10 Best Mystery TV Series of the 2020s (So Far)

Mystery Television shows can take many forms, and the 2020s has been defined as a decade that bends genres and pushes boundaries on television. Whether the series are comedies, true crime or incorporate aspects of sci-fi and fantasy, They are universal in that they draw audiences in with their thrilling plot twists and red herrings. While a mystery doesn't necessarily have to revolve around crime or murder, most do, bringing in familiar elements like police officers, rogue detectives, and suspicious witnesses who know more than they let on. The beats of a mystery show are common knowledge to most audiences.

However, awareness of the formula of a crime series does not detract from the enjoyment of the audience. This shorthand allows the writers and showrunners to subvert their expectations. Often, it's the characters that make the series unique and convince the viewer to care about the story. Most great crime TV shows have a list of actors, as a defining factor of an effective mystery is how well the performance can make the audience believe them. A strong cast and a tight script are the two most important parts of any television series, Regardless of the genre.

10

Dead Boy Detectives (2024 - present)

The Sandman spinoff proved to be even more engaging than its predecessor.

The protagonist of Dead Boy Detectives, Edwin and Charles, exist in the same universe as Netflix's other series, The Sandman, And both are based on the popular graphic novel series. However, in Dead Boy DetectivesMystery and solving crimes take center stage, with supernatural elements serving as a backdrop and exciting addition to each crime. Although both Edwin and Charles are long dead, this does not stop them from doing the most with their afterlife, as they are dedicated to solving fantastic mysteries.

The Sandman Letters that appear in Dead Boy Detectives Root the series in the larger universe of the story and make the breadth of the show feel larger and more all-encompassing. This is helpful, like Dead Boy Detectives Has episodic aspects in addition to its overarching arc. With characters of all ages and two main characters stuck in youth, Dead Boy Detectives is perfect for YA audiences looking to get into the mystery genre with a new series.

9

Only Murders in the Building (2021 - Present)

The comedy about true crime enthusiasts only gets better with each season.

The true crime genre is one of the most popular in film and television Only murders in this building Turns the cultural interest on its head. A group of letters interested in crime-solving starts their own podcast to uncover the truth about a murder that happened in their building, but soon find themselves embroiled in a much bigger scandal. As the series progressed, it only became more meta As the in-world characters gain fame and fortune for their investigations, mirroring the trajectory of the series itself.

Martin Short, Steve Martin and Selena Gomez have an unexpected but excellent chemistry That drives the action forward and keeps the viewer relentlessly invested in the story. Their chemistry is a big part of what makes it Only murders in this building Works, as Kurtz and Martin are comedic veterans, and Gomez is relatable to younger audience members. Although comedy and humor are the core tenets of the series, the story isn't afraid to get as dark and gruesome as any good podcast worth its salt in the true crime sphere.

8

Presumed Innocent (2024)

Jake Gyllenhaal's latest miniseries makes viewers question their beliefs.

The original novel of the same name by Scott Turow was first made into a movie in 1990 that starred Harrison Ford in the role Jake Gyllenhaal recently took on in the newest iteration of so to speak, innocent. He plays Rusty Sabich, a high-powered Chicago prosecutor whose involvement with a woman who is soon to be dead complicates his career, marriage and entire life. When it comes out that he has an affair with her, FPeople can ignore how much evidence is stacked against him despite his previous clean reputation.

Although not Gyllenhaal's best performance, so to speak, innocent Shines like a courtroom drama, and keeps the audience invested by giving a glimpse into the inner workings of Sabich's personal life. Much of the series focuses on the trial and the legal process of finding someone guilty of a crime As the viewer goes back and forth whether Sabich killed his lover or not. Although the mystery element is not as important as Sabich's character study, it still keeps the audience guessing.

7

Under the Banner of Heaven (2022)

A stellar cast leads the TV series loosely based on real events.

the book Under the banner of heavenis more focused on the history of Mormonism and the actual events of the crime described than the television series. Starring Andrew Garfield and Daisy Edgar-Jones, the show follows several parallel stories About the events leading up to Brend Lafferty's death, the aftermath of the police investigation, and the early formation of the Mormon church. Although the series received some backlash from religious communities, it was considered brilliantly acted and an amazing slow-burn mystery.

TwistersThe global success of the box office is a great reason to revisit the amazing performance of Edgar-Jones in Under the banner of heaven. Although she and Garfield never interact on screen, as they exist at different points in the story, They are both the heart and soul of the series and present the basic questions and themes of faith and morality. The investigation of Brenda's death starts as a normal procedural, but the intercutting with historical background and the turmoil of Garfield's character, Jeb, make the series unlike anything else.

6

Slow Horses (2022 - present)

Apple TV+'s underrated thriller series deserves a bigger audience.

Slow Horses is in good company, as the other films and television shows in the British espionage genre are some of the most iconic and well-received. The spy genre is often more defined by its action rather than its mystery, however Slow Horses Gives his characters plenty to explore in each season. It follows a group of MI5 agents who have one of the most undesirable and boring assignments in the agency. however, The characters discover that there are bigger spaces at work between their routines Surveillance and paperwork.

Gary Oldman leads the series as Jackson Lamb, the head of the department, a man who refuses to admit how much he cares about his team, masking his feelings with snark. Every character in Slow Horses has made a mistake or is bogged down by their past, Give them a reason to throw everything into their work, even if they aren't the most skilled agents. High stakes and hidden agendas populate Slow HorsesGive the series an exciting edge that is juxtaposed with the rag-tag group that must save the world.

5

A Murder at the End of the World (2023)

An updated whodunit with technological twists sets a murder at the end of the world apart.

Emma Corrin plays Darby Hart, the perfect Gen-Z detective who uses her skills as a hacker and keen sensibility to solve a murder in an isolated retreat. A murder at the end of the world It begins with a frame story similar to a classic Agatha Christie novel, as the central characters are invited to a distant place by a reclusive billionaire, and it doesn't take long until one of the guests is dead. Darby's experience and quest to solve the murder at the retreat are intercut with her early experiences as an aspiring detective.

The show itself is a puzzle to be solved by the audience along with Darby as she tries to piece together what happened to the victims and how they are connected. A murder at the end of the world Comes at a poignant time as The themes and plot of the series are in conversation with the growing prevalence of technology and AI. Throughout the show, the story questions how complicit people are in actions committed through the Internet and how humanity is the influencing factor behind the development of AI.

4

Poker Phase (2023 - Present)

Rian Johnson's TV series features Natasha Lyonne at her best.

It's no wonder that The hype for Poker phase Season 2 is steadily growing Since the show has been renewed, how Natasha Lyonne and Rian Johnson make the perfect creative team in this twist on the mystery genre. Lyon plays Charlie, a self-proclaimed human lie detector who gets involved with the wrong people and has to hit the open road to escape their wrath. Each episode features Charlie trying not to be involved in the murder-of-the-week, but she can't help but be pulled by the mysterious circumstances of the crimes and the lies the characters tell.

Part of the fun of Poker phase is this Each episode features a new cast of guest stars in a unique location in the US. making Poker phase As much a detective story as it is a road series. Charlie's character and her cases are all inspired by the great mystery TV shows and movies of the past, making it a nostalgic series and simultaneously improving how audiences think about an episodic crime show. The Season 1 finale set Charlie up for another epic adventure and positions her to meet many new suspicious faces.

3

Under the Bridge (2024)

Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough have incredible chemistry in this dark series.

Under the bridge Unpacks a true crime case of a murdered teenager in Canada and stars Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough as a detective looking into the case, Cam, and a woman interested in writing about the issues of troubled youth, Rebecca. They make a sudden connection when they investigate the disappearance of Reena, a young woman who was involved with a local gang, and the external factors that push young people to use violence. Deep explorations of the girls' home lives are a consistent aspect of the show.

The series tells a politically relevant and engaging story viz Issues of xenophobia, class and race are all intimately connected to what happened to Reena. In addition, the budding relationship between Rebecca and Cam is an emotional and sweet break in the tough discussions of the systemic failures of the government to support the country's youth. Discussions of Indigenous identity and Canadian history are shown and touched upon with sensitivity throughout the narrative.

2

Severance (2022 - present)

Both the characters and the audience are left in the dark in the mind-bending world of Severance.

Apple TV+'s sci-fi mystery, severanceis one of the most popular series of streamers to date, Starring Adam Scott in the lead role of Mark. The premise of severance revolves around a group of office workers who undergo an operation to completely cut off their work life from their personal life. This means that the characters have no memory of who they really are while they are at work, and when they leave the office, they cannot remember what their job is. Only the most classified projects are worked on by the Severed employees.

As the group of workers begin to realize that their jobs and company are not what they think, the series also touches on relevant and emotional topics such as grief and the ethics of corporations. Critically and in terms of audience reception, severance was a hit, and viewers have been patiently waiting for season 2 for a long time. yet Season 1 left off with an incredible reveal and cliffhanger, There is much more mystery to explore in the brilliant series.

1

Mare Of Easttown (2021)

Kate Winslet gives a career-best performance in this incredible miniseries.

More from Easttown is on par with the greatest Mystery Series of all time, to see Kate Winslet transform into the tough but intuitive Mare, a detective in Pennsylvania. Despite her high-profile past roles, Winslet shines in the role and fully embodies the life and culture of this small town as it is wracked with tragedy. A young Cailee Spaeny is featured as a young woman who becomes the victim of murder and the subject of A publicized case that pushes Mare to her limits as she struggles with her personal issues and a long-cold abduction case.

what More from Easttown The best is to fully immerse the viewer in the city and the story, easily building the world and establishing the relationships with little unnecessary exposition. The criticism and audience response to More from Easttown was immediate and overwhelming, And it's no wonder, considering how tight the story is. Just when the audience believes that the investigation is over and the crime is solved, the series throws a final twist that shocks the audience.