The 30 best detective shows of all time, ranked

Declan GallagherMon, August 31, 2026 at 6:30 PM UTC

0

Columbo. Veronica. Luther.Credit: Everett (3)

If you love investigative procedurals as much as we do, you already know many of the greats. One of fiction’s most enduring genres, detective stories are built to thrill, tantalize, and confuse us.

At their best, they immerse audiences in twisted webs of intrigue and give us a ringside seat to detectives doing what they do best. Many reliable snoops have graced our living rooms for so long that they’ve become a sort of macabre second family.

In endeavoring to name the 30 greatest detective series of all time, Entertainment Weekly considered the qualities that make a great mystery: compelling investigators, ingenious cases, and the ability to keep audiences guessing. We were left with a number of reliable American stalwarts, both old and new, in addition to the recent surge of British procedurals that your parents are so excited to tell you about at each holiday gathering.

As a result, this list contains a few genre landmarks — Law & Order; Murder, She Wrote — alongside modern classics like The Wire and more recent favorites like Mapleworth Murders. Read on as EW ranks the 30 best detective series of all time.

01 of 30

Mapleworth Murders (2020)

Hayley Magnus and Paula Pell drink wine and consider motive and opportunity in ‘Mapleworth Murders’Credit: Darren Michaels, SMPSP / Courtesy of Quibi

This is a stellar parody of the genre courtesy of SNL legend Paula Pell and John Lutz (30 Rock). Abigail Mapleworth (Pell) is a mystery writer and amateur sleuth who welcomes into her home Heidi (Hayley Magnus), her niece, who doesn’t have a yearning for detective work but sees it as something to pass the time between texts.

Originally produced for Quibi (RIPbi), Mapleworth Murders is one of the funniest parodies in ages. It combines the rapid-fire gags of Police Squad! with the razor-sharp humor of 30 Rock to create roughly 100 minutes of unmedicated bliss. Each story arc is structured like Murder, She Wrote, with Abigail turning up at a wine tasting or local butcher shop and immediately sussing out a suspicious suspect.

Where to watch Mapleworth Murders: The Roku Channel

02 of 30

Rosemary & Thyme (2003–2007)

Felicity Kendal (Rosemary) in ‘Rosemary and Thyme’ (Thyme not pictured)Credit: Everett

Plant pathologist Rosemary Boxer (Felicity Kendal) and former constable Laura Thyme (Pam Ferris) join forces to start a gardening business after life deals them separate but concurrent hard knocks. Yet the women find that with each lavish garden they’re tasked with rehabbing, they stumble upon an equally messy murder, which they must solve using their combined botanical and street smarts.

Rosemary & Thyme is uncommonly satisfying as far as procedurals go. Certainly, you’ll think during season 1, how many plant-related crimes could there possibly be? Well, quite a few, it turns out. Ferris (who played Trunchbull in 1996’s Matilda) and Kendal are a vibrant pair of detectives, and they possess enviable chemistry with the eclectic ensemble players when it comes time to don their sleuthing caps.

Where to watch Rosemary and Thyme: Prime Video

03 of 30

Vera (2011–2025)

Brenda Blethyn as the title character in ‘Vera’Credit: BritBox International

Brenda Blethyn stars as Vera Stanhope, a detective haunted by her past who nonetheless attacks her profession with a zeal uncommon in people even half her age. As Vera tromps the hills of northeast England — with her patient partner, Aiden Healy (Kenny Doughty), by her side starting in season 5 — solving crimes far and wide, her role in this insular community becomes clearer, as does her drive to be the best at her job.

Vera benefits greatly from Blethyn’s central performance and its rich view of a particular sort of rural Britain. The show ended in 2025 after 14 seasons, and now is the perfect time to dive into the quirky and affirming world of Vera if you haven’t before.

Where to watch Vera: Britbox

04 of 30

Shetland (2013–present)

Douglas Henshall and Catherine Walker in series 5 of ‘Shetland’Credit: BritBox

For the show’s first seven seasons, tortured inspector Jimmy Perez (Douglas Henshall) investigates murder cases across his native Shetland Islands with the help of fellow detective Alison “Tosh” McIntosh (Alison O’Donnell) and constable Sandy Wilson (Steven Robertson).

Almost parodically morose, Shetland is a terrific encapsulation of the signature British blend of detectives, rain, and negative emotions. This series takes a particularly novelistic approach to its subject, unwinding in tense but unhurried hours that reveal themselves at the patient pace of a classic noir.

Where to watch Shetland: Britbox

05 of 30

Midsomer Murders (1997–present)

John Nettles in ‘Midsomer Murders’Credit: Everett

A lovely little murder show set in the British countryside, Midsomer Murders stars John Nettles as DCI Tom Barnaby, who solves killings in a series of quaint villages. (Later in the series, which numbers 25 seasons, Neil Dudgeon takes over for Nettles, playing the character’s cousin.)

Developed for television by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the series of books by Caroline Graham, Midsomer Murders is the British show that most faithfully translates the cozy mystery to the screen. The show is both playfully macabre and genuinely scabrous at times, but it’s always welcoming and never alienates its target audience. Plus, there are some genuinely cracking mysteries throughout the series’ run.

Where to watch Midsomer Murders: Prime Video

06 of 30

Broadchurch (2013–2017)

Olivia Colman and David Tennant in ‘Broadchurch’Credit: Colin Hutton/BBC AMERICA

Broadchurch stars British royalty David Tennant and Olivia Colman as tortured detectives investigating the death of an 11-year-old boy whose body is found on a desolate Dorset beach. Tennant’s Inspector Alec Hardy is the taciturn out-of-towner, while Colman’s Ellie Miller is the local detective who feels jilted after being passed over for the job of leading the investigation. As the case continues, Miller and Hardy work together to pierce the icy veneer of the cloistered rural community.

Ground zero for all of those Britbox shows your parents love telling you about, Broadchurch is a perfectly calibrated drama that gives its two leads remarkable room to develop their characters. Watching two great actors go toe-to-toe is a rare thrill, and Broadchurch abets their skill with a brooding score and well-delivered surprises.

Where to watch Broadchurch: Peacock

07 of 30

Psych (2006–2014)

The cast of ‘Psych’ play along with a giant hunting metaphorCredit: Everett Collection

Every 12-year-old’s favorite procedural (please take that as the highest compliment), Psych stars James Roday Rodriguezas Shawn Spencer, a particularly observant savant who cons his way into an investigative consulting role by passing himself off as a psychic. With the help of his exasperated friend Gus (Dulé Hill), Shawn puts his skills to use solving a spate of beguiling crimes.

Psych is such a fun, jovial approach to the genre that one walks away from each episode thinking it’s a shame more shows can’t harness such a specific tone. Psych is both cozy and spooky, welcoming and barbed. It truly has something for everyone, and somehow, instead of collapsing under the weight of those strictures, it’s light as a soufflé.

Where to watch Psych: Peacock

08 of 30

Luther (2010–2019)

No no, Luther, the evidence is over *there,* to your right... just turn your head, you’ll see itCredit: Steffan Hill/BBC America

Idris Elba stars as the titular smooth-as-silk (but not exactly by-the-book) detective, who brings dastardly killers to their knees while developing a complicated relationship with his Moriarty,-like nemesis, killer Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson).

Luther is an immensely clever and deviously twisted thriller that makes tremendous use of Elba’s star power — and, in particular, his diabolical chemistry with Wilson.

More than many of its American counterparts, the show is comfortable blurring the lines between its impulsive protagonist and the criminals he hunts. The creators kept the series motoring through five series and a feature — Luther: The Fallen Sun (2023) — giving Elba ample room to develop his character as the show spins several chilling, genuinely terrifying mysteries.

Where to watch Luther: Hulu

09 of 30

Poker Face (2023–2025)

Natasha Lyonne calls B.S. in ‘Poker Face’Credit: Peacock

Rian Johnson and Natasha Lyonne’s terrific gumshoe procedural follows nomadic scamp Charlie (Lyonne) who has a knack for accidentally finding her way into the center of bizarre murders. Charlie, however, has a special ability to immediately recognize when another person is lying. (Her laconic response whenever she detects a fib: “Bulls---…”)

Lyonne is perfect to lead this sort of show, and she and Johnson have a distinct affection for predecessors like Murder, She Wrote and Columbo. The two are also genuinely accomplished filmmakers who pack the show’s disparate but equally riotous episodes with elegant sets, swooning camerawork, and witty references. Its case-of-the-week storylines recall classic mystery shows, giallo, and ’80s action cinema.

Where to watch Poker Face: Peacock

10 of 30

The Killing (2007–2012, 2011–2014)

Mireille Enos and Joel Kinnaman in the American version of ‘The Killing’Credit: Chris Large/AMC

This dreary Danish drama was made into a comparably dour American thriller for AMC. Each iteration is worth the time of ardent detective fans. The original first season follows Inspector Sarah Lund (Sofie Gråbøl) and her partner, Inspector Jan Meyer (Søren Malling), investigating the murder of a young woman whose death becomes connected to a controversial politician’s mayoral campaign. The American remake follows Seattle detective Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos), who is asked to mentor former narcotics officer Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) during his transition to homicide.

Both versions of The Killing are admirably grim and intensely character-driven, and the American version maintains a credible level of nihilism and open-endedness that many other remakes would have quickly sanded away.

Where to watch The Killing (Danish version): Prime Video (to buy)

Where to watch The Killing (American version): Hulu

11 of 30

Castle (2009–2016)

Nathan Fillion explains his character’s profession in ‘Castle’Credit: Richard Cartwright/ABC

Renowned mystery novelist Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) joins forces with Kate Beckett (Stana Katic), an NYPD detective working the case of a killer who’s copying murder set pieces from Castle’s novels. The two have such a successful go of case-solving in the first season that they keep going for seven more, fighting crimes of increasing menace.

This enjoyable romp, in the style of Moonlighting or Hart to Hart, finds Fillion at the absolute top of his leading-man game. He’s backed by an energetic procedural which, though straighter than Psych, has some of that series’ outlandish spoofery and knack for horror-inflected set pieces. Castle maintained an admirably consistent quality over its eight seasons.

Where to watch Castle: Hulu

12 of 30

Unbelievable (2019)

Toni Collette and Merritt Wever in the Netflix miniseries ‘Unbelievable’Credit: Netflix

This extremely harrowing, ultimately rewarding true-crime miniseries stars Kaitlyn Dever as a young woman who experiences a horrific sexual assault but has a hard time convincing authorities that she’s telling the truth. Enter Toni Collette and Merritt Wever as two badass detectives investigating a spate of similar crimes that ultimately connect back to the young woman’s case.

Up there with Godless and Mindhunter among the very best Netflix dramas, Unbelievable walks a very fine line between unwatchable and compulsively bingeable. This is one of the most authentic and gritty of recent procedurals, one that digs in with full force and is not afraid to get its hands dirty in the process.

Where to watch Unbelievable: Netflix

13 of 30

Monk (2002–2009)

When you see Monk in a Dutch angle, you know something’s about to go downCredit: Peter "Hopper" Stone

Tony Shalhoub stars as the eponymous obsessive-compulsive detective, whose condition worsens dramatically after the murder of his wife. That leads to his discharge from the police force, but Monk continues to use his singularly wired brain to solve all manner of crimes with the help of his assistant Natalie Teeger (Traylor Howard) and former commander, Captain Leland Stottlemeyer (Ted Levine).

Easily one of the funniest detective procedurals, Monk benefits from Shalhoub’s tremendous affability and his commitment to the central performance. His rapport with the sprawling cast of regulars and guest stars, but most especially Howard and Levine, gives the series a jocular energy and a spirited drive that’s missing from similarly conceived efforts.

Where to watch Monk: Prime Video

14 of 30

Veronica Mars (2004–2019)

I think this is the part where Veronica realizes she’s in the Bad PlaceCredit: Robert Voets/ Warner Bros.

This lively, remarkably well-written teen detective series stars Kristen Bell as the titular P.I., a Southern California high schooler who moonlights for her father’s (Enrico Colantoni) investigative agency before spinning out on her own increasingly dangerous cases. It’s a breezy, sun-drenched neo-noir that understands the traditions of its genre (the pulpy absurdities; the hard-boiled, first-person voiceover) and the rot at the heart of it: The personal hooks that kick everything into motion are Veronica’s sexual assault and the murder of her best friend, Lilly (Amanda Seyfried).

Over four seasons and a movie, Veronica Mars provides everything a jaded but heroic gumshoe could ever need: mortal enemies and secret allies, sidekicks and love interests, rival gangs and warring families, big-picture corruption and small-town cover-ups.

Where to watch Veronica Mars: Netflix

15 of 30

Law & Order (1990–present)

The two equally important groups who represent the people in the criminal justice systemCredit: Everett Collection

Another venerable franchise that launched myriad spinoffs, this series features an evolving cast of police and prosecutors on both halves of the criminal justice process. The consistently reliable and satisfying structure — the first half sees cops solve the crime; the second details the prosecution — has sustained the show through 25 seasons, not to mention offshoots Law and Order: Special Victims Unitand Law & Order: Organized Crime.

In the franchise canon, SVU is of particular note. Mariska Hargitay anchors the series as hard-nosed detective Olivia Benson. The show has maintained a vital, up-to-the-minute pace since its 1999 launch thanks to urgent storylines often inspired by real-life cases. Hargitay is the beating heart not just of SVU but the franchise in general, and for more than a quarter-century she’s performed one of television’s most iconic characters.

Advertisement

Where to watch Law & Order: Peacock

16 of 30

Line of Duty (2012–2021)

Vicky McClure, Martin Compston, and Adrian Dunbar in ‘Line of Duty’Credit: Aidan Monaghan/World Productions/Acorn TV

This eminently quotable cop show, which numbers fans all the way from your uncle to comedian Sarah Silverman, stars Martin Compston as DS Steve Arnott. After a botched counterrorism raid and his refusal to participate in the enduing cover-up, Arnott is transferred to anti-corruption unit AC-12, where he begins investigating dirty cops (bent coppers, if you will) in the fictional Central Police Force.

A white-knuckle piece of suspense whose barbed scripts have led to the establishment of a mid-sized cottage industry, Line of Duty falls somewhere between Slow Horses and Happy Valley with its hard-nosed yet witty approach to police work through a rogues’ gallery of ensemble players.

Where to watch Line of Duty: Peacock

17 of 30

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000–2015)

Multiple ‘CSI’ generations converge in the series finale in 2015Credit: Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty

For a brief moment in the early aughts, this classic franchise made everyone believe forensic science was an extremely sexy profession. William Petersen returns to his Manhunter roots as Las Vegas CSI supervisor Gil Grissom, who oversees a team of crime scene analysts who — despite the real-life strictures of their positions — often find themselves directly pursuing criminals on the street.

Over 15 seasons, CSI morphed and added new lead characters (like Ted Danson) and spun out into equally satisfying spinoffs. It’s easy to see how this series turned into a franchise, with well-drawn characters and a cinematic texture that makes terrific use of music and camerawork. Nothing beats the original, though, for its elevated sense of character and keen eye for thrills.

Where to watch CSI: Crime Scene Investigation: Hulu

18 of 30

Magnum P.I. (1980–1988)

Tom Selleck in an extremely dope floral shirt in ‘Magnum, P.I.’Credit: CBS via Getty Images

Tom Selleck reinvented cool (and the Burt Reynolds thick-stache) as Oahu private investigator Thomas Magnum. He’s an ex-military man who cracks cases while living a life of luxury at the mansion of author Robin Masters, who is never seen throughout the eight-season run but whose wealth provides Magnum with all the toys he needs to break the case and win the girl.

Magnum P.I. is one of those rare ’80s romps that actually is as much fun as its high concept promises. The show encapsulates each of the decade’s ubiquitous trends as its tone and presentation adapts over time. Plus, you cannot beat that Hawaiian scenery.

Where to watch Magnum P.I.: Prime Video (to buy)

19 of 30

Mindhunter (2017–2019)

Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff try to get into the minds of serial killers in ‘Mindhunter’Credit: Patrick Harbron/Netflix

David Fincher’s alarmingly effective Netflix series stars Holt McCallany and Jonathan Groff as Bill Tench and Holden Ford, two very different FBI agents who begin interviewing serial killers and probing their psychoses in an effort to understand what drives them — and use those insights to help catch other murderers.

When all is done and we reflect on Fincher’s career, Mindhunter may be his masterwork. It’s a chilly, wondrously in-depth look at the people working behind the scenes of criminal investigations. The show has remained on indefinite hold since its second season, which is a shame because Mindhunter was one of the rare series able to retain the best aspects of its first season while building its characters and incidents to a visceral boil.

Where to watch Mindhunter: Netflix

20 of 30

Prime Suspect (1991–2006)

Queen Elizabeth II, back when she was chief inspector in SouthamptonCredit: Courtesy Everett Collection

Helen Mirren stars as Jane Tennison, one of the very first female detective chief inspectors in London’s Metropolitan Police Service, who, after a colleague dies in the first series, takes over an investigation into the murder of a young sex worker.

Mirren quietly essayed one of the most exciting detectives in any television series, backed by excellent writing and a nicely fluctuating structure. Prime Suspect may have set the template for all of the Britbox procedurals we love so much, but few have managed to be as intricate, as satisfying, or as exciting as their inspiration.

Where to watch Prime Suspect: Peacock

21 of 30

NYPD Blue (1993–2005)

Dennis Franz and Jimmy Smits with a look that says, “We just saw that new David Caruso movie”Credit: Frank Ockenfels/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty

Steven Bochco and David Milch’s classically gritty series stars Dennis Franz as Andy Sipowicz, a homicide detective at a fictional Manhattan precinct.

Bochco and Milch are both pros at establishing a lived-in world almost immediately, and their depiction of a crime-riddled Manhattan — evoked through muted palettes and hyper-specific  details — is both a terrifying and romantic vision of the city.

This is top-tier ensemble broadcast television, with a structure and a sheen that pre-dated and seemingly predicted the wave of celebrated HBO and streaming series more concerned with building characters and meting out long-standing storylines than delivering fleeting action beats.

Where to watch NYPD Blue: Prime Video (to buy)

22 of 30

Homicide: Life on the Street (1993–1999)

Andre Braugher in the prequel to ‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’Credit: James Sorensen/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images

Based on David Simon’s nonfiction chronicle of a year spent embedded with the Baltimore Police Department’s homicide unit, this NBC series profiles Baltimore homicide detectives. Richard Belzer, as John Munch, helps lead an ensemble cast including Clark Johnson, Melissa Leo, Yaphet Kotto, and Andre Braugher — decades before his iconic Brooklyn Nine-Nine role.

Along with NYPD Blue (which debuted the same year), Homicide: Life on the Street set a new standard for gritty primetime entertainment. Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson brought the kind of verisimilitude and attention to detail that Simon would later perfect in The Wire, with this series helping set the table for the grittier, more ambitious television dramas that followed.

Where to watch Homicide: Life on the Street: Prime Video (to buy)

23 of 30

Moonlighting (1985–1989)

Maddie Hayes looks at David Addison like he’s a steak in ‘Moonlighting’Credit: ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images

Is this, perhaps, the greatest love story of all time? You be the judge. Moonlighting was unavailable to stream for decades, but recently became available again, introducing new generations to the quick-witted banter and shrewd detective work of Maddie Hayes (Cybill Shepherd) and David Addison (Bruce Willis).

Hayes is a down-on-her-luck ex-model who puts everything into one of her few remaining business endeavors, a seedy detective agency run by Addison. The dynamic is simple: Her notoriety gets clients in the door, he takes care of the dirty work. Ultimately, the glamour and the grit are inextricably tied together. These five seasons are high-spirited homages to classic screwball comedies, noir, and action movies that benefit from propulsive pacing, a self-aware sensibility, and lightning-in-a-bottle sexual tension between the two stars.

In later seasons, the show occasionally turned over complete episodes to its brilliant ensemble of oddballs.

Where to watch Moonlighting: Hulu

24 of 30

Will Trent (2023–present)

Ramon Rodriguez in an extremely dope three-piece suit in ‘Will Trent’Credit: Disney/Daniel Delgado Jr.

Based on Karin Slaughter’s gritty series of books, this likable ABC procedural stars Ramón Rodriguez as the titular Special Agent, a dyslexic former foster kid who just so happens to have the highest clearance rate among his peers at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

A throwback tone and terrific casting boost this consistently entertaining adaptation, which takes the material in enough of its own direction that you could easily read Slaughter’s books without knowing the plot’s every turn. In addition to sharp writing, Will Trent boasts a wonderful turn from Erika Christensen (as Will’s childhood pal and fellow foster kid, now a homicide cop) and a very cute tag-along puppy dog.

Where to watch Will Trent: Hulu

25 of 30

True Detective (2014–present)

We are not clever enough to come up with a good “time is a flat circle” joke hereCredit: Jim Bridges/HBO

HBO’s enthralling, controversial modern noir started with a bang and led to three (and counting) additional installments, including 2024’s Night Country, all of which bring a new flavor to the table.

True Detective’s astonishing first season stars Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as detectives investigating an eerie ritualistic murder that leads them into a larger web of crimes as their personal lives intertwine and deviate across decades. The season, directed in its entirety by Cary Joji Fukunaga, is a brilliant blend of classic detective beats, genuinely chilling horror flourishes, and crackling writing by Nic Pizzolatto.

That the series has never been able to live up to this mark is less a statement about the quality of subsequent seasons than evidence of season 1 being up there with the best television productions of all time.

Where to watch True Detective: HBO Max

26 of 30

Twin Peaks (1990–2017)

TFW you just want a damn fine cup of coffeeCredit: Everett Collection

David Lynch’s tricky, hilarious, tragic, and utterly singular supernatural detective series stars Kyle MacLachlan as cheerful, all-American FBI Agent Dale Cooper, who settles into the small Pacific Northwest town of Twin Peaks as he investigates the murder of popular local teen Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee).

To say audiences got more than they bargained for from what was ostensibly a small-town murder mystery would be an understatement. Lynch and co-creator Mark Frost use the irresistibly lurid trappings of pulpy melodrama to create a haunting portrait of Americana filtered through a prism of surreal noir and cosmic horror. From its tantalizing initial mystery to its shape-shifting, hilarious, and terrifying 18-episode revival in 2017, there has never been anything else like it.

Where to watch Twin Peaks: Paramount+

27 of 30

Murder, She Wrote (1984–1996)

Jessica Fletcher, using a flashlight in a perfectly bright room (she probably has her reasons)Credit: Everett Collection

Like Columbo before it, Murder, She Wrote became a staple of broadcast television mystery. Revolving around mystery writer Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and the many murders she wanders into, the series is a bit cozier and sillier than Falk’s signature show, but the two share plenty of DNA.

Lansbury’s fierce performance anchors this exceedingly entertaining series, which laid the foundation for the mystery genre as we know it today. The sets and locations are always stunning, and a succession of terrific guests and pre-fame star appearances add a bit of zing and unpredictability to each rewatch.

Where to watch Murder, She Wrote: Prime Video (to buy)

28 of 30

Sherlock (2010–2017)

Sherlock Holmes, about to say something biting and borderline cruel. Dr. Watson, about to patiently tolerate itCredit: Colin Hutton/BBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

In one of the very finest adaptations of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, Benedict Cumberbatch stars as the irascible, endearingly arrogant detective while Martin Freeman fills the role of Watson. The series, set in contemporary London, brilliantly updates the character for the 21st century — as well as the mysteries themselves, which are often refurbished twists on Doyle’s classics.

Its modern visual style perfectly blends with the vintage touches of its costume and set design. Meanwhile, each episode gives a never-better Cumberbatch and Freeman ample time to banter in between brainy set pieces, which offer some of the sharpest visualizations yet of Sherlock’s singular deduction skills.

Where to watch Sherlock: Hulu

29 of 30

Columbo (1971–1990)

POV: The world’s greatest detective is about to “Just one more thing” youCredit: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty

Peter Falk plays the iconic, eponymous detective whose “one last question” often breaks the case. As opposed to a whodunit, this series — whose first regular episode was directed by Steven Spielberg — rather functions as a who-or-why-dunit. Each episode  begins with a murderer committing their dastardly deed, followed by the cover-up, at which point Columbo enters to debunk the entire incident.

Columbo redefined the detective series and set the template for a great many of the best modern noirs, notably Poker Face. Throughout its seven initial seasons, the series offers whip-smart writing and deeply satisfying resolutions to its myriad mysteries. Afterward, Falk reprised the character in 24 additional episodes that aired between 1989 and 2003, transporting Columbo, with little turbulence, into the then-modern era.

Where to watch Columbo: Peacock

30 of 30

The Wire (2002–2008)

Detective McNulty stops by the totally legitimate business of Stringer BellCredit: Paul Schiraldi/HBO

A towering procedural achievement, David Simon’s sprawling, novelistic series is not just a cop show but an intricate sociopolitical mosaic. Its first season may initially feel familiar — overly dedicated cops (e.g. Dominic West’s Jimmy McNulty), dealers (e.g. Idris Elba’s Stringer Bell), and the outlaws hovering around the fault lines of crime and justice (e.g. Michael K. Williams’ iconic stick-up man Omar Little) — but the granular detail and journalistic curiosity reveal both a grand philosophical fable and a grounded slice of social realism.

Simon’s opus weaves in and out of various corners of society — the docks, the schools, the politicians, the media — with the same verve and authenticity as it does the city’s drug scene. The Wire is rightly heralded as one of the best TV shows of all time. It’s hard to recall another that fires so eloquently on all cylinders.

Where to watch The Wire: HBO Max

on Entertainment Weekly

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Entertainment”