I have a feeling that you could forsee that I was going to blog about this at some point. Since Si started studying his MBA in the evenings, it has been my ritual to head off to bed at about 8pm and binge watch crime dramas and crime documentaries. I have watched so many that I am nervous that any unexplained deaths in the local area are going to be pinned on this Netflix junkie over here.
Its not an easy game playing favourites with my stab, stab, kill, kill pastime so these are in no particular order. My top 5
Line Of Duty
Largely everything I watch has already been shown on TV which means I can watch episodes back to back over the course of a few nights. I am not the most patient person on the planet and this method suits me fine. Line Of Duty was one of the few programmes I watched week by week as it was aired on the TV. The plot twists at the end of each episode were so amazing that I felt uncomfortable the entire week waiting for the next episode. I feel saying I felt uncomfortable doesn’t clarify how I actually felt. I talked to Si and my friends about it all week in between episodes. Do you think Arnott is going to be ok? Can you believe they didn’t notice her bad arm? What the actual Jeff is going on?
If you don’t know then it’s a crime drama about a police anti corruption team. The main character is DSI Arnott. He’s no Brad Pitt (feel free to insert some other hunk here if Pitt is not the man for you) however I was defiantly emotionally involved in his safety by the end of season four. (One episode has a cliff hanger which leads you to believe he may have died. I was unbearable to live with for a week until I knew either way) There is a new season due out in 2019 and my life is on hold until that point. I know I said I wouldn’t play favourites but THIS IS MY FAVOURITE.
Season 1&2 are on Netflix
River
John River is the detective in this drama who is trying to solve a murder of a colleague. It has a Sixth Sense element to it as he talks to Stevie even though she is dead. If you were also a fan of Spooks you will recognise Stevie as she was Ruth in the MI5 drama. Although it’s not a nail biting or sitting on the edge of your seat drama, it was excellent in other ways. Having the added dimensions of a love story that you don’t often see in crime dramas. I really loved it and watched it over just two nights.
It is still available to watch on Netflix.
Luther
If you want a crime drama that has a bit more punch to it then Luther is the one. It will give you chills, make your heart go faster (That may be down to Idris Elba playing the main character) and each episode is a new case. Meaning you can dip in and out of watching it however you wish. There were so many OH MY JESUS CHRIST moments in everything single series that I couldn’t pick a favourite. Watch them all.
Did I mention Idris Elba is in it? That alone makes it the reason to give it a watch. I am about to start watching it again from series 1 since writing this.
Series 1-4 are on Netflix
Peaky Blinders
I don’t believe anyone reading this wouldn’t have already watched it. So I’m not going to tell you about Peaky Blinders. Just know that Cillian Murphy makes me question my marriage choices. (Alongside Anthony Middleton) Oh man, all the Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda’s when I think about those guys. Season 4 finished being filmed at the end of June so hopefully will be aired on BBC soon! As you were.
Season 1&2 are on Netflix
Broadchurch
It took me a little while to see what the fuss was about with Broadchurch. The accents were strong and the story line is a little slow. It is one of the dramas that you need to watch from the begining really to get an understanding of all the characters. However once you have committed to it then you are hooked. As was every person on twitter earlier this year. If you are looking for some community spirit then watch Broadchurch when its on TV and you will find 347353595 like minded people across social media.
David Tennent is in it. If thats your bag.
Let me know your favourites too because its good to share.
I love a crime drama. I’ve seen all of these apart from River. I’ve not heard of that one. Will check it out later. I’ve just finished power on Netflix so I need something new. Thank you
Author
Is Power good? I need something new to watch!
I’ve just watched power and it’s brilliant!!! Definitely worth the binge watch!
Author
Amazing thanks Jess ill watch it tonight!
We watch power. Set in New York and lots of violence and a bit of angry sex. Worth a watch x
The Tunnel is fantastic as is The Killing 🙂
Author
I couldn’t get into the killing, should I give it another try?
It did take me a couple of eps to get into, I had watched the Danish series first and loved so had to give the American version a go. I really didn’t warm to the main actress at first but once I did I really enjoyed every series. Joel Kinnaman helped keep me hooked. His character’s dialect annnoyed the crap out of me at first until i developed my mini crush on him!
Not sure if The Tunnel on Netflix or On Demand but worth keeping an eye out for.
Yep – Joel Kinnaman kept me tuning in too!
Prime Suspect. An oldie but a goodie.
Power is great – very American though and pretty violent.
State of Play – the original series was brilliant.
The Sopranos – one of the best series ever made!
Happy Valley
Author
Thanks Nicola for these!
We’re binge watching ncis at the minute. We loved dexter and enjoyed Chicago pd too. I’ve only watched broadchurch of the ones you’ve listed x
The Wire – a little hard to start but so good! 100% my favourite program of all time.
Second this! The Wire is amazing
Author
Is the Wire on Netflix? This sounds like I need it in my life!
Have you watched The Fall? We were seriously hooked on Happy Valley too. Both excellent crime dramas, and British which we prefer to US dramas. Haven’t watched Top of the Lake, but heard good things about it. Love your list in its entirety except River. Couldn’t get into it.
Top of the Lake is excellent!
I think I need to watch Line of Duty. You definitely need to watch The killing, if you haven’t already. It’s amazing. My favourite crime drama of all time, along with Peaky Blinders.
The Missing series 2 is a must watch. Luther & Line of Duty are two of my absolute faves. I watched Broadchurch & I think it’s a little over rated? Sorry everyone that loves it! I think it’s because there’s not enough action it in for me personally. Peaky Blinders I watch because Tommy is really very hot indeed 😉 Oh and I really love Ripper Street! The Fall was pretty good too. Looking forward to people’s suggestions as I need more stuff to binge watch whilst I’m on maternity leave!
Ohmagawd. Line of effin duty!!! I’m watching the last episode of series 4 tonight! I’m already feeling a bit concerned about what I’ll do until 2019 though. Oh and I watched series 1&2 on Netflix and then was fuming when I realised that was all they had. Thankfully I found 3&4 on YouTube. BBCs The missing (series2) was excellent and itvs unforgotten (1&2) was great. Definitely worth a watch if you can find them x
The Bill on Gold
The Loch is so good too ! I watched that recently and loved it. And The Fall – there are 3 series to that but its so good xx
You have to give whitechapel ago!! Also Ripper Street is a good un x
I loved Whitechapel, definitely worth a watch. The Mentalist is really good, we also liked Wire in the Blood with Robson Greene it’s really old now but still brilliant. Xx
Do you like true crime documentaries too? The Keepers on Netflix is really good!
‘House of Cards’ on Netflix. Kevin Spacey is such a bad-ass…!!! Completely addicted to this. It takes a few episodes, but keep with it…!
Power and the killing on Netflix and top of the lake on iPlayer
Author
I started watching Power last night!
Absolutely loved Line of Duty but only saw Series 3 & 4. Just ordered 1-3 on dvd, don’t think I can wait till 2019! Would have to disagree about DSI Arnott though! He grew on my in series 4 and by the end I was in love with him! He is a cutie! Almost the best programme ever – Life on Mars is my all-time favourite.