10 suspenseful TV thrillers that will keep you guessing the whole way

Suspense in the thriller genre in TV shows can be difficult to cultivate, as the story must develop slowly over an entire season. Many of these projects fall into the miniseries format, like the best thriller TV shows of 2024. However, it is even more impressive when a thriller series can maintain momentum and mystery over multiple seasons. The pacing, foreshadowing and number of red herrings must be perfectly balanced To keep the audience engaged while not alienating them and making the plot too convoluted. This makes it especially intriguing to watch a show that has a really shocking ending.

Many underrated recent detective shows use thriller and mystery elements to great effect, as most projects in the genre revolve around murder or some type of criminal activity. Whether the story is told from the perspective of a detective, a victim, or an interested third party, The protagonist always has a sense of curiosity and intuition that drives them to find the truth. It is common for these shows to touch on sensitive subjects and sometimes incorporate graphic images into the story. However, the visuals and narrative arcs all serve to support the central themes and message of the mystery.

10

The Undoing (2020)

Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant play a dangerous game of cat and mouse

Nicole Kidman has lent her skills to many whimsical thriller miniseries, and The undoing is no exception to her phenomenal work. In one of Hugh Grant’s best TV villain performances, Grant and Kidman costar as a married couple, Jonathan and Grace, whose seemingly idyllic life is thrown into chaos When Jonathan is connected to the murder of a local woman. Set against the backdrop of wealth and privilege in Manhattan, The undoing Pushes the viewer to wonder if Jonathan is capable of murder or if he is the loving husband Grace always thought he was.

The series takes some dark turns throughout its episodes and sees Grace and Jonathan grow suspicious From each other, Grace is forced to protect their son and decide which side she is on. The gorgeous visuals and luxurious setup expose the evil hidden just below the surface of their affluent community, and the prying eyes of neighbors make the tension all the more immediate. Overall, the anchor of the twisting story is the performances of Kidman and Grant.

9

dark (2017–2020)

Dark’s stories and mysteries live up to its name

Netflix’s German sci-fi thriller, DarkRemained consistently highly rated and engaging throughout its three-season runn and is a perfect blend of the speculative fiction and thriller genres. The series begins with the disappearance of a young boy, which prompts the inhabitants of the city to search for him, but they discover a much more sinister secret. Incorporating time travel, intergenerational trauma and deliberately methodical pacing, Dark is a marathon of deeply emotional storytelling.

Dark Tells an intricately woven story, and its multiple timelines and intersecting realities can be difficult to keep track of through the final season. However, the layers are also worth peeling back, because uncovering the secrets that connect the characters and their fate is what keeps the audience coming back with each installment. Even when the narrative begins to become comprehensible, Dark Will throw a twist that is impossible to see coming.

8

The Sinner (2017–2021)

With each installment of The Sinner, the audience is closer to understanding the detective at the heart of the series

The killer is never what the audience expects The sinnerAnd even when it seems that a case is cut and dry, there is always a hidden conspiracy behind every corner. By using a semi-anthology format, The series follows the same detective on different cases that all leave him feeling empty and insecure By the season’s end. While The sinner Telling many tragic and difficult stories, they are all beautifully crafted, staying one step ahead of the viewer until the end.

Despite being originally intended as a miniseries, The sinner has clear potential to become a multi-season series, With Bill Pullman anchoring each installment as Detective Harry Ambrose. It quickly justified its continued run in season 2, as the story became more personal for Ambrose as he returned to his hometown and discovered the truth of what was going on beneath the city’s veneer. Even if the audience knows that Ambrose will crack the case, it does not mean that The sinner Will provide a happy ending.

7

Sharp Objects (2018)

Amy Adams is at her best in this devastating psychological drama

It’s always incredible to witness an actor give a career-defining performance, which happened with Amy Adams playing Camille Preaker in sharp objects. Based on Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, sharp objects Is A compelling psychological thriller that sees Camille grapple with her town’s history and her family’s legacy How young girls start going missing for the second time in recent memory. Although she has spent most of her life running from this place, Camille is forced to return and reckon with her past.

The shocking conclusion of sharp objects cementing the series as one that will never be forgotten, As even the intelligent Camille could not have predicted the three. As a journalist, Camille joins forces with out-of-town detective Richard (Chris Messina), who pushes her to heal her wounds while trying to uncover who’s behind the gruesome killings. The idyllic and rural setting of the city sharply juxtaposes the terrible events, making sharp objects A classic Southern Gothic tale.

6

Severance (2022 – present)

For every piece of information that Severance reveals, a new mystery rears its head

Waiting for severance The 2nd season was difficult, but it was even more anticipated after the universally praised first season. severance Starring Adam Scott as Mark, an employee at Lumon Industries who is conducting a severance operation, Which creates a mental divide between his life at work and his home life. Mark’s relationships with the other employees and their realization that Lumon is not what he seems are the main conflicts and mysteries of severance.

Part of the reason severance Work is because Each of the characters has two personalities who do not know anything about each other, which makes it impossible to share information And piece together where the mysterious intersect. Although there are satirical elements and sharp commentary on the capitalist working environment, there is more than corporate greed at work behind the scenes. severance. There is no question that severance Season 2 will ramp up the tension and draw the audience deeper into Lumon’s web.

5

Fargo (2014 – present)

The anthology series continues the themes and tone of the beloved Coen Brothers movie

Loosely based on the 1996 film of the same name by the Coen brothers, Each installment of Fargo Is set in the same universe but focuses on a new mystery or investigation. Intertwining the lives of the detectives, the criminals and the victims, Fargo Uses his offbeat and satirical tone to comment on the traps and pitfalls of the thriller genre. The last season of Fargo was a stunning return to form with Juno Temple, Jon Hamm and Lamorne Morris working together to create a spellbinding story.

The future of Fargo It remains uncertain, but after the success of season 5, there is hope that Fargo Season 6 may happen eventually. Every season of Fargo Touches on the concept of the term “Minnesota Nice”, which dictates that the inhabitants of the upper Midwest will behave with courtesy and decency, even when they are hiding something darker. This is exactly what happens to the characters in each season of Fargolike Their cheerful exteriors are a front for a complex web of danger and deception.

4

Yellowjackets (2021 – present)

The characters in Yellowjackets have buried the secrets of what happened to them too deep

From the moment it first premiered on Showtime, Yellowjackets Connected with audiences because of the way it updated the survival genre and gave it a supernatural twist. Although it is often compared with Lord of the Flies, Yellowjackets is different because It follows the young women in the immediate aftermath of their plane crash in the desert, as well as the lives of the survivors in the present. However, although the audience is now familiar with the women’s lives, they keep their secrets about the past very close.

like Yellowjackets Season 3 is closer, There are still many mysteries that have yet to be unraveled, Namely the answer to who gets killed in the Yellowjackets Opening scene of season 1. There have been hints about what the girls will resort to in the forest and the hidden malicious power hidden in the forest, but nothing concrete is known yet. Whether the supernatural force is real and controlling their fate or if the women respond to this terrible, life-changing event, the only way they know how remains to be seen.

3

Homecoming (2018–2020)

Memory becomes unreliable in this twisting tale of deception and exploitation

Julia Roberts stars in Come home Season 1, with Janelle Monáe taking over as the lead in Season 2. The unsettling series touches on the mercurial nature of memory As both protagonists struggle to remember who they are or some of the most significant events of their lives. Told through two parallel timelines, Come home Follows the events that unfold in a facility for recently returned veterans and a present investigation into the true purpose behind the center.

Although Come home Season 2 didn’t quite meet the expectations of season 1, it’s still worth watching For the performances and innovative continuation of the story. Although it incorporates some light sci-fi elements, Come home is deeply connected with the current political discussions. The conversations touch on how the government often fails veterans after they return from serving their country. This makes it more insidious as the audience slowly pieces together what the Homecoming facility is trying to do.

2

True Detective (2014 – Present)

While each season of True Detective has something to offer, season 1 is by far the best

The anthology thriller series true detective Arguably peaked with his first season, But there is still much to recommend the following installments, especially seasons 3 and 4, Night country. However, most of true detectiveThe best episodes in the four seasons are from Season 1, as it is the tightest and most compelling story of the series. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey star as the two lead detectives in season 1, who are the perfect foils to each other, resulting in an ideal investigative partnership.

Bouncing back and forth between the past and present, true detective Season 1 revolves around a cold case that becomes more terrifying and unbelievable with each episode. Each season tackles a difficult case that spans a long time, Allowing the characters to revisit locations and clues they may have overlooked in the past. The last episode and chase scene in true detective Season 1 is one of the most terrifying and nail-biting moments of television of the 21st century.

1

Mare Of Easttown (2021)

Kate Winslet is at her best as the tough and tortured mare

Mare is one of the best roles of Kate Winslet’s career, and the actress brings the complex figure to life with ease throughout the seven episodes of the series. More from Easttown was an immediate hit with critics and audiences who watched the HBO miniseries, and it’s no wonder considering how effectively the story unfolds before the viewer’s eyes. There are many unexpected twists in it More from EasttownAnd even when it seems that the case is wrapped up, One last twist of the knife makes the story even more tragic.

However, although there is a lot of darkness and tragedy in More from EasttownThere are glimmers of hope for Mare and her family that are just as important to the story as the mystery. Mare has a hard time setting up boundaries between her work and her home life, and She fights against the expectations and familiarity of the city she has lived in all her life. Although Winslet leads the project, each actor fleshes out the world and makes Easttown feel all too real and lived in.