The police procedural is, perhaps, one of the most popular genres in television today. For the unaware, a police procedural is, basically, a sub-genre of the greater mystery genre, whose focus is placed on an entire police department, rather than on one, independent detective.
It is very likely that most people have seen at least one police procedural show in their lives. And while they can be corny and a little cheesy, for the most part they do their job well; that being, to entertain an audience. In this article, we’d like to talk about some binge-worthy police procedural television shows.
Las Vegas (2003 – 2008)
Las Vegas is the gambling capital of the world. The name is synonymous with poker, blackjack, or just simply grandiose casinos. The Montecito Resort and Casino is just one such establishment. The fictional casino provides the best services to customers visiting from all over the world. Naturally, this makes it a target for swindlers, robbers, thieves, and criminals of all kinds.
Luckily, the casino’s incredibly trained security staff is always on high-alert. Led by Ed Deline (James Caan), the casino’s surveillance team are always watching, and making sure that all of the guests are on the up and up. However, sometimes, the criminal manages to outsmart them. And that is when it is time to solve the crime.
There is simply something fascinating about a casino-based police procedural. Gambling is a fascinating topic in general, as it is a form of entertainment dating back to the ancient world. Of course, most people today have not stepped foot in a casino, preferring instead to gamble online. Online casinos not only host all of the games you can expect to find at a land-based establishment, but also allow you alternative payment methods. For example, Trustly is a trusted method of payment at online casinos.
However, the land-based casinos remain an alluring aspect of society, especially the ones located in Vegas. This show perfectly captures the atmosphere of a casino, while also hitting you with all of the tropes of a police procedural that we know and love. It could get cheesy at times, but it’s good cheese, never once overpowering the viewer’s palette.
Law & Order (1990 – )
The Law & Order franchise has to be one of the most recognizable series of the modern age. Even those who’ve never seen the show are familiar with its iconic soundtrack. The original series began in 1990, and concluded in 2010, which means that there are twenty years of show to enjoy, just from the first series alone. With 21 seasons and close to 500 episodes, you don’t really need anything else.
However, in case you just want more Law & Order, there are six other series to watch. Law and Order: Special Victims Unit is the most popular one, apart from the original. With 25 seasons and over 500 episodes, L&O: SVU surpasses even the original series in terms of length and popularity. The show has received 108 award nominations, and remains a staple of the police procedural genre.
The last series in the franchise we would like to look at is Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Focusing much more on high-profile crimes like kidnappings, robberies, and heists, as well as on the motivations of the criminals themselves, Criminal Intent is, perhaps, the most introspective of the shows. At only 10 seasons and about 200 episodes, it is also the shortest of the three we’ve discussed.
The series starred Vincent D’Onofrio and Kathryn Erbe in the lead roles, and even featured Jay O. Sanders, a notable Broadway actor and screenplay writer as the police captain. Like most of the series in the franchise, the show tackles the detective, as well as the court room side of police investigations, which means it will appeal to those who like entertainment law, just as much as to those who enjoy police procedurals.
NCIS – Naval Criminal Investigative Service
When most people think of a police procedural, it is likely NCIS that comes to mind. The show’s main focus is on Special Agent Jethro Gibbs, who leads a crack team of personalities in solving and investigating various crimes. It is easy for shows like these to focus on murders. But, NCIS manages to tackle all sorts of different criminal activities, ranging from espionage to murder, and even terrorism.
NCIS is also the progenitor of many tropes found in modern day police procedurals. The quirky team, the ensemble cast, and the hard-faced detective leading them all were first established in NCIS, and have been imitated ever since, with varying degrees of success. Like Law & Order, NCIS has spawned numerous spin-offs and sequels. Some of the most popular ones include the following:
- NCIS: Los Angeles: set in Los Angeles, the show follows Special Agents Sam Hanna and Grisha Callen as they work undercover to expose criminal activity.
- NCIS: New Orleans: Dwayne Pride leads the New Orleans NCIS team in investigating foreign intelligence crime, suspected terrorists, and even conspiracies within the US marine corps.
- NCIS: Hawai’i: Taking us to the sunny, paradise island of Hawaii, this show has been running since 2021, and features LL Cool J, Vanessa Lachey, and Tori Anderson in starring roles.
Honorable Mentions
The three shows that we brought up in this article are certainly going to give you that thrill you seek from a police procedural. However, they are far from the only shows that competently tackle the subject. For a spin on the police procedural, check out iZombie.
As the title suggests, the show follows Liv Moore, an up-and-coming doctor who becomes a zombie. She gets a job at the morgue and uses her zombie powers to solve various crimes. The show ran for four seasons, and you can stream it on Netflix. It is a fun time, though nothing too serious.
For a more classic mystery spin, that still retains the police procedural aspect, Monk is a classic of the genre. The show follows the private investigator Adrian Monk, whose crippling OCD has made him unfit for service.
However, Adrian Monk is a brilliant detective, and often works alongside the SFPD to solve various unsolvable crimes. The show ran for only six seasons, and manages to tell a compelling story, while sticking to an episodic formula.
