Television series

Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

Name: Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Music
Released: 2020
Cast: Jane Levy, Skylar Astin, Alex Newell, Mary Steenburgen, John Clarence Stewart

A woman in her twenties gains the sudden ability to hear people's innermost thoughts as songs and elaborate musical numbers. It's a gleeful, heartfelt show about connection, grief, and finding your voice—part rom-com, part emotional excavation. Perfect for anyone who wants their drama served with joy, and their joy grounded in real stakes.

TVMaze rating

3.6

If you liked this

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend2015

Same DNA of emotional honesty wrapped in musical numbers that hit harder than they have any right to. Rebecca's messiness feels recognizable, and the show never lets you off easy—it earns every laugh and every tear.

But The protagonist's behavior gets genuinely dark at times. Some people find the relentless self-awareness exhausting rather than cathartic.

Schitt's Creek2015

Found family built on genuine affection and character growth. It's warm without being saccharine, funny without being cruel, and by the end you'll believe in these people completely. Quietly one of the best shows of the decade.

But Early seasons have a broader, sitcom-y tone that takes a few episodes to settle. Some viewers find it takes too long to get serious.

The Good Place2016

Wickedly smart comedy that sneaks philosophy and real moral weight under a candy-colored surface. Eleanor's journey is as earned as Zoey's, and it manages to be both hilarious and genuinely moving about what we owe each other.

But The premise demands you accept some pretty high-concept sci-fi logic. If you need realism, this won't work for you.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Halt and Catch Fire2014

Both are ultimately about belonging and being truly seen by another person. Both refuse to reduce their characters to a single trait, even when that trait is central to the plot.

A completely unexpected emotional epic buried inside a show about computer engineers in the 1980s. Character work is extraordinary—relationships deepen across five seasons in ways that feel lived-in and real. Career-best performances from everyone.

But Early episodes can feel like standard prestige TV. It takes time and investment to see why the characters matter so much. Technical jargon might alienate some viewers.

Glee2009

The spiritual ancestor of Zoey's format—musical numbers as emotional expression. When it works, it's transportive. Early seasons especially have a genuine spark and sense of mischief about what television can do.

But The show is deeply uneven and increasingly chaotic. After the honeymoon phase, it struggles with tone, character consistency, and what it actually wants to be about.

Once Upon a Time2011

Unapologetic about embracing emotion and spectacle. If you love Zoey's willingness to be earnest about feeling, this fantasy-adventure will reward that same appetite. Ensemble cast work is strong in the early years.

But Mythology gets convoluted fast, and the show sometimes prioritizes plot mechanics over character. You have to be in it for the tone, not the logic.

Atypical2017

Another show about a socially awkward person learning to navigate the world with help from people who care. Genuine, funny, and interested in neurodiversity as more than a plot device. Strong ensemble.

But The parental storylines occasionally overshadow the protagonist's arc. Some feel the show doesn't quite earn all its emotional beats.

Ginny & Georgia2021

Warm family dramedy with a genuine sense of humor and affection for its characters. Great ensemble chemistry and the kind of emotional generosity that Zoey operates in—people matter more than plot mechanics.

But Mother-daughter relationship dynamics might feel heavy-handed depending on your own family situation. Plot occasionally takes a back seat to vibes.

Pushing Daisies2007

Impossibly visual, genuinely whimsical, and shot through with real longing and melancholy. Like Zoey, it's unafraid to be colorful and earnest simultaneously. Narrator-driven storytelling feels like a friend telling you a secret.

But Only two seasons before cancellation. If you get attached, disappointment is built in. The stylization is maximalist—not for everyone.

Kevin Can F**k Himself2021

Takes a familiar format and questions what's underneath. Smart, dark comedy about how women are perceived. If you appreciate Zoey's emotional intelligence, this explores what happens when empathy meets resentment.

But Tonal shifts are deliberate but jarring. The second half is much darker and angrier—some find the contrast alienating rather than clarifying.

Undone2019

Both center a young woman whose unusual perception becomes a way to understand family trauma. Both trust the audience to sit with ambiguity and emotional complexity.

Rotoscoped animation series about a woman questioning reality after a car accident. Dreamy, surreal, funny, and heartbreaking. Like Zoey, it finds magic in the texture of ordinary relationships—but approaches it from a much stranger angle.

But The animation style is polarizing—some find it hypnotic, others find it off-putting. Unreliable narrator territory can feel unsettling rather than magical.