TV Shows Similar To Revenge With Betrayals That Sting
- 01. TV Shows Similar to Revenge: The Definitive List for Betrayal-Lovers
- 02. Why These Shows Capture Revenge's Essence
- 03. Top 10 TV Shows Similar to Revenge
- 04. Deep Dive: The Best Revenge-Themed Shows
- 05. Scandal: Political Intrigue Meets Personal Vendetta
- 06. How to Get Away with Murder: Legal Thriller with Revenge Roots
- 07. The Glory: K-Drama Perfection in Revenge Storytelling
- 08. La Doña: Latin American Telenovela Revenge
- 09. Shows by Revenge Theme Category
- 10. OL: How to Choose Your Next Revenge-Themed Show
- 11. Why These Shows Matter for Educational Values
TV Shows Similar to Revenge: The Definitive List for Betrayal-Lovers
If you loved ABC's Revenge (2011-2015) for its intricate plots, high-society betrayals, and meticulously planned retribution, the best shows similar to Revenge are Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Dynasty, Pretty Little Liars, The Glory, La Doña, and Elite-all featuring powerful protagonists seeking justice after devastating betrayals.
Why These Shows Capture Revenge's Essence
Revenge drew 6.8 million viewers per episode in its first season on ABC, making it one of the network's most-watched new dramas of 2011. The series' core appeal lies in its Count of Monte Cristo inspiration-French novelist Alexandre Dumas wrote, "Your vengeance may sometimes be slow in coming, but I think that then it is all the more complete"-a philosophy that drives every show on this list.
These series share three critical elements: a protagonist wronged by trusted allies, meticulous revenge planning spanning seasons, and collateral damage to innocent bystanders. Emily VanCamp's character Amanda Clarke/Emily Thorne stated: "Sometimes the innocent gets hurt. But one by one, the guilty will pay".
Top 10 TV Shows Similar to Revenge
| Show Title | Network/Platform | Seasons | Revenge Theme | Key Similarity to Revenge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scandal | ABC | 7 (2012-2018) | Political vengeance | Crisis management + secrets |
| How to Get Away with Murder | ABC | 6 (2014-2020) | Legal revenge | Viola Davis's Annalise Keating |
| Dynasty | The CW/Netflix | 5 (2017-2022) | Wealthy family power struggles | Carrington family drama |
| Pretty Little Liars | Freeform/ABC Family | 7 (2010-2017) | Anonymous revenge ("A") | Secrets + cliffhangers |
| The Glory | Netflix | 1 (2022-2023) | School bullying revenge | Song Hye-kyo's meticulous planning |
| La Doña | Telemundo | 2 (2016-2017) | Telenovela revenge | Mexican-American production |
| Elite | Netflix | 7+ (2018-present) | Spanish class warfare | Wealth + betrayal |
| Gossip Girl | The CW | 6 (2007-2012) | Upper East Side secrets | Privileged teenagers |
| My Name | Netflix | 1 (2021) | Korean gangster revenge | Police infiltration |
| Big Little Lies | HBO | 2 (2017-2019) | Mother's revenge | Reese Witherspoon + Nicole Kidman |
Deep Dive: The Best Revenge-Themed Shows
Scandal: Political Intrigue Meets Personal Vendetta
Scandal revolves around Olivia Pope, a former White House Communications Director who starts her own crisis management firm. Starring Kerry Washington, this series is filled with political intrigue, secrets, and intense drama that mirrors Revenge's high-stakes manipulation. The show ran for 7 seasons from 2012-2018, averaging 9.2 million viewers per episode in its peak season.
How to Get Away with Murder: Legal Thriller with Revenge Roots
This legal thriller follows law professor Annalise Keating and her students as they become entangled in a murder plot. Viola Davis delivers a powerful performance in this suspenseful and twist-filled series where moral ambiguity drives every decision. The show earned Davis multiple Emmy nominations and won her the Outstanding Lead Actress award in 2015.
The Glory: K-Drama Perfection in Revenge Storytelling
Written by Kim Eun-sook (mastermind behind Descendants of the Sun and Guardian: The Lonely and Great God), The Glory centers on Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) who exacts revenge on former school bullies. Nearly 20 years later, having kept tabs on all of them, Moon Dong-Eun meticulously destroys them one by one, both psychologically and socially. The show became Netflix's #1 global non-English title within 48 hours of its December 30, 2022 release.
"Your feet that were eager to inflict pain on others and all the feet that walked next to them... That's how far I'm planning to go." - Moon Dong-eun, The Glory
La Doña: Latin American Telenovela Revenge
Based on Venezuelan author Rómulo Gallegos's novel Doña Bárbara, La Doña is a two-season Mexican-American series produced by Telemundo featuring Altagracia Sandoval (Aracely Arámbula) seeking to bring down The Monkeys gang. When she was young, teenage gang members abused her, brutally murdered her parents and boyfriend, and left her pregnant. This show particularly resonates with Latin American audiences seeking culturally relevant revenge narratives.
Shows by Revenge Theme Category
- Wealth & Power Struggles: Dynasty, Gossip Girl, Empire, The Royals
- Secrets & Anonymous Threats: Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, Quantico
- Legal & Political Vengeance: Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder, Suits
- International Revenge Dramas: The Glory (Korea), La Doña (Mexico), Elite (Spain), My Name (Korea)
- Familial Betrayal: Big Little Lies, Blood Ties/Las Villamizar, Her Mother's Killer
OL: How to Choose Your Next Revenge-Themed Show
- Identify your preferred setting: high society (Dynasty), political (Scandal), or legal (HTGAWM)
- Decide if you want international perspectives like The Glory (Korea) or La Doña (Mexico)
- Consider episode commitment: My Name has 8 episodes vs. Scandal's 124 episodes
- Check if you prefer closed endings (Revenge ended after 4 seasons) or ongoing stories (Elite continues)
- Prioritize strong female protagonists like Annalise Keating (Viola Davis) or Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo)
Why These Shows Matter for Educational Values
While these dramas explore dark themes of betrayal and vengeance, they also demonstrate critical lessons about consequences, justice versus revenge, and the cost of obsession. For educators and parents discussing these shows with students, they provide entry points for conversations about ethical decision-making and emotional intelligence-core competencies in holistic education frameworks.
The protagonists in these series often begin as victims but must navigate complex moral landscapes where right and wrong blur. This mirrors real-world challenges students face when confronting injustice, making these shows valuable discussion catalysts for character education programs aligned with values-driven pedagogy.
Expert answers to Tv Shows Similar To Revenge With Betrayals That Sting queries
What makes Revenge unique among drama series?
Revenge uniquely combined Hamptons high society with Count of Monte Cristo literary adaptation, running 4 seasons (2011-2015) with 88 episodes on ABC, starring Emily VanCamp and Madeleine Stowe. The show's opening night drew 8.97 million viewers, making it ABC's most-watched new drama premiere in two years.
Are there Latin American shows similar to Revenge?
Yes-La Doña (Telemundo, 2016-2017), Las Villamizar/Blood Ties (Caracol TV/Netflix, Colombian), and Her Mother's Killer (Colombian soap opera, 60 episodes) feature revenge plots with Latin cultural contexts. These shows particularly resonate with Brazilian and Latin American audiences seeking culturally relevant narratives.
Which revenge show has the most satisfying ending?
The Glory (2022-2023) received critical acclaim for its complete revenge arc, with Song Hye-kyo's character successfully destroying all her bullies within 16 episodes across 2 parts. Revenge itself concluded with Emily Thorne achieving her goals but at significant personal cost, staying true to its collateral damage theme.
Is there a Korean drama like Revenge?
The Glory is the definitive Korean revenge drama, with Song Hye-kyo playing Moon Dong-eun who plans 18 years of revenge against school bullies. My Name offers a grittier alternative with Han So-hee infiltrating police as a gang mole to find her father's killer. Reborn Rich features Song Joong-ki reincarnated into his enemy's family to take over their company.
What shows are like Revenge but with more action?
My Name delivers violent action with intense hand-to-hand combat scenes. The Punisher (Marvel Netflix, 2 seasons, 26 episodes) features Jon Bernthal as a lethal vigilante exacting brutal revenge on criminals. Nikita is frequently recommended by Revenge fans for its action-oriented protagonist seeking vengeance.
