Saagar Kote
Created by Luis Estrada, Netflix’s ‘The Dead Girls’ or ‘Las Muertas’ chronicles the tale of sisters Serafina Baladro (Paulina Gaitan) and Arcángela Baladro (Arcelia Ramírez), who run a brothel empire in Mexico during the 1950s and 1960s. The crime thriller drama series is based on Jorge Ibargüengoitia’s novel, which has the same name as the show’s Spanish title, and navigates the ups and downs in the lives of the main characters as they try to establish themselves in the world of crime. As the sisters cross paths with politicians, military men, and other influential people, they seem to keep secrets that could challenge them and affect the lives of the girls they forced into sex work. The show delves into themes of loyalty, deception, and secrecy intricately. If the visual style, the characters, and the themes of the narrative impressed you, these shows, similar to ‘The Dead Girls,’ will keep you hooked.
8. Taken Down (2018)
‘Taken Down’ narrates the story of an investigation into the demise of a Nigerian migrant girl named Esme Lukasa (Marlene Madenge) at a bus station in the city of Dublin. Written by Stuart Carolan and Jo Spain, the Irish crime drama series revolves around the efforts of Inspector Jen Rooney (Lynn Rafferty), who investigates the crime and its aftermath in the Nigerian migrant community with assistance from her team members. Directed by David Caffrey, the narrative delves into the ideas of justice, secrets, and identity on the lines of ‘The Dead Girls.’ Both stories deal with young female victims who become part of larger plans that pose dangers to their lives. The visual choices also forge a spiritual connection between the stories.
7. Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar (2024-)
Created by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Netflix’s ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ revolves around the happenings at an elite courtesan establishment named Heeramandi, controlled by a woman named Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala). She is countered by Fareedan (Sonakshi Sinha), who seeks to establish her rule over the business, which leads to unexpected consequences, especially for Mallikajaan’s daughter Alamzeb (Sharmin Segal). The Indian drama series, akin to ‘The Dead Girls,’ deals with the intrigues of the world of sex workers and the secrets that control them. Both shows are female-centric narratives that feature women in positions of power.
6. The Crimson Petal and the White (2011)
Based on the eponymous novel by Michel Faber, BBC Two’s ‘The Crimson Petal and the White’ tells the story of a talented writer and sex worker named Sugar (Romola Garai), who captures the attention and love of a wealthy man named William Rackham (Chris O’Dowd), who also has a passion for writing. Set in London in 1874, the period drama series explores a complex relationship between two people who come from very different worlds, as well as the secrets of the sex work world. Written by Lucinda Coxon and directed by Marc Munden, it resembles the world of ‘The Dead Girls’ through its portrayal of the intricacies of the lives of sex workers. Both shows feature characters who have to choose between love and morality.
5. Harlots (2017-2019)
Created by Alison Newman and Moira Buffini, Hulu’s ‘Harlots’ narrates the struggles of a brothel owner named Margaret Wells (Samantha Morton) who intends to uphold the success of her business. However, her relationship with her daughters and an emerging threat from a rival challenge the protagonist. Based on the book ‘The Covent Garden Ladies’ by Hallie Rubenhold, the British period drama series, set in the 18th century, delves into themes of secrecy and power. The show is similar to ‘The Dead Girls’ in terms of how it shows the relationship between sex workers and brothel owners. The visual elements of the shows also connect them on a greater level.
4. The Girlfriend Experience (2016-2021)
Based on the eponymous film directed by Steven Soderbergh, ‘The Girlfriend Experience’ is an anthology series that, in the first season, follows the life of Christine Reade (Riley Keough), a law student, who gets introduced to the world where women engage in emotional and sexual relationships with clients for money. The Lodge Kerrigan, Amy Seimetz, and Anja Marquardt creation deals with the lives of individuals engaged in the same profession as the protagonist, who undergo the trials and tribulations of the profession as they deal with difficult clients. The other seasons of the series focus on different storylines that revolve around similar settings. Like ‘The Dead Girls,’ it navigates the inner workings of the world of sex workers and also the conflict between their personal and professional lives.
3. Kamathipura (2021-)
‘Kamathipura’ or ‘The Tattoo Murders’ is a tale of mystery narrated through the experiences of ACP Aditi Acharya (Meera Chopra), who bears the heavy burden of investigating a killing in a red-light area of the city of Mumbai. Created by Shravan Tiwari, the Indian crime drama series deals with the ups and downs in the life of the protagonist as she traverses dangerous paths to get to the truth, while also crossing paths with a man named Prahar Pratap (Tanuj Virwani), who might have secrets of his own. The elements of sex work, killings, and secrets connect the story to the world of ‘The Dead Girls’ and its characters, who face similar challenges.
2. Hache (2019-2021)
Created by Verónica Fernández, Netflix’s ‘Hache’ chronicles the experiences of a sex worker named Helena (Adriana Ugarte) in Barcelona in the 1960s as she gets involved with a dangerous gangster named Salvador Malpica (Javier Rey). The crime drama series follows the woman as she navigates life in an unfamiliar world, as her life takes a turn due to incidents of killings amidst a territorial drug war, putting her in danger. Akin to ‘The Dead Girls,’ it deals with the secrets of sex workers, while also looking at violent killings that affect the lives of the main characters. The visual styles of the stories also connect them on a spiritual level.
1. The Deuce (2017-2019)
HBO’s ‘The Deuce’ is the story of various characters who experience the challenges of survival in the New York City of the 1970s and 1980s. Created by David Simon and George Pelecanos, the drama series looks at the lives of twin siblings Frankie and Vincent Martino (James Franco), who work for the mafia near Times Square, and the dangers that they encounter. The narrative also focuses on the journey of Eileen Merrell (Maggie Gyllenhaal), a sex worker who hopes to achieve redemption in the field of pornography. Akin to the world of ‘The Dead Girls,’ it deals with the connection between sex work and crime, while also exploring the challenges faced by individuals who try to survive in a harsh world where deception and secrets threaten them.
Read More: The Dead Girls Ending Explained
