From moody, atmospheric imports to lighthearted mysteries, we think TV guide’s Kaitlin Thomas put together the perfect list of the best crime dramas today and of yesteryear.
Here is a great article There’s more than one right way to make a murder mystery or crime drama. The genre is usually associated with a dark and moody atmosphere or a brooding detective wearing a great coat (it’s a fact that all detectives have excellent outerwear), but it’s not always so serious. Some mystery shows are sweet and uplifting; some are surreal and supernatural; some even come with a jolt of irreverent humor. There’s a crime series for every mood.
It helps that every corner of the globe seems to love a good mystery. In our list of the best murder mysteries and crime dramas to watch right now, you’ll find a variety of series from multiple countries. There are some excellent but dark dramas that pose serious questions, as well as some comedies that include wacky hijinks on the road to solving a case. There’s something for everybody, so check out the list below.
The Bridge
Watch it on: Amazon (for purchase)
The Nordic noir series known as Broen/Bron, aka The Bridge, kicks off with the discovery of a dead body — or rather, two halves of two different bodies — in the center of a bridge that links Sweden and Denmark. If that sounds familiar, it’s because there have been a lot of remakes over the years, including an FX production, also known as The Bridge, that moved the action to the U.S. and Mexico. The original series is better (sorry to America) and finds members of the Danish and Swedish police having to work together to investigate the crime. Like The Killing, it’s one of the Danish shows that have shaped TV around the world.
Twin Peaks – A Dinner Detective top pick
Watch it on: Netflix (original series), CBS All Access (original series), Hulu (original series; Twin Peaks: The Return available with Showtime add-on), Showtime (Twin Peaks: The Return)
David Lynch and Mark Frost‘s surreal masterpiece Twin Peaks, which premiered on ABC in 1990 and returned for a third season on Showtime in 2017, centers on the investigation into the death of small-town homecoming queen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), whose murder exposes a powerful darkness in the community. The show’s blend of supernatural horror, melodrama, and absurdity changed television, pushing the bounds of what a mystery show — or any show — could do. Twin Peaks often feels like a nightmare and a dream at once. It taps into the fear that sinister forces hide under the surface of any town, and that true evil doesn’t make sense. –Kelly Connolly