If you love the excitement, thrill and intellectual challenge of a good crime drama, then you’re spoilt for choice right now. Gone are the cheesy whodunit cop dramas of the past, with obvious plot lines and repetitive crimes, now replaced by a fantastic array of shows that really strive to push the genre to its limits. Featuring the cream of Hollywood talent, you can look forward to some truly gripping new drama, to carry you away to another world of crime, mystery and murder.
True Detective
Starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, HBO show True Detective has already been a massive hit. You knew from the outset that this drama has something special in store for you – it’s not for nothing that two of Hollywood’s most powerful actors have come together on the small screen. This HBO show interweaves multiple timelines to trace the hunt for a serial killer by two Louisiana homicide detectives. Filmed along the coastal plains of the state, you can look forward to atmospheric cinematography and a brooding sense of mystery that will get beneath your skin.
The Killing
Based on the original Danish drama following a lead female detective and her team, AMC series The Killing has kept fans across the world on the edge of their seats. Each episode of The Killing follows a new murder, covering twenty-four hours of an investigation. Nothing is as simple as it looks though. Expect complex plots and turns, political intrigue and a multi-layered narrative that will constantly have you guessing what’s really going on beneath the surface.
The Blacklist
A crime drama with a difference, The Blacklist stars the magnetic James Spader as a rogue FBI agent, turned fugitive, who is bartering for his freedom with an offer the authorities can’t refuse: a “blacklist” compiled by him, consisting of some of the most notorious and deadly criminals that have eluded the FBI’s radar. Each episode reveals another name on the list – and takes you into a surprising world of crime – from suicidal assassins to vengeful vigilantes. But there’s more to it than that. With a mysterious connection with one of the agents in the team, the man at the heart of the Blacklist has a secret that will keep you hooked.
Sherlock
Who says that Brits can’t do gripping, exciting crime dramas? Sherlock is a stylish drama combines intellectual puzzles, slick visual effects and a great on-screen chemistry between the two main leads. This modern re-invention of the classic detective will delight and surprise crime fans who think they’ve seen it all. With three feature length episodes a season, you have the chance to delve deep into the mysteries of a case, to puzzle it out.
Law and Order: Special Victims Unit
Part of the award-winning franchise of criminal dramas produced by Dick Wolf, NBC’s Law and Order: SVU has enjoyed a long standing reputation as a powerful crime drama. With its fifteenth season under its belt, the show combines a powerful cast with gripping stories that often take inspiration from real life. Hard hitting and relentless, this is a show that will raise questions and leave you thinking – long after the credits have rolled.
And there’s our list of our top 5 crime dramas. Can you add to it?
