'Masterpiece' TV series 'as good as The Handmaid's Tale' streaming on Netflix

The final season of everybody's favourite dystopian thriller is officially over, and fans of The Handmaid's Tale are on the hunt for the next TV series to sink their teeth into - but they may not need to look much further.

Thriller fans are just as impressed with this lesser-known dystopian series, titled 3%, with a young ensemble cast, set within a unique offshore society. The 2020 Netflix show has garnered countless high ratings since its release, with viewers claiming it is "Tremendously Underrated".

An IMDb review reads: "I was really surprised by the fact that this show is really unknown. It is a great TV series that definitely deserves more recognition."

Another view shared: "Cinematically and visually stunning, a political, Hunger Games-esque storyline with believable acting, and I thought very interesting, lifelike characters. The script is intelligent, the characters are strong, and the interaction is elegant in its simplicity and natural air."

The plot for the Brazilian thriller sees just 3% of society living in luxury on an island, while the rest of the population is left to live on the mainland, in poverty. When they turn 20, the general public are given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to become a part of the 3% in an intense competition known as 'the process'.

Designed to be difficult and have the potential to kill its competitors, the competition finalises with most of its candidates returning to a life in poverty - sometimes too frail to even make it. While the series is Portuguese, many English-speaking viewers have been engrossed in the show, hanging on to each episode, using subtitles or a dubbed version.

One viewer even described the show as a "rare gem". They wrote: "3% is one of those rare shows that only gets better and better as it goes. Season 3, so far, is shaping up to be the most enthralling season yet, which, let me tell you, is absolutely saying something!

"The world continues to be fleshed out, and the already quite complex characters are only getting more interesting. Do yourself a favour; watch at least to episode three before you pass judgement. You won't regret it!"

Another person claimed: "This is truly an outstanding dystopian/post-apocalyptic series. The acting, the shots, the pace, the character development, the storyline... Everything is on point! Seasons 1, 2 and 4 were, for me, all riveting."

With a Brazilian cast, the actors in this show are relatively unknown but give an "outstanding" performance, according to viewers. João Miguel plays Ezequiel in the show, the head of the Process, alongside Bianca Comparato, who stars as Michele Santana, and Michel Gomes as Fernando Carvalho.

When talking about the acting in 3%, someone shared: "I watched this out of boredom, but boy, was I glad that I did. It totally caught me off guard by how wonderful this show was. It is intelligent, futuristic, and well acted; all in all, absolutely amazing."

If you're curious to see what the hype is all about or just simply need to bide your time after finishing The Handmaid's Tale, 3% is available to stream now on Netflix.