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10 Almost-Perfect Crime Thriller Shows, Ranked

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Antony Starr impersonating Lucas Hood in 'Banshee'

Isn’t it so annoying when crime thrillers promise everything and end up delivering nothing? High stakes and shocking twists sound great until one realizes that the actual story starts collapsing under all that. A good crime thriller, that’s why, has to strike a very delicate balance. Twists and turns can only take things so far if the characters feel one-dimensional or if the beats of the story don’t add up.

That’s because shock value might grab attention, but it can never sustain it, and the sooner showrunners understand that, the better. For every half-baked story, though, plenty of others get things exactly right. This is a list of such crime thriller shows that come dangerously close to perfection.

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10

‘Banshee’ (2013–2016)

Antony Starr impersonating Lucas Hood in 'Banshee'
Antony Starr impersonating Lucas Hood in ‘Banshee’
Image via Cinemax

Banshee is a crime thriller that embraces chaos like no other. The series takes place in the fictional town of Banshee in Pennsylvania, where a recently released master thief (Antony Starr) assumes the identity of a murdered sheriff named Lucas Hood. The story revolves around Hood trying to keep up the charade while secretly continuing his criminal life. Most people would assume that these stakes are high enough for the show to create a sense of tension. However, Banshee keeps expanding its central conflict by introducing new characters, including the ex-Amish crime lord Kai Proctor (Ulrich Thomsen), along with Hood’s partners Job (Hoon Lee) and Sugar Bates (Frankie Faison).

Every season features new threats, while the town serves as a pressure cooker of violence that can explode at any moment. Banshee fully commits to its over-the-top premise and is packed with brutal hand-to-hand fight sequences, intense shootouts, and pulpy storytelling. The show can feel ridiculous at times, but it never stops being entertaining thanks to the depth it gives to its characters and their relationships. The series is one of TV’s most underrated crime thrillers and remains a true hidden gem.

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9

‘Top of the Lake’ (2013–2017)

Elizabeth Moss looking to the side, sitting with her back against an interior brick wall in Top of the Lake.
Elizabeth Moss looking to the side, sitting with her back against an interior brick wall in Top of the Lake.
Image via BBC

Top of the Lake is the definition of quality TV. The story begins with the disturbing disappearance of a 12-year-old girl who is revealed to be pregnant in the opening moments of the show. Elisabeth Moss stars as Detective Robin Griffin, who becomes entangled in the investigation while she is in town to visit her dying mother. She believes that this will be yet another missing-person case, but little does she know that it will quickly unravel into something much darker. Top of the Lake is a slow-burning psychological drama that constantly plays with the audience’s expectations.

The investigation takes its sweet time to unfold and exposes complex systems of power and misogyny that exist within this community. The deeper Robin digs, the more the case becomes intertwined with her own unresolved trauma. Top of the Lake strikes the perfect balance between layered character work and a mystery that keeps getting increasingly addictive. In Season 2, the story moves to Sydney and continues Robin’s journey several years later. However, the show never lets go of its willingness to explore difficult themes. This isn’t a conventional thriller series by any means, but one that forces the audience to question their own role in systemic injustice.

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8

‘Rubicon’ (2010)

Three people standing together out in the snow in Rubicon Image via AMC

Rubicon deserves way more appreciation than it gets. The political thriller follows intelligence analyst Will Travers (James Badge Dale), who works at the shadowy New York-based organization called the American Policy Institute (API). The story picks up when Will’s mentor and father-in-law dies in what appears to be a staged accident, and Will knows he needs to get to the bottom of what really happened. However, what pulls him deeper is a pattern hidden across crossword puzzles in multiple newspapers. At first, Will thinks it’s a coincidence, but when he begins to connect the dots, he realizes that the mystery is far more complex than he initially thought. All of a sudden, he suspects he is being watched and notices small inconsistencies in his everyday interactions.

Rubicon breaks away from the typical thriller beats by slowing the narrative down. Most of the action in the story happens in offices through conversations, data, and Will’s personal analysis of the situation. However, that pace only adds to the show’s constant sense of uncertainty. Rubicon thrives on this ambiguity, where the audience and Will don’t know who to fully trust. The show taps into the very specific fear of being exploited by those in power, and that’s exactly what makes its central conspiracy feel so plausible. Unfortunately, Rubicon was canceled after Season 1 before it could give its characters the long-term arcs they deserved. Even then, though, the show is a must-watch for anyone looking for sharp writing and a compelling mystery.

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7

‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)

Julianne Nicholson sitting on a park bench with Kate Winslet's head on her shoulder in 'Mare of Easttown'.
Julianne Nicholson sitting on a park bench with Kate Winslet’s head on her shoulder in ‘Mare of Easttown’.
Image via HBO

Mare of Easttown might be a miniseries, but it feels more complete than several long-running shows that lose the plot after the first few seasons. The crime thriller follows Detective Marianne “Mare” Sheehan (Kate Winslet), a local hero whose life is falling apart right when a teenage mother is found murdered, while another young girl remains missing. Mare is then forced to confront a complicated case as the town both relies on her and constantly questions her competence. What makes Mare of Easttown so special is how it connects the detective’s personal and professional lives. As her investigation deepens, she is forced to confront her friends, family, and neighbors to find answers.

All of this unfolds as Marianne copes with the suicide of her son, deals with an increasingly strained relationship with her daughter, and is involved in a custody battle over her grandson. The case is yet another factor that contributes to her downward spiral and makes the story feel emotionally heavy. The fact that nearly everyone is connected to the murder in one way or another makes the whole thing all the more unsettling. Mare of Easttown is a masterclass in building suspense and delivering payoffs that are actually worth the patience. By the end, the show is no longer a whodunit. Instead, it tells a much more complex story about loss and community.

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6

‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)

Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) holds a camera at red string representing blood on 'Dexter'.
Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) holds a camera at red string representing blood on ‘Dexter’.
Image via Showtime

Dexter flips the crime thriller formula on its head by making the audience root for the bad guy. The series is set in Miami and follows Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), a forensic analyst by day and vigilante serial killer by night. The show revolves around this constant balancing act as Decter juggles his jobs and relationships while also targeting murderers who have escaped justice with chilling precision. The show could have easily leaned into the shock value of it all. However, it chooses to focus on Dexter’s psyche and how his life begins to unravel over time. Each season introduces a new adversary for the protagonist, but what’s interesting is how these killers mirror him in different ways.

The show moves smoothly between Dexter’s complicated personal relationships, especially his sister Debra (Jennifer Carpenter), who unknowingly gets close to the truth. Dexter is especially compelling in how it forces the audience into an uncomfortable position. Dexter’s internal monologue pulls viewers deeper into his mind, and that moral conflict becomes the driving force of the story. There’s no denying that the show really shines in its first few seasons compared to its later installments. Despite that, though, it still remains one of the most iconic crime thrillers of its time.













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Collider Exclusive · Taylor Sheridan Universe Quiz
Which Taylor Sheridan
Show Do You Belong In?

Yellowstone · Landman · Tulsa King · Mayor of Kingstown
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Four worlds. All of them brutal, complicated, and built on power, loyalty, and the price of survival. Taylor Sheridan doesn’t write heroes — he writes people who do what they have to do and live with the cost. Ten questions will reveal which one of his worlds you were made for.

🤠Yellowstone

🛢️Landman

👑Tulsa King

⚖️Mayor of Kingstown

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01

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Where does your power come from?
In Sheridan’s world, everyone has leverage. The question is what kind.




02

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Who do you put first, no matter what?
Loyalty in Sheridan’s universe is always absolute — and always costly.




03

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Someone crosses a line. How do you respond?
Every Sheridan protagonist has a line. What matters is what happens after it’s crossed.




04

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Where do you feel most in your element?
Sheridan’s worlds are as much about place as they are about people.




05

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How do you feel about operating in the grey?
Nobody in a Sheridan show has clean hands. The question is how they carry the dirt.




06

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What are you actually fighting to hold onto?
Every Sheridan character is fighting a war. The real question is what they’re defending.




07

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How do you lead?
Authority in Sheridan’s world is never given — it’s established, maintained, and constantly tested.




08

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Someone new arrives and tries to change how things work. Your reaction?
Every Sheridan show has an outsider disrupting an established order. Sometimes that outsider is you.




09

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What has your position cost you?
Nobody gets to where these characters are without paying for it. The bill is always personal.




10

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When it’s over, what do you want people to say?
Sheridan’s characters all know the ending is coming. The question is what they leave behind.




Sheridan Has Spoken
You Belong In…
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The show that claimed the most of your answers is the world you were built for. If two tied, both are shown — you’re complicated enough to straddle two Sheridan universes.

🤠
Yellowstone

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🛢️
Landman

👑
Tulsa King

⚖️
Mayor of Kingstown

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You are a Dutton — or you might as well be. You understand that some things are worth protecting at any cost, and that the modern world’s indifference to history, to land, to legacy, is not something you’re willing to accept quietly. You lead from the front, you carry your family’s weight without complaint, and when someone threatens what’s yours, you don’t escalate — you finish it. You’re not cruel. But you are absolute. In Yellowstone’s world, that combination of ferocity and loyalty doesn’t make you a villain. It makes you the only thing standing between everything that matters and everyone who wants to take it.

You thrive in the chaos of high-stakes negotiation, where the money is enormous, the margins are thin, and the wrong word in the wrong room can cost everyone everything. You’re a fixer — the person called when a situation is already on fire and needs someone with the nerve to walk into it. West Texas oil country rewards exactly what you are: sharp, adaptable, unsentimental, and absolutely clear-eyed about what people want and what they’ll do to get it. You’re not naive enough to think this world is fair. You’re smart enough to be the one deciding who it’s fair to.

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You are a Dwight Manfredi — someone who has served their time, paid their dues, and arrived somewhere unexpected with nothing but their reputation and their wits. You adapt without losing yourself. You build loyalty through respect rather than fear, though you’re not above reminding people that the two aren’t mutually exclusive. Tulsa King is for people who are still standing when everyone assumed they’d be finished — who find, in an unfamiliar place, that they’re more capable than the world gave them credit for. You don’t need a throne. You build one, wherever you happen to land.

You carry the weight of a system that is broken by design, and you do it anyway — because someone has to, and because you’re the only one positioned to do it without the whole thing collapsing. Mike McLusky’s world is for people who are comfortable operating where there are no good options, only less catastrophic ones. You speak every language: law enforcement, criminal, political, human. That fluency makes you invaluable and it makes you a target. You’ve made your peace with both. Mayor of Kingstown belongs to people who understand that keeping the peace is not the same as being at peace — and who do the job regardless.

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5

‘The Killing’ (2011–2014)

Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos in The Killing
Joel Kinnaman and Mireille Enos in The Killing
Image via AMC

The Killing is the kind of crime drama that creates tension through its setting. The show takes place in a constantly rainy Seattle and follows homicide detectives Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) as they investigate the murder of a teenager. The case seems pretty straightforward initially, before it slowly expands into a complicated web of political conspiracies, dark secrets, and a never-ending list of suspects. However, the story isn’t a standard procedural. It focuses just as much on the victim’s family as they deal with grief, along with the detectives and the cost of their jobs.

The show doesn’t want to give the audience quick answers because the entire point is to sit with that unsettling feeling of not knowing what comes next. The Killing is committed to realism and explores the far-reaching consequences of crime. Not to mention that it doesn’t present Linden and Holder as typical heroes who swoop in to save the day. The fact that they are flawed and often make questionable decisions out of desperation only adds to the believability of it all. The Killing isn’t always comforting or even satisfying in its resolutions, but that’s exactly why it stays with the audience long after the credits roll.

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4

‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)

Jason Bateman looking to the side, about to get into a car in Ozark.
Jason Bateman looking to the side, about to get into a car in Ozark.
Image via Netflix

Ozark is essentially a show about how one bad decision can spiral into a lifetime of consequences. The series follows financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman), who is forced to relocate his family from Chicago to the Lake of the Ozarks after a money-laundering scheme for a Mexican drug cartel goes horribly wrong. However, this survival attempt quickly takes a dangerous turn as Marty and his wife Wendy (Laura Linney) find themselves involved with local crime families while also staying under constant pressure from cartel leaders and the FBI.

The narrative puts the characters and the audience in a world where the threats and betrayals just keep getting worse. Marty and Wendy are forced to adapt almost constantly, and that drives the plot forward. Wendy’s journey, in particular, is one of the highlights of the show because she starts operating out of fear that slowly turns into ambition and a ruthless power for hunger. Ozark is a complex show with no easy heroes or villains. It’s rooted in relatable family dynamics but takes those emotions a step further by exploring the psychological toll of crime.

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3

‘Quarry’ (2016)

Jamie Hector and Logan Marchall-Green in Quarry.
Jamie Hector and Logan Marchall-Green in Quarry.
Image via HBO

Quarry is a crime thriller that does everything right, so it’s unfortunate that it slipped under the radar. The series is set in 1972 and follows Mac Conway (Logan Marshall-Green), a Marine returning home to Memphis after serving in Vietnam. However, instead of being welcomed back, Mac finds himself ostracized due to his rumored involvement in a wartime massacre. As he struggles to reintegrate into civilian life, Mac is approached by a mysterious figure known as The Broker, who recruits him into a network of contract killers operating along the Mississippi River.

Each job drags Mac into a world where morality is blurred, and soon enough, he is trapped in a web of violence, corruption, and manipulation with no way out. The show isn’t driven by constant action because it focuses more on the slow yet inevitable unraveling of the protagonist. The show was canceled after just one season, but despite its short run, it feels complete in its vision and execution. Quarry’s strong writing and immersive period detail are a masterclass in storytelling and deserve a lot more applause than they get.

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2

‘Gomorrah’ (2014–2021)

Salvatore Esposito and Marco D'Amore talking next to a body of water during a grim day in Gomorrah
Salvatore Esposito and Marco D’Amore talking next to a body of water during a grim day in Gomorrah
Image via Fandango

Gomorrah is a story about pure evil. The crime thriller is set in Naples and follows Ciro Di Marzio (Marco D’Amore), a loyal member of the powerful Savastano clan, led by ruthless boss Pietro Savastano (Fortunato Cerlino). However, when Pietro is arrested, the entire power structure begins to collapse and triggers a brutal internal conflict between the old guard and the next generation led by his son, Gennaro “Genny” Savastano (Salvatore Esposito). Ciro finds himself constantly choosing between loyalty and power as alliances shift and members of the clan start betraying each other. However, it’s interesting that the show manages to portray all this chaos without ever romanticizing crime.

Gomorrah makes it a point to convey that it’s a show about flawed people operating in a system that is practically built on violence. The writing constantly subverts expectations, and none of the characters are given any plot armor. This constant sense of unpredictability drives the story forward and keeps the viewers hooked till the very end. The best part about Gomorrah is how lived-in and authentic the show feels. The narrative builds tension organically instead of relying on spectacle, and that elevates Gomorrah from another typical crime story to an unsettling exploration of power.

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1

‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)

Holt McCallany sits in a car, smoking and wearing sunglasses in Mindhunter.
Holt McCallany sits in a car, smoking and wearing sunglasses in Mindhunter.
Image via Netflix

Mindhunter is a crime thriller that traded action for psychology, a gamble that definitely paid off. The show is set in the late 1970s and follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), along with psychologist Wendy Carr (Anna Torv), who interview imprisoned serial killers in an attempt to understand their behavior and use those findings to solve active cases. The exercise soon takes a dark turn as the detectives become increasingly immersed in these conversations and start to mirror the same manipulative tendencies that they are studying in all these killers. Their personal lives begin to intersect with the emotional toll of their work, and that’s where the emotional weight of the show comes from.

The interviews, of course, are the highlight of the show. They feel less like conversations and more like psychological chess matches where both parties are constantly sizing each other up. The show portrays real-life serial killers, including Edmund Kemper (Cameron Britton) and Jerry Brudos (Happy Anderson), with chilling precision, which adds a layer of authenticity to the story. Mindhunter is the perfect example of a show that is meticulous in its storytelling. Its slow-burn approach might feel a little too restrained at first, but it’s exactly what pulls the audience into this unsettling world.


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0378657_poster_w780.jpg


Mindhunter
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Release Date

2017 – 2019

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Network

Netflix

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Showrunner

Joe Penhall

Directors
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David Fincher, Carl Franklin, Andrew Dominik, Andrew Douglas, Asif Kapadia, Tobias Lindholm


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Royal Family Attends Easter Church Service 2026: Who Skipped?

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King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton and more royals gathered to celebrate Easter, though not all of their family members were present at the public church outing.

Charles, 77, and Camilla, 78, led the royals for the annual walk into St George’s Chapel for the Easter Mattins service on Sunday, April 5. The king wore a blue pinstripe suit, while his wife opted for a red dress and matching hat. The monarchs were followed by Charles’ son William, 43, and his family: wife Kate, 44, and kids Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

The Wales family, who previously skipped the Easter Mattins service for two consecutive years, donned their Sunday best for their royal return. William and his sons twinned in navy suits, while Kate and Charlotte matched in beige coatdresses. The Princess of Wales accessorized her frock with a coordinating fascinator and a tan DeMellier handbag.

The group was also joined by Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, as well as Prince Edward and his 18-year-old son, James. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, meanwhile, notably skipped out on the tradition.

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Biggest Royal Family Scandals Through Years


Related: Biggest Royal Family Scandals Through the Years

The British royal family may appear prim and proper to the public, but they’ve faced their fair share of controversies over the years. One of the biggest royal scandals in recent memory came when King Charles III and the late Princess Diana announced their separation in 1992 after 10 years of marriage. At the time, […]

In the days leading up to the Easter holiday, multiple outlets reported that Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 36, would not be present for the church service amid the ongoing fallout from their father Andrew’s connection to late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

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In October 2025, Charles officially stripped his younger brother of his royal titles and honors. Nearly four months later, Andrew, 66, was arrested on February 19 on suspicion of misconduct in public office. He was detained by police for approximately 11 hours before being released.

While Andrew and his daughters have yet to speak publicly about his arrest, Charles addressed the matter soon after his brother was taken into custody.

“I have learned with the deepest concern the news about Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and suspicion of misconduct in public office,” the king said in a statement at the time. “What now follows is the full, fair and proper process by which this issue is investigated in the appropriate manner and by the appropriate authorities. In this, as I have said before, they have our full and wholehearted support and cooperation.”

Charles-and-Camilla-GettyImages-2269322511

King Charles III and Queen Camilla leave after attending the Easter Matins Service at St. George’s Chapel on Sunday, April 5.
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool

He added, “Let me state clearly: the law must take its course. As this process continues, it would not be right for me to comment further on this matter. Meanwhile, my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”

From King Charles III to Princess Eugenie- The Royal Line of Succession


Related: A Breakdown of the Royal Line of Succession

The royal line of succession has been shaken up and moved around — but where do members of the British royal family stand when it comes to their place in line to the throne? Queen Elizabeth II had been head of the Commonwealth since 1952 when she died in September 2022 at the age of […]

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Last Easter looked quite different for the royal family than Sunday’s holiday. Andrew, his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters notably attended the 2025 church service at the time, whileWilliam, Kate and their three kids skipped the traditional outing to celebrate the holiday with the Middletons. The family of five was spotted attending a church service in Sandringham alongside Kate’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, though they avoided royal watchers and exited through a back entrance.

Princess-Anne-and-More-Royals-GettyImages-2269314744

Princess Anne and husband Sir Tim Laurence follow Prince William’s family entering the Sunday, April 5, service.
AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, Pool

Kate— who announced that her cancer was in remission in January 2025 after a yearlong health battle — and William reportedly wanted to spend time with their kids before they returned to school. However, a source exclusively told Us Weekly at the time that the couple faced scrutiny for willingly missing the annual royal outing.

“This is a big deal,” the insider revealed at the time. “It’s royal tradition for the family to attend this together. Everyone understood the family not attending last year when Kate was sick but there’s been a lot of raised eyebrows at the palace about William’s decision to skip again this year. It feels like a deliberate move and even a snub.”

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Pepsi pulls sponsorship of U.K. festival Ye was set to headline after prime minister condemns antisemitic remarks

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“It is deeply concerning Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless,” said British PM Keir Starmer, decrying the rapper’s “celebration of Nazism.”

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Late Queen’s Response To Harry And Meghan’s Tiara Demand

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Queen Elizabeth with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry the Royal Family watch the RAF100 flypast

A new royal book has shed light on the tension that simmered between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle before and after their 2018 wedding.

Sources say disputes began over the duchess’s request to rehearse with Queen Mary’s historic tiara, which the monarch reportedly denied, siding with her dresser, Angela Kelly.

Over time, Prince Harry and Meghan’s distance from royal duties, along with intense media attention, reportedly left Queen Elizabeth cautious and guarded during interactions with the couple.

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Queen Elizabeth II Was Allegedly Frustrated By Meghan Markle’s Tiara Rehearsal Request: ‘It’s Not A Toy’

Queen Elizabeth with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry the Royal Family watch the RAF100 flypast
James Whatling / MEGA

A new royal biography is revealing details about an alleged behind-the-scenes clash involving Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex ahead of their 2018 wedding.

According to author Robert Hardman, tensions reportedly arose when Harry and Meghan requested that Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara be sent over in advance so the duchess could rehearse her look. The request allegedly didn’t sit well with the late monarch.

In his book, Hardman claimed that Elizabeth grew frustrated after hearing that her grandson had been repeatedly “calling around the Royal Household demanding that the tiara be dispatched forthwith.”

“The mood turned sour nearer the wedding when the couple rang the palace to ask the Queen’s dresser and curator, Angela Kelly, to send over the tiara. Meghan wished to practice putting it on,” Hardman wrote per the Daily Mail.

Siding with her longtime dresser, Angela Kelly, Elizabeth is said to have dismissed the request for the tiara entirely, stating bluntly that “it’s not a toy.”

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She also allegedly referenced how Kate Middleton prepared for her own wedding, noting that her hairstylist practiced with a replica of the tiara instead of the real one. From her perspective, Meghan’s team could have taken a similar approach.

Royal Wedding Jewels Reportedly Faced Extreme Scrutiny Over Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Tiara Request

Trooping the Colour in The Queen's Platinum Jubilee Year, at Buckingham Palace, London, UK, on the 2nd June 2022. 02 Jun 2022 Pictured: Queen, Queen Elizabeth.
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Hardman further emphasized that royal wedding pieces are handled with extreme care due to the intense global attention they receive, particularly when historic jewels are involved.

He noted that “even if the tiara had only a few offcuts from South Africa’s mighty Cullinan diamond, that could be enough to generate furious headlines about colonial theft.”

According to the account, one staff member even questioned how such a situation might have played out publicly on the wedding day, suggesting it could have caused unnecessary controversy.

The Duke Wrote About The Tiara Debacle In His Memoir

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on visit to Nechells Wellbeing Centre, Birmingham
Mirrorpix / MEGA

Harry himself addressed tensions with the late queen’s dresser, Kelly, in his memoir “Spare,” describing her as “obstructive” and calling her “a troublemaker” he did not need as an enemy.

Separate reports have also painted a more difficult picture of Harry’s behavior in the lead-up to his wedding.

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According to royal commentator Sally Bedell Smith, the duke was allegedly short-tempered with Elizabeth II, at one point speaking to her in a way that left her feeling unsettled.

The late monarch was also said to have been concerned after Harry reportedly approached the Archbishop of Canterbury about officiating the ceremony without the Dean of Windsor’s permission.

Queen Elizabeth II Reportedly Took Precautions During Calls With Prince Harry

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, attend the Wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Mr Thomas Kingston
MEGA

In “Queen Elizabeth II: A Personal History,” author Hugo Vickers alleges that after the Sussexes stepped back from royal duties, Elizabeth took precautions during phone calls with her grandson, often asking her “lady-in-waiting to stay with her.”

He added that the “distress the Sussexes caused the Queen in the last years of her life cannot be overestimated.”

Sources also claimed that conversations between Elizabeth and Harry became increasingly brief and distant, with the monarch reportedly keeping her guard up following the fallout.

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“There were lots of one-word answers, ‘yes’ and ‘no,” an insider told Page Six. “The Queen clearly wanted some kind of protection. I think the Queen was also on her guard with Harry because she was so hurt by what he had done.”

Meanwhile, Susan Page, in her upcoming book “The Queen and Her Presidents: The Hidden Hand That Shaped History,” alleges that Elizabeth had grown cautious of Meghan early on, viewing her as highly media-savvy in a way that outpaced the “palace’s outdated press operation.”

Queen Elizabeth II Reportedly Kept A Guarded Distance During Harry And Meghan’s Visit With Princess Lilibet

08-06-2019 England The ceremony of the Trooping the Colour, marking the monarch's official birthday, in London. Queen Elizabeth II Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales Prince Andrew Britain's Princess Beatrice of York Britain's Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Queen Elizabeth II Princess Eugenie of York Lady Louise Windsor, Prince Andrew, Duke of York Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
MEGA

Royal author Vickers further claims that Elizabeth II chose not to meet Harry and Meghan alone when they introduced their daughter, Princess Lilibet, during the Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.

According to his account, the couple was staying at Frogmore Cottage at the time, where they marked Lilibet’s first birthday with a small celebration. When they later visited the Queen, a lady-in-waiting was reportedly present throughout the meeting.

Vickers also alleges that the monarch declined a request to allow a photographer to capture the moment, reportedly concerned that the image might later be shared publicly.

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He goes on to suggest that the monarch struggled to understand her grandson’s new life in the United States, claiming she once questioned his decision to step back from royal duties, wondering what he had ultimately gained from the move.

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How An R-Rated Attempt To Make Reddit Relevant Became A Streaming Disaster

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How An R-Rated Attempt To Make Reddit Relevant Became A Streaming Disaster

By TeeJay Small
| Published

Do you recall the 2021 GameStop stock trading story that took over the media and made a bunch of broke college kids thousand-aires overnight? It’s an incredible underdog story, about how the little guys can band together to take on financial behemoths, using the very tools that the billionaire elite employ to keep us down.

If you told that story with a stacked cast including Paul Dano, Seth Rogen, Nick Offerman, Sebastian Stan, Vincent D’Onofrio, and more, you might have a certifiable hit on your hands. Unfortunately, the film Dumb Money fails to deliver on any big laughs and reminds me of why movies about internet trends so often miss the mark.

The True Story Behind Dumb Money

In case you missed it, Dumb Money follows the true story of Keith Gill. Gill is a broke financial analyst living in Brockton, Massachusetts, who maintains a middling social media presence discussing low-value stocks with a small group of would-be day traders.

During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gill’s channels began to pick up major steam, especially as he bought up cheap shares of GameStop. As Gill reads into the financial reports, he arrives at the conclusion that the big firms are betting on Game Stop to fail, and shorting the stock with the intention of raking in billions from the business’s impending bankruptcy.

Thanks to an army of loyal Reddit users, Gill and his pals manage to fight back against Wall Street and raise the stock price of GameStop significantly. Doing so makes millions for people with pennies and takes billions from companies with hundreds of billions. If you’re not a complete sociopath, you should see it as a win-win for every party. Sure, the billionaires lose a fraction of a percent of their wealth, but they can dry their tears with lobsters on the decks of their massive yachts.

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Reddit Forums Are Not Interesting

I wasn’t actively part of the GameStop stock push in 2021, but I did follow it as it took place. I was super excited to see Dumb Money when it released just a few years later, but I ultimately left the film extremely disappointed. As it turns out, it’s really hard to make a movie engaging or visually interesting when 90 percent of the action takes place on Reddit forums. The result is roughly 100 minutes of watching Paul Dano shout “holy shit” while sitting in a gamer chair, or watching America Ferrera make shocked expressions at her cell phone.

Dumb Money is also loaded with random, unnecessary, and downright obnoxious needle drops. The narrative hardly progresses for five minutes at a time without some licensed pop song stopping the action so we can watch people dance around pointlessly. Look, I’m not a monster, I enjoy Kendrick Lamar‘s “Humble” as much as anyone. But if I wanted to watch 6 music videos back-to-back, I’d be on YouTube, not Hulu. My estimate is that the team behind Dumb Money realized they didn’t have enough story to make a feature film and relied on these musical portions to pad the runtime.

Has Craig Gillespie Ever Met Another Human Being?

To further that point, it seems like director Craig Gillespie really struggled to juggle the moving parts behind this story. Sure, Keith Gill is the centerpiece of the narrative, but all the side characters feel more like cameo appearances than supporting performances. Nick Offerman’s character is meant to loom over the movie like a video game final boss, but he gets only about 5 minutes of screen time. Seth Rogen was all over the trailer for Dumb Money, but in the narrative, he has practically nothing to do. The two college girls created for the film are portrayed so obnoxiously that it makes me wonder if Craig Gillespie has ever met another human being in his entire life.

Personally, I’d skip this movie, but if you’re interested in checking it out for yourself, Dumb Money is streaming on Hulu. My best advice would be to throw it on while you’re cooking, cleaning, or looking at your phone. That way, you can soak up the interesting parts without committing to an hour and 44 minutes of Pete Davidson lip-syncing.


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Why Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s Most Important Character Is Also The Most Annoying

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Why Buffy The Vampire Slayer's Most Important Character Is Also The Most Annoying

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a show filled with amazing characters, and fans love to debate which one is the best. Many prefer Buffy, the natural leader who uses her abilities as a Slayer to put vamps and other supernatural baddies in their place. Others prefer Willow, the geeky girl next door who eventually embraces her own magical mojo. Other fan-favorites include Spike (the bad boy with slick hair and a slicker accent), Anya (the former demon who loves nothing more than sex and money), and Faith (the sexy Slayer who goes from being Buffy’s frenemy to being her worst nightmare).

Few fans name Cordelia, and for good reason: while she grew as a character once she joined the Angel spinoff, she spends the vast majority of Buffy as a mean girl who does nothing more than disparage the other characters we know and love. After a while, it’s easy to start asking yourself a very blunt question: “why is Cordelia even in this show?” However, the answer is deceptively simple. She’s here as a constant reminder of how much Buffy (who was basically Cordelia before becoming a Slayer) has grown as a character. 

The Softer Side Of Sneers

In those first three seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Cordelia is seemingly the opposite of Buffy in every way. Buffy is defined by her duty to protect others, and she often misses out on the best parts of her high school days because she is busy fighting vampires. Cordelia, meanwhile, is a spoiled little rich girl who constantly berates Buffy for being so different than pretty much everyone else in Sunnydale High School.

While she gets some fun, sarcastic lines here and there, Cordelia can often feel like a superfluous character. However, she serves a more basic function in Buffy the Vampire Slayer by being an ongoing foil for Buffy. Like all good foils, Cordelia is everything that Buffy isn’t: she’s weak instead of strong, cruel instead of kind, and cowardly instead of brave. Nonetheless, Buffy is sometimes envious of Cordelia, like when she wishes she could be more like the resident mean girl because she thinks that’s the kind of woman Angel liked when he was still a mortal.

The Yin To Buffy’s Yang

Of course, Cordelia is a foil with a very specific purpose: she’s here to highlight how much Buffy has grown as a character since becoming the Slayer. Before Buffy moved to Sunnydale and fully embraced her destiny of fighting vampires, she was a vapid valley girl in Los Angeles. She just wanted to buy cute clothes and enjoy being popular, and she was so good at this that she was eventually elected Fiesta Queen. All of this is supremely shallow, of course. But to Buffy, this was the normal life she had to sacrifice in order to become the Slayer.

The constant presence of Cordelia highlights the significance of Buffy’s sacrifice. Until her family went broke and she had to move to Los Angeles, Cordelia enjoyed all the privileges of being Sunnydale’s most popular girl. All the women want to be her, and all the men want to be with her. She gets what she wants wherever she goes, and she generally gets to rule the school with the indifference of an imperious queen.

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She’s A Killer Queen

In short, she has the life that Buffy desperately wants to have. When we see Cordelia sneeringly enjoying the fruits of her popularity, it’s easier to appreciate how Buffy sets her own needs aside for the sake of others. After a while, Buffy grows into her new life, and aside from occasional relapses (like her desperate bid to get elected homecoming queen), she never seriously tries to become a vapid Valley girl again. When we look at Cordelia, we see everything that Buffy is not, which only helps us to appreciate the Slayer’s growth that much more.

Buffy fans might hate Cordelia for being endlessly cruel to their favorite characters. But she is a constant reminder that Buffy, had she never become the Slayer, would be just as bad, if not worse. Greatness was thrust upon Buffy, and she rose to the occasion so well that she ended up saving the entire world, time and time again. Without Cordelia, the fandom might (like so many Sunnydale residents) very well take Buffy’s sacrifices for granted. Thanks to Cordelia, though, we got to spend three years appreciating how Buffy left her childhood behind to save everyone’s life but her own.

If you still really hate Cordelia, though, you should start rewatching Angel. By the end of that show, you’ll realize that nobody hated Sunnydale’s snarkiest Scooby more than Joss Whedon, who proved himself the meanest girl of them all by ruining her character (and, allegedly, Cordelia actor Charisma Carpenter), one insane plot point at a time. 


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Babylon 5 Exposes The Truth About Why Politicians Can Never Be Trusted

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Babylon 5 Exposes The Truth About Why Politicians Can Never Be Trusted

By Jonathan Klotz
| Published

Sabotage, blackmail, extortion, it’s all another day at the office for the political representatives onboard Babylon 5. The intergalactic space station is supposed to be a neutral zone for trade, commerce, politics, negotiations, and all manner of diplomatic activity, but early on during Babylon 5’s run, viewers learned how dirty politics can get in the 23rd century.

“Born to the Purple,” the third episode of Season 1, is the first of many episodes to focus on the Centaurian Ambassador, Londo Mollari (Peter Jurasik), this time, he’s fallen for the classic spy move: the honeypot. 

Women Were Always Londo’s Greatest Weakness

Adira And Londo In “Born To The Purple”

It’s a classic move in real-world espionage that exploits sexual relationships for the purposes of blackmail and information gathering. In “Born to the Purple” Londo finds himself smitten by a gorgeous Centauri dancer, Adira Tyree (Fabiana Uderno), to the point that he’s abandoned diplomatic duties, including the crafting of a peace treaty with the Narn and his future best friend forever, G’Kar (Andreas Katsulas).

That’s an unintended side effect of her attention. The plan hatched by Adira’s owner Trakis (Clive Revill, the original voice of Star Wars Emperor Palpatine) is to steal the Purple Files and blackmail the Centauri into doing everything he wants. 

The Purple Files contain information on the highest ranks of the Centauri government, including secrets that very powerful, very important individuals don’t want to be made public. Londo is, allegedly, an important Centauran, and also an easy mark.

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Adira manages to scan his brain while he’s sleeping off the drugs she slipped him, gets the information, and then has a change of heart and betrays Trakis. Trakis responds by convincing Londo she’s really a Narn agent and uses the lovestruck fool to help track down where she’s hiding. 

G’Kar, Tarkis, And Talia Winters In “Born To The Purple”

While Londo and Sinclair infiltrate the Dark Star club, G’Kar and Talia Winters (Andrea Thompson) meet with Tarkis to verify that he has the Purple Files. Talia uses the old psi-corp trick of saying, “don’t think of what I’m about to tell you,” and gets the location of where he kept Adria. The ability to read minds feels like a cheat code in a world of political espionage. 

Adira is eventually recovered, and her ownership papers are taken from Trakis, allowing her to stay, as a free woman, with Londo onboard Babylon 5. She breaks his heart when she decides to go to a Centauri planet instead. One day, she’ll return for Londo. 

The Honeypot Has Been Used Throughout History

“Born to the Purple” is the first hint at the incredible chemistry between Londo and G’Kar when they give the exact same advice to their subordinates at the negotiating table: “Don’t give away the home world.”

It’s a glimpse into the depths that hide beneath Londo’s foppish appearance and his unique view on the world of love. As a standalone episode, there’s not a lot connecting it to the rest of Babylon 5 outside of the fantastic character moments that would eventually define the series. Not every episode has to push the mythology arc forward, something that creator J. Michael Straczynski was well aware of, and the episode’s writer, Larry Ditillio, helped lay the foundation for the revelations of later seasons. 

Adria babylon 5

Honeypots like Adria were used in actual, real-world espionage and popularized by Russia during the Cold War. Watch The Americans, and you’ll quickly realize most of their spy work involved pretending to be in relationships with the target.

An argument could be made that poor Anne Boleyn from The Tudors is an early historical example. If anyone on board Babylon 5 would fall head over heels for the honeypot, it would be Londo, and if anyone could eventually convince a honeypot to come back to him, it’s also Londo.                  

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How An Actor’s Complaint Created The Most Memorable Star Trek Episode

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Beloved Star Trek Character’s Best Episode Secretly Ripped Off An Earlier Show

By Chris Snellgrove
| Published

If you know much about Star Trek: Voyager, then you know that nobody on the cast complained quite as much as Garrett Wang. The Ensign Kim actor sometimes had very righteous gripes, like when he revealed how the writers allegedly fat-shamed him and Robert Duncan McNeil by writing their recent weight gain into a script. Sometimes, his complaints are shocking, like his unsubstantiated claim that he was told to underact by Rick Berman in order to make the show’s aliens seem more realistic.

In fact, when he repeated a version of that complaint to a TV Guide reporter, who dutifully reported that a Star Trek actor was badmouthing his own TV show. To this day, Wang is convinced that this snafu is why he never got a chance to direct. Fortunately for the actor, not all of his complaints fizzled out. If we had never complained about the writing for his character being boring, then rockstar writer Brannon Braga would never have created “Non-Sequitur,” arguably one of the best episodes to ever feature Ensign Kim.

The Squeaky Wheel Gets The Grease

What is “Non-Sequitur” about? In this tale, Ensign Kim awakens in San Francisco to discover that he never joined the Voyager crew and, thus, never got stranded in the Delta Quadrant. He still has his memories from his time aboard ship, but it’s easy enough to forget all of that in the arms of his hot girlfriend. But his absence from Voyager also meant that Tom Paris lost his spot on the ship, becoming a drunken loser with no purpose. In the ultimate “bros before hoes” moment, Kim teams up with Paris to restore the timeline, ensuring that their bromance will continue on the other side of the galaxy.

“Non-Sequitur” is a very solid Star Trek: Voyager story, especially if (like me) you’re a big fan of both Harry Kim and Tom Paris. As it turns out, though, this episode would never have been written if Garrett Wang hadn’t complained to writer and producer Brannon Braga. As the actor confessed to The Official Star Trek: Voyager Magazine, this episode “was the result of me going into the production office and saying….When is Harry gonna get the girl? When is he gonna have the action?” Braga responded, “Don’t worry about it,” and went on to create “Non-Sequitur.”

Too Cool For Pool

Generally speaking, Wang was quite happy with the finished result because it delivered everything he wanted. The altered timeline of “Non-Sequitur” gave Ensign Kim a cute girlfriend, and it let him kick a little butt once he decided to return reality to the way things were before. He also gets to become a full-on action hero, stealing a runabout, escaping Starfleet pursuit, and even beaming out into the vacuum of space, all in a desperate bid to restore the timeline. 

However, this wouldn’t be a Garrett Wang story if there wasn’t one more complaint. According to the actor, he asked Brannon Braga to intersperse all the action and romance “throughout that year,” hoping Kim would become a more dynamic character throughout Season 2. Instead, Braga “put it all in one episode.” Fortunately, “Non-Sequitur” served as a fun showcase for Wang’s abilities as an actor, one that almost (but not quite) made up for what he really wanted: a promotion for his eternally underused, eternally underacting ensign.

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10 Thriller Shows Where Every Episode Is a Masterpiece

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Detectives Hardy and Miller look out toward the horizon standing on a beach in Broadchurch.

It’s not easy to make a thriller show as gripping, suspenseful, mysterious, and engaging as all the best ones always are; and it’s even more complicated to make a thriller show where every single episode, no matter what it contributes to the show’s overall narrative, is an absolute masterpiece. Thankfully, for fans of thriller television, however, there are noteworthy masterpieces that achieve such a feat.

These are all among the greatest thriller shows of their respective era. Some HBO classics, like Oz, others modern British gems like Broadchurch, others excellent miniseries like The Night Of. No matter what subgenre of thriller it belongs to or what kind of story it tells, a show that manages to deliver banger after banger over the course of its run is one that’s an instant must-see.

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‘Broadchurch’ (2013–2017)

Detectives Hardy and Miller look out toward the horizon standing on a beach in Broadchurch.
Detectives Hardy and Miller look out toward the horizon standing on a beach in Broadchurch.
Image via ITV

Created by Chris Chibnall, the British crime drama Broadchurch stars the legendary David Tennant and Olivia Colman, who play two detectives solving a case that sends the media into a frenzy. No one does crime dramas like the Brits, and this one is easily among the nation’s best. Well-shot, slow-paced, and exquisitely mysterious, it’s a masterpiece that everyone who loves the genre should check out at least once.

Every single episode of Broadchurch is phenomenal, as proven by the fact that each of the show’s three seasons was met with great critical acclaim. This is one of the best detective TV shows with great acting, building an atmosphere of small-town intrigue that’s as gripping as it is emotionally compelling. Every episode of this masterful police procedural feels like it’s effectively building up to something greater.

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‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)

Pedro Pascal as Javier Pena, wearing sunglasses with a cold expression, in an image from 'Narcos.'
Pedro Pascal as Javier Pena, wearing sunglasses with a cold expression, in an image from ‘Narcos.’
Image via Netflix

One of Netflix’s first original shows was Narcos, a crime drama chronicling the exploits of Pablo Escobar, played by Wagner Moura, and the many other drug kingpins who plagued Colombia through the years. It’s one of the most nearly-perfect crime shows ever made, bolstered by a star-studded cast and writing so great that it hardly matters that the show is practically devoid of any sympathetic characters—you can’t help but be fascinated by their conflicts.

Over the course of three exceptional seasons, Narcos remained high-concept drama television-making at its most ambitious and addictive, helping to popularize the concept of binge-watching in the streaming era. Every episode is sharply written and acted, mostly well-researched, and richly complex, making for a series that feels like it keeps evolving into something bigger after every single episode cuts to credits.

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‘Bodyguard’ (2018)

Bodyguard-Richard-Madden
Richard Madden in Bodyguard on Netflix
Image via Netflix

The BBC political conspiracy thriller Bodyguard is one of those single-season thriller TV show masterpieces that show why the genre is so widely acclaimed. Led by Richard Madden and Keeley Hawes, who deliver a pair of towering lead performances, it’s a show so exceptional that fans have been clamoring for a second season for years. Whether it will ever actually materialize remains to be seen; but even if not, it’ll still be remembered as one of the best thriller series of the 2010s.

Pulpy, psychologically complex, and almost overwhelmingly suspenseful, the whole show feels like a ticking time bomb whose time of explosion is a total mystery. That keeps every episode brimming with tension, which allowed Madden and Hawes to really show off their acting chops, and directors Thomas Vincent and John Strickland to display a masterful understanding of what makes a thriller show like this work.

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‘Dark’ (2017–2020)

Jonas standing in the middle of a rural road with a raincoat on in the series Dark.
Jonas standing in the middle of a rural road with a raincoat on in the series Dark.
Image via Netflix

Dark is a show so complex, so profoundly layered, and so intentionally mind-bending that you almost need a notebook to keep track of the whole thing as you watch. But it’s also incredibly addictive, wildly creative, and tautly written. So tautly written, in fact, that it’s worthy of the utmost admiration that over the course of three incredible seasons full of paradoxes and parallel universes, the writers managed to culminate in one of the best sci-fi show finales of the last 10 years, which left no loose ends and zero plot holes.

That’s precisely what makes it so that Dark‘s every episode feels like a masterpiece; one that simultaneously adds to the greater whole yet feels entirely self-contained. It’s one of the most impeccably constructed sci-fi series of all time, and there isn’t a single moment in it that’s not visually impressive, full of fascinating characters, and rewarding in its intellectually challenging nature.











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Collider Exclusive · Sci-Fi Survival Quiz
Which Sci-Fi World Would You Survive?
The Matrix · Mad Max · Blade Runner · Dune · Star Wars
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Five universes. Five completely different ways the future went wrong — or sideways, or up in flames. Only one of them is the world your instincts were built for. Eight questions will figure out which dystopia, galaxy, or desert wasteland you’d actually make it out of alive.

💊The Matrix

🔥Mad Max

🌧️Blade Runner

🏜️Dune

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🚀Star Wars

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01

You sense something is deeply wrong with the world around you. What do you do?
The first instinct is often the truest one.





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02

In a world of scarcity, what resource do you guard most fiercely?
What we protect reveals what we believe survival actually requires.





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03

What kind of threat keeps you up at night?
Fear is useful data — if you’re honest about what you’re actually afraid of.





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04

How do you deal with authority you don’t trust?
Every dystopia has a power structure. Your approach to it determines everything.





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05

Which environment could you actually endure long-term?
Survival isn’t just tactical — it’s physical, psychological, and very much about where you are.





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06

Who do you want in your corner when things fall apart?
The company you keep is the clearest signal of who you actually are.





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07

Where do you draw the line — if you draw one at all?
Every survivor eventually faces a moment that tests what they’re actually made of.





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08

What would actually make survival worth it?
Staying alive is one thing. Having a reason to is another.





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Your Fate Has Been Calculated
You’d Survive In…

Your answers point to the world your instincts were built for. This is the universe your temperament, your survival instincts, and your particular brand of stubbornness were made for.

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The Resistance, Zion

The Matrix

You took the red pill a long time ago — probably before anyone offered it to you. You’re a systems thinker who can’t help but notice the seams in things.

  • You’re drawn to understanding how the system works before figuring out how to break it.
  • You’d find the Resistance, or it would find you — your instinct for spotting constructed realities is the machines’ worst nightmare.
  • You function best when you have access to information and the freedom to act on it.
  • The Matrix built an airtight prison. You’d be the one probing the walls for the door.

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The Wasteland

Mad Max

The wasteland doesn’t reward the clever or the well-connected — it rewards those who are hard to kill and harder to break. That’s you.

  • You don’t need comfort, community, or a cause larger than the next horizon.
  • You need a vehicle, a clear threat, and enough fuel to outrun it — and you’re good at all three.
  • You are unsentimental enough to survive that world, and decent enough — just barely — to be something more than another raider.
  • In the wasteland, that distinction is everything.

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Los Angeles, 2049

Blade Runner

You’d survive here because you know how to exist in moral grey areas without losing yourself completely.

  • You read people accurately, keep your circle small, and ask the questions others prefer not to answer.
  • In a city where humanity is a legal designation rather than a feeling, you hold onto something that keeps you functional.
  • You’re not a hero. But you’re not lost, either.
  • In Blade Runner’s world, that distinction is everything.

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Arrakis

Dune

Arrakis is the most hostile environment in the known universe — and you are precisely the kind of person it rewards.

  • Patience, discipline, and political awareness are your core strengths — and on Arrakis, they’re survival tools.
  • You understand that the long game matters more than any single victory.
  • Others come to Dune and are consumed by it. You’d learn its logic and earn its respect.
  • In time, you wouldn’t just survive Arrakis — you’d begin to reshape it.

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A Galaxy Far, Far Away

Star Wars

The galaxy far, far away is vast, loud, and in a constant state of violent political upheaval — and you wouldn’t have it any other way.

  • You find meaning in being part of something larger than yourself — a cause, a crew, a rebellion.
  • You’d gravitate toward the Rebellion, or the fringes, or whatever pocket of the galaxy still believes the Empire’s grip can be broken.
  • You fight — not because you have to, but because standing aside isn’t something you’re capable of.
  • In Star Wars, that willingness is what makes all the difference.
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‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)

Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff show a crime scene photo to someone off-screen in Mindhunter.
Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff show a crime scene photo to someone off-screen in Mindhunter.
Image via Netflix
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Fans of the practically-flawless Mindhunter are still upset that Netflix cancelled this Joe Penhall and David Fincher true-crime masterpiece after only two short-lived seasons. However, that makes it so that this is one of the best crime shows to binge in a single week, which has to count for something. Whatever the case, this gem about a pair of FBI agents who launch a research project to interview imprisoned serial killers and understand their psychology will forever be remembered as one of the greatest crime shows of the 2010s.

Instead of functioning as a case-of-the-week type of show, Mindhunter intelligently makes its story feel like a more serialized, masterfully slow-burning psychological drama. That format, mixed with the psychological depth and complexity of each episode, as well as the excellent performances and production values, makes it so that the whole show makes you go “that was a masterpiece!” after every single cut to credits.

‘Dexter: Resurrection’ (2025–Present)

Michael C. Hall as Dexter in Episode 9 of Dexter: Resurrection 
Michael C. Hall as Dexter in Episode 9 of Dexter: Resurrection
Image via Paramount+ with Showtime
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Showtime’s Dexter was one of the most popular crime shows on television throughout its whole run from 2006 to 2013—at least until the series got to its finale, one of the most hated of any mainstream 21st-century show. Seven years later came Dexter: New Blood, a sequel that tragically also had a finale fans despised. Now, we’re getting Dexter: Resurrection, and so far, things are looking remarkably promising.

Irrefutable proof of that is the fact that this threequel is one of the highest-rated shows of the 2020s on IMDb, with an impressive score of 9/10. This is, of course, still a pretty new show, and there will be plenty of chances for it to go off the rails in the future (knock on wood). At the moment, however, Resurrection‘s every episode has been a masterpiece, much like all fans of Dexter were hoping.

‘Oz’ (1997–2003)

Ryan and Adebesi talk in the kitchen in Oz.
Ryan and Adebesi talk in the kitchen in Oz.
Image via HBO
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Oz is not only one of the best prison shows ever made, but also one of the most groundbreaking crime dramas and thrillers in the history of the small screen. It was the first one-hour dramatic television series produced by HBO, and it ran for six consistently masterful seasons. It’s hugely commendable that a show which has almost 60 episodes doesn’t have a single one that’s anything less than a masterclass of dramatic television.

The show invented prestige television before The Sopranos established the term itself, with a relentlessly intense tone and a delightfully theatrical structure. As brutal as it may often be, though, Oz tackles its themes and complex characters with tremendous courage and admirable humanism. That heart of gold is what makes it such a perfect show, where every single episode is a must-see.

‘The Night Of’ (2016)

DA John Stone (John Turturro) sits in court with his client Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmed) in 'The Night Of' (2016).
DA John Stone (John Turturro) sits in court with his client Nasir Khan (Riz Ahmed) in ‘The Night Of’ (2016).
Image via HBO
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If there’s any network that has constantly proven to be a master of crime and thriller miniseries, it’s HBO, whose The Night Of is far and away one of the greatest miniseries of the 21st century thus far. Based on the first season of the 2008 British series Criminal Justice, the show stars an incredible Riz Ahmed, whose tour-de-force performance anchors the whole thing throughout.

It’s one of the most nearly-perfect thriller shows ever, a hyper-focused slow-burn tragedy that turns the police, legal, and court work of its story into some of the juiciest drama imaginable. Every episode evolves the story in a way that’s irresistibly engrossing, all done with a technically stunning atmosphere and a structural tightness that even most miniseries aren’t capable of achieving.

‘Chernobyl’ (2019)

Boris (Stellan Skarsgard) and Valery (Jared Harris) stand outside in 'Chernobyl.'
Boris (Stellan Skarsgård) and Valery (Jared Harris) stand outside in ‘Chernobyl.’
Image via HBO
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The HBO miniseries Chernobyl is not for the faint of heart. In exploring the story of the 1986 nuclear disaster in the titular Ukrainian city, the show holds back no punches, making it an absolutely brutal watch. But as stomach-testing as it may be, Chernobyl is still a masterpiece; and over the course of its five episodes, it builds itself up as perhaps the greatest miniseries in history.

It’s no surprise that every single one of Chernobyl‘s episodes is among the highest-rated TV episodes on IMDb. Form, theme, and structure are all perfectly aligned in this beautifully acted, visually striking, technically faultless gem of a show. Scary, thrilling, suspenseful, and deeply dramatic, it’s one of the greatest masterclasses in thriller television that the world has ever seen, without a single dead spot in any of its episodes.

‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)

Even 13 years after its conclusion, many people still call Breaking Bad the single greatest TV show ever made—and for good reason. Created by the brilliant Vince Gilligan, it serves simultaneously as a gripping character study, a suspenseful drug crime thriller, and an adrenaline-pumping neo-Western that does all manner of fascinating things with the tropes of every genre it falls into.

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It is, indeed, one of the best TV drama masterpieces of all time, and it’s not even close. The story of Walter White and Heisenberg (Bryan Cranston) is one as engrossing as it is tragic, and every single episode contributes something absolutely essential to that arc—yes, even “Fly,” the show’s lowest-rated episode on IMDb, which is consequentially one of the most underrated episodes in TV history. Some are slow-burning, some are action-packed, some are hugely suspenseful, some are emotionally cathartic; but every single episode of Breaking Bad is an undeniable masterpiece.


Breaking Bad TV Poster
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Breaking Bad


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Release Date

2008 – 2013-00-00

Network
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AMC

Showrunner

Vince Gilligan

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Directors

Vince Gilligan, Michelle Maclaren

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Snape calls Harry Potter 'racist as hell' in “SNL” sketch mocking new HBO series: 'The Proud Boy Who Lived'

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“Somebody stole something… and the number-one suspect is Black Snape?”

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Is There Sullivan’s Crossing Season 4 After Shocking Cast Exit?

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Everything to Know About RHOSLC Alum Jen Shah's Legal Drama

Sullivan’s Crossing has gone through some surprise cast changes — and twists — but is the hit show returning for season 4?

Based on a book series by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing follows neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) as she returns to her hometown in rural Nova Scotia. She finds herself reconnecting with estranged father, Sully (Scott Patterson), newcomer Cal (Chad Michael Murray) and more members of the community.

Sullivan’s Crossing was previously renewed for a fourth season, which premiered March 22, 2026, on CTV. After airing in Canada, the hit show will follow up with April 20, 2026, on The CW and then on Netflix presumably in the summer once the show wraps up on cable.

Before its premiere, Us Weekly broke the news in March that Patterson would not be reprising his role when season 4 returns.

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“Season 3 of Sullivan’s Crossing ended with Sully leaving for Ireland, beginning a new chapter in his life. Season 4 picks up the next day, with Sully still overseas,” Sullivan’s Crossing executive producer and showrunner Roma Roth exclusively told Us. “While he isn’t physically present in this season, the character remains an important part of the world with the potential to be included in future seasons should that align with the ongoing creative.”

In response, Patterson hinted at what caused his surprising departure, writing via Instagram, “The creative differences were becoming untenable and I just sadly realized that the show was not something that I could agree to continue.”

Chad Michael Murray and Scott Patterson in Sullivan's Crossing


Related: Sullivan‘s Crossing‘s Shocking Cast Exits After Scott Patterson Departure

Scott Patterson isn’t the only Sullivan’s Crossing star who has made a shocking departure from the show. Based on the book series by Robyn Carr, Sullivan’s Crossing centers around neurosurgeon Maggie (Morgan Kohan) after she moves back home to rural Nova Scotia to reconnect with her estranged father, Sully (Scott Patterson). The brief getaway turns […]

Patterson clarified it wasn’t his choice to leave Sullivan’s Crossing.

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“It’s unfortunate that it is now being implied that they moved on from me/Sully when the fact is the complete opposite, and those who sadly already have spoken out are also fully aware of this fact, and yet chose to say otherwise,” he continued. “I was not intending to make any statement but the fans of the books and the show deserve to know the truth as I have always been respectful of those who support this industry by watching and loving these characters we are so dang lucky and blessed to portray and bring to life.”

Seasons 1 through 3 of Sullivan’s Crossing are currently streaming on Netflix. Season 4 premieres on The CW April 20 at 8 p.m. ET

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