Crime dramas are one of the most popular genres of television, and for good reason. There are few plot structures with as much built-in conflict and intrigue as a mystery, and film and TV shows have been capitalizing on this for a long time. Some of thebest mystery series of the 2020sincorporate a little humor and light-hearted fun into their plots, all while crafting an interesting story with plenty of twists and turns. When it comes to crime dramas, theTV shows that aren’t afraid to poke fun at the genre are some of the easiest to rewatch.
Manyclassic murder mystery TV showsfollow the procedural format, and this has long been the case with mystery and crime shows.Due to their episodic format, these series can be looser with their dramatic elementsand might need to lighten the tone to keep the audience engaged throughout the story. However, satire is also a familiar aspect of mystery shows, especially in the modern day. Since the concepts of the detective show and whodunit narrative are so popular, the more light-hearted spin on the plot could be a successful way to subvert audience expectations.
Cast
Rian Johnson, the mind behind the belovedKnives Outmovies, successfully tried his hand at the crime drama withPoker Face. Modeled after the iconic mystery seriesColumbo,Poker Faceis a road narrative that follows Natasha Lyonne as Charlie,a self-proclaimed human lie detector who has to go on the run after she crosses the wrong man. This allows Charlie to solve a new case every week with her special skills while weaving a long-running conflict through the season.
The many stellar guest stars who match Lyonne’s comedic energy are an essential piece ofPoker Face’s success.
While there are some heinous crimes committed inPoker Face, Charlie takes them on with her characteristic charm and good-natured humor. She’s a worthy heroine to follow, andwatching her accidentally uncover a twisted crime never gets old.AsPoker Faceseason 2 approaches, it will be exciting to see how Charlie gets out of her next jam and who she helps along the way. Additionally, the many stellar guest stars who match Lyonne’s comedic energy are an essential piece ofPoker Face’s success.
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Poker Face Season 2: 8 Reasons To Be Excited About Rian Johnson’s Returning Detective Show
Now that Poker Face season 2 has begun filming, there are many reasons for fans to get excited about the upcoming season & new storylines.
Monk
Starring Tony Shalhoub as Adrian Monk, Monk follows the titular detective, a private investigator with OCD who helps solve crimes with the San Francisco Police. On the side, he also investigates the death of his wife, who was killed by a car bomb. Bitty Schram, Traylor Howard, Ted Levine, and Jason Gray-Stanford also star.
Tony Shalhoub is a large part of what makesMonkwork,as his performance as the titular detective is the heart and soul of the show. While murder is a big part ofMonk, and he faces his fair share of hardship and loss himself, not every crime he solves revolves around death, and there are plenty of times that Monk helps save the day and keep people safe. Shalhoub is a stellar comedic actor, but he’s also equally capable of carrying the dramatic moments.
While there are someharsh realities of rewatchingMonk, for the most part, the series has held up well and remains popular with fans of the crime procedural.Monk’s desire for order sometimes gets in the way of the investigation, but it often lightens the moodwhen he’s looking into an upsetting crime. Additionally, by the end of an episode, the people in his life are usually more grateful for his help than they are frustrated with him.
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Castle
When Richard Castle (Nathan Fillion), a famous mystery novelist, finds himself struggling with writer’s block, he begins shadowing edgy NYPD homicide detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) for inspiration. His mind for mystery proves useful to the NYPD, making him Beckett’s unofficial partner, and the pair work to solve various homicides and mysteries throughout the city - despite the fact that the detective can hardly stand the author.
At times, it feels likeCastleis even more of a comedy than it is a dramasince Rick Castle (Nathan Fillion) and Detective Kate Beckett (Stana Katic) can’t go more than a few moments without witty banter. The will-they-won’t-they dynamic between Castle and Beckett is what propels the show forward, butCastleis one of the rare series that still works after its romantic leads get together. This is because the dichotomy of their investigation styles is maintained after they admit their feelings.
The occasional intense story inCastleis usually part of a very special episode, as the typical fare sees Castle and Beckett put in humorous situations.
The occasional intense story inCastleis usually part of a very special episode, as the typical fare sees Castle and Beckett put in humorous situations. Often,the people they’re investigating come from unique parts of New York Cityand have special quirks that make the pair grapple with their differences. Additionally, the angle of the story that Castle writes mystery novels makes for some fun, tongue-in-cheek commentary on the genre.
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Bones
Bones is a crime drama series centered around Dr. Temperance Brennan, a forensic anthropologist at the Jeffersonian’s Medico-Legal Lab, who, along with Special Agent Seeley Booth, solves murder cases involving severely decomposed remains that defy standard identification methods.
Running for 12 seasons,Bonesbrought something new and interesting to every season but never strayed from the essential parts of the series.Booth (David Boreanaz) and Bones (Emily Deschanel) are an iconic pair,and their chemistry is some of the most believable in any crime drama. Though their styles couldn’t be more different, there’s no other duo that can solve murders as well as they can, even with cases that have gone cold.
For a show that spends so much time with dead bodies and corpses, it’s surprising thatBonesis as funny and light-hearted as it is. However, the series puts boundaries between the remains of a victim and the person themselves,allowing the gang in the lab to get up to hijinx and experimentsto determine the cause of death. Even when their debates get more serious, there’s affection and joy in every interaction between Bones and Booth.
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White Collar
White Collar is a crime drama television series featuring Neal Caffrey, a skilled con artist and art thief, portrayed by Matt Bomer. After being captured by FBI agent Peter Burke, Neal agrees to help the FBI catch elusive white-collar criminals as a consultant, leveraging his unique skills. The series explores the evolving partnership and mutual trust between Neal and Peter, blending elements of crime-solving and personal redemption.
No one but the charming Matt Bomer could bring Neal Caffrey to lifeso easily inWhite Collar, but Neal wouldn’t be half as compelling without his partner, Agent Peter Burke (Tim DeKay). After spending years in a game of cat and mouse, Peter finally catches Neal, but the pair strike a deal, and Neal teams up with the white-collar division of the FBI to catch men like him. Though they began at odds, it turns out that Peter and Neal don’t just work together well; they also make great friends.
The Reason Why White Collar’s Revival Is Exciting Is Also Why The Matt Bomer Show’s Return Is So Risky
Things are looking great for White Collar’s upcoming reboot, but there are some lessons that the show needs to learn in order to achieve success.
It will be interesting to see what theWhite Collarrevival has in store for Peter and Nealsince the show already touched upon so many different scenarios and crimes. However, it’s the relationship between Peter and Neal that kept the audience coming back throughoutWhite Collar’s seasons. Though they poke fun at each other, they share a deep love and friendship. By the timeWhite Collarends, both men have been changed for the better.
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Death In Paradise
Set on the fictional Caribbean island of Saint Marie, this series follows a British detective who is assigned to investigate murders on the island. Despite his dislike for the sun, sea, and sand, the detective is brilliant at his job, solving complex cases with clever deductions. Each episode is presented as a new case to solve, with a new local at the center.
Like the dramedyPsych,Death in Paradisejuxtaposes its beautiful setting with heinous crime but manages to find a successful balance nonetheless. On the air since 2011,Death in Paradisehas become such a long-running smash hitbecause it doesn’t take itself too seriously and finds plenty of humor in even the dire moments. The early conceit ofDeath in Paradiseis that a detective from London is sent to a small island and must deal with the change in setting and situation.
Death in Paradiseis referential of many of the great mystery narratives and clearly has a deep love for the genre. Since the series has been going on for so long, many detectives have come and gone on the island, butDeath in Paradisehas retained its heart and humor no matter what.With every new character, they initially are hesitant to call the island home and feel out of their depth, but by the time their tenure ends, they love it there and have overcome their demons.
Death in Paradise (2011–Present)
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The Librariansis agreat fantasy TV show with mystery elements, following the titular group of librarians as they fight to save the world every season. While gods, monsters, and magic all play a central role inThe Librarians,each episode sees them investigate different crimes and events related to The Library,similar toSupernatural. For audiences looking for mysticism and adventure alongside investigations,The Librariansis the perfect project to get lost in.
By using famous myths and legends as well as fantastical artifacts within the story,The Librarianshas fun playing with audience expectations surrounding these elements.
Using humor and heart to connect with audiences of all ages,The Librariansis a great introduction to the world of crime mixed with fantasyand features a great ensemble cast. By using famous myths and legends as well as fantastical artifacts within the story,The Librarianshas fun playing with audience expectations surrounding these elements. The villain of every season also makes for a great addition to the story and is always interesting.
Elsbeth
Elsbeth follows Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute attorney with a unique perspective, as she collaborates with the NYPD to tackle elusive criminals after a successful career in Chicago. Released in 2024, this series explores her unconventional methods in solving intricate cases.
Elsbethdifferentiates itself by cluing the audience in to who the killer is early in an episode, making the thrust of the plot how Elsbeth (Carrie Preston) catches them.A spinoff of the legal dramaThe Good Wife,Elsbethfollows its titular character as she flexes her detective skills in addition to her prowess as an attorney. Though she’s unlike any of the other members of the NYPD, Elsbeth has insight into the interworkings of some of the most difficult criminals to catch.
Elsbeth and her dynamic with the other detectives, as well as the people she investigates, is the most interesting and light-hearted part of the series. Sometimes, her differences from others get her into trouble, but this is what makes her uniquely qualified and gets the audience on her side.It makes sense that Elsbeth was singled out to carry her own spinoff,as this series works within the franchise’s continuity but also stands on its own.
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Death and Other Details
Death and Other Details is a mystery series created for Hulu by Mike Weiss and Heidi Cole McAdams. Aboard a luxury cruise liner, Imogene Scott accidentally finds herself at the center of a murder mystery and ends up as the prime suspect. To clear her name, she must team up with the man she hates the most, Detective Rufus Cotesworth.
For audiences who enjoy spending time withdetective Benoit Blanc in theKnives Outmovies,Death and Other Detailsis the perfect series to get wrapped up in.Mandy Patinkin plays the central sleuth, Rufus,who is an archetypal match for the likes of Blanc or Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot. He’s joined by Violett Beane as Imogene Scott, one of the central suspects and protagonist who claims she’s innocent.Death and Other Detailsis a familiar takedown of the rich and powerful, but it has fun with the narrative.
The characters and their witty banter are by far the best part ofDeath and Other Details, which doesn’t stray too far from the classic whodunit formula.
The characters and their witty banter are by far the best part ofDeath and Other Details, which doesn’t stray too far from the classic whodunit formula. However, this is part of the charm of a project like this, as its familiarity is comforting and allows Beane and Patinkin to revel in their iconic character types and play with their dynamic. Additionally,the visual style ofDeath and Other Detailsis a feast for the eyes.
Death and Other Details (2024)
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The White Lotus
The White Lotus is a television series that explores the interactions of guests and staff at an upscale tropical resort. Premiering in 2021, the narrative unfolds over a week, revealing underlying complexities and tensions among the resort’s seemingly ideal travelers and employees.
Mike White’s satirical mystery series,The White Lotus, isan anthology that follows the parallel dynamics between the workers and the guests at a luxury hotel chain,the titular White Lotus. The stark contrast between the haves and the have-nots is one of the biggest sources of humor and conflict throughout the show, with the central murder mystery looming in the background over the course of the season.The White Lotusbegins with a death, but the audience doesn’t find out who it is until the end.
WhenThe White Lotusdoes get serious, it’s about the class commentarythat the show is built on rather than the criminal elements. The deaths are more often accidental or the result of the character’s own stupidity rather than a hidden plot or conspiracy. By the end of the show, the audience is intrigued to find out who the victim is, as all the characters have grown rather unlikable by the end, caught up in their own personal dramas.
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