Netflix’s Vladimir waltzed onto our screens with fourth-wall-breaking psychological tension combined with an intriguing mix of obsession and desire. Starring Rachel Weisz as a married professor in an open marriage whose fascination with a younger colleague leads to emotional chaos, the thriller explores the powerplay of intimate dynamics and dangerous relationships.
An eight-part series filled with romance, manipulation, and suspense, it is unsettling yet keeps you hooked. If you watched the Netflix series, loved it, and are looking for something similar, here are several other series that explore similar themes.
Below are 10 steamy thrillers like Vladimir, each filled with secrets, betrayal, and magnetic but risky relationships.
1. The Affair (2014)
A still from the show | Credits: Showtime
This psychological drama, The Affair, redefines modern relationships and the effects of an affair on marriage. Starring Dominic West, it examines how marriages come undone and the emotional fallout between people once an extramarital affair is exposed.
Featuring different perspectives, what makes it compelling is its storytelling structure. If you are fond of challenging yet compelling dramas that also feature social commentary, this is a perfect watch. Just like Vladimir, it also explores the moral gray areas of attraction and how a single relationship can unravel multiple lives.
AspectDetailsCreatorSarah Treem, Hagai LeviCastDominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, Joshua JacksonAir DateOctober 12, 2014 – November 3, 2019Seasons/Episodes5 seasons / 53 episodesIMDb Rating (March 11, 2026)7.9 / 10PlatformShowtime/Paramount+
2. Killing Eve (2018)
Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer in the show | Credits: Netflix
Few thrillers mix obsession and danger as stylishly as Killing Eve. Developed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the show stars Sandra Oh as intelligence analyst Eve Polastri and Jodie Comer as Villanelle, a charismatic international assassin. Having a total of four seasons, it is not your usual steamy thriller, but the sexual tension between Eve and Villanelle as they try to figure out new ways to catch each other makes it an enjoyable watch.
If you like cat-and-mouse thrillers where characters, too, seem to enjoy the hunt, then this would work well. What begins as a professional hunt gradually becomes a psychological and emotional obsession between the two women.
AspectDetailsCreatorPhoebe Waller-BridgeCastSandra Oh, Jodie Comer, Fiona ShawAir DateApril 8, 2018 – 17 April, 2022Seasons/Episodes4 seasons / 32 episodesIMDb Rating (March 11, 2026)8.1 / 10PlatformAMC+ / Hulu
3. Dirty John (2018)
A still from the show | Credits: Netflix
True crime meets relationship thriller in Dirty John, based on the investigative podcast by Christopher Goffard. It follows the life of Eric Bana‘s John Meehan, with two different romances featured in the first and second seasons.
The first season tells the story of Debra Newell, played by Connie Britton, whose whirlwind romance with charming doctor John Meehan slowly reveals a dark web of manipulation and deceit. The second features Amanda Peet, and things turn dirtier as the episodes go by. If you like true crime with a bit of romantic tension, this is a perfect watch.
AspectDetailsCreatorAlexandra CunninghamCastConnie Britton, Eric Bana, Amanda PeetAir DateNovember 25, 2018 – July 14, 2020Seasons/Episodes2 seasons / 16 episodesIMDb Rating (March 2026)7.3 / 10PlatformNetflix
4. Wanderlust (2018)
Toni Collette in the show | Credits: Netflix
The Netflix drama Wanderlust takes a thoughtful look at modern relationships and desires. Having the same themes as Vladimir, with Joy and Alan having an open marriage, the series is a character study on the effects of self-destructive capabilities.
Toni Collette stars as Joy, a therapist who, after an accident, begins to re-evaluate her marriage and explore how to keep passion alive through unconventional means. It is funny, uncomfortable, and deeply human. While not your usual traditional thriller, it’s deep dive into such themes will surely keep you entertained from start to end.
AspectDetailsCreatorNick PayneCastToni Collette, Steven MackintoshAir Date4 September – 9 October 2018Seasons/Episodes1 season / 6 episodesIMDb Rating (March 2026)7 / 10PlatformNetflix
5. You (2018)
A global hit starring Penn Badgley, this is like a cliche on a list, but when it comes to obsession and desire, we couldn’t resist adding this to the list. Based on the novel by Caroline Kepnes, for those unaware, it tells the story of Joe Goldberg, a charming bookstore manager whose romantic fixations quickly escalate into stalking, violence, and murder.
If you haven’t gotten around to watching this series and loved the obsessive fixation of Vladimir, then this is the ultimate and most dangerous version of that. It turns the literary lover archetype into a chilling psychological thriller, making it both disturbing and strangely compelling.
AspectDetailsCreatorGreg Berlanti and Sera GambleCastPenn Badgley, Victoria PedrettiAir DateSeptember 9, 2018 – April 24, 2025Seasons/Episodes5 seasons / 50 episodesIMDb Rating (March 2026)7.6 / 10PlatformNetflix
6. Tell Me Lies (2022)
A still from the show | Credits: Hulu
Based on the novel of the same name by Carola Lovering, Tell Me Lies examines the emotional fallout of a toxic college romance. Starring Grace Van Patten and Jackson White as Lucy and Stephen, whose intense relationship becomes a cycle of manipulation, jealousy, and betrayal.
If you like a layered narrative that tells the tale across several years, this one might be for you. It captures that feeling of knowing someone is bad for you but being unable to pull away, blending the drama of young adulthood with a darker, more adult mystery.
AspectDetailsCreatorMeaghan OppenheimerCastGrace Van Patten, Jackson WhiteAir DateSeptember 7, 2022 – February 17, 2026Seasons/Episodes3 seasons / 26 episodesIMDb Rating (March 2026)7.2 / 10PlatformHulu
7. The Couple Next Door (2023)
A still from Season 1 of the show | Credits: Starz
An erotic thriller with similar vibes as Vladimir, The Couple Next Door explores how curiosity can turn dangerous when boundaries are crossed. The first season stars Sam Heughan and Eleanor Tomlinson as a perfect couple, that is, until their new neighbors become entangled in their lives.
A masterclass in escalating tension and blurred boundaries, it is an entertaining watch with deep psychological tensions. The series explores how flirtation can lead to obsession, and once secrets begin to come to light, no one is safe.
AspectDetailsCreatorDavid AllisonCastSam Heughan, Eleanor TomlinsonAir DateNovember 27, 2023 – presentSeasons/Episodes2 seasons / 12 episodesIMDb Rating (March 2026)5.9 / 10PlatformStarz
8. Fatal Seduction (2023)
A still from the show | Credits: Netflix
A South African Netflix thriller, it is similar to Vladimir as it tells the story of how a married professor’s weekend affair with a younger guy leads to a deadly web of secrets. Certainly a heavy-hitter when it comes to steamy thrillers, it also involves a chilling murder investigation once the affair progresses.
Starring Kgomotso Christopher, a third season is on the way after the chilling end of Season 2. For fans who love a bit of romance, drama, crime, and psychological suspense with a whodunit element, you will certainly enjoy this one!
AspectDetailsCreatorSteven PillemerCastKgomotso Christopher, Ntuthuzelo GrootboomAir DateJul 5, 2023 – presentSeasons/Episodes2 seasons / 24 episodes (Season 3 upcoming)IMDb Rating (March 2026)5 / 10PlatformNetflix
9. Sex/Life (2021)
A still from the show | Credits: Netflix
Probably the most steamy drama series on this list, Sex/Life explores the tension between fantasy and reality in modern relationships. It stars Sarah Shahi as a suburban mother who begins fantasizing about her adventurous past with a former lover.
Pretty explicit and sharing the same sense of a protagonist spiraling for a thrill, it lacks the thriller vibe, but the elements of desire are dialed up to the max. Eventually, amid the fantasy and emotional chaos, she chooses to prioritize herself, but in a more ‘healthier’ way.
AspectDetailsCreatorStacy RukeyserCastSarah Shahi, Mike Vogel, Adam DemosAir DateJune 25, 2021 – March 2, 2023Seasons/Episodes2 seasons / 14 episodesIMDb Rating (March 2026)5.6 / 10PlatformNetflix
10. 56 Days (2026)
Based on the bestselling novel by Catherine Ryan Howard, 56 Days stars Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia as a couple who meet accidentally and end up having an intense romance. They move in together during the pandemic, but as the days pass, hidden secrets begin to emerge, turning intimacy into paranoia.
Featuring the same sense of emotional suspense that drives Vladimir, it explores the idea that the people we desire the most may also be the ones we know the least. An intense watch, it is in equal parts thrilling, romantic, suspense-filled, and claustrophobic.
AspectDetailsCreatorKaryn Usher and Lisa ZwerlingCastDove Cameron, Avan JogiaAir DateFebruary 18, 2026Seasons/Episodes1 season / 8 episodes IMDb Rating (March 2026)6.7 / 10PlatformPrime Video
Well, whether they focus on romance, crime, or manipulation, these shows all explore a simple but powerful truth: the most dangerous stories often begin with desire. Which one will you be watching next? Or is there any other series that we missed? Let us know in the comments below!
You can stream Vladimir on Netflix now!
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