It will be a while beforeFromseason 4 hits the small screens, but while waiting for the gripping horror-thriller series,viewers can check out another similar compelling drama. AlthoughFromis often touted as the new Lost replacement, the show has managed to etch its own identity in the mystery thriller genre with its brilliant twists, vast roster of well-written characters, and baffling but fascinating story beats. Like some of the best puzzle-box thrillers,Fromcarefully gives away subtle details about its story while intentionally keeping viewers in the dark about what will happen next.
While many shows have attempted to recreate a similar formula, most of them, unlikeFrom, have struggled to walk the thin line between keeping viewers invested and not turning them off with convoluted plotlines. SinceFromhas consistently managed to land in viewers' and critics' good books for three seasons, its fourth installment is expected to tread a similar path. However, as audiences awaitFromseason 4’s release, they can also fill the gap by diving into another similar 2-season drama co-produced by M. Night Shyamalan.
Wayward Pines Should Help Ease The Wait For From Season 4
It Serves As The PerfectFromReplacement
Wayward Pines' opening story beats are very similar toFrom’s. Both shows seem to begin with a car accident that involves a family. As the story progresses,it is soon revealed thatthe central setting in both shows has supernatural undertonesand anyone who enters the main town cannot leave.
Just likeHarold Perrineau’sFromcharacterstruggles to keep the people of the town safe from terrifying monsters that hail from the woods, Matt Dillon’s Ethan Burke also sets out to investigate the mysterious titular town inWayward Pinesbefore learning the dark truths about the eerie forces controlling it. Owing to their similarities, it is hard not to seeWayward Pinesas the perfect replacement forFrom.
10 Biggest Mysteries & Unanswered Questions From Season 4 Must Solve
Some of From’s biggest mysteries were solved in season 3, but there are still major unanswered questions that remain heading into season 4.
Given howFromhas consistently performed well among viewers and critics and boasts an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 96%, it would be fair to say that it ranks among some of the best puzzle-boxmystery shows, likeLostandFringe. The same cannot be said aboutWayward Pinesbecause it struggled to please viewers with its second installment. However,its solid opening season can still be enjoyed by viewerslooking forward toFromseason 4.
What Really Makes From Such A Unique Mystery Show
FromUses Its Terrifying Elements And Strong Characters To Make The Mystery That Much More Enticing
At first glance,Fromappears to share a lot of creative DNA as puzzle box shows, leaning more heavily into the horror elements but retaining an episodic approach to characters while developing a larger mythos and threat. However, beyond having some of television’s most fearsome riffs on the classic archetype of the seemingly unassuming monster,Fromhas also proven very adept at building a larger world with a complex morality. As opposed to any one-note approach to conflict in the town,Fromthrives on forcing the few surviving citizens to deal with very grim decisions for the sake of survival.
The dramas that develop between them feel grounded and natural even while contrasted against efforts to confront generational mysteries and overcome bloodthirsty monsters. This gives additional depth to the mystery, with each revelation and possibility forcing the characters to carry out harsh choices for the sake of themselves and others. It’s a strong character drama, beyond the supernatural mystery.It’s also absolutely terrifying, which serves a secondary purpose of speeding up the action whenever the show risks getting drowned in lore. As the mysteries are unraveled, the danger remains present and horrifyingly around any corner, which ratchets up the tension.
The first three seasons ofFromare now streaming on MGM+.
The straightforward danger of the Nightmare Creatures was only the first wayFromfound to mess with the characters and the audience at large. Spiders, worms, disease, isolation, and far worse are hiding in the forests that surround the town ofFrom. These unexplained elements and hints towards a greater evil help further fuel the desire to unravel the town’s mysteries. It all comes together to make a show that would be compelling enough on its own as a pure horror story. However, coupled with the mystery elements and character drama,Fromhas proven to be a very intriguing show.
Wayward Pines & From Share Similarities As Two Mystery Sci-Fi Shows
From’s Audience Will Likely Enjoy Wayward Pines
Perhaps one of the biggest differences betweenWayward PinesandFromis that the former is based on a book series by Blake Crouch.Frommight borrow tropes and story beats from other renowned shows of the genre, but it maintains its sense of originality by not being tied to any source material. However, when it comes to their storytelling approach,both shows brilliantly pull the chair from underneath their viewers by dropping twists that resolve a few mysteriesbut leave viewers with many other burning questions.
Similar toFrom,Wayward Pinesalso does not shy away from being violent and disturbingly graphic with its portrayal of its scarier elements, allowing it to immerse viewers into its gripping story beats.
AlthoughWayward Pinesloses momentum towards its second installment, it does an incredible job of dividing its runtime between its vast roster likeFrom. Similar toFrom,Wayward Pinesalso does not shy away from being violent and disturbingly graphic with its portrayal of its scarier elements, allowing it to immerse viewers into its gripping story beats. Overall, Wayward Pines might have failed to reach its full potential after its first installment, but it can still make up for a compelling and intense viewing experience while waiting forFrom’s much-awaited season 4.
Other Shows You Can Check If You Can’t Wait For From Season 4
Horror Mystery Shows Have Been A Standard Of Television For Decades
Beyond justWayard Pines, there are plenty of other compelling mystery shows that can scratch the itchFromseason 3 left behind.Fromshares more withLostthan just Harold Perrineau in a lead role, making the classic ABC show an easy recommendation for fans ofFrom. However, the more horrific elements of the show recall plenty of surreal twists and turns of other acclaimed mystery shows.Twin Peaksis a great example of the same blend of supernatural dread, tightly wound mystery, and surprisingly deep character pathos that fuelsFrom. Shows likeThe Strainhave similar monsters and conspiracies.
An older show with a clear shared creative DNA toFromisThe Prisoner, which focuses on a former government agent as he tries to escape an enigmatic “village.” A more modern peer toFromwould beThem, a Prime Video horror mystery that roots a terrifying approach to real-world horrors.There’s alsoThe Outsideron Max, an adaptation of Stephen King’s book of the same name that covers many of the same tonal beats asFrom. Even if the wait forFromseason 4 feels like a lot, there are plenty of killer other shows to catch up on.
From
From is a series revolving around a mysterious American town that ensnares newcomers, forcing its inhabitants to maintain order and find an escape amidst nighttime perils from the surrounding forest. The residents face threats from terrifying creatures emerging after sunset, complicating their struggle for survival.
Wayward Pines
Cast
Wayward Pines is a sci-fi series based on the Blake Crouch novel series of the same name. Its story initially centers around Ethan Burke, a secret service agent investigating the disappearance of two of his fellow agents in a small Idaho town. The series ran for two seasons on Fox between 2014 and 2016 before being officially canceled a few years later.
