Top 11 'Scenery-as-a-Character' TV Shows to explore for a Virtual Passport this winter - Goh Ling Yong
The winter chill has a way of settling in, not just in the air, but in our bones. The days grow shorter, the skies turn a steely grey, and the familiar ache of wanderlust begins to thrum beneath the surface. While hopping on a plane to a sun-drenched coast or a snow-capped mountain range might not be on the cards right now, who says you can't still collect stamps in your passport? A virtual one, that is.
Welcome to the world of armchair travel, where your remote control is your ticket to anywhere. Here on the Goh Ling Yong blog, we believe that inspiration for our lifestyle can come from anywhere—especially from brilliant storytelling. We're not just talking about shows with pretty backdrops; we're diving into series where the location is so much more than a setting. It's a character in its own right—shaping the plot, influencing the characters, and breathing life into the narrative.
These are the shows where the rugged cliffs whisper secrets, the sterile cityscapes enforce control, and the sun-bleached beaches hide dark intentions. The environment isn't just something the characters move through; it's something that moves them. So, grab a warm blanket and a hot drink. It's time to embark on an adventure and explore our top 11 "scenery-as-a-character" TV shows for your virtual passport this winter.
1. Outlander (Scotland)
If ever a show was a love letter to its location, Outlander is it. The series transports us to the Scottish Highlands, a land of mist-shrouded lochs, windswept moors, and ancient stone circles. This isn't just a picturesque backdrop for Claire and Jamie's epic romance; the land itself is the heart of the story. It represents freedom, rebellion, magic, and a deep, unshakeable connection to the past.
The rugged, untamed nature of the Highlands perfectly mirrors the passionate, fierce spirit of its people and the central characters. The standing stones at Craigh na Dun are not just a set piece; they are a literal portal through time, a mystical gateway that drives the entire plot. The land is both a sanctuary and a battlefield, a source of ancient wisdom and the stage for brutal conflict. It’s a place where folklore feels real because the very mountains seem to breathe it.
Virtual Passport Tip: Pay attention to how the show's color palette changes with the location. The earthy greens and browns of 18th-century Scotland stand in stark contrast to the structured, more muted tones of post-war 1940s London, visually reinforcing Claire's displacement and longing for the wildness she left behind.
2. The White Lotus (Hawaii & Sicily)
The White Lotus masterfully uses idyllic, luxurious resort settings as a pressure cooker for human drama. In Season 1, the lush, tropical paradise of Maui, Hawaii, becomes a beautiful cage. The crashing waves, vibrant flora, and serene sunsets create a veneer of perfection that slowly peels back to reveal the entitlement, anxiety, and moral decay of its wealthy guests. The beauty of the location becomes almost suffocating, amplifying the characters' inner turmoil.
Season 2 takes us to the stunning coast of Sicily, Italy, a location steeped in history, passion, and mythology. The opulent hotel, ancient towns, and volatile Mount Etna looming in the distance all serve as powerful metaphors. The setting is seductive and dangerous, mirroring the complex sexual politics and simmering tensions among the characters. The beauty of Sicily isn't just a backdrop; it’s an active participant, its legacy of passion and betrayal seeping into the modern-day drama.
Virtual Passport Tip: Notice how the camera often juxtaposes the stunning natural beauty with the ugly behavior of the characters. A heated, passive-aggressive argument might take place against the backdrop of a perfect sunset, creating a profound sense of irony and unease.
3. Yellowstone (Montana, USA)
In Yellowstone, the land is not just a character; it's the protagonist. The sprawling, majestic, and often brutal landscape of Montana is the entire point of the Dutton family's struggle. The Dutton Ranch, the largest contiguous ranch in the United States, is the prize, the legacy, and the source of every conflict. The sweeping shots of vast plains, rugged mountains, and wide-open skies constantly remind the viewer what is at stake.
The scenery dictates the rhythm of life and the moral code of the characters. They are shaped by the harshness and beauty of their environment—stoic, resilient, and fiercely protective. The changing seasons in Montana directly impact the plot, from brutal winters that test their resolve to summer cattle drives that reinforce their traditions. The show argues that you can't own land like this; you can only fight to be its steward, and it will demand a blood price for the privilege.
Virtual Passport Tip: Look for the visual contrast between the untouched natural beauty of the ranch and the encroaching forces of modernity—land developers' sterile building plans, the neon lights of the casino, and the expanding town. This visual conflict is the core of the show's drama.
4. Game of Thrones / House of the Dragon (Westeros & Essos)
It’s impossible to talk about scenery as a character without mentioning the world of George R.R. Martin. From the icy, formidable Wall in the North (filmed in Iceland) to the sun-scorched streets of King's Landing (Croatia) and the arid landscapes of Essos (Morocco), the geography of Westeros defines its people, politics, and power struggles.
The Starks are who they are because of the harsh, unforgiving North. Their motto, "Winter Is Coming," is a literal warning and a philosophy forged by their environment. The Lannisters' power is rooted in the gold mines of Casterly Rock, and the Ironborn's ruthless culture is born from the storm-lashed Iron Islands. Each location, filmed in a stunning real-world counterpart, has a distinct personality that is inseparable from the house that rules it. The land itself is a player in the great game.
Virtual Passport Tip: When watching, think of each location as its own kingdom with a unique identity. How does the architecture of King's Landing reflect its political intrigue versus the stark functionality of Winterfell or the mystical feel of Dragonstone?
5. Normal People (Ireland & Italy)
Normal People uses its locations to map the emotional interior of its characters, Connell and Marianne. The raw, windswept coastline and moody, grey skies of Sligo, Ireland, are a perfect reflection of their teenage angst, isolation, and the deep, unspoken connection they share. The scenery is beautiful but melancholic, mirroring the quiet intensity of their relationship.
When the story moves to the bustling, imposing world of Trinity College in Dublin, the setting reflects their newfound social anxieties and the class differences that begin to pull them apart. But the most significant shift comes when they visit Marianne's family villa in Italy. The sun-drenched, idyllic landscape offers a brief, dreamlike respite—a moment of pure, unburdened happiness. The Italian sun provides a warmth and clarity that their lives in Ireland lack, making their eventual return all the more poignant.
Virtual Passport Tip: Pay close attention to the light. The soft, diffused light of Sligo creates a sense of intimacy and melancholy, while the sharp, bright sun of Italy represents a fleeting period of freedom and joy for the characters.
6. Succession (Global)
While Succession is largely set in the cold, glass-and-steel canyons of New York City, its true "character" setting is the global landscape of the ultra-rich. The Roys don't just exist in places; they consume them. Their world is one of private jets, sterile boardrooms, remote luxury lodges, and sprawling European estates. These locations are not homes; they are power playgrounds and gilded cages.
A tense negotiation happens not in an office, but on a superyacht in the Mediterranean. A family therapy session unfolds at a desert wellness retreat in New Mexico. A corporate takeover is plotted amidst the stunning fjords of Norway. These breathtaking locations serve to highlight the profound emotional emptiness of the characters. They have access to the entire world, yet they are trapped in their own miserable family dynamics, unable to genuinely connect with the beauty around them.
Virtual Passport Tip: The show often uses wide, epic shots of these incredible locations before cutting to a tight, claustrophobic close-up of the characters' pained expressions. This contrast emphasizes how little the external beauty can penetrate their internal misery.
7. The Crown (United Kingdom)
In The Crown, the buildings and estates are as important as the royals who inhabit them. Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Balmoral—these are not just opulent homes. They are characters that represent the immense weight of the institution, tradition, and duty that Queen Elizabeth II must carry. The long, echoing corridors and cavernous rooms often dwarf the human figures within them, visually symbolizing how the "Crown" as an entity is bigger than any single individual.
The contrast between the formal, rigid world of the London palaces and the wild, rugged freedom of the Balmoral estate in Scotland is crucial. Balmoral is where the family can shed some of the pomp and circumstance and connect with something more elemental. The Scottish Highlands offer a temporary escape from the gilded cage, and the show uses this setting to explore the human side of the royals, away from the public eye.
Virtual Passport Tip: Notice how characters are framed within the architecture. Often, they are seen through doorways or at the end of long hallways, emphasizing their isolation and the rigid structure of their lives.
8. Poldark (Cornwall, UK)
The dramatic, untamed coastline of Cornwall is the soul of Poldark. The soaring cliffs, crashing waves, and windswept moors are a constant, powerful presence that mirrors the passionate and tumultuous life of its hero, Ross Poldark. When Ross is angry, the sea churns. When he feels hopeful, the sun breaks through the clouds over the headlands. The landscape is a direct extension of the characters' emotions.
Furthermore, the land is intrinsically linked to the community's livelihood and struggles. The story revolves around the grueling work of copper and tin mining, a battle fought both against rival mine owners and against the earth itself. The Cornish landscape is both a provider and a destroyer, offering the potential for great wealth and the constant threat of devastating loss. It's a character that the people of Cornwall must respect, battle, and coexist with every single day.
Virtual Passport Tip: The show's most iconic shot is of Ross Poldark on horseback, galloping along the cliffs. This image perfectly encapsulates the series: a wild, passionate man perfectly at home in a wild, passionate landscape.
9. Twin Peaks (Pacific Northwest, USA)
The town of Twin Peaks, nestled in the misty forests of Washington State, is one of the most iconic settings in television history. The towering Douglas firs, the cascading Snoqualmie Falls (reimagined as the Great Northern Hotel's waterfall), and the perpetual fog create an atmosphere that is both beautiful and deeply unsettling. The woods are not just trees; they are a place of secrets, ancient evil, and surreal mystery.
The environment is inseparable from the show's identity. The cozy, Americana feel of the Double R Diner stands in stark, unsettling contrast to the dark, mystical forces lurking in the woods and the otherworldly "Black Lodge." The setting creates a constant feeling that just beneath the surface of this charming small town lies something profoundly strange and dangerous. The scenery is the source of the show's signature dreamlike, and often nightmarish, quality.
Virtual Passport Tip: Listen to the sound design. The constant sound of wind rustling through the trees, the roar of the waterfall, and the hoot of owls are as crucial to building the show's atmosphere as the visuals are.
10. Chernobyl (Ukraine/Lithuania)
This is "scenery as a character" in its most terrifying form. The landscape of Chernobyl is not beautiful or majestic; it is a haunting, invisible antagonist. The series, filmed largely in Lithuania to replicate the era's Soviet architecture, masterfully depicts the Pripyat Exclusion Zone as a poisoned and desolate world. The silent, empty apartment blocks, the abandoned schoolyards, and the grey, oppressive sky create an atmosphere of suffocating dread.
The primary enemy in Chernobyl is the radiation itself—an unseen poison that has contaminated the very air, water, and soil. The setting becomes a constant, lethal threat. A simple walk across a rooftop is a suicide mission. A piece of graphite on the ground is a harbinger of death. The series turns an ordinary, brutalist landscape into the site of an apocalyptic event, a place where the environment itself has turned against humanity. It's a chilling and unforgettable virtual trip.
Virtual Passport Tip: The show uses a bleak, desaturated color palette to emphasize the toxicity of the environment. The only vibrant color is often the ominous red glow of the exposed reactor core, a visual representation of the deadly force unleashed upon the land.
11. Severance (Unknown)
In Severance, the setting isn't a country or a city, but a meticulously designed corporate office. The "severed" floor of Lumon Industries is a character that enforces the show's central premise. Its stark white, endlessly long hallways, bizarrely proportioned rooms, and unnerving mid-century modern aesthetic create a world that is both pristine and deeply unsettling. It's a labyrinth designed to control and disorient its inhabitants.
This sterile interior world is a character that actively separates the workers (the "innies") from their outside lives. It has its own rules, its own geography, and its own menacing personality. This is contrasted with the bleak, perpetually snowy, and desolate world outside, suggesting that neither reality offers true comfort or freedom. The architecture of Lumon isn't just a workplace; it's a prison for the mind, and its clean, minimalist design is the most sinister thing about it.
Virtual Passport Tip: Pay attention to the use of symmetry and negative space within the Lumon office. The perfectly centered shots and vast, empty spaces create a sense of unease and control, making the environment feel both alien and oppressive.
There you have it—a full virtual passport to carry you through the winter. These shows prove that a great setting can do more than just frame the action; it can enrich the story, deepen our understanding of the characters, and transport us completely. Great content, much like the lifestyle tips we share from Goh Ling Yong, is about finding the profound in the details.
So, next time you settle in for a binge-watch, pay a little extra attention to the world on your screen. You might just find that the most compelling character isn't a person at all.
What did we miss? What are your favorite TV shows where the scenery plays a starring role? Share your top picks for virtual travel in the comments below
About the Author
Goh Ling Yong is a content creator and digital strategist sharing insights across various topics. Connect and follow for more content:
Stay updated with the latest posts and insights by following on your favorite platform!