factory owned by one of Norway's wealthiest families.
At the new school, Laurits quickly finds a common language with the popular kids, and Magne makes friends with environmental activist Isolde. She is fighting to shut down the factory that is harming Edda's nature. Together they decide to look for evidence, but the owners don't want anyone to interfere in their affairs.
2. Locke & Key, 2020-2022
Country: USA
The basis for the show was a comic book series by Joe Hill, the son of the legendary Stephen King. It tells the story of the Locke family, who after the death of the head of the family, Rendell, come to the town where he grew up.
His wife, Nina, and their three children, Kinsey, Tyler, and Bode, settle into the Locke family estate. While mom tries to adjust to her new home, the youngest Bode explores the house and its surroundings.
In the yard, he comes across a fountain from which a woman's voice can be heard. The voice tells Bode about mysterious keys hidden in the house: they allow one to move through space, enter another's mind, and even communicate with the dead.
3. Curon, 2020
Country: Italy
Seventeen years ago, Anna ran away from her hometown of Curon, and now she is forced to return with her children. But even her own father is not happy to see her: he lives in a gloomy place and strictly forbids the children to approach the local flooded bell tower.
While the children try to make contact with their classmates, Anna is haunted by nightmares. Every time, she sees the same dream: she’s at the age of seventeen, and her mother is being killed by a girl who looks exactly like her.
4. The Returned, 2012-2015
Country: France
Schoolgirl Camille died while returning from a trip with her classmates: a bus driving on a serpentine road lost control and plunged into a cliff. And four years later, as if nothing had happened, she returns home.
Camille doesn't understand what happened: she just woke up and went to the house, hoping that her parents hadn't lost her.
Following Camille, other "dead people" return to the small alpine town. They try to rebuild their lives, and those who didn’t die try to decide if it is worth accepting those who have returned, or if it is better to get rid of them before it is too late.
5. The Devil’s Hour, 2022-…
Country: The UK
Lucy Chambers seems to be going crazy. Every night, she wakes up at exactly 3:33 a.m. Her life looks more and more like a dark, crazy mess every day.
Lucy has a son – the boy rarely talks, is not happy about anything, and never shows emotion, which makes his mother very upset. As events unfold, Lucy will find answers to her questions from the mystical Gideon.
The atmosphere of the show is dark and even hopeless – but not without hope at all. Watching The Devil's Hour is sometimes scary, sometimes sad, but most of the time it is simply disturbing (but in a good way).