# Recommend a TV crime show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 27, 2020, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527 "2020-05-27T03:56:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/21 "2020-05-27T22:42:38Z")
True Detective on HBO is really excellent and check all the OP boxes and then some. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/22 "2020-05-27T22:47:30Z")
Does it absolutely have to be a crime show? [Doc Martin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doc_Martin) is quite good but is basically Dr. Gregory House in private practice in the UK. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/23 "2020-05-27T22:55:50Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Thought of another one; [The Tunnel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tunnel_(TV_series)), a British-French remake of a Danish-Swedish programme called The Bridge. In both programmes, the first series begins with the discovery of a body, cut in half and placed precisely on the border of the two countries. There are two detectives assigned to the case, one from each country. I have not watched the Scandinavian original or the later US remake but I liked the British-French adaption quite a bit. I watched both the British-French version (“The Tunnel”)–three seasons of it, each with a season-long mystery–and the US version (“The Bridge”). I liked both. Another season-long mystery with UK origins—Scottish, in this case—is “The Victim.” > [@](#): > > The Victim is a four-part Scottish thriller miniseries starring Kelly Macdonald, James Harkness and John Hannah. The series was produced by STV Studios and first broadcast on BBC One television in April 2019. The series was shot on location in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Port Glasgow and Largs. > **[The Victim (2019 TV series)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Victim_(2019_TV_series))** > > The Victim is a four-part Scottish thriller miniseries starring Kelly Macdonald, James Harkness, John Hannah and John Scougall. The series was produced by STV Studios and first broadcast on BBC One television in April 2019. The series was shot on location in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Port Glasgow and Largs. > Bereaved mother Anna Dean, whose young son was murdered by an older boy 14 years prior, goes on trial for inciting murder after she is accused of posting online the new identity and address of th... Really well done, I thought. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_First_Time)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/24 "2020-05-27T22:56:11Z")
The closest thing to Broadchurch is the American remake, Gracepoint. It even stars David Tennant just like Broadchurch, with a not particularly convincing American accent. There are a few tweaks to the plot and they drink coffee at the station rather than tea, but it is very close to a scene by scene remake. Anna Gunn is no Olivia Coleman, unfortunately. The chemistry between Coleman and Tennant, which was a big reason the show was so successful, is lacking between him and Gunn. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/25 "2020-05-27T23:01:01Z")
We loved “Broadchurch” as well. “True Detective” season 1 is the best TV in a long time. Season 2, however, was a serious disappointment. I would skip this and only come back when you have nothing else to watch. Season 3 comes back to form. Not quite as good as season 1, but still very good. Each is a standalone story, so you don’t need to have seen season 2 to watch season 3. “Unbelievable” (NetFlix) is a single season investigation of a serial rapist. Even though not a murder, it is extremely well done (realistic), and based on true events. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/26 "2020-05-28T00:14:08Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > I watched both the British-French version (“The Tunnel”)–three seasons of it, each with a season-long mystery–and the US version (“The Bridge”). I liked both. > > Another season-long mystery with UK origins—Scottish, in this case—is “The Victim.” > > [The Victim (2019 TV series) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Victim_(2019_TV_series)) > > Really well done, I thought. _The Victim_ is the one I first thought of … if you want a limited series with one crime. It was completely gripping, very emotional. And it didn’t have a cop-out ending. I’d also like to second the recommendation for _Scott and Bailey_. I really liked the nuts-and-bolts of the police work, and the personal lives of the detectives are realistic and integrated without getting too soap opera-y… For another episodic series, I love _Vera_. I’ve been a huge Brenda Blethyn fan for a long time now. In the same vein are _Inspector George Gently_ and _Foyle’s War_. The latter is interesting because it’s a cop show set in wartime (WWII) England. _Midsomer Murders_ has been going for over 20 years, and it’s pretty creaky. Usually too easy to identify the murderer, and I never really warmed to Tom Barnaby. I’ve found I prefer cousin John (who was a suspect in an early ‘Tom’ episode). ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/27 "2020-05-28T00:31:53Z")
> [@Gray\_Ghost](#): > > I’ll go a skosh later, and recommend \*Homicide: Life on the Street. \*Not a murder mystery so much as a group of homicide detectives trying to clean up the near infinite criminal messes of early 90s Baltimore. Decent early, before Andre Braugher and Richard Belzer kept trying to win an Emmy with every episode, and I loved watching Braugher. The book it’s based on, by “The Wire” creator David Simon, is superb. I’d love to rewatch **Homicide** , but as far as I can tell it’s not available to watch _anywhere_. It’s on no digital streaming services, you’d have to find a used DVD somewhere. I don’t know if I’d recommend **The Killing,** the first season pissed me off so much that I never continued with season 2. I enjoyed HBO’s **The Outsider** , an adaption of Stephen King’s recent book. \*\*Dark \*\*on Netflix is also pretty good, though that’s not in English. **Safe** , another Netflix mystery show that’s set in the UK but stars Michael C. Hall is also similar. And yes, absolutely agree with everyone else that **True Detective** season 1 is excellent! ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/28 "2020-05-28T01:20:23Z")
> [@cormac262](#): > > “True Detective” season 1 is the best TV in a long time. … I dont think so. Just a character study of two detectives on the road to hell. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/29 "2020-05-28T01:22:48Z")
Fallet (Netflix) - British and Swedish cop team up to solve a case. A bit on the lighter side, but endearing. For some reason the Netflix close captioning on this particular show is silly, so for every episode if you would like captioning only when Swedish is spoken you’ll have to click close captioning off, then on again to English. I can’t add much without ruining for you why I liked it. It’s worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/30 "2020-05-28T01:35:57Z")
**Miss Fishers Murder mysteries** and **Murdoch** are both good. ---
**Author:** ![oliversarmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/eb8c5e/32.png) [@oliversarmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oliversarmy)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2020, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/31 "2020-05-28T03:27:24Z")
If she liked Broadchurch, she will like Hinterland. I think it’s on Netflix. For something lighter and offbeat, try Hamish Macbeth or The Last Detective. Also, Shetland is very good. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 12:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/32 "2020-05-29T12:53:20Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > A second vote for the very excellent [Unforgotten](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unforgotten), with Nicola Walker. Then you can try [River](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_(TV_series)), again with Nicola Walker and Stellan Skarsgard. In fact, anything with Nicola Walker, and she’s been pretty busy. Would happily watch her solve the Mystery of the Missing Lid of the Toothpaste. Well, regardless of what the OP ends up with, **I** just started off on _Unforgotten_ (Because Nicola Walker, essentially) and you are so right, it’s excellent (also - major difference from the last role I saw her in, which would be the child abuse survivor from the last season of _Scott and Bailey_ - she’s a great actor). And the rest of the cast hold their end up pretty good too. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/33 "2020-05-29T14:18:21Z")
**Case Histories** is two seasons based on the excellent books by Kate Atkinson. Stars Jason Isaacs as Jackson Brodie, a Scottish series set in Edinburgh about a former cop and soldier, turned PI. Amazon Prime. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/34 "2020-05-29T14:40:59Z")
The OP is looking for a season-long arc, like **Broadchurch**. Some of you are recommending single-episode arch shows like **Miss Fischer** , \*\*Murdoch \*\*and **Midsomer Murders**. Those are all top-notch shows but long long mysteries. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/35 "2020-05-29T16:24:39Z")
To be fair, Miss Fisher has at least one multi-episode arc. The last third of the first season, IIRC. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/36 "2020-05-29T16:32:08Z")
Of the ones I’m familiar with, The Sinner, The Night Of, Unforgotten, Crime Story, Bodygard, Shetland, The Tunnel, True Detective and The Killing all have a season long arc. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/37 "2020-05-29T18:38:37Z")
We’re presently watching **Hinterland** , which is a pretty dark series situated in Wales. But each episode (90 minutes) is pretty much its own story. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/38 "2020-05-29T18:39:12Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > To be fair, Miss Fisher has at least one multi-episode arc. The last third of the first season, IIRC. And \*\*Murdoch \*\*has arcs and connections between shows but still not the same as **Broadchurch**. ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/39 "2020-05-29T18:48:33Z")
It’s lawyers, but [Goliath](https://www.amazon.com/Goliath-Season-1/dp/B01J4SR91G) is quite a good mystery. 3 seasons and each is an independent story. Billy Bob Thorton as a somewhat disgraced layer trying to take on the big bad guys. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527/40 "2020-05-29T18:55:12Z")
> [@Long\_Time\_First\_Time](#): > > The closest thing to Broadchurch is the American remake, Gracepoint. > > It even stars David Tennant just like Broadchurch, with a not particularly convincing American accent. There are a few tweaks to the plot and they drink coffee at the station rather than tea, but it is very close to a scene by scene remake. That just seems so…unnecessary. And making David Tenant act without is distinctive Scottish burr is just a waste of everyone’s time. Although the plot of _Broadchurch_ is notionally a procedural centering around the investigation of a crime (the resolution of which is frankly not particularly plausible or well developed) the focus of it is really what the death and investigation does to the community and the people within it. The murder itself is almost incidental. So I’d guess that the o.p.’s daughter really likes the drama, which is very well done, and yes, the interaction between Tenant and Olivia Coleman is the centerpiece of the show and really the only thing that keeps it going for three series. Either of those actors could be entertaining reading from the phone book. To that end, I would recommend [_Happy Valley_](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3428912/) with Sarah Lancashire and Siobhan Finneran which has a similar kind of police procedural on top of family and community drama. I believe it is on Amazon Prime. Stranger [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-tv-crime-show/854527.md?page=3)