The recently canceled Netflix series about the paranormal received perfect scores from critics and could have been as popular as Stranger Things. Stranger Things has consistently been one of Netflix’s biggest shows, sparking a huge interest in 1980s culture and influencing a new wave of science fiction thrillers. Although shows like Wednesday have attracted similar audiences, Netflix hasn’t yet found another series with the same lasting cultural impact as Stranger Things.
What really set Stranger Things apart, particularly in its first few seasons, was its unique mix of playful, adventurous stories reminiscent of films like E.T. and The Goonies, combined with real scares and intricate storylines. The relatable characters of Hawkins, who also became popular culture icons, created endless interesting interactions and relationships. While a show quite like Stranger Things may never come along again, Netflix actually created another series that had the potential to fill the void – but it was unfortunately canceled after just one season.
Lockwood & Co., a 2023 series based on Jonathan Stroud’s popular books, centers around three teenage detectives—Anthony, Lucy, and George—who operate their own ghost-hunting agency in London. The story takes place in a version of Britain haunted by ghosts, and uniquely, only children and teenagers have the ability to perceive and combat them.
Netflix’s Lockwood & Co., a smart and detailed paranormal drama, was a standout book adaptation. Its first (and unfortunately, only) season of eight episodes featured a great cast of young actors and engaging storylines, making it a fun watch for many. While it didn’t become as huge a hit as Stranger Things, the show was truly deserving of another season and its cancellation was disappointing.
Lockwood & Co. Was The Perfect Stranger Things Replacement
Lockwood & Co. features a team of young ghost hunters who are surprisingly brave, clever, and capable – much like the kids in Stranger Things. They put themselves in danger to protect their friends and uncover the truth behind a growing ghost problem that’s becoming more dangerous across Britain.
| Average Rotten Tomatoes Critics’ Score | Average Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score | |
| Stranger Things | 90% (at time of publication) | 83% |
| Lockwood & Co. | 100% (at time of publication) | 94% |
Just like in Stranger Things, the children in this story don’t have much freedom. Lockwood & Co., one of the last independent ghost-hunting agencies, has to compete with larger companies run by adults. These adults repeatedly send children into dangerous paranormal investigations, and, much like Hawkins Laboratory in Stranger Things, they prioritize profit over the well-being of the young people they employ, offering them very little in return.
Like the hidden world beneath Hawkins in Stranger Things, the British ghost war in Lockwood & Co. hides a much bigger, darker secret. While the Netflix series didn’t get to reveal everything, fans can discover the complete story in Jonathan Stroud’s original five-book series – a rare perk for a canceled show! It’s this complex plot and strong team dynamic that made Stranger Things so popular, and it’s exactly what makes Lockwood & Co. its most worthy successor.
Lockwood & Co. Wouldn’t Have Suffered From The Same Issues As Stranger Things’ Later Seasons
Despite remaining incredibly popular throughout its run, the final season of Stranger Things received mixed reactions. The show’s complex supernatural and sci-fi elements became increasingly elaborate, and while each season was grander in scale, that didn’t necessarily improve the storytelling. Some fan-favorite characters felt sidelined, and new characters were given a lot of focus in the show’s extended, movie-length finale.
Unlike some other shows, Lockwood & Co. was well-positioned to succeed. Netflix could have finished telling the complete story with just two more seasons. The first season skillfully blended the plots of the first two Lockwood books, The Screaming Staircase and The Whispering Skull, into a single, compelling narrative. It also cleverly introduced the larger mysteries from the remaining books, hinting at a connection between the ghostly activity and the secret operations of London’s leading organizations.
The books are brilliantly structured, consistently highlighting the unique skills and importance of Anthony, Lucy, and George. It’s disappointing that Netflix didn’t fully recognize the potential of Lockwood & Co. This incredibly talented team of ghost hunters deserved the same level of attention and affection as the beloved characters in Stranger Things.
All episodes of Lockwood & Co. are streaming now, only on Netflix.
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2026-05-30 17:21