By Andrés Muñoz
You’ve likely heard how true crime podcasts are on the rise, just like the countless books and films that tell stories about those who engage in a life of crime. Is this popularity a historical interest, a psychological attraction, or plain morbid curiosity?
Crime-related content has had its share of hits, and television series are no exception. Unlike films, television development has more time to tell a story, thanks to its episodic and season-based nature. This grants production companies, networks, and streaming platforms time to create epic and more fascinating narrative arcs for every character.
Let’s review some of the Netflix series that have consolidated as genre icons in the past ten years.
By Order Of The “Peaky Blinders”
Initially a BBC show and distributed by Netflix in the US and around the world since season 2, Peaky Blinders narrates the rise to power and fame of the Shelby family. Led by former WWI war hero Thomas Shelby (Cillian Murphy), the Shelby clan rises through the ranks of the English underworld, and Thomas starts rubbing shoulders with the politicians of the time.
With sharp razors and sharper suits, the lads from Birmingham consolidate their power through grit, cunning and by forging alliances with rival gangs, however short those may be. My personal favourite is the fourth season, with Adrien Brody delivering a stellar performance.
“The Sinner”: A Layer-By-Layer Investigation
Based on German writer Petra Hammesfahr’s 1999 novel, The Sinner was originally a limited season. It narrates the story of a town being shocked to the core by a woman abruptly killing a man on a beach in broad daylight on a warm summer day. Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman) starts peering into the case. Slowly but surely, he realises there’s more than meets the eye in this wonderfully crafted story.
Thanks to its success, the series evolved into a multi-season format, with season 2 boasting a 97% rating on Rottentomatoes.com. Just as in season 1, a baffling crime spans the entire season, revealing its layers little by little. The fourth and final season was released in 2021.
Mesdames et Messieurs: “Lupin”
Maurice Leblanc’s 1905 Arséne Lupin character is the classic gentleman burglar trope. A good guy who operates on the wrong side of the law, the story lends itself to suitable adaptations and has fascinated audiences for over a century. Lupin’s adventures have been adapted into plays, films, comic books, and even video games! I was a big fan of retro Japanese anime from the 70s.
Netflix’s revamp Lupin, starring Omar Sy, has firmly established a foothold with viewers. The French show revives the Lupin character, adapting him to the present day. The show is on its third season, released in October 2023. Yet again, it is full of twists and turns involving heists, costumes, and thrilling escapades.
“Bodyguard” – A Tale Of British Politics And Mental Health
Scottish star Richard Madden deserved more screen time after the fateful events of Game of Thrones’s Red Wedding. Fortunately, BBC signed him up for Bodyguard, whose worldwide streaming rights (Except for the UK and Ireland) were quickly snatched by Netflix. The gripping series tells the story of a PTSD-riddled war veteran who is tasked with protecting a politician whose politics and policies he despises. It delves deeply into prickly issues like government surveillance and the police’s role when facing a terrorist threat.
Bodyguard has received widespread acclaim, holding a 93% rating on Rottentomatoes.com. Has season 2 been confirmed yet? While creator Jed Mercurio posted a tweet on April Fools’ Day, there are rumours of a second season being in development, but don’t expect it anytime soon. To that, I say: all good things take time.
“Bodies” – A Crime Told Across Time
Finally, we’re finishing up with a story with “mind-bending crime” written all over it. A Netflix Original production, Bodies is a British series starring Stephen Graham (Snatch, Gangs of New York, This is England) and other actors that have popped up in other Netflix shows like Shira Haas (Unorthodox) and Jacob Fortune-Lloyd (The Queen’s Gambit).
The tale spans several moments in time, as four different detectives investigate a murder committed in the same location, but in 1890, 1941, 2023 and 2053. The series has just been released, and the critic’s consensus seems to be: “Anchored by the indispensable Stephen Graham, Bodies’ multiple twisting time strands coalesce into one satisfying binge.” And I agree!
Whether it is thieves, murderers, bosses, or the agents tasked to catch them, criminals have always been a part of popular culture. Their intrigues fascinate viewers, and television allows them to evolve with depth and gravitas as seasons go by, keeping us glued to our sofas but sometimes on the edge of our seats.
I hope you enjoy my selection, and let us know what other shows you recommend in the comments section below!