Darkromanceshave quickly won the hearts of audiences with their unconventional love stories, captivating storylines, and compelling characters. Dark romance TV shows often feature morally gray characters and dark themes, making them perfect for exploring the complexities of humanity, emotions, and relationships. Ranging fromtoxic relationships where couples bring out the worst in each otherto unconventional love stories where dangerous secrets threaten to wreak havoc, dark romances in TV shows guarantee a thrilling watch filled with plot twists and drama.
Thebest dark romance thrillersblend elements of mystery and suspense with romantic arcs,creating high-stakes drama and conflict. These shows offer a fresh perspective on love and relationships while creating a gripping narrative filled with mystery and strong emotional stakes.
10A Teacher
Released In 2020
A Teacheris a miniseries based on the 2013 film of the same name. The seriesrevolves around the illicit affairbetween a 17-year-old student and his English teacher.A Teacherfollows 32-year-old Claire Wilson (Kate Mara) as her marriage to Matt Mitchell (Ashley Zukerman) faces hurdles, and she begins an affair with the popular high school senior, Eric Walker (Nick Robinson).
A Teacher
Cast
A Teacher (2020) explores the complexities of an illicit affair between high school English teacher Claire Wilson, played by Kate Mara, and her student Eric Walker, portrayed by Nick Robinson. The show delves into the far-reaching consequences of their relationship on both their lives and those around them, examining themes of power dynamics, manipulation, and the impact of abusive relationships.
Unlike shows likePretty Little Liars,the miniseries avoids romanticizing and celebrating the illegal relationship between a teacher and a minor student.A Teacherdoesn’t shy away from exploring the lifelong impacts caused by the power imbalances of a student-teacher relationship. The strong characterization of the leads, Claire and Eric, and the tension-filled premise make for a thrilling and compelling watch.
9Dirty John
Released In 2018
Dirty Johnis atrue crime seriesbased on the podcast of the same name, hosted by Christopher Goffard. The first season of the anthology TV show tells the true and disturbing tale of a con artist, John Meehan (Eric Bana), and his web of lies and deceit.Dirty Johnseason 2 revolves around the breakdown of the marriage between Dan (Christian Slater) and Betty Broderick (Amanda Peet) andthe events that led to Betty murdering her ex-husband Dan and his new wife, Linda Kolkena (Rachel Keller).
Dirty John
Dirty John is an anthology series that premiered in 2018, with each season inspired by true crime stories. The series explores dramatic tales of complex relationships and deceit, starting with the tumultuous romance of interior designer Debra Newell and the enigmatic John Meehan.
Dirty Johnseason 1 slowly unravels John’s lies and the mystery of his past while depicting the con artist’s manipulations of Debra and how it impacted her personal life and her family. The series becomes more chilling and dark because it is based on true stories and expertly balances the dark romance with mystery and suspense.
8Tell Me Lies
Released In 2022
The dark romance seriesTell Me Liesis based on the 2018 novel of the same name written by Carola Lovering.Tell Me Liesrevolves around the tumultuousrelationship between two college students, Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White). Lucy and Stephen’s relationship faces ups and downs over the years, as the two grow and change as individuals and as a couple over the years.
Tell Me Lies
Tell Me Lies is a drama television series created by Meaghan Oppenheimer for Hulu. Based on the novel, the series follows the relationship of two people over eight years who develop into a toxic co-dependent relationship that causes lasting effects for them and those closest to them.
Tell Me Liesuses a slow pace to build Lucy and Stephen’s strong characterizations and the toxic relationship between the couple.Filled with manipulation, lies, secrecy, and cheating,Tell Me Liesis a thrilling series that follows the love story of two deeply flawed individuals. The relationship between Lucy and Stephen is the perfect example of a dark and thrilling romance.
7Shadow And Bone
Released In 2021
Shadow and Boneis a dark fantasy series based on the popular Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo.While romance isn’t the focus of the fantasy show, the relationship between the Sun Summoner, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), and the Shadow Summoner, Aleksander Kirigan, also known as the Darkling (Ben Barnes), is central to the plot.The Darkling is villainous, power-hungry and manipulative, yet charming and potentially redeemable, making him a compelling dark romance love interest.
Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone is a fantasy series set in a world divided by a barrier of darkness. Released on July 03, 2025, it follows a young soldier who discovers a unique power that could reunite her country amid a backdrop of scheming forces, including thugs, thieves, and assassins.
Shadow and Boneis shrouded in mystery as audiences learn more about the fantastical world and the main characters over the course of the show.The TV show’s fantasy setting is filled with magic, romance, war, and politics, makingShadow and Bonean entertaining and compelling dark romance TV show.
6Hannibal
Released In 2013
The psychological horror and thriller TV showHannibalis based on characters that appeared in Thomas Harris' novels.The dark TV show revolves around forensic psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and his twisted obsession with FBI investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). Hannibal is fascinated by Will’s ability to empathize with killers and tries to push Will and turn him into a killer like him.
Hannibal
Created for TV by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a TV adaptation/reimagining of Thomas Harris' Red Dragon novel. The show follows the exploits of FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and their perpetual game of cat and mouse that unfolds over the series. When a string of murders in Minnesota requires a brilliant mind to crack the case, Will Graham is called in to investigate - but due to the intimate and terrifying nature of the crimes, he is appointed Dr. Lecter to act as his psychiatrist. The truth of Dr. Lecter is that he is Will’s target - but to complicate matters, he’s the only person that can truly understand him.
Hannibal’sobsession with Will and the growth of their destructive relationshipcreate a uniquely dark and tension-filled dynamic.The FBI’s investigation into heinous crimes serves as the perfect backdrop to Hannibal and Will’s dysfunctional relationship.The dark crime drama show is a perfect blend of Hannibal and Will’s twisted relationship and the mysteries of Hannibal’s motives and crimes.
5Scandal
Released In 2012
Scandalis a political thriller series that follows Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), a former White House Communications Director, and her crisis management firm. Olivia previously worked on the presidential campaign of the future president, Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III (Tony Goldwyn), and had a scandalous affair with the politician. Thepassionate yet forbidden romancebetween Fitz and Olivia has major consequences for both parties as they struggle to keep their affair under wraps to maintain their professional careers.
Scandal
Scandal centers on Olivia Pope, a crisis manager specializing in safeguarding the public images of influential clients by concealing secrets. Her team excels in solving high-profile problems, but struggles arise when dealing with their personal issues. Released in 2012, the series highlights the complexities of managing private and public lives.
Scandalmaintains a thrilling pace and intriguing premise filled with assassination attempts, blackmail, political espionage, and morally complex characters who are forced to make tough decisions in the face of high-stakes situations.With compelling and complex dark romances and gripping political drama,Scandalis an incredible watch.
4Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned
Released In 2015
Doctor Foster: A Woman Scornedis apsychological thriller seriesabout the titular Dr. Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones)and her suspicions that her husband Simon (Bertie Carvel) is having an extramarital affair. Inspired by the Greek myth of Medea, the seriesis a strange and tragic tale filled with dark secrets that threaten to throw the lives of her family into chaos.
Doctor Foster
Doctor Foster follows the story of Dr. Gemma Foster, a talented and successful family doctor whose life unravels when she suspects her husband of infidelity. As she delves deeper into uncovering the truth, her actions lead to increasingly complex and suspenseful consequences. The series stars Suranne Jones in the titular role and explores themes of betrayal, revenge, and the search for justice.
Doctor Foster: A Woman Scornedis the perfect depiction of a dark romance mixed with mystery as audiences eagerly await to witness Gemma as she unravels and embarks on a dangerous journey of revenge.The show focuses on the impact of Gemma and Simon’s failing marriage, betrayals, and infidelity on their lives and on their son Tom (Tom Taylor).
3Interview with the Vampire (2022-Present)
Interview with the Vampireis gothic horror series based on the series of novelsThe Vampire Chroniclesby Anne Rice.The show revolves around the titular vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and his complex relationship with the hedonistic vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), who turned him into a vampire.Interview with the Vampirechronicles Louis' transformation into a vampire, his turbulent relationship with Lestat, and the creation of the child vampire Claudia (Delainey Hayles) who forms a father-daughter relationship with the duo.
“This Is Not Working”: How Interview With The Vampire Season 2’s Louis & Lestat Reunion Got Rewritten
Interview with the Vampire showrunner Rolin Jones explains how Louis and Lestat’s reunion in season 2 got rewritten, and why it didn’t work at first.
The passionate and tumultuousrelationship between Louis and Lestatis central toInterview with the Vampire,as their differing personalities and mindsets leads to countless conflicts and tears them apart.The show adds an element of mystery, as Louis controls the narrative, and audiences have to question whether the events of the show unfolded as depicted.
2Killing Eve
The dark spy thriller seriesKilling Everevolves around the cat and mouse chasebetween MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and the highly skilled assassin known as Villanelle (Jodie Comer).While the series begins with Eve chasing Villanelle, the psychopathic assassin forms an obsession with Eve, and the two of them chase each other across the globe.
Interview with the Vampire
Based on Anne Rice’s novel series that began in 1976, Interview with the Vampire is a gothic horror fantasy series that explores the life of Louis de Pointe du Lac through an interview with a journalist. Told through flashbacks of Louis' life during the interview, the series examines Louis' relationship with the vampire that turned him, Lestat de Lioncourt, and a teenage girl named Claudia, whom he turns. The series is the first of Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe media franchise.
Eve and Villanelle are torn between their professions and their forbidden connection and mutual attraction.Both of the leads inKilling Evemake questionable decisions and their relationship is inherently a mix of obsession, attraction, and violence. Despite Eve and Villanelle hunting each other down and several attempted murders, the duo end up inadvertently working together to take down the mysterious secret organization The Twelve.
1You
The psychological thriller seriesYouis based on the novel series of the same name by Caroline Kepnes. The show follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) a charming, dangerous and obsessive serial who becomes infatuated with women and integrates himself into their lives. Joe relentlessly stalks and murders people while justifying it in the name of love. WithJoe’s predatory behavior and villainybeing the crux of the show, each relationship he forms through manipulation and stalking is a thrilling and dark romance.
You
You is a psychological thriller that follows a dangerously charming and intensely obsessive young man who manipulates his way into the lives of those he fixates upon, using extreme measures to pursue his unsettling aims.
While Joe is initially the hunter, he finds himself outside of his depths in the later seasons as he forms relationships with women with dark tendencies and their own hidden pasts.Youis an incredible dark romance series that flawlessly blends deadly romances with mystery and thrills.
