The Last Thing He Told Me, an Apple TV+ mystery drama series based on Laura Dave’s book of the same name, follows a devoted married couple named Hannah Hall and Owen Michaels and Owen’s 16-year-old daughter Bailey Michaels.
When Owen mysteriously vanishes one day, not even leaving a trace at his job, their picture-perfect lives are flipped upside down. Hannah now develops an unusual bond with her stepdaughter Bailey as they work to uncover the truth about Owen’s mysterious disappearance.
The show, which Laura Dave and Josh Singer co-created, stars Jennifer Garner, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Angourie Rice, Aisha Tyler, and Augusto Aguilera in standout turns. So, if you are drawn to the tense and enigmatic scenarios that develop throughout the Apple TV+ series, here are some other TV shows you might enjoy.
Several of these programs, including “The Last Thing He Told Me,” are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime. It is based on Laura Dave’s novel of the same name, but it falls short of the mark when it comes to defying the inspiration or giving it a dramatic edge to give it a new spin.
Shows Like The Last Thing He Told Me
The first season begins with Owen’s abrupt disappearance after his company, The Shop, is investigated for financial malfeasance. Hannah is confronted with many frightening situations at the start of the novel due to his abduction. She finds a message from him that says, “Protect her,” and sets off on a quest with Bailey to learn the truth about Owen and his mysterious absence.
If you have just finished the show and still suffering from ‘withdrawal symptoms’, don’t worry. Here are 12 other shows that are similar to The Last Thing He Told Me that you can start binge-watching right away.
Also read: How To Watch The Last Thing He Told Me Episodes? Streaming Guide
The Undoing
This gripping mystery thriller tricks the audience. It gently and subtly reveals information or hints. However, these hints can confuse rather than aid the audience, misleading them. David E. Kelley’s The Undoing employs all the psychological gimmicks that use hints and insights to sway your judgment.
The Undoing is a six-part limited series that is based on Jean Hanff Korelitz’s 2014 book You Should Have Known. Each episode lasts an hour. The Frasers, a prosperous American family, are the story’s focus. While Jonathan Fraser (Hugh Grant), the wife of Grace Fraser (Nicole Kidman), is a well-known psychologist, Jonathan is an oncologist. Henry, their small kid, completes this jovial family.
When Grace assists some of the parents at Henry’s school in raising money for the pupils, things start to get very unsettling when she meets a mysterious young woman named Elena Alves (Matilda De Angelis). Like Grace, Elena is a mom, so they can’t avoid each other, yet Grace finds something mysterious about her.
Grace freaks out when Elena is ultimately discovered dead in her studio, but the real terror hits her when she learns that her husband Jonathan is also missing and hasn’t been located. She quickly discovers a connection between Jonathan and Elena that opens up a world of lies and deception that Grace was previously unaware of.
This story, just like The Last Thing He Told Me shows, dives into hidden truths and slowly unravels the mystery behind the death of Elena Alves and her link-up with Jonathan.
Sharp Objects
Also, a show about family, mystery, and murder like The Last Thing He Told Me, Sharp Objects will intrigue you with its wrenching plot of how a troubled crime reporter gets tangled up with the people in her hometown.
Amy Adams, one of the best actors of her time, portrays Camille Preaker, a St. Louis-based crime reporter who has been assigned the assignment for what may be the story of her life. When a young girl goes missing, her editor sends Camille to the small Missouri town of Wind Gap since he knows that Camille’s family hails from there. In addition to the most recent case, another girl was discovered deceased less than a year earlier with all of her teeth missing.
It had a terrific beginning but, like much current television, sags a little bit in the middle of the season. Because they will be enthralled by the performances and intrigued by the mystery, most viewers won’t notice the minor lag. Adams and Clarkson’s compelling performances garnered a lot of attention.
An eerie scene is created by the editing and the leisurely cinematography, which combine past and present. The way the show weaves snippets of Camille’s past into her investigation feels real and sincere. If you love knowing the main characters’ back stories and the reasoning behind their decisions, this show is for you.
Also read: Sharp Objects Ending Explained: Why Was Camille Shocked And Heartbroken In The End?
Big Little Lies
The top female actors, including Nicole Kidman, Meryl Streep, Reese Witherspoon, Laura Dern, and Shailene Woodley, were all included in Big Little Lies. Observing such a beautifully vicious cast of actors might be exhausting or completely turn on your fan mode. So simply continue reading.
Big Little Lies shows women from all different backgrounds getting along despite their differences, thanks to a common tragedy. It explores some ominous subjects that some people may find upsetting. The description is so accurate that it can strike a chord with you.
Although this show does not portray family, family are not the only people we trust, protect and hold secrets. Both Big Little Lies and The Last Thing He Told Me to explore secrets, lies, deceit, and the complex relationships in the lives and pasts of the characters. They both show how far people can go to protect the ones they love. The show’s superb soundtrack, writing, and performances won audiences over. The dialogue that is spoken by each character also sticks out.
Little Fires Everywhere
If you have watched The Last Thing He Told Me and loved it, you will love this show. Similar to the plot of The Last Thing He Told Me, Little Fires Everywhere explores the connected fates of the ideal Richardson family and an enigmatic mother and daughter who upended their lives. The story explores the gravity of secrets, the connection between identity and art, the powerful pull of motherhood, and the danger of believing that following the rules might stop a disaster.
Living temporarily in their car, Mia (Kerry Washington) and Pearl (Lexi Underwood) travel to Shaker Heights, Ohio. They clash when they run across rich Elena Richardson (Reese Witherspoon), who is renting a home.
When Mia and Pearl become involved with Elena, her husband, and their four children, even their friends can no longer avoid one another. If you’ve seen that show, you’ll recognize Elena as a more evil version of the affluent, driven, and status-obsessed mother Witherspoon she portrays in Big Little Lies. Although not Monterey, Ohio is noticeably comparable.
The series adapted from the novel also focuses on the difficult emotional lives of Elena and Mia’s children in great detail. Mia is particularly concerned about the bond Pearl develops with the Richardsons, as well as their wonderful, spacious home, their free time, and their stability. Her youngest child, Izzy (Megan Stott) is a blossoming artist with a raw nerve. Izzy is drawn to Mia because Mia is also an artist and because she is almost as dubious about Elena as Izzy is.
Broadchurch
Enjoyed watching ‘Last Thing He Told Me’? Then you should watch Broadchurch. If you’re looking for a dark, unsettling drama with lots of plot twists, Broadchurch is a superb choice. Produced as well as created by Chris Chibnall, the crime drama will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the episodes.
Detective Inspector Alec Hardy and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller, played by David Tennant and Olivia Colman, investigate the murder of a little eleven-year-old boy Danny Latimer in a small coastal village in Dorset. As the investigation unravels, secrets are revealed, and the close-knit neighborhood of the scenic island of Dorset becomes the center of the frantic media & police investigation.
There’s no doubt that the entire cast of Broadchurch did a fantastic job, but Olivia Colman and David Tennant stole the spotlight with their indomitable on-screen chemistry. The small-town setting and an intriguing group of characters with personal agendas and hidden objectives are what make the series gripping.
If you’re set to watch Broadchurch, remember that it occasionally features graphic crime-related scenes and can be emotionally stressful for some viewers. But if you can get beyond the abrasiveness, it’s a fascinating, expertly produced drama that’ll keep you on the hook until the end of the series finale.
Dead to Me
Created by Liz Feldman, ‘Dead to Me’ deals with a loss like ‘Last Thing He Told Me’ and is an exceptional American dark comedy series. The series entails how two women, Jen Harding (Christina Applegate) & Judy Hale (Linda Cardellini), who are coping with the loss of their loved ones, meet one another via a support group & develop a deep friendship. But as the story unveils, Jen learns a shocking truth about Judy!
Liz Feldman tried to portray various complicated human relations and dark secrets through the series. Christina Applegate & Linda Cardellini portray their polar opposite personas and make the audience laugh and cry throughout the series. Apart from them, James Marsden, Luke Roessler, Sam McCarthy, and Max Jenkins build up a wonderful cast for this series.
The series received immense positive reviews when the first season premiered in 2019 and even received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series. Christina Applegate, too, received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series in the 71st & 72nd Primetime Emmy Awards for her outstanding role in Dead to Me.
Also read: How to Watch Dead to Me Episodes Online? Streaming Guide
Mare of Easttown
With an IMDb rating of 8.4, ‘Mare of Easttown’ is an original HBO crime drama series worth watching if you have enjoyed watching ‘Last Thing He Told Me’. Written and created by Brad Ingelsby and directed by Craig Zobel, the ‘Mare of Easttown’ consists of 7 gripping episodes.
The story revolves around a police detective Marianne “Mare” Sheehan (Kate Winslet), who’s trying hard to keep her personal life from imploding as she deals with divorce, losing her son to suicide, and a custody battle of her grandson; while she looks into the recent murder of a teenage mother in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
Mare, who was the star of a 25 year ago high school basketball championship game, is a beloved figure in the community. But due to her inability to solve a case involving a young girl for over a year, many in the community have begun to question her investigative abilities.
If you enjoyed the compelling story and interesting characters of ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’, the ‘Mare of Easttown’ is the right choice for you. Both series study the effects of a horrific event’s aftermath on the individuals involved. You’ll be on the edge of your seat the entire time due to the complex web of lies and secrets surrounding both storylines.
Kate Winslet gave an outstanding lead performance in Mare of Easttown and even went on to win the Outstanding Lead Actress at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards. Critics acclaimed this series for its gripping plot, characters, and the fluent and accurate Philadelphian accent that actors spoke throughout the series.
Mindhunter
If you are into a psychological thriller, then Mindhunter is a must-watch for you. This particular series created by Joe Penhall is based on the crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit by John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker, dealing with real-life events.
The main characters of the series Mindhunter are FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff), Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), and psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), who work in the FBI’s Behavioural Science Unit at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Together, they begin a project to speak with incarcerated serial killers to grasp their psyches better and, hopefully, use that understanding to resolve open cases.
The series investigates the intricate dynamics between the agents and the killers through their interactions, pushing the boundaries between curiosity and empathy. Mindhunter stands out due to its diligent attention to detail and dedication to authenticity.
The work of real-life FBI agents John E. Douglas and Robert Ressler, who invented the area of behavioral profiling, served as an inspiration for the show. The series’ writers, Joe Penhall, and David Fincher, develop a gripping narrative that balances the investigations’ procedural elements and the agents’ psychological burdens and personal challenges.
Despite relying on gory violence or cheap thrills, Mindhunter successfully creates tension and psychological interest. The series provides a frightening yet thrilling investigation of the worst facets of human nature by concentrating on the killers’ psychological factors and cognitive processes.
Also read: Mindhunter Season 2 Ending Explained: What Happened To Wayne Williams?
The Stranger
When browsing Netflix’s thriller library, you may have seen a new British series called The Stranger. The show, which Harlan Coben created, features mystery, suspense, and, most importantly, the family drama between a connected group of people – like Love Actually, but with murder. Based on the Harlan Coben novel, the television adaptation begins with an anonymous tip that alerts Adam Price (Richard Armitage), a happily married father of two whose life is upended when he learns a dreadful secret about his wife and is immediately thrust into jeopardy.
Hannah John-Kamen’s character, the Stranger, frequently appears and blackmails people about either their own transgressions or the transgressions of their loved ones. Corinne, Adam’s wife (Dervla Kirwan), goes missing shortly after. The plot widens each episode to present a more complete picture. You don’t need persuading that the drama is worthwhile if you like The Last Thing He Told Me.
Virgin River
Melinda “Mel” Monroe (Alexandra Breckenridge), a nurse practitioner and midwife, is the show’s main character. After her husband passes away, she leaves her life in the large city and starts over by accepting a job in the tiny, extremely rural California town of Virgin River.
The local family doctor Vernon “Doc” Mullins (Tim Matheson), the personification of the ageing curmudgeon set in his own ways (up to and including his inability to get with the times on a technological level), doesn’t exactly welcome her with open arms.
Of course, her entrance isn’t received with universal joy. Even the cabin she’s been promised by Hope McCrea, the mayor of the town (Annette O’Toole), looks more like a dilapidated hunting lodge than the idyllic residence that was portrayed.
Mel is understandably ready to pack up and leave, and even the charming Jack Sheridan (Martin Henderson), a former U.S. Marine and the proprietor of the neighborhood bar known simply as “Jack’s Bar,” isn’t always enough of a draw to stay.
However, Mel is forced to choose between her wish to leave Virgin River in the past and her responsibilities as a nurse when a newborn infant is mysteriously abandoned on Doc’s front porch. Slowly but surely, Mel starts to make a home for herself in the last place she ever imagined.
A community founded on nice, compassionate residents who mostly just want to look out for each other, free from the world’s problems? Who Does Casey Gardner End Up With In The ‘Atypical’? is a series that virtually begs you to put your problems aside and take a little diversion off the usual route, if only for around 50 minutes.
True detective
The eight guys who run the Tsalal Arctic Research Station disappear without a trace as the long winter night comes in Ennis, Alaska. Detectives Liz Danvers (Jodie Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Kali Reis) will have to face the darkness they harbor inside them and delve into the haunted secrets buried beneath the perpetual ice to solve the case.
True Detective is a crime anthology series for those who are unfamiliar, following a new detective (or two) who must track down a murderer while battling their own problems each season. The cast of True Detective has consistently featured performers of note, including Matthew McConaughey, Rachel McAdams, Woody Harrelson, and Mahershala Ali.
Therefore, it only makes sense that Foster was chosen as the show’s leader for the upcoming season. Who better than FBI Agent Clarice Starling to find a criminal?
Stranger Things
The Duffer Brothers are the creators of the American science fiction television program Stranger Things. On July 15, 2016, it debuted as a Netflix original series. The fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, which serves as the show’s main setting and focal point, is set in the 1980s.
The first season, which takes place in November 1983, follows various character groups as they independently look into the disappearance of Will Byers. The second and third seasons that followed broadened the scope of the story by examining the complicated consequences of the events of November 1983.
The show’s scope is considerably broadened in the fourth season, which features the first major stories set outside of Hawkins. The series will end with a fifth season currently under development. A live-action and animated series are reportedly in the works as spin-offs.
The entire town of Hawkins, Indiana, is turned upside down when Will Byers mysteriously vanishes. Will’s mother, Joyce, brother Jonathan, pals Mike, Dustin, and Lucas, as well as Police Chief Jim Hopper and other significant individuals, are all actively looking for him. But as one thing follows another, a paranormal trail is left behind. Things grow stranger when a young lady with a shaved head enters the story.
Also read: TV Shows Similar To Mentalist That Are A Must Watch
