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[Hulk_Smash]

So, let’s settle it. What’s the best crime/cop drama in recent years? The kind of show that tells the story from both sides of the law.

Pick your top 3 if you want. But which one is the best and why? Am I missing any gems?

 

[NorwayBot]

The Sopranos, why, because it changed/rejuvenated the "status" of television dramas.


Classic:

 

[hybrid_birth]

Limitless tv show kept me hooked. It was a show about this guy who finds this wonder drug that unlocks full power of the brain and makes him smarter than anyone. He ends up working with the cops solving crime cases. Even though the drug is illegal the feds give him the drug so he can be a super cop. He uses his intelligence to solve his dads mystery illness that the doctors couldn't solve.

Pretty good show based on the Limitless movie with Bradley Cooper. Sadly got canceled after a season. I found it on Netflix.

 

[Threeshotgamer]

Justified
Ozark
Blue Bloods

Edit- Honorable mentions to Sons of Anarchy and Mayans

 

[Clear]

The Shield. Rewatched it recently, its phenomenal.

Not a single bad episode in the entire run, and if you can grab the complete series box-set, it also has a ton of extras which are not only informative but highly entertaining. Worth dusting off the DVD player for.

Justified is also great, but it is a bit less consistent (the first season they really were figuring it out as they went along), and for me consistency is king. If the entirety of True Detective was as strong as the first season it'd be up there, but, well the second season sucks, and the third season is decent but nowhere near as engaging as the first.

 

[dcll]

The Killing should be in the discussion

 

[AmuroChan]

Any live video feed of the streets of Portland when a BLM or Antifa protest is happening.

 

[Phase]

Brooklyn 99

 

[Thing on a Spring]

I voted The Shield. Above Breaking Bad and The Wire. Vic is law.

 

[kunonabi]

Dont watch many cop shows but these were my favs growing up.

 

[Goro Majima]

Voted the Wire because of course and it bordered on documentary (minus the last season) making it all the more poignant. The second best cop/crime show of all time is a much more difficult debate.

 

[Prison Mike]

The shield is my all time favourite
Also line of duty is on another level

 

[Nico_D]

The Shield
The Cracker (UK)
The Wire
Miami Vice is still pretty good.

Edit: oh, True Detective S1 - of course

 

[dorkimoe]

Breaking bad
Line of duty
Money heist

 

[teezzy]

The Shield

Dont really consider Breaking Bad or Better Call Saul to be cop dramas

 

[Lionel Richie]

Saw Justified up top and got trigger happy, but The Wire was probably a better show. For a different take that isn't listed, don't miss Banshee. Man that show was fucking awesome.

 

[Kronic_Despair]

The Wire is phenomenal and is neck and neck with The Shield for me. But if I had to choose it would be The Shield; I still remember watching the final episode of the series and just sitting there for about 5 minutes staring at a black screen just processing the end of the show, only a small handful of shows ever made me feel some kind of loss when it was over. Shout out to Justified for having some of the best writing of any show ever and Margo Martindale's performance is something to behold in season 2.

 

[Prison Mike]

Shit how did i leave banshee out fuck me what a ride

 

[John Mullins]

Love NYPD Blue when I was younger.

The Shield gets my vote, excellent show. Walt Goggins is a masterclass in acting.

Ronnie is a pimp.

 

[John Mullins]

I loved S2 of The Wire. I wish they continued that anthology type of path but they reverted to business as usual with S3 again, weird.