This article mentions rape, self-harm, and suicide.
Broadchurchis a fantastic crime TV show, but if you’re disappointed that there aren’t any more seasons to watch, these other titles are worth checking out. One ofDavid Tennant’s best TV shows,Broadchurchis an amazing thriller that focuses on his character, Alec Hardy, and Olivia Colman’s Ellie Miller investigating various crimes in the titular British seaside town.Broadchurchis acrime TV show that completely changed the genre, and other projects have taken inspiration from it.
Although audiences will never find an exact replica ofBroadchurch, several detective and crime shows can scratch that itch. Whether it’s arecent crime show that flew under the radaror an older title that has gone unappreciated,Broadchurchis not alone when it comes to moody crime shows that fans of the genre will love.
Mare of Easttownis a crime drama TV show that follows Kate Winslet as Marianne “Mare” Sheehan, a police detective in the fictional Easttown, Philadelphia. From the first episode tothe ending ofMare of Easttown, the story is nothing short of thrilling.Like both Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller, Mare is simply trying to keep her own life afloat while investigatingthe murder of a teenage mother. Mare knows the local residents, who are also familiar with her for her incredible basketball record during her youth, so she faces a lot more pressure to solve the young girl’s murder.
Mare’s backstory and origins feel similar toBroadchurch. Her struggles with divorce, losing her son to suicide, and a painful custody battle over her grandson are also compared toHappy Valley, another British crime show that fans ofBroadchurchalso love.The most interesting parts of Mare’s life make the investigation even more personal,just like it does inBroadchurch, and it’s absolutely enthralling to witness the character’s gripping journey throughout the investigation.
Happy Valleyis an amazingmust-watch British murder mystery TV show, and a huge title in the UK.Happy Valleycenters on Sarah Lancashire as police sergeant Catherine Cawood, a blunt and outspoken womanwho is raising her grandson, Ryan, after the suicide of her daughter, Becky, and is living with her recovering addict sister. Catherine is still grieving her daughter, but despite feeling like she’s in a better place, her life falls apart once again when Becky’s rapist and Ryan’s father, Tommy Lee Royce, has been released from prison.
Happy Valleyfollows Catherine’s attempts to seek justice for her daughter,protect her grandson, and see Tommy return to jail for even more of his crimes. With each passing season, the stakes get higher, as Catherine is implicated for several murders, an employee at Ryan’s school develops an obsession with Tommy, and the child eventually forms a relationship with his biological father.Happy Valleyis an astonishing watch from start to finish, and it is by far one of the best British crime shows in recent years.
Many fans of the crime genre will already be familiar withSherlock, one ofthe best TV Sherlock Holmes adaptations of the 21st century. The BBC’s version of the Arthur Conan Doyle detective is portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch, who stars opposite Martin Freeman’s John Watson, and together, the pair solves complex mysteries from their central London flat.Across 4 seasons, Sherlock and John face villains such as Charles Augustus Magnussen,Jim Moriarty, and even original characters.
The hit crime show will undoubtedly leave you scratching your head throughout each episode,as you attempt to figure out the solution before the detective reveals it.Sherlock’s Reichenbach Fall fakeoutis a perfect example of this, and it’s a moment in TV that audiences still talk about to this day. Every installment ofSherlockis mesmerizing, and while the show focuses on a new crime with each episode, rather than per season likeBroadchurch, it’s absolutely worth viewers consuming themselves with it.
Lutheris one ofIdris Elba’s best TV shows, and it sees the actor portraying the titular John Luther, a detective chief inspector who is comparable to David Tennant’s Alec Hardy inBroadchurch.John is plagued by the dark, haunting memories of his past cases, but he’s a dedicated investigator nonethelesswho is determined to always find the truth. LikeBroadchurch,Lutherfocuses on one main crime in each season, but there are some other overarching subplots, too.
For example,the titular character forms a strange yet brilliant connection with murderer Alice Morgan in the first episode,but he’s unable to arrest her due to a lack of evidence. However, she later becomes both an antagonist, fighting back against John, as well as an unlikely ally at times.Lutherhas 5 seasons to binge, and while that may take new audiences a little time to get through, there’s also the 2023 sequel movie,Luther: The Fallen Sun, to enjoy, and hopes for another film in the future.
Netflix’s success withFool Me Onceproves just what great TV shows Harlan Coben’s works make, which adds up, seeing as the author’s stories are often compared toBroadchurch.Fool Me Onceis an adaptation of Coben’s novel of the same name,which follows Maya, who believes she is seeing her dead husband visiting their daughter on a nanny cam. However,Fool Me Oncedoesn’t just focus on this crime; it also delves into the lives of Abby and Daniel, Maya’s niece and nephew, who are desperate to find out the truth behind the murder of their own mother.
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March 2025
As audiences get to know Maya, Abby, and Daniel, as well as the others they keep close to in life,Fool Me Oncefantastically expands upon its mysteries.There seems to be a connection between the two deaths, but it’s unclear exactly what that is,and the reality is far from what audiences expect it to be. With the police constantly reinterviewing people and reminding Maya of her trauma and losses, it’s incredible whatFool Me Oncefits into only 8 episodes.
The Fallis aBritish crime show everyone should watch, which stars Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson. Gibson’s role is to review ongoing investigations, which is how she ends up working alongside local detectives to locate and arrest Jamie Dornan as unhinged serial killer Paul Spector, who is on the loose in Belfast.One thingThe Fallis praised for is its sense of realism,as Gibson faces several unnecessary policy-related obstacles throughout.
Like Alec Hardy, Gibson isn’t afraid to clash with her colleagues, especially if it means that her job is done successfully and an innocent person is protected from danger. There are some other parallels betweenThe FallandBroadchurch, too, like the fact that certain villains are hidden in plain sight, or that the main character is brought over from somewhere else, which creates a commotion with the officers already based there.The Falldiffers fromThe X-Files, naturally, because of the lack of extraterrestrialsor supernatural figures. However,The Fallproves that Gillian Anderson is greatat playing detectives.
Even thoughThe Killingends with season 4, meaning there is only so much of the show to consume, there are more episodes thanBroadchurch, and it’s still worth checking out.The Killingcenters on homicide detectives Sarah Linden and Stephen Holder. In season 1,The Killingfocuses on the unsolved murder of Rosie Larsen, a local teenager,and the show jumps between the investigation, her family’s grief, and the surrounding area’s response to her death, just likeBroadchurch.
Even the characters inThe Killingshare similarities with those inBroadchurch.
The Killingdoesn’t stop there, though, and much likeBroadchurch, subsequent seasons delve into new mysteries but ensure to provide updates on the Larsen family. Even the characters inThe Killingshare similarities with those inBroadchurch. There’s a young victim,Linden is distracted from her family by a shocking crime, and she also begrudgingly agrees to work with another detectiveshe’s not familiar with, much like Ellie Miller.The Killingis a brilliant crime drama, and so far, may be the closest thing to an AmericanBroadchurch, other than the US remake,Gracepoint.
Sharp Objectsstars Amy Adams as Camille Preaker, a reporter who returns to her hometown of Wind Gap, Missouri, after being released from a psychiatric hospital.Camille investigates the murders of two girls while fighting her own demons,specifically regarding her alcoholism, self-harming, and the criticism she faces from her mother.Sharp Objectsuses flashbacks to establish more about Camille’s past struggles, but the fact that these intensify after she moves back to her hometown seems to be connected to the murders.
Amy Adams won a Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actress in a Movie/Miniseries in 2019 for her portrayal of Camille Preaker inSharp Objects.
There is still an actual detective present, however.Chris Messina’s Detective Richard Willis is recruited to help with the ongoing investigationsand is new to the area in episode 1, much like Alec Hardy inBroadchurch.Sharp Objectsis amoody mystery TV showthat gives you a sense of dread, and although it’s only a miniseries, it’s still just as enthralling as a multi-season title likeBroadchurch.
Big Little Liesis aTV adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novelof the same name, which focuses on several families in the idyllic community of Monterey, California. Starring the likes of Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, and Shailene Woodley,Big Little Liesdelves into the dark secrets of these suburban parents.Episode 1 sets up the death of someone, but throughout the rest of season 1, audiences try to figure out who the victim is.
Although there isn’t an investigation at the forefront of the story like there is inBroadchurch, asBig Little Liesjumps back in time after the death reveal,it’s even more enjoyable to guess who dies and the reason why they’re killed. The local community inBig Little Liesdiffers fromBroadchurch, too, but there are some parallels, like the strained connections between the characters and the discoveries of each other’s secrets. It seems more likely than ever thatBig Little Liesseason 3could actually happen, so now is a great time to catch up on the show.
There are several similarities betweenBroadchurchandTop of the Lake, and not just the fact that the victims are found in a body of water.Top of the Lakeis an Australian TV show that follows Elisabeth Moss as Robin Griffin and David Wenham as Al Parker, two detectives who are reluctantly thrown together after a pregnant 12-year-old girl vanishes in a small town in New Zealand. Season 2, however, moves onto a new crime, just likeBroadchurch, and focuses on the body of a young girl being found on Bondi Beach.
Broadchurchis praised for tackling all kinds of difficult topics, and this is somethingTop of the Lakeis great at, too.Top of the Lakedelves into themes of rape culture and gender dynamics phenomenally, and while it looks at it in a harsh yet realistic light, it ensures to provide a strong moral message and doesn’t shame anybody.Top of the Lakeis often considered the AustralianBroadchurch, which makes a lot of sense, but it’s also so thrilling that it can stand by itself, too.
