Saagar Kote
Created by Ramón Campos, Netflix’s ‘Oasis’ is a Spanish mystery drama series set at an exclusive luxury resort catering to wealthy families. Promising private beaches, lavish parties, and a carefree summer, the destination appears to be a paradise where nothing can go wrong. That illusion is shattered when Celia (Victoria Kantch), a young concierge at the resort, suddenly disappears. Among those drawn into the mystery is Dani (Tomy Aguilera), who arrives at the resort with his family and soon finds himself caught in the middle of a police investigation and other personal issues. As detectives place the property under lockdown and question guests and employees, Dani joins forces with Celia’s friend and coworker, Helena (Ana Garcés), to search for answers.
Their investigation gradually exposes hidden tensions and long-buried secrets within the resort. As suspicion spreads and everyone becomes a potential suspect, the truth behind Celia’s disappearance proves far more complicated than expected, testing the wills of everyone with stakes in the equation. This list features shows similar to ‘Oasis’ that not only explore mysteries, disappearances, and murders, but also the insecurities and secrets of complex characters.
12. Outer Banks (2020-2026)
‘Outer Banks’ is set in a coastal North Carolina community divided between the wealthy Kooks and the working-class Pogues. The mystery drama series follows John B. Routledge (Chase Stokes), the leader of a close-knit group of Pogue teenagers whose lives are changed by the disappearance of his father. Determined to uncover the truth, John follows clues that point to a legendary treasure linked to his father’s past. Joined by his friends, he embarks on a dangerous search that draws them into a rivalry with the Kooks, who are also after the fortune. As the hunt grows more intense, the Pogues find themselves navigating hidden secrets, shifting loyalties, and growing romantic relationships.
Along the way, they risk everything in their pursuit of both the treasure and the answers surrounding John’s missing father. Josh Pate, Jonas Pate, and Shannon Burke are the creative voices behind this unpredictable and engrossing Netflix show. While ‘Oasis’ mainly unfolds within the spaces of a resort, leading to claustrophobic tensions, ‘Outer Banks’ treats its vast coastal spaces as a stage for mysteries and haunting elements.
11. Dead of Summer (2016)
‘Dead of Summer’ is a horror drama series that takes place during the late 1980s at Camp Stillwater, a seemingly perfect summer camp. A group of young counselors arrives expecting a season filled with unforgettable memories. However, their plans are disrupted when the camp’s reopening awakens dark forces connected to its troubled past. What begins as a typical summer soon turns into a terrifying struggle for survival as strange and dangerous events start occurring throughout the grounds. As fear spreads among the campers and counselors, long-buried secrets and local legends surrounding Camp Stillwater begin to resurface.
Trapped in a place where evil seems to lurk around every corner, the teenagers must confront the sinister presence threatening to destroy them before it is too late. Crafted by the ideas of Ian Goldberg, Adam Horowitz, and Edward Kitsis, the show is haunting and unique. The sense of isolation and helplessness that the characters feel in the show are comparable to the various challenges that the people within the resort face in ‘Oasis.’ The shows are claustrophobic and test the survival and fate of the characters at every turn.
10. The Resort (2022-)
Shaped by the ideas of Andy Siara, Peacock’s ‘The Resort’ follows Noah (William Jackson Harper) and Emma (Cristin Milioti), a married couple celebrating their tenth anniversary at a resort in the Mayan Riviera. While Noah is largely satisfied with life, Emma feels that their relationship has lost its spark. Their vacation takes an unexpected turn when they become connected to a strange, unsolved case involving the disappearance of two young people fifteen years earlier.
As they begin looking into the mystery, they uncover links to a murder and other events that have remained unexplained for years. The investigation challenges both their understanding of the past and the state of their marriage. The comedy mystery series, akin to ‘Oasis,’ is set within the premises of a resort, which hides secrets from its guests. The characters in the shows face more questions than answers as they dig deep into the chaos that surrounds them.
9. The A List (2018-2021)
BBC’s ‘The A List’ is a British thriller series that revolves around Mia Blackwood (Lisa Ambalavanar), a teenager who arrives at a remote island summer camp expecting an unforgettable season filled with friendship, romance, and popularity. Mia’s confidence is shaken by the arrival of Amber (Ellie Duckles), a charismatic newcomer who quickly becomes the center of attention. As more campers are drawn to Amber, Mia finds herself increasingly sidelined and suspicious of her rival’s influence over the group.
What initially appears to be a clash between two strong personalities gradually takes a darker turn as Mia begins to suspect that Amber has dangerous secrets. Dan Berlinka and Nina Metivier steer this show, which is connected to ‘Oasis’ through its focus on the experiences of characters trapped in a single location. The shows not only deal with mysteries, but also delve into complex psychological realities.
8. Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)
Created by I. Marlene King and based on the eponymous novel series by Sara Shepard, ‘Pretty Little Liars’ is a mystery drama series set in the town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania. It deals with the lives of Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), Emily Fields (Shay Mitchell), Hanna Marin (Ashley Benson), and Spencer Hastings (Troian Bellisario). Their close friendship falls apart after the sudden disappearance of their leader, Alison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse). A year later, the four girls are brought back together when they begin receiving threatening messages from a mysterious figure known only as “A.” The anonymous sender possesses secrets they believe were known only to Alison, leaving them shaken and confused.
When Alison’s body is eventually discovered, the friends realize that someone has been watching them all along. They work together to uncover the truth behind Alison’s disappearance while trying to identify “A” before the situation gets more intense. While ‘Oasis’ focuses on strangers working together to solve mysteries and save themselves in the process, ‘Pretty Little Liars’ takes this idea to a more personal and intimate level by introducing the complexities of friendship into the mix.
7. The Chalet (2017-2018)
‘The Chalet’ or ‘Le Chalet’ unfolds across two timelines set twenty years apart. In the present day, a group of childhood friends reunites at a remote chalet in the French Alps, expecting a peaceful getaway. Among them are Manu Laverne (Marc Ruchmann) and his pregnant partner, Adèle (Émilie de Preissac), who arrive at the recently renovated property for the gathering. Their trip takes a frightening turn when a series of strange incidents leaves them isolated from the outside world. As tensions rise, the friends begin uncovering connections between themselves and a dark secret tied to the chalet.
Flashbacks to 1997 follow writer Jean-Louis Rodier as he moves with his family to the Alpine village of Valmoline. These timelines gradually reveal a mystery that might connect everyone. Alexis Lecaye is at the creative helm of this puzzling French thriller drama series. Isolated locations, suspicious behavior, mutual disagreements, secrets, complex characters, and eerie visual tones are at the core of both ‘Oasis’ and ‘The Chalet.’
6. Nine Perfect Strangers (2021-)
Adapted from Liane Moriarty’s eponymous novel, Hulu’s ‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ is a David E. Kelley creation that centers on nine city dwellers who arrive at Tranquillum House, an exclusive wellness retreat in Cabrillo, California, run by its enigmatic founder, Masha Dmitrichenko (Nicole Kidman). She promises a transformative ten-day experience that will heal and change her guests’ lives. As the retreat progresses, the visitors form connections and uncover secrets about one another. Tensions escalate when Masha reveals that the guests have been receiving small doses of a psychoactive substance without their consent.
Faced with unsettling discoveries about both the retreat and its leader, the guests begin questioning whether the experience meant to help them may actually be something far more troubling. The drama series is a claustrophobic and layered tale of deception, much like ‘Oasis.’ The shows unfold at isolated spaces where the truth is often uncertain, and include characters who deal with their own share of insecurities and personal troubles that may affect their journeys at the larger level.
5. Murder at the End of the World (2023)
‘A Murder at the End of the World’ is the tale of Darby Hart (Emma Corrin), a young amateur detective and skilled hacker. Darby is invited, along with eight other guests, to attend a retreat hosted by a billionaire at a remote compound in Iceland. Things quickly take a dark turn when one of the guests is found dead. While others are willing to accept the circumstances surrounding the death, Darby becomes convinced that a murder has taken place. Determined to uncover the truth, she begins investigating the people around her as she navigates conflicting motives and hidden agendas. As suspicion grows and tensions rise, Darby must rely on her investigative instincts and technical skills to identify the killer before another guest becomes the next victim.
Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, the FX psychological mystery thriller series is a harrowing story. While ‘Oasis’ deals with a case of disappearance that poses risks to the guests of an isolated facility where people are trapped, ‘A Murder at the End of the World’ offers a unique twist on this idea by involving a character who already possesses investigative skills, while also being set in a much harsher and colder environment.
4. The Perfect Couple (2024-)
‘The Perfect Couple’ navigates the wealthy Winbury family, led by Greer Garrison Winbury (Nicole Kidman) and her husband, Tag Winbury (Liev Schreiber). As their son Benji Winbury prepares to marry Amelia Sacks, family members and guests gather at the Winburys’ lavish Nantucket estate for the wedding celebration. The festivities come to an abrupt halt when a body is discovered just before the ceremony. With a death now overshadowing the event, everyone connected to the wedding becomes a potential suspect. As law enforcement begins investigating the case, tensions and secrets within the family start coming to light. The glamorous gathering soon turns into a search for the truth, forcing those involved to confront revelations that threaten to affect the image they have carefully maintained.
The Netflix mystery drama series is creator Jenna Lamia’s take on the novel of the same name by Elin Hilderbrand. There is much in common between ‘The Perfect Couple’ and ‘Oasis,’ as both shows feature conflicted characters finding themselves in the middle of an unexpected case at a place where they gather to celebrate. The twists and turns of the shows, along with the visual similarities, connect them on a greater level.
3. One of Us Is Lying (2021-2022)
Set in Bayview High, ‘One of Us Is Lying’ begins when five students are sent to detention together. The students are Simon Kelleher (Mark McKenna), Addy Prentiss (Annalisa Cochrane), Cooper Clay (Chibuikem Uche), Bronwyn Rojas (Marianly Tejada), and Nate Macauley (Cooper van Grootel). Simon, the creator of a popular gossip platform known for exposing his classmates’ secrets, suffers a fatal allergic reaction during detention. When only four of the students make it out alive, the situation gets chaotic.
Investigators determine that the death was not an accident, and suspicion immediately falls on the other students, each of whom has a reason to dislike Simon. Following this, Addy, Cooper, Bronwyn, and Nate begin searching for the truth behind Simon’s death and save themselves. Guided by Erica Saleh’s vision, the Peacock mystery drama show is an adaptation of the eponymous novel by Karen M. McManus. Suspicious characters, hidden motives, an inexplicable mystery, isolated settings, mutual distrust, and a sense of unpredictability are common to both ‘One of Us Is Lying’ and ‘Oasis.’
2. Elite (2018-2024)
Netflix’s ‘Elite’ or ‘Élite’ focuses on the happenings at Las Encinas, an exclusive private school attended by the children of some of Spain’s wealthiest and most influential families. The Spanish drama series from creators Carlos Montero and Darío Madrona begins when scholarship students arrive at the institution. These include Samuel García (Itzan Escamilla), Nadia Shanaa (Mina El Hammani), and Christian Varela (Miguel Herrán), placing them in an environment vastly different from the lives they have known. As the newcomers struggle to fit into the environment of privilege and elitism, conflicts emerge between them and their richer classmates.
Their lives become increasingly entangled with students such as Marina Nunier Osuna (María Pedraza), and lead to personal grudges and romances. When Marina is found dead, the school is thrust into turmoil as suspicions spread and questions arise about who is responsible and what motives lie behind the crime. While ‘Oasis’ takes place in a resort and delves into the guests, ‘Elite’ is more intense as it involves an academic environment where secrets lurk in the shadows. Although set in different contexts, the two shows explore similar themes related to secrecy and deception.
1. The White Lotus (2021-)
HBO’s ‘The White Lotus’ is a comedy-drama anthology series from the creative mind of Mike White. Each season is set in a separate country and takes place in a different resort of “The White Lotus,” a luxury resort brand. The first season unfolds at a White Lotus resort in Hawaii, where rich guests, including Tanya McQuoid (Jennifer Coolidge), Mark Mossbacher (Steve Zahn), and others, indulge in comfort, only to be troubled by the weight of their insecurities. The second season takes Daphne Sullivan (Meghann Fahy) and other guests to a resort in Italy, where chaotic events occur, testing relationships and intimacy. The third season unfolds at a White Lotus establishment in Thailand, where Rick Hatchett (Walton Goggins) and fellow guests get involved in events beyond their control.
Each of the three installments explores mysterious deaths in and around the resorts that loom over the lives of the guests as they try to find meaning in life. With the fates of the guests always remaining uncertain, the stakes get higher across the seasons. ‘The White Lotus’ is closely connected to ‘Oasis’ as it unfolds in a resort setting, features mysteries, secretive characters, hidden motives, and an overwhelming sense of fear and uncertainty. Along with these ideas, the shows also feature similar visual styles.
Read More: Where is Netflix’s Oasis Filmed?
