Fargo has just released its fifth season, and to celebrate, we've compiled a list of similar shows you can binge.
The anthology series Fargo, created by Noah Hawley, is a great example of top-tier television. The show is inspired by the movie of the same name by the Coen Brothers, who jumped on the wagon as producers and gave Hawley enough freedom to tackle different stories and characters, while maintaining the unique concept of crime, karma and hilarious justice.
Each of the seasons has gotten better than the last, and after a three-year break, 2023 saw the release of season five. It stars Jon Hamm, Juno Temple, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Joe Keery, and it tells the story of a modern housewife who gets in trouble with the law after she tasers an officer during a riot, and the demons from her past come back to haunt her. After you catch up on season five, here are a few other shows of the same kind you can watch today to keep that dark crime mood going.
10 True Detective (2014 - Present)
True Detective
Release Date
January 12, 2014
Cast
Mahershala Ali, Stephen Dorff, Carmen Ejogo, Scoot McNairy
Main Genre
Crime
The HBO show True Detective is an anthology drama series that takes us through different crime stories, as modern detectives try to solve cases while also trying to keep everything together. The first season was impressive in just about every possible way, but the following ones felt like lesser versions. Hopefully, the upcoming fourth season will be the one to change this.
What's Great About It
It's a high-quality drama done with HBO's signature production value. The first season is enough for you to get hooked on this gritty crime TV show that, even when it misses the mark in later seasons, nails it on the atmosphere and feeling. However, it doesn't need to be perfect to be a compelling tour de force starring some of today's best actors in the industry.
Stream True Detective on Max
9 Breaking Bad (2008 - 2013)
Breaking Bad
Release Date
January 20, 2008
Cast
Bryan Cranston, Aaron Paul, Anna Gunn, Dean Norris, Jonathan Banks, Bob Odenkirk, Betsy Brandt
Main Genre
Crime
Breaking Bad saw the birth of Walter White's journey to become a modern drug lord who never intended to fall on the bad side of the spectrum. He only wanted to do something good for his family, after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Make a little money selling drugs to leave behind for your family — who wouldn't? Fortunately his chemistry knowledge served him well, and he ended up manufacturing the best crystal meth in the entire world.
What's Great About It
The transition from drama to crime is perfect, and the show has a natural flow that aligns with its main character's moral progression. It's so good that its spin-off Better Call Saul (also great to combine with a Fargo binge) is a groundbreaking continuation of the show's very interesting theme. Breaking Bad is considered one of TV's perfect shows, and we can't argue against that.
Stream Breaking Bad on Netflix
8 Twin Peaks (1990 - 1991)
Twin Peaks
Release Date
April 8, 1990
Cast
Kyle MacLachlan, Sheryl Lee, Mädchen Amick, Kimmy Robertson, Dana Ashbrook
Main Genre
Crime
Fargo often plays at the theme of a "murder mystery," and Twin Peaks is one of the pioneers of that subgenre. David Lynch's foray into television tells the story of a fictional town dealing with the murder of local teenager Laura Palmer. As FBI agent Dale Cooper travels to Twin Peaks to aid with the investigation, he realizes things in this place aren't exactly what they seem.
What's Great About It
This unconventional show changed the TV landscape forever, and it did so by breaking a few rules. Lynch is mainly responsible for doing this with every one of his films, but to think of Twin Peaks as a normal TV show is probably a mistake. It's fascinating horror television with a very simple crime leading its premise into very obscure and surreal waters.
Stream Twin Peaks on Paramount+
7 Mr. Robot (2015 - 2019)
mr robot
Release Date
June 24, 2015
Cast
Rami Malek, Christian Slater, Carly Chaikin, B.D. Wong, Grace Gummer
Main Genre
Crime
Mr. Robot made technology cool again with its unique style, and a premise that feels extremely important given how dependent we are today on technology. In the show, Elliot Alderson is a hacker and cybersecurity specialist with enough knowledge to be recruited by an anarchist organization. They seek to hack one of the world's most important companies, but Elliot's anxiety is one of many factors that work against them.
What's Great About It
Sam Esmail produced Mr. Robot, and the show is touched with his signature style. It's an interesting thriller that gets divisive at some point and fizzles out eventually. But it never sacrifices its visuals to be more friendly. Season one is one of the best standalone stories on modern television.
Stream Mr. Robot on Prime Video
6 Your Honor (2020 - 2023)
Your Honor
Release Date
2020-00-00
Cast
Bryan Cranston, Michael Stuhlbarg, Hope Davis, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Tony Curran, Carmen Ejogo
Main Genre
Drama
When it comes to crime TV, it all usually follows the same formula. Your Honor does not. It all starts when the son of a prominent New Orleans judge accidentally kills the son of a local mob boss. Contrary to what should happen, Michael Desiato decides to protect his son against basically any outcome, and as he breaks the law by creating false suspects, he starts an unstoppable chain reaction.
What's Great About It
It's worth it just for Bryan Cranston's performance — the best of his entire career, yes, even compared to Breaking Bad. Cranston's Desiato is an unstoppable force of nature who quickly loses control and whose moral compass gets destroyed when he raises the stake of his own game. Your Honor ran for only two seasons, but it's one of the best legal crime dramas you will ever see.
Stream Your Honor on Showtime
5 Barry (2018 - 2023)
Barry
Cast
Bill Hader, Stephen Root, Henry Winkler
Main Genre
Comedy
HBO's Barry is a modern comedy drama gem that sees Barry Berkman, a hitman from Cleveland, joining an acting class when he gets hired for a Los Angeles gig thinking there may be more to life than just killing for money. It stars Bill Hader and Henry Winkler, among others, in the best roles of their careers.
What's Great About It
The humor is sinister, to say the least. It's often mistaken for a thriller because the dark comedy gets extremely violent, and the character of Barry feels randomly chaotic and unpredictable when he tries to be a normal guy. However, this is not a comedy showcase for Hader, who steps out of his comfort zone to give life to a very interesting and compelling villain seeking redemption.
Stream Barryon Max
4 Banshee (2013 - 2016)
Banshee
Release Date
January 11, 2013
Cast
Antony Starr, Ivana Miličević, Ulrich Thomsen, Frankie Faison, Matthew Rauch, Lili Simmons, Matt Servitto, Ryann Shane
Main Genre
Action
The very underrated Banshee ran for four seasons and told the story of a former convict who hides in Banshee, a town that follows Amish traditions, and there he impersonates the dead sheriff Lucas Hood. Hood isn't exactly well liked by the town's leader, an ex-Amish guy called Kai Proctor, who rules by using extreme force and runs a crime organization that Hood aims to reveal.
What's Great About It
Banshee is a solid action TV show whose characters are straight out of a violent graphic novel on steroids. It's graphic, very steamy, and led by New Zealand actor Antony Starr (aka Homelander in The Boys) in his debut for American audiences. This is one of those shows where morals are entirely corrupt, and you will suffer to find a "good guy." We will save you the hassle: there aren't any.
Stream Banshee on Max
3 The Shield (2002 - 2008)
The Shield
Release Date
March 12, 2002
Cast
Michael Chiklis, Walton Goggins, CCH Pounder, Jay Karnes, Catherine Dent, Kenny Johnson, Michael Jace, Benito Martinez
Main Genre
Drama
In the highly-rewatchable crime/drama television series The Shield, officer Vic Mackey (played by Michael Chiklis) runs his section of the LAPD with enough autonomy for him to drift away from ethics. Yes, peace is often restored, and street crime is reduced. However, the price to pay is corruption at the very core of LA's finest.
What's Great About It
TV has given audiences some classic moments to remember: The Battle of the Bastards in Game of Thrones, Charlie writing "Not Penny's boat" on his hand in Lost, and Glenn's death in The Walking Dead, among others. The pilot for The Shield may be on top of all of those with its incredible character reveal and the death that shocked audiences worldwide. The Shield is very 2000s in style, but it's also extremely well-written and features one of the most important character progressions in modern television.
Stream The Shield on Hulu
2 Ozark (2017 - 2022)
Ozark
Release Date
July 21, 2017
Cast
Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, Julia Garner, Charlie Tahan, Lisa Emery, Janet McTeer, Tom Pelphrey
Main Genre
Drama
The Netflix production Ozark ran for four seasons, and it showed the Byrd family starting over at the Lake of the Ozarks, right after Marty's business partner is brutally killed in front of him and his entire family. Their only option is to continue their money-laundering business elsewhere. However, ambition, greed, and some very questionable partners make their lives a living hell. But, as usual, Marty finds a way. To him, his family is worth every sacrifice.
What's Great About It
The crime show Ozark feels like a complete journey where every detour is worth observing. All characters are very well-written, and all storylines are designed to the smallest detail to be another component of the family's resilience test. Nevertheless, things aren't perfect, and mistakes are common. The important thing is how quickly they stand up right after falling. This is a great morality tale because, in the end, the Byrds made it out — but at what cost?
Stream Ozark on Netflix
1 Animal Kingdom (2016 - 2022)
TNT
Inspired by the great Australian movie of the same name, Animal Kingdom tells the story of a teenager whose mother suddenly dies. Joshua Cody doesn't really know his relatives, but they take him in, and unbeknownst to him, they run a crime ring in California and are led by mob boss Janine Cody. Inevitably, Joshua joins the family and installs some morals in the strange Cody family dynamics.
What's Great About It
The crime show is insanely underrated, and not enough people have seen it. It ran for six seasons of pure drama and action, and it featured one of the best ensemble casts in recent television history: Ellen Barking, Scott Speedman, and Shawn Hatosy, among many others. If you're into family-based dramas, and have no beef with long shows, this series is an excellent match.
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Credit by: Movieweb