15 Must-See Shows For Fans Of True Detective

With the long wait for the fourth season coming to an end, fans have had to find shows like True Detective to fill that void in the meantime. The crime series began with a very talented group coming together both on and off screen from writer Nic Pizzolatto and director Cary Joji Fukunaga to stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. The show delivered a gripping crime story that was as much about the characters working the case as it was about the mystery itself. It was a unique show that gripped audiences, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t some other shows like True Detective that capture the same vibe.

True Detective season 4 will continue the series’ trend of throwing A-listers into a totally new case with Oscar-winner Jodie Foster headlining this season. While other shows might not boast the same star-power, there are great options out there for people who like a little bit of darkness in their entertainment. Not only are these shows as compelling and addictive as True Detective, but they also feature stories that will keep audiences hooked in until the very end.

Hannibal (2013-2015)

Hannibal is a little darker than True Detective in that one of its main characters is both a serial killer and a cannibal, but the shows have some striking similarities in tone. Much of the imagery and symbolism is even similar in the first season, such as the usage of deer antlers. But Hannibal follows criminal profiler Will Graham, who has a disturbing ability to empathize with psychopaths. It makes him a compelling character and an excellent asset to his profession. Of course, the titular Hannibal Lecter, played brilliantly by Mads Mikkelsen, steals the show and adds new aspects to the iconic villain. It is a show with a devoted following of fans still calling for Hannibal season 4 or even a movie.

The Killing (2011-2014)

Like True Detective, The Killing follows a pair of co-detectives who have fundamentally different styles of working, although one thing that makes for a change of pace from the HBO series is that The Killing has a female lead. It is a character-driven crime procedural. The first season revolves around solving the murder of a local girl that winds up being part of a convoluted political conspiracy. The show is a grim and dour crime series that is not always an easy watch. Yet like True Detective, the misery of these characters continues to draw viewers in as they explore deeper into this dark world.

Top Of The Lake (2013-2017)

Elisabeth Moss stars as Detective Robin Griffin in this eerie, nail-biting, suspenseful, mystery drama. Robin is assigned to solve the mysterious disappearance of 12-year-old Tui, who was pregnant at the time of her disappearance. Strangely enough, she was also last spotted standing in the middle of a freezing lake. It is a very disturbing show given the subject matter alone. In the process of trying to solve Tui’s disappearance, Robin uncovers a strange women’s camp, a drug lord, and she is forced to confront the traumatizing events of her past. Moss delivers a powerful performance that elevates the gripping series from Oscar-winning filmmaker Jane Campion.

Fargo (2014-)

Fargo is another anthology crime drama. It is based on the popular cult movie of the same name. It is a critically-acclaimed series that has won multiple awards throughout its 4-season run with Fargo season 5 around the corner. The show follows the shocking brutal crimes in the seemingly quaint Midwestern world throughout various time periods. Along with being a compelling crime series, Fargo has a lot of black comedy that makes it stand out from other similar shows on television. Like True Detective, Fargo has also seen a star-studded cast throughout its various season with the likes of Billy Bob Thorton, Kirsten Dunst, Ewan McGregor, and Chris Rock having headlined the show.

The Outsider (2020)

The Outsider is another compelling HBO series and it is based on the Stephen King book of the same name. The series stars a number of A-list actors including Cynthia Erivo, Jason Bateman, and Ben Mendelsohn. It is a crime drama revolving around the discovery of a young boy’s mutilated corpse. Initially, the case seems to be very straightforward, but it quickly becomes apparent that something very strange, and potentially supernatural, is brewing beneath the surface of the case. It is another series that pulls viewers into the mystery thanks to the complex characters.

I Am The Night (2019)

Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins reteams with Chris Pine as I Am the Night tells the true-life tale of Fauna Hodel, a biracial girl who was given away by her mother shortly after her birth. When she decides to seek the truth about her family, Fauna finds out that her parents may be linked to the infamous Black Dahlia case that rocked the city of Los Angeles in 1947. Pine stars in the series as a disgraced journalist, working with Fauna to find out the secrets of her family history. While more of a throwback noir than True Detective, it strikes that similar moody tone.

Homecoming (2018-2020)

Homecoming spins a twisty, thrilling story about a mysterious facility that is ostensibly helping soldiers returning from active duty with transitioning back into everyday life. However, there is more to the facility than meets the eye, and the mystery is built up both in the present and in the future. The show is based on a popular podcast from Gimlet Media and stars Julia Roberts, Stephan James, and Bobby Cannavale, Homecoming draws its inspiration from paranoid political thrillers of the past. It is produced by Mr. Robot creator Sam Esmail. The show returned for season 2 with Janelle Monáe.

The Night Of (2016)

This thrilling HBO miniseries based on season 1 of the British series Criminal Justice begins with one fateful night in the life of Nasir, a Pakistani-American college student (played by Riz Ahmed), and how it leads him to be charged with the murder of a young woman. The series then explores the case through both the courts and the police investigation. The Night Of smartly doesn’t overplay its hand. The first episode allows the audience to see the numerous ways in which things will go wrong for Nasir later. The show is an inside out mystery, revealing all the clues which seem to indicate Nasir’s guilt, but leaving enough doubt that there are still questions that need to be answered.

Mindhunter (2017-2019)

Mindhunter, based on the book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit, is set in 1977 and tells the story of the FBI’s early days of criminal profiling and psychology. The Netflix series follows the work of two FBI agents played by Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany as they try to figure out how serial killers think in order to better track down future criminals. Filmmaker David Fincher produces the show as well as directs four out of 10 of the first season’s episodes, returning to the serial killer genre he explored in Se7en and Zodiac. The show dives right into exploring the mindset of serial killers and utilizes real-life cases in order to build upon its story.

The Americans (2013-2018)

FX’s The Americans delivered five riveting seasons of a period spy story. It is a tense, slow-burning political thriller that may be set in the ’80s but could be more relevant than ever. Keri Russell and Matthew Rhys star as Russian spies living in the United States during the height of the Cold War. The series gains much of its credibility from the fact that its creator, Joe Weisberg, worked for the CIA before becoming a television writer. Russell and Rhys make for effective leads in the taut show that explores this era of American history with all its complexities.

Sharp Objects (2018)

Sharp Objects is an HBO series based on the book of the same name by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn. The series revolves around a crime reporter played by Amy Adams, who is sent back to her hometown to cover the murders of two girls. While there, she must face some of her own demons and reconcile her past. Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée, who also helmed the critically acclaimed HBO series Big Little Lies, Sharp Objects explores not only a small town mystery but also a damaged family dynamic that has resulted in years of trauma. Much like the story in Gone Girl, this series also features a deliriously twisty conclusion.

Broadchurch (2013-2017)

Originally a British TV series that was later adapted as an American miniseries titled Gracepoint, Broadchurch tells the story of two detectives investigating the murder of a young boy in a small coastal town. David Tenant and Olivia Colman starred in the lead roles, with Tenant reprising his role for Gracepoint as well. Broadchurch gains much of its appeal by contrasting the gruesome crime with the idyllic setting of the titular town. It also focuses on how the residents of this small town react to the growing media attention brought to their home. Tenant and Colman also turn in great performances as detectives who are struggling with the case in their own personal ways.

The Sinner (2017-2021)

The Sinner is a mystery series on the USA Network based on a book of the same name by author Petra Hammesfahr. Season 1 centers around a young mother (played by Jessica Biel) who fatally stabs a man at a crowded beach, and the detective (Bill Pullman) who needs to figure out why she did it. What makes The Sinner an interesting story is that its mystery is not based in the “how” of what happened, but rather the “why.” The audience already knows that Biel’s character is the murderer, but the real tension comes in trying to parse out what drove her to commit such an act in the first place.

Twin Peaks (1990-2017)

As far as mystery series go, there may not be one more historically picked apart than Twin Peaks. The series, created by Mark Frost and idiosyncratic film director David Lynch, first premiered back in 1990 on the ABC network. It was immediately recognized as being one of the strangest yet most intriguing drama series on television at the time. Twin Peaks originally ran for two seasons. A film, entitled Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me was also produced. In 2017, the show received a third season on Showtime which continued the story from the first two seasons. Many of the cast members returned to their original roles, including Kyle MacLachlan.

The Wire (2002-2008)

If you’ve worked your way through True Detective and are now looking for a crime series that is maybe a little more down-to-earth and not quite as heady, then audiences should definitely consider a binging of all five seasons of HBO’s The Wire. Throughout the show, The Wire traced the paths of Baltimore’s various criminals and the cops who attempt to bring down their operation. The series has been praised for its realistic depiction of police work, as well as its biting social commentary and expansive look at institutions within the city of Baltimore. Creator David Simon previously worked as a journalist for the Baltimore Sun, so he has plenty of experience in how the city handles its various problems.