Summary
MysteryTV shows can take many forms, and the 2020s has been defined as a decade that bends genre and pushes boundaries on television. Whether these series are comedies, true crime, or incorporate aspects of sci-fi and fantasy,they’re universal in that they draw audiences in with their thrilling plot twists and red herrings.While a mystery doesn’t necessarily have to revolve around crime or murder, most do, which brings in familiar elements like police officers, rogue detectives, and suspicious witnesses who know more than they’re letting on. The beats of a mystery show are common knowledge for most audiences.
Often, it’s the characters who make the series unique and convince the viewer to care about the story.
However, awareness of the formula of a crime series doesn’t detract from the audience’s enjoyment. This shorthand allows the writers and showrunners to subvert their expectations. Often, it’s the characters who make the series unique and convince the viewer to care about the story. Mostgreat crime TV shows feature A-list actors, as a defining factor of an effective mystery is how well the performance can make the audience believe them.A strong cast and a tight script are the two most important parts of any TV series,regardless of the genre.
10 Overlooked Crime TV Shows That Only Lasted One Season
From Stalker to Detroit 1-8-7, many crime TV shows had incredible potential but were canceled after just one season.
Dead Boy Detectives
Cast
Based on the DC series, Dead Boy Detectives is a supernatural comedy-mystery series created for Netflix. Two young men from different find one another in death but decide to skip the afterlife and remain among the living with a new purpose - to solve various supernatural mysteries the way only two deceased detectives can.
Even though both Edwin and Charles are long dead, this doesn’t stop them from doing the most with their afterlife, as they’re dedicated to solving fantastical mysteries.
The protagonists ofDead Boy Detectives,Edwin and Charles, exist in the same universe as Netflix’s other series,The Sandman,and both are based on the popular graphic novel series. However, inDead Boy Detectives, mystery and solving crimes take center stage, with supernatural elements serving as a backdrop and exciting addition to every crime. Even though both Edwin and Charles are long dead, this doesn’t stop them from doing the most with their afterlife, as they’re dedicated to solving fantastical mysteries.
TheSandmancharacters who appear inDead Boy Detectivesroot the series in the larger universe of the story and make the breadth of the show feel larger and more all-encompassing. This is helpful, asDead Boy Detectiveshas episodic aspects in addition to its overarching arc. With characters of all ages and two central characters stuck in adolescence,Dead Boy Detectivesis perfect for YA audiences looking to get into the mystery genre with a new series.
Only Murders in the Building
Only Murders in the Building is a mystery-comedy series following three strangers, portrayed by Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, who bond over their shared obsession with true crime. Set in a Manhattan apartment building, the trio becomes embroiled in a real murder mystery within their residence.
The true crime genre is one of the most popular in film and television, andOnly Murders in the Buildingturns this cultural interest on its head. A group of characters interested in crime-solving starts their own podcast to uncover the truth about a murder that happened in their building but soon find themselves wrapped up in a much larger scandal.As the series has progressed, it only becomes more metaas the in-world characters gain fame and fortune for their investigations, mirroring the trajectory of the series itself.
Martin Short, Steve Martin, and Selena Gomez have an unexpected but excellent chemistrythat drives the action forward and makes the viewer relentlessly invested in the story. Their chemistry is a large part of what makesOnly Murders in the Buildingwork, as Short and Martin are comedic veterans, and Gomez is relatable to younger audience members. Though comedy and humor are the core tenets of the series, the narrative isn’t afraid to get as dark and grisly as any good podcast worth its salt in the true crime sphere.
8Presumed Innocent (2024)
Jake Gyllenhaal’s latest miniseries makes the viewer question their beliefs.
He plays Rusty Sabich, a high-powered Chicago prosecutor whose involvement with a woman who turns up dead soon complicates his career, marriage, and entire life.
The original novel of the same name by Scott Turow was first made into a movie in 1990 that starred Harrison Ford in the role Jake Gyllenhaal recently took on in the newest iteration ofPresumed Innocent. He plays Rusty Sabich, a high-powered Chicago prosecutor whose involvement with a woman who turns up dead soon complicates his career, marriage, and entire life. When it comes out that he was having an affair with her, few people can ignore how much evidence is stacked against him despite his previous clean reputation.
Though it’s not Gyllenhaal’s best performance,Presumed Innocentshines as a courtroom drama and keeps the audience invested by providing insight into the inner workings of Sabich’s personal life.Much of the series focuses on the trial and the legal process of finding someone guilty of a crimeas the viewer goes back and forth about whether or not Sabich killed his lover. While the mystery element isn’t as important as the character study of Sabich, it still keeps the audience guessing.
Under the Banner of Heaven
Under the Banner of Heaven is a true crime series based on Jon Krakauer’s book and stars Andrew Garfield as Detective Jeb Pyre. Jeb, a religious man, works alongside another detective, Bill Taba. The two attempt to discover the truth behind a murder traced to Mormonism, igniting contentious religious discourse during the case.
The book,Under the Banner of Heaven, is more focused on the history of Mormonism and the real events of the crime described than the TV series.Starring Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones, the show follows several parallel narrativesabout the events that lead up to Brend Lafferty’s death, the aftermath as the police investigate, and the early formation of the Mormon church. Although the series received some backlash from religious communities, it was considered brilliantly acted and an amazing slow-burn mystery.
Twisters' box office global successis a great reason to revisit Edgar-Jones’s amazing performance inUnder the Banner of Heaven. Though she and Garfield never interact on screen, as they exist at different points in the story,they’re both the heart and soul of the series and present the essential questions and themes about faithand morality. The investigation of Brenda’s death starts out like a standard procedural, but the intercutting with historical background and the turmoil of Garfield’s character, Jeb, make the series unlike anything else.
Slow Horses
Slow Horses follows a dysfunctional team of MI5 agents led by the notorious Jackson Lamb. Set against the backdrop of the espionage world, the agents must navigate complex operations and defend England from sinister forces, all while dealing with internal struggles and their abrasive boss.
The spy genre is often more defined by its action rather than its mystery, butSlow Horsesgives its characters plenty to investigate in every season.
Slow Horsesis in good company, as the other films and television shows in the British espionage genre are some of the most iconic and well-received. The spy genre is often more defined by its action rather than its mystery, butSlow Horsesgives its characters plenty to investigate in every season. It follows a group of MI5 agents who have one of the most undesirable and boring assignments in the agency. However,the characters discover there are bigger plots at work in the midst of their routinesurveillance and paperwork.
Gary Oldman leads the series as Jackson Lamb, the head of the department, a man who refuses to admit how much he cares about his team, masking his feelings with snark.Each character inSlow Horseshas made a mistake or is bogged down by their past,giving them a reason to throw everything into their work, even if they aren’t the most skilled agents. High stakes and hidden agendas populateSlow Horses, giving the series an exciting edge that’s juxtaposed with the rag-tag group who must save the world.
A Murder at the End of the World
A Murder at the End of the World is an FX psychological thriller created and directed by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij. The show centers on Darby Hart, an amateur detective who is invited to a billionaire’s remote location only to be forced to solve a murder. A Murder at the End of the World stars Emma Corrin, Brit Marling, and Clive Owen.
Emma Corrin plays Darby Hart, the perfect Gen-Z detectivewho uses her skills as a hacker and keen sensibilities to solve a murder at an isolated retreat.A Murder at the End of the Worldbegins with a frame story similar to a classic Agatha Christie novel, as the central characters are invited to a remote location by a reclusive billionaire, and it doesn’t take long for one of the guests to turn up dead. Darby’s experience and quest to solve the murder at the retreat are intercut with her early experiences as an amateur detective.
The show itself is a puzzle to be solved by the audience alongside Darby as she attempts to piece together what happened to the victims and how they’re connected.A Murder at the End of the Worldcomes at a poignant time asthe themes and plot of the series are in conversation with the growing prevalence of technology and AI.Throughout the show, the story questions how complicit people are in actions committed via the internet and how humanity is the influencing factor behind the development of AI.
Lyonne plays Charlie, a self-proclaimed human lie detector who gets involved with the wrong people and has to head out on the open road to escape their wrath.
It’s no wonder thatthe hype forPoker Faceseason 2 has been steadily growingsince the show was renewed, as Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson make the perfect creative team in this twist on the mystery genre. Lyonne plays Charlie, a self-proclaimed human lie detector who gets involved with the wrong people and has to head out on the open road to escape their wrath. Every episode features Charlie attempting not to get involved in the murder-of-the-week, but she can’t help but be pulled in by the mysterious circumstances of the crimes and the lies the characters are telling.
Part of the fun ofPoker Faceis thatevery episode features a new cast of guest stars in a unique location in the U.S.,makingPoker Faceas much a detective story as it is a road series. Charlie’s character and her cases are all inspired by the great mystery TV shows and movies of the past, making it a nostalgic series while simultaneously upending how audiences think of an episodic crime show. The finale of season 1 has set up Charlie for another epic adventure and positions her to encounter many new suspicious faces.
Under the Bridge
Based on the book by Rebecca Godfrey, Under the Bridge is a 2024 true crime series that explores the murder of a teenaged girl named Reena Virk through the testimonies of her accused killers.
Under the Bridgeunpacks a true crime case of a murdered teenager in Canadaand stars Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough as a detective looking into the case, Cam, and a woman interested in writing about the issues of troubled youth, Rebecca. They form a sudden connection as they investigate the disappearance of Reena, a young woman who got involved with a local gang, and the external factors that push young people to resort to violence. Deep explorations of the girls' home lives are a consistent aspect of the show.
The series tells a politically relevant and engaging narrative asissues of xenophobia, class, and race are all intimately connected to what happened to Reena.Additionally, the budding relationship between Rebecca and Cam is an emotional and sweet break in the tough discussions of the systemic failures of the government to support the country’s youth. Discussions of Indigenous identity and Canadian history are on display and touched on with sensitivity throughout the narrative.
Severance is a psychological thriller series featuring Adam Scott as Mark Scout, an employee at Lumon Industries who undergoes a “severance” procedure to separate his work and personal memories. However, as work and life personas mysteriously begin to collide, it quickly becomes clear that not all is as it seems. Created by Dan Erickson and directed by Ben Stiller and Aoife McArdle.
The premise ofSeverancerevolves around a group of office workers who undergo an operation to have their work-life completely cut off from their personal lives.
Apple TV+’s sci-fi mystery,Severance, is one of the streamers' most popular series to date,starring Adam Scott in the central role of Mark. The premise ofSeverancerevolves around a group of office workers who undergo an operation to have their work-life completely cut off from their personal lives. This means the characters have no memory of who they really are while at work, and when they leave the office, they can’t remember what their job is. Only the most classified projects are worked on by the severed employees.
As the group of workers begins to realize that their jobs and company are not what they think, the series also touches upon relevant and emotional topics like grief and the ethics of corporations. Critically and in terms of audience reception,Severancewas a hit, and viewers have been patiently waiting for season 2 for a long time. Afterseason 1 left off with an incredible reveal and cliffhanger,there’s plenty more mystery to explore in the brilliant series.
10 TV Shows About Mysteries That Were Never Solved
Plenty of TV shows use the ongoing hook of an overarching mystery to drive interest, but many more sadly end before they can make their big reveals.
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is a mystery crime-drama that stars Kate Winslet as a detective attempting to solve a murder as her life crumbles around her. Marianne “Mare” Sheehan is assigned to investigate the murder of one girl while trying to tackle a cold case of another missing girl. Having recently lost her son, Mare’s world is steeped in chaos as she attempts to reclaim her life in the eyes of the town - and herself.
Mare of Easttownis on par with the greatestmysteryseries of all time, seeing Kate Winslet transform into the tough but intuitive Mare, a detective in Pennsylvania. Despite her high-profile past roles, Winslet disappears into the role and fully embodies the life and culture of this small town as it’s wrecked with tragedy. A young Cailee Spaeny is featured as a young woman who becomes the victim of murder and the subject ofa publicized case that pushes Mare to her limits as she struggles with her personal issues and a long-cold abduction case.
WhatMare of Easttowndoes best is immerse the viewer completely into the town and the narrative, easily building the world and establishing the relationships with little unnecessary exposition.The critical and audience response toMare of Easttownwas immediate and overwhelming,and it’s no wonder, considering how tight the story is. Just when the audience believes the investigation is over and the crime is solved, the series throws in one last twist that shocks the viewer.
