British crime drama Trigger Point is explosive, literally, as it follows military veteran Lana Washington (Vicky McClure) as she takes her bomb disposal skills to the Metropolitan Police bomb squad. Washington finds herself trying to stop a terrorist threat leaving bombs and cryptic messages all over the city. Though the first season has ended, season 2 has officially been announced (via The Independent).
For the fans of crime dramas who cannot wait for the second season, there are numerous other shows to check out in the meantime. From action thrillers to slow-burning miniseries', these crime and police procedural shows are worth watching for viewers needing to solve mysteries and conspiracy theories.
Criminal
Criminal is a Netflix police procedural anthology series based in Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom. Each series has the exact same setting: the interrogation room, the viewing room, and the hallway outside. Each episode focuses on a different interrogation.
Criminal: United Kingdom features a notable cast including David Tennant, Kit Harington, Hayley Atwell, and Kunal Nayyar as suspects being interrogated. The concept of the series is unique, highlighting the differences in the legal systems in each individual country. Though there is no overarching story, the Criminal series is still an entertaining, interesting take on the genre.
Happy Valley
The British crime drama Happy Valley follows Police Sergeant Catherine Cawood (Sarah Lancashire) as her personal and professional lives collide after the man who raped her daughter is released from prison. The dark series will intrigue audiences from the very beginning. The storyline is well-developed and leaves no stone unturned with a kidnapping gone wrong.
The cast gives gripping performances that bring the characters to life with such emotion that the antagonists seem truly evil. The pacing is quick with very few slow or boring moments that might lose the viewer. Though season 2 came out in 2016, the third and final season will have a major time jump (per Bustle) when it is released in later 2022 or early 2023.
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
John Krasinski tackles the titular role in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, going from lowly CIA desk agent to operative uncovering the whereabouts of a terrorist and getting in the middle of political warfare in Venezuela. As one of the best in the Jack Ryan franchise, the series is intense and Krasinski makes a believable Jack Ryan, growing from nerd to action hero throughout the first two seasons.
While the series contains tons of action with explosions, fighting, and gunfighting, the premise is solving political crimes. Viewers do not need to have read the Tom Clancy books prior to watching. Fans of action thrillers will want to catch up before season 3 is released on Amazon Prime.
Awake
Though it only lasted for one season, Awake is an interesting twist on police procedural shows. Detective Michael Britten (Jason Isaacs) is living in two separate realities and has no idea which is real. He’s able to solve mysteries using clues from the other reality.
Both realities seem so real that it’s impossible for even the viewer to figure it out. The show is well-written and sets itself apart as not the average crime drama with the unique twist. Isaacs showcases his talent outside the Harry Potter series, bringing an intensity to the role as Britten tries to determine what is real.
Reacher
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Starring Alan Ritchson as the titular character, Reacher finds the Army veteran arrested for murder after arriving at a small Georgia town where he must clear his name and help the police solve an elaborate conspiracy. Though Reacher is quite different from the movies, Ritchson brings the character to life with charm and smarts.
The series is beautifully written with intense fight scenes that Reacher makes look too easy. The addition of his dry humor and desire to try the town’s legendary peach pie is a lighthearted touch to the serious storylines. With explosions, conspiracies, and mystery, Reacher has all the markings of a perfect crime thriller.
Line of Duty
Airing since 2012, Line of Duty is a British police procedural series that focuses more on corruption on a police force after Steven Arnott (Martin Compston) refuses to cover up a shooting by his team and is transferred to a new unit. Arnott develops through six seasons to truly gain the viewers’ trust as the characters are written to showcase both positive and negative traits.
The storylines are complex with plenty of surprising twists, but every loose end is addressed. Line of Duty proves that sometimes the worst criminals are on the police force pretending to protect others.
Mare of Easttown
Mare of Easttown is a crime drama starring Kate Winslet as a detective trying to solve a murder in a suburban town outside Philadelphia, PA while grappling with a previous unsolved murder. As one of the best limited TV series of all time, the characters are developed and feel like actual neighbors instead of a Hollywood set, making viewers forget it’s entirely fictional.
The characters and the town are explored in-depth, making the series more than a simple murder mystery. The plot is a slow burn compared to similar action-packed shows, and the burn pays off with unpredictable twists and so much material packed into a mere seven episodes.
Broadchurch
Starring David Tenant and Olivia Colman as detectives, Broadchurch finds a coastal English town unnerved by the death of a young boy and the subsequent events as the perpetrator is brought to justice. With three seasons wrapped up with a satisfying conclusion, the characters show immense development through the investigation, trial, and onward.
There are subplots intertwined throughout the main story that add to the mystery and clues that the audience won’t realize until it’s over. Though it tackles serious subjects like child abuse and rape, the script remains heavy instead of glazing over the events. Broadchurch is one series that viewers will be hooked on from the first episode.
Luther
Starring Idris Elba, British crime series Luther finds the titular character struggling to separate himself from his work as Detective Chief Inspector. The nail-biting series includes graphic violence and intelligent storylines that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats.
Luther is essentially what happens when a detective teams up with a criminal and explores the issues stemming from getting into the mind of a murderer. The series adds a psychological level to the drama as viewers observe Luther develop after a mental breakdown. It’s best to watch the series before the highly anticipated Netflix movie is released later this year.
The Terminal List
Though The Terminal List is more of a military action thriller than a crime drama, it focuses on a specific crime that Navy SEAL James Reece (Chris Pratt) is trying to solve: the murder of his family and who is covering up the deaths in his platoon.
There are twists to keep the audience guessing who the real enemy is and if Reece is just slowly losing his mind. The script is well-written with every character becoming a suspect. Mix in politics, explosions, gun fights, and the military with murder, and the show makes for an entertaining action-packed mystery.