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These procedural shows are the ones you might not hear about on big TV networks or trending on social media; still, despite all that, they've managed to win the hearts of fans who love a good detective story.
Despite not being the talk of the town or leading the ratings, these series have something special — they're the ones fans on Reddit can't stop talking about, recommending them to anyone looking for something new to binge.
1. "Halt & Catch Fire" (2014)
In the early 1980s, a visionary, an engineer, and a prodigy risk everything to realize their vision of building a computer that could change the future, navigating the tech boom in Silicon Valley and later the rise of the Internet in Texas, facing personal and professional challenges along the way.
Detective Inspector Jimmy Perez returns to his home in the Shetland Islands, where he solves various complex crimes that range from murders to disappearances, using his local knowledge and police expertise, often uncovering deeply rooted community issues.
3. "Wentworth" (2013)
Bea Smith is locked up while awaiting trial for the attempted murder of her husband and must learn how life works in prison, a journey that sees her rise to the top of the prison's hierarchy, facing off against other inmates and guards in a bid to survive and establish her dominance.
4. "Perception" (2012)
Dr. Daniel Pierce, a talented but eccentric neuroscience professor with schizophrenia, is recruited by the FBI to help solve complex cases by interpreting the intentions of witnesses and suspects, leveraging his unique perspective and the hallucinations he experiences.
5. "Unforgettable" (2011)
Former detective Carrie Wells has a rare ability to remember everything she's ever seen or heard, except for the details of her sister's murder; she rejoins the police force and uses her photographic memory to solve crimes and uncover the truth about her past.
6. "The Last Ship" (2014)
After a global pandemic wipes out 80% of the world's population, the crew of the USS Nathan James, led by Captain Tom Chandler, must find a way to pull humanity from the brink of extinction, dealing with the virus and threats from survivors.
7. "Line of Duty" (2012)
This series follows the investigations of AC-12, a controversial police anti-corruption unit, led by Superintendent Ted Hastings, along with detectives Steve Arnott and Kate Fleming, as they uncover corruption within the police force, facing morally complex situations and personal risk.
8. "The Killing" (US version, 2011)
Detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder are deeply affected as they investigate the murder of a young girl in Seattle, uncovering a complex web of secrets and lies within the victim's family and community, testing their own personal limits and ethics.
9. "Body Of Proof" (2011)
Dr. Megan Hunt, a brilliant neurosurgeon turned medical examiner after a life-altering accident, uses her unique insights into the dead to investigate murder cases, while also navigating her complicated personal life.
10. "Dr. Death" (2021)
Based on a true story, this series recounts the chilling tale of Dr. Christopher Duntsch, a rising star in the Dallas medical community whose patients suddenly start experiencing deadly complications, leading to an investigation into his practices and the system that failed to protect patients.
11. "Dopesick" (2021)
Examining America's opioid crisis, the series dives into the epicenter of addiction to reveal the conflicts and interests of a pharmaceutical company, the affected communities in Virginia, and the DEA agents battling to expose the truth behind the spread of OxyContin.
12. "Cruel Summer" (2021)
Taking place over three summers in the 1990s, the lives of two young women, Jeanette and Kate, intertwine in a small Texas town when one is kidnapped and the other seemingly takes over the missing girl's life, leading to a mystery that reveals dark secrets and truths.
13. "Life" (2007)
Detective Charlie Crews returns to the force after being wrongfully imprisoned for years and adopts a new outlook on life and unconventional approaches to work, using his settlement to solve cases while secretly investigating the conspiracy that led to his imprisonment.
14. "Cold Case" (2003)
Detective Lilly Rush works in the Philadelphia homicide squad dealing with 'cold cases', using today's science and finding fresh clues to solve crimes that were previously unsolvable, while also exploring the historical context of the crimes.
15. "Without a Trace" (2002)
The series follows the cases of the Missing Persons Unit of the FBI in New York City, led by Senior Agent Jack Malone, as they use psychological profiling and detailed investigations to find people who have mysteriously disappeared, often racing against time.
16. "Lie To Me" (2009)
Dr. Cal Lightman and his team at The Lightman Group assist law enforcement and government agencies to solve cases, using their expertise in applied psychology to interpret microexpressions and body language to expose the truth in criminal and personal investigations.
17. "Numb3rs" (2005)
FBI agent Don Eppes recruits his mathematical genius brother, Charlie, to help the Bureau solve a wide range of challenging crimes in Los Angeles by using equations to analyze criminal behavior patterns and predict the next move.
18. "The Closer" (2005)
Deputy Police Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson leads the Priority Murder Squad of the LAPD with her unorthodox methods and a strong ability to extract confessions, balancing the demands of her high-stakes profession with her complicated personal life.
19. "Damages" (2007)
Fresh graduate Ellen Parsons becomes the protégée of the brilliant and ruthless lawyer Patty Hewes, getting entangled in high-stakes litigation that exposes corruption and moral ambiguity, challenging Ellen's ethics and ambition.
20. "Monk" (2002)
Adrian Monk, a brilliant former San Francisco detective, suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, consults on cases with the police department while trying to solve his wife's murder, using his exceptional attention to detail and deductive skills to crack cases.
