Top Notch TV Crime Dramas
A selection of TV crime dramas that I have admired/ relished, in no particular order.
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- StarsHelen MirrenJohn BenfieldTom BellA female police detective investigates a series of serial murders while dealing with sexist hostility from her male comrades.Well scripted, thought provoking, gripping and gritty. Above all, it should be watched for Helen Mirren's superlative performance as a no-nonsense, workaholic police officer whose personal life is a mess. There is the additional pleasure of watching Ralph Fiennes, Ciaran Hinds, Mark Strong and David Thewlis (among others) in early career bit roles/ supporting roles across this series.
- StarsJohn ThawKevin WhatelyJames GroutChief Inspector Morse has an ear for Western classical music, a taste for beer, and a nose for crime. He and Detective Sergeant Robert Lewis solve intriguing cases in and around the Oxford area.Should be watched for the atmosphere, the characters and the performances, rather than the murders or the sleuthing skills of the leads. Leisurely paced, deliberately unflashy, yet utterly compelling.
- StarsKevin WhatelyLaurence FoxClare HolmanDI Robert Lewis and DS James Hathaway solve the tough cases that the learned inhabitants of Oxford throw at them.Spin-off from Inspector Morse that sticks to, and sustains, the same winning formula.
- StarsShaun EvansRoger AllamJames BradshawSet from 1965 into the 1970s, the show follows Endeavour Morse in his early years as a police constable. Working alongside his senior partner DI Fred Thursday, Morse engages in a number of investigations around Oxford.Prequel to Inspector Morse with the same focus on place and people- at least that's how it started. Eventually, it becomes frequently melodramatic, and somewhat less appealing. The first 3 seasons are the best.
- StarsBen WhishawMaxine PeakeBill PatersonDrama series following people accused of crimes and their journey through the British Criminal Justice System.Dark and unsettling. Superb performances by the leads. Season 1 is better than Season 2.
- CreatorRichard PriceSteven ZaillianStarsRiz AhmedJohn TurturroBill CampAfter a night of partying with a woman he picked up, a man wakes up to find her stabbed to death and is charged with her murder.An American remake of the first season of Criminal Justice (also on this list). CJ was much more dark and unsettling but had some rough edges and left a few questions unanswered. This has a more polished story line with a a lot more quirky touches. On balance, I liked this better than CJ.
- CreatorSally WainwrightStarsSarah LancashireSiobhan FinneranJames NortonYorkshire-based crime drama centering on the personal and professional life of Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood.Richly detailed characters, excellent performances, beautifully shot. Season 1 is much more stronger than Season 2 but is also more unsettling.
- StarsChiwetel EjioforChristopher EcclestonKierston WareingChristopher Eccleston and Chiwetel Ejiofor star in this intricate conspiracy thriller set in a world of blurred morality, inhabited by conflicted characters on both sides of the law.Dark, bleak cops vs. crooks drama. Solid performances.
- StarsJohn SimmDavid MorrisseyKelly MacdonaldJournalists uncover a government conspiracy when a young politician's assistant and mistress is killed.Superb thriller with terrific performances. Strong contender for the best crime drama I have ever seen.
- CreatorAbi MorganStarsStellan SkarsgårdNicola WalkerAdeel AkhtarJohn River is a brilliant police inspector whose genius lies side-by-side with the fragility of his mind. He is a man haunted by the murder victims whose cases he must lay to rest.Stellan Skarsgård gives a marvellous performance in the title role.
- CreatorBaltasar KormákurStarsÓlafur Darri ÓlafssonIlmur KristjánsdóttirBjörn Hlynur HaraldssonIn a remote town in Iceland, police desperately try to solve a crime as a powerful storm descends upon the town.The first season was an astounding accomplishment! For a 10 hour story, it is amazing in the way it has been plotted and scripted, and holds your attention throughout. Despite a dense plot and multiple sub-plots, there are no loose ends, no logical lapses, and a very credible resolution. Add to that, top notch acting and great cinematography.
Despite the high bar of Season 1, Season 2 comes respectably close. Like Season 1, it has a nice, twisted plot, it is largely very well written, beautifully shot, and it has plenty of dramatic heft. I had just one quibble- related to the writing of one character. Barring that, it was superb. - StarsTchéky KaryoAnastasia HilleJames NesbittTony and Emily Hughes' vacation turns into a nightmare when their 5-year-old son Oliver disappears from a large celebrating crowd in Northern France.A dark series that some will find difficult to watch.
- CreatorChris ChibnallStarsDavid TennantOlivia ColmanJodie WhittakerThe murder of a young boy in a small coastal town brings a media frenzy, which threatens to tear the community apart.Unsettling tragedies set in a picturesque, laidback, coastal town. Features excellent performances, and characters you care for. Seasons 1 & 3 are superb. Season 2 can be skipped.
- CreatorJed MercurioStarsMartin CompstonVicky McClureAdrian DunbarDrama series following the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anti-corruption unit.Top-class British police crime drama about a unit that investigates "bent coppers". It is well-written and features solid performances all around. Two things that particularly stand out: a.most characters are well-etched and are complex: not the type that you can box into black or white b.the interview/ interrogation sequences are brilliant. Season 1 is very good, but Seasons 2-4 are superb with Season 3 being the best, in my opinion.
- StarsDavid SuchetHugh FraserPhilip JacksonHercule Poirot, a famous Belgian detective, who has an impeccable knack for getting embroiled in a mystery, solves crimes along with Captain Hastings and Scotland Yard Chief Inspector James Japp.Simply magnificent!
- StarsAlison O'DonnellSteven RobertsonLewis HowdenA local police team investigate crimes within the close knit island community of Shetland.More than any other crime drama that I can think of, the murders in Shetland, and their solutions, evoke a sense of sadness and tragedy. Despite that, it manages to avoid a downbeat tone, thanks to the characterizations of the police chief and his team, who manage to find purpose and optimism in their existence. It is somewhat gently paced but engrossing nonetheless. Seasons 1 & 2 are the best, followed by Seasons 5 & 4. Watch Season 3 only if you are willing to accept an awful denouement.
- CreatorJimmy McGovernStarsRobbie ColtraneGeraldine SomervilleKieran O'BrienDr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald is a criminal psychologist. He is rather anti-social and obnoxious but he has a gift for solving crimes. Thus he is employed as a consultant by the Manchester Police.While each case is generally well-plotted, the real reason to see this is Coltrane's performance. The third case onwards, the series becomes increasingly dark and may not be to everyone's taste.
- StarsRobson GreenMark LetherenEmma HandyA psychologist gets inside of the minds of both killers and victims to aid the police in solving gruesome serial killings in Northern England.A consistently engaging series. Like Cracker, this also has a psychologist as the central character. Unlike Cracker, though, the plots focus only on serial killers. Secondly, the lead character is a much more genial, though socially inept, individual.
- CreatorOlivier MarchalStarsJean-Hugues AngladeJoseph MalerbaKarole RocherA dark realistic cop series follows a squad of Paris cops who exist in the blurred boundaries at the very edge of the law, often using violence and intimidation to get the job done.Gritty, thrilling, and gripping French police drama that pushes the limits of what many people might consider as acceptable levels of violence for a TV series. I recommend Season 1. The plots of Season 2 & 3 are too convoluted and melodramatic for my comfort.
- StarsJason IsaacsAmanda AbbingtonZawe AshtonFormer soldier and policeman Jackson Brodie becomes a private investigator.Jason Isaacs stars as a warm-hearted, disorganized, ex-military, ex-police, private detective. The pleasure is in seeing him make sense of the world around him while he solves cases ranging from disapperances to murders.
- StarsJorge PerugorríaCarlos Enrique AlmiranteLuis Alberto GarcíaFollow lieutenant Conde as he solves crime, beds beautiful women and navigates the corruption and politics of his Havana police departmentThe lead character is a hard drinking, wisecracking, politically incorrect police detective who is incessantly drawn towards attractive women. It is a delight to see him mingle with oddball characters and navigate the layers of bureaucracy and corruption while trying to solve the murders that he is assigned to. And then there is the setting: the city of Havana as captured through gritty, colorful and stunning visuals is mesmerizing.
- StarsBrenda BlethynJon MorrisonRiley JonesWith her caustic wit and singular charm, DCI Vera Stanhope leads her team as they face a series of captivating murder mysteries set against the breathtaking Northumberland landscape.Good plotting and an interesting lead character.
- CreatorMiikko OikkonenStarsVille VirtanenMatleena KuusniemiAnu SinisaloQuirky police detective, in Finland, delves into his memory palace to solve despicable crimes all the while trying to keep his family together. If Sherlock was based in Finland this would be it.An interesting lead detective, twisted plots, and stunning visuals.
- StarsRichard HarringtonMali HarriesAlex HarriesA noir crime drama set in Aberystwyth, Wales, where troubled DCI Tom Mathias solves murders while searching for redemption.Set against bleak landscapes, and a pervasive air of loneliness, but makes for compelling viewing.
- CreatorJoe PenhallStarsJonathan GroffHolt McCallanyAnna TorvIn the late 1970s, two FBI agents broaden the realm of criminal science by investigating the psychology behind murder and end up getting too close to real-life monsters.A highly unconventional crime drama that is neither a whodunit or a police procedural yet manages to be compellingly watchable. It is a fictionalized version of the early days of serial killer profiling at the FBI, almost a voyeuristic journey watching profilers engage with serial killers, and make sense of what they do.
- CreatorMåns MårlindHans RosenfeldtBjörn SteinStarsSofia HelinRafael PetterssonSarah BobergWhen a body is found on the bridge between Denmark and Sweden, right on the border, Danish inspector Martin Rohde and Swedish Saga Norén have to share jurisdiction and work together to find the killer.One of the best long format crime dramas, with one of the most fascinating lead characters ever.
- StarsTom BurkeHolliday GraingerKerr LoganWar veteran turned private detective Cormoran Strike solves brutal murders with the help of his trusted partner Robin Ellacott.As a whodunit, it isn't very impressive, but the characters, acting, and atmosphere make it worth watching.
- StarsEva MelanderJakob ÖhrmanArdalan EsmailiHigh-flying lawyer Rebecka Martinsson leaves Stockholm for her hometown when a childhood friend dies.Twisted plots, well-fleshed out supporting characters, and superbly filmed bleak landscapes- all make for compelling viewing. 2 Seasons so far with different actresses playing the lead.
- CreatorAnthony HorowitzStarsMichael KitchenHoneysuckle WeeksAnthony HowellAs WWII rages, DCS Foyle fights his own war on the home-front; investigating crime on the south coast of England. Later series, see the retired detective working as an MI5 agent in the aftermath of the war.A top-notch, thought provoking crime drama set against the backdrop of WWII. It features a terrific lead character, an excellent lead performance along with haunting insights about the ways in which WWII impacted lives, and the moral dilemmas that wars can throw up.
- CreatorChris LangStarsSanjeev BhaskarJordan LongCarolina MainLondon detectives investigate crimes from the past, unravelling secrets left buried for years.A poignant crime drama with solid performances. I found Season 3 to be exceptionally good.
- CreatorSarah PhelpsStarsSarah GreeneKillian ScottMichael D'ArcyIn the Dublin Murder Squad, Garda detectives Rob Reilly and Cassie Maddox investigate murder cases that tap into Ireland's past and also touch on their own personal lives.An uneven yet poignant, largely gripping, atmospheric crime drama. There is a bit of slack in the middle but the strong opening and closing, the well-etched characters, and the splendid performances carry enough weight to make it worth checking out. Just don’t expect every plot point to be resolved and tied up neatly.
- CreatorBen ChananStarsHolliday GraingerBen MilesLia WilliamsWhen a British soldier is charged with a crime, the tenacious young detective handling his case begins to uncover a conspiracy.Fascinating and unsettling. Best watched knowing as little as possible.
- CreatorRonan BennettStarsAshley WaltersKanoJasmine JobsonTwo London drug dealers ply their lucrative trade at a public housing estate in East London.Gritty, brutal, and relentlessly gripping. Mixes stark realism and social commentary, and has characters that are believable, and have real depth.
A note of caution: the listing of the series on Netflix is pretty confusing- there's Top Boy, and there's Top Boy: Summerhouse. Start with Top Boy: Summerhouse, Seasons 1 & 2. - StarsRufus SewellCaterina MurinoStanley TownsendDetective Aurelio Zen brings justice to modern-day Italy.While the cases are unexceptional, and their resolutions rather facile, it is the journey that they take that is interesting. Most of all, it is the characters, the performances, and the atmosphere of the series that I found utterly fascinating and which linger on for me.
- CreatorAndrew AnastasiosMatt CameronAndrew KnightStarsGuy PearceAaron PedersenRoy BillingJack is engaged to find a missing person, only to be later framed for his murder. Jack is quickly caught up in a complex web of powerful vested interests that stretches from his home town of Fitzroy to a remote village in the Philippines.A distinctly Australian drama in its setting, characters and humour. Despite brutal murders and a high body count, there is a lot to smile about, thanks to the colourful characters, running gags, and witty dialogue. The ace in the pack, though, is Guy Pearce. On the downside, the plotting, while engrossing, is twisted to the point of being convoluted, especially in Season 2 (aka Season 5 in some places) Season categorisation depends on where you stream. Best to watch the 3 telemovies before the series.