10 Best Procedurals to Watch While Waiting for Criminal Minds S17
The Behavioral Analysis Unit is in no hurry to return to the small screen, but there are still plenty of crime dramas that deserve your attention.
Chilling murders, the pursuit of dangerous criminals and maniacs – if you are a fan of the crime genre in all its forms, these ten outstanding procedurals are for you.
1. White Collar, 2009-2014
The inspiration for this procedural was the cult movie by Steven Spielberg Catch Me If You Can. Only the creators of the show decided to show how the main character of the movie worked for the FBI, because there was, of course, no talk of a sequel to the movie with Leonardo DiCaprio.
The creators of the show did not hide that they were inspired by the story of Frank Abagnale Jr., who eventually began to work for the FBI. The plot revolves around the charismatic Neal Caffrey, a former con man who is forced to catch other white-collar criminals. The show has managed to maintain a high level of quality from beginning to end without ever slowing down.
2. Elementary, 2012-2019
The story begins as Holmes leaves rehab. He has been struggling with drug addiction for a long time, and the only thing that distracts him is his thirst to solve mysteries. His influential father assigns him a sobriety supervisor – a woman named Joan Watson, who used to be a brilliant surgeon, but left the medical practice for personal reasons.
The news about the new version of Sherlock was initially received with skepticism. In addition, Watson was a woman, and Holmes himself lived in New York. However, the show ran successfully for seven seasons, found its loyal audience and got rid of cliches.
3. Monk, 2002-2009
If many procedurals are full of charismatic and attractive protagonists, this show gave us an unusual detective named Adrian Monk who has a bunch of psychological problems that arose due to the unsolved murder of his wife.
The show stands out not only for its specific main character, but also for its concept, reminiscent of the cult Columbo, where the criminal is known from the very beginning. The comic moments, coupled with the eccentric Monk, gave us a series with an extremely cozy vibe.
4. Line of Duty, 2012-2021
Line of Duty is an intense detective procedural where the action takes place not only on the streets of London, but also in the offices of civil servants. After a failed operation, experienced detective Steve Arnott is transferred to the anti-corruption unit. His bosses are the principled Ted Hastings and inspector Kate Fleming.
The three of them start looking for evidence to prove the guilt of the successful inspector Tony Gates, who has recently been awarded a medal for bravery and also has a suspiciously high number of solved crimes. However, it turns out that Gates is just a pawn in the game of corrupt high-ranking cops.
5. Lie to Me, 2009-2011
In 2009, Tim Roth decided to conquer television and played the lead role in the TV show Lie to Me, which only lasted three seasons but managed to attract a lot of attention.
The first season demonstrated the method of psychologist Paul Ekman, which consisted of identifying lies through micro-expressions, body movements and speech. Over time, the use of Ekman's tricks faded, and the show turned into a typical procedural.
6. Body of Proof, 2011-2013
Megan Hunt did not become a forensic pathologist by choice. Five years before the events of the show, she had an accident that ended her successful career as a neurosurgeon. Now divorced, Megan works at the forensic center under the stern but fair Kate Murphy.
Of course, Hunt is not only brilliant, but also completely uncontrollable, constantly breaking the rules and interfering with the work of police detectives Bud Morris and Samantha Baker.
7. The Pembrokeshire Murders, 2021
This is a true gift for fans of British procedurals. This miniseries has it all: a dark, haunting story based on true events, dramatic landscapes, and the magnificent Luke Evans in the main role.
For several years, the Pembrokeshire police have been unsuccessfully trying to find a madman who killed several people many years ago. Suspicion falls on John Cooper, who is serving a sentence for burglary. Soon Cooper will be released, but Chief Inspector Steve Wilkins is determined to prove his involvement in the unsolved murders.
8. Luther, 2010-2019
Detective John Luther’s talent allows him to solve even the most complex cases. But his methods are not always legal, and due to problems in his personal life and unstable character, he can be overly cruel.
In this show, the brilliant Idris Elba played one of the best roles of his career. Luther is ambiguous: he defends the law, but he himself sometimes looks almost sinister. The work of the police is shown with a degree of realism worthy of The Wire (in which Elba also starred). So keep in mind that Luther may not be suitable for family viewing due to the abundance of violent scenes.
9. The Shield, 2002-2008
This crime drama shows the work of the police department in a very unexpected way. The main characters investigate murders and protect civilians. At the same time, they cover up for drug dealers, falsify evidence, and brutally extract testimony from criminals.
Viewers and critics alike loved the controversial and tough series. It was nominated five times for an Emmy and five times for a Golden Globe, and took home two awards.
10. Murdoch Mysteries, 2008-…
Late 19th century, the cunning detective William Murdoch of the Toronto police collaborates with Dr. Julia Ogden, who helps him with the most complex investigations.
The Canadian project is based on a series of novels by English-Canadian author Maureen Jennings. Detective Murdoch is inspired by John Wilson Murray, Ontario's first detective. One of the features of Murdoch is the appearance of historical figures – in different seasons you can see Henry Ford, Arthur Conan Doyle, Jack London, H.G. Wells and many others.