12 Shows Like White Collar For Fans Of Stylish Crime Dramas

We all miss the incredible drama White Collar, the show ended on a high with season 6, and everyone has been waiting for a revival ever since. If you miss this excellent, creative, heartwarming show, then check out our curated list of shows like White Collar that you are sure to love. Aside from Matt Bomer’s undeniable charm, White Collar became known for its crime drama following the likeable duo of an FBI agent Peter Burke and his Criminal Consultant, Neal Caffrey. White Collar had a Sherlock-like thrill, infectious classiness, sarcasm, humour and heartwarming love, which makes it highly memorable. The makers (Travis Romero and Jeff Eastin) and the cast have spoken about a reunion in recent years.

List of TV Shows Like White Collar

Suits
Castle
Sherlock
Bones
Lie To Me
The Mentalist
Leverage
The Monk
Criminal Minds
House
Psych
The Blacklist

1. Suits (2011)

Perhaps the most well-suited (pun intended) for shows like White Collar is the Crime-legal drama Suits. While the show is not about the FBI, it has a very similar feel to White Collar. Both the shows rely on the budding relationship between unconventional partners- the genius con man turned consultant ( in the case of Suits, Mike is hired as an associate without a Law Degree by Harvey Specter, a respected lawyer.

You will also find that Suits has a similar brand of witty humour and intellectual writing, the charm of New York, as well as a cast of fascinating characters, Harvey reminds me so much of Neal’s charm! Suits is just as classy and thrilling. If you enjoy shows likeWhite Collar because of its well-developed characters and their relationships, Suits is a must-watch.

2. Castle (2009)

In the detective show Castle, Nathan Filion plays the famous mystery novelist Richard Castle. Castle is bored and going through writer’s block, out of boredom he decides to kill off his main character. When a person kills someone in real life using Castle’s novel tactics, he is called into the NY Police department. Here meets detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) and is inspired by her to write another story and ends up shadowing her at work.

Castle and Kate’s relationship is of the typical odd couple being forced to work together. Castle is a goofy man-child who truly loves his family while Kate is a serious and dedicated and strong detective. All the characters, including the supporting characters, are well-rounded. The show has been widely liked by viewers of all generations. If you enjoy watching shows like White Collar and want to see a playful series that is similar, Castle is the right pick for you.

3. Sherlock (BBC)

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.

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. Stories of Sherlock Holmes inspire every genius character in some way or another and The Mentalist is no exception. So, if you are in search of TV shows like White Collar, Sherlock is an unmissable watch.

4. Bones (2005)

Bones is a crime procedural drama created by Hart Hanson with a forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology investigation. Bones is loosely based on the life and writings of Kathy Reichs, who also produced the show. The show ran a long course of 12 seasons before it was eventually cancelled.

Bones follows the pairing of a doctor and an FBI agent, Dr Temperance ‘Bones’ Brennan and FBI Agent Seeley Booth in an unusual approach to examining the remains of the victims for investigating the murder. The main characters have great chemistry and the show has a good balance of gravitas and humour. Bones has been a comfort watch for many viewers. If you are searching for TV shows similar to White Collar that you can watch for a long time, Bones will be a great choice.

5. Lie to Me (2011)

Created by Sam Baum, Lie to Me is crime drama television series loosely based on Dr Paul Ekman and his research on human emotions, lie detection and micro-expressions. Tim Rothe plays the central character Cal Lightman, the world’s leading deception expert. To solve crimes and expose the truth, he uses his studies of facial expressions and involuntary body language.

At the beginning of the show, Lightman’s team’s new associate, Ria Torres is labelled ‘natural’ at deception detection. Her innate talent does not sit well with Cal’s academic approach and so Cal often tries to show off while she proves a worthy opponent to his challenges. Even though the show only lasts 3 seasons before getting cancelled, it’s quite engaging to watch. If you want to see TV series like White Collar, Lie to Me is a perfect option for you.

6. The Mentalist (2008)

The Mentalist follows a ‘psychic’ turned detective Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) with extraordinary skills of observation (just as cocky as Neal Caffrey, maybe more so!). He works as a consultant with the Bureau of Investigation in California to solve crimes. Similar to White Collar, the main character has great chemistry with his boss, Teresa Lisbon, a Senior agent and leader of ‘Serious Crimes Unit’.

The main character, like Castle, is a cocky yet likeable man, absolutely full of himself. Simon Baker brilliantly brings out the spiritual and physical struggles of the character. The Mentalist is funny, charming, thought-provoking and absolutely entertaining to watch. If you wish to watch TV shows like White Collar, then you should probably watch this one.

Also Read: Shows like Person of Interest

7. Leverage (2008)

Leverage is another action crime drama show on this list and it was created by John Rogers and Chris Downey, but this time with criminals as the protagonists in the show. The story follows Nate Ford who was a former insurance investigator known for catching the most dangerous and exclusive thieves in the world. The insurance company refuses to help Nate with financial aid when his son is dying. Losing faith in the system, Nate accepts to work with a set of individually skilled thieves.

The show, Leverage depicts well-written main characters. Nate and the rest of the team carry out heists to steal from the wealthy and corrupt institutions by taking the law into their hands. If you want to watch series like White Collar packed with intrigue, humour and action, Leverage is the show for you.

8. Monk (2002)

The series Monk is a 2002 police procedural show created by Andy Breckman. Adrian Monk is the title character and is played by Tony Shalhoub. A former San Francisco police detective, Monk has a nervous breakdown when he loses his wife in a murder that goes unsolved. He develops an extreme case of OCD which makes it impossible for him to function in society normally and requires constant assistance.

Possessing sharp skills in investigation, Monk is often called by his former colleagues to help solve difficult cases. The show held the record of being the most-watched episode of a scripted drama show in cable television history from 2009 to 2012. Monk also received many awards and high critical acclaim including the 8 Emmys and 1 Golden Globe. If you want to watch shows similar to White Collar, you are sure to enjoy Monk.

9. 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 ‘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 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 similar to White Collar then Criminal Minds will surely be worthy of a watch.

10. House (2004)

Also known as House. M.D., this is an American medical drama TV series created by David Shore and aired in 2004. Talented Hugh Laurie plays the titular protagonist Gregory House, an antisocial and unconventional medical genius. He leads a team of diagnosticians at the Head of Diagnostic Medicine in the fictional Princeton Plainsboro Hospital in New Jersey.

Dr House believes every question has a logical answer, he is a narcissistic, vicodin-addicted crippled man walking around with a cane yet viewers find him to be likeable. Hugh Laurie’s charisma and excellent comedic timing make House irresistible. House’s characteristics and relationship dynamic with Dr Wilson will remind you of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson. The show’s writing is one of the best in the medical drama genre. If you want to watch shows like White Collar with a man’s deductive and humorously charming intellect, House is one of the best shows you can watch.

11. Psych (2006)

Psych is a detective comedy-drama series where the central character Shawn Spencer played by James Roday is a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department. Shawn has an eidetic memory, he also learns a lot about detailed observation from his father, former detective Henry. Often called a ‘Psych’, Shawn formerly insists that there’s no such thing but after police are suspicious about his involvement in a crime he solves, he tells everyone that he is indeed a Psychic.

The show Psych has been praised for its comedic-juvenile style of script writing, the dialogues are spontaneous and brilliant. A highly underrated show, Psych ran for 8 seasons and has 3 movies with consistent quality acting performances and humour. So, if you are looking for TV shows like White Collar, Psych is the perfect choice for you.

12. The Blacklist (2013)

The Blacklist is an American crime thriller series following a wanted fugitive called ‘Red’ who mysteriously surrenders himself to the FBI and offers to help catch criminals. The Blacklist is regarded as one of the best shows on television by critics and viewers alike.

The action-packed twisted thriller of The Blacklist and a quirky sense of humour make this show great for shows like White Collar. The characterization and the storyline in this show are incredibly well-developed, and it is sure to become one of your favourites.