Based on a series of popular young-adult spy novels, Alex Rider brought the stories to streaming for three seasons. However, since Season 4 won’t be happening, fans are going to need a new show along the same lines to fill the gap. Luckily, I’ve rounded up ten recommendations for shows like Alex Rider which should hopefully scratch a similar itch.
10 Shows Like Alex Rider
Alias (2001)
Jennifer Garner in Alias | Image via ABC
Ex-Daredevil floozy Jennifer Garner would star in this smash series created by J.J. Abrams that followed the rollercoaster ride of Sydney Bristow, straight out of college and recruited by an international spy agency, whose life is turned upside down when her fiancé is murdered and she is thrown onto a path of revenge. She becomes a double agent and struggles to find a work-life balance.
Nikita (2010)
As a troubled teen, Nikita was rescued from death row and brought into the folds of a secret spy network known as Division. Given a second chance, she would become an agent of incredible resources, a weapon of vengeance looking to take down a shadow organization with devious motivations. It’s easy to see comparisons between Alex Rider and Alias, but this show was another spy-smashing hit.
Jack Ryan (2018)
Jack Ryan | Image via Prime Video
John Krasinski stars in this tough guy role designed to break him away from his comedy roots. The CIA analyst is thrown inadvertently into a world of espionage across Europe and the Middle East, as terrorism rears its ugly head and Jack is dropped into the middle of life and death situations in this popular spy adaptation of Tom Clancy novels.
The Hardy Boys (2020)
The Hardy Boys | Image via Hulu
Here’s another young adult series adapted from another hugely influential book series, with young protagonists just like Alex facing off against sinister adversaries. This series would update the concept for a modern audience — a previous series ran in 1977 — and would mix the nostalgia of the original material with a modern approach for a 21st-century viewership.
Hanna (2019)
Hanna | Image via Prime Video
Encapsulating the spirit of Alex Rider, Hanna seems to veer into a coming-of-age story as well as a thriller, with the two genres merging into a satisfying tale of thrills, spills, and teenage angst. Raised in the wilderness, and with a CIA operative hot on her tail Hanna tries to evade capture, and uncover her own path.
The Man From U.N.C.L.E (1965)
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
With Bond lighting up the cinema in the 60s TV would follow with a series featuring spies, villains, and outlandish plots, that would then in itself become influenced by the 60s Batman series, becoming more and more ridiculous as it went. But the premise obviously resonated, as Guy Ritchie would reinvigorate it in 2015 with Henry Cavill taking U.N.C.L.E to a new generation. Unfortunately, the 2015 film would perform badly, halting a possible franchise, but it could resurface again.
Chuck (2007)
Chuck | Image via NBC
Before becoming an inconsistent boy superhero in DC’s Shazam, Zachary Levi would excel as Chuck, who inadvertently becomes involved in a world of espionage when he accidentally downloads some critical secrets, leading to all manner of high energy and comedic episodes over an incredible ninety-one episodes.
Deadly Class (2019)
Deadly Class | Image via Prime Video
Here’s another young protagonist, recruited this time into a class of assassins, in the interesting landscape of a stylized 1980s. Based on the comic book of the same name, and launched at the height of comic book properties being vacuumed up in the hope of finding lightning in a bottle, the show would start strong but lose momentum and was canceled after one season.
The Umbrella Academy (2019)
The Umbrella Academy | Image via Netflix
Not spies, but more superheroes, once again plucked from the paper pages of another funny book, written by Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance fame, this was an oddball family of super-powered misfits looking for answers about their origins, and trying to prevent the end of the world. Superhero fare for angst-ridden teenagers leaning into alternative entertainment.
K.C. Undercover (2015)
K.C. Undercover | Image via Disney
The ultimate in young adult spy intrigue finds Spider-Man love interest and moody Dune inhabitant Zendaya starring in a fun and highly energetic comedy thriller, as the young black belt genius who discovers her parents are spies. Recruited by The Organisation, they thwart the plans of evil maniacs while dealing with the usual more mundane family problems too.
Do you have any recommendations for more shows like Alex Rider? Let us know in the comments below!
