There's one specific moment in Netflix's new series Dead to Me that reminded me of Big Little Lies in the best way possible. It happens at the top of episode one, when Jen (Christina Applegate), who's husband recently died, accepts food from her neighbor, Karen, as a condolence gift. "I just can't imagine what you're going through," Karen says, to which Jen responds, "Well, it's like if your husband got hit by a car and died suddenly and violently. Like that."

Applegate delivers this line with such sardonic wit that you can't help but laugh—even though the subject matter is so morose. Big Little Lies had a similar vibe at times: The women on that show dealt with incredibly heavy issues, but jokes and quips cut through the tension. That tone is part of what made BLL such a smash, and it's what should make Dead to Me your next Netflix pick.

The 10-episode series explores what happens when a widow (Applegate) befriends a kind but possibly sketchy woman in her grief support group, Judy (played by Linda Cardellini). Judy seems harmless at first: She tells Jen she also lost her partner suddenly, giving them instant common ground. It's not long before they're staying up all night, talking on the phone about their relationships and healing processes. But then something happens that suggests Judy isn't who she says she is. I can't say much else without revealing major spoilers—just know that the bomb dropped in episode one is massive, and yet somehow Judy still ends up moving in with Jen.

Christina Applegate as Jen in Dead to Me Netflix

Intrigued? I know. Dead to Me has all the soapy qualities I love in a show. The drama is high-stakes, the twists are actually shocking, and the dialogue is sharp. But the series also tackles some intense issues from an authentic female lens. Dead to Me was created by a woman, Liz Feldman, and more than half of the episodes were led by female directors. Also great: All 10 episodes were crafted by woman screenwriters, and only two of those received input from a man. That's all to say this show is female in its DNA, and it shows in the ways Judy and Jen are portrayed.

One narrative I particularly latched on to was how Jen deals with grief. I haven't lost a partner unexpectedly, like Jen, but I remember feeling an amalgamation of emotions after my grandmother passed when I was 20. I felt devastation, numbness, indifference, anger, and even humor. I distinctly recall making jokes with my sister en route to the funeral before having a wave of sadness rush over me the second I left the car. The contrast was extreme, and I always felt a little bad about it, but Jen experiences a similar emotional roller coaster in Dead to Me. One minute she's sobbing in her bed alone, the next she's screaming to metal music in her car or angrily exercising on a stationary bike. Her phone calls with Judy weave between mundane small talk—their favorite desserts, the TV shows they're watching—to heavier subjects like death. That felt extremely realistic.