10 Uncomplicated Crime TV Shows That Keep It Simple

There has been a trend in crime shows to become more complex recently, but sometimes simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. Ever since the rise of shows like true detective, Crime TV has shifted away from the old cable formula of easily digestible shows that follow a reliable formula. While the new “prestige” dramas are brilliant in their own ways, many fans find themselves looking for a simpler approach.

Crime procedurals and crime comedies tend to be the richest sources of these types of shows. When a show has over 20 episodes per season, rather than the 10 or fewer that are becoming more common, it helps to have a reliable framework. While this can make the show a bit more predictable, that predictability isn’t necessarily a bad thing. There is a huge audience of people who want to watch their favorite TV detective solve a new case every week.

10

Monk

Tony Shalhoub stars as a detective with OCD

Monk Could be the ultimate domestic crime showHow it combines some really perplexing mysteries with some great comedy writing. Tony Shalhoub stars as Adrian Monk, a former San Francisco detective now working as a consultant after suffering a nervous breakdown following the death of his wife. Each week brings a new case for Monk to solve, all while managing his many tics and phobias with the help of his assistant.

The only long-running story in Monk What takes more than a couple of episodes is Monk’s quest to find his wife’s killer. Most of the best episodes of Monk Can be enjoyed without any context. Monk Has a reliable formula, but there are plenty of episodes that shake things up and push Monk even further out of his comfort zone than he usually is. Shahub’s charming comedic performance keeps things light even when his character is going through a gruesome crime scene.

9

Sherlock

The BBC’s 21st century update of Sherlock Holmes ticks all the right boxes

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Sherlock Holmes Stories were mostly published in newspapers and magazines. Over a century later, the BBC’s modernized adaptation was able to recapture the same sense of riotously entertaining criminal intrigue. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman add their names to the long list of British actors who have played Holmes and Watson over the years, and they are both among the best.

Sherlock Makes a few key changes to Doyle’s workMost of which are simply to transplant the stories into a modern context. more important, Sherlock Manages to retain the essence of the characters and the addictive nature of the puzzles. Most of the episodes draw from a separate story, making the show especially rewarding for fans of the books. Since the end of the show, there have been persistent rumors of Sherlock Season 5 brings Cumberbatch and Freeman back for more.

8

Elementary

The American Sherlock Holmes series reinvents the iconic detective

Elementary Premiere just two years later sherlock, And it initially faced a lot of criticism for seemingly being derivative of the BBC show. soon, Elementary managed to make its mark as a unique show. Rather than just copying Sherlock And put it on New York City, Elementary Works by mixing the sensationalist crime mysteries of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s work with the format of an American television procedural.

Elementary Chops and changes a lot of these Sherlock Holmes Stories Beyond the time and place. Both Watson and Moriarty’s characters are gender-swapped, and most of the cases are original stories. however, Elementary retain the appeal of Sherlock HolmesAnd adds to the buzzword nature of episodic American crime dramas. Johnny Lee Miller’s Sherlock is still a misanthropic drug addict with a genius-level IQ, just like his literary counterpart.

7

Bosch

Bosch is an interesting mixture of procedural drama and episodic storytelling. While each season sees detective Harry Bosch saddled with a new important case, there is enough of a reliable structure for each episode that they each deliver something satisfying. This formula gave the show many new avenues to explore as it developed, and the spinoff, Bosch: Legacy Keep the same pattern.

Bosch And Bosch: Legacy There are gritty dramas that avoid the typical trappings of crime TV. While other shows present new cases to be solved every week, Bosch Shows the immense effort of a single murder investigation, and the enduring toll it takes on the detectives. Bosch Nor has any interest in presenting a fantasy of law enforcement, and many of the storylines delve into institutional corruption and incompetence. Despite the difficult topics, Bosch remains an easy watch.

6

Psychic

Psychic remains as popular as ever

Psychic Take a simple guess and run with it. James Roday plays Sean Spencer, a crime consultant who uses his impressive memory and logical reasoning skills to pose as a psychic during investigations. The fact that he can pass off his information as magical that came to him from another realm means that he can pursue investigative methods that are less than legal.

Sean is escorted over Psychic By his best friend and reluctant colleague Gus. Their push-and-pull dynamic is the key to keeping the show fresh, because their friendship is genuine. There are some overarching storylines, such as Sean’s difficult relationship with his father, however Psychic Usually presents a new intriguing case every week. Although the series finale aired in 2014, a series of Psychic Movies have kept it alive.

5

The mentalist

The Mentalist’s odd premise doesn’t mean it can’t get serious

In some ways, The mentalist Seems eerily similar to Psychic, With a false psychic working as a police consultant. The main superficial difference is that Patrick Jane is an ex-con who has revealed his methods so that he can help the police. This makes it a kind of reverse-psychological, But there are many more differences beyond the premise. For starters, the show has two completely different approaches to comedy.

The main motivation for The mentalistPatrick Jane’s is his search for the elusive serial killer who murdered his wife. “Red John” stops every now and then, however The mentalist Also has a lot of space for lighter, less personal cases from week-to-week. While other shows try to maintain a consistent tone from episode to episode, The mentalist Can be both hilarious and emotionally devastating at times.

4

Bones

Bones is a procedural like no other

Bones Puts an interesting spin on the tried-and-tested formula of American crime procedurals. Rather than following the lives of detectives, Bones is about the work of an FBI agent and a forensic anthropologist. The field of forensic anthropology is not one that has been explored on television before bones, But it turns out to be perfectly suited to the format. Bones Has the opportunity to explore different types of cases to other shows.

Although Bones Uses a lot of detailed scientific explanations in his room, some realistic and some pure fantasy, the bulk of the drama is carried by more relatable police work. At the center of it all is the sizzling chemistry between David Boreanaz’s fiery FBI agent and Emily Deschanel’s cool-headed scientist. They are the classic opposites-attract couple, and this is reflected in both their work relationship and their personal dynamic.

3

Only murders in this building

The simplest type of serial

Only killing in the building is one of the most popular crime shows currently on televisionAnd part of its appeal can be contributed to the way it keeps things relatively simple. At a time when crime shows are becoming harder and more complicated to reflect real-life cases, Only murders in this building is a warning to a different style. What sets it apart from other serialized crime shows like Fargo And true detective Is her bright tone.

Only murders in this building Follow three loving sleuths as they unravel a new mystery each season. Although the serialized structure means that the episodes should be watched in order, there are many recaps as the characters go over the facts and look at them from different angles. Only murders in this building Season 4 adds a new raft of comedic talent to the cast, including Eva Longoria, Kumail Nanjiani and Melissa McCarthy.

2

Rizzoli & Isles

Female-centric crime shows are a rarity

There’s no shortage of crime procedurals and other detective dramas with male leads, either Rizzoli and Islands Give a fresh alternative. The show follows a Boston detective working closely with a medical examiner who happens to be her best friend. Their constant back-and-forth is central to the humor of Rizzoli and Islands, But their contentious, battering dynamic also teases up some of the show’s most emotional moments.

Like many similar crime shows, Rizzoli and Islands Has one main villain operating in the shadows that the show occasionally returns to. In this case, it is the sadistic serial killer who previously abducted Jane Rizzoli and has made it his mission to kill her. Rizzoli and Islands Adds in a lot of detail about the personal lives of the charactersAnd the show often spends time away from crime scenes and police stations.

1

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

One of television’s greatest procedurals is endlessly rewatchable

Most crime procedurals keep things simple. The easiest way to clear many episodes is to stick to a formula that can accommodate a new case each week. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit May be the best procedural drama on TV, and a rare example of a spinoff that surpasses the original show it’s based on. SVU was an immediate hit, and has been on the air since 1999.

SVU Has had many memorable guest stars over the yearsIncluding actors about to explode like Adam Driver and surprising celebrity cameos like Serena Williams. These appearances inject some novelty into the show, however SVU Never let any of his gimmicks overshadow the intense drama. Many of these cases are ripped from the headlines, and the real-world context makes them even more chilling.