True Detective Night Country: Ranking the top 10 TV cop shows of all time!

es creator Nic Pizzolatto takes on an executive producer’s role with Issa López taking over as showrunner. The story of the fourth season takes the audience to Alaska where a group of scientists are found frozen and murdered in the middle of nowhere. Two detectives decide to solve the mystery as they believe the case is somehow connected to the brutal murder of a Native American woman several years ago. True Detective Night Country stars Academy Award winner Jodie Foster and professional boxer Kali Reis in lead roles.For today’s episode of List Hai Toh Hit Hai, we are counting down the top 10 cop TV shows of all time.

10. Luther - Prime Video

The British investigative drama series, Luther, propelled English actor Idris Elba onto the global stage. The acclaimed series is centred around Elba’s character, DCI John Luther, a brilliant yet unconventional homicide detective who is plagued by his personal demons. The series delves into the psychological aspects of Luther and the criminals he is investigating, providing a profound exploration of their moral compass. Ruth Wilson, Steven Mackintosh, and Indira Varma essay other prominent roles in Luther, which is created by Neil Cross

9. Criminal: UK - Netflix

The next one on this list is the British anthology series Criminal: UK, which is from Netflix's four-part collection that includes Criminal: Spain, Criminal: France, and Criminal: Germany. Unlike most British crime dramas Criminal: UK offers a distinctive format, as each episode unfolds entirely within the confines of an interrogation room. The narrative is conveyed exclusively through dialogue, musical score, lighting, and camera angles. Despite its relative limitations, brought upon as a result of its format, the series successfully delivers engaging episodes featuring notable guest stars such as David Tenant, Kit Harrington, Kunal Nayyar, and Hayley Atwell.

8. The Mentalist - Prime Video

American police procedurals are some of the longest-running TV shows in the world with, seasons spread across more than a decade, and they often lean on familiar tropes and set pieces. The hit CBS series The Mentalist may not be an original concept, about a narcissistic man with astute skills to read people to the police with murder investigations. But the series brings a fresh spin to the trope that is often associated with Sherlock Holmes. Simon Baker essays the role of Patrick Jane, a mentalist, who is hunting the serial killer who murdered his wife and daughter. He also helps the fictional California Bureau of Investigation in solving various crimes. The show’s well-written dialogues, intriguing characters, and each episode’s gripping mystery in addition to Baker’s undeniable charm, make the series a compelling watch. The series was created by Bruno Heller, and it ran for seven successful seasons.

7. Happy Valley - Prime Video

With its unassuming title, Happy Valley might be construed as a comedy-drama set in a quaint town. The series is in fact set in an idyllic town in Yorkshire, England, but it tells a gritty story of a veteran police officer, Catherine Cawood, struggling to find a balance between her personal and professional lives. The series ran for three seasons focusing on Catherine, her grandson Ryan, her sister Clare, and the sociopathic killer Tommy Lee Royce – the man who drove Catherine’s daughter to suicide. Created by Sally Wainwright, the series features a gripping screenplay and outstanding performances by its cast led by Sarah Lancashire, and a supporting cast of  Rhys Connah, Siobhan Finneran, James Norton, and Charlie Murphy among others.

6. The Shield - OTTplay Premium

Created by Shawn Ryan, the crime drama series The Shield stars Michael Chiklis in the lead as a corrupt and brutal detective who relies on any means necessary to tackle the rampant drug trade in the underbelly of Los Angeles. The FX original series has garnered immense praise for its gritty and grounded take on the genre, winning awards including Golden Globes and an Emmy. The series also stars Catherine Dent, Reed Diamond, and Walton Goggins in lead roles.

5. Justified - Prime Video

The second FX original series to make this list is Justified, created by Graham Yost. The series follows the story of Raylan Givens, a US Marshall with a troubled past who returns to his hometown to deliver a brand of justice fashioned to his liking. The series features a gripping narrative focusing on the rampant crime in a small town in eastern Kentucky. Timothy Olyphant brings charm and charisma in his portrayal of the lead character and is supported by an incredible cast that features Nick Searcy, Jacob Pitts, Erica Tazel, and Walton Goggins among others.

4. Line of Duty - Netflix

Another British crime drama makes this list of the best TV cop shows, and it is the criminally underrated BBC series Line of Duty. The series, created by Jed Mercurio, eventually gained the recognition it deserved over its six-season run but remains lesser known to a wider audience. Despite its relative obscurity, this investigative crime drama features exceptional cinematography, stellar cast performances, and masterfully crafted screenplay firmly establishing it as one of the finest police procedurals of all time. It follows a police unit called the AC-12, probing corrupt police officers. The story’s sharp narrative immediately captivates its audience within the opening scene of the first episode. The stellar performances by lead stars Adrian Dunbar, Martin Compton, and Vicky McClure as the AC-12 agents pursuing "bent coppers" further contribute to its excellence.

3. Mindhunter - Netflix

One of the best TV shows ever produced by Netflix also happens to be the one the streaming giant unceremoniously cancelled after two seasons. The David Fincher series Mindhunter is arguably one of the best-written and best-edited TV shows. Based on John E. Douglas’ true-crime book Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit, the series follows the exploits of a special FBI unit led by Holden Ford and Bill Tench, who interview serial killers to gain a semblance of understanding of a killer’s psyche to solve major murder cases. Joe Penhall serves as the series creator with Fincher overseeing it as the executive producer. Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv play the lead roles in the series, and there is speculation that Netflix could revive the series for a third season.

2. True Detective Season One - JioCinema

Nic Pizzolatto’s critically acclaimed anthology crime series True Detective is widely regarded as among the best in the genre. However, the first season of the series, starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson is arguably one of the greatest seasons of any TV series ever created. Rich in philosophical themes, subtext, and one of the most thought-provoking narratives, season one of the anthology is further elevated by the incredible performances of its cast. The story is set in Louisiana and follows the two detectives on the hunt for a serial killer over the course of 17 years.

1. The Wire - Jio Cinema

The number one title on this list is HBO's The Wire. Unlike the other titles on this list, The Wire is not created by an experienced filmmaker. It was in fact created by David Simon, an author and a journalist who had researched extensively on the crime and drug trade in the impoverished streets of Baltimore, USA. Simon also leaned on the expertise of former law enforcement officials among others to serve as writers in the show in an effort to strip the story of any conventional tropes surrounding the police and criminals portrayed on television. Instead, it offers a more nuanced and grounded take, with compelling perspectives of the police and the drug dealers. Dominic West, Idris Elba, Wendell Pierce, Lance Reddick, Michael Kenneth Williams, Wood Harris, Sonja Sohn, Jamie Hector, and Aidan Gillen among several others play prominent characters in the series. The Wire remains widely regarded as one of the greatest TV shows of all time.

Well that's all for this episode of List hai toh hit hai, until the next one it's your host Nikhil signing out.

Aaj kya dekhoge OTTplay se poocho

Written by Ryan Gomez