With shows like Criminal Minds. Though Criminal Minds was one of the best crime procedurals of all time, fans of the series may find themselves looking for something else to enjoy.
From classic police shows like Reddit commented about their favorites besides Criminal Minds.
Flashpoint (2008–12)
The United States isn't the only country to produce unique and interesting procedurals, and Flashpoint was Canada's answer to the popular genre. nazzxo professed their love for the show, writing that "flashpoint is one of my favorite shows ever. so underrated and definitely deserved more seasons!"
Recounting the daily lives of the Toronto PD's tactical division, the series did an excellent job of balancing its action and drama. Though the show ran for a respectable amount of seasons, some fans were hoping to see it stretch into an epic run like similar procedurals that became staples of TV for years.
Chicago PD (2014–present)
After the success of Chicago Fire, legendary TV producer Dick Wolf spun the series off into several other series including Chicago PD. Scumbag_Gannon only had eyes for two procedurals when they wrote, "The only other police procedural show I've ever watched is Chicago PD ... which yeah, I like a lot".
Set within the hallowed halls of Chicago's 21st precinct, the series not only follows the PD's uniformed police but its intelligence unit as well. Mostly ed by its host of likable main characters, Chicago PD has become a staple of modern TV and shows no signs of stopping as it enters its second decade on the air.
Lie To Me (2009–11)
Not all police procedurals run for a long time, and some were so good that fans are practically begging for the crime dramas to be revived. reyn-egade praised one such show when they commented "Lie to Me is one of my favorite shows out there".
Lie to Me followed Cal Lightman, a professional deception artist who teams with law enforcement to catch criminals. By adding the science of body language into the procedural formula the show stood out from the crowd. On top of that, Tim Roth's amazing performance in the lead role added a bit of gravitas to the series as a whole.
NCIS (2003–present)
Just like Criminal Minds did in its time, NCIS has run for so long that it has firmly cemented its place as a television institution. j921hrntl had a long history with the show, commenting "NCIS is what got me into crime shows when I was a kid".
Chronicling the exploits of the elite Naval Criminal Investigation Service, the series was refreshingly original when it debuted nearly two decades ago. Though it seems rather par-for-the-course today, the show helped pave the way for modern procedurals, especially those dealing with agencies outside the local police force.
Rizzoli & Isles (2010–16)
Some procedurals are driven by their premise, and others rely solely on the great chemistry between the main characters. mafsfan54 didn't hold back their feelings when they said "Rizzoli and Isles was soooooo good. I loved that one too".
Though they have totally different personalities, the tough-as-nails Detective Rizzoli and the suave ME Isles make an impeccable team as they solve homicides in Boston. Rizzoli & Isles was the perfect show for all types of TV fans because it didn't rely too heavily on the typical procedural formula. On top of that, the wonderful moments between the titular characters were always highlights of the series.
Cold Case (2003–10)
Most procedurals see the detectives hot on the trail of an active criminal, Cold Case took a decidedly different approach to its storytelling. Theli11 had a good reason to love their favorite procedural, saying "Cold Case is a personal favorite for me and the cases feels like it's more personal".
The lone female detective in Philadelphia's homicide division is assigned to the cold cases department where she must attempt to solve long-forgotten crimes. Generally considered one of the best procedural TV shows of all time, Cold Case puts weight behind its stories despite lacking the urgency of other shows. Kathryn Morris' brilliant performance really sells the idea that Detective Rush has a ion for the victims of the crimes.
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–present)
Still on the air despite starting its run in the '90s, Law & Order: SVU is nothing if not a TV institution at this point. Opening-Ebb4493 gushed about the classic show, writing "SVU is my S**T...i miss the old cast...but it's so good. so so good".
Already one of the longest-running TV shows of all time, SVU shows no signs of stopping. The detectives of the NYPD's Special Victims Unit investigate crimes of a violent and heinous nature, and the drama from their jobs quite often spills into the detective's regular lives. Though the cast has almost entirely changed, fans still tune in to watch the most successful procedural of all time.
The Mentalist (2008–15)
The 2000s was a decade awash in hit procedural shows, and every new series had to do something special to stand out. The Mentalist...I clearly have a thing for procedurals that started in the early 2000s".
In order to catch the man that killed his wife, a noted psychic outs himself as a fake in order to aid the California Bureau of Investigations with his special talents. Giving The Mentalist an endgame meant it could feel more complete than the average procedural, and the character driven narrative leant an air of drama that other shows simply didn't have.
Bones (2005–17)
There are so many facets to law enforcement that most of the best procedurals pick a small facet and base the entire show around that. Bones is an all time favorite for me"
An agent teams up with a famed scientist who is able to solve crimes by analyzing the skeletal remains of victims. Though the trumped-up science of the show was interesting enough, the dynamic personalities of the two leads was the anchor of the series. While some might have found the romantic entanglements tiresome, others found that it added spice to the typical procedural formula.
Line Of Duty (2012–21)
Coming from across the pond, the British procedural Line of Duty was a refreshingly original take on the genre. GlitchingGecko didn't mince words when heaping praise on the show, saying "Line of Duty is probably the best TV show I've ever seen".
The series follows the investigations of the police anti-corruption unit known as AC-12. Not afraid to get political and deep with its stories, Line of Duty subverted the usual narrative put forward by most police shows. Aside from that, the cinematic nature of the series gives it a more grand feel than the usual procedurals that are made on the cheap.
