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| Loved Alice and Steve? These 21 Brilliant Comedy-Dramas Deliver the Same Chaotic Energy. (Credits: Hulu) |
The arrival of Alice and Steve has left viewers equally entertained, uncomfortable and completely unable to look away. The six-part British "anti-romantic comedy" throws friendship, loyalty and common sense straight out of the window when Steve starts dating his best friend Alice's daughter, turning a 30-year friendship into a spectacular train wreck. Naturally, audiences who have finished the series are already searching for shows that capture the same blend of dark humour, emotional chaos, awkward situations and characters making spectacularly questionable life decisions.
Part of what makes Alice and Steve stand out is its refusal to behave like a traditional romantic comedy. Nobody seems particularly interested in making sensible choices, and every attempt to fix a problem somehow creates three new ones. That combination of cringe comedy, emotional warfare, friendship breakdowns and razor-sharp writing has reminded viewers of several acclaimed comedy-dramas released over the past decade.
Fan reactions online have varied dramatically. Some viewers have called the series one of the funniest British shows of 2026, while others admitted they spent most episodes watching through their fingers because the awkwardness became almost unbearable.
Many praised Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement for making deeply flawed characters strangely relatable, while others compared the show to a mix of therapy sessions and public disasters unfolding in real time. Whatever side audiences fall on, most agree that finding something similar isn't easy. Fortunately, there are plenty of excellent alternatives.
Shows Like ALICE AND STEVE
1. Fleabag
If Alice and Steve made you laugh while simultaneously questioning humanity, Fleabag should be your first stop. Created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the series follows a woman whose personal life becomes increasingly chaotic as she sabotages relationships and struggles with grief. Like Alice and Steve, it balances sharp humour with emotional devastation and features characters who often make the worst possible decisions.
2. Catastrophe
This brilliant comedy follows two people whose unexpected circumstances force them into a relationship neither fully planned. Much like Alice and Steve, it explores adult relationships with brutal honesty, messy emotions and plenty of uncomfortable moments that somehow remain hilarious.
3. Divorce
Starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Thomas Haden Church, this series examines a marriage falling apart in spectacular fashion. Fans of the friendship war between Alice and Steve will appreciate the constant emotional battles and passive-aggressive exchanges.
4. You're the Worst
Few shows understand dysfunctional relationships better than this one. The central couple repeatedly make terrible choices while attempting to convince themselves they're functioning adults. The dark humour and emotional complexity feel very similar to Alice and Steve.
5. I Hate Suzie
Billie Piper delivers a remarkable performance as a celebrity whose life unravels after a major personal scandal. The show's mix of dark comedy, anxiety and emotional chaos mirrors many of the uncomfortable strengths that made Alice and Steve so compelling.
6. Back to Life
This British comedy-drama follows a woman trying to rebuild her life after years away from society. It combines humour with emotional scars and awkward social situations, creating the same uncomfortable-but-addictive viewing experience.
7. This Way Up
Created by and starring Aisling Bea, this series explores friendship, family and personal struggles through a surprisingly funny lens. Fans who enjoyed the emotional layers beneath Alice and Steve's comedy will find plenty to love here.
8. Motherland
While focused on parenting rather than friendship feuds, Motherland thrives on social awkwardness, petty rivalries and adults behaving less maturely than their children. In other words, exactly the sort of energy that fuels Alice and Steve.
9. Bad Sisters
A family conspiracy, dark comedy and endless dysfunction make Bad Sisters a perfect recommendation. Like Alice and Steve, it turns personal relationships into battlegrounds where everyone believes they're the reasonable one.
10. Dead to Me
This dark comedy follows an unlikely friendship built on secrets and misunderstandings. Much like Alice and Steve's deteriorating relationship, every revelation creates bigger problems than the last.
11. Breeders
Parenthood becomes a source of frustration, exhaustion and comedy in this brutally honest series. Viewers who appreciated the show's realistic portrayal of imperfect adults will immediately connect with it.
12. Love
Created by Judd Apatow, this series dismantles many romantic comedy clichés. Its flawed characters and messy relationship dynamics make it one of the closest spiritual cousins to Alice and Steve.
13. Trying
Although more optimistic in tone, Trying still focuses on adults navigating complicated personal situations. It offers warmth without losing the awkward realism that many viewers appreciated in Alice and Steve.
14. The Split
Fans already familiar with Nicola Walker will likely enjoy this acclaimed legal family drama. Relationships, betrayals and emotional fallout sit at the centre of nearly every storyline.
15. Starstruck
A modern romantic comedy with a self-aware edge, Starstruck frequently explores how relationships become far more complicated than anyone expected. The humour and awkwardness feel surprisingly familiar.
16. Shrinking
This acclaimed comedy-drama follows a therapist whose unconventional behaviour begins affecting everyone around him. Similar to Alice and Steve, it focuses on flawed people attempting to solve emotional problems in increasingly chaotic ways.
17. Feel Good
Created by comedian Mae Martin, this sharp comedy explores romance, identity and emotional dependency. Like Alice and Steve, it avoids simplistic storytelling and embraces uncomfortable truths.
18. The End of the F***ing World
Dark, unpredictable and full of emotionally damaged characters, this cult favourite combines comedy and drama in a way that constantly surprises viewers. The anti-romantic elements strongly echo Alice and Steve.
19. Am I Being Unreasonable?
This psychological comedy-thriller centres on secrets, paranoia and increasingly questionable behaviour. If you enjoyed watching Alice and Steve weaponise personal information against one another, this should be on your watchlist immediately.
20. Better Things
A thoughtful and often hilarious look at family life, relationships and personal frustrations. It excels at showing ordinary people behaving in extraordinary ways when emotions take over.
21. Beef
Arguably the closest match in spirit, Beef begins with a minor disagreement that escalates into a life-consuming feud. The psychological warfare, revenge tactics and increasingly ridiculous escalation make it feel like a distant cousin of Alice and Steve. If watching two people destroy their own lives while trying to defeat each other sounds familiar, that's because it absolutely is.
What connects all 21 of these shows is their willingness to embrace flawed characters, uncomfortable situations and relationships that spiral wildly out of control. Much like Alice and Steve, they reject the fantasy that adults always know what they're doing. Instead, they present people making impulsive choices, holding grudges far too long and creating chaos that could have been avoided with a five-minute conversation. Then again, if everyone communicated properly, television would be much less entertaining.
As Alice and Steve continues generating discussion following its June 2026 debut, viewers remain divided over whether the series is a comedy, a cautionary tale or six episodes of emotional mayhem disguised as entertainment. Perhaps it's all three. Which of these shows would you watch next, and did Alice and Steve leave you laughing, cringing or shouting at the screen the entire time?