Crime dramas typically do everything they can to throw the audience off the trail of the story’s mystery, and sometimes supernatural or surreal elements come into play because of this. Making the audience question what’s real and what’s imagined is a great way to build unreliable narrators and a sense of dread throughout the episodes. Sometimes, these aspects of the plot can get so outlandish that the series becomes almost absurdist. However, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing since this distinguishes the show from the competition. There is no shortage of supernatural series and crime dramas out there.
There are many underrated recent detective TV shows that use these elements to make their stories unforgettable since a surreal tone sets apart a thriller series. TV is flooded with true crime dramas and docuseries that terrify the audience through realism. However, utilizing surrealism to communicate the horrors that people are capable of can be just as effective, if not more. There’s something uniquely terrifying and compelling about exploring the unknown and using metaphors to create another layer of the crime genre. These TV shows prove that there are many avenues to crafting an iconic series.
10True Detective (2014)
Time and reality are bent to make intriguing crime and character studies
True Detective is an anthology series exploring intricate criminal investigations through multiple timelines. Each season examines dark personal and professional secrets revealed during the course of solving complex cases, highlighting the impact of crime on individuals both within and outside the law enforcement community.
CastMatthew McConaughey , Colin Farrell , Mahershala Ali , Woody Harrelson , Vince Vaughn , Stephen Dorff , Michelle Monaghan , Rachel McAdams , Carmen Ejogo , Michael Potts , Taylor Kitsch , Scoot McNairy , Tory Kittles , Kelly Reilly , Ray Fisher , Chris Kerson , Ritchie Coster , Christopher James Baker , Afemo Omilami , James Frain , Abigail Spencer , Jodie Foster , Kali Reis , Fiona Shaw , Finn Bennett , Isabella Star LaBlanc , Christopher Eccleston , John Hawkes , Dana Gourrier , Madison Wolfe , J.D. Evermore
Release DateJanuary 12, 2014
Seasons4
NetworkHBO Max
Streaming Service(s)Hulu , Max
WritersNic Pizzolatto
DirectorsCary Fukunaga
ShowrunnerNic Pizzolatto
Creator(s)Issa López , Nic Pizzolatto
It’s undeniable that True Detective season 1 is the best installment of the series and features some of the best uses of surrealism. However, each season has something to offer in this way, as the essential themes of the series focus on the philosophical questions and ethics of investigating crimes and how personal issues cloud the character’s judgment. Additionally, the criminals that the characters are after often experience the world through a distinctly otherworldly lens.
True Detective requires its characters to get inside the minds of the criminals and plays with the narrative through intersecting timelines.
In season 1, Matthew McConaughey’s Rust is the character who’s most in touch with the supernatural and exploration of what exists beyond the physical plane. The dichotomy between Rust and Marty (Woody Harrelson) exposes the need for both intuition and concrete detective work, as the pair work best together, even if they chafe against the other’s style of investigation. True Detective requires its characters to get inside the minds of the criminals and plays with the narrative through intersecting timelines.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
92%
91%
2
47%
29%
3
84%
57%
Night Country
93%
56%
9Hap And Leonard (2016–2018)
This period crime drama explores uncanny territory through a pair of unlikely friends
Hap and Leonard is a crime drama series based on the novels by Joe R. Lansdale, featuring James Purefoy and Michael Kenneth Williams as the titular leads. Set in 1980s East Texas, the show follows the exploits of two best friends with a knack for trouble as they navigate a series of misadventures that blend dark humor with gripping action.
CastJames Purefoy , Michael Kenneth Williams , Tiffany Mack , Cranston Johnson , Douglas M. Griffin , Evan Gamble , Gail Matthius , Jimmi Simpson
Release DateMarch 2, 2016
Seasons3
Creator(s)Nick Damici , Jim Mickle
James Purefoy and Michael Kenneth Williams lead Hap and Leonard as the unexpected pair who turn out to be the perfect partners. Mad Men’s Christina Hendricks joins the actors in season 1 as she leads the friends down a rabbit hole of treasure and intrigue. Based on the novels of Joe R. Lansdale, Hap and Leonard present the two leading men as total opposites, but this ends up being the perfect catalyst for an amazing crime-fighting duo, who are one of the best detective duos from crime TV shows.
Hap and Leonard isn’t afraid to poke fun at the tropes and pitfalls of the crime genre and plays with its 1980s setting to make fun visual and aesthetic choices. Though the series isn’t afraid to get serious and show moments of violence, there’s an undeniable sense of humor at the heart of the story that influences some of the unbelievable turns of events. Like the great film noir movies that the TV show is in conversation with, Hap and Leonard tells a twisting story with every season and leaves the audience guessing.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
88%
83%
2
N/A
91%
3
100%
89%
8Top Of The Lake (2013–2017)
Elisabeth Moss leads this powerful and gripping drama
Top of the Lake is a mystery drama series directed by Jane Campion and Garth Davis. It stars Elisabeth Moss as Detective Robin Griffin, who investigates the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl in the remote town of Laketop, New Zealand. The series delves into complex themes such as crime, motherhood, and societal dysfunction, set against a haunting and isolated backdrop.
CastElisabeth Moss , David Dencik , Nicole Kidman , Gwendoline Christie , Alice Englert
Release DateMarch 18, 2013
Seasons2
Creator(s)Jane Campion , Gerard Lee
Jane Campion is one of the writers and the creator of Top of the Lake, which stars Elisabeth Moss as the central investigator into the dark and tragic occurrences in the show. Moss’s character, Robin Griffin, is pulled back into an investigation in her hometown in New Zealand and is haunted by the traumas of her past. This clouds her judgment but also gives her special insight into the case, as she feels particular empathy and drive to uncover the truth on behalf of the people she can help.
The surreal atmosphere that permeated every scene of the series immersed the audience in the town’s dynamics.
Although Top of the Lake season 2 wasn’t as highly acclaimed as the first outing, it’s still a strong follow-up and explores how Robin can move on and keep being a detective after the horrific end of season 1. Part of the reason season 1 was so powerful was the way Robin’s psyche was explored. The surreal atmosphere that permeated every scene of the series immersed the audience in the town’s dynamics. Each scene in Top of the Lake works to develop the overarching mystery of the past and present.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
95%
85%
2
72%
39%
7Twin Peaks (1990–1991)
David Lynch’s crime drama is the definitive work of his career
Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura’s life wasn’t as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season.
CastRuss Tamblyn , Sheryl Lee , Kimmy Robertson , Dana Ashbrook , Grace Zabriskie , Everett McGill , Ernie Hudson , Mädchen Amick , Ray Wise , Kyle MacLachlan
Release DateMay 23, 1990
Seasons2
NetworkShowtime , ABC
Streaming Service(s)Amazon Prime Video
WritersDavid Lynch
DirectorsMark Frost
ShowrunnerMark Frost
Twin Peaks has often been referred to as David Lynch’s masterpiece, as the writer-director is defined by his surreal style and use of the supernatural to communicate his deeper themes and messages. Kyle MacLachlan stars as Agent Dale Cooper, who arrives in the town of Twin Peaks following the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee). This investigation drives the first two seasons of Twin Peaks, as Cooper is drawn deeper into the web of lies and secrets within the town and realizes that there’s something even more sinister behind Laura’s death.
Every aspect of Twin Peaks works to create the absurdist atmosphere of the series. The over-the-top and stilted interactions between the residents of the town are uncanny enough on their own, and this element is elevated by the story being punctuated by scenes in the Red Room and other intense dream-like sequences. Twin Peaks was unlike any other crime drama on TV at the time and has been highly influential in the way thriller series infuse supernatural aspects into their plots today.
This refers to the original run of Twin Peaks , not Twin Peaks: The Return .
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
91%
96%
2
65%
88%
6Hannibal (2013-2015)
One of the best adaptations of the iconic serial killer’s story
Created for TV by Bryan Fuller, Hannibal is a TV adaptation/reimagining of Thomas Harris’ Red Dragon novel. The show follows the exploits of FBI criminal profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) and their perpetual game of cat and mouse that unfolds over the series. When a string of murders in Minnesota requires a brilliant mind to crack the case, Will Graham is called in to investigate – but due to the intimate and terrifying nature of the crimes, he is appointed Dr. Lecter to act as his psychiatrist. The truth of Dr. Lecter is that he is Will’s target – but to complicate matters, he’s the only person that can truly understand him.
CastHugh Dancy , Caroline Dhavernas , Aaron Abrams , Mads Mikkelsen , Laurence Fishburne , Scott Thompson
Release DateApril 4, 2013
Seasons3
NetworkNBC
Streaming Service(s)Hulu
Franchise(s)Hannibal
WritersBryan Fuller
DirectorsBryan Fuller
ShowrunnerBryan Fuller
Hugh Dancy and Mads Mikkelsen have come to be known as two of the best actors to take on the roles of FBI agent Will Graham and the notorious serial killer Hannibal Lecter. The series plays with Will’s ability to step inside the mind of a killer and uses chilling visuals to represent how he leaves his body and inhabits the desires of a killer. In the series, Hannibal believes this means Will has the potential to be a killer himself and uses his position as Will’s therapist in season 1 to manipulate him into killing.
As the show progressed, it evolved seamlessly from a more episodic crime procedural to a true character study of the two intertwined men.
Unfortunately, Hannibal is a canceled TV show that ended on a cliffhanger, leaving the audience forever wondering what the future might have held for Will and Hannibal. As the show progressed, it evolved seamlessly from a more episodic crime procedural to a true character study of the two intertwined men. The line between right and wrong and Will’s torn loyalties and desires all play up the tension and uncertainty of what’s real.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
83%
94%
2
98%
97%
3
98%
91%
5Fringe (2008–2013)
The impossible is all too real in this sci-fi crime drama
This sci-fi procedural follows the FBI’s secretive Fringe Division and its agents Olivia Dunham, Walter Bishop, and Peter Bishop. Together, they investigate cases regarding strange events that threaten society, including cases of parallel universes, human experimentation, and other strange phenomena.
CastJoshua Jackson , Blair Brown , Anna Torv , John Noble , Leonard Nimoy , Jasika Nicole , Lance Reddick , Mark Valley , Seth Gabel
Release DateSeptember 9, 2008
Seasons5
WritersRoberto Orci , J.J. Abrams , Alex Kurtzman
DirectorsJeff Pinkner
ShowrunnerJeff Pinkner
Though Fringe drew comparisons to The X-Files upon its initial release, the series soon stood apart as its own entity, as it dealt more directly with sci-fi and the supernatural. In Fringe, unexpected and seemingly impossible events are made into a reality, as the character’s branch of the FBI is charged with investigating strange occurrences. The existence of improbable technology that causes bizarre situations is a recurring theme in Fringe, which sparked many viewers to consider the show as borderline absurd.
Over the years, Fringe increased in acclaim and notoriety as it became less concerned with following the traditional procedural formula. Season 5 even went so far as to incorporate a time jump and force its central characters to navigate the future. It turned out that fully embracing the unusual and surreal is the best thing that could’ve happened to Fringe, as the series came into its own when it stopped trying to be a typical thriller drama.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
84%
80%
2
81%
82%
3
82%
4
100%
79%
5
88%
78%
4Mindhunter (2017–2019)
Netflix’s psychological crime show is one of the streamer’s best series
From executive producers David Fincher and Charlize Theron comes Mindhunter, a series that chronicles the founding of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit used to track and apprehend serial killers. Mindhunter follows Agent Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany) as they work to establish a framework for understanding the minds of some of America’s most dangerous serial killers. Mindhunter adapts a number of true crime stories, including the BTK murders and the notorious Co-Ed Killer, Edmund Kemper.
CastJonathan Groff , Holt McCallany , Hannah Gross , Cotter Smith , Anna Torv , Stacey Roca , Cameron Britton , Michael Cerveris , Joe Tuttle , Lauren Glazier
Release DateOctober 13, 2017
Seasons2
WritersJoe Penhall
DirectorsDavid Fincher
ShowrunnerJoe Penhall
David Fincher’s crime TV show Mindhunter dramatizes the development of behavioral analysis of criminals within the FBI and explores how this affected the people who worked on the project. Jonathan Groff’s character, Holden, is particularly impacted and entranced by his interviews with some of the most notorious serial killers of the time. This makes him struggle with his grip on reality, and the series sees him start to question his abilities to solve these heinous crimes and maintain some semblance of a normal life.
Through the visual style and the many intense interviews that the show employs, it can be difficult for the characters and audience to remember where the line is.
Many audience members are still holding out hope that Mindhunter could return for season 3, but everything Fincher has stated about the show makes this unlikely. However, both seasons of the series received critical and audience acclaim for how well the viewer is immersed in the minds and logic of the most bloodthirsty criminals. Through the visual style and the many intense interviews that the show employs, it can be difficult for the characters and audience to remember where the line is.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
96%
95%
2
99%
95%
3Dollhouse (2009–2010)
This short-lived series blended sci-fi and crime for incredible results
Dollhouse, created by Joss Whedon, stars Eliza Dushku as Echo, an “Active” who can be imprinted with any personality or skill set by a secret organization. As she begins to regain her memory, Echo uncovers hidden truths about the Dollhouse and herself, challenging the morality of the people behind it. The series explores themes of identity, freedom, and the ethical implications of advanced technology.
CastEliza Dushku , Fran Kranz , Olivia Williams , Dichen Lachman , Enver Gjokaj , Tahmoh Penikett , Harry Lennix , Miracle Laurie , Amy Acker , Liza Lapira , Reed Diamond , Alan Tudyk , Summer Glau , Alexis Denisof , Aisha Hinds , Keith Carradine , Vincent Ventresca , Philip Casnoff , Stacey Scowley , Brett Claywell , Mark Sheppard
Release DateJuly 28, 2009
Seasons2
NetworkFOX
Streaming Service(s)Netflix , Hulu , Dis
WritersJoss Whedon
DirectorsJoss Whedon
Creator(s)Joss Whedon
Eliza Dushku stars in Dollhouse as Echo, one of the people who are uploaded with different personalities and given assignments for wealthy clients through an underground organization. Since the series was cut short, the end of the show abruptly wraps up the overarching plot of Dollhouse, but this doesn’t change how thrilling the road to get there is. Watching how the company abuses its power over the people under its control and the race to stop the spread of the technology explores many ethical questions.
Though Dollhouse takes on an episodic format, the show incorporates its overarching questions into the new personalities that Echo and the other “dolls” are programmed with each episode. The crime element is developed through the FBI agent investigating the company and Echo, who he believes is being controlled. Part of the reason Dollhouse received mixed reviews was because of how intricate the series was and how much sci-fi and surrealism were incorporated to make the premise believable.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
63%
82%
2
81%
85%
2The Watcher (2022)
This true-crime series isn’t afraid to tread into the unknown
The Watcher (2022)
Drama
Horror
Mystery
True Crime
Based on the true story and the New York Magazine article that covered it by Reeves Wiedeman, the Watcher is a true crime limited series created by the minds behind the American Horror Story franchise. The story follows Nora Brannock and her husband, Dean Brannock, as they move into the home of their dreams. However, those dreams become nightmares once they find themselves the targets of an endless string of threatening letters from an individual known as “The Watcher,” a man who stalks them at every turn. With a neighborhood full of just as many secrets and unwelcoming characters, the Brannocks may have taken on more than they can handle.
CastNaomi Watts , Bobby Cannavale , Seth Gabel , Terry Kinney , Richard Kind , Joe Mantello , Mia Farrow , Jennifer Coolidge , Noma Dumezweni , Margo Martindale , Henry Hunter Hall
Release DateOctober 13, 2022
Seasons1
NetworkNetflix
Streaming Service(s)Netflix
WritersRyan Murphy , Ian Brennan , Reilly Smith , Todd Kubrak
DirectorsRyan Murphy
ShowrunnerRyan Murphy
Ryan Murphy’s series The Watcher is loosely based on real events, but the show takes many liberties with the original source material. After a family moves into what they believe is their dream home, they’re plagued by ominous letters from an anonymous source, and each of them becomes unraveled by the events. Throughout the season, it’s unclear who the Watcher, the person behind the letters, is, but the family and the audience begin to suspect everyone they come into contact with.
The many twists and turns that The Watcher employs to keep the audience guessing are sometimes so outlandish they’re impossible to believe.
Though it looked like The Watcher was on its way to getting a second season, The Watcher season 2 doesn’t seem like it’s going to be happening any time soon. However, there’s enough drama, intrigue, and improbable situations in the first installment to satisfy any viewer. The many twists and turns that The Watcher employs to keep the audience guessing are sometimes so outlandish they’re impossible to believe. However, The Watcher is enjoyable when the viewer suspends their disbelief.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
54%
35%
1Yellowjackets (2021–Present)
Each season of Yellowjackets has seen an increase in the supernatural
Yellowjackets is a thriller and drama television series created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson. The series stars Melanie Lynskey, Tawny Cypress, and Ella Purnell. The plot sees a high-school Soccer team from New Jersey returning home from a National Tournament in Seattle. As they make their way back by plane, there is an unfortunate crash that sees them stranded in the Canadian wilderness.
CastJuliette Lewis , Sophie Thatcher , Warren Kole , Jasmin Savoy Brown , Tawny Cypress , Steven Krueger , Christina Ricci , Ella Purnell , Sammi Hanratty , Sophie Nélisse , Melanie Lynskey
Release DateNovember 14, 2021
Seasons2
NetworkShowtime
Streaming Service(s)Paramount+ with Showtime
WritersAshley Lyle , Bart Nickerson
ShowrunnerAshley Lyle , Bart Nickerson , Jonathan Lisco
The dual timelines of Yellowjackets inherently lend themselves to a surrealist tone, and season 2 upped the ante of the supernatural elements as the women search for answers about their past in the woods. As more is revealed about what the girls had to do to survive for the many months they were stranded, it becomes clear that there’s something at work behind the scenes. Whether this is real or imagined has yet to be determined, but the strange visuals and hallucinations the series uses raise more questions than answers.
It will be interesting to see how Yellowjackets season 3 will continue to weave in the crime and investigation elements into the story as the women delve deeper into the mystery of the forest. Two characters who are most in tune with the absurd and supernatural in Yellowjackets are Taissa and Lottie, who have visions and otherworldly experiences that they either embrace or try to hide from. Their connection to the woods could be a central theme of the upcoming season.
Season
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score
1
100%
73%
2
93%
43%
