The Best Procedural Shows, According To Reddit

Typical network procedurals don’t often earn acclaim or award recognition. These are the exception – wonderful procedurals that work well as dramas.

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Procedurals make for very safe and very comforting television. Typically with procedurals, viewers will not get massive plot developments or ever-changing character arcs. By their very definition, they are meant to be watched in an episodic form. While some character development or plot changes may occur, they are typically not so extreme as to alienate casual viewers.

Ultimately, viewers know exactly what they are getting with TV shows that adhere to this classic format. The same comforting characters, the same locations, and similar plots (typically about finding a criminal or solving a crime). And while there’s a lot of bad procedural TV out there, there’s a lot of great stuff, too.

The Good Wife (2009-16)

Reddit user hotcolddog writes, “I’d give specific mention to The Good Wife. Probably the only procedural on CBS (with the exception of [Person of Interest], though I’ve never seen it) which has outstanding stand alone cases, as well as a gripping serial arc.”

The series was indeed a smashing success. All of its seven seasons averaged more than ten million viewers per episode, and it won three Primetime Emmy Awards – two Outstanding Lead Actress for Julianna Margulies and one Outstanding Supporting Actor for Archie Panjabi.

House (2004-12)

A deleted Reddit user states, “House. I never understood the people who hate it because ‘They guess something, it’s wrong, they guess again, it’s wrong, then they figure it out.’ What the f*** do you want, House to walk in solve the problem and the episode ends in 5 minutes?”

While House frustratingly left some storylines unresolved, it is still a procedural medical drama well worth watching. The cases are often fascinating (and disgusting), and Hugh Laurie’s Sherlock Holmes-esque House is one of the greatest antiheroes of 2000s TV.

Criminal Minds (2005-20)

mafoo writes, “My favorite is Criminal Minds. It’s probably the darkest of the network procedurals and has the most interesting cast IMO. I tend more towards long-form cable dramas, but this is one of the few network dramas I’m hooked on.”

The show remained extraordinarily popular throughout its fifteen-year, fifteen-season run, and its cast was indeed spectacular. Of particular note were Mandy Patinkin and Shemar Moore. Some might even argue that Criminal Minds is the best procedural crime show ever made.

White Collar (2009-14)

A police procedural that aired on the USA Network, White Collar follows imprisoned criminal Neal Caffrey as he helps the FBI solve white-collar crimes in exchange for work release. Reddit user relativeisrelative writes, “White Collar. I watched five seasons in like a week. It was insane. I dreamed crime.”

White Collar is indeed a fast procedural with some very interesting cases and fantastic chemistry between leads Matt Bomer and Tim DeKay.

Person Of Interest (2011-16)

Person of Interest comes from the mind of showrunner Jonathan Nolan, and it shares many common elements with his brother’s inventive works. Reddit user Hope83 states, “Person of Interest. I still love the story they try to tell each episode even after they introduce their main story arcs.”

Person of Interest is a great example of a procedural with greater ambitions – ambitions that perhaps break the boundaries of what typical procedurals will allow. It’s a great mixture of procedural comfort and serialized unpredictability.

Moonlighting (1985-89)

Reddit user EarthboundCory writes, “As a 28-year-old guy, I didn’t really grow up watching a lot of procedurals. I did buy Moonlighting on DVD and enjoyed it, mainly because of Bruce Willis.” While it might be dated today, Moonlighting was extraordinarily popular in the mid-’80s.

Not only is Bruce Willis his typically great self, but he was paired perfectly with Cybill Shepherd. It is also one of the first mainstream examples of the dramedy genre on network television, so its influence is obvious.

Quantum Leap (1989-93)

User Quexana writes, “Quantum Leap–It was cool and had a concept that was ready made for procedural storytelling.” Airing for five seasons between 1989 and 1993, Quantum Leap is a groundbreaking science fiction program about a time-hopping physicist who fixes historical mistakes.

It’s a lesser-known sci-fi show that is great for a binge-fest, even if its visual effects are a little dated by today’s standards. It’s one of the greatest sci-fi shows ever put on television, not to mention an undeniable cult classic.

Castle (2009-16)

Reddit user saltyketchup states, “I like Castle a lot, but some people think it’s a little bit campy.” Campiness aside, Castle is indeed a great crime-comedy procedural complete with a great star turn from the always likable Nathan Fillion.

It concerns a mystery novelist who helps a New York City detective solve crimes. The premise is certainly interesting and unique, and Fillion and Stana Katic share electric chemistry. It makes for eight seasons of great procedural entertainment.

Psych (2006-14)

A detective procedural running eight seasons, Psych stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a Sherlock Holmes-type character who freelances for the Santa Barbara Police Department and pretends to solve crimes with his “psychic abilities.”

Reddit user Taravangian writes, “Not sure these are the best, but I think Castle and Psych are two procedurals that managed to maintain a high quality of writing for 5+ seasons, which is very impressive. They’re both pretty light-hearted and self-aware, which I prefer to the overly dramatic stuff like CSI.”

Homicide: Life On The Street (1993-99)

Homicide: Life on the Street is in many ways the spiritual predecessor to The Wire. This is acknowledged by Reddit user vslyke, who writes, “My vote would be for Homicide – Life on the Streets. In some ways a predecessor of The Wire, it takes a realistic and gritty approach to police work and accurately portrays the process of solving a murder.”

It was unlike anything seen on TV at the time – especially network TV. Despite its difficult subject matter, the show ran for seven seasons and earned consistent critical acclaim, defying the boundaries of the typical police procedural.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/best-procedural-shows-according-to-redditor-fans/