Stranger Things Season 5 is finally coming this 2025, and the wait feels like forever! While you're counting down the days until you reunite with Eleven, Dustin, and the gang in Hawkins, why not check out some equally awesome series like Stranger Things to fill that supernatural-mystery-shaped hole in your life?
In this post, I'll show you five must-watch shows that capture that same nostalgic vibe you crave. The best part? You can use the Lingopie Extension to watch these same shows in German (or other languages!), picking up some cool German slang words along the way. Nothing impresses friends faster than knowing how to use slang in another language, right?
- 5 Italian Comedy Movies On Netflix That’ll Have You ROFL
- 8 Best Netflix Cartoons To Watch In Spanish
- 6 Romantic Japanese Shows You’ll Fall In Love With
Series Like Stranger Things
Dark
In the German town of Winden, children start vanishing without a trace, triggering a frantic search that uncovers mysteries spanning generations. The deeper you go, the more twisted the family connections become. Trust me—watch just one episode, and you'll be hooked trying to piece together this mind-bending puzzle.
What makes this show a perfect match for Stranger Things fans? Both feature small towns hiding massive supernatural secrets beneath normal-looking surfaces. Netflix's Dark has that same blend of sci-fi thrills with deep emotional bonds between its characters. It's grittier and more complex than Stranger Things, but delivers that same feeling of "I have no idea what's happening but I can't stop watching!" that keeps you glued to your screen until 3 AM.
The OA
A young woman named Prairie Johnson reappears after being missing for seven years. The weird part? She was blind when she vanished but can now see perfectly—and she's calling herself "The OA." She gathers five strangers in an abandoned house at night, telling them a story so wild you'll question what's real. Is she crazy, lying, or is something truly supernatural happening?
The OA shares Stranger Things’ knack for blending everyday life with mind-blowing scenes expected from sci-fi shows. Both shows feature outcast characters finding strength together against impossible odds. Where Stranger Things leans into 80s nostalgia, The OA creates its own unique mythology that feels fresh yet somehow familiar.
Dead Boy Detectives
Two ghost boys who skipped their appointment with Death decide to stay on Earth, solving supernatural mysteries. Edwin and Charles team up with a living psychic named Crystal to tackle cases too weird for regular detectives. Their latest investigation? A string of possessions at a high school where something ancient and hungry is feeding on students' souls.
This show hits that same sweet spot as Stranger Things—mixing genuine scares with friendship and humor. The Dead Boy Detectives brings that classic "kids against monsters" vibe but adds a British twist and darker comedy.
All Of Us Are Dead
A high school becomes ground zero for a zombie outbreak when a science experiment goes horribly wrong. Students find themselves trapped as their classmates transform into bloodthirsty monsters. With no adults coming to save them, these teens must fight their way out or die trying. The scariest part? Some of their friends aren't fully turning—they're becoming something new and potentially more dangerous.
Like Stranger Things, this Korean thriller series puts kids at the center of a deadly crisis where adults either don’t believe them or can’t help. Both shows excel at building intense friendships under pressure and making you care deeply about who survives. While Stranger Things has its Demogorgons, All Of Us Are Dead replaces supernatural monsters with an equally terrifying threat we all came to love.
Alice In Borderland
Gaming geek Arisu and his friends find themselves in an abandoned Tokyo where they're forced to compete in deadly games to survive. Each challenge tests different skills—physical strength, intelligence, teamwork, betrayal—and losing means instant death. As players form alliances and rivalries, they piece together clues about how they got there and whether they can ever return home.
Alice In Borderland shares Stranger Things' ability to build an alternate reality that feels both familiar and completely alien. Both feature outcasts discovering surprising strength when thrown into life-or-death situations. Alice In Borderland is also a must-watch for the younger gen because it features the unique gaming culture today.
- 7 Romantic Chinese Shows You Need To Watch With Your Partner
- 7 Brazilian Documentaries On Netflix You Need To See ASAP
- 6 Romantic Korean Movies To Watch With Your Oppa
How These Shows Make Language Learning Stick
Brain science proves that watching shows you love creates the perfect conditions for language learning. When our emotions are engaged, we form stronger memory connections. Each time a character in Dead Boy Detectives faces a supernatural threat, your brain releases dopamine that locks those new words into your memory—far more effectively than traditional study methods.
Why it works:
- Your brain connects new words with exciting visual moments you won't forget
- You hear real conversation patterns that mirror how people actually talk
- Emotional scenes help words stick better than reading them in textbooks
- You learn casual expressions and slang that formal courses rarely teach
- Repetition of common phrases across episodes builds natural fluency
While you can watch these shows on Netflix with regular subtitles, Lingopie takes your experience to another level with dual subtitles. The platform lets you click on words you don’t know for instant translations, save phrases to custom flashcards, and adjust subtitle speed to match your learning pace.
Plus, you can switch between different languages on the same show—watch Dark in German today and Spanish tomorrow!
Ready To Press Play?
Ready to turn your Stranger Things obsession into real language skills? Start your free Lingopie trial today and see how much German you can pick up before Stranger Things Season 5 drops. Your friends will be impressed when you start dropping perfect foreign phrases from your favorite supernatural shows!
FAQ About Learning Languages With TV Series
Can I really learn a language just by watching TV shows?
Yes, but it works best when combined with some basic study. TV shows give you natural speech patterns, real-world vocabulary, and proper pronunciation that textbooks often miss. Just 30 minutes daily of watching shows like Dark in German can build your listening skills faster than traditional methods alone.
Which shows are best for total beginners?
Start with shows that have simpler dialogue like The OA. Look for shows with lots of visual context, slower speech, and everyday conversations. Many beginners find that watching a familiar show they've already seen in English makes it easier to follow along in a new language.
How long until I notice results?
Most people start recognizing common words and phrases within 2-3 weeks of regular watching. Your brain needs repeated exposure to new words, so watching the same episode twice often works better than watching new content every time. Consistency matters more than length—15 minutes daily beats a three-hour session once a week.
Should I use subtitles or not?
Start with dual-language subtitles (both your native language and target language). After a few episodes, switch to subtitles only in the language you're learning. Turn subtitles off completely once you can follow most conversations, using them only when you get stuck.
How is watching with Lingopie different from just using Netflix?
Lingopie lets you click on any word for instant translation, save phrases to personalized flashcards, and adjust subtitle speed to match your skill level. You can also switch between different language versions of the same show and track your progress with vocabulary tests based on what you've watched.
