10 Shows Like The Blacklist For Fans Of Esponiage Thrillers

The Blacklist follows a wanted fugitive called ‘Red’ who mysteriously surrenders himself to the FBI and offers to help catch criminals. James’ performance is the predominant reason why The Blacklist is regarded as one of the best shows on television by critics and viewers alike. If you miss watching this series, we have put together a list of shows like The Blacklist that will make great substitutes.

List of TV Shows Like The Blacklist

The Blacklist: Redemption
Blindspot
Homeland
White Collar
Person of Interest
Hannibal
Criminal Minds
Sherlock
Jack Ryan
Killing Eve

1. The Blacklist: Redemption (2017)

After watching The Blacklist, if you wondered what happened to Tom Keen, then you should definitely watch The Blacklist: Redemption. The spin-off show explores the secrecy around Tom’s parents. Many familiar faces like Famke Janssen as Susan Scott Hargrave and Matius (not as a villain but on the good side) return.

Tom, a secret agent, teams up with Susan, the leader of a mercenary organisation, to deal with severe criminal cases that the government is not able to solve (all while he tries to uncover his past). Tom finds himself in a loop of a situation where he is challenged with deciding whom he can trust. The show only lasted 1 season but will provide you with some closure. If you are looking for shows like The Blacklist, then The Blacklist: Redemption should be at the top of your list.

2. Blindspot (2015)

Blindspot is a crime drama tv series about a mysterious, heavily tattooed woman with no memory of her past or identity. The show lets in a bit of suspension of disbelief. Still, it is a humourous, entertaining and action-packed thriller great for a weekend watch.

The cast is quite likeable, and the crisp story has a delivery, Blindspot is sure to compel you to stick around as soon as you finish the first episode. It is that engaging! Filled with action, mystery and twists, Blindspot is an excellent match to TV shows like The Blacklist.

3. Homeland (2011)

Homeland succeeds as both a compelling thriller and an engaging character drama. This is a compellingly tragic end-stop in the life of a shrewdly plotted, breathlessly entertaining and occasionally remarkable series.

As a fan of the show, I must appreciate the high emotional intelligence the fictional characters and the creators of this show hold. This one had me hooked through all 8 seasons. Not only is it packed with great actors, but it also has great writing that makes the characters very believable and compelling. If you are searching for shows similar toThe Blacklist, Homeland should be the right choice for you.

4. White Collar (2009)

White Collar is a Police Procedural Drama that centres on a former con artist and criminal, Neal Caffrey (Matt Bomer). Neal works as a criminal consultant with the Law Enforcement agency FBI under Special agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). At the beginning of the show, Peter Burke catches Neal Caffery for the second time and cuts him a deal to work with them till the end of his sentence and avoid being in prison. Neal, in the meantime, is finding answers to why the love of his life, Kate, leaves him and disappears.

Here’s a clip from White Collar:

Talented and undeniably gorgeous Matt Bomer’s performance as the sophisticated and highly skilled artist Neal Caffery is too good to miss. Just as, well, the performances by the rest of the cast are absolutely on point. The show ended on a high note with its 6th season. A 100% binge-worthy show has the protagonist you might be looking for. So I say, White Collar is a perfect match for you if you’re looking for shows like The Blacklist. Check out more shows like White Collar.

5. Person of Interest (2011)

Person of Interest is a Sci-fi crime drama that follows John Reese, a former special forces soldier and CIA operative. A bygone soldier, John is thought to be dead by everyone. He in fact, is alive and now a homeless man in New York. Harold Finch, a billionaire software genius, builds a computer called ‘the Machine’ that monitors all electronic media and communications to predict future terrorist activities. Harold approaches Reese to intercept the possible threats. Check out more shows like Person of Interest.

On the surface, Person of Interest seems like a standard procedural crime drama series, but it is in fact, a well-crafted action sci-fi that explores the concepts of AI vs human nature. The main characters of the show are phenomenal. If you want to explore more series like The Blacklist, then a show like Person of Interest is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat.

6. Hannibal (2013)

Hannibal series, based on Thomas Harris’ novels Red Dragon, Hannibal and Hannibal Rising, is an American psychological horror starring Mad Mikkelsen and Hugh Dancy in the challenging roles of Dr Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham, respectively. Not shying away from gory imagery, this show is often appreciated for its powerful visuals that leave the viewers thinking.

With elements that remind you of Silence of Lambs, the series showcases the complexities of human behaviour through murder, cannibalism and a twisted relationship with the FBI trainee. The charms and mysteries of the main characters leave one wanting to see more. It’s safe to say, that Hannibal will be a good reminder for the viewers of the crime world they experienced in series like The Blacklist.

7. Criminal Minds (2005)

The police procedural drama, Criminal Minds premiered in 2005 and was created by Jeff Davis. The show follows a group called the Behaviour Analyst Unit (BAU) of criminal profilers who work for the FBI to help solve crimes and find a suspect known as an ‘unknown subject’. The show manages to handle a large cast really well; every character gets the opportunity to shine. The dark and somewhat grim story of Criminal minds is very compelling.

Criminal Minds is action-packed and full of suspense. Having been on the air for a total of 15 seasons, the show has gathered a dedicated viewership. Much of the cast changes as the seasons progress, but the presence of the well-liked core cast keeps the viewers hooked. For a show running as long as Criminal Minds, writers managed to write new episodes with engaging plots almost every time. If you want to watch shows like The Blacklist then Criminal Minds will surely be worthy of a watch.

8. Sherlock (BBC) (2010)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes have been a detective fiction classic for decades. There have been innumerable adaptations of the stories since then, but none have quite gained popularity, like the 2010 modern-day re-imagining of Sherlock. The BBC Sherlock has had an extremely dedicated fan following, and rightly so. The show has an extremely talented cast of actors, Benedict Cumberbatch as Sherlock Holmes and, Martin Freeman as Dr John Watson, Andrew Scott as the iconic Professor Moriarty. Check out more shows like Sherlock.

Directed with a perfect mix of nostalgia to the time-appropriate re-imaging of classic lines like ‘The Game is on!’ makes the show go beyond perfection. Sherlock uses technology and forensic science with his brilliant skills of deduction, observation and logical reasoning. The show has raving reviews and highly dedicated fans. So, if you are in search of TV shows like The Blacklist, Sherlock is an unmissable watch.

9. Jack Ryan (2018)

Known as Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, this show is based on Tom Clancy’s popular ‘Ryanverse‘ fictional stories. Here, John Krasinski takes on the role of Jack Ryan- CIA’s up-and-coming analyst. Jack is given a dangerous field assignment where he goes after international terrorists hoping to save the world. As an underrated show on Amazon Prime, Jack Ryan is very engaging and well thought-out.

In the usual limited-style series, it is hard to develop a great antagonist, Jack Ryan does it perfectly, and the villain is terrifically dynamic. The performances and writing are amazing, but my favourite has to be the cinematography. The title sequence is so good that I never skip it! Jack Ryan is a masterfully directed show like The Blacklist; nothing about it feels dumbed down or censored. Overall a perfect action-spy thriller to binge on the weekend.

10. Killing Eve (2018)

Killing Eve is a dark comedy about an international assassin and an investigator in British intelligence. They both get the tip on each other (Eve is looking for Villanelle, and Villanelle is- well- not looking for her but “interested” in her). The show gets straight to the point, so it doesn’t allow you to lose track of the events.

In my opinion, Killing Eve is a wild ride of a spy thriller show. Jodie’s Villanelle is such a charismatic beast of a character, and even though she’s a chaotic psychopathic killer, you still want to watch her and empathize with her. Sandra’s Eve starts as an understated MI5 agent who gets drawn to Villanelle like a moth to a flame. Killing Eve is definitely worth a try if you are a fan of a series like The Blacklist.