Cliff Notes – “I was hooked straight away”: TV fans reveal Netflix’s best crime dramas
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Dept. Q’s Success: Netflix’s police drama Dept. Q, starring Matthew Goode, has garnered critical acclaim and has been confirmed for a second season, highlighting its popularity among viewers.
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Untamed’s Impact: Eric Bana’s performance in Untamed has captivated audiences, earning an 83% Rotten Tomatoes score and a renewal for a second season, praised for its engaging plot and character development.
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Mindhunter’s Status: Despite its high ratings and acclaim, Mindhunter’s potential third season has been put on indefinite hold due to budget concerns, as confirmed by executive producer David Fincher.
‘I was hooked straight away’: TV fans reveal Netflix’s best crime dramas
Netflix’s Dept. Q has become one of the streamer’s biggest hits of the year (Picture: Netflix)
There’s nothing quite like watching a high-octane TV show that makes your heart race from the comfort of your safe and cosy sofa.
But sometimes, when you want to find the right thriller to watch, there’s simply too much choice – and it can feel like an impossible decision.
Earlier this year, Netflix earned critical acclaim over the release of the spine-tingling police drama Dept. Q, starring Matthew Goode as a hardened and perpetually cynical police detective tasked with investigating seemingly unsolvable cold cases.
With a second season now confirmed, we asked Metro readers to share their top picks for other crime dramas launched by the streaming giant.
Metro readers have their say
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Following the release of Dept. Q, we asked Metro readers for their top recommendations of high-octane crime thrillers to binge on Netflix. Here’s what they had to say.
Untamed
Untamed was released in July – and Netflix fans across the globe were instantly hooked.
Eric Bana blew fans away with his latest TV performance in Untamed (Picture: Ricardo Hubbs/Netflix/Avalon)
The thriller saw the long-awaited return of ‘underrated’ Hollywood star Eric Bana to the world of TV, playing a National Park Service Investigative Services Branch (ISB) special agent called Kyle Parker, who becomes involved in an investigation into a woman’s mysterious death.
Metro reader Rich Moffatt described the show as ‘amazing’, stating: ‘It’s got intrigue from start to end. Great characters and setting that hooked me early on and kept it going.’
Untamed currently has an impressive 83% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and shortly after its release, the streaming giant confirmed that it will be back for a second season.
What did Metro think of Untamed?
Senior TV Reporter Rebecca Cook shares her views on Untamed in her five-star review for Metro.
Netflix’s new drama Untamed, starring Eric Bana, wastes no time with boring throat-clearing up top.
Time is of the essence: we only have six episodes to piece together who killed the young woman we see tumble off a cliff in the very first scene.
What puts Untamed head and shoulders above any of the crime thrillers Netflix has offered up so far this year – and more in the leagues of Broadchurch or Mare of Easttown – is the inventive setting, with a cast singing in perfect harmony.
As the twists and turns take shape, bringing into question unsolved cases from years gone by, Untamed becomes a show you will struggle to look away from. You will gasp. You will sweat. And you’ll come away wishing there might have been more throat-clearing up top after all.
To read more, click here.
‘I am absolutely thrilled that we get the chance to bring another season of Untamed to life,’ Eric said in a statement following the renewal confirmation.
‘The response to season one has been a testament to the incredible effort by our crew to deliver something truly unique. I can’t wait to take Kyle on his next journey. Massive thanks to Netflix, John Wells Productions, Warner Bros. Television and our fans.’
How many episodes are out?: You can stream all six episodes of the first season on Netflix.
Hostage
Whenever TV fans hear the name ‘Suranne Jones’, they will often come running, ready to devour whatever project she has decided to grace with her acting prowess.
After starring in fan-favourite shows including Doctor Foster, Gentleman Jack and Vigil, her latest performance in Netflix’s Hostage saw her play a Prime Minister forced to grapple with the horror of her husband being kidnapped.
Metro reader Nicoline Kakora-Shiner sang the drama’s praises, emphasising that she enjoyed ‘everything’ about it.
‘Good plot, excellent acting from two female leads. The angle with an older female having an affair with a younger man was interesting and well done,’ she added.
It currently has an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes and remained in the Netflix top 10 in the month of its launch.
How many episodes are out?: You can stream all five episodes of the first season on Netflix.
Mindhunter
It’s been six years since the last season of Mindhunter was released on Netflix – and yet, it’s still lauded as one of the best psychological crime thrillers on TV.
Glee and Hamilton star Jonathan Groff was one of the lead stars of Mindhunter (Picture: Patrick Harbron/Netflix/Kobal/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
The series follows FBI agents Holden Ford (Jonathan Groff) and Bill Tench (Holt McCallany), who conduct research into the minds of serial killers.
Boasting a 96% Rotten Tomatoes score for season one and a 99% rating for season two, Mindhunter received acclaim from critics and viewers alike.
Reacting on Metro‘s Facebook page, reader Andy Roberts outlined how his favourite part of the show was the ‘psychological games between the imprisoned serial killers and the agents’.
Will there be a season 3 of Mindhunter?
Following the release of Mindhunter season two in 2019, there was speculation that the series could return for a third outing.
The following year, fans’ hopes were dashed when it was revealed that a potential third season had been put on ‘indefinite hold’.
Sadly, in 2023, executive producer and director David Fincher confirmed that season three would not be happening.
‘I’m very proud of the first two seasons. But it’s a very expensive show and, in the eyes of Netflix, we didn’t attract enough of an audience to justify such an investment,’ Forbes reported him saying at the time.
‘I don’t blame them, they took risks to get the show off the ground, gave me the means to do Mank the way I wanted to do it, and they allowed me to venture down new paths with The Killer.
‘It’s a blessing to be able to work with people who are capable of boldness. The day our desires are not the same, we have to be honest about parting ways.’
He also pointed out that at times, there were ‘uncanny similarities’ between the actors who played the serial killers and the real people.
Some of the cast members in Mindhunter who played real-life serial killers include Cameron Britton as Ed Kemper, Sam Strike as Monte Rissell, Happy Anderson as Jerry Brudos, and Jack Erdie as Richard Speck.
How many seasons are out?: You can stream seasons one and two on Netflix.
North Shore
While North Shore aired on ITV in the UK at the end of last year, in June, it was added to Netflix’s repertoire.
Downton Abbey’s Joanne Froggatt plays the British trade minister who suffers a devastating tragedy in North Shore (Picture: ITV)
Recommended by Metro reader Lynn Purkiss, the Australian mystery crime thriller – which premiered in the Land Down Under in 2023 – follows a British and an Australian detective who have to join forces to investigate the. murder of a British trade minister’s daughter.
Downton Abbey star Joanne Froggatt, who plays Abigail Crawford in the series, also recently appeared in medical drama Breathtaking, and in Paramount Plus’ MobLand.
She stars in North Shore alongside Game of Thrones actor John Bradley and Thirteen Lives actress Kirsty Sturgess.
‘North Shore on Netflix is brilliant! When is the next series please??’ one viewer called Jonquil wrote on X.
‘Hoping for a series two of North Shore on Netflix. Really enjoyed it,’ Regina added, while Brydon remarked: ‘North Shore on Netflix was rather good.’
How many episodes are out?: You can stream all six episodes of the first season on Netflix.
This article was originally published on August 30.
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