Ravenclaws are known for being the ‘clever’ house, but they are so much more than just booksmart. Sure, Ravenclaws value wit and wisdom over the bravery, cunning, or loyalty of the other houses in the Harry Potter world, but they also value free thinking and individuality. Ravenclaws are some of the quirkiest people that you will ever meet, and their taste in TV would reflect that!
Of course, televisions themselves don’t work at Hogwarts, thanks to the sheer amount of magic in the atmosphere, and most magical families don’t have muggle tvs in their home. However, for those who are muggle-born, just interested in our world… or for Harry Potter fans who know that the sorting hat would put them in Ravenclaw, these are the smartest, quirkiest, and most interesting shows that any Ravenclaw would love.
How To Get Away With Murder
On the surface, this might seem like more of a Slytherin kind of show… cunning people trying to get away with horrible crimes? That’s Salazar’s house, right there!! However, How To Get Away With Murder isn’t just about cunning people, it’s about incredibly intelligent people… and the show itself is filled with the kinds of twists and turns that make it perfect for anyone who wants something smart and surprising. The show begins when a group of gifted law students end up embroiled in a murder, and together with their brilliant professor, they get drawn deeper and deeper into a web of criminal activity.
My Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
This is definitely one that has a high quirk-factor, but it’s also a brilliantly smart show that looks at neurodivergence and mental health in a totally new way… and it’s a musical! This hit series centers on Rebecca, a brilliant young woman with a boring life and a wildly overactive imagination, who ends up moving to West Covina, California, after she discovers that her first love lives there… and he’s single.
On first glance, this might seem like yet another silly sitcom, but look deeper, and you’ll find a clever, funny, touching look at life, love, and friendship.
BoJack Horseman
The only animated series on this list, and it’s definitely not a cartoon comedy. Bojack Horseman is increasingly acknowledged as one of the smartest shows on Netflix - and it fits the Ravenclaw bill by being both incredibly smart and impressively quirky. BoJack takes place in a world where humans live alongside anthropomorphic animals of all kinds, and BoJack himself is a horse who used to have a hit TV show. Of course, now all he has is a bunch of money, addictions, and surprisingly hard hitting thoughts on life.
Mr Robot
Mr Robot may have wrapped things up, but any Ravenclaw who hasn’t seen it is in for a treat. Starring Rami Malek, Mr Robot seems at first like it’s a tale of hacking and computer genius… but quickly becomes something much more complicated. Delving into questions of what is reality and what isn’t, as well as the expected narrative of a hacker taking on something much larger. Not always an easy series to watch, Mr Robot is perfect viewing for anyone looking to be surprised.
Sherlock
The idea of Sherlock Holmes and his stories has been adapted many times, but the BBC series is a fan-favorite for a reason. With Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular character and Martin Freeman as his Holmes, Sherlock is brilliantly complex and fascinating, with storylines to challenge any viewer.
From perfect villains to perfect crimes, Sherlock will appeal to every Ravenclaw who wants to believe that they could just possibly be even smarter than Sherlock himself.
Mindhunter
While Ravenclaws are bound to enjoy any show that takes a look into the complexity of human behavior, Mindhunter takes it a step further, turning the birth of serial killer profiling and making it the center of the show. Warning, though, this is not a show for anyone who gets easily frightened, as the episodes delve into what makes these killers tick. Set in the ’70s and ’80s, this series looks at real-life serial killers and how the FBI first started to explore what drives these mass murderers.
Black Mirror
Another one that may not be for the faint of heart - Black Mirror is a series that explores the dark places that technology may take us. Each episode tells a separate story, with themes of love, death, and reality at the forefront. This is the kind of series that will make the viewer think… and possibly keep them up at night. Of course, that’s exactly the kind of viewing that Ravenclaws will love… as long as they also love being scared (just a little bit).
House
Like Sherlock, House is all about unfurling mysteries - but unlike Sherlock, this isn’t based in murder, but in medicine. House stars Hugh Laurie as the enigmatic Dr House, a brilliant diagnostician who is sent only the most impossible cases. His brash attitude is only accepted because of his brilliance, but it’s not his vicious insults that keeps viewers coming back (well… maybe a little). It’s the twists and turns that his cases take as he attempts to save life after life - a modern detective mystery without quite so many dead bodies.
Game of Thrones
Admittedly, anyone who has yet to watch Game of Thrones may have been living under a rock for the past decade, but it’s still smart enough to warrant a spot on the list. The political scheming, battle planning, incredibly detailed plotlines, and constant twists are just perfect for Ravenclaws who want a little intelligent viewing that also comes with dragons and sweeping court gowns.
Doctor Who
Another classic, Doctor Who manages to be both intelligent and quirky - making it the ultimate Ravenclaw series! Whether you start at the very beginning with Classic Who, jump in with the reboot, or just start with the latest Doctor, these time-traveling adventures will take viewers through time and space, challenging conceptions, fighting monsters, and most importantly, continually inspiring viewers with storylines that are consistently unexpected.
