7 Forgotten Detective Shows That Have Aged Like Fine Wine

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I’ve always loved detective shows, and it’s so clear why they stick around! Whether it’s something new like Only Murders in the Building or an old favorite like Kojak, there’s just something about them that really grabs you. It’s that whole puzzle aspect – the mystery, the suspense, and the action – and it’s all driven by this really interesting character who figures things out. Even shows that aren’t strictly detective shows, like True Detective or even House (which was basically Sherlock Holmes as a doctor!), still use that core detective idea, which means there’s a ton of variety within the genre.

Detective shows remain incredibly popular, with new investigators constantly appearing on television. Recent characters like Mare Sheehan from Mare of Easttown and Charlie Cale from Poker Face are just as compelling as classic detectives like Columbo and Mannix. However, some truly great detective series with captivating leads haven’t received the recognition they deserve.

Broadchurch

2013-2017

With strong performances from David Tennant and Olivia Colman, Broadchurch features captivating detectives, but the show’s strengths extend beyond just its stars. Over three seasons, Broadchurch employed a unique format that allowed for deep character development and emotional resonance.

From the very beginning, the show really grabs you with this heartbreaking case – an 11-year-old boy who’s been killed. It’s a mystery that hangs over everything, honestly. While the impact of Danny’s death is always there, DI Alec Hardy and DS Ellie Miller do eventually start working on other investigations too. It’s not like they solve it and move on, it just becomes part of the background as they tackle new crimes.

I was completely captivated by Broadchurch. It’s not just a typical crime show; it really delves into the lives of the characters and how a tragedy affects an entire community. The show beautifully portrays the long-lasting impact of grief, even as life goes on around those who are hurting. Honestly, it reminded me a bit of Adolescence in how powerfully it explores emotions, but Broadchurch feels even bigger and more detailed in its scope. The acting is phenomenal, and it’s a show that really stays with you.

Pushing Daisies

2007-2009

Despite winning seven Emmys, the show Pushing Daisies was unfortunately canceled after only two seasons, leaving many storylines unexplored. What made it special wasn’t just its intriguing idea – a detective who can bring people back to life to solve crimes – but also its incredibly creative characters, smart writing, and visually stunning design.

The show feels like a modern fairy tale, narrated in a playful style reminiscent of Dr. Seuss. Whimsical names, such as Charlotte “Chuck” Charles and Boutique Travel Travel Boutique, enhance this storybook atmosphere. The visuals are incredibly bright and colorful, almost to an unrealistic degree. The characters speak quickly and cleverly, with dialogue that brings to mind the fast-paced conversations in shows like Gilmore Girls or Aaron Sorkin’s writing on The West Wing.

Ned’s moral struggles add serious depth to the show, balancing out its quirky and often silly moments. Ultimately, Pushing Daisies had a lot more story to tell, and there’s a chance we might still see it. The people who made the show have said they’re still hoping for a third season.

Top Of The Lake

2013-2017

Top of the Lake is a compelling show that combines the gripping nature of crime procedurals like Law & Order: SVU with the high quality storytelling you’d expect from a prestige cable drama. Created by director Jane Campion and starring Elisabeth Moss as Detective Robin Griffin, it’s a creatively rich series that thoughtfully examines issues of gender, sexuality, and assault.

Okay, so the basic setup – a woman with a complicated past returning to her hometown to solve crimes – it’s been done before, I’ll admit. Shows like Sharp Objects and Under the Bridge feel similar in that way. But Top of the Lake really grabbed me because it’s just…different. It’s got this incredibly unsettling vibe, and the story starts with something truly shocking: a twelve-year-old girl, who’s pregnant, vanishes right after someone finds her standing in a freezing cold lake. It’s a premise that instantly hooked me and sets it apart.

Four years after the original, Elisabeth Moss returned for a second season of Top of the Lake, titled China Girl. While the first season was uniquely captivating, China Girl firmly established Top of the Lake as a leading series in the detective genre, with Moss delivering a performance that remains incredibly strong.

Mr. Mercedes

2017-2019

David E. Kelley’s series based on Stephen King’s work was canceled when Audience, the streaming service behind it, shut down in 2020. Starring Brendan Gleeson as the likable detective Bill Hodges, and featuring strong performances from actors like Mary-Louise Parker and Holland Taylor, Mr. Mercedes ultimately moved to Peacock but wasn’t picked up for additional seasons.

Stephen King’s signature use of the strange and unexplained adds a unique sense of suspense to the mysteries in Mr. Mercedes. With King’s storytelling continuing to grow in popularity across both books and TV, Mr. Mercedes remains a compelling story.

Bill Hodges serves as a mentor to the character Holly Gibney, portrayed by Justine Lupe in the series Mr. Mercedes. Cynthia Erivo later took on the role of Holly in The Outsider, significantly increasing the character’s fanbase. Holly recently starred in her own novel by Stephen King, titled Holly, which also features Bill Hodges prominently.

Blue Murder

2003-2009

Like many classic British TV shows, Blue Murder was relatively short, with only 19 episodes across its five seasons. This limited run actually helped the show tell its stories carefully, allowing each plotline to fully develop and reach its conclusion.

It’s unusual for a TV show to start well and consistently improve, but that’s exactly what happened with Blue Murder. While many shows start to decline after a few seasons, Blue Murder was actually at its best in its fifth season.

This show demands your focus, jumping quickly between a large group of characters. Detective Janine Lewis, a mother of four, is both funny and capable, and the show is made even better by exploring her difficult relationship with her ex-husband, Pete.

Rebecka Martinsson

2017-2020

If you were captivated by the atmospheric setting of True Detective: Night Country, you’ll likely appreciate this Swedish series. What sets Rebecka Martinsson apart from typical detective shows is its direct approach to the main character’s personal connection to the crimes. Instead of hinting at it, the series fully explores how the recent loss of a childhood friend deeply impacts Martinsson’s actions and emotions, creating a compelling and emotionally rich story.

Ida Engvoll didn’t return as Rebecka Martinsson for the second season, but she still helped behind the scenes as an executive producer. Sascha Zacharias now plays the character, and she does a great job making the role her own instead of trying to copy Engvoll’s performance. The second season of Rebecka Martinsson is still compelling, thanks to strong writing and Zacharias’s performance.

Interior Chinatown

2024

Image via Hulu

This series is truly unique and complex, constantly surprising viewers with its inventive twists and turns over its ten episodes. Based on Charles Yu’s novel, it tackles deep cultural themes through a plot that becomes increasingly dreamlike and symbolic. However, the series adaptation skillfully guides the story forward while still maintaining a playful and imaginative tone.

Willis Wu tries to take control of his life and find out what happened to his brother, which means breaking free from the limited role society has assigned him. This disruption throws the world off balance. When he tries to enter the police station – a place he’s not supposed to be able to access – the world literally stops him, until he figures out that delivering food to the police is a way to get inside.

The show frequently features a police drama called Black and White, which makes viewers question whether it’s meant to be a reflection of the show’s world, or a sign that the characters themselves are living inside another, deeper layer of fiction.

As a fan, I think what’s really interesting about the two detectives – a white woman and a Black man – is how it lets the story dig into issues of race, what society expects from people, and stereotypes. And it all connects back to the show’s main point about being Asian American! What’s clever is that Interior Chinatown takes all the usual tropes from detective shows and flips them on their head – it totally breaks the mold!

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2026-03-25 03:11