Many of the latestcrimeTV shows that have been topping the charts have successfully blended action and adventure into their formulas. While most TV series that touch upon criminal investigations have a shootout or a major fight sequence with the bad guy, plenty are on the quiet, moody side, favoring the brooding and stealth of their central detective. However,it’s clear that the audience’s appetite for action has only grown in recent years,making combat-oriented projects more popular than ever. The future of action on TV looks bright, and crime dramas are a large part of that.
Many of thebest crime drama TV shows of all timeestablished the trends and formulas that these newer series get to play with and break, subverting audience expectations. During these brilliantly choreographed fight sequences, viewers are transported to a new world of fast-paced adventure that centers on the crime-fighters and the villains. One of the best parts of contemporary television is thatantagonists and villains are as fully explored as the heroes,making for interesting moral discussions and more nuanced battles between characters. No matter who’s committing the crimes, these series put the characters through their paces.
As the premiere ofReacherseason 3draws closer, the anticipation grows for the next installment of Prime Video’s hit series.Based on the iconicJack Reacherbook series by Lee Child,Reacherdoes an amazing job staying true to the books it adapts while simultaneously creating innovative and dynamic action sequences for the screen. Alan Ritchson brings to life the titular character, Jack Reacher, embodying him both in terms of physical stature and emotional depth.
Reacher Season 3 Continues A Prime Video Trend That Season 4 Must Finally Break
Reacher has followed a similar, vengeful pattern for its first three seasons and it needs to be broken in the show’s inevitable fourth season.
Though Reacher shows off this depth in his interpersonal relationships,when it comes to bringing down bad guys, he’s a simple man.As the biggest and strongest in the room, Reacher decimates those who attempt to bring him down while carefully putting together the clues of whatever crime he’s solving. One of the most appealing parts ofReacheris the way the series mimics the books and allows Reacher to travel across the U.S., interacting with different people and investigations.
95%
84%
Though it’s impossible to replace Michael C. Hall as the original Dexter,Patrick Gibson does a good job making the character his own inDexter: Original Sin.The initial series ran from 2006 to 2013 and followed Dexter in his adult years, trying to balance his secret life as a vigilante killer with his job at the police station. While there are many flashbacks to Dexter’s past as he learns to curb his tendencies and handle his craving for blood,Dexter: Original Singoes even further.
Of course, any series that centers on a serial killer is going to have plenty of action and violence, butDexter: Original Sinalso makes sure to cultivate the relationships that become important inDexter. While it’s never easy to follow in the footsteps of a show as iconic and successful asDexter,Dexter: Original Sintapped many great actors, like Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey, and Sarah Michelle Gellar,to ensure the series appeals to a wide array of audiences.
68%
74%
Jeff Bridges leadsThe Old Manas Dan Chase,a retired CIA agent who must go on the lamb after his former employers decide he knows too much about certain operations of the past.The Old Manseason 1 left audiences and critics shocked with its reveal in the story’s final act. After spending many episodes questioning who was telling the truth and wondering what Chase was involved in that made him a target, the pieces fall into place, giving the previous action and conflicts renewed weight.
The Old Manended after season 2, but the series still managed to tell a complex and gripping story in this short time.
The Old Manended after season 2, but the series still managed to tell a complex and gripping story in this short time. Bridges is joined by Alia Shawkat, John Lithgow, and many other stellar supporting actors in the ensemble cast who flesh out the world ofThe Old Man. ThoughThe Old Manis in conversation with other action thrillers, it brings something new to the genre, building complex emotional stakes alongside the blood-curdling fight sequences in which Bridges excels.
80%
After the original series,Justified, ended in 2015, it was clear that Raylan Givens' (Timothy Olyphant) story wasn’t over. Even thoughJustified: City Primevalcenters on the same character and follows similar beats toJustified, it quickly distinguishes itself as its own show.Olyphant’s performance as Raylan is a key feature of both shows,and he demonstrates that his work as the U.S. Marshall has only gotten more refined with time. Drawing elements from the neo-Western genre,City Primevalstyles its action after the best of crime and Western projects.
WhileJustifiedfollowed Raylan’s work in Kentucky,Primevalmoves him to Detroitand sees him have to navigate the style of justice and violence doled out in a bigger city, far away from his home. Though it only ran for one season,Justified: City Primevalis essential viewing for fans of the original show and any viewer who appreciates a blend between urban decay and the myth of the West. Thanks to Olyphant, there’s enough humor and charm in the series to balance its more bloody moments.
92%
47%
Based on Jack Carr’s novel of the same name,The Terminal Listfollows James Reece (Chris Pratt), a Navy SEAL who returns home after a dangerous mission. However, coming back doesn’t solve any of his problems, as Reece attempts to piece together what happened to him during his more mysterious operations and finds more questions than answers. Despite a mixed critical reception,The Terminal Listwas a smash hit with audiences, earning the series a renewal for season 2.
The Terminal List’s story follows the traditional beats of a crime thriller, slowly giving the viewer the pieces of its conspiracy and leading Reece down a violent path.
The Terminal List’s story follows the traditional beats of a crime thriller, slowly giving the viewer the pieces of its conspiracy and leading Reece down a violent path. However, this doesn’t make it any less enjoyable to watch the clues fit together and to see Reece demonstrate his skills as an unstoppable force of nature. With a great ensemble cast rounding out the show, featuring Constance Wu, Taylor Kitsch, and Riley Keough, there’s plenty to recommend aboutThe Terminal List.
40%
94%
Like all of Guy Ritchie’s work,The Gentlemenis propelled forward by an inescapable rhythm of violence and shocking twiststhat leave the audience guessing until the very end. Theo James leads the series as Eddie, a young English aristocrat who suddenly becomes the Duke of his father’s estate and inherits much more than he bargained for. He soon teams up with Susie (Kaya Scodelario), the head of a crime ring who made a deal with his father to run their drug business through his land.
This is a lot for Eddie to process and proves to be just the beginning of his troubles. It doesn’t take long for Eddie to be swept up in a conflict with many violent and dangerous rival criminals, but Eddie’s past in a military organization gives him plenty of useful skills to put to work against the people who are after him.The tension and action inThe Gentlemenare constant throughout the story,rarely giving the audience the chance to take a breath.
75%
Omar Sy is unforgettable as Assane Diop, the protagonist ofLupin,the French series inspired by the tales of the gentleman master thief Arsène Lupin. The series uses many metatextual references to the character of Lupin, as Assane uses the stories by Maurice Leblanc as the framework for his own epic heists. Though Assane is pulling off an intricate crime, he’s the undeniable hero ofLupin, as the audience comes to understand his motivations and sees why he had to become an elusive criminal.
Sy is a charming and compulsive watchable leading man, andLupincrafts a story as intricate and surprising as the heists of its protagonist.
With an emotional backstory, a razor-sharp intellect, and the physical skills to make him imposing in any fight, Assane strikes an intimidating and dynamic figure inLupin. The series quickly rose to international acclaim after the first set of episodes dropped on Netflix. It’s easy to see whyLupinconnects so well with audiences all over the world. Sy is a charming and compulsive watchable leading man, andLupincrafts a story as intricate and surprising as the heists of its protagonist.
98%
78%
Netflix’s smash-hit TV show,The Night Agent, recently released season 2,picking up with the story of Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso), the titular agent. In season 1, audiences were swept away by the twisting conspiracy at the heart of the story, andThe Night Agentachieved record numbers for Netflix at the time. ThoughThe Night Agentseason 2’s success compared to the first outing is still up in the air, it’s clear that the show hasn’t skimped on any of the action and mystery that propelled season 1.
10 Biggest Questions The Night Agent Season 3 Needs To Answer
The Night Agent season 2 continued Peter Sutherland’s story, but this installment added even more questions for season 3 to answer.
In the first season, Peter has to prove his mettle as a Night Agent,eventually earning the title, which puts him at a bigger risk but also means that the missions in season 2 are even more dynamic. The international crimes that Peter gets embroiled in throughoutThe Night Agentget more intense and high-stakes in the most recent series. However, the series maintains the sense of high-octane action that helped audiences connect with season 1 and made Peter into an iconic hero.
61%
ThoughMr. & Mrs. Smithleans more into spy territory than crime, the main characters in the series perform many dubious tasks for their mysterious agency. They often get caught in dangerous situations, having to fight their way out. The show uses action sequences both for tension and comedy, as there are plenty of moments when neither character knows what they’re doing or how to handle a sensitive situation.Donald Glover and Maya Erskine star as Mr. and Mrs. Smith in season 1,and much of the story is buoyed by their excellent chemistry.
The series creates its most explosive sequences through many avenues, with shootouts, hand-to-hand combat, and plenty of globe-trotting adventures.
The series creates its most explosive sequences through many avenues, with shootouts, hand-to-hand combat, and plenty of globe-trotting adventures. Loosely based on the 2005 movie of the same name,Mr. & Mrs. Smithtakes the concept of rival spies being married to the next level, creating plenty of emotional appeals along with the audience’s desire to see the couple complete their missions. As the series gears up for season 2, it will be interesting to see how the show tops the epic final sequence of season 2.
91%
67%
Eddie Redmayne stars in Peacock’s recent reboot of the 1973 filmThe Day of the Jackal.Redmayne’s character, known as the Jackal, is a dangerous international assassinbeing chased by Bianca (Lashana Lynch), a member of MI6 determined to bring him down. The series takes many of the best parts of the original movie, like the impossible job and the concept of the gentleman assassin, and modernizes them to relate to the contemporary world.
Critics praisedThe Day of the Jackalin reviewsof the series, complimenting its action sequences and Redmayne’s central performance. Though he comes close to facing his doom,there’s little question that the Jackal ever lacks control over a situation,expertly preparing his escape plans and contingencies to ensure that he’ll have the upper hand. As the Jackal and Bianca slowly circle each other inThe Day of the Jackal, the anticipation for their final conflict grows, culminating in an intense standoff between the characters.
The Day of the Jackal (2024–Present)
