10 Near-Perfect Crime Series Everyone Forgot About

Crime shows have long been a popular part of television, and the genre is always changing. While shows like Breaking Bad and True Detective are famous examples, many earlier series helped shape the modern crime drama as we know it. Unfortunately, these excellent shows didn’t get the attention they deserved, despite clearly being high-quality and deserving of recognition as classics.

Many older crime shows are surprisingly well-made, taking classic storylines and adding complex, thoughtful narratives. While the genre is often known for ‘whodunit’ mysteries, these shows often tackled important themes and introduced ideas that were groundbreaking then – and still are today. Whether they suffered from limited promotion or were simply lost in the shuffle of popular television, these hidden gems deserve a second look.

Homicide: Life on the Street (1993-1999)

I’m a huge fan of this show! It’s based on a really incredible book called Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets – and it was created by the same guy who brought us The Wire, David Simon, so I knew it would be good. Homicide: Life on the Street is just a fantastic police drama. It follows a group of detectives in Baltimore as they solve murders, question suspects, and really deal with the emotional weight of their jobs. It felt so real and groundbreaking when it first came out.

Though many have forgotten it now, Homicide: Life on the Street was groundbreaking for its realistic portrayal of police work, moving away from the glamorous depictions common in other shows. What makes the series so compelling is that it felt less like a fictional drama and more like a genuine look inside the lives of detectives.

The Bridge (2011-2018)

International crime shows have become incredibly popular recently, but that hasn’t always been the case. Despite a lot of competition, the Nordic noir series The Bridge (known as Bron/Broen) still managed to stand out and gain recognition.

Like most crime shows, The Bridge starts with the discovery of a dead body. What makes this series unique isn’t figuring out who committed the crime, but where the body was found – right on the border between Denmark and Sweden. This means detectives from both countries have to team up to solve the case.

The show The Bridge starts with a fascinating idea, but it’s the two detectives who really make it special. Saga Norén, a Swedish investigator, is incredibly smart but doesn’t always understand social cues. Martin Rohde, her Danish partner, is more in touch with his emotions and very practical. Their working relationship is central to the entire series.

Rectify (2013-2016)

Rectify is a unique crime drama. Unlike most shows in the genre, it doesn’t revolve around solving a crime. Instead, it follows Daniel Holden, a man freed from death row when DNA evidence proves he was wrongly convicted of the sexual assault and murder of his high school girlfriend.

The show Rectify focuses less on the crime and more on the aftermath of wrongful imprisonment. After being released from prison for a crime he didn’t commit, Daniel finds it difficult to readjust to life and faces a community divided over his innocence.

The Missing (2014-2016)

The Missing is an older, two-part TV series focusing on the stories of people who have disappeared. The first season centers around Tony and Emily Hughes as they search for their son, Oliver, who goes missing while on vacation in France. The second season features a different case, following a girl who returns years after she vanished.

“The Missing” is a powerfully emotional series. It goes beyond a typical crime show, delving into the lasting trauma and pain experienced by the families and loved ones left behind. By portraying grief and hope with remarkable honesty, the show creates a story that stays with viewers long after it ends.

Snowfall (2017-2023)

Set in Los Angeles, Snowfall tells the story of how the crack cocaine epidemic began and the people who fueled it. The series focuses on Franklin Saint, a young man who turns to dealing drugs to escape a life of poverty, but quickly becomes a powerful and dangerous criminal.

Snowfall stands out from many crime shows because it explores complex issues with a lot of depth. It doesn’t just focus on the drug trade itself, but also on how societal systems impact people struggling with hardship. However, the show’s greatest strength is the compelling evolution of its main character, Franklin, as he changes from someone you root for into a powerful and unforgiving drug lord.

The Fall (2013-2016)

Jamie Dornan, known for his role as Christian Grey in the Fifty Shades of Grey films, also starred in a highly-regarded but often overlooked crime drama called The Fall. The show focuses on a tense psychological game of cat and mouse between detective Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) and Dornan’s character, Paul, exploring the mental battle between them.

What’s so compelling about The Fall is that it immediately reveals the killer’s identity. Rather than a mystery where viewers try to solve the crime, the show offers a captivating psychological game, allowing us to understand the thoughts and motivations of Paul as he commits his terrible acts.

The Night Of (2016)

Okay, let me tell you about The Night Of – it’s easily one of the strongest crime dramas I’ve seen in years. The story centers around Naz Khan, played brilliantly by Riz Ahmed, a college student who finds himself in a nightmare scenario: waking up next to a murder victim with absolutely no memory of what happened. It’s a gripping, unsettling watch that really pulls you in.

Naz’s life is instantly turned upside down when he’s accused of a violent crime he didn’t commit, leaving him with no way to prove his innocence. The Night Of powerfully exposes the problems within the American criminal justice system and vividly portrays the terrifying experience of being caught up in it.

It’s deeply unsettling to watch Naz go from an ordinary student to the main suspect in a murder case. The show doesn’t tell us whether he’s guilty or innocent; instead, it follows his experiences as he’s arrested and put on trial.

Happy Valley (2014-2023)

The award-winning British crime drama, Happy Valley, is a prime example of how compelling the genre can be. What starts as a seemingly simple kidnapping case quickly unfolds into something much more complex. At its heart is police sergeant Catherine Cawood, still grieving the loss of her daughter, who tragically took her own life.

I was totally hooked by Happy Valley from the start. The story really pulls you in when the main character, Catherine, gets mixed up in a kidnapping case, and things get even more complicated when she suspects her daughter’s ex might be involved. What makes the show so great, though, is Catherine herself. Despite dealing with a lot of personal grief, she’s incredibly driven and dedicated to her job – it’s really inspiring to watch. The show doesn’t shy away from tough emotions, and that, combined with the mystery, makes it a really complex and captivating watch.

Mr Inbetween (2018-2021)

The critically acclaimed series, Mr Inbetween, features one of the most memorable TV characters of recent years: Ray Shoesmith (Scott Ryan). He leads a complicated double life, balancing a dangerous career as a hitman and debt collector with his role as a devoted father determined to provide for his daughter.

What makes Mr Inbetween so compelling is Ray, the main character. He’s a deeply complex person, and definitely not a typical hero. The show explores both the harsh reality of his violent work and his loving relationship with his daughter, revealing a more vulnerable side to him.

Life on Mars (2006-2007)

Science fiction is incredibly popular right now, but it’s rare to find a TV show that blends it well with another type of story. Life on Mars does just that, perfectly combining sci-fi with crime drama. The show begins when Detective Sam Tyler is struck by a car in 2006 and mysteriously wakes up in 1973. He discovers he’s still a detective, but working in a very different police department. While trying to understand how to return to his own time, he continues to investigate crimes in this unfamiliar and outdated world.

Life on Mars Rotten Tomatoes Score
Critics Score	Audience Score
100%	97%

The show Life on Mars uses time travel as a smart way to explore the world of police work. What makes the crime drama so compelling is its comparison of policing in the 2000s versus the 1970s. This allows the show to thoughtfully examine important topics like police ethics, standard procedures, and how law enforcement has evolved over time.

2026-05-05 00:41