There’s always time for a good crime drama. Over the years, the idea of crime has evolved from a simple “cop vs. criminal” trope into something far more nuanced and complex. Cops are no longer as innocent as they seem, and these criminals often have devastating stories of their own.
Today’s crime dramas serve as commentaries not just on individual characters, but on the system itself — how a flawed justice system perpetuates corruption and gets its hands dirty in criminal endeavors. In the spirit of these stories, here are the crime dramas that completely lived up to their incredible pilots.
1
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Nothing surprises audiences more than a man in his underwear and a gas mask. But what’s even more shocking is that the person in question is a high school chemistry teacher. The Breaking Bad pilot doesn’t show the slightest mercy to Walter White (Bryan Cranston). Having lived a modest and unremarkable life for the past 50 years, audiences see in real-time how that very same life betrays somebody as unassuming as Walter.
From here on, the chaos begins. One may wonder how a schoolteacher could grow into one of the biggest drug criminals in Albuquerque. While his knowledge of chemistry plays a huge role in the business, Walter’s transformation is seen as every episode builds logically — his humiliation, his cancer diagnosis, and the thrill of risk.
2
‘The Wire’ (2002–2008)
Cop shows are never the same after The Wire. Forget the car chases or the exhilarating shootouts. The pilot episode introduces who the real criminals are in the judicial system: the people working within the institution itself. For a career path that is committed to serving the public, the system backing it is controlled by bureaucracy, politics, and poverty. Police officers are no longer seen as noble heroes — they become someone else’s pawns.
The pilot also establishes that there is no clear protagonist in the show. The reckless and arrogant detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West) plays the cop game the way he knows best — by talking to the “right” people behind closed doors. Meanwhile, criminals like young drug dealer D’Angelo Barksdale (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.) show a higher level of sympathy. At the end of the day, nobody’s a winner.
3
‘Fargo’ (2014–)
In the icy stillness of Minnesota, Fargo matches the environment with cold-blooded humor. In a hospital room, drifter Lorne Malvo (Billy Bob Thornton) and meek insurance salesman Lester Nygaard (Martin Freeman) have a nice, friendly chat to relieve the awkward air. But things turn sinister when Malvo suggests killing the man who tormented Lester — and then actually does it. The next few episodes contain the following: blood on snow, smiles over murder, and evil intentions hidden under every “oh jeez.”
Audiences love a not-so-innocent small town. Crime dramas are often associated with the chaos of city life. However, the idea of a murder committed within a tight-knit, middle-of-nowhere community gives the show a unique appeal. Instead of fear, Fargo finds humor in the ordinary and the awful. Discussing brutal crimes over pancakes creates a disassociation between tone and content.
4
‘Dexter’ (2006–2013)
There’s only enough room for one murderer in Miami. Dexter takes after-office activities to a whole new level. By day, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall) is a forensic blood analyst working at Miami Metro. He’s also the loving brother to cop Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) and a devoted boyfriend to the shy Rita (Julie Benz). But when nobody’s looking around, he spends his free time hunting murderers who’ve escaped justice.
Dexter claims he only murders killers on the loose. But that principle is put to the test throughout the entire series. When the pilot episode reveals that someone else has similar murder precision as Dexter, his curiosity ignites. But that same curiosity is what fuels the flames in the upcoming seasons. Sooner or later, Dexter will have to compromise his morals just to protect his secret life.
5
‘Sherlock’ (2010–2017)
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle‘s partners-in-crime get a modern facelift in Sherlock. In true Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) spirit, the pilot wastes no time getting right into the case. After a brief introduction from Dr. John Watson (Martin Freeman), the consulting detective and war veteran duo investigate a series of murders disguised as suicides. It doesn’t take long until the two find themselves on the verge of death. And all this happened before they had officially established themselves as flatmates.
Fans of the book series might be familiar with Sherlock’s brilliance and Dr. Watson’s reliance. But the 21st-century setting breathes new life into the mysteries. It’s essentially Victorian London in the smartphone era. Instead of telegrams, there are text messages. Magnifying glasses are replaced by GPS tracking. Although times have changed, the story is still the same.
6
‘Peaky Blinders’ (2013–2022)
In 1919 Birmingham, one man ruled Small Heath with his iron fist. The pilot for Peaky Blinders takes its time laying down the premise. Everybody knows who Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy) is. To some, the mere mention of the gangster’s name sends shivers down their backs. But those who have done business with him see him for his entrepreneurial spirit. As the head honcho of Shelby Company Limited, he’s set on bringing the working-class family business to respected legitimacy.
Thomas might have his questionable ways of doing business (e.g., killing rivals and arranging marriages). But Thomas is also an underdog one can’t help but root for — that is, until his descent into madness in the following seasons to come. The pilot establishes that Thomas is a man who sees war, business, and politics as one continuum. But the rest of the series watches him get betrayed by the calculated decisions he takes.
7
‘Narcos’ (2015–2017)
Long before his name became the symbol of power, Narcos introduces Pablo Escobar (Wagner Moura) as a man who built an empire by charming his way through the ranks. Set in the late 1970s, the pilot follows the inside operations of the MedellÃn Cartel. Whether it’s smuggling contraband or discovering profits from cocaine, Escobar’s success is all thanks to his ruthlessness.
Escobar’s reputation is beyond notorious, but Narcos also follows the man outside the cartel. His duality is explored in future episodes: Escobar as a family man, folk hero, and mass murderer. The show doesn’t expect audiences to make their final judgments about Escobar. However, it does present a gray area for viewers to ponder throughout the rest of the series. That said, Narcos doesn’t intend to romanticize his “rags-to-riches” story. Instead, it tells the bigger picture: the machinery of corruption that makes him invisible.
8
‘Better Call Saul’ (2015–2022)
The loudmouthed “criminal lawyer” Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) plays the leading man in Better Call Saul. The pilot introduces him as a struggling public defender barely scraping by in Albuquerque. His care barely runs; he only made $700 from his first case, and he keeps getting rejected by high-paying clients. Strapped for cash, Saul channels his con artist days as “Slippin’ Jimmy,” only for him to end up targeting a car belonging to a notorious drug dealer.
With it being a spin-off, Better Call Saul successfully carries the spirit of Breaking Bad, but in a different form. Just like Walter, Saul is torn between decency and deception. On the one hand, he wants to do good and play by the law. On the other hand, he needs money, fast. That duality becomes the anchor of the show. Every episode contains a case or con that pushes Saul to make decisions that could mean life or death.
9
‘Money Heist’ (2017–2021)
When the Money Heist pilot opens, a young criminal on the run (Úrsula Corberó) is out of options. Fortunately, she’s saved by a mysterious man known as the Professor, who offers her a way out: join him in pulling off the biggest heist in Spanish history. From there, she becomes Tokyo, one of eight robbers chosen to infiltrate the Royal Mint of Spain and print €2.4 billion.
Money Heist is a time bomb waiting to explode. These robbers have no idea about who they’re working with, and yet here they are, robbing one of the biggest banks in the country. Each episode is a test of trust between the Professor and the crew. The team could either blindly obey his orders or they could test his limits. Featuring the vulnerable Tokyo, the controlling Berlin (Pedro Alonso), and the innocent Rio (Miguel Herrán), the slightest clash could botch the operation in seconds.
10
‘Ozark’ (2017–2022)
The Ozark pilot begins in Chicago, with financial advisor Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) living the dream life: a suburban home, a family, and a small financial firm. But underneath his mundaneness, Marty is laundering millions for the Mexican Navarro cartel alongside his partner. Things go astray when cartel lieutenant Del Rio (Esai Morales) discovers $8 million missing. In a matter of days, the people closest to Marty are killed one by one.
The idea of family gets tested in Ozark. To Marty, his wife and kids serve as a liability and a weapon. The Byrdes stay together out of necessity, not love. Each season reveals what the Byrdes are willing to compromise to stay alive. If that means betraying each other, so be it. After all, one misstep could mean the death of the entire family.
Ozark
- Release Date
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2017 – 2022
- Network
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Netflix
