Entertainment
The Best Crime Shows From Every Year of the 2010s
Spanning as far back as the earliest days of the medium, crime drama has been a defining staple of television entertainment. From police procedurals to legal dramas, the history of the genre’s small-screen exploits have been instrumental to the popularity and prominence of TV as a storytelling art form at large. As such, it is no surprise that crime television has played such a monumental part in the medium’s ascent to prestige entertainment throughout the 21st century.
It is also no surprise that each year of the 2010s has its own collection of outstanding crime dramas. This list will focus on only series that premiered each year—making Breaking Bad’s third, fourth, and fifth seasons ineligible—meaning the strength of the show’s debut as well as its longevity and impact have been considered. Such is the abundance of brilliance crime television experienced across the decade, such great series as Boardwalk Empire, Ozark, and Unbelievable haven’t made the cut. These are the shows that have exemplified crime drama at its absolute best.
10
‘Sherlock’ (2010–2017)
Functioning as both a mesmerizing adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary stories and an ingenious modernization of them, Sherlock marks one of the defining triumphs of British television, a fun and inviting mystery thriller that thrives off the back of Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman’s sublime chemistry. They star as Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson respectively, with the series following their friendship and professional partnership as they work as consulting detectives, solving unusual and overly complex cases while battling criminal masterminds like Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott).
From the outset, Sherlock exudes an infectious blending of high-stakes, fast-paced tension with accessible and witty humor, ensuring viewers care not only about the cases being explored, but the relationships and livelihoods of those investigating them as well. Defined by its gleefully absorbing dynamic between Holmes and Watson, Sherlock’s four-season run, despite consisting of just 13 episodes in total, epitomizes crime television at its most exuberantly adventurous and inviting.
9
‘The Bridge’ (2011–2018)
The 2010s saw a rampant rise in international interest in “Nordic Noir,” the glum yet gripping detective mysteries originating from the Scandinavian countries. Among the best and most influential of these Nordic Noir shows is The Bridge, which became an instant classic of crime television with its intoxicating first season seeing investigators from Sweden and Denmark having to work together when the bisected body of a prostitute is discovered on a bridge that serves as a border between the two nations.
Richly atmospheric, sharply paced, and bold enough to cover timely issues like immigration, social inequality, and political divides, The Bridge finds great confidence in its storytelling that enables it to tackle crime darkness with tremendous impact. That being said, it finds an important beating heart in the unlikely friendship between Saga (Sofia Helin), the socially-awkward though brilliant Swedish detective, and Martin (Kim Bodnia), the more personable Danish cop. Its later seasons may not match its early heights, but The Bridge is undoubtedly a landmark of international television and a true icon of crime drama in the 2010s.
8
‘Line of Duty’ (2012–Present)
Thriving off the back of Jed Mercurio’s brilliant writing, Line of Duty is a flawless marriage of detailed, authentic realism and searing dramatic intensity as it focuses on the cases investigated by a police anti-corruption unit. While the revolving door of talent has seen such stars as Stephen Graham, Lennie James, Thandie Newton, and Kelly Macdonald feature in major roles, the series follows DS Steve Arnott (Martin Compston) and DC Kate Fleming (Vicky McClure) through the many corrupt police squad’s they investigate while trying to figure out the identity of “H”, a senior officer in the police force with ties to organized crime.
Finding dramatic importance not only in field work, but in the details of paperwork, police surveillance, and the need to cover legal loopholes, Line of Duty commits to its real-world authenticity with a dedication that is utterly captivating. This quality is best seen in the series’ now-famous interrogation sequences, which run as psychological cat-and-mouse games executed in one-take that can run for as long as 20–30 minutes. The series has released six seasons thus far, with Line of Duty Season 7 scheduled to premiere in 2027.
7
‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)
One of the most audacious and daring series to screen on network television in recent decades, Hannibal presents a transfixing marriage of visceral visual horror and psychologically-charged crime investigation to stand as one of the most pulsating series the genre has ever seen. Based on ‘Red Dragon’ and other works by Thomas Harris, the NBC series follows disturbed FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) as he uses his ability to empathize with violent criminals to deduce their motives and figure out their next move. Due to his fragile temperament, the FBI contracts the esteemed Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) to supervise him in the field.
Every aspect of Hannibal exudes an arresting theatricality, be it the lavish set design and richly impressionable performances or the gory artistry of its elaborate murder scenes. Complemented by the macabre majesty of its writing, the engrossing character dynamics, and the stunning cinematography, Hannibal makes an immediate impact with its first season and continues its stylish decadence through to the end of its three-season run.
6
‘True Detective’ (2014–2024)
Perhaps the greatest single season in the history of television, Season 1 of True Detective is a groundbreaking masterpiece of crime television. Its slow-burn approach to murder mystery and its ability to extract drama from the detectives’ personal lives as well as the central case has become prolific in crime television in the years since, but it has seldom been replicated with the same atmospheric brilliance, which was itself a byproduct of the eerie Southern Gothic allure, outstanding production, Nic Pizzolatto’s writing, and two exceptional lead performances.
The first season follows two detectives in Louisiana and their decades-spanning connection to a disturbing case of a killer with ties to the occult. Eerie, unnerving, and laced with a pervasive sense of festering evil, it is a masterpiece of moody murder mystery. Efforts to expand the series as an anthology of sorts have garnered mixed results, but even the show’s most egregious failures have done nothing to tarnish the cultural standing and critical acclaim of its first season.
5
‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)
One of the greatest spin-offs in the history of television, Better Call Saul runs as something of a prequel to Breaking Bad following the corruption and moral decay of Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk). Starting out as a conniving lawyer willing to resort to unethical methods to support his clients, he soon becomes embroiled in the drug trade, advising violent and ruthless criminals as he adopts the moniker, Saul Goodman.
With the first three seasons run by Breaking Bad creator Vince Gilligan, Better Call Saul is a perfect expansion on the Emmy Award-winning drama, one that excels at continuing and evolving the story world while still maintaining a distance to the original series that allows Better Call Saul to soar as its own, unique story. Bolstered by its astonishing writing and direction, the series’ six-season run presents a masterclass in character study drama, one supported by enthralling slow-burn pacing and a commanding grasp on cinematic tension to be one of the best and most addictive crime series of the past decade.
4
‘The Night Of’ (2016)
2016 saw a number of iconic crime series premiere, from gangland dramas like Animal Kingdom and Queen of the South to morbid murder mysteries like Marcella and even absorbing legal thrillers like Bull and Goliath. Despite the longevity and cultural impact of all of these titles, the year’s best crime television exploit is the largely overlooked HBO miniseries, The Night Of, which blends together elements of crime investigation, courtroom suspense, and immersion in the criminal world throughout an incredible eight-episode arc that challenges the structure and methodology of the legal system.
Riz Ahmed stars as Nasir Khan, a Pakistani-American who is arrested and charged with murder after he wakes up next to a girl he was partying with to find she has been stabbed to death. The case seems clear-cut, but low-level defense attorney John Stone (John Turturro) believes there is more to the crime. With its imposing atmospheric intensity steeped in brutal realism and unflinching thematic gravitas, The Night Of is one of the most underrated crime series of its decade as well as one of the outright best.
3
‘Mindhunter’ (2017–2019)
Edging out two other major Netflix productions in Ozark and Money Heist to take the place as the best crime series to debut in 2017, Mindhunter has become a cultural touchstone of modern crime suspense in entertainment. Combining a harrowing deep dive into the psychology of real-life evil with a simmering atmosphere of dread and tension, the series takes place in the 1970s as the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit—comprised of two agents and psychologist—travel around America interviewing detained serial killers to gain insights that can be applied to active cases to pinpoint suspects.
Enriched by David Fincher’s involvement, the series steers investigative drama away from the urgency of an active case in favor of a cerebral and surgical analysis of why serial killers experience such impulses. This focus is evident in the way in which the series builds suspense, emphasizing prolonged and detailed interview discussions that fester in the audience’s imagination rather than showing graphic gore. Bolstered by razor-sharp writing and exemplary acting, Mindhunter is as divine as it is dark, with its two-season, 19-episode run marking a highlight of modern television.
2
‘Barry’ (2018–2023)
As tonally daring as any crime series ever made, Barry juggles elements of hitman thrills, tragic drama, psychological character study, and absurdist black comedy to present what is one of the most captivating and unique series audiences have seen in many years. Bill Hader stars as Barry Berkman, a former U.S. Marine living with PTSD while working as an assassin. While tracking a target, he walks into an acting class in L.A. and discovers a passion for performance, one he tries to pursue while struggling to leave his life of crime behind him.
Not only starring Hader, but co-created and often directed by him as well, Barry flaunts a slicing satirical wit when it indulges its comedic inflections, but the series also delivers agonizing suspense and gripping action sequences as well. Also fueled by bold writing that relishes the chance to present a jaw-dropping plot twist yet never sacrifices its emphasis on character development and thematic might, Barry is a complex yet compelling masterpiece of crime television that is as unpredictable as any show that has ever been produced.
1
‘When They See Us’ (2019)
Another year when the genre was defined by the triumphs of Netflix, 2019 saw two astonishing and timely crime miniseries produced in Unbelievable and When They See Us, both of which excel with their punishing thematic wrath and their shocking basis on true stories. Determining which is the better series is no easy feat, but When They See Us gets the nod on this occasion, with its heartbreaking story of injustice and systemic racism following five young Black and Latino men from Harlem as they are falsely convicted of rape and embark on a lengthy and agonizing process to have their sentences overturned.
Creator, director, and co-writer Ava DuVernay wields the passion injustice inspires from an audience with masterful prowess, focusing not only on the brutal journeys of the five men, but exploring the impact their incarceration has on their families and loved ones as well. Within its analytical dissection of the horrific failures of the legal system, it still recognizes the five wrongly convicted men as human beings rather than as symbols, imbuing the miniseries with profound humanity. It’s challenging, raw, and viscerally confronting, but it is also an essential masterpiece of crime television.
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