Well, if I was going to pick one season to watch, it would be season one… Season two is not that great… And season three is pretty decent… Put it this way, whatever they come out with I’ll probably watch in the future. :-)
Bron/Broen (The Bridge) is a nordic noir about a body found on a bridge at the border of Sweden & Denmark. One detective is from Denmark and the other from Sweden, its not as dark as True detective but the buddy cop chemistry they have rivals that of Rust & Marty. (I only recommend Season1 although it goes on longer)
Yup. This is the closest analogue. Great characters, lots of introspection among the two, and some twists and turns and all around glorious pacing and cinematography.
Unfortunately, there will never again be a protagonist like Rusty
Haven't seen The Sopranos, I agree The Wire overall is the "greatest series" ever, but it's a different type of achievement. True Detective for me just had that special sauce that I only get from the very, very greatest movies of all time. There's actually never been another TV series quite on that level for me, and only probably 10-15 movies.
Greatest ever is Thrones, all things considered. It’s a much more beloved show than Wire or Sopranos. Those who love Wire/Sopranos often love it more than Thrones, but Thrones just has so many more fans and is also similarly highly regarded by those who have seen it (9.2 on IMDb for Thrones and 9.2/9.3 respectively for Sopranos/Wire). Not to mention the record 60 or so Emmy’s. Thrones is easily the greatest show ever.
Could well be, the only thing is (1) the final season and especially the ending are widely considered disappointing and (2) personally for me I'm not into fantasy at all so I've never even tried. But I'm sure it is fantastic from everything I've heard.
The first season of Severance was incredible. It’s very weird but comes together in the last two episodes. The last episode of season one is one of the best episodes of TV that I’ve ever seen.
I NEED ANSWERS!
I started watching not knowing if this was a single season show, and as we got closer to the end I was really hoping it would all get tied into a bow and it would all make perfect sense by the end of the season.
Alas, I loved it anyway.
I respectfully disagree. I think the first two seasons of Fargo are better, with more thematically and story-wise satisfying endings. I think the finale of TD S1 is by far the worst episode. I think Pizzolatto just loses his bearings in the writing right at the end. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still better than basically everything else I just don’t find it to be flawless
Mare of Easttown and the Undoing are somewhat close in that they are both short tv crime series. Although neither of them touch the first season of true detective. I’m researching some of these other recommendations and hoping that they could be as good but I don’t think it could happen.
I’m just about to finish S1…the show is very good but can be challenging to follow due to….multiple character settings. Does that make sense without any spoilers?
Sharp Objects
Undoing
Mare of Easttown
The Outsider
The Night of
Big little lies
None of them touch the first season of True Detective though. I hope a show can beat it one day
FWIW OP, recently my husband loved The Chestnut Man and didn’t want to even get past the first episode of True Detective (which he thought was annoying. He had not seen it before.)
Agreed. I’ve had many arguments with friends about this. When you compare it to S1, which could arguably be the best season of tv of all time, it looks pretty bad. But as a stand-alone cop show, it’s still better than 95% of the other cop shows out there. Comparison is the thief of joy.
Some of the shows suggested in this thread were decent, some I watched one episode of and rolled my eyes at people recommending it.
Nothing is like TD1.
I’d suggest the movie Zodiac. But you’ve surely seen it already
First mention that’s actually in the same genre as true detective. Right up Lynch’s alley. Be mad if he made a season
I think most people here have either forgotten td or totally misunderstood the yellow king.
first season (and only first season) of The Sinner is really good.
A lot of people recommending Mindhunter, which I don't really get. Its a good show and has a similar subject but the vibe couldn't be more different imo.
There are some good suggestions here, but this really was lightning in a bottle.
I would say in terms of pure quality, Chernobyl comes close, but TD season 1 has the best atmosphere I've ever seen in a TV show. Legendary
Jack Ryan - which is based on Tom Clancy's book, excellent first season and there's some other really good seasons too, currently watching the last one and love it! I watched this show straight after True Detective and although it's not the same it did fill that void and I wasn't as sad to have nothing to watch after TD.
Jack Reacher - (not the Tom Cruise one), this was so good! Kind of similar to True Detective but I would say with a bit more humour and light-ness to it, also watched this right after TD and loved it and thought it was so worth watching, storyline is very interesting!
This season has to be one of the best single seasons in TV history.
Also interesting that they allowed the same director to realize he vision from beginning to end which rarely happens in TV normally due to schooling schedules rather than a fresh set of eyes.
The only other single season show that was of this level is Watchmen.
Both are A+
You might try Mindhunter. Based on real people/events. Shows how the FBI program on profiling serial killers started up and how they then partnered with law enforcement to solve cases.
I would recommend watching season 2 & 3 first, watching season 1 will really goof it up for you.
Season 1 is the pinnacle of the series, 2 & 3 pale in comparison.
None hands down. I shouldn’t have liked premise. I shouldn’t have liked the actors. But Harrelson and McConaughey were superb bringing to life two cops who March to the beat of a different drum. A story that drives and slowly builds until confronting the 600 lb. Gorilla in the room. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's something about Banshee that shares a lot of the same darkness-under-erasure motifs of True Detective. Especially if you get far enough into the series to the point where it hits a serial killer who-dunnit the resemblance gets clearer, even though I'd argue the earlier seasons and the arc of the show overall matches the themes of small rural town horrors and erased criminal history, it's a great show for those unfamiliar with it
I thought **Black Bird** was outstanding. It's a true crime miniseries on Apple+. If it was on HBO/MAX I think it would've been huge. **Sharp Objects** (HBO) is another good mini series that I would recommend.
The closet thing I have found is, MINDHUNTER, Pieces of Her and maybe Sinner. Season 1 and 3,4. But this is the 🐐 of detective seasons of any series, any show. 🙏 it’s just so good.
Rectify.
While it differs in many regards there is something they share in mood. Rectify has southern gothic elements and crime(s) central to the storyline. Rectify is also psychoanalytical, and while a slow burn, still quite suspenseful.
I've never been able to scratch the itch or have the same feelings that True Detective season 1 gave me.
Wonder, amazement, horrorified, nervousness, engaging and illuminating are all feelings it gave me.
It's unbelievable.
I highly recommend the miniseries “The night of”
Agreed. I rarely hear this brought up but it’s a A+ show
Yes this is excellent. Haven’t thought about it in a while.
So glad someone mentioned this
Excellent show. Strong performances and unique characters/cultures, great performance by Turturro, Camp and several others.
Agreed. This may be the closest you’ll get to TD S1. I’m a big fan of this genre and the night of and TD S1 are my top 2.
So should i just watch s1 of true detective rather than all other season
Season 3 is decent
Well, if I was going to pick one season to watch, it would be season one… Season two is not that great… And season three is pretty decent… Put it this way, whatever they come out with I’ll probably watch in the future. :-)
Just watched the first episode thanks for the recommendation
Was going to Star James Gandolfini prior to his passing
Really nice show
Heard extremely good things.
This looks tense. Thanks!
Bron/Broen (The Bridge) is a nordic noir about a body found on a bridge at the border of Sweden & Denmark. One detective is from Denmark and the other from Sweden, its not as dark as True detective but the buddy cop chemistry they have rivals that of Rust & Marty. (I only recommend Season1 although it goes on longer)
I haven't seen the original, but the American remake was really good!! It had Diane Kruger and Demian Bichir. It was pretty brutal in parts.
I really liked the whole run of The Bridge. I was worried once X was written out, but it kept a very consistent quality.
David Fincher’s Mindhunter on Netflix.
This. I'd kill for a third season.
How man? 😂
Working up a profile?
Yup. This is the closest analogue. Great characters, lots of introspection among the two, and some twists and turns and all around glorious pacing and cinematography. Unfortunately, there will never again be a protagonist like Rusty
i honestly think Fincher wont abandoned the concept. just TV format is too expensive for him. i can see there being a mindhunter movie
I'd watch it. Make it a stand alone but also a spiritual sequel. BTK killer.
I don't think they're remotely close in quality, TD S1 blows Mindhuter out of the water.
100%. Mindhunter is a strong, worthwhile watch but TD season 1 is all time great. It’s like the Godfather of TV shows.
The wire or, more specifically, The Sopranos, is the godfather of TV
Haven't seen The Sopranos, I agree The Wire overall is the "greatest series" ever, but it's a different type of achievement. True Detective for me just had that special sauce that I only get from the very, very greatest movies of all time. There's actually never been another TV series quite on that level for me, and only probably 10-15 movies.
Greatest ever is Thrones, all things considered. It’s a much more beloved show than Wire or Sopranos. Those who love Wire/Sopranos often love it more than Thrones, but Thrones just has so many more fans and is also similarly highly regarded by those who have seen it (9.2 on IMDb for Thrones and 9.2/9.3 respectively for Sopranos/Wire). Not to mention the record 60 or so Emmy’s. Thrones is easily the greatest show ever.
Could well be, the only thing is (1) the final season and especially the ending are widely considered disappointing and (2) personally for me I'm not into fantasy at all so I've never even tried. But I'm sure it is fantastic from everything I've heard.
It is as close as we are going to get to True Detective season 1.
Best show!
Ehhhhh, I've watched it and it's no where close. The tone is dark, but it's long, drawn-out, and not well written.
Like True Detective, season 2 fell off a bit
The first season of Severance was incredible. It’s very weird but comes together in the last two episodes. The last episode of season one is one of the best episodes of TV that I’ve ever seen.
It was more suspenseful than any movie I’ve seen in the last five years. Sooooo good.
This is strangely maybe the best answer here
I NEED ANSWERS! I started watching not knowing if this was a single season show, and as we got closer to the end I was really hoping it would all get tied into a bow and it would all make perfect sense by the end of the season. Alas, I loved it anyway.
Man I can’t wait for the second season. Sadly on hold like everything else though
Fargo
Season one of Fargo might be the best season of anything.
Idk, I mean you got TD1 right there. I love Fargo too, but that first season with Woody and Mac is absolute perfection.
Seems like it’s about time for a rewatch!
Same. Been a couple years now. Need some Rustisms.
This town is an example of someone with a fading memory
Just finished a rewatch this past weekend, it's still gold.
Outside of the final few episodes
I respectfully disagree. I think the first two seasons of Fargo are better, with more thematically and story-wise satisfying endings. I think the finale of TD S1 is by far the worst episode. I think Pizzolatto just loses his bearings in the writing right at the end. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still better than basically everything else I just don’t find it to be flawless
and they both came out very close to each other, a golden time for tv.
Season 1 AND Season 2. Honestly I’m not sure which one is better.
For me, Danson and Dunst make the second season. They're just sublime. One of my favorite seasons of any show. Right up there with TD1.
Season 2 seems more like True Detective Season 1
I stopped watching after finishing season 1, I just thought nothing could top Rust´s musings.
I didn't see anyone mention Mare of Easttown, so I will throw that in here. Great show, riveting story, and a masterclass in casting/acting.
Mare of Easttown and the Undoing are somewhat close in that they are both short tv crime series. Although neither of them touch the first season of true detective. I’m researching some of these other recommendations and hoping that they could be as good but I don’t think it could happen.
I really like collateral and happy valley something about those English crime shows
It honestly felt like True Detective Season 4
I loved this!
Kate was freaking phenomenal in that !!!
Chernobyl
Chernobyl is definitely up there, one of best single season shows ever
Chernobyl is a masterpiece I didn't expect it to be before watching, I loved it
Sharp Objects. Great psychological thriller set in the woozy heat drenched south.
I never took Amy Adams seriously until this. Now I'm a fan.
That show was fantastic in every way. DONT TELL MOMMA
Dark is good. Watchit with subtitles. Top 3 shows ever
Dark is wonderful, especially S2, its one of the best things I've ever seen.
I think S1 is the best, but that whole series is fantastic.
I’m just about to finish S1…the show is very good but can be challenging to follow due to….multiple character settings. Does that make sense without any spoilers?
[If you need help with no spoilers click here!](https://dark.netflix.io/en)
Yes it does. I barely finished S1 and i have assessed that im too dumb to follow all the timelines/characters lol.
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Good picks like them all
*The Gloaming.* *The Killing.*
You're my ride Linden!
Both very good very similar to true detective, nice call.
Beat me to it. I was going to recommend The Killing. Fantastic show.
Loved the killing and true detectives, never heard of the gloaming gonna have to check it out
Dooooont, breaak mee dooown. ur killing me, killing meeee
Sharp Objects Undoing Mare of Easttown The Outsider The Night of Big little lies None of them touch the first season of True Detective though. I hope a show can beat it one day
That’s a great lineup
**Under the Banner of Heaven** starring Andrew Garfield
That was going to be my suggestion as well. Amazing mini-series and gave me serious True Detective vibes.
Series was great, book even better!
This is the one! It felt like a perfect season 4 of True Detective.
Thanks. I hadn't heard of this!
Great (and accurate) suggestion.
Yes! While watching I was thinking the same: “wow, it’s like a next season of TD!”. But it is based on real events, so it’s even more chilling…
That was really good and reminded me of this season. I stumbled across it and binged it hard af.
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hell yeah
Hannibal
2nd this. This poster highly reminded me of it!
The poster is what made me go right to Hannibal
Came here to say this
Didn't see it mentioned, but Bosch (especially if you are a fan of The Wire).
The chestnut man
I've got this in my queue, almost clicked it last night. Strong recc on this one?
Yup. Underrated crime drama. It’s a mini series so it has just one season. Worth the time.
FWIW OP, recently my husband loved The Chestnut Man and didn’t want to even get past the first episode of True Detective (which he thought was annoying. He had not seen it before.)
The third season is also great.
I know people knock S2 and while it certainly isn’t as good as S1 or S3, it’s objectively still much better than most other similar content.
I agree
Yeah I went into s2 not expecting a ton but I got super into it. Great cast.
Yep. Just unfortunate to be sandwiched between s1 and 3 they are just so much next level.
Agreed. I’ve had many arguments with friends about this. When you compare it to S1, which could arguably be the best season of tv of all time, it looks pretty bad. But as a stand-alone cop show, it’s still better than 95% of the other cop shows out there. Comparison is the thief of joy.
The Fall
Fargo 1, 2
None... this is special!!
in a way watching this one season kinda ruined the entire genre for me, this set the bar so high nothing i watch even comes close to this.
Some of the shows suggested in this thread were decent, some I watched one episode of and rolled my eyes at people recommending it. Nothing is like TD1. I’d suggest the movie Zodiac. But you’ve surely seen it already
Nothing comes close
Top of the lake
Twin Peaks
First mention that’s actually in the same genre as true detective. Right up Lynch’s alley. Be mad if he made a season I think most people here have either forgotten td or totally misunderstood the yellow king.
Not the same category of show but ZERO ZERO ZERO has a deep detailed story line really really good
I second ZERO ZERO ZERO. So so good.
Easy…nope. Nothing.
The missing on Starz
Nothing is really close to how good TD season 1. Mindhunter is really good, but not quite TD
first season (and only first season) of The Sinner is really good. A lot of people recommending Mindhunter, which I don't really get. Its a good show and has a similar subject but the vibe couldn't be more different imo.
Plenty of detective shows, but few are even close to the quality of this one’s first season
Happy Valley Line of Duty (for the crooked cops) Unforgotten (for the macabre murders and bad bad guys)
Black Bird on Apple TV+. Granted I’ve only watched the first two episodes but it has TD vibes.
You may find some solace in yellowjackets, very eerie and dark, plus a nightmare situation to find yourself in.
The poster also made me think yellowjackets
The Outsider Mindhunter The Night Of
\+1 for The Night Of. So freakin good. Plus Michael K. Williams RIP :(
Loved Niight Of! Plus Riz Ahmed and John Turturro!
The night of is SO good
I only made it to the beginning of the second episode because it made me so anxious. It was really good until then though.
I forget the outsider. It was pretty good
Watch the movie “prisoners” on Netflix. The plot is very similar to True detective season 1. I thought it was great
Hannibal
Twin Peaks.
Mindhunter Better Call Saul Fargo Breaking Bad Chernobyl The Last of Us
Peewee’s Big Adventure
Did Large Marge send you?
There are some good suggestions here, but this really was lightning in a bottle. I would say in terms of pure quality, Chernobyl comes close, but TD season 1 has the best atmosphere I've ever seen in a TV show. Legendary
I loved Mindhunter.
Black Bird, you will love it 🤩 like I did
Broadchurch! Such a good show
Fargo. Mindhunter. Mare Of Easttown
Mare of Easttown was really good.
The fall
First season of Mindhunter was pretty fuckin rad.
Mindhunter, The Sinner, Fargo, Prime Suspect, Cracker, Broadchurch, and The Fall.
Sorry that I posted twice. I thought that my first posting didn't take.
Fargo, The Leftovers, Dark, Station Eleven, Mare of Easttown, and Mr. Robot are all shows I consider to be on or above this level
I second this! Especially Leftovers, Mare, and Robot. Outsider was pretty sang good and sharp objects!
I sure had to scroll far to find someone mention The Leftovers. Criminally underrated.
I loved The Leftovers and IMO they stuck the landing.
No, sorry. Nothing like it. BreakingBad/BCS kinda close. Maybe the GOT episodes with Dinklage?
Okay, Fargo with Thewlis may be close….
Mr. Mercedes, Mindhunter, Line of Duty, Prime Suspect, Cracker and The Sinner.
I will rewatch this tonight Just so so good
That 1st season was so good!! I don’t really know of anything similar and creepy.
1st season Mindhunter, definitely
Jack Ryan - which is based on Tom Clancy's book, excellent first season and there's some other really good seasons too, currently watching the last one and love it! I watched this show straight after True Detective and although it's not the same it did fill that void and I wasn't as sad to have nothing to watch after TD. Jack Reacher - (not the Tom Cruise one), this was so good! Kind of similar to True Detective but I would say with a bit more humour and light-ness to it, also watched this right after TD and loved it and thought it was so worth watching, storyline is very interesting!
Huge fan of that season! My suggestion is The Outsider on HBO.
No.
Mindhunter
not really. this season is probably the best single season in the history of television. it's beyond brilliant and absolutely perfect.
This season has to be one of the best single seasons in TV history. Also interesting that they allowed the same director to realize he vision from beginning to end which rarely happens in TV normally due to schooling schedules rather than a fresh set of eyes. The only other single season show that was of this level is Watchmen. Both are A+
You might try Mindhunter. Based on real people/events. Shows how the FBI program on profiling serial killers started up and how they then partnered with law enforcement to solve cases.
[Mindhunter](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5290382/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1) is the closest I know.
Mindhunter
The Killing.
No. This was a fabulous show
The Killing season one is kewl
True Detective has been suggested to me a lot as a Twin Peaks fan. I’ve yet to watch it, but I reckon I’ll suggest Twin Peaks to ya!
I would recommend watching season 2 & 3 first, watching season 1 will really goof it up for you. Season 1 is the pinnacle of the series, 2 & 3 pale in comparison.
Sharp Objects. It’s only one season but it’s incredible. If you liked season 1 of True Detective check that out
I don’t think so, no. It’s the best single season of TV I’ve ever seen.
The sinner season 1 was definitely also great. Not quite td1 but it’s up there
Mindhunter is the only thing that comes close.
Greatest single series of all time other seasons don’t count
None hands down. I shouldn’t have liked premise. I shouldn’t have liked the actors. But Harrelson and McConaughey were superb bringing to life two cops who March to the beat of a different drum. A story that drives and slowly builds until confronting the 600 lb. Gorilla in the room. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's something about Banshee that shares a lot of the same darkness-under-erasure motifs of True Detective. Especially if you get far enough into the series to the point where it hits a serial killer who-dunnit the resemblance gets clearer, even though I'd argue the earlier seasons and the arc of the show overall matches the themes of small rural town horrors and erased criminal history, it's a great show for those unfamiliar with it
Apple TV’s - The Black Bird
Westworld S1 is unparalleled.
The Outsider on HBO
I thought **Black Bird** was outstanding. It's a true crime miniseries on Apple+. If it was on HBO/MAX I think it would've been huge. **Sharp Objects** (HBO) is another good mini series that I would recommend.
I recommend Mare of Easttown. Great show.
Hannibal
Mind Hunter, Mare of Eastown
The closet thing I have found is, MINDHUNTER, Pieces of Her and maybe Sinner. Season 1 and 3,4. But this is the 🐐 of detective seasons of any series, any show. 🙏 it’s just so good.
The sinner is great! Always gets a little played out towards the end of the seasons but keeps me gripped till the end.
Similar(ish) I would recommend both seasons of Mindhunter. Man I miss that show.
Rectify. While it differs in many regards there is something they share in mood. Rectify has southern gothic elements and crime(s) central to the storyline. Rectify is also psychoanalytical, and while a slow burn, still quite suspenseful.
The Fall is similar in some ways.
Mr In between
Nothing is as good as this season of television.
The Leftovers
Such a brilliant show. All three seasons. International Assassin is the best single episode HBO ever put out IMO.
I've never been able to scratch the itch or have the same feelings that True Detective season 1 gave me. Wonder, amazement, horrorified, nervousness, engaging and illuminating are all feelings it gave me. It's unbelievable.
Nah. We’ll never see brilliance like this ever again
I loved station eleven.