I need to find some more detective shows to watch. I like 1-2 hour shows that are just one mystery per episode.
Here are the ones I’ve enjoyed, pretty much in order: Columbo Sherlock Holmes (Jeremy Brett) Miss Marple (Geraldine McEwan) Inspector Lynley
I’ve also enjoyed the con-man show *Hustle *(UK) and of course am a fan of the US police series Law & Order, CSI and Homicide.
I remember trying out A Touch of Frost but finding it kind of slow. I might try again, though.
American, Canadian or British series are welcome. I’ve got 1 and 2 region DVD players. They don’t need to be on Netflix or anything - I’ve got sources.
Ah sorry, forgot to mention Life On Mars (UK - not so much US) as one I’d enjoyed thoroughly. I forgot that along with the main story arc there were single mysteries inbetween.
Monk, by that time, stopped being a Mystery, and went into a comedy with a quirky crazy guy… oh, and yes, there was a murder sometime too.
Not saying it wasn’t a fun show, but it’s not anything like what the OP asked for. Same for Psych. You might as well suggest the Andy Griffin show… he was a cop, too, right? I remember an episode with a mystery, once…
Lots of the episodes are just one mystery per ep, but some of them follow a longer story arc, though they tend to be like mini-mysteries that all pile up till the big end one is solved, if that makes sense.
Lots of people think it’s lame, but I love it. Maybe you will too!
While not a mystery show, TNT’s Leverage is in the same general area as Hustle. The set-up is that a former insurance investigator winds up working with four super-criminals to variously con or heist the rich, powerful, and Evil to help the little guy. While there are some folks around here who have rather strong negative feelings about it, I think it’s fun. Stars Timothy Hutton, but the others–Aldis Hodge especially–often steal the show. It’ll be starting again in January, I believe. No reason why you couldn’t come in mid-season, though watching the back episodes wouldn’t hurt.
Speaking of Timothy Hutton, I’ll second the Nero Wolfe Mysteries. Note that it’s done in a ‘repertory theatre’ style, so outside of the leads, you’ve got the same group of actors playing all the roles. The DVD box set has been on my wish list for a long time…
The thing is with the mystery shows like Columbo or Sherlock Holmes is I like to watch them as a “backup” or what have you. When there’s nothing else to watch at all, and all the dramas and sitcoms I like to watch on a weekly basis have been tapped out for the time being, I like a show I can watch as a one-off, maybe one or two episodes, and not watch an episode again for a few weeks or so and not be confused.
Ugh, does that make sense?
With a show like Lynley, they were cutting it close with he story arc about his ladyfriend Helen. There was an ongoing story about a baby or something and I got confused when I came back to watch an episode several months later.
I’ve seen episodes of Psych but that’s another one, like Monk (which I mentioned later that I watched) has this overlying arc that you’re supposed to remember as you watch the series. So a show like that is too series-like for me.
I’m not sure I’d get into Veronica Mars, for the same reason. Maybe I’ll try it out this summer when all of my series are over.
What’s the deal with NCIS? People keep telling me to watch it but I get the impression it’s sort of like CSI but in the military? Is that right? That one probably has an arc, but I might check that one out next summer as well.
I’ll probably end up checking out most of these shows, though. I’ll know once I see an episode or two if they are better watched as one-offs from time to time, or as series. I’m a sucker for watching stuff as big long series as well but like I said I need my short bursts too.
Thanks again for the suggestions and do keep them coming!
NCIS is nothing like CSI; the former is character-driven (You’ll forget the mystery aspect before the credits roll) and the latter is plot-driven (The only character whose name I can remember is Grissom, and he’s gone now). NCIS is a guilty pleasure, and CSI isn’t even that.
May I recommend The Closer? It’s kind of lighthearted most of the time, like Monk and NCIS, but all the main characters (except Brenda Leigh Johnson, the protagonist) are veterans of other, older cop shows and it’s fun watching them interact.
I’ll second Veronica Mars. It’s really good. I was pretty much humoring myself when I started watching it because it seemed like a show targeted towards teen girls but it was great.
I’ll second Midsomer Murders, and suggest Ellery Queen if the idea of classical locked-room whodunits appeals. If so, you might also like the more recent Jonathan Creek, sort of a British Ellery Queen.
