9 best tragicomedy shows that held our hands, then pushed us off a cliff (and we thanked them)

There's a particular type of television show that does more than simply entertain, it breaks you, then lifts you up, and throws you into a whirlpool of emotions so intense, you're not sure whether to laugh or cry. That's the wonder of tragicomedy. Those are the television shows that couple heartbreak with humor, bringing life's toughest realities to us through a prism of irony, embarrassment, and harsh reality. They burrow deep into trauma, identity, failure, and loss, and then deliver one-liners that strike with equal force to the plot revelations.

Over the last decade, tragicomedies have quietly remade contemporary storytelling. They're not only binge-worthy, they're existential. From cartoon anthropomorphic antiheroes to stressed-out chefs, egotistical hitmen, and stoic philosophers stumbling through metaphysical mayhem, these shows break genre conventions while reflecting the randomness of everyday life.

This is a list of nine of the greatest tragicomedies programs that took our hands, then shoved us off a cliff, leaving us in emotional freefall, somehow thankful. With new news on what's ahead for these creators and shows, we examine how they continue to influence culture, comedy, and catharsis.

Best tragicomedy shows that held our hands, then pushed us off a cliff (and we thanked them)

1. BoJack Horseman (Netflix)

Ten years after BoJack Horseman changed adult animation forever, creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg is coming back with Long Story Short, which will be available on Netflix sometime in 2025. The new show explores the nuances of family relationships over decades, which will bring the same dark wit and emotional resonance that made BoJack so great. The original cast, such as Lisa Hanawalt and ShadowMachine, returns for this endeavor, which promises a continuation of the poignant storytelling that people loved. Building towards excitement, Long Story Short is set to delve into the common histories and behind-the-scenes jokes that make up family life.

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2. Fleabag (Amazon Prime Video)

Since its furiously acclaimed finale, Fleabag has assumed cult status, with Phoebe Waller-Bridge's career still rocketing upwards. In 2025, she re-emerges with Significant Other, a new series exploring non-traditional relationships in an over-digitized world. The show takes Fleabag's thematic DNA of loneliness and emotional awakening and promises to explore them through new, multicultural stories. Ten years on, Fleabag is no longer a television show, it's a prism through which contemporary womanhood and emotional disarray are explored and lionized.

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3. Succession (HBO)

Succession wrapped in a bang, but its legacy lives on with creator Jesse Armstrong's next HBO feature, Mountainhead, set to release in 2025. This political tragicomedy features Steve Carell and is about billionaires struggling with an international crisis fueled by social media. The new project explores further moral decay and masculine insecurity, common themes in Succession. In the meantime, spin-off rumors and behind-the-scenes documentaries have kept the fandom going. Corporate chaos, family treachery, and Armstrong's corrosive sarcasm are still at the center of this growing empire. Succession may be finished, but its DNA is mutating into something equally unstable and engrossing.

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4. The Bear (Hulu)

Season 3 of The Bear opened with record ratings, demonstrating its frenetic beauty is by no means on the wane. Merging high-octane suspense with introspective emotional breakdown, the show continues to break boundaries on what a tragicomedy can look like in the post-pandemic era. Carmy's culinary aspirations are at odds with personal shortcomings, now entangled with more in-depth examinations of mental illness and addiction. The show's harsh realism, assisted by real chefs on the set, is also fueling food conversation in the press. With creator Christopher Storer leading speculation about a fourth season revolving around legacy and love, The Bear seethes with drive and unadulterated truth.

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5. Russian Doll (Netflix)

Russian Doll has not come back for a third season, but its memory lives on in Natasha Lyonne's 2024 Netflix deal. Her new series is said to further develop time-loop concepts and intergenerational trauma, possibly as a spiritual continuation. Season 2 broke new ground with metaphysical storytelling, exploring identity and lineage through an especially Jewish filter. The series remains one of Netflix's most philosophically dense shows, regularly analyzed in think pieces and psychology forums. Lyonne, now a foremost voice in auteur television, has also started a podcast analyzing surreal storytelling. Russian Doll continues to influence narrative experimentation.

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6. Barry (HBO)

In 2023, but Bill Hader isn't resting on his laurels. His follow-up HBO series, The Shadows, is a noir-infused psychological thriller arriving in late 2025. While different from Barry, it has an all-consuming fascination with identity, violence, and redemption. The final season of the show ignited discussions around morality and narrative risk-taking, with its jarring tonal shifts now taught in film schools. Hader, now solidly regarded as a visionary director, has also been guiding up-and-coming dark comedy writers. From hitman to auteur, his journey mirrors Barry's journey from absurd humor to existential fear, disturbing us and moving us deeply.

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7. After Life (Netflix)

While After Life wrapped up in 2022, Ricky Gervais is still exploring grief and purpose. His 2025 Netflix stand-up special SuperNature incorporates personal experiences alongside straight stand-up, repeating the program's themes of mortality and resilience. Gervais has also begun a podcast discussing emotional truth in comedy with guests such as Louis Theroux and Sharon Horgan. Mental health charities have meanwhile credited After Life with reframing public discourse on depression and loss. The show is still a foundation of contemporary tragicomedy: raw, darkly comedic, and real to its very essence. It's a reminder that in life's darkest places, there can still be laughter.

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8. Atlanta (FX / Hulu)

Atlanta's legacy did not stop with its last season. Donald Glover's new show, Gilga, which premieres in 2025, keeps his genre-bending momentum going. This dreamlike anthology will delve into contemporary mythology, race, and media through kaleidoscopic storytelling. Glover has also established a creative incubator of the same name, guiding up-and-coming Black creatives. Meanwhile, Atlanta's impact is felt in shows such as Swarm and Ramy, which combine cultural commentary with absurdity. The series' commentary on fame, identity, and systemic inanities is still a step ahead of its time, and Gilga vows to further develop these discourses with greater creative daring.

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9. Transparent (Amazon Prime Video)

Although Transparent ended in 2019, its resonance can be heard in the media today. Creator Joey Soloway introduced TransParent Voices, a 2024 project elevating trans and nonbinary voices through mentorship and production grants. The show's groundbreaking representation of gender identity continues to shape casting standards and scriptwriting throughout Hollywood. A forthcoming 2025 documentary exploring the series' cultural legacy is also in the works. Transparent's influence goes well beyond awards; it set the stage for inclusive, intersectional tragicomedies. Its emotional authenticity and community-focused ethos see it as a continued cornerstone of TV's evolution.