If you’re into TV shows with a side of mystery and intrigue, then you’ve hit the jackpot with ones featuring secret societies.
Picture this: you’re diving deep into the hidden world of organizations like the Freemasons, the Illuminati, or the Knights Templar – all the while glued to the screen. Shows and movies like The Da Vinci Code, The Order, and Alias are prime examples. They’re like a rollercoaster ride through history, conspiracy, and a sprinkle of mysticism.
Secret societies have this undeniable allure, right? They’re like the cool kids’ club with all the secrets, and who wouldn’t want to know what’s behind those closed doors? Plus, they’re not just interesting for the sake of it – they dive into themes like power struggles, loyalty, and the age-old battle between good and evil.
So buckle up, because these shows are about to take you on a wild ride into the unknown.
SCRIPTED SECRET SOCIETY SHOWS
The Order, Netflix (2019 – 2020)
The Order is a TV show that follows college student Jack Morton as he joins the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, a secret society at Belgrave University.
Jack discovers a world of magic and dark forces as he seeks revenge for his mother’s death. The Hermetic Order is a powerful group of magicians who use ancient rituals and spells to control the supernatural.
They’re locked in a conflict with another secret society, the Knights of Saint Christopher, who hunt down and eliminate dark magic users. These two societies clash throughout the series as Jack navigates the dangerous world of magic and secret societies, uncovering shocking truths along the way.
A Series Of Unfortunate Events, Netflix (2017 – 2019)
A Series of Unfortunate Events is a TV show based on the book series of the same name by Lemony Snicket. It follows the Baudelaire siblings, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, who are orphaned after their parents die in a mysterious fire.
Throughout their journey under the care of their villainous relative, Count Olaf, they encounter various secret societies, including the Volunteer Fire Department (VFD).
The VFD is a clandestine organization dedicated to putting out fires and protecting knowledge, but it becomes divided over philosophical differences. The role of the Volunteer Fire Department in the series revolves around its mysterious past, its members’ connections to the Baudelaire parents, and its involvement in the larger plot unfolding throughout the show.
Inside Job, Netflix (2021 – 2022)
The animated series Inside Job satirizes conspiracy theories and government secrets as it follows Reagan Ridley, a brilliant yet eccentric scientist working for Cognito Inc., a massive corporation that secretly controls world events.
The central secret society in the show is known as The Deep State, a shadowy organization comprising politicians, CEOs, and other influential figures who manipulate global affairs for their own gain.
Throughout the series, Reagan and her quirky team navigate the absurdities of corporate culture and uncover the machinations of The Deep State, all while trying to maintain their sanity and morality as they uncover more about its sinister agenda and try to thwart its plans.
Ares, Netflix (2020)
Ares follows Rosa, a medical student in Amsterdam, as she becomes entangled in the mysterious world of a secret society known as Ares.
The society presents itself as an elite student organization, but its true nature is far more sinister. As Rosa delves deeper into Ares, she discovers dark secrets and supernatural forces at play. The society, led by the enigmatic Carmen, wields power and influence over its members through ancient rituals and manipulation.
Ares serves as a conduit for exploring themes of power, control, and the consequences of seeking forbidden knowledge.
Intruders, BBC America (2014)
With a blend of mystery, thriller, and supernatural elements, Intruders follows the intertwining lives of various characters who are all connected by a mysterious secret society called Qui Reverti.
This society is obsessed with achieving immortality by transferring their consciousness into new bodies through a process called “taking.” Members of Qui Reverti go to extreme lengths to maintain their secrecy and continue their pursuit of eternal life.
Throughout the series, the role of Qui Reverti is central to the unfolding mysteries and conflicts, as characters uncover the dark truths behind the society’s rituals and the lengths they will go to in order to achieve their goals.
Gravity Falls, Disney Channel/ Disney XD (2012 – 2016)
Gravity Falls is an animated TV show centered around twins Dipper and Mabel Pines, who spend their summer with their great-uncle Stan in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon.
Throughout the series, they encounter various supernatural creatures and phenomena while uncovering the town’s secrets.
The Blind Eye Society is a secretive organization in Gravity Falls dedicated to erasing the memories of townspeople who have witnessed paranormal events. Led by a mysterious figure known as Blind Ivan, the society operates in the shadows to maintain the town’s façade of normalcy and keep its secrets hidden.
Mr. Robot, USA Network (2015 – 2019)
In Mr. Robot, we meet Elliot Alderson, a cybersecurity engineer and hacker who suffers from social anxiety disorder and dissociative identity disorder.
Elliot is recruited by an enigmatic anarchist known as Mr. Robot to join Fsociety, a secret hacker group. The group’s goal is to dismantle corporate America by erasing debt records and destabilizing the global economy.
Fsociety operates covertly, employing hacking techniques and social engineering to achieve their objectives. Led by Mr. Robot, the society attracts individuals disillusioned with society and eager to disrupt the status quo, but it causes Elliot to grapple with his conflicting loyalties, moral dilemmas, and the consequences of his actions in pursuit of justice and revolution.
Timeless, NBC (2016 – 2018)
Timeless is a TV show centered around a team of time travelers who must prevent a mysterious organization known as Rittenhouse from altering history for their own nefarious purposes.
Rittenhouse is revealed to be a centuries-old secret society that spans generations and wields considerable influence over key historical events, and their ultimate goal is to manipulate the timeline to ensure their continued dominance and erase any threats to their power.
Their role is central to the overarching conflict of the show, as the team races against time to stop Rittenhouse’s machinations and preserve the integrity of history.
Gilmore Girls, The WB/The CW (2000 – 2007)
The absolute pop culture classic Gilmore Girls follows the lives of Lorelai Gilmore and her daughter Rory in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, and explores their relationships with each other, their family, and the quirky inhabitants of their town.
The Life and Death Brigade is a secret society of wealthy and adventurous Yale students known for their extravagant and daring escapades.
Led by Logan Huntzberger, the brigade is characterized by its members’ love of spontaneity, thrill-seeking, and elaborate pranks. Throughout the series, Rory becomes involved with the brigade through her romantic relationship with Logan, experiencing their exhilarating antics and gaining insight into their world of privilege and adventure.
Mayfair Witches, AMC (2023 – present)
Mayfair Witches is based on the novels by Anne Rice that centered around the Mayfair family, a powerful lineage of witches in New Orleans. The series explores the family’s supernatural abilities, dark secrets, and the interplay between magic and mundane life.
In the show, Talamasca is a secret society of scholars and researchers dedicated to studying and documenting supernatural phenomena, including the activities of the Mayfair witches.
It serves as a source of knowledge and guidance for the Mayfair family, providing them with information about their powers, history, and the larger supernatural world, ultimately being pivotal in uncovering the mysteries surrounding the Mayfair witches and their connection to ancient forces.
Supernatural, The CW (2005 – 2020)
Supernatural is a long-running TV show following the adventures of brothers Sam and Dean Winchester as they hunt supernatural creatures, demons, and other paranormal threats.
Throughout the series, they encounter various organizations and secret societies, including The Men of Letters.
The group, which operates from hidden bunkers equipped with advanced technology and resources, is dedicated to preserving knowledge about the supernatural and combating dark forces. The Men of Letters possess vast archives of magical lore, artifacts, and spells, which they use to aid hunters like Sam and Dean in their battles against evil, as well as help in revealing secrets about their family’s legacy and the true nature of the supernatural world they inhabit.
The Witcher, Netflix (2019 – present)
Based on the book series by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher is set in a world inhabited by monsters, magic, and political intrigue. The series follows Geralt of Rivia, a monster hunter known as a Witcher, as he navigates the complexities of a world where humans, elves, and other creatures vie for power and survival.
The Lodge of Sorceresses is a secretive organization composed of powerful female magic users that often operate behind the scenes, Influencing political events and pursuing their own agendas. The Lodge aims to advance the interests of magic users and maintain their influence in a world where their powers are both feared and coveted.
Poltergeist: The Legacy, Showtime/Sci-Fi Channel (1996 – 1999)
Poltergeist: The Legacy is a TV show that follows members of a secret society called the Legacy, dedicated to protecting the world from supernatural threats.
The society is composed of individuals with special abilities or knowledge about the occult who investigate and combat paranormal phenomena. They operate in secret, using their resources and expertise to confront malevolent spirits, demons, and other supernatural entities.
The group works to maintain the balance between the forces of good and evil, uncover ancient artifacts, unravel mysteries, and confront dark forces that threaten humanity, often facing personal and moral challenges along the way.
Game of Thrones, HBO (2011 – 2019)
Game of Thrones, set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, follows the power struggles between noble families vying for control of the Iron Throne and the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
The Faceless Men is a mysterious and elite group of assassins based in the Free City of Braavos. They worship the Many-Faced God, who represents death in all its forms.
Members of the Faceless Men are trained in the art of assassination and disguise, able to change their appearance at will. They offer their services to those who can afford their steep prices and carry out their missions with ruthless efficiency, making them feared throughout the known world.
Sleepy Hollow, Fox (2013 – 2017)
Sleepy Hollow combines supernatural elements with historical fiction, following Ichabod Crane, who awakens in the 21st century after being resurrected to battle the Headless Horseman and other supernatural threats.
The Freemasons, a real-world secret society, are depicted in the show as guardians of ancient knowledge of occult lore, have connections to historical figures and events, and are protectors of powerful artifacts.
In Sleepy Hollow, the Freemasons play a crucial role in the ongoing battle against evil forces, passing down secrets and artifacts across generations to aid in the fight, particularly to Crane and his companions as they navigate the supernatural dangers lurking in Sleepy Hollow and beyond.
Lodge 49, AMC (2018 – 2019)
Lodge 49 follows Sean “Dud” Dudley, a down-on-his-luck surfer in Long Beach, California, who joins a fraternal lodge called the Ancient and Benevolent Order of the Lynx after his father’s death.
The Order of the Lynx is a secret society steeped in mystery and tradition, with rituals and symbols dating back centuries. It serves as a community hub where members come together for fellowship, support, and the pursuit of esoteric knowledge.
Throughout the series, The Order of the Lynx plays a central role in Dud’s journey of self-discovery as he uncovers the lodge’s secrets and learns valuable lessons about life, friendship, and the interconnectedness of all things.
Rebelde, Netflix (2022)
Rebelde follows the lives of students at Elite Way School, a prestigious boarding school in Mexico City, and revolves around the struggles and romances of the students, who come from wealthy and influential families.
As you may be able to tell from the title, The Lodge is a secret society formed by a group of students who seek to challenge the status quo and rebel against the school’s strict rules and social hierarchies.
They use their influence and resources to organize clandestine events, protests, and acts of defiance against the school administration and the expectations of their families.
Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol, Peacock (2021)
Many of Dan Brown’s novels have been given life on our screens, and The Lost Symbol is yet another example.
In this series, symbologist Robert Langdon unravels a series of mysteries and conspiracies in Washington, D.C.
The Leviathan Group is a secretive organization within the show that seeks to manipulate world events and shape the course of history according to their own agenda. Operating behind the scenes, The Leviathan Group wields immense power and influence, using advanced technology and ancient knowledge to achieve their goals.
Langdon and his allies must uncover the secrets of The Leviathan Group while racing against time to prevent catastrophic consequences for humanity.
Agent Carter, ABC (2015 – 2016)
Fans of the Marvel Cinematic Universe are bound to know of Agent Carter, the series following Peggy Carter, a former spy for the Strategic Scientific Reserve (SSR), as she works as a secret agent in post-World War II America.
The Council of Nine is a mysterious and powerful secret society depicted as a group of influential individuals who manipulate events to their advantage from the shadows. They are involved in various criminal activities, including arms dealing and espionage.
Throughout the series, Peggy Carter and her allies uncover the Council’s machinations and work to thwart their plans while navigating the complexities of Cold War-era politics and espionage.
The Blacklist, NBC (2013 – 2023)
The Blacklist centered around Raymond “Red” Reddington, a former government agent turned high-profile criminal who surrenders to the FBI and offers to help them catch other dangerous criminals on his “blacklist.”
In the series, Les Fleurs Du Mal is a secretive and elite society depicted as a group of wealthy and powerful individuals who engage in various criminal activities, including trafficking and manipulation, and use their influence to evade justice.
Throughout the series, Reddington and the FBI uncover the secrets of Les Fleurs Du Mal while navigating the dangerous world of international espionage and crime.
NON-SCRIPTED SECRET SOCIETY SHOWS
Secret Societies, History (2014)
Secret Societies delves into the hidden world of secretive organizations and clandestine groups.
Each episode explores a different secret society, revealing their history, rituals, and influence on society. From ancient orders like the Freemasons and the Illuminati to modern-day groups shrouded in mystery, the show uncovers the secrets and controversies surrounding these enigmatic organizations.
Through interviews with experts, historians, and members themselves, viewers gain insight into the inner workings of these societies and the impact they have on politics, culture, and everyday life.
Secret Societies: In the Shadows, History (2022 – 2023)
Learn about even more real-life secret societies in Secret Societies: In the Shadows, a six-episode miniseries that is both entertaining and educational.
Discover where these mysterious organizations used to meet and how they operated, and find out for yourself whether they were the ‘good guys’ or the ‘bad guys’.
Were they manipulating events to go in their favor to gain power, or were they the ones bringing down those who abused the power given to them?
Inside Secret Societies, Discovery (2016)
What sets Inside Secret Societies apart from the other unscripted shows on the list is that the series goes beyond the organizations that operate covertly and unbeknownst to most of us regular folks.
The episodes cover groups that may not be extremely well-known, but by no means are they trying to hide, either! Some of these include fanatical religious groups, cults, and even criminal organizations.
They may all have different ideologies, but they have one thing in common: to exercise as much power and control as possible.
Deadly Devotion, Discovery Plus (2013 – 2015)
Deadly Devotion unfolds in a similar way to the abovementioned documentary series but with a more specific focus on groups that require its members to have, well, a deadly devotion.
Throughout its three seasons, Deadly Devotion takes its viewers deep inside ideological cults and religious clans to show how psychology works in their world – and how it often goes too far.