10 Forgotten Crime Shows That Are Still 10/10 Masterpieces

Crime shows are a dime a dozen. At any given time, you can turn on the TV and find one on linear network TV during the primetime hours or via streaming. From the classics to new ones, you have your pick of the litter. This is also precisely why some of the best crime shows from decades past have been totally forgotten.

These crime shows weren’t just great when they originally aired or streamed, however. They are still worth watching today. Whether it’s thanks to the great acting and storytelling or the relatable premise, they are worth the investment of time throughout a single season or many.

‘Terriers’ (2010)

Image via FX

Back at the beginning of the 2010s, FX aired a fun crime comedy drama that people loved but have since forgotten all about. Terriers follows Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue), an ex-police officer and recovering alcoholic who decides to start his own private investigation firm with his best friend Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James), who also happens to be a former criminal.

It’s wonderfully entertaining to watch the pair do their thing with the sunny setting of Ocean Beach, San Diego as a fitting backdrop. The show maintains a 93% Rotten Tomatoes critic score, leaving fans wondering why it was cancelled so soon. Dubbed one of the best one-season wonders, Terriers was fueled by the great chemistry between the leads. The witty writing and buddy comedy story with an element of mystery kept viewers glued to the screen.

‘The Following’ (2013–2015)

Image via FOX

You can’t go wrong with Kevin Bacon on screen in any capacity, and when you pair him with James Purefoy in a cat-and-mouse story, it’s on-screen magic. The Following centers around Ryan Hardy (Bacon), a former FBI agent who took down one of the most notorious serial killers, Joe Carroll (Purefoy). Joe still has it in for Ryan, especially since he later took up with Joe’s ex-wife. Joe is charming and convincing, and amassed a cult of followers, even while behind bars, who continue to do his dirty work.

The game between these two men is frightening and mysterious and filled with edge-of-your-seat tension. The acting is superb, with actors like The Boys‘ Valorie Curry playing Joe’s most devout follower, Emma, and X-Men‘s Shawn Ashmore as agent Mike Weston. The Following is one of those shows that is better than it gets credit for.

‘Prodigal Son’ (2019–2021)

Image via FOX

Another crime show cancelled too soon, Prodigal Son explores the dynamic between Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne), an FBI profiler, and his serial killer father Martin Whitly (Michael Sheen). Martin was once a revered heart surgeon, but once his extracurricular activities caught up with him, he was arrested, tried, and sent to an asylum. The impact of what he did, however, still traumatizes Malcolm. He entered the field to study people like his father, but suffers from debilitating nightmares.

What’s so interesting about Prodigal Son is the hold Martin still has over Malcolm, and Malcolm’s fears that he may have the same sociopathic tendencies as his father. A cheesy procedural at times as Malcolm taps into the minds of killers, analyzes cases no one else can, and gets out of odd jams, the show was so intriguing that you couldn’t help but be drawn to the story. It has a bit of a Hannibal feel to it at times.

‘Defending Jacob’ (2020)

Image via Apple TV

Arguably one of Apple TV’s most forgotten shows, the miniseries Defending Jacob has an incredible cast led by Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery. They are parents to 14-year-old Jacob (Jaeden Martell), who is accused of murder. The story follows the investigation as the pair grapple with what’s happening and the horrifying thought that their son could possibly be guilty.

With shows like Adolescence taking streaming and awards season by storm, Defending Jacob may not have approached the topic in the same way, but it’s in the same orbit. It was criticized for its ending and slow pacing, which is why the murder mystery legal drama might have fallen off the map once it concluded its eight-episode run. But it’s an interesting, different perspective to a story about the challenges of parenting and the emotional weight that responsibility carries when your worst nightmare comes true.

‘Mr Inbetween’ (2018–2021)

Image via FX

Hailing from Australia, Mr Inbetween quietly aired on FX for three seasons, but largely went under the radar, despite how good it was. The dark comedy/crime drama dives into the life of Raymond “Ray” Shoesmith (Scott Ryan), a hitman by night and family man by day. Navigating these two lives is a challenge, especially when his violent persona begins to impact his behavior as a loving father, boyfriend, brother, and friend.

There are a few similarities to the premise of the new show Memory of a Killer, but Mr Inbetween tackles the concept of a vicious hitman living a double life in a much more compelling way. Every episode is a masterpiece. The show builds tension and suspense while offering lighter moments to soften the mood in between. It’s arguably one of the best crime dramas you haven’t watched yet, earning a solid 95% Rotten Tomatoes critics score.

‘Remington Steele’ (1982–1987)

Image via FOX

Going all the way back to the ’80s, Remington Steele was Pierce Brosnan as James Bond before he was actually James Bond. In this detective fiction series, Laura Holt (Stephanie Zimbalist) creates a fictional boss named Remington Steele to help her private investigation company get clients. It appears no one is willing to hire a woman.

The situation becomes murky, however, when an unnamed former thief and con man capitalizes on this fake persona and adopts it as his own. Once he inserts himself into her business, there’s no getting rid of “Steele.” The show, one of the great ’80s shows you probably haven’t seen, was both progressive and regressive at the same time. While it shone a spotlight on sexism, its response was also to bring in the handsome, male savior. That said, its social commentary was also bold for the time, and the character of Holt ended up serving as inspiration for many strong female detective characters who have come since.

‘Cagney & Lacey’ (1982–1988)

Image via CBS

Even today, most buddy cop comedies, crime dramas, and procedurals that involve women still have a woman paired with a man. It’s rare to have two women as the leads, and Cagney & Lacey was among the first shows to do it. Far ahead of its time, the police procedural stars Christine Cagney (Sharon Gless) and Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly) as two police detectives with very different lives. Cagney is single and focused on her career while Lacey is a wife and mother.

Considering that today, more than 40 years later, we have still yet to see a crime drama with two females beyond a few outliers like Killing Eve, Unbelievable, and Rizzoli & Isles, the dynamic between Cagney and Lacey remains a benchmark to which shows continue to aspire.

‘Psych’ (2006–2014)

Image via USA Network

One of the most beloved and long-running detective comedy dramas outside of Supernatural, Psych had an interesting premise that has been followed by so many shows of its kind since. At the heart is Shawn Spencer (James Roday), a crime consultant who has an eidetic memory and heightened observational skills. He uses this to make others believe he’s psychic, and it works. He enlists his best friend Burton “Gus” Guster (Dulé Hill) and his former detective father Henry (Corbin Bernsen) to help him solve cases.

With amazing chemistry between the leads and a fun angle that has been replicated to some degree with other shows like High Potential, Psych was not the first to offer a story with a detective who has special skills. But it is one of the most loved and long-running with eight seasons under its belt. Others have gotten more attention, from Monk to The Mentalist, so it’s easy to forget just how good Psych is.

‘JAG’ (1995–2005)

Image via CBS

Overshadowed by the franchise it spawned, NCIS, JAG is actually where it all started. The legal drama is a police procedural that uniquely takes place within the U.S. Navy, centering only on judge advocates handling cases involving military individuals. Unlike others that focus on traditional criminal cases, JAG exclusively covered those that pertain to military operational law.

After the first few seasons, the United States Marine Corps became more involved in helping with storylines, making the show raw, real, and believable while also entertaining. The show was cancelled by NBC but picked up by CBS to continue its run, after which it started to focus more on action than legal drama. Once NCIS blew up, however, everyone forgot about JAG.

‘Bored to Death’ (2009–2011)

Image via HBO

Skewing more towards comedy, Bored to Death has an impressive cast led by Jason Schwartzman as Jonathan Ames, a writer who spends his nights moonlighting as a private detective. The show also stars Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis as his friends George and Ray, respectively. The cancelled comedy series worth watching leans into the idea that Ames isn’t necessarily great at his job, but he has a passion for solving crime.

Lasting three seasons, there’s no denying the comedic talents of the main cast members. But beyond that, Bored to Death is also a well-written show that’s a charming and different entry among a sea of cookie-cutter procedurals. The show was so popular, fans petitioned to bring it back following its cancellation. There was talk of a potential movie revival but nothing ever materialized, a story itself that fits perfectly with Ames’ character.

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Bored to Death

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Release Date

2009 – 2011-00-00

Directors

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Michael Lehmann, Adam Bernstein

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