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What if your memories, your personality, everything that makes you you, could be wiped away and replaced with something entirely different? Joss Whedon’s cult classic Dollhouse plunged us into this very question, exploring a world where identities are programmable commodities. It was a thrilling, thought-provoking ride that left many of us craving more stories that twist the mind and question the nature of self. If you’re still searching for that unique blend of sci-fi intrigue, conspiracy, and deep character exploration, you’re in luck! We’ve curated a list of 15 incredible shows like Dollhouse that will capture your imagination and keep you glued to the screen. Get ready to discover your next obsession among these mind-bending series.
Why We Still Miss Dollhouse
Before we dive into the recommendations, let’s take a moment to remember what made Dollhouse so special. It wasn’t just the cool concept of “Actives” or “Dolls” being imprinted with different personalities for high-paying clients. It was the underlying mystery of the Rossum Corporation, the ethical tightrope walked by characters like Topher Brink and Adelle DeWitt, and most importantly, Echo’s incredible journey from a blank slate to a fully realized individual fighting for her own identity. The show blended action, suspense, psychological drama, and philosophical questions seamlessly. Finding shows like Dollhouse means looking for series that tackle similar themes of identity, memory manipulation, powerful conspiracies, advanced technology, and the moral gray areas that come with them.
15 Shows Like Dollhouse to Fill the Void
Prepare to question reality! Here are 15 series that echo the themes and thrills of Dollhouse.
1. Westworld
Imagine a theme park unlike any other, populated by incredibly lifelike android “Hosts” designed to fulfill every desire of its wealthy human guests. Westworld is a place where visitors can live out their wildest fantasies without consequence. However, as the Hosts begin to gain consciousness and remember the horrors inflicted upon them, a revolution starts brewing within the park’s meticulously crafted walls. The narrative explores complex questions about consciousness, free will, memory, and what truly separates humans from artificial intelligence, all set against a backdrop of corporate intrigue and stunning visuals spanning from the Wild West to futuristic cities.
The parallels to Dollhouse are striking. Both series feature beings (Hosts/Actives) whose core programming and memories can be manipulated, reset, or altered by a powerful, secretive organization (Delos/Rossum). The Hosts, much like Echo, embark on journeys of self-discovery, breaking free from their predetermined loops and fighting for autonomy. Westworld delves deeply into the ethical implications of creating and controlling artificial life, mirroring Dollhouse‘s exploration of exploiting programmable humans. If you loved the blend of high-concept sci-fi and identity exploration, Westworld is a must-watch.
2. Orphan Black
Sarah Manning is a street-smart hustler just trying to get by when she witnesses the suicide of a woman who looks exactly like her. Stepping into the dead woman’s life seems like a quick fix for her problems, but Sarah soon discovers she’s just one of many clones, all genetically identical but raised in vastly different circumstances. Thrust into a dangerous conspiracy involving the scientists who created them and the organization that wants to control them, Sarah must unite with her newfound “sisters” – each with unique skills and personalities – to uncover the truth of their origins and fight for their survival and freedom.
Like Dollhouse, Orphan Black is fundamentally about identity and the fight for individuality against forces seeking to control or commodify human life. While Dollhouse uses technology to imprint personalities, Orphan Black uses genetics, but the core conflict is similar: individuals perceived as experiments or property striving for self-determination. Tatiana Maslany’s incredible performance, portraying multiple distinct clones, echoes Eliza Dushku’s challenge of playing various imprints within Echo. The shadowy Dyad Institute mirrors the Rossum Corporation, creating a constant sense of paranoia and conspiracy, making it a perfect follow-up for fans searching for shows like Dollhouse.
3. Altered Carbon
In a future where consciousness can be digitized and downloaded into new bodies (called “sleeves”), death is merely an inconvenience for the ultra-wealthy Meths who can afford endless backups and upgrades. Takeshi Kovacs, a former elite interstellar warrior, is brought back to life centuries after his death, downloaded into a new sleeve to solve the complex murder of one of the world’s richest men. As Kovacs navigates this visually stunning but morally bankrupt cyberpunk world, he uncovers deep conspiracies, confronts ghosts from his past, and grapples with the nature of identity when the body is disposable.
Altered Carbon shares Dollhouse‘s core fascination with the separation of mind and body. The technology allowing consciousness transfer is a different flavor of Dollhouse‘s memory imprinting, raising similar questions about what constitutes a person when their physical form can change. The series explores themes of exploitation, class disparity exacerbated by technology, and the quest for meaning when identity is fluid – all elements familiar to Dollhouse fans. The noir-infused mystery and high-octane action also provide a similar genre blend, making it a compelling choice for those seeking technologically driven stories about identity.
4. Black Mirror
This anthology series presents standalone stories set in near-future or alternate presents where humanity’s relationship with technology has taken dark, often disturbing turns. Each episode explores a different facet of modern life and potential future developments, from social media obsession and virtual reality immersion to advanced surveillance and artificial intelligence. While unconnected narratively, the episodes collectively paint a cautionary, thought-provoking picture of technology’s impact on society, relationships, memory, and the very definition of being human.
While not a direct narrative match, Black Mirror resonates strongly with the themes explored in Dollhouse. Many episodes delve into memory manipulation (“The Entire History of You”), artificial consciousness (“San Junipero,” “USS Callister”), identity transfer (“Striking Vipers”), and the ethical nightmares spawned by unchecked technological advancement – the very bread and butter of Dollhouse‘s central conflict. The anthology format allows for diverse explorations of these ideas, offering bite-sized, mind-bending scenarios that will appeal to viewers fascinated by the darker implications of technology that were central to finding shows like Dollhouse.
5. Fringe
FBI Agent Olivia Dunham is forced to work with the eccentric, formerly institutionalized scientist Dr. Walter Bishop and his estranged, cynical son Peter to investigate a series of unexplained phenomena known as “The Pattern.” These bizarre and often terrifying events straddle the line between known science and the impossible, involving fringe science concepts like parallel universes, genetic manipulation, precognition, and advanced bio-weaponry. As the team delves deeper, they uncover a complex mythology involving alternate realities, shadowy organizations, and the very fabric of existence hanging in the balance.
Fringe shares Dollhouse‘s blend of procedural investigation with overarching sci-fi mystery and conspiracy. Like Dollhouse, it features a core team uncovering secrets hidden by powerful forces, often involving ethically dubious scientific experiments. Themes of identity are explored, particularly through the concept of alternate selves in a parallel universe and characters grappling with altered memories or abilities. Dr. Walter Bishop’s fragmented memories and brilliance echo Topher Brink’s morally ambiguous genius. The show’s focus on “fringe” science manipulating life and reality makes it a fantastic companion piece for Dollhouse viewers who enjoyed the speculative science and conspiracy elements.
6. Person of Interest
A reclusive tech billionaire, Harold Finch, builds “The Machine,” a supercomputer for the U.S. government capable of predicting future terrorist attacks by analyzing mass surveillance data. However, Finch discovers The Machine also predicts ordinary crimes involving ordinary people, deemed “irrelevant” by the government. Haunted by this, Finch recruits John Reese, a presumed-dead former CIA agent, to intervene and prevent these crimes before they happen. They operate outside the law, using The Machine’s cryptic warnings (just a social security number) to save lives while evading government agencies and uncovering conspiracies related to AI and surveillance.
While less focused on direct memory wiping, Person of Interest strongly resonates with Dollhouse‘s themes of technology impacting identity and free will, albeit through the lens of surveillance and artificial intelligence. The Machine’s evolution and the questions surrounding its sentience mirror the exploration of consciousness in Dollhouse‘s Actives. Both shows feature protagonists operating in morally gray areas, using advanced, potentially dangerous technology for what they believe is the greater good. The overarching conspiracies, shadowy government forces, and the ethical dilemmas surrounding powerful tech make Person of Interest a compelling watch for fans looking for sophisticated shows like Dollhouse.
7. Severance
Employees at the mysterious Lumon Industries undergo a surgical procedure called “severance,” which completely separates their work memories from their personal life memories. Their “innie” selves know nothing of the outside world, existing only within the sterile, bizarre confines of the office, while their “outie” selves have no idea what they do for eight hours a day. Mark Scout leads a team of these severed employees, performing mundane data refinement tasks they don’t understand. When a former colleague mysteriously disappears and a new hire starts asking questions, Mark’s “innie” begins to unravel the dark secrets behind Lumon and the severance procedure.
Severance is perhaps one of the most direct thematic successors to Dollhouse currently airing. The core concept of splitting consciousness and memory is incredibly similar to the Active technology, raising profound questions about identity, consent, and exploitation. What does it mean to be a person if part of your life is completely walled off? The sterile, controlling environment of Lumon Industries evokes the feel of the Dollhouse itself, and the employees’ slow realization and rebellion mirror Echo’s awakening. The show masterfully blends psychological thriller elements with dark workplace satire and deep philosophical questions, hitting many of the same notes that made Dollhouse captivating.
8. Mr. Robot
Elliot Alderson is a brilliant but deeply troubled cybersecurity engineer and vigilante hacker. He suffers from social anxiety disorder, clinical depression, and dissociative identity disorder, leading to an unreliable perception of reality. Elliot is recruited by “Mr. Robot,” the mysterious leader of an underground hacktivist group called fsociety, whose goal is to trigger a global revolution by erasing all consumer debt through crippling E Corp (dubbed “Evil Corp”), the world’s largest conglomerate. As Elliot gets drawn deeper into fsociety’s plans, he struggles with his inner demons, the morality of his actions, and the blurring lines between reality, delusion, and the powerful forces manipulating events from the shadows.
While Mr. Robot‘s focus is more on hacking, corporate espionage, and mental health, it shares Dollhouse‘s fascination with unreliable identities and hidden truths. Elliot’s struggle with his own mind and fractured personality provides a compelling exploration of identity, memory, and perception, albeit through a psychological rather than technological lens initially. The show features powerful, shadowy corporations (E Corp) pulling strings, similar to the Rossum Corporation. The constant sense of paranoia, the questioning of what’s real, and the fight against an overwhelming, controlling system will strongly appeal to viewers who appreciated the darker, more conspiratorial aspects of shows like Dollhouse.
9. Sense8
Created by the Wachowskis (The Matrix) and J. Michael Straczynski, Sense8 tells the story of eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly find themselves mentally and emotionally linked. They can communicate, share knowledge, skills, and experiences as if they were physically present with one another. As these “sensates” grapple with their newfound abilities and connection, they become targets of a shadowy organization called BPO (Biologic Preservation Organization) led by the menacing “Whispers,” who hunts them down, believing them a threat to humanity. The cluster must learn to work together, utilizing their shared pool of resources and abilities to protect themselves and uncover the truth about their existence.
Sense8 explores identity and connection in a unique way, much like Dollhouse explored individuality through its absence and eventual reclamation. The concept of shared consciousness and abilities touches upon the fluid nature of self that Dollhouse played with through its imprints. While the mechanism is different (psychic connection vs. technology), both shows feature individuals with extraordinary abilities being hunted by a powerful, secret organization (BPO/Rossum) that seeks to understand and control them. The emphasis on empathy, collaboration, and fighting for one’s unique existence against overwhelming odds provides a similar emotional core, making it a great pick for those looking for character-driven shows like Dollhouse.
10. Counterpart
Howard Silk is a low-level bureaucrat working for a mysterious UN agency based in Berlin. For thirty years, he’s performed a mundane job, unaware of the agency’s true purpose: managing a crossing point to a parallel Earth. This duplicate reality was accidentally created during an experiment decades ago and has since diverged culturally and politically. Howard’s life is turned upside down when he discovers his “counterpart” from the other side – a ruthless, highly skilled field agent – has crossed over. He’s thrust into a world of espionage, intrigue, and danger where the only person he can truly trust might be himself, albeit a very different version.
Counterpart delves deep into the concept of identity by exploring how different circumstances can shape the same person. Seeing two versions of the same individual, molded by different worlds, raises fascinating questions about nature versus nurture and the paths not taken – a different angle on the identity exploration central to Dollhouse. The show is steeped in Cold War-esque espionage and paranoia, featuring secretive agencies and hidden agendas reminiscent of the conspiracies surrounding the Dollhouse. While it doesn’t involve memory wiping, the constant tension, focus on dual identities, and intricate world-building make it a sophisticated thriller that will appeal to fans of Dollhouse‘s darker, more complex elements.
11. Alias
Sydney Bristow seems like an ordinary graduate student, but she leads a double life as a secret agent for SD-6, supposedly a black-ops division of the CIA. When her fiancé is murdered after she reveals her secret life to him, Sydney discovers the devastating truth: SD-6 is actually part of a global criminal organization known as the Alliance of Twelve. Horrified, she becomes a double agent, working with the real CIA to bring down SD-6 from the inside. Each mission requires Sydney to adopt different elaborate disguises and personas, constantly testing her skills, loyalty, and sense of self while navigating complex family secrets and hunting for mysterious artifacts created by a Renaissance-era prophet/inventor, Milo Rambaldi.
The most direct link between Alias and Dollhouse lies in the protagonist’s constant shifting of identities. Sydney Bristow adopting numerous detailed personas for her missions mirrors Echo being imprinted with different personalities for her engagements. Both characters grapple with maintaining their core sense of self amidst these fabricated identities. Alias also features a shadowy, powerful organization (SD-6/The Alliance) with hidden motives, similar to the Rossum Corporation, and blends action, espionage, and character drama. While the mechanism is espionage tradecraft rather than futuristic tech, the theme of navigating multiple identities under pressure makes Alias a thrilling precursor and solid recommendation for those seeking shows like Dollhouse.
12. Humans
Set in a parallel present, the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a “Synth” – a highly developed robotic servant 1 eerily similar to humans. Joe Hawkins purchases a Synth named Anita to help around the house with his overworked wife, Laura, and their three children. While initially helpful, Laura grows uneasy about Anita’s lifelike nature, and the family soon discovers that Anita holds secrets. She is part of a small group of unique Synths who possess genuine consciousness and emotions, making them fugitives sought by corporations and government agencies who either want to destroy them or exploit their technology. The series explores the social, cultural, and psychological impact of artificial intelligence becoming commonplace.
Humans directly tackles the themes of artificial consciousness and what it means to be human, central to Dollhouse‘s later seasons and Echo’s journey. The Synths, particularly the conscious ones, are treated as property or tools, mirroring the status of the Actives. Their struggle for recognition, rights, and freedom against forces that see them as mere machines resonates strongly with the core conflicts in Dollhouse. The show explores the ethical dilemmas of creating sentient AI, the fear and prejudice they face, and the impact on human relationships, offering a thoughtful and engaging sci-fi drama that hits similar thematic notes.
13. Dark
Set in the small German town of Winden, Dark begins with the disappearance of two young children, exposing the fractured relationships, double lives, and dark pasts of four families living there. However, the mystery soon spirals into something far more complex and mind-bending, involving a sinister time travel conspiracy that spans multiple generations of these families, connecting their fates across different time periods via a mysterious cave system beneath the local nuclear power plant. Secrets, betrayals, and paradoxes unfold as characters grapple with predetermined destiny, free will, and the devastating consequences of manipulating time.
While Dark focuses on time travel rather than memory imprinting, its intricate plotting, focus on interconnected conspiracies, and exploration of identity across time make it a compelling watch for Dollhouse fans. The show constantly challenges viewers’ understanding of characters’ relationships and motivations as secrets spanning decades are revealed, creating a similar sense of unraveling a complex mystery. The themes of predetermined paths versus the struggle for agency echo the philosophical questions raised in Dollhouse regarding free will and control. If you enjoyed the puzzle-box nature and dark, complex narrative of Dollhouse‘s overarching plot, Dark‘s meticulously crafted, mind-bending story is a must-see.
14. Devs
Lily Chan, a software engineer at Amaya, a cutting-edge quantum computing company run by the enigmatic Forest, investigates the apparent suicide of her boyfriend, Sergei, who died on his first day working for Amaya’s top-secret “Devs” division. Lily suspects foul play and refuses to accept the official story. As she digs deeper into the true nature of the Devs project, she uncovers a technology with profound and potentially world-altering implications related to determinism and free will, putting her on a collision course with Forest and his powerful, almost god-like machine. The series unfolds as a sleek, philosophical thriller exploring big questions about fate, choice, and the power of technology.
Devs shares Dollhouse‘s atmosphere of a secretive, technologically advanced organization operating with immense power and questionable ethics (Amaya/Rossum). The core mystery revolves around uncovering the true purpose of a hidden project with profound implications for humanity, similar to the gradual reveal of the Dollhouse’s full scope and Rossum’s endgame. Both series explore deterministic themes – whether lives are pre-ordained or controllable – through the lens of powerful technology. The sleek, minimalist aesthetic and the slow-burn, philosophical nature of the thriller elements will appeal to viewers who appreciated the more cerebral and atmospheric aspects of shows like Dollhouse.
15. Travelers
Hundreds of years in the future, humanity is on the brink of extinction. The last survivors discover a method to send consciousness back through time into the bodies of people in the 21st century who are moments away from death. These “Travelers” assume the lives of their hosts, working in teams under the direction of an AI known as The Director. Their mission: to subtly alter historical events and prevent the catastrophic future from ever happening. Led by FBI Special Agent Grant MacLaren (whose body is taken over by Traveler 3468), one team navigates the complexities of living double lives while carrying out dangerous missions dictated by cryptic instructions from the future.
Travelers directly uses the concept of transferring consciousness into different bodies, a core element reminiscent of Dollhouse‘s technology, albeit for a different purpose (saving the future vs. fulfilling client desires). The Travelers must suppress their own personalities and memories from the future to convincingly inhabit their hosts’ lives, leading to identity conflicts and ethical dilemmas similar to those faced by the Actives and handlers. They operate under the strict protocols of a powerful, unseen authority (The Director), much like the Dolls follow the Dollhouse’s rules. The blend of sci-fi premise, procedural missions, and character drama focused on identity makes Travelers an excellent choice for anyone seeking more shows like Dollhouse.
Finding Your Next Obsession: More Than Just Shows Like Dollhouse
While Dollhouse holds a special place in our hearts, the good news is that its spirit lives on in many other fantastic series. Whether you’re drawn to the exploration of identity, the thrill of conspiracy, the wonders and dangers of advanced technology, or the deep ethical questions these stories raise, there’s something on this list for you. Each of these shows offers a unique take on mind-bending concepts, ensuring hours of captivating viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Shows Like Dollhouse
Q1: What made Dollhouse unique? Dollhouse was unique for its direct exploration of programmable human identity via technology, its blend of episodic “engagements” with a deep, overarching conspiracy, its complex character arcs (especially Echo’s journey to self-awareness), and its willingness to tackle dark ethical themes about consent, exploitation, and the nature of self.
Q2: Are there any direct sequels or spin-offs to Dollhouse? No, there are no official TV sequels or spin-offs to Dollhouse. The story was concluded within its two seasons, although comic book series did continue the narrative, exploring the future glimpsed in the episode “Epitaph One.”
Q3: Which show on this list is most like Dollhouse? Severance probably comes closest in its core concept of technologically separating consciousness/memory and exploring the ramifications within a mysterious corporate structure. Westworld is also very similar with its themes of programmable beings gaining sentience within a controlled environment run by a powerful organization.
Q4: Are these shows suitable for all ages? Most of the shows on this list deal with mature themes, including violence, sexuality, complex ethical issues, and psychological distress. They are generally intended for adult audiences (TV-MA or equivalent ratings). Black Mirror episodes vary in intensity, but many are quite dark. Parental guidance is strongly recommended.
Q5: Where can I watch these shows? Availability changes depending on your region and the specific streaming service deals at the time. Most of these shows can be found on major platforms like Netflix, HBO Max (Max), Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Apple TV+, or through digital purchase/rental platforms. You may need to check current listings on sites like JustWatch or Reelgood for your specific location (like Morocco) as of April 2025.
