Crime dramas boomed throughout the 2010s, and while many were great, only a few can be considered the best of the decade. As the 2010s progressed, more inventive television began brewing, especially as the age of the streaming era dawned. Intricate plots, high-budget concepts, and series that couldn’t have fit within a network landscape became far more possible, which opened TV up to a whole new era.
While there were crime dramas that felt similar to what had been produced in the past, the bigger scope of crime on TV meant that there were new possibilities. Period pieces, shows with shorter seasons that allowed for high-stakes storytelling, and performers who were open to more cinematic styles came to the table, making the 2010s an incredible time for the crime drama.
10
Broadchurch
A British crime drama, Broadchurch ran for three seasons between 2013 and 2017, and has been lauded one of the best acted crime dramas of all time. Following two detectives, Alec Hardy (David Tenant) and Ellie Miller (Olivia Colman), the series is set in the fictional town of Broadchurch, which is meant to be a quiet, coastal area in southwest England.
The series, which was planned as a trilogy from the beginning, uses a character-driven style to tell its larger story. Investigating the death of a local child at the beginning of the series, Broadchurch weaves larger themes of grief and trust throughout the story as a whole. With incredible performances from Colman and Tenant, the series is a rich, emotionally deep crime drama.
- Release Date
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2013 – 2017
- Network
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ITV1
- Showrunner
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Chris Chibnall
9
Fargo
An anthology series based on the film of the same name, Fargo ran for five seasons throughout the late 2010s and early 2020s. With three out of its five seasons in the 2010s, the series is a staple of the decade. Inspired by the Coen Brothers’ film, Fargo takes a somewhat different approach to its storytelling, bringing a different case in the Midwest to life each season.
Blending dark humor and violence, Fargo’s cases and investigations are meant to bring a range of emotions to the table. The series features a rotating cast, which allows it to keep a fresh tone from season to season despite the dark material it’s often covering. Fargo’s unique tone, which stems both from the subject matter and the location it’s based in, created compelling crime drama.
- Release Date
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2014 – 2024-00-00
- Showrunner
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Noah Hawley
8
Justified
A neo-western, Justified was a six-season series that ran on FX from 2010 through 2015. Following US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant), the series is set in rural Kentucky and combines a modern crime drama with the sensibilities of a traditional western. The show embraces the cultural of the Appalachian mountains, bringing Givens to life in the modern era despite his old west style.
While the rural Kentucky setting makes sense for Givens’ character, he pushes back against it as he’s working within the boundaries of his hometown, where his father was a career criminal. With a phenomenal ensemble cast that includes Walton Goggins as Boyd Crowder and Nick Searcy as fellow Marshal Art Mullen, Justified is able to bring a sharp character and distinctive voice to life.
- Release Date
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2010 – 2015
- Directors
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Adam Arkin, Jon Avnet, Peter Werner, Bill Johnson, John Dahl, Michael W. Watkins, Dean Parisot, Gwyneth Horder-Payton, Tony Goldwyn, Don Kurt, Michael Katleman, Billy Gierhart, Frederick King Keller, John David Coles, Lesli Linka Glatter
7
Mindhunter
A Netflix original, Mindhunter ran for two seasons between 2017 and 2019. Set in the late 1970s, Mindhunter followed FBI agents who pioneer criminal profiling, interviewing serial killers to do so. The series starred Jonathan Groff as Holden Ford, Holt McCallany as Bill Tench, and Anna Torv as Wendy Carr, the team who was tasked with creating the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, or BSU.
The show’s ability to flip crime on its ear and work through the psychological side rather than presenting a whodunnit mystery was what helped it stand out early on. The series, which was produced by David Fincher and Charlize Theron, among others, was praised for teasing out the tension of a case over watching the action behind it. Mindhunter’s meticulous storytelling was a masterclass.
- Release Date
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2017 – 2019
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Joe Penhall
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Holt McCallany
Bill Tench
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Munro M. Bonnell
CMF Doctor
6
Narcos
Another Netflix original, Narcos is one of the streaming platforms original hits. Running for three seasons from 2015 through 2017, Narcos became a franchise on the streaming platform as it became more successful. The original series covered the rise and fall of drug kingpin Pablo Escoboar, with the third season documenting the aftermath of his capture as the DEA worked to bring down the Cali Cartel.
Starring Wagner Moura as Escobar, the series also featured Pedro Pascal as DEA agent Javier Peña in a breakout role. Blending real events with rich dramatization, the series offers a global perspective on the notorious drug trade. The show’s narration and bilingual storytelling were praised throughout its run, lending an authenticity to the Netflix hit.
- Release Date
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2015 – 2017
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Andrés Baiz, Josef Kubota Wladyka, Fernando Coimbra, Gerardo Naranjo, Guillermo Navarro
5
Sherlock
The BBC version of Sherlock took over a generation in the 2010s. Running for four seasons that spanned from 2010 through 2017, the series starred Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular Sherlock Holmes in a modern retelling of the classic stories. Set in a current day London, Cumberbatch’s Sherlock was partnered with his own John Watson, played by Martin Freeman, which created a fascinating duo.
The series was able to update the classic stories with modern twists, bringing a fast pace to the mysteries that made them feel fresh and new. With clever writing and very strong performances from all the cast members, BBC’s Sherlock quickly became a series that fans were looking forward to over the years that it ran on screen.
- Release Date
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2010 – 2017-00-00
- Showrunner
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Steven Moffat
- Directors
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Steven Moffat
4
True Detective
Another anthology series, True Detective debuted in 2014 and has revamped itself for each season. With four seasons having aired in 2014, 2015, 2019, and 2024, the series became a staple of the 2010s, especially with its standout first season. True Detective is focused on complicated criminal investigations that require care, sometimes spanning decades to resolve throughout the show’s season.
The first season, which starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, saw a sprawling case that covered nearly two decades worth of material for the viewer. As it’s moved forward, True Detective has taken big swings and tried to use risky storytelling in order to create the most compelling viewer experience possible. Praised for its incredibly ambitious storytelling and its standout performances, it’s a tour de force of the 2010s.
- Release Date
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January 12, 2014
- Network
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HBO Max
- Showrunner
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Nic Pizzolatto
3
Bosch
Starring Titus Welliver as the titular Harry Bosch, Prime Video original Bosch spanned seven seasons from 2015 through 2021. While the series went on to spinoff as Bosch: Legacy, the original 7-season show is one of Prime Video’s best, and has created a massive franchise. Based on Michael Connelly’s novels, Bosch follows an LAPD detective as he methodically investigates intense crimes.
Bosch’s strengths come from the fact that its lead is able to consistently infuse his own personality into his work. Bosch himself is a slow, methodical investigator who wants to chew on the work he’s doing, so to speak. He moves in a way that allows him to consider every possibility, which allows viewers to become just as immersed in the investigations as he is.
- Release Date
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2015 – 2021-00-00
- Network
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Prime Video
- Showrunner
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Eric Ellis Overmyer
2
The Americans
An FX original that ran for six seasons, The Americans was peak 2010s crime drama. A period piece set in the 1980s, the series follows two Cold War era KGB officers who are posing as an American couple for a long-term operation. Philip (Matthew Rhys) and Elizabeth Jennings (Keri Russell), along with their children, work through living double lives throughout the course of the series.
While the show does focus on the interpersonal relationships between Philip and Elizabeth, as well as their children as they grow up, the series works hard to blend espionage with family drama in an organic way. Receiving critical acclaim for its writing and stellar performances, The Americans is one of the best of the decade by far.
- Release Date
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2013 – 2018
- Showrunner
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Joe Weisberg
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Keri Russell
Elizabeth Jennings
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Matthew Rhys
Phillip Jennings
1
Breaking Bad
As one of the most well-known shows of the modern era, Breaking Bad has been widely regarded as one of the best of all time. The series, which ran for five seasons from 2008 through 2013, follows Walter White (Bryan Cranston), a high school chemistry teacher who turns to a life of crime after receiving a diagnosis of stage three lung cancer.
Working with his former student, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), to produce and distribute methamphetamine, Breaking Bad follows Walter as he transforms into a criminal mastermind. The show’s performances are a standout, having earned Cranston and Paul accolades throughout the show’s run. Breaking Bad is a tightly constructed, unforgettable crime drama.
- Release Date
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2008 – 2013-00-00
- Showrunner
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Vince Gilligan
