I am a fanatic for all things crime, drama, mystery, and thriller — in fact, I'm addicted. The unpredictable storylines, the complicated antagonists I love to hate, the intricacy of the characters and plot are what I enjoy most about a crime series. Here are five of my top picks that I highly recommend you watch — whether you're a seasoned viewer of mystery or whether you're just testing the thrilling waters:
1. "Ozark"
After a money laundering deal gone south, Marty Byrde relocates his entire family from Chicago to the Ozarks in an attempt to make amends with the Mexican cartel he's wronged. By setting up a giant money laundering operation in the Ozarks, Marty and his family must launder 500 million dollars in a year or be hunted down by the cartel.
2. "The Following"
"The Following" is one of the most gripping series I've come across, but it is not for weak stomachs. Depicting a charismatic English professor by day, mastermind cult leader by night, Joe Carroll is the target of former FBI agent Ryan Hardy after Carroll escapes from prison and cultivates a mass cult following that obey his every command. Dark and suspenseful, The Following is a graphic depiction of the most powerful weapon of all — words.
3. "Hostages"
Giphy"Hostages" is an Israeli series adapted into an American drama, well worth the watch. Former FBI agent gone rogue, Duncan Carlisle takes the family of the famous surgeon, Ellen Sanders, hostage in their own home with only one way to escape their situation — Ellen Sanders must kill the President of the United States during his surgery scheduled with her the next day.
4. "The Sinner"
"The Sinner" is one of the more unorthodox crime dramas I have seen — it opens showing you the murder and who commits it, but explores why it was done. Detective Harry Ambrose must solve why a troubled mother on a beach outing murdered a man in cold blood and has no memory of the event. "The Sinner" draws a blurry line between antagonist and protagonist and highlights the psychological aspects of crime that you must watch.
5. "24"
Giphy"24" is an early-2000s crime series, but it is a staple classic in any beginner's watchlist. Each season consists of 24 episodes, each depicting an hour of the day in which we follow the life of counter-terrorist agent Jack Bauer who must thwart terrorism plots. "24" was amazingly addicting to watch, seeing as we follow our protagonist Jack Bauer in real time, with an emphasis on a real-world chain of events that make us ask ourselves if the terror characters experience on screen is a real possibility in our lives.
