Before Lanterns even premiered, comparisons were being made to another HBO show, True Detective. Now that the show is underway, though, that might not be the best point of comparison. There’s the obvious factor of its superhuman powers and interstellar characters, but on top of that, True Detective mixes more literal police work with pessimistic, even nihilistic philosophical ideas. You might not get too attached to Lanterns if you’re not invested in Green Lantern or the greater DC Universe.

Here, then, are a few detective/investigative shows worth checking out if you were expecting something grittier or more realistic. I’m going to skip the first season of True Detective, since I’m taking that suggestion for granted.

Mindhunter

Diving into the darkest corners of real crime

Credit: Netflix

While a lot of detective stories qualify as dark or even horrific, what takes the sting out of them is a lesser version of what Lanterns has going on: fantasy. They borrow the framework of reality, but insert criminals that are implausibly evil or calculating, or otherwise lack any connection to your lived existence. It’s too easy to distance yourself from the threat.

Not so with Manhunter. Spearheaded by Joe Penhall and director David Fincher, the series is based on the FBI’s real-world efforts to begin profiling serial killers. It’s by no means a strict docudrama, as there’s plenty of well-written character development, and occasional moments of humor. But it deals with killers like Edmund Kemper, Richard Speck, and (controversially) Wayne Williams, and it doesn’t shy away from making you uncomfortable with the crimes or their perpetrators. That gives it some heft, knowing that the broad strokes of these events really happened, and that profiling likely did save lives. It’s just a shame Netflix canceled the show two seasons in.

Mindhunter

Release Date

2017 – 2019

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Joe Penhall

The X-Files

More hit than miss

Credit: IMDb

In a way, The X-Files is the polar opposite of Mindhunter, other than both shows featuring the FBI. Its overarching plot revolves around aliens and government conspiracies, and its standalone episodes aren’t afraid to invoke ghosts, monsters, and other mythical beings. But that’s part of its charm — you’re never quite sure what’s going to happen next. There are some episodes that are straight-up comedy.

Another difference from Mindhunter is that I’m not going to recommend watching the entire show from beginning to end. Instead I’d suggest focusing on episodes that involve the main plot, and any standalones that are considered fan favorites. My own pick is “Home,” which might be the darkest moment of the entire show, venturing directly into horror.

The X-Files

Release Date

1993 – 2018-00-00

Network

FOX

Showrunner

Chris Carter

The Wire

No list would be complete

Credit: HBO

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention The Wire, which is often considered one of the best TV shows in any genre. Part of what elevates it is that it’s not just focused on the Baltimore Police Department. You get to see many different angles of the city, including dockworkers, journalists, politicians, and drug dealers, and the series can make major shifts between seasons. For American audiences, it was their first introduction to Idris Elba, who stole the spotlight as gangster Stringer Bell despite being a thoroughly British actor.

More importantly, the show has honest bones to pick about the institutional breakdowns that prevent things from getting better in Baltimore, the US, and perhaps other places as well. It’s rare for a fictional show to attempt that, much less succeed, and in that regard it might actually be more profound than either Mindhunter or True Detective.

The Wire

Release Date

2002 – 2008-00-00

Network

HBO

Showrunner

David Simon