Top 20 'Void-Filling' TV Shows to start at home when your favorite series finale leaves a hole in your heart - Goh Ling Yong
It’s a feeling every true TV lover knows intimately. The screen fades to black, the final credits roll, and a deafening silence fills the room. It’s over. A show you’ve invested dozens, maybe hundreds, of hours in has concluded its story. You’ve laughed with these characters, cried for them, and now they’re gone. What’s left is a strange, hollow feeling—a character-shaped hole in your heart.
This post-series finale void is real. It’s a testament to the power of great storytelling, the kind that makes fictional worlds feel like a second home. While you can always rewatch, the thrill of the unknown is gone. The big question looms: what now? How do you find a new story to capture your imagination and fill that empty space on your "Continue Watching" list?
Fear not, fellow binge-watcher. Here at the Goh Ling Yong blog, we understand this specific type of heartbreak. That’s why we’ve curated the ultimate list of 20 exceptional ‘void-filling’ TV shows. These aren't just good series; they are masterfully crafted worlds with compelling characters, ready to welcome you in. Whether you’re mourning a gritty drama, a whimsical comedy, or an epic fantasy, your next great obsession is waiting right here.
1. Ted Lasso
If your last show was a dark, gritty drama that left you emotionally drained, Ted Lasso is the perfect antidote. It’s a warm hug in TV show form. The series follows an endlessly optimistic American football coach hired to manage a British soccer team, despite knowing nothing about the sport. What starts as a fish-out-of-water comedy quickly evolves into a profound exploration of kindness, vulnerability, and human connection.
This show fills the void for anyone needing a dose of pure, unadulterated joy. The characters are flawed but fundamentally good, and their relationships are the heart of the series. It masterfully balances laugh-out-loud humor with moments of genuine emotional depth, tackling complex issues like divorce, anxiety, and self-worth with a gentle touch.
Pro-Tip: Don't dismiss it as just a "nice" show. Its writing is incredibly sharp and its character arcs are some of the most satisfying in recent television. Pay attention to the quiet moments; that's where the magic truly happens.
2. Severance
Finished a mind-bending mystery like Lost or Westworld and need a new puzzle to solve? Welcome to Lumon Industries. Severance is a high-concept sci-fi thriller with a chillingly plausible premise: a procedure that surgically separates your work memories from your personal life. Your "innie" self only exists at the office, while your "outie" has no idea what you do all day.
The series is a masterclass in tension, atmosphere, and slow-burn world-building. Every perfectly framed shot and sterile office hallway is dripping with mystery and a creeping sense of dread. It will have you scribbling theories in a notebook and questioning the nature of identity itself. It’s the kind of show that lives in your head long after you’ve finished an episode.
Perfect For: Viewers who love dissecting every frame for clues and appreciate a show that respects their intelligence. The season one finale is one of the most nail-biting hours of television ever made.
3. The Expanse
Mourning the epic scale and political chess of Game of Thrones? Look to the stars. The Expanse is arguably the best science fiction show of the 21st century. Set a few hundred years in the future, humanity has colonized the solar system, leading to a tense political standoff between Earth, a militaristic Mars, and the oppressed workers of the Asteroid Belt (the "Belters").
This isn't just about spaceships and laser battles; it's a deeply resonant story about tribalism, power, and the human cost of conflict. The world-building is second to none, with a commitment to realistic physics that makes the space travel feel visceral and dangerous. The crew of the Rocinante serves as your "found family" anchor in a sprawling, complex universe.
If You Loved: The intricate plot and morally grey characters of Game of Thrones or the hard sci-fi of Battlestar Galactica, this is your next 6-season binge.
4. Succession
If the show you just finished featured a complex anti-hero like Tony Soprano or Walter White, and you miss sinking your teeth into morally bankrupt but fascinating characters, meet the Roy family. Succession is a satirical black comedy-drama about a dysfunctional media dynasty. When the patriarch’s health falters, his four ambitious children begin a ruthless battle for control.
This show is pure Shakespearean tragedy dressed in designer suits. The dialogue is a blistering symphony of insults and power plays, so witty and sharp you'll want to rewind just to catch it all. You won't necessarily "like" any of these characters, but you will be absolutely captivated by their humanity, their deep-seated trauma, and their pathetic, hilarious attempts at love and validation.
A Word of Warning: This is not a "feel-good" show. It’s a brilliant, scathing, and often uncomfortable look at the corrupting influence of extreme wealth and power.
5. Abbott Elementary
Did the finale of The Office or Parks and Recreation leave a mockumentary-sized hole in your life? Abbott Elementary is here to fill it, and it might just be the best of its kind. The series follows a group of dedicated, passionate teachers—and a slightly tone-deaf principal—at an underfunded public school in Philadelphia.
It has all the ingredients of a classic workplace comedy: a lovable ensemble cast with incredible chemistry, laugh-out-loud jokes, and a whole lot of heart. What makes it special is its genuine love for its characters and their profession. It’s hilarious without being cynical, and heartwarming without being cheesy.
Why It Works: It perfectly captures the "found family" dynamic of the best workplace comedies. You’ll quickly find yourself rooting for these teachers as if they were your own.
6. Schitt's Creek
This show is the ultimate void-filler for anyone who needs a reminder that it's never too late to grow and change. When the wealthy Rose family suddenly finds themselves broke, they are forced to relocate to their only remaining asset: a small town they once bought as a joke called Schitt's Creek.
The first season introduces you to four of the most selfish, out-of-touch people you'll ever meet. But stick with it. The magic of Schitt's Creek is its patient, hilarious, and deeply moving transformation of these characters into better, more loving versions of themselves. It’s a masterclass in character development.
The Payoff: It becomes one of the most genuinely heartwarming and funny shows about family, community, and acceptance. It’s the perfect series to start when you need to believe in the good in people again.
7. Dark
If your brain craves a complex, intricate puzzle that demands your full attention, the German sci-fi noir Dark is waiting. When a child goes missing in the small town of Winden, it sets off a chain reaction that exposes the fractured relationships and dark pasts of four families—unspooling a mind-bending time travel conspiracy that spans generations.
Dark is not a show you can have on in the background. It’s a dense, challenging, and incredibly rewarding viewing experience. The plot is meticulously crafted, with every detail and every character mattering. It trusts its audience to keep up, and the payoff for your attention is immense.
Essential Tip: Watch it in the original German with subtitles for the best experience. It might also be helpful to keep a character map handy—you'll thank me later.
8. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Missing the impeccable style and sharp dialogue of a show like Mad Men? Let Midge Maisel introduce you to her world. Set in the late 1950s, this vibrant, fast-talking dramedy follows a New York City housewife who discovers she has a knack for stand-up comedy after her life takes an unexpected turn.
This series is a visual and auditory feast. The period-perfect costumes and production design are stunning, and the script, from the creators of Gilmore Girls, is packed with witty, rapid-fire dialogue. It’s a joyous and empowering story about a woman finding her voice in a world that would rather she stay quiet.
Perfect For: Anyone looking for a smart, stylish, and optimistic escape. Rachel Brosnahan's performance as Midge is an absolute tour de force.
9. Fleabag
If you haven't seen Fleabag yet, stop what you're doing and watch it now. If you have, you know it creates its own kind of void. This show is a raw, hilarious, and heartbreaking look at a grieving young woman navigating life and love in London. It's famous for its fourth-wall breaks, where the titular character shares her unfiltered thoughts directly with the audience.
In just 12 half-hour episodes, creator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge delivers a perfect story. It's a comedy that will make you cry and a drama that will make you laugh until your sides hurt. It’s a poignant exploration of grief, guilt, family, and faith that will stick with you forever.
What It Fills: The void for sharp, witty, and emotionally intelligent storytelling that isn’t afraid to get messy.
10. Better Call Saul
For anyone still mourning the end of Breaking Bad, the solution isn’t to find something new, but to go back to the beginning. This prequel series, centered on con-man lawyer Jimmy McGill's transformation into the morally compromised Saul Goodman, is not just a worthy successor—some argue it surpasses the original.
Better Call Saul is a much slower, more deliberate burn. It’s a deeply empathetic and tragic character study, powered by meticulous filmmaking and phenomenal performances. It enriches the Breaking Bad universe in unexpected ways while standing on its own as a masterpiece of television.
How to Watch: While you can watch it on its own, the experience is infinitely richer if you've already seen Breaking Bad. It makes the dramatic irony absolutely devastating.
11. The Good Place
Looking for a comedy that’s both hilariously silly and profoundly smart? The Good Place is your answer. The series starts with a simple premise: Eleanor Shellstrop, a not-so-great person, dies and is mistakenly sent to a heaven-like afterlife. To avoid being found out, she tries to learn how to be a good person.
This show is a Trojan horse. It lures you in with goofy humor and a delightful cast, then proceeds to give you an engaging crash course in moral philosophy. It’s one of the most ambitious and tightly plotted comedies ever made, with a story that constantly reinvents itself and builds to a genuinely perfect series finale.
Void-Filling Power: It fills the hole left by shows that make you both laugh and think, proving that comedy can be one of the best vehicles for exploring life's biggest questions.
12. What We Do in the Shadows
If you love mockumentary comedy and supernatural shenanigans, this show is a gift from the comedy gods. Based on the film by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi, the series follows the nightly exploits of four vampire roommates on Staten Island who have been living together for hundreds of years.
The writing is endlessly clever, and the cast has an improvisational chemistry that is pure gold. It brilliantly juxtaposes the mundane frustrations of roommate life (like arguing over chores) with the extraordinary circumstances of being ancient, blood-sucking creatures of the night. It is, without a doubt, one of the funniest shows on television.
Key Element: The standout character might be Colin Robinson, an "energy vampire" who drains his victims not by biting them, but by boring them to death with mind-numbing conversations. It's a stroke of genius.
13. Arcane
Think animation is just for kids? Arcane will shatter that perception. Set in the universe of the League of Legends video game (no prior knowledge needed!), this series is a breathtakingly beautiful and emotionally devastating story about two sisters caught on opposite sides of a brewing war between a utopian city and its oppressed underbelly.
The "void" this show fills is for epic, mature storytelling, regardless of the medium. The animation is a revolutionary blend of 2D and 3D that looks like a living painting. More importantly, the character work is spectacular, crafting a powerful narrative about trauma, inequality, and the bonds of family.
Don't Miss: This show is a visual and emotional masterpiece. It sets a new standard for what animated storytelling can achieve.
14. Ozark
Craving another high-stakes crime drama about a seemingly normal family man pulled into a world of violence and moral decay? If you miss the constant tension of Breaking Bad, Ozark is the perfect follow-up. A financial advisor is forced to relocate his family to the Missouri Ozarks to launder money for a dangerous drug cartel.
The show is defined by its cold, blue-tinted visual style and the powerhouse performances from Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as the central couple, Marty and Wendy Byrde. It’s a gripping thriller that explores just how far people will go to protect their family, and how the line between right and wrong can blur into non-existence.
Key Difference: While Walter White's story was about a man breaking bad, Ozark is about an entire family's descent, making for a unique and compelling dynamic.
15. Only Murders in the Building
For those who love a good mystery but want something lighter and cozier than a dark crime procedural, this show is a perfect fit. Three strangers (played by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez) who live in the same swanky New York City apartment building and share an obsession with true crime podcasts find themselves investigating a real murder in their own building.
The series is a delightful blend of comedy, mystery, and genuine heart. The chemistry between the three leads is fantastic, playing on the generational gap for comedic gold. It’s a charming and witty series that feels both modern and classic at the same time.
Perfect For: A cozy weekend binge. It’s the TV equivalent of a warm blanket and a cup of tea on a rainy day.
16. The Witcher
If the end of Game of Thrones or House of the Dragon left you yearning for more swords, magic, and monsters, it's time to toss a coin to your Witcher. Based on the beloved books and video games, the series follows Geralt of Rivia, a mutated monster-hunter for hire, as his destiny becomes intertwined with a powerful sorceress and a young princess with a dangerous secret.
The Witcher fully embraces its high-fantasy roots, delivering epic monster fights, complex political intrigue, and a sprawling, lived-in world. Henry Cavill is perfectly cast as the stoic, grunting Geralt, bringing both immense physicality and a surprising amount of dry humor to the role.
Tip: The timeline in the first season is non-linear and can be a bit confusing at first. Stick with it—everything converges in a very satisfying way by the end.
17. Superstore
Here’s another fantastic option for the workplace comedy void. Set in a big-box store called Cloud 9, Superstore follows a quirky group of employees as they deal with bargain-hunting customers, soul-crushing training sessions, and each other.
What sets this show apart is its sharp, witty, and often poignant social commentary. It’s not afraid to tackle real-world issues like unionizing, immigration, and the struggles of the American working class, all while remaining consistently hilarious. The ensemble cast is one of the best in recent comedy, feeling like a real, dysfunctional family.
Why It's Special: The short cutaway gags of customer behavior are comedic gold and add a layer of hilarious realism to the big-box store setting.
18. Killing Eve
If you're looking for a show that defies genre, look no further. Killing Eve is a spy thriller, a black comedy, a psychological drama, and a twisted love story all rolled into one. It follows Eve Polastri, a bored MI5 security officer whose desk job doesn't fulfill her fantasies of being a spy. When she begins to track a talented and psychopathic assassin named Villanelle, the two women become obsessed with each other.
The cat-and-mouse game between Eve (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle (Jodie Comer) is utterly electrifying. The show is stylish, violent, and wickedly funny, anchored by two of the most compelling female characters ever written for television. It’s a sharp, addictive, and unpredictable ride from start to finish.
You'll Love This If: You enjoy shows that constantly keep you on your toes and feature morally complex, fascinating protagonists.
19. For All Mankind
What if the space race never ended? That's the brilliant premise of For All Mankind, an alternate-history drama from Ronald D. Moore (creator of Battlestar Galactica). In this timeline, the Soviet Union lands on the moon first, galvanizing a defeated America to push further and faster into space than ever before.
This show is a slow-burn epic that beautifully blends real history with compelling speculative fiction. It starts as a story about astronauts and NASA mission control but evolves over decades to explore the profound social and technological implications of a sustained push into space. It's a deeply human and incredibly optimistic vision of what humanity could achieve.
Perfect For: History buffs, space enthusiasts, and anyone who loves a grand, decades-spanning narrative.
20. Barry
Can a person truly change their nature? That’s the central question of Barry, one of the most unique and critically acclaimed shows of the past decade. Bill Hader (who also co-creates and directs) stars as a depressed, low-rent hitman who travels to Los Angeles for a job and ends up finding a new passion and a welcoming community in an acting class.
Barry is a masterful blend of dark comedy, thrilling action, and heartbreaking drama. The show starts as a funny satire of the L.A. acting scene but slowly morphs into a profound and often terrifying exploration of violence, trauma, and the possibility of redemption. It’s a show that will make you laugh out loud one minute and leave you breathless with tension the next.
As Goh Ling Yong often says, a great story can change your perspective. Barry is a perfect example, a show that is as funny as it is profound, and one that will stay with you long after the credits roll.
Your Next Adventure Awaits
The end of a beloved TV series can feel like a genuine loss, but it's also an opportunity. It’s a chance to discover a new world, fall in love with a new set of characters, and find a story that speaks to you in a completely different way. This list is just a starting point for your next great binge-watching adventure.
So, take a deep breath, fire up your favorite streaming service, and press play. Your next favorite show is out there, just waiting to fill that void.
Now it's your turn! What's your ultimate 'void-filling' TV show? What series did you turn to after your favorite ended? Share your top recommendations 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:
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