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5 Crime-Comedy Dramas You Should Definitely Watch

Who doesn’t like a good mystery and a little thrill in life? Mix that with a side of comedy, and you’ve got the popular crime-comedy genre!

Police procedural shows on FBI, CIA, or other intelligence officers have always been a fan favorite and continues to rule even the OTT platforms nowadays.

Here’s a list of 5 crime-comedy shows out there that you can binge upon if you haven’t already watched them –

1. The MentalistComedy

Before mentalism and magic took over YouTube, the American drama series The Mentalist ran on air from 2008 till 2015 for 151 episodes. Created by Bruno Heller, it featured an ensemble cast that included Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman, and Amanda Righetti.

The series follows Patrick Jane (Baker), an independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who uses skills from his former career as a con man – successfully posing as a psychic medium and enjoyed near-celebrity status. He uses his highly developed observational skills that he previously employed to “read” people’s minds to help senior agent Teresa Lisbon (Tunney) and her team in solving their cases. However, the real reason for Jane’s involvement with law enforcement is to catch a serial killer dubbed “Red John,” who was responsible for the brutal murders of his wife and daughter.

As the show proceeded, the focus shifted from general cases during seasons one to three to solely catching Red John throughout seasons four to six.

No. of seasons – 7

Why you should watch – The series successfully mixes comedy, drama, and mystery into a beautiful blend that will put a smile on your face and pull at your heartstrings. Simon Baker is a treat to watch, his chemistry with Tunney is palpable and adorable at the same time, but Tim Kang undoubtedly steals the show! It’s available on Amazon Prime Video.

2. White Collar

While this is not an out-and-out comedy, it certainly has humorous elements that’ll make you smile. Created by Jeff Eastin and starring Tim DeKay and Matt Bomer in the lead along with Willie Garson and Tiffani Thiessen in supporting roles, White Collar is an American police procedural drama that premiered in 2009 and concluding in 2014.

Bomer plays the role of Neal Caffrey, a brilliant and multitalented con artist and bonds forger caught by FBI agent Peter Burke (DeKay) after a game of cat-and-mouse chase that went on for three years. Neal is sent to jail, but he escapes to look for his girlfriend Kate with only three months left in his sentence. Peter finds him and is about to send him to jail, but Neal offers him to help with an ongoing case and subsequently is released into his custody, working as a criminal informant and consultant.

Creator Jeff Eastin and lead actor Matt Bomer in 2020 said that a possible revival of the series was under consideration.

No. of Seasons – 6

Why you should watch – Henry Cavill look-alike Matt Bomer as the criminal with a heart of gold, Neal Caffrey has a mesmerizing presence onscreen and will make you root for him. His bond with Burke is also endearing. Garson as Mozzie is hilarious and a pleasure to watch. It’s available on Disney+ Hotstar Premium.

3. Castle

This American crime-comedy drama aired from 2009 to 2016 and was created by Andrew W. Marlowe. It featured Nathan Fillion and Stana Katic as the lead pair, supporting characters played by Susan Sullivan, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Molly Quinn, and Jon Huertas.

Fillion plays the role of Richard Castle, a famous mystery novelist who is suffering from writer’s block. He kills off the main character of his hit series, Derrick Storm, due to boredom. The NYPD brings him in for questioning as they’ve got a case of copycat murder based on one of his books on their hands. He meets the detective in charge of the case, Kate Beckett (Katic), and uses her to inspire the protagonist of his next book series. Castle starts shadowing Beckett on her cases, much to her exasperation but subsequently appreciates his assistance.

Apart from the plots concerning the various cases assigned to them, the series also focused on the slow-burn romance between the two lead characters.

No. of seasons – 8

Why you should watch – If you like the enemies-to-lovers trope, then Castle is right up your alley. Watch it for Fillion’s portrayal of the man-child Castle and the unusual settings of the cases. 

4. Good Girls

Created by Jenna Bans and starring Christina Hendricks, Retta, and Mae Whitman, Good Girls, is an American crime-comedy drama that premiered in 2018 and concluded in 2021.

This show follows three suburban Michigan mothers who, having a hard time making ends meet, decide to pull off a heist at a supermarket, only to discover that they are in for more than they expected.

The series is action-packed with many twists and turns you wouldn’t expect, with the heavy drama balanced by comic levity.

No. of seasons – 4

Why you should watch – Three women fed up with not receiving the respect they deserve decide to take matters into their own hands. The actors are a crazy bunch of highly talented people. Also, Manny Montana’s character is charming yet unpredictable and carries a lot of the show on his broad shoulders! Available on Netflix.

5. Lucifer

This fantasy police procedural crime-comedy is loosely based on the characters created for DC Comics’ Vertigo by Neil Gaiman, Sam Kieth, and Mike Dringenberg. Developed by Tom Kapinos, Lucifer premiered on Fox in 2016 and was canceled in 2018. Netflix then picked up, and the final season is slated to release on 10th September 2021.

Tom Ellis plays the titular character Lucifer Morningstar, the archangel who’d led a rebellion against God and was banished to Hell. Tired of punishing people for millennia, he abdicates his position as the Lord of Hell and settles in Los Angeles, running a nightclub called Lux. He finds himself involved in a murder investigation when a woman is murdered near his club and meets Detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German). Lucifer uses his power of manipulating people into revealing their deepest desires to help LAPD solve the case and is then invited to work with Chloe as a consultant.

Apart from Lucifer, several other Biblical and supernatural creatures, including God, pop up throughout the series.

No. of seasons – 6

Why you should watch – Tom Ellis as the Devil with daddy issues is hilarious with his quips and antics. The other cast members also share great chemistry. Available on Netflix.

You can also watch Bones and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

 

Edited by Prakriti Arora

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