Dark toxic relationships where couples bring out the worst in each other to unconventional love stories where dangerous secrets threaten to wreak havoc, dark romances in TV shows guarantee a thrilling watch filled with plot twists and drama.

The best dark romance thrillers blend elements of mystery and suspense with romantic arcs, creating high-stakes drama and conflict. These shows offer a fresh perspective on love and relationships while creating a gripping narrative filled with mystery and strong emotional stakes.

10 A Teacher

Released In 2020

A Teacher is a miniseries based on the 2013 film of the same name. The series revolves around the illicit affair between a 17-year-old student and his English teacher. A Teacher follows 32-year-old Claire Wilson (Kate Mara) as her marriage to Matt Mitchell (Ashley Zukerman) faces hurdles, and she begins an affair with the popular high school senior, Eric Walker (Nick Robinson).

Unlike shows like Pretty Little Liars, the miniseries avoids romanticizing and celebrating the illegal relationship between a teacher and a minor student. A Teacher doesn't shy away from exploring the lifelong impacts caused by the power imbalances of a student-teacher relationship. The strong characterization of the leads, Claire and Eric, and the tension-filled premise make for a thrilling and compelling watch.

9 Dirty John

Released In 2018

Dirty John is a true crime series based on the podcast of the same name, hosted by Christopher Goffard. The first season of the anthology TV show tells the true and disturbing tale of a con artist, John Meehan (Eric Bana), and his web of lies and deceit. Dirty John season 2 revolves around the breakdown of the marriage between Dan (Christian Slater) and Betty Broderick (Amanda Peet) and the events that led to Betty murdering her ex-husband Dan and his new wife, Linda Kolkena (Rachel Keller).

Dirty John season 1 slowly unravels John's lies and the mystery of his past while depicting the con artist's manipulations of Debra and how it impacted her personal life and her family. The series becomes more chilling and dark because it is based on true stories and expertly balances the dark romance with mystery and suspense.

8 Tell Me Lies

Released In 2022

The dark romance series Tell Me Lies is based on the 2018 novel of the same name written by Carola Lovering. Tell Me Lies revolves around the tumultuous relationship between two college students, Lucy Albright (Grace Van Patten) and Stephen DeMarco (Jackson White). Lucy and Stephen's relationship faces ups and downs over the years, as the two grow and change as individuals and as a couple over the years.

Tell Me Lies uses a slow pace to build Lucy and Stephen's strong characterizations and the toxic relationship between the couple. Filled with manipulation, lies, secrecy, and cheating, Tell Me Lies is a thrilling series that follows the love story of two deeply flawed individuals. The relationship between Lucy and Stephen is the perfect example of a dark and thrilling romance.

7 Shadow And Bone

Released In 2021

Shadow and Bone is a dark fantasy series based on the popular Grishaverse novels by Leigh Bardugo. While romance isn't the focus of the fantasy show, the relationship between the Sun Summoner, Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li), and the Shadow Summoner, Aleksander Kirigan, also known as the Darkling (Ben Barnes), is central to the plot. The Darkling is villainous, power-hungry and manipulative, yet charming and potentially redeemable, making him a compelling dark romance love interest.

Shadow and Bone is shrouded in mystery as audiences learn more about the fantastical world and the main characters over the course of the show. The TV show's fantasy setting is filled with magic, romance, war, and politics, making Shadow and Bone an entertaining and compelling dark romance TV show.

6 Hannibal

Released In 2013

The psychological horror and thriller TV show Hannibal is based on characters that appeared in Thomas Harris' novels. The dark TV show revolves around forensic psychiatrist and cannibalistic serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and his twisted obsession with FBI investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy). Hannibal is fascinated by Will's ability to empathize with killers and tries to push Will and turn him into a killer like him.

Hannibal's obsession with Will and the growth of their destructive relationship create a uniquely dark and tension-filled dynamic. The FBI's investigation into heinous crimes serves as the perfect backdrop to Hannibal and Will's dysfunctional relationship. The dark crime drama show is a perfect blend of Hannibal and Will's twisted relationship and the mysteries of Hannibal's motives and crimes.

5 Scandal

Released In 2012

Scandal is a political thriller series that follows Olivia Pope (Kerry Washington), a former White House Communications Director, and her crisis management firm. Olivia previously worked on the presidential campaign of the future president, Fitzgerald Thomas Grant III (Tony Goldwyn), and had a scandalous affair with the politician. The ionate yet forbidden romance between Fitz and Olivia has major consequences for both parties as they struggle to keep their affair under wraps to maintain their professional careers.

Scandal maintains a thrilling pace and intriguing premise filled with assassination attempts, blackmail, political espionage, and morally complex characters who are forced to make tough decisions in the face of high-stakes situations. With compelling and complex dark romances and gripping political drama, Scandal is an incredible watch.

4 Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned

Released In 2015

Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned is a psychological thriller series about the titular Dr. Gemma Foster (Suranne Jones) and her suspicions that her husband Simon (Bertie Carvel) is having an extramarital affair. Inspired by the Greek myth of Medea, the series is a strange and tragic tale filled with dark secrets that threaten to throw the lives of her family into chaos.

Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned is the perfect depiction of a dark romance mixed with mystery as audiences eagerly await to witness Gemma as she unravels and embarks on a dangerous journey of revenge. The show focuses on the impact of Gemma and Simon's failing marriage, betrayals, and infidelity on their lives and on their son Tom (Tom Taylor).

3 Interview with the Vampire (2022-Present)

Released In 2022

Interview with the Vampire is gothic horror series based on the series of novels The Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice. The show revolves around the titular vampire Louis de Pointe du Lac (Jacob Anderson) and his complex relationship with the hedonistic vampire Lestat de Lioncourt (Sam Reid), who turned him into a vampire. Interview with the Vampire chronicles Louis' transformation into a vampire, his turbulent relationship with Lestat, and the creation of the child vampire Claudia (Delainey Hayles) who forms a father-daughter relationship with the duo.

The ionate and tumultuous relationship between Louis and Lestat is central to Interview with the Vampire, as their differing personalities and mindsets leads to countless conflicts and tears them apart. The show adds an element of mystery, as Louis controls the narrative, and audiences have to question whether the events of the show unfolded as depicted.

2 Killing Eve

Released In 2018

The dark spy thriller series Killing Eve revolves around the cat and mouse chase between MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and the highly skilled assassin known as Villanelle (Jodie Comer). While the series begins with Eve chasing Villanelle, the psychopathic assassin forms an obsession with Eve, and the two of them chase each other across the globe.

Eve and Villanelle are torn between their professions and their forbidden connection and mutual attraction. Both of the leads in Killing Eve make questionable decisions and their relationship is inherently a mix of obsession, attraction, and violence. Despite Eve and Villanelle hunting each other down and several attempted murders, the duo end up inadvertently working together to take down the mysterious secret organization The Twelve.

1 You

Released In 2018

The psychological thriller series You is based on the novel series of the same name by Caroline Kepnes. The show follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) a charming, dangerous and obsessive serial who becomes infatuated with women and integrates himself into their lives. Joe relentlessly stalks and murders people while justifying it in the name of love. With Joe's predatory behavior and villainy being the crux of the show, each relationship he forms through manipulation and stalking is a thrilling and dark romance.

While Joe is initially the hunter, he finds himself outside of his depths in the later seasons as he forms relationships with women with dark tendencies and their own hidden pasts. You is an incredible dark romance series that flawlessly blends deadly romances with mystery and thrills.