Now that Stranger Things is ending, Netflix has two replacements for their biggest series, and they’re more similar than fans might think. Developed by the Duffer Brothers and set in the ’80s, Stranger Things has been a nostalgic sci-fi adventure following the chronicles of the super-powered Eleven and her teenage friends as they protected the small town of Hawkins, Indiana from the creatures living in the Upside Down just below the surface. With the Upside Down threatening to engulf more than just Hawkins at this point, Stranger Things season 5 will be the ultimate battle between good and evil, and the end of an original series that captured fans’ imaginations.
Netflix has been fortunate to have several other series debut in the last year that have presented possible replacements for Stranger Things once it ends in 2024. Stranger Things broke records in 2022 and had several undeniable ingredients for its soaring popularity, which at one point included pop-up experiences touring all around the country, allowing fans to participate in all the excitement of visiting Hawkins Lab, cultivating Eleven’s powers, and even fighting a demogorgon. While these series may not be the same level of pop culture phenomenon, they’re both similar enough (and similar enough to Stranger Things) to provide something for every preference.
Wednesday & One Piece Are Netflix’s Potential Stranger Things Replacements
Netflix had two huge hits with Wednesday and One Piece, both based on beloved IPs that took big risks with their source material. Wednesday follows the misanthropic offspring of Morticia and Gomez Addams while she attends Nevermore Academy, a school for the gifted and unusual, and tries to solve a murder with connections to the Addams Family’s spooky past. One Piece is based on the long-running anime of the same name and focuses on Monkey D. Luffy’s pirate crew who, while exploring endless oceans and exotic islands, attempt to find the ultimate treasure and crown the next Pirate King.
Both series were heavily promoted to build anticipation, and both were renewed quickly after their numbers showed undeniable interest. One Piece beat Wednesday and Stranger Things‘ records thanks to an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score, positive reviews, and logged streaming hours. Netflix has luckily been able to find a wheelhouse of creative material to mine for popular concepts and then develop them into actionable content that seems to appeal to the masses – even series as seemingly disparate as Wednesday and One Piece.
How Wednesday & One Piece Are Similar
At first glance, it would seem like Wednesday and One Piece couldn’t be more different, particularly since the most salient feature is that one has a gothic aesthetic while the other is full of bright colors. However, looking more closely at the two properties, similarities emerge; they’re both adaptations of popular characters with prominent fanbases, they each take place in fantastical worlds, and they even have rich characters that become fan favorites right away. Plus, there’s enough material for an almost unlimited amount of new seasons.
Chances are, many of the same people watching Wednesday and One Piece are also watching Stranger Things, which, while it has a heavy sci-fi and horror influence, shares their penchant for world-building, adventurous storytelling, and ensemble casts of diverse characters. As sad as it is that Stranger Things is ending with season 5, it’s good to know that there will be worthy successors to its reign at Netflix as one of the streaming platform’s most exciting shows. Netflix remains a leader in its field because of its ability to come up with the next big series.
