armywat shaida washburn
Ranee Wates
Heart-pounding action, historical drama, and psychological thrillers are some examples of the British crime shows you can watch on Netflix right now. If you love nothing more than wanting to see if the good guys will catch the bad guys, you don't want to miss these shows.
Jefferson Grieff (Stanley Tucci), who used to be a law lecturer, is now on death row in an Arizona prison for the grisly murder of his wife in Inside Man. Jefferson soon begins using his Ph.D. in criminology to solve cases and mysteries in exchange for items and special treatment from the warden.
Developed by Steven Moffat, critics praised Inside Man for its undeniable roster of talented actors, including Tucci and David Tennant. Its story is unpredictable and exciting, but it does feed into the problematic depiction of mental health in TV series, which makes its entire premise questionable and challenging to watch at times.
The four-part TV show, You Don't Know Me, deals with issues of love, criminality, and fair treatment of the accused. The series is directed by Sarmad Masud and stars Samuel Adewunmi as the title character Hero. Everything focuses on Hero, a young guy from South London who is on trial for murder. Despite the overwhelming evidence against him, Hero insists on presenting his case in his own words rather than relying on an attorney. He soon puts his life on the line to protect the woman he loves.
The show does an excellent job of tying the story's many threads together. You Don't Know Me delves deep into issues of criminal justice and tackles racism as it depicts Hero's arc. Audiences are led on an emotional roller coaster through Hero's journey, and they are left with a profound sense of the power of storytelling to influence one's perspective of the world.
An underrated criminal thriller everyone should see, Stay Close depicts the interwoven fates of three characters when they are all entangled in a terrible event. A detective, a photographer, and a wife and mother all attempt to find the truth and stay safe.
Directed by Daniel O'Hara based on the 2012 Harlan Coben novel, Stay Close depicts a complex web of lies, treachery, and potentially deadly secrets in its engaging story that will keep viewers hooked from the very first episode. Actors James Nesbitt, Sarah Parish, and Eve Myles provide strong, nuanced performances that make the characters seem genuine and sympathetic in one of the best British detective series on Netflix. Tension permeates every moment and viewers can also expect jaw-dropping twists.
Based on a Harlan Coben novel, The Stranger tells the story of a mysterious woman who reveals a secret to a married man and causes a domino effect in his life. The secret involves his wife, who then disappears. Hannah John-Kamen plays the aforementioned stranger and Richard Armitage plays Adam Price, the man whose life is about to fall apart.
Combining police investigation with psychological drama, Marcella is all about its title character (and is one of the best British crime dramas right now). Former detective Marcella Backland (Anna Friel) returns to work to investigate an open murder case from 11 years ago. To make it worse, her husband has left her, and she has memory issues where she experiences blackouts.
Does anyone else ever feel that things made in other countries are better than those made in the U.S.? Think in terms of horror: it almost always seems like Korean and Japanese studios make the best moves that scare the socks off of people. Maybe it's because American studios have a bad habit of regurgitating things they have done before to try and double success. It's probably why the British tend to do better at making riveting dramas.
Netflix is a good melting pot to capture great stories from all over the world. It makes sense that they would have a great catalog of British dramas. Most are miniseries of the crime and mystery variety, but they are worth a watch. Here is a list of the top 10 British crime dramas that can be found on Netflix today.
Bodies is an interesting and thrilling multi-generational murder-mystery crime drama, but with a twist. Each of the four detectives is investigating the same murder. What's more, each new generation adds a different perspective on the captivating murder, but the truth will be beyond anyone's belief, culminating in an explosive ending that will linger for a while.
Set in the mid-70s, The Serpent is a limited series and follows the horrible crimes of Charles "The Serpent" Sobhraj, one of the most vicious serial killers of his era. Played chillingly by Tahar Hahim, The Serpent posed as a gem dealer in Asia, who preyed on helpless tourists, a common tactic from many serial killers.
This short-lived crime drama is great for anyone who loves bottle episodes. Featuring notable British actors like David Tennant, Kit Harington, and Hayley Atwell, Criminal: UK is a mystery investigative series that takes place entirely in a police interview room, as various suspects are questioned in order to find the truth. The investigating detectives only have a limited window to get to the bottom of their mystery.
The dialogue is written perfectly, making for a series that feels tense and claustrophobic with each revelation and uncovered clue. When a story is contained to a single location, with only dialogue to carry the narrative, the writing has to be phenomenal. Otherwise, the whole thing falls apart. For anyone who loves this show, there are similar versions set in other countries on Netflix to enjoy as well.
Giri/Haji is a great police investigation show that goes across continents, as London Detective Constable Sarah Weitzmann joins Tokyo detective Kenzo Mori to look for his brother after he's accused of killing the nephew of a Yakuza member. This show is every bit a brutal crime drama as it is a smart investigative series. Sometimes, the hands of the criminal underworld can stretch far, as this series shows, but Giri/Haji has more than that.
The series also boasts humorous situations, intense action sequences, and compelling family drama, delivering something for everyone. This show is another in a collection of seriously underrated shows, but for anyone who loves British police procedurals, like the ones on this list, and series like Peaky Blinders, Giri/Haji is a must-watch.
Having initially debuted in 2011, Netflix revived Top Boy in 2019 to continue the story of residents in a crime-infested housing estate in London. The original series is worth a watch to gain more depth into the characters, while the newer seasons carry on the story and up the ante. Like any crime drama, the show is full of high stakes and tough choices to stay ahead. Characters are put into emotionally tough situations that force them to risk everything for those they care for.
In some ways, Top Boy is comparable to The Sopranos, Snowfall, or any chapter of Power, but it foremost stands alone in its unique depiction of the London underworld. Top Boy's final season may have already premiered on Netflix earlier this year, but the series boasts great rewatchability.
Peaky Blinders takes the gold on this list, as if there was any doubt. Loosely based on the Shelby crime family, the crime drama takes place after the First World War and follows the exploits of a crime family led by Tommy Shelby, a ruthless leader with his own struggles. Despite the crimes he and his gang commit throughout the series, he remains infinitely charming in his stoic way. This is probably why it becomes so easy to root for him and his family.
At once a crime drama, period drama, and gangster epic, Peaky Blinders will have you glued to your television screen. This BAFTA Award-winning series is set in Birmingham, England in 1919, just a few months after the conclusion of World War I. Loosely based on the exploits of the real-life Peaky Blinders gang, the series follows a crime family that thrives in the atmosphere of postwar economic hardship and moral despair.
Though still a recognizably British series, Marcella enjoys a certain Nordic flair thanks to Swedish screenwriter Hans Rosenfeldt. That influence makes itself known in the icy atmosphere as the titular character, played by Anna Friel, investigates a particularly gruesome homicide case.
This series, in true British fashion, is comprised of only 20 episodes to date, ensuring that the cat-and-mouse game between Luther and Morgan never feels drawn out. And with the fifth season finally airing, there's no time like now to begin your Luther obsession.
This BBC Two police procedural stars Elisabeth Moss as Robin Griffin, an Australian detective who returns to her hometown of Laketop, New Zealand to investigate the pregnancy and disappearance of a 12-year-old girl named Tui. Despite its idyllic appearance, Laketop is full of ugly secrets, and Robin soon realizes that this trip home may prove to be her undoing.
A second series aired in 2017, adding Game of Thrones's Gwendoline Christie and Nicole Kidman to the main cast. Although less enthralling than the first series, China Girl is worth a watch not the least for Kidman's performance as a bossy, self-absorbed foster mother.
Based on the beloved novels by Colin Dexter, Inspector Morse ran from 1987-2000 and stars Kevin Whately as Detective Sergeant Robbie Lewis and John Thaw in the title role of Morse, a senior officer at the Thames Valley Police Force in Oxford.
Prime Suspect has seven cases, otherwise known as seasons, which ran over the course of 15 years. Each case functions rather more like a movie than the shows we are used to in the U.S. With two parts, each clocking in at about an hour and 40 minutes, you can knock down a season a night easily.
90f70e40cf