12 TV Shows Similar to “Inside Out” That Are Worth Watching
Sterling Harjo, known for his work on Reservation Dogs , returns with a unique and critically acclaimed series. This time, it stars Ethan Hawke as a citizen journalist (or “historian of truth,” as he prefers to call the series). The series is based on the true story of the activist known for uncovering new details about the 1921 Tulsa Wall Street Massacre. Joined by Keith David as Marty (and a truly impressive supporting cast), Hawke’s Lee Raybon has a relentless urge to explore the dark corners of his community and its history, as well as an unwavering ability to uncover problems along the way. The series combines elements of crime drama and neo-noir, but combines them with a relaxed, sometimes eccentric tone and an interest in the history of Tulsa’s diverse and interconnected communities. It’s another of the most talked about and reviewed series on streaming services, which, of course, isn’t necessarily enough to warrant a renewal these days. We’re still waiting for news about a second season.
You can watch Inner Circle on Hulu or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .
Sharp Objects (2018)
Based on the novel by Gillian Flynn, Amy Adams plays Camille Preaker, a troubled journalist with substance abuse issues who’s just recently been released from a psychiatric hospital. I’m not sure what stage of recovery she’s at, but Camille returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, to investigate the murder of one girl and the seemingly related disappearance of another—all under the watchful, highly critical eye of her socialite mother, Adora (Patricia Clarkson). The tone is much darker than in “Inside Out,” but there’s still a sense of buried secrets and lies in a small Southern (-esque) town. Watch “Sharp Objects” on HBO Max or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV.
Bodkin (2024)
A slightly better match for the tone of The Mean Place —at least in that a touch of humor creeps into its world— Bodkin takes us to the rather quirky Irish coastal town of the title. Will Forte plays Gilbert Power, an American podcaster who arrives to investigate the unsolved case of three people who went missing during the Samhain festival three decades ago. He’s soon joined by Dove Maloney (Siobhan Cullen), a Dublin journalist living in London, and aspiring journalist Emmy Sizergh (Robin Cara). It’s almost a satire of the genre, but at its core, it nonetheless has a compelling mystery.Watch Bodkin on Netflix .
When They See Us (2019)
While The Lowdown incorporates bits of real-life history, Ava DuVernay’s docudrama focuses laser-focused on the 1989 Central Park jogger case—Tricia Meili was attacked and raped in the park, leading to the conviction of five Black teenagers based largely on circumstantial evidence and coerced confessions. The show follows Kevin Richardson (Asante Blackk), Antron McCray (Caleel Harris), Yusef Salaam (Ethan Herisse), Korey Wise (Jharrel Jerome), and Raymond Santana (Marques Rodriguez) from their convictions to adulthood, before the five are ultimately exonerated based on DNA evidence and the confession of the real attacker. It’s a more serious story about the importance of uncovering hidden truths, all the more relevant given that the president continued to call for the death penalty for the five exonerated men , raising the issue as recently as 2024.Watch When They See Us on Netflix .
Fargo (2014–2024)
This multi-season crime drama anthology takes us to the Midwest, mixing crime drama, small-town mysteries, and a healthy dose of dark humor. The ever-changing cast of quirky characters is sometimes appealing, sometimes repulsive, but always compelling, in the style of (at least the fictional) Tulsa residents. Watch Fargo on Hulu or buy episodes on Prime Video .
Sons of Anarchy (2008–2014)
Charlie Hunnam leads an impressive cast (including Katey Sagal and Ron Perlman) in the story of an outlaw motorcycle club in the fictional town of Charming, California. Hunnam’s Jax Teller leads the club, which, despite trying to maintain unity and protect its Central Valley community, faces a rethinking of itself and its beliefs. While the drama is heavily Shakespearean and the California setting is quite a distance from Tulsa, the series maintains a sense of a tight-knit community that is at times strengthened and at times threatened by internal conflicts. Watch Sons of Anarchy on Hulu or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .
Reserve dogs (2021–2023)
I couldn’t resist recommending Mean Time creator Sterling Harjo’s previous masterpiece, the unfairly short-lived Reservation Dogs (co-written with Taika Waititi). The show deserves immense praise for its portrayal of North American natives (the characters, the cast, and the behind-the-scenes footage), and it’s a great show—a genuine dramatic comedy that manages to elicit both heartfelt laughs and moments of profound sadness. It explores the issues and emotions common to rural teens dreaming of moving out, but also relatable to these Oklahoma teens. Each of the show’s three seasons has been better than the last. Watch Reservation Dogs on Hulu .
Easttown Mare (2021)
Kate Winslet won an Emmy Award for her portrayal of Mare Sheehan, a character with severe mental health issues who, in high school, was a local hero and basketball champion, but whose reputation is rapidly fading. As a detective, she was unable to solve the case of a missing girl, despite encountering her recently murdered teenage mother. Watch Mare of Easttown on HBO Max or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .
Watchmen (2019)
This criminally underrated graphic novel adaptation/sequel may be a bit of a stretch, but bear with me: there are key connections. Set in an alternate Tulsa, Oklahoma, in a world where superpowered vigilantes exist and are outlawed, the series begins dramatically with the 1921 Tulsa Wall Street massacre perpetrated by white residents. Regina King plays Angela Abar, a modern-day police officer whose grandparents were killed in the 1921 attacks, an event that resonates with both our own history and the history of the series’ characters. Not only does the setting align with The Lowdown , as does the theme of history influencing the present, but there’s also a connection to the events of 1921: The Lowdown ‘s Lee Raybon is loosely based on the life of folk historian Lee Roy Chapman, best known for uncovering the direct organizing role of Tulsa’s founder in the massacre. Watch Watchmen on HBO Max or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .
Echo (2024)
While Tulsa from Deep End has an almost small-town feel, Echo takes us to Tamaha—a couple of hours south, but home to only a few hundred people and home to Choctaw Nation land (the show was actually filmed in Georgia, so make of that what you will). Alaqua Cox plays Maya Lopez in this Marvel miniseries, a deaf former criminal and Chathoo returning to her hometown and trying, with varying success, to escape her past as a worker for Wilson Fisk (Vincent D’Onofrio). A drama about crime and redemption, Echo finds Maya reconnecting with her current family as well as her ancestral past, with each episode beginning with a flashback that takes us from the Nation’s prehistoric origins through centuries of growth and conflict, ultimately connecting the story to Maya’s own childhood . Watch Echo on Disney+ .
Rutherford Falls (2020–2022)
Writer and producer Sierra Teller Ornelas joins Ed Helms and Michael Schur here, with Helms playing Nathan Rutherford, a descendant of the man whose statue is prominent in the titular town. His best friend is Reagan Wells (Jana Schmieding), who runs the local cultural center for the (fictional) Minishonka tribe. They’re on opposite sides of the big issue that arises when the mayor wants to tear down the old statue (mostly because it’s in a bad location and cars keep crashing into it), but they still work to maintain their friendship. It’s a sitcom, but like The Lowdown , it’s unafraid of difficult conversations about Native American history, bolstered by a record number of Native writers in the state, including Ornelas herself. Watch Rutherford Falls on Peacock or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .
Murders in the building only (2021 – )
At first glance, Only Murders seems like a tonal incongruity, but it and Lowdown have enough in common to merit a mention here. In Murders, three (originally) amateur podcasters team up to solve a murder in their Upper West Side apartment building. Each subsequent season features a new murder (or murders), but in each case, our citizen journalists (Selena Gomez, Martin Short, and Steve Martin) are forced to dig deep into the stories of the people they investigate, whether victims or suspects, uncovering hidden histories and secrets spanning decades. It’s often much sillier than our topic, but like Lowdown , the show’s quirky characters always reliably hold your attention. Watch Only Murders in the Building on Hulu.
Dark Winds (2022–)
Heading slightly west from the Oklahoma setting of Lowdown , Dark Winds , based on Tony Hillerman’s book series, takes us to the 1970s, to the Four Corners region of the American Southwest (where Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona meet). Zahn McClarnon, Kiowa Gordon, and Jessica Matten lead a cast of mostly Native Americans as three Navajo police officers who band together when a bank robbery on the border of the Navajo Nation turns out to be connected to the deaths of two Native Americans. The show combines elements of hard-boiled crime and police procedurals, but excels in its exploration of the complex history and relationships between these neighboring, intertwined communities.Watch Dark Winds on Netflix or buy episodes on Prime Video and Apple TV .