Initially running for 3 seasons, anthology crime drama True Detective is on its way with a new season, set to release in 2024, featuring Jodie Foster and Kali Reis as lead detectives. Shows like True Detective reveal a stiflingly gloomy and misanthropic world. This show, as you know, follows a pair of detectives, namely Rustin Cohle (Matthew McConaughey) and Martin Hart (Woody Harrelson). The story was written by the novelist and screenwriter Nic Pizzolatto, and the first 8 episodes were directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, who also served as an executive producer on the show.
The series garnered 5 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including outstanding drama series and Outstanding Director for Fukunaga. In the series, as you know, the detectives pursue a serial killer in Louisiana with links to occult crimes spanning over 17 years. The performances by McConaughey and Harrelson were particularly outstanding, showcasing their remarkable acting prowess. True Detective is not just about a typical fashionable pair of detectives solving crimes through the streets of London but about two broken, degenerate individuals struggling to resist the corrupt world around them.
Our selection of 10 recommended shows aims to fulfill various cravings – whether it’s the urge to fill the void left by True Detective, find characters and situations you can relate to, or simply immerse yourself in another meticulously crafted narrative that leaves you craving for more.
List of TV Shows Like True Detective
- The Wire (2002)
- Fargo (2014-2023)
- Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
- Hannibal (2013-2015)
- The Sinner (2017-2021)
- Broadchurch (2013-2017)
- Sharp Objects (2011)
- Homecoming (2018-)
- The Fall (2013-2016)
- Under The Banner Of Heaven (2022)
1. The Wire (2002)
The crime drama series The Wire explores the streets of Biltmore as a microcosm of the US’s war on drugs and consequential urban decay. The story follows a bunch of Policemen, Drugs dealers, and influential people with deep ties in the world of politics, media, and the underground.
Popular as it may be, The Wire is a slightly humbler version of True Detective. The human complexities and realistic social commentary on the institutions are marked by the finest writing. From exceptional performances by Michael K Williams, Lance Reddick, and Dominic West, The Wire is a masterclass in hard-boiled fiction with 5 binge-worthy seasons.
2. Fargo (2014-2023)
Fargo show is inspired by the 1996 movie of the same title, which by itself was inspired by real-life events where an ordinary salesman, out of desperation for money, formulates a plan where 2 thug men have to abduct his wife so that he can create a situation of kidnapping and force his rich father-in-law to pay a ransom. The plan falls apart quickly with a series of mishaps and rogue actions like the thugs shooting a state trooper take place.
The crime Fargo premiered in the same year as True Detective and shared many similarities: both the shows are ‘anthologies’ that revolve around eerie, noir crime stories featuring Oscar-winning southerner- Billy Bob Thornton is the lead antagonist of the show. The show received various Primetime Emmy nominations for its storytelling and skillful cast of actors like Martin Freeman, Chris Rock, and Kirsten Dunst. The themes of deception, intrigue, and incredible dark humour in the cold-blooded murder in the frozen town of Minnesota bring out a cynical, unsettling, yet amusing side of humanity in Fargo.
3. Twins Peaks (1990-1991)
David Lynch, the well-known director of weird and captivating films such as Eraserhead and Blue Velvet, created an iconic show called Twin Peaks. It is a hauntingly eccentric show about the investigation of the mysterious murder of a small-town homecoming queen named Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), the investigation is led by the protagonist of the show, FBI Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan). Believe me, as odd as the show may seem at first, you will grow to love it, after all, it is considered to be one of the best mystery shows ever created.
Much like True Detective, Twin Peaks delves deep into the investigators’ own motivations and pasts and the way they influence their ongoing cases. From the mysteries, and the supernatural elements to the list of bizarre characters, Twin Peaks has it all. In my opinion, the show’s cinematography was truly ahead of its time. Twin Peaks’ experimental formula of the satirical soap opera is extremely unsettling yet rewarding to watch. I must warn you, it’s not for the faint-hearted!
Already seen it? Also Read: Shows like Twin Peaks
4. Hannibal (2013-2015)
The psychological horror series Hannibal is based on Thomas Harris’ novels Red Dragon, Hannibal and Hannibal Rising and the second show in this list (like Bates Motel) to have a classic film as its inspiration. The iconic character of Dr Hannibal Lector (Mads Mikkelsen)in the Hannibal series has more in common with Harris’ books than The Silence of Lambs, but many elements of the movie have inspired the show.
Dr Hannibal Lector is a former psychiatrist turned serial killer and probably the most horrifyingly intriguing fictional character ever written. Running for 3 seasons, this thrilling American series does not shy away from gory imagery and it’s these extremely powerful visuals that really make it stand out. The series is a bit darker than True Detective but similar use of symbolism like deer antlers and their bizarre imagery makes Hannibal a perfect pick for you.
5. The Sinner (2017-2021)
The Sinner is an anthological series that was inspired by Petra Hammeshfahr’s German novel. This investigative show follows Det. Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) as he works on a different murder each season. He is exposed to odd crimes committed by unlikely culprits, which often leads him to question morality and the motives of the criminals.
The show stays consistent with great storylines, and every season highlights an element of psyche in relationships between family, friends, or lovers which leads to the murder. Season 1’s performance by Jessica Biel as Cora Tannetti won her an Emmys for Outstanding Lead Actress In A Limited Series Or Movie.
The Sinner has an immersive and obsessive tone that gives the audience a chance to look at the criminal state of mind in a more dynamic way. The Sinner, similar to True Detective, touches upon themes of philosophical pessimism and Christianity but in a much darker sense than one can imagine.
6. Broadchurch (2013-2017)
Broadchurch is a suspenseful murder mystery show created by Chris Chibnall with a talented cast, and it first aired in 2013. This British show begins with the discovery of the body of an 11-year-old boy called Danny in the small fictional town of Broadchurch on the coast of Dorset, England. The story focuses on Detective Inspector Alec Hardy, played by David Tennant, and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller, played by Olivia Colman. Winner of Bafta TV Award forBest Drama Series, Broadchurch was adapted to American show Gracepoint, where David Tennant played the American version of the same character.
The show puts into light how we often think everything with people is okay from afar, but when we look closer dark secrets unravel. Broadchurch portrays new colours of grief, and internal and outward struggles not only through the acting performances but from places one least expects. The show has beautiful atmospheric locations, and the soundtrack feels like a haunting ballad. For brooding yet scenic crime dramas, Broadchurch is a must-watch.
Already seen it? Also Read: Shows like Broadchurch.
7. Sharp Objects (2011)
Based on the 2006 debut novel by Gillian Flynn, Sharp Objects is a brilliant psychological mini series that centres around a crime reporter Camille Preaker played by Amy Adams (who also served as the producer of the show). Camille faces trauma at a young age that drives her out of her hometown, but years later, after being away from the town and its trauma, she is forced to return to investigate a crime.
Now back in the town, she reunites with her strange and uptight mother and her younger sister, making her confront her own demons. The twists of the show are shocking, to say the least. Patricia Clarkson, who played Camille’s mother received a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. Sharp Objects will remind you of the suffocation and intoxicating feeling of intrigue. This series has a similar tonality to True Detective which is dark and pulpy, where the role of isolation of a small town plays a big role in the young kid’s murder.
8. Homecoming (2018-)
The highly acclaimed Hollywood actress Julia Roberts’ psychological drama series Homecoming is based on the Gimlet Media podcast of the same name. The series follows Heidi (Julia) years after working at a facility helping soldiers transition to civil life. This facility helps veterans not only manage their PTSD but actually claims to be able to cure it. Due to Julia Roberts’s exit from the show, the second series focuses on Jackie/Alex (Janelle Monae) and her quest as someone who wakes up on a boat without her memory in a Memento-like mystery.
In recent years, podcast adaptations have become popular, but this one is one of the best of the lot. Homecoming is a well-developed, superbly written show where, similar to True Detective, there is more to the story than meets the eye, the mystery is built both in the present and the future. This series is so engaging that it’s easily on top of my recommendations for a series like True Detective.
9. The Fall (2013-2016)
Amongst the shows on this list, the thriller series The Fall is perhaps the least similar to True Detective. However, the exceptional factor lies in Gillian Anderson’s brilliant portrayal of Detective Stella Gibson, compensating for the dissimilarity. This Bafta nominated series follows Stella fighting her own demons as she tries to catch a serial killer Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan).
With the highest TV viewer ratings at the time of its airing, The Fall’s storytelling is intensely gripping. The characters are so perplexing that you might find yourself developing complicated feelings for the serial killer and maybe even half-rooting him. If you’re a True Detective fan and don’t know what to watch in your free time, give The Fall a try.
10. Under The Banner Of Heaven (2022)
The American Crime Drama Under the Banner of Heaven is a limited series inspired by the bestselling book by Jon Krakauer that follows the real-life murder of Brenda Wright Lafferty (Played by Daisy Edgar-Jones ) and her baby girl in their suburb in Salt Lake Valley, in an investigation led by Detective Jeb Pyre (Andrew Garfield). Lafferty’s are a part of the Latter-Day Saints (LDS) community, also called Mormonism.
The story of this mini series isn’t a word-to-word to the real events since it features Andrew as the central fictional detective who investigates the double homicide. Dustin Lance Black created the brilliant, thrilling, and menacing details of the story to feel like a cross between True Detective and the movie American Beauty. Under the Banner of Heaven shares the focus True Detective has on the deeply-rooted darkness that exists under the nature of humanity.
Honourable Mentions
Here are a few shows that didn’t make the list, but you can check them out nonetheless:
- Mindhunter
- Top of The Lake
- The Americans
