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What to Watch After You Finish Disclaimer*

We curated a watchlist that’s just as necessary as Alfonso Cuarón's stellar Apple TV+ series

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preview for Andrew Garfield | Explain This | Esquire

Now that Apple TV+'s Disclaimer* has wrapped up, it’s time to find a new show to watch. Lucky for you, we curated a watchlist that’s just as necessary as Alfonso Cuarón's stellar TV series.

Of course, it’s hard to compare anything to a Cuarón-directed effort, but below, I’ve listed eight great shows that are similar to Disclaimer* in tone and format. Take Sharp Objects, for example—the Amy Adams–led mystery forces viewers to pay close attention to flashbacks to solve the case. Like Disclaimer*, Freeform’s Cruel Summer uses numerous timelines to tell the story of two young girls who are connected through a devastating event. Dark Matter and The Watcher both stray from the plot of Disclaimer* but depict high-stakes scenarios that are just as compelling.

All right, I’ll leave you to it. These are eight series you should watch after Disclaimer*.

Sharp Objects

Reporter Camille Preaker (Amy Adams) travels home to investigate the murder of two girls. As she works through the case, she realizes the victims are connected to her family—and their complicated history. Like Disclaimer*, this series relies on flashbacks to piece the story together, revealing small clues along the way.

The Undoing

Nicole Kidman stars as Grace Foster, a woman whose marriage is tested when a mother at her son’s school goes missing. Suddenly, she and her husband become part of the investigation—and as the mystery unfurls, Grace’s life descends along with it. This whodunit has a different vibe than Disclaimer*, but the pacing is equally gripping.

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Big Little Lies

Consider this an evergreen reminder to revisit the stellar series. For the uninitiated, Big Little Lies follows the mothers of Monterey, California, who are connected by—you guessed it—a secret. When a man mysteriously dies at a school fundraiser, investigators look to the townspeople to uncover what happened. Big Little Lies and Disclaimer* have a similarly grim undertone, in the sense that lies and fraught reputations play a crucial role in the narrative.

Cruel Summer (Season 1)

Like Disclaimer*, Cruel Summer uses dual perspectives to challenge the viewer. The series follows two young girls, Kate Wallis and Jeanette Turner. When Kate goes missing, Jeanette becomes a key suspect in her disappearance. Told over the course of three years, Cruel Summer explores how one shared event can change the course of people’s lives.

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Dark Matter

Professor Jason Desson (Joel Edgerton) is tossed into an alternate version of his life. As he races against time to regain control of his world, he discovers a nefarious plot working against him. This series doesn’t have the same structure as Disclaimer*, but the mystery is just as compelling.

The Watcher

Shortly after a family moves into their dream house, a person dubbed “The Watcher” sends them mysterious letters in the mail. At first, they think it’s a perverse neighbourhood joke—but as the letters grow more ominous, they fear no one can be trusted. Here, the letters double as narration that tests the audience’s perspective. Like Disclaimer*, we’re forced to connect the dots alongside the protagonists.

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Lady in the Lake

Lady in the Lake is based on Laura Lippman’s novel of the same name. Natalie Portman portrays Maddie Schwartz, a housewife who is enticed by an unsolved murder. As she’s sucked into the case, Maddie’s motives are questioned. Why does she care so much, anyway? Like Catherine Ravenscroft’s, Maddie’s past is a major part of the mystery.

The Sinner (Season 1)

Season 1 of The Sinner stars Jessica Biel as Cora Tanetti, a housewife who inexplicably stabs a man on the beach. The incident prompts an investigation ripe with twists and turns. I don’t want to spoil anything, but here’s a hint: Just as Disclaimer* suggests, our perspectives are always limited.

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