7 Crime Shows Where Every Episode Is a Masterpiece

HBO's The Sopranos, ITV's Broadchurch, and FX's Mr Inbetween are among the rare class of crime TV shows where every episode is a masterpiece.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:34am

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Crime shows have always been one of television's safest bets, but they're also the easiest to get wrong. Most crime series start strong and slowly lose their grip because they rely a bit too much on filler episodes and constant twists that feel more formulaic than actually relevant. The minute a crime show loses the audience's attention, it has already failed. Now, this attention isn't sustained with an onslaught of intense moments, but through careful buildup where every little action has a purpose. Here is a list of the crime shows that have mastered that art and understand the importance of making each episode count.

Why it matters

These crime shows stand out from the pack by maintaining a consistently high level of quality and storytelling throughout their entire runs, rather than succumbing to the pitfalls that often plague the genre. They demonstrate that crime TV can be elevated to an art form when the creators have a clear vision and are willing to take risks.

The details

The list includes HBO's groundbreaking drama The Wire, which explored the systemic dysfunction of Baltimore's institutions; The Sopranos, another HBO classic that provided a nuanced look at the personal life of a New Jersey mob boss; the miniseries The Night Of, which took an unflinching look at the criminal justice system; the British series Broadchurch, a slow-burn murder mystery that examined the fragility of a small town; and the FX series Mr Inbetween, a darkly comedic character study of a suburban hitman. Each of these shows crafted intricate, multilayered narratives that demanded the audience's full attention, refusing to rely on cheap thrills or predictable formulas.

  • The Wire aired on HBO from 2002 to 2008.
  • The Sopranos aired on HBO from 1999 to 2007.
  • The Night Of aired as a limited series on HBO in 2016.
  • Broadchurch aired on ITV from 2013 to 2017.
  • Mr Inbetween aired on FX from 2018 to 2021.

The players

David Simon

The creator of The Wire, a groundbreaking drama series that explored the systemic dysfunction of Baltimore's institutions.

David Chase

The creator of The Sopranos, an HBO classic that provided a nuanced look at the personal life of a New Jersey mob boss.

Riz Ahmed

The lead actor in The Night Of, a miniseries that took an unflinching look at the criminal justice system.

Olivia Colman

The lead actress in Broadchurch, a British series that was a slow-burn murder mystery examining the fragility of a small town.

Scott Ryan

The lead actor and creator of Mr Inbetween, a darkly comedic FX series that was a character study of a suburban hitman.

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What they’re saying

“The Wire has set a bar that's impossible to reach for most crime shows. The groundbreaking drama series, created by David Simon, is set in Baltimore and opens with a police investigation into the city's drug trade.”

— Safwan Azeem, Author

“The Sopranos weaves all of its storylines together to explore the wider ecosystem of organized crime in New Jersey. The show is one of the most realistic-feeling portrayals of crime and power ever put to screen.”

— Safwan Azeem, Author

“Broadchurch isn't a loud show with endless twists. Instead, the narrative unfolds through the smallest of details, including shifting alibis, fractured relationships, and a sense of paranoia that slowly takes over the entire community.”

— Safwan Azeem, Author

The takeaway

These crime shows demonstrate that the genre can be elevated to an art form when creators have a clear vision, are willing to take risks, and prioritize building intricate, multilayered narratives that demand the audience's full attention. Rather than relying on cheap thrills or predictable formulas, these series have set a new standard for what crime television can achieve.