'Eternally Spellbinding': The TV Shows That Baffle You – But You Can't Get Enough Of
Television has long been a medium for storytelling, but some series take narrative conventions and twist them into unrecognisable shapes. From crimefighting nuns and giant killer white balloons to Aubrey Plaza getting stuck in a wall, here are the favourite mind-bending TV shows that continue to perplex and delight audiences in equal measure.
Catterick: Vic and Bob's Surreal Masterpiece
Catterick stands as a prime example of British surreal comedy at its most inventive. Starring Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer alongside a stellar supporting cast including Reece Shearsmith, Tim Healey, and Matt Lucas, the show begins deceptively simply before descending into glorious anarchy. The loose plot revolves around the criminal antics of mummy's boy Tony, played by Shearsmith, but quickly spirals into countless tangents involving ripped George Clooney posters, haunting dance routines, and unexpected musical references to Chris Rea and Foreigner. This chaotic journey through the North Yorkshire town remains a cult favourite for those who appreciate television that refuses to play by the rules.
Monkey Dust: Dark Animation That Captured Millennial Britain
First appearing on BBC Three in the mid-2000s, Monkey Dust presented a sharp, dreamlike animation that offered a dark slice of post-millennium British life. Each episode followed a similar structure but with increasingly tragic, twisted, or nightmarish spins befalling its sad collection of urban dwellers. Viewers were left questioning why Clive engaged in depraved acts with German businessmen or how Divorced Dad managed to survive his dire circumstances week after week. The series remains unparalleled in its ability to blend dark humour with hypnotic storytelling, creating a uniquely unsettling viewing experience.
The OA: Inter-Dimensional Mystery That Defies Explanation
Netflix's The OA stands as one of the most perplexing television experiences of recent years. Blending elements of inter-dimensional travel, time manipulation, and lengthy philosophical conversations that often led nowhere, the series created a genuinely disorienting atmosphere. Many viewers found themselves watching late into the night, feeling as though they had entered some strange twilight zone where conventional narrative logic no longer applied. The show's ability to maintain viewer engagement despite its confusing premise speaks to its unique creative vision.
Mrs Davies: The Crimefighting Nun Series Nobody Saw Coming
Mrs Davies represents one of television's best-kept secrets – a brilliant, funny, and genuinely bizarre series starring Betty Gilpin. Beginning with a medieval secret society and the holy grail before jumping to modern times and a crimefighting nun in a world ruled by benign artificial intelligence, the show becomes progressively odder with each episode. Remarkably, all these strange elements eventually coalesce into a coherent whole, with the added benefit of being a single-season story that doesn't demand excessive time commitment while delivering maximum narrative impact.
Legion: Marvel's Most Unconventional Spin-Off
Legion stands apart as perhaps the most baffling television show in recent memory, particularly surprising given its Marvel origins. Eschewing traditional superhero tropes, the series presents an evil entity nesting within a paranoid schizophrenic's brain, features Aubrey Plaza becoming literally stuck in a wall, and includes Jemaine Clement trapped in a 1970s-themed mind palace. With exceptional production design and a committed cast, the show embraces its bizarre premise wholeheartedly, creating something that's simultaneously bananas and brilliant.
The Leftovers: Wrestling With Unexplained Disappearance
HBO's The Leftovers presents one of television's most compelling mysteries: what happens when two percent of the world's population suddenly vanishes without explanation? The series follows those left behind as they struggle to understand the inexplicable event, with each season becoming progressively weirder than the last. Despite the increasing strangeness, tight writing and excellent performances from Justin Theroux, Carrie Coon, and Liv Tyler kept audiences thoroughly engaged, even if the ultimate resolution remained somewhat elusive.
The Prisoner: Cult Classic That Defined Psychological Intrigue
The Prisoner remains the gold standard for psychologically intriguing television, creating a fascinating yet menacing atmosphere within its beautiful Italianate village setting. Patrick McGoohan's Number Six finds himself imprisoned in this gilded cage for obscure reasons related to secret services, with rebellion proving futile and escape attempts thwarted by a pursuing giant white balloon. The dissociation between psychedelic 1960s design and sinister purpose created something eternally spellbinding, ensuring the series maintains its cult status decades after its original broadcast.
Westworld: Art Installation Masquerading as Drama
HBO's Westworld evolved into something more akin to an art installation than conventional television drama. Many viewers eventually abandoned attempts to understand the complex narrative and instead immersed themselves in the stunning visuals, powerful theme music, and exceptional title sequence. The show demonstrated that making sense wasn't necessarily a priority when the aesthetic experience proved so compelling, creating a unique viewing proposition that divided audiences while captivating others.
Nowhere Man: Identity Erasure and Conspiracy Theory
Nowhere Man served as an American counterpart to The Prisoner, following a protagonist whose identity is systematically erased as he's pursued because of a photograph containing elements of an unknown conspiracy. The series revelled in constant reversals, betrayals, and devastating reveals where no character proved to be who they purported to be. Like its British inspiration, the show concluded with answers that only generated more questions, leaving both protagonist and viewer thoroughly unmoored from certainty.
Dark: Time-Travel Complexity at Its Most Confounding
Netflix's German series Dark stands as perhaps the most confusing yet brilliant television show ever created. Centring on a missing boy, cause and effect, free will versus determinism, and literal grandmother paradoxes, the series demands intense viewer engagement. Many found themselves consulting the evolving family trees released with each season simply to maintain comprehension. The show's cancellation of its creators' follow-up project after one season only added to its legacy as television that challenges audiences intellectually while delivering exceptional drama.
Patriot: Genre-Defying Spy Comedy Masterpiece
Amazon's Patriot defies easy categorisation, blending spy intrigue, workplace comedy, detective drama, and surrealist elements into something genuinely unique. Following a depressed folk musician and his tracksuited brother attempting to navigate global geopolitics, the series features Beastie Boys montages, bizarre side characters, and unforeseen consequences across locations from Luxembourg to Milwaukee. Michael Dorman's performance anchors the chaos with bemused sweetness as his character commits terrible acts, creating a show that's simultaneously hysterical, complicated, and heartbreaking.
These television series demonstrate that sometimes the most rewarding viewing experiences come from shows that refuse to play by conventional rules. While they may baffle and confuse, their ability to captivate audiences speaks to television's power to challenge, surprise, and ultimately entertain in ways that straightforward narratives cannot achieve.
