The Apple TV+ drama show ‘Dear Edward‘ is created by Jason Katims and highlights what shared grief looks like. After a plane crash, a 12-year boy named Edward Adler is the sole survivor in his entire family. People who experience the same accident band together, creating a safe space for everyone involved. They bond, connect and create a support system to get through the tragedy, as Edward becomes the center of their combined love and support. If you loved the heartwarming yet emotional ‘Dear Edward’ and want to explore other shows like ‘Dear Edward,’ here’s a list for you.
8. Containment (2016)
In ‘Containment,’ an epidemic ravages Atlanta, and officials impose a citywide quarantine. Those trapped within must wage a dangerous battle for survival as officials scramble to develop a cure. Police officer Lex Carnahan maintains order amidst the chaos but faces a severe test when he discovers his girlfriend, Jana, and closest friend, Jake, stuck inside a facility.
Alongside the infected, 17-year-old Teresa is heavily pregnant and separated from her partner, and elementary school teacher Katie Frank is locked down with her entire class. The drama series developed by Julie Plec showcases how humans interact and bond during life-threatening times, exploring a different group dynamic than the one in ‘Dear Edward,’ yet resolving the same underlying feelings of grief and abandonment.
7. The Leftovers (2014–2017)
One hundred forty million individuals vanish without a trace in a worldwide disaster. Mapleton, New York’s inhabitants struggle to adjust to a life where “normal” no longer exists. Families break apart due to grief, and faith is replaced by cynicism, paranoia, and madness. Some of them join the Guilty Remnant, a cult-like organization. Embattled police chief Kevin Garvey grapples with maintaining peace between his townspeople and the cult while worrying about his children.
Garvey’s daughter oscillates between apathy and rebellion, whereas his son forms a bond with a magnetic prophet. ‘The Leftovers’ is an emotionally-charged drama series based on Tom Perrotta’s best-selling eponymous novel, and he is also the co-creator of the series along with Damon Lindelof. It explores what lengths humans can go to cope after a disaster, as they do in ‘Dear Edward.’ However, this show takes a dark turn and goes beyond human compassion to insanity.
6. This is Us (2016-2022)
Kevin, Kate, and Randall are siblings whose parents, Rebecca and Jack Pearson, experience a difficult pregnancy. The parents’ lives center around their early marriage, the birth of the children, and the hardships they face in their upbringing. ‘This is Us‘ is a family drama series that portrays how Rebecca and Jack’s decisions affect their children’s adult lives and delves into their different experiences. The show is created by Dan Fogelman and depicts how having a similar past connects people as it did in ‘Dear Edward’ and how it can be transformational for everyone involved with proper communication and understanding.
5. Six Feet Under (2001–2005)
‘Six Feet Under’ is a comedy-drama series that chronicles Nathaniel Fisher and his wife Ruth, along with their children David and Claire, who runs a small funeral business in their locality renowned for providing unparalleled care. One Christmas, the prodigal son, Nate Jr., returns home, yet tragedy strikes when Nathaniel is fatally hit by a bus, which leaves Nate Jr. with no choice but to face the situation.
According to the will, Nate Jr. and David are appointed to run the family funeral business together, and they must overcome their personal challenges while preserving the legacy. Even though the tragedy here is quite different than ‘Dear Edward,’ the family comes together in times of trouble and pain to support each other through the ups and downs of life.
4. The Fosters (2013–2018)
‘The Fosters‘ is a captivating family drama series that focuses on the complex lives of police officer Stef Foster and her life partner, Lena Adams, a school vice principal. Their family is a beautiful mosaic of different ethnicities and backgrounds. Stef’s biological son, Brandon, is a part of this family, along with twins Jesus and Mariana, who they welcomed through adoption.
Moreover, Stef and Lena become foster parents to two children, Callie and Jude, who ultimately find their permanent home with the family. They show the same unity as the people in ‘Dear Edward’ when they navigate the dynamics of a blended family, grappling with the presence of Mike Foster— Stef’s ex-husband and Brandon’s biological father.
3. The Red Line (2019)
‘The Red Line’ is gripping drama series created by Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss that delves into the lives of three distinct Chicago families whose narratives of anguish and misfortune collide in the aftermath of an erroneous shooting of an African-American physician by a white police officer. As the paths of the Calder, Young, and Evans families intertwine and intersect, a powerful message of optimism emerges, as it does in ‘Dear Edward.’ It becomes feasible to arise from the depths of tragedy with renewed vigor, and it’s imperative to band together with others, not merely to survive but to prosper.
2. A Million Little Things (2018-2023)
‘A Million Little Things‘ is a family drama series created by DJ Nash. It centers on a closely-knit community of friends who live in Boston. They reel with shock as one of their own unexpectedly dies from suicide. The weight of their friend’s sudden absence sends shockwaves through the group, forcing them to reassess how they live their lives. As they confront the harsh reality of loss, they come to a profound realization that the actual value of friendship lies not in grand gestures but in a million little things that make life worth living. This revelation becomes a guiding light for the friends as they navigate the tumultuous waters of grief and healing, as the survivors do in ‘Dear Edward.’
1. After Life (2019–2022)
The British black comedy series ‘After Life‘ is created by Ricky Gervais, who also stars as the central character and truly embodies the persona of a broken man. After the death of his beloved wife, Lisa, Tony undergoes a drastic transformation from an amiable man with a perfect life to someone contemplating suicide. However, instead of ending his life, he plans to extend his existence with a new mission.
Tony seeks to avenge Lisa’s death by speaking his mind and acting on his impulses without regard for the consequences, viewing it as a superpower that cares little for himself or others. But rather than undermining his behavior, his friends and loved ones show the same empathy to him as they do to the 12-year-old titular character in ‘Dear Edward.’
Read More: Where is Dear Edward Filmed?
