There’s nothing more exciting than afast-paced televisionshow that hooks you straight away and never lets up. From intense dramas to mind-bending sci-fi series, there have been several shows in recent years that have left a major mark on popular culture and stand as some of the most exciting prestigeTV programming of the modern age. With astounding ensemble casts and sharp, clever writing, while slow-burn narratives that take their time have their place, it’s hard to beat a show that values high-octane action over drawn-out narratives.
Unlike thebest fast-paced movies,television series have more time to balance character development, narrative arcs, and ongoing storylines with relentless action, suspense, twists, and cliffhangers. A show that knows how to toe the line between all these things makes for an engrossing, bingeable experience that means viewers just have to see what happens next. These series represent the pinnacle oftwist-filled fast-paced TVand will hook viewers in from the very start.
Those with a love for crime dramas on the darker side will certainly be hooked onDexterfrom the very beginning. While the idea of a sociopathic serial killer endlessly hunting his victims sounds like a totally unlikable character, the truth was that Dexter Morgan made for a compelling protagonist as he carried out his crimes through a strict code, which meant he only killed those he deemed deserved to die. With an incredibleperformance from Michael C. Hall,Dexterwalked the fine line between comedy and drama as it delved into the psychology of its troubled title character.
From the thrilling mystery of the Ice Truck Killer to the brutal intensity of the Trinity Killer, the Miami Metro Police Department had their work cut out for them with the amount of vicious killings they had to contend with. While the later seasons were not as acclaimed as its earliest installments, and the show left viewers disappointed with a lackluster finale,Dexterhas attempted to right the wrongs of the past with subsequent series likeDexter: New Blood,Dexter: Original Sin, and the upcoming showDexter: Resurrection.
The spy thrillerThe Night Managerpowerfully adapted the John le Carré novel in a fast-paced BBC series. With an astounding cast featuring Hugh Laurie, Tom Hiddleston, and Olivia Colman, the stylish cinematography, intriguing espionage, and relentless suspense meant viewers were hooked right from the beginning. Telling the story of a night manager in a luxury hotel in Cairo recruited to infiltrate the inner circle of an arms dealer, the high-stakes tension and hidden allegiances ofThe Night Managermade for intense suspense.
With smart writing, a riveting narrative, and committed performances,The Night Managerrepresented the best of clever, thought-provoking television. Bringing a cinematic quality to Le Carré’s tightly paced narrative,The Night Managerwas a masterclass in storytelling. With a highly anticipated second season in the works,it remains to be seen ifThe Night Manager’sseason 2 can live up to the esteemed legacy of the first one.
Peaky Blinderswasted no time immersing viewers into its gritty, post-World War I Birmingham setting and quickly introduced us to the criminal street gang who gave the show its title. With Thomas Shelby as the group’s cunning leader,future Academy Award winner Cillian Murphyembodied one of the greatest anti-heroes ever seen on television. From its top-tier writing and high-stakes threats, betrayals, and power shifts,Peaky Blinderswas truly one of the best period crime dramas of all time.
It was not just Murphy’s performance that hooked viewers right from the start, as its characters like Arthur Shelby (Paul Anderson) and Chief Inspector Chester Campbell (Sam Neill) made this BBC series a must-watch show. With appearances from major stars like Tom Hardy, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Adrien Brody,Peaky Blindersboasted the star talent to live up to its incredible production values. From its music, pacing, and unique cinematography,Peaky Blinderswas one of the most stylish and exciting British productions ever made.
It does not get any more high-stakes than the thrilling, elaborate plotting at the core ofPrison Break. Featuring Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller) intentionally getting imprisoned with the goal of helping his wrongfully accused brother Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) make his escape and clear his name, the very first episode set up a thrilling life-or-death scenario. By throwing audiences straight into the heart of the action,Prison Breakwas a show that had us hooked right from the get-go.
WhilePrison Breakmay have lost some of its narrative steam as it strayed further from its initial set-upacross its seasons, it was always a fast-paced series that delivered non-stop action. With an impressive ensemble cast that included plenty of cliffhangers and twists, it was hard not to be drawn into the world of this Fox series.
Right from the get-go,Breaking Badstarted with a bang as Walter White and Jesse Pinkman raced through the New Mexico desert in their makeshift meth lab. With unconscious bodies littering the floor of their domicile and gas masks on their faces, it was hard not to be immediately hooked and intrigued by the story of this mild-mannered chemistry teacher-turned-notorious-drug-lord. With the perfect blend of comedy and drama, it’s no surprise thatBreaking Badsoon grew into one of the most acclaimed TV shows of all time.
From encounters with wild cartel members like Tuco Salamanca to the sinister dealings of Gus Fring,Breaking Badwas packed with incredible villains who constantly put Walt and Jesse in grave danger. Watching as Walt transformed into a ruthless and immoral villain himself was one of the greatest character arcs ever seen on the small screen, and the countless cliffhangers and high-stakes action made for thrilling viewing. Although the prequel seriesBetter Call Saultook its time with a slower pace,Breaking Badkept things fast-paced throughout its five seasons.
The German-language Netflix seriesDarkwas a genre-bending, intergenerational journey through time initially centered on the mystery of a child’s disappearance. While the set-up of this series brought to mind mystery dramas likeBroadchurch, as the show progressed, it embraced the most outlandish aspects of sci-fi as its cryptic, mystery-box narrative slowly revealed itself. Through a time travel conspiracy that got to the very heart of the human experience,Darkwas a twisted tale of morality and mortality.
It’s difficult to appropriately describe how thrilling the experience of watchingDarkwas in just a few sentences, as it was a mind-bending series that has to be seen to be believed. With an impressive ensemble that perfectly cast its actors at different stages of their life cycles,Darktruly pushed the boundaries of what could be achieved on television. While the series blended aspects ofTwin PeaksandStranger Things, the tense and terrifying way its sci-fi mystery unfolded also meant it was like nothing else on television.
The thrilling political seriesParadisewas a unique glimpse into a version of the United States dealing with the aftermath of a doomsday event. Set within a city-sized underground bunker in Colorado, the series followed the story of Xavier Collins (Sterling K. Brown) and his quest to discover the truth behind the death of the President of the United States. As a deeply engaging conspiracy that sees Xavier come under suspicion for the president’s murder,Paradisefeatures plenty of suspicious supporting characters and many shocking revelations.
Paradiseis a Hulu series that carved out its own unique identity and looks set to continue its fast-paced thrills in season 2. As an addictive drama that blended elements of political thriller, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic drama,Paradisewas a genre-bending and thought-provoking glimpse into a fraught and unstable political situation. With a gripping plot that unfolds through flashbacks, Brown’s astounding performance helped elevate this unique show into a must-watch series.
The fast-paced nature of24was built into its very premise as each season took place over the course of 24 hours and utilized a real-time method of narration to keep viewers hooked for each and every minute. With Kiefer Sutherland as the counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer, this action-drama featured constant catastrophes and consistent cliffhangers to make for a highly bingeable series. As an agent who lived by an ends justifies the means philosophy, Bauer had no issues threatening and lying to anyone who stood in the way of him achieving his aims.
24addressed everything from bioterrorism to presidential assassination attempts as its political themes and conspiratorial narratives represented the pinnacle of post-9/11 television. As one of the most popular series of its time, it was a groundbreaking and innovative series that utilized split-screen and a digital clock to immerse viewers in its time-sensitive stories. As an original and action-packed drama, while24often doesn’t get as much praise as other prestige series of its time, it was certainly no less exciting.
It’s not often that non-English language series break through with Western viewers in the way thatSquid Gamedid. As a global phenomenon that had the entire world on tenterhooks during its first season, this dystopian survival thriller did not waste any time in getting straight into the action as 456 contestants risked their lives in a deadly contest for a chance to win a ₩45.6 billion prize. With themes of class disparity and wealth inequality, the underlying subtext ofSquid Gameconnected with viewers not just in South Korea but across the entire planet.
As the most watched series on Netflix in 2021 (viaNewsweek),Squid Gamewas unflinchingly brutal in the way it consistently killed off major characters as it built towards its climactic first series finale. The long-anticipated second season also delivered on its promise of more thrills asSeong Gi-hun re-entered the gamewith much more knowledge of its uncompromising and barbaric nature. While it remains to be seen if the upcoming third and fourth seasons can maintain the same level of fast-paced action, history points toSquid Gamekeeping viewers hooked throughout its entire run.
Money Heistwas a Spanish crime drama also known under the titleLa casa del papelthat represented the absolute pinnacle of heist stories on the small screen. Telling the story of a gang of criminals and theirplot to steal €984 million from the Royal Mint of Spain, the intricate details of their carefully laid robbery made for jaw-dropping viewing as they had a backup plan for practically every eventuality. Presented in a real-time style with an unreliable narrator, the time jumps, hidden motivations, and flashbacks meant viewers never knew what was coming next.
With constant tension and enough of a sense of humor that it was not totally exhausting, viewers connected withMoney Heist, and it became the most watched non-English language series on Netflix of 2018 (viaNew Statesman.) While the spin-off prequel seriesBerlindid not have the same impact as the original, it’s a testament to the legacy ofMoney Heistthat viewers still want to see more from this world. With a style that brought to mind the appeal of classic heist stories,Money Heistwas thrilling from start to finish.
