Catterick is my favorite baffling TV show. It stars Vic and Bob, along with a stellar supporting cast including Reece Shearsmith, Tim Healey, Mark Benton, Matt Lucas, and Morwenna Banks. It starts innocently enough with Carl Palmer (Bob) returning to Catterick to visit his brother Chris (Vic), but quickly descends into chaos. The extremely loose plot revolves around the criminal antics of mummy’s boy Tony (Shearsmith), but there are more tangents than at a geometry conference. From torn-up posters of George Clooney and haunting dance routines to Chris Rea and Foreigner, Catterick should be at the top of your TV watchlist.
I first saw the sharp, dreamlike animation Monkey Dust on BBC Three in the mid-2000s. I was mesmerized by its dark take on post-millennium British life. Each week, the episodes followed a similar pattern, but with a tragic, twisted, or nightmarish twist affecting its sad bunch of urban characters. Why did Clive perform depraved acts with German businessmen, his father-in-law, or a dog and some peanut butter? How did Divorced Dad survive his dire fate every week? I haven’t seen anything this dark or hypnotic since.
I don’t know what the hell The OA was about. Inter-dimensional travel, time travel, long philosophical conversations that went nowhere—I remember being up at 2 a.m. watching it and thinking, “Oh my God, I’ve entered the twilight zone. Where am I?”
Nobody else seems to have heard of this, but Mrs. Davies, starring Betty Gilpin, is brilliant, funny, and bizarre. It starts straightforwardly enough with a flashback to a medieval secret society and the Holy Grail, then shifts to modern day and a crimefighting nun in a world ruled by a benign AI. From there, it gets odder each episode until everything finally comes together and makes sense. It was only ever meant to be one season, so it’s all tied up without requiring too much time.
Legion is by far the best baffling TV show of recent times. It’s a Marvel spin-off with no superheroes. Instead, we get an evil entity nesting in the brain of a paranoid schizophrenic, Aubrey Plaza getting stuck in a wall, and Jemaine Clement trapped in a 1970s-themed mind palace. It has an amazing cast and production design—and it’s bananas but brilliant. I’m off to rewatch it now!
Two percent of the world’s population suddenly disappears, and the people left behind, along with us viewers, are trying to figure out why. Each episode and season of The Leftovers became weirder than the last, but the central mystery and tight writing, along with an excellent cast including Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, Christopher Eccleston, and Liv Tyler, kept me hooked. I still don’t really understand how it ended, but what a ride it was.
I always loved The Prisoner for its fascinating and slightly menacing atmosphere. This beautiful Italianate village showcased everything the ’60s did best in design, colors, and music. Patrick McGoohan, as Number Six, had been abducted and kept prisoner in this gilded cage for obscure reasons, all apparently tied to the secret services. Rebelling against the system was useless, and escaping was impossible because a huge white balloon would pursue and eliminate you by smothering you on the beach. It was scary, baffling, and the disconnect between the psychedelic decor and the sinister purpose of its masters made the show eternally spellbinding.Some shows become cult favorites precisely because they’re hard to follow. Catherine Laz, 63, London, on Westworld: It felt more like an art installation than a drama. I stopped trying to understand the plot and just got lost in the beautiful visuals. It had a great title sequence and powerful theme music, but making sense wasn’t the point. When it was cancelled, I didn’t mind—I had no idea what was happening anyway.
Ben McCrory, Manchester, on Nowhere Man: This one-season show (1995-1996) was essentially the American answer to the baffling British series The Prisoner. The main character has his identity erased and is hunted because of a photograph he took that hints at a hidden conspiracy. The show is full of reversals, betrayals, and shocking reveals, where no one is who they seem. The photographic negative at the center of it all shifts between being a red herring and a crucial clue. It all ends, much like The Prisoner, with an answer that only raises more questions, leaving both the protagonist and the viewer adrift.
Howard Kistler, 60, Richmond, Virginia, on Dark: If you’ve seen it, you already know. If you haven’t, prepare for the most confusing, mind-bending, brilliant show ever made. Without giving too much away, it’s about a missing boy, cause and effect, free will versus determinism, and a very literal grandfather—or grandmother—paradox. Watch it, use the evolving family trees released each season to keep track, and be amazed that Netflix cancelled the creators’ next project after just one season.
Paul Clayton-Rana, 43, Hitchin, on Patriot: Don’t let the name fool you. It’s a tangled mix of spy thriller, workplace comedy, detective drama, and surrealist masterpiece, centered on a depressed folk musician and his tracksuit-wearing brother doing their clumsy best for global politics. You’ll find Beastie Boys montages, odd side characters, and unexpected consequences across Luxembourg and Milwaukee. Patriot is equally hysterical, complicated, and heartbreaking, all held together by Michael Dorman’s bewildered sweetness as he commits terrible acts. It’s full of confusing tension, yet somehow laugh-out-loud funny the whole way through.
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Eternally Spellbinding TV Shows
What are eternally spellbinding TV shows
These are series that are incredibly complex mysterious or confusing yet they have a captivating quality that makes you feel compelled to keep watching even when youre not entirely sure whats going on
What makes a show spellbinding in this way
Usually its a combination of a deep unsolved mystery complex characters with unclear motives unconventional storytelling and a unique atmosphere or world that feels immersive and intriguing
Isnt it just frustrating to be confused Why would anyone enjoy that
For many viewers the active engagement of piecing clues together and the thrill of the unknown are major draws The confusion creates a powerful sense of curiosity and investment that simpler more straightforward shows often cant match
Can you give me some classic examples of this type of show
Absolutely Classics include Lost Twin Peaks and The XFiles More recent examples are Westworld Dark and Severance
I want to try one Wheres a good place to start
For a beginner try Severance Its core mystery is very clear from the start and it balances its weirdness with relatable characters and humor For a more intense dive Dark is a masterclass in layered puzzlebox storytelling
Whats the biggest challenge when watching these shows
The most common problem is losing track of plot details character connections or timeline jumps Its easy to miss a crucial piece of dialogue or visual clue that becomes important episodes later
Any practical tips for keeping up and enjoying them more
Watch actively Put your phone away These arent background shows
Use community resources Episode recaps and fan wikis are invaluable tools not cheats
Watch with others Discussing theories and confusing moments with friends can enhance the experience
