Netflix’s latest British crime drama series, ‘Adolescence’, has captivated audiences globally. After enjoying its intense narrative, surely, you are longing for shows with a similar tone. We have curated a list of 7 outstanding crime drama series that are reminiscent of Adolescence for your next binge-watching session.
Adolescence examines the homicide of a young girl in a provincial English town. Despite being mistaken as a typical murder mystery, it isn’t. Rather, the series unravels the motive behind the gruesome act, steering clear from the conventional whodunit. The viewer is made aware of the killer’s identity at the series outset.
The miniseries is a testament to the art of storytelling, ending on a chilling finale that lingers in the mind long after the episodes finish. Notably, the uninterrupted camera work creates a deep sense of immersion. Each episode is genuinely a single take, devoid of any clever editing to create a one-take illusion.
With that said, let’s take a journey through critically acclaimed crime dramas resonating with Adolescence, ranked by their IMDb scores, available on streaming platforms such as Netflix and Prime Video.
Inspiring the successful HBO series ‘Mare of Easttown’, our first pick is a compelling crime drama, which, in many critics’ opinion, surpasses even its famous successor. It involves a murder suspect who is not an adolescent per se but carries an innocent and youthful look.
This particular series follows the life of Nasir Khan in New York, who after spending an amorous night with a young woman, wakes up to her heinous murder. Instead of acting sensibly, he makes a hasty decision that lands him as the main suspect. Just like Adolescence, this series delves into the repercussion of a crime accusation on family dynamics and the ripple effect it initiates throughout the community.
The plot thickens in the coastal town of Broadchurch when 11-year-old Danny Latimer is found lifeless at the base of a cliff. The investigative duo, Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller are faced with the onerous task of solving this case. Hardy, a mysterious outsider with a murky past, grapples with the approachable and local Ellie, who bears a personal connection with the victim’s family. Fans of Adolescence’s procedural aspect will find this series gripping.
Set against the backdrop of Northern Ireland, another series delves into the world of novice cops under the mentorship of seasoned officers. It offers an intriguing exploration of their exhaustive journey through unfurling crimes and resolving complex investigations.
In ‘Defending Jacob’, a similar narrative to Adolescence is spun around a couple, Andy and Laurie Barber, who are engulfed by the horrific possibility of their son being a homicidal maniac. As an Assistant District Attorney, Andy is thrown into a dilemma: will he stay true to his profession or bow to his fatherly instincts?
Nestled in a quiet town in New Zealand, a Sydney-based detective named Robin Griffin uncovers the disappearance and subsequent murder of a pregnant pre-teen girl while battling her personal demons. Fans of Adolescence will appreciate the slowly intensifying narrative and the macabre aura that envelopes this series.
Based on a Harlan Coben novel, another British crime drama unfolds around Adam Price, a man who’s life is plunged into turmoil after a woman divulges a terrible secret about his wife. At first glance, ‘The Stranger’ seems to share only a tingling sense of discomfort akin to Adolescence.
However, it also takes a deep dive into how hidden transgressions continue to boil underneath the facade of our routine existence.
Our list presents a diverse range of crime dramas that harbour well-crafted narratives and characters, ensuring that you stay riveted to your seats. Happy watching!