3 mind-bending sci-fi Netflix shows to watch after The Boroughs

When you start a new sci-fi show, it's incredibly difficult to predict how it will end. You can never anticipate the twists and turns that happen in these unique universes, and Netflix's The Boroughs is no different. From executive producers the Duffer Brothers, who of course brought us Stranger Things, the sci-fi series follows a group of retirees as they battle an otherworldly threat.

The Boroughs takes place in the titular retirement community, which becomes the home of mysterious happenings when a cynical newcomer arrives and questions everything. Before long, Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) stumbles upon the dark secret haunting the community and bands together his neighbors to become the unlikely heroes to save their home from evil.

Obviously, the sci-fi series' mythology is far more complex than any one paragraph could describe, and that's exactly what makes the show a wild ride worth taking. If you looking to keep that wild ride going after your binge-watch with more sci-fi Netflix shows, we're sharing a short list of three more mind-bending series that will keep you hooked, thinking, and pressing "next-episode."

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen

Another recent Netflix show from executive producers the Duffer Brothers, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen takes the sci-fi horror element to an even bigger extreme than The Boroughs. It's as chilling as it is thrilling, and the big twist will have you scratching your head until the last second.

The series from creator Haley Z. Boston stars Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco as engaged couple Rachel and Nicky, who journey to Nicky's expansive home out in the woods of Upstate New York. Already, it's an eerie tone, but Rachel begins to sense that something bad will happen leading to their wedding.

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen unravels a generational curse that plagues Rachel's bloodline and looks to repeat history when she walks down the aisle. But the bloody climax of the story is unforgettable and will stay with you long after the season ends.

Archive 81

Even though it's frustrating when shows are canceled after only one season, that doesn't mean we still can't dip back into the archives (pun intended, sorry) and appreciate shows that ended up gone before their time. Being so, Archive 81 is another sci-fi horror Netflix show worth watching.

Based on the podcast of the same name by Daniel Powell and Marc Sollinger, Archive 81 first debuted on Netflix back in January 2022 and seemed to connect with horror audiences. The supernatural series centers on one character who created videotapes in 1994 and another character who's watching them in present. However, the footage soon opens up a mystery about a cult.

Despite earning mostly positive reviews from critics and turning on viewership that seemed to be enough to warrant another season, Netflix opted to cancel Archive 81. Unfortunately, the series ends with a cliffhanger, but horror and sci-fi fans should still give the underrated show a shot.

3 Body Problem

Last but not least, a mind-bending sci-fi thriller that should be on your list after The Boroughs is definitely 3 Body Problem. More so than simply discovering a show that you might have missed, if you're already a fan, it's the perfect time for a rewatch before season 2 drops later this year.

Netflix debuted the series based on the book series Remembrance of Earth's Past by Liu Cixin back in March 2024. 3 Body Problem comes from Game of Thrones co-creators David Benioff and D. B. Weiss and Alexander Woo and centers on individuals who make contact with a extraterrestrial civilization and its subsequent threats.

3 Body Problem scored an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Drama Series and looks to keep that acclaim going with season 2. After wrapping production earlier this year, the second season is set to drop in 2026, and the third season is also already renewed and in the works!

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