If you’ve been searching for a TV show like Fringe to fill the void left by its blend of high-concept science fiction, parallel universes, and deeply emotional character arcs, there’s one underrated series that deserves your attention. It’s a show that captured critical acclaim, inspired online theorizing, and dared to push narrative boundaries in ways few network dramas ever attempted. With an impressive 84% Rotten Tomatoes score, it scratches the same cerebral and emotional itches Fringe fans know all too well, but it never quite got the mainstream love it deserved.

While Fringe kept viewers hooked with stories about alternate timelines, scientific anomalies, and a core trio bonded by loss and mystery, this other show took things even further into the surreal. It experimented with genre, structure, and even form itself, creating a world that constantly challenged its audience’s understanding of reality. While it was short-lived, its ambition, emotional weight, and puzzle-box storytelling make it one of the most compelling spiritual successors to Fringe. It might be the perfect show to watch next, and there are several reasons why.

The OA Is An Ambitious Sci-Fi Drama That Every Fringe Fan Should Watch

This Surreal Netflix Drama Shares Fringe's Bold Vision And Emotional Depth

The TV show like Fringe that every fan should watch is, of course, The OA. The OA premiered on Netflix in December 2016 and ran for two seasons before being unexpectedly canceled in 2019. Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, the show follows a woman named Prairie Johnson who resurfaces after being missing for seven years. Once blind, she now mysteriously regains her sight and calls herself "The OA," claiming to be part of a greater interdimensional purpose. From there, The OA spirals into a layered, genre-bending saga that blends near-death experiences, alternate realities, and metaphysical musings - all deeply reminiscent of the thematic scope found in a TV show like Fringe.

At its core, The OA is a story about human connection, trauma, and the search for meaning through science and spirituality. Much like how paired monster-of-the-week cases with long-form arcs about identity and destiny, The OA balances deeply personal character studies with large-scale existential mystery. It refuses to hold the viewer's hand, trusting audiences to engage with its complex narrative—something Fringe fans are already used to.

The show’s 's alternate universe arcs and mind-bending twists, The OA feels like a natural progression - one that replaces lab coats with interpretive dance and science labs with metaphysical labyrinths, yet somehow remains just as gripping.

Sadly, The OA Was Canceled After Just 2 Seasons And Ended On A Cliffhanger

The Show’s Mind-Blowing Season 2 Finale Left Fans Begging For Answers

Despite building a ionate cult following, The OA was canceled by Netflix before it could complete its planned five-part arc. The news came just months after the release of Part II, which not only expanded the show’s scope but ended on one of the boldest cliffhangers in modern television. In true Fringe fashion, the final episode “Overview” left the audience stunned as it pulled the characters - and the story - into a startling new meta dimension.

Despite an intense fan campaign, The OA was officially pronounced dead, its story left unfinished.

Without spoiling every detail, The OA’s season 2 finale revealed that the characters had somehow crossed into a universe where they were actors making The OA - a fourth-wall-breaking twist that recontextualized the entire show. The shift was as audacious as anything seen in Fringe (even during its wildest episodes), but it also laid the groundwork for an even more experimental and mind-bending future. Unfortunately, that future never came to be.

Netflix never officially explained the cancellation of The OA beyond vague references to viewership numbers and costs. However, fans speculated that the show’s high production costs and its niche appeal made it a tough sell for a platform focused on wide-reaching hits. Despite an intense fan campaign, The OA was officially pronounced dead, its story left unfinished. For anyone seeking a TV show like Fringe, that can be a frustrating outcome. However, for those willing to take the leap, the journey is still worthwhile.

The OA Is Still Worth Watching Despite Its Premature Cancellation

Even Without Closure, The Show Offers A Profound And Unforgettable Experience

The fact that The OA ends on a cliffhanger might discourage some viewers, but that would be a mistake - especially for fans of Fringe. The beauty of The OA lies not in its ending, but in its execution. Much like Fringe, The OA is as much about the emotional and philosophical weight of the journey as it is about any final revelation. Each episode is rich with atmosphere, character work, and symbolic meaning, encouraging repeat viewings and deeper analysis.

The OA excels in world-building and tone. Season 1 builds a mythos around near-death experiences and unseen dimensions, while The OA season 2 shifts focus to an intricate missing person investigation layered with sci-fi concepts like multidimensional travel, puzzle houses, and dream logic. The tonal shift between seasons mirrors Fringe's own evolution - from procedural beginnings to full-blown sci-fi epic - and yet the emotional throughline remains intact throughout.

What makes The OA especially rewarding is how it takes creative risks. It features interpretive dance as a form of interdimensional movement, breaks the fourth wall in deeply personal ways, and uses non-linear storytelling to explore memory and trauma. While these choices may alienate some viewers, they’re exactly what make the show special. Like Fringe, it respects its audience’s intelligence and emotional investment.

For Fringe fans who appreciate rich thematic layers, emotional complexity, and reality-bending narratives, The OA offers something truly rare. Even without a proper conclusion, its 16 episodes are packed with moments that Fringe - from the jaw-dropping twists to the quiet, heartbreaking character beats. Watching The OA is an experience, one that lingers long after the credits roll. For anyone still looking for a TV show like Fringe, there’s no better candidate.