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Are you a murder mystery aficionado looking for a new show? Ever wanted to get into murder mystery TV shows, but don’t know where to start? I’m here to solve that mystery for you. Along with my family, I have watched so, so many murder mysteries, of a variety of sub-genres, delving deep into British telly, American procedurals, and shows from Canada all the way to Australia and New Zealand, and I have emerged to report back with recommendations for whichever flavor of murder is your cup of tea.
Since we’re in awards season, here are my informal superlative awards in the realm of murder mysteries (and where to watch them). Also, if you don’t know what murder-mystery show might fit your mood, we’ve made a nifty quiz to help you decide below:
The Myst-ys (The Murder Mystery Awards)
Best Small Town: “The Brokenwood Mysteries” (On Acorn TV)
Ever watch a murder mystery supposedly set in a small town that doesn’t really feel like a small town? Want one that has more of an actual small-town vibe? Well, look no further. In the New Zealand show “The Brokenwood Mysteries,” you will see the same faces again and again, not just among the investigative team, but at the local bar, the local coffee cart, and meet such staples as the local busybody, the local mayor and clergy, and more. See how they grow, change, or stay the same through the murders of the week. Either way, when you tune into this show, you can be sure to see many familiar faces week to week.
Runner Up: “Sister Boniface Mysteries,” a charming spinoff of “Father Brown” that also has great small-town vibes with recurring village personalities. (On Britbox).
Best Interrogations: “Criminal Minds” (On Paramount+)
Want more of a procedural vibe, but are put off by police brutality? Look no further than “Criminal Minds.” While other procedural shows have “heroes” yelling and intimidating suspects in the interrogation room, and spreading dangerous misinformation about the supposed effectiveness of torture, this show won a human rights award for its portrayal of ethical (and actually effective) interrogation techniques. Combating pop cultural misconceptions about torture is a pet cause of mine, and as far as interrogations go, this show is aspirational. Hopefully, someday, real-world law enforcement will follow their example.
Best Show to Fall Asleep To: “Murder, She Wrote” (On Prime Video)
Sometimes you might want an exciting procedural, and other times you might prefer a cozy mystery. After years of investigation and comparison, I can report that the coziest of the cozy is “Murder, She Wrote.” In the best possible way, if you want something nice to watch before bed, this is the murder show for you. Note: Jamie Lee Curtis will be reviving this series, so now is the time to start betting on which “mature” guest cast members will show up to play suspects, victims, and Jessica’s endless relatives.
Best Whodunits: “Death in Paradise” (On Prime Video)
In some murder mystery shows, the puzzles themselves are not as interesting as the detective characters. Not so in this show. While there is an ever-changing but charming cast of characters, the standout feature of “Death in Paradise” is that it has the cleverest whodunit puzzles. If you ever wished a murder mystery show had craftier puzzles, check out this one.
Best “Only the Murders Please”: “Midsomer Murders” (On Acorn TV)
Some shows have nearly as much (or more!) focus on the investigators’ interpersonal dramas as on the murders. That can be fun, but if you aren’t in the mood for that and just want the mysteries, “Midsomer Murders” is the way to go. The detectives are still entertaining characters, but the biggest drama in their lives is in the realm of whether Barnaby can make it in time to his daughters’ play (and even if he doesn’t, she won’t even be too mad). Giving the detectives healthy families with domestic charm provides a cozy contrast, leaving all the sordid secrets and crises to the suspects.
Best Supernatural: “Lucifer” (On Netflix)
Conversely, if you want just as much soapy melodrama with the investigative leads as with the mysteries they solve, and an equal helping of supernatural shenanigans both celestial and inferno, “Lucifer” is the way to go. Half of the show’s attention is devoted to the supernatural soap opera of the devil and his dysfunctional family, but never fear, there is always a murder of the week for this “crime-solving devil (it makes sense! Don’t overthink it…).” Also, if you like a good will-they-or-won’t-they between a detective and their amateur sleuth partner, this one gets answered soon enough for these cool cats to work through what that actually means for their relationship and how they can grow as a pair, winning this show my vote for Best Romantic Plotline.
Basically, the character development is peak. Also, despite its premature cancellation by HBO, “Lucifer” was picked up by Netflix and allowed to finish out its storylines, earning it my rarely granted award for Best Ending. This show is also a runner-up in the Best Amateur & Detective Partnership category. It’s definitely not everyone’s cup of tea, but, as you can tell from the slew of awards, it is exactly mine, and who knows, it might just be yours too.
Best Sherlock Holmes: “Sherlock Holmes (1984)” (On Britbox)
There have been so many Sherlock Holmeses and Holmes-inspired TV shows over the years (my family even did a festival of different Holmeses once!). But many Holmes aficionados agree, if you want well-done book-accurate Holmes, you can’t do better than the 1984 show, colloquially called “Granada Holmes” after its production company and starring Jeremy Brett. I’ll admit it took me a while to get around to trying it, but having read many of the original stories, I found that those who swear by Brett and “Granada Holmes” are absolutely correct.
Best Ms. Marple: Joan Hickson in “Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple” (Not available on streaming)
Another mystery writer whose works have been adapted many times is Agatha Christie. I’ve seen a good amount of Christie adaptations, both film and TV, and as for Miss Marple, my parents’ favorite actor is the incomparable Joan Hickson, and they are not wrong.
Best Courtroom: “Perry Mason” (On Peacock & Paramount+)
I’ll be honest, I haven’t actually watched that many courtroom mysteries, but I can still highly recommend the original “Perry Mason” (not to be confused with the recent reboot). Iconic and surprisingly progressive at times, probably due to its female producer (Gail Patrick Jackson, who was the awful sister in “My Man Godfrey”), this show will also help you understand so many pop cultural references. Once you know what a “Perry Mason moment” is, you won’t forget it.
Best In Show: “Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries” (On PBS & Acorn TV)
My personal favorite murder-mystery series, this show sweeps the mystery awards bracket, winning my votes for Best Period Piece, Best Amateur & Detective Partnership, Best Slow-Burn Romance, and Best Costumes. A lady detective in Australia in the 1920s, Miss Fisher wears the most glamorous flapper dresses you’ll ever see while courageously and hilariously investigating every dead body that finds her, along with her stalwart Inspector Jack Robinson. Her found family supporting cast is also delightful, and I’ve watched the entire show at least four times.
Pro tip: If you’ve watched Miss Fisher four times and want something else in the same vein before your next rewatch, check out the Canadian show “Frankie Drake Mysteries.”
The basic structure of a murder-of-the-week story is: we begin with a peaceful status quo, which is disrupted by a murder, our heroes catch the culprit, and justice is restored. It is this restoration of justice that we find comforting. Whether it’s a procedural that portrays the fantasy of a law enforcement that actually serves the people, a buddy romance that shows the power of teamwork and love to overcome any obstacle, or a cozy romp in a quaint countryside where clever civilians save the day, murder mysteries are vessels of hope—the hope that justice can exist in the world. I don’t know about you, but I could use some of that right about now.
from Roger Ebert https://ift.tt/RbsEGIT
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