Not all crime drama TV shows need multiple seasons to succeed, and some of the best have been miniseries. Some of the best TV shows of all time are from the crime genre, such as Mindhunter and True Detective, and it’s a genre that greatly benefits from multiple seasons with various episodes.
However, the format of miniseries has also brought great TV shows across different genres, though the branch of crime stands out. A miniseries allows a bigger focus on character development and follows the crimes and mysteries a lot closer, making it easier for the audience to follow along. Thanks to that and more, some crime miniseries are better than longer shows.
Black Bird
Six Episodes
Some of the best and most shocking crime miniseries are based on true stories, and one of them is Black Bird. Based on James Keene’s autobiographical novel In with the Devil: a Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption, Black Bird stars Taron Egerton as Jimmy Keene, a once-promising football star.
Keene got involved in dealing narcotics and was deep in a life of crime when he was arrested as part of a wider sting operation. Keene initially accepted a plea deal he believed to be only two years with a chance for parole, but during the trial, more charges were added, and he was sentenced to 10 years without parole.
However, Keene’s natural charm and personality led to a new offer: a fully commuted sentence with a clean record and no conditions by federal authorities if he can convince a convicted killer to admit to killing 14 women. A miniseries format benefited Black Bird, making it more suspenseful and engaging.
Defending Jacob
Eight Episodes
Another great crime show from Apple TV+ is Defending Jacob, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by William Landay. Defending Jacob follows the Barber family, formed by father Andy (Chris Evans), mother Laurie (Michelle Dockery), and 14-year-old son Jacob (Jaeden Martell). The Barbers live a normal life until one of Jacob’s classmates, Ben Rifkin, is found dead near their school.
Andy, a District Attorney, is assigned to the case, but it takes a turn after the investigation leads to Jacob, who becomes the prime suspect. What follows is not only the investigation of Ben’s murder and Jacob’s possible involvement in it, but also how everything directly affects Andy, Laurie, Jacob, and their family as a whole.
In just eight episodes, Defending Jacob follows the investigation of Ben’s murder closely and the impact of it on the Barbers, with a couple of twists, moral dilemmas, and the exploration of the complexities of the Barbers’ new family dynamic.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
10 Episodes
Another crime miniseries based on a true story, and which is better than many long shows, is Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story. Created by Ryan Murphy and Ian Brennan, Dahmer follows real-life serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer (Evan Peters), one of the most infamous and disturbing serial killers in American history.
Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story is the first entry in the Monster series, followed by Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story and Monster: The Ed Gein Story.
Dahmer goes back and forth between the 1970s and 1991, following a young Dahmer in the former and some of the moments that led to his horrific actions, and in the latter covering his near apprehension and eventual conviction. Dahmer also follows his neighbor, Glenda (Niecy Nash), who tries to help one of his victims.
In addition to that, Dahmer covers how the police failed to arrest him earlier, mostly due to racial bias. Dahmer isn’t an easy watch, and its miniseries format amps up the tension, suspense, and horrors of Dahmer’s actions and the impact of his crimes.
The Outsider
Ten Episodes
Unlike the rest of the TV shows on this list, The Outsider isn’t a miniseries because it was planned like that, but because it wasn’t renewed for a second season. Still, it’s now one of the best crime shows in recent years and one of the best Stephen King TV shows, as it’s based on his 2018 novel of the same name.
The Outsider takes the audience to Cherokee City, Georgia, where the corpse of a young boy named Frank Peterson is found in horrifying conditions. Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) is assigned to the case, and the initial evidence points to Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), a Little League baseball coach, being the killer.
In addition to investigating Frankie’s murder and finding the real killer, Anderson is dealing with substance-use disorder after the loss of his son. Luckily, Anderson counts on the help of Holly Gibney (Cynthia Erivo), a private detective with incredible skills. Although The Outsider is a slow-burn, it’s worth staying for its 10 episodes.
The Dropout
Eight Episodes
Another crime miniseries based on a true story is The Dropout, based on the ABC News podcast of the same name, hosted by Rebecca Jarvis. The Dropout tells the story of Elizabeth Holmes (Amanda Seyfried), a Stanford University student who aspired to become a billionaire inventor. After coming up with a business idea, Holmes dropped out of Stanford and founded Theranos.
Theranos was positioned as a breakthrough health technology company, but it was all based on Holmes’ carefully crafted lies. The Dropout explores Holmes’ backstory, the events that could have led to her deceptions, and her eventual exposure as a fraud and downfall, along with that of Theranos.
In eight episodes, The Dropout explores Holmes’ story, which might seem hard to believe sometimes, but that’s how wild her actions were. The Dropout’s biggest strengths are its writing, performances, and approach to Holmes’ character and crimes.
Mare of Easttown
Seven Episodes
One of the best crime TV shows of all time and one of the best miniseries ever is Mare of Easttown. Created by Brad Ingelsby, Mare of Easttown stars Kate Winslet as detective Marianne “Mare” Sheehan. Mare is a local hero in her hometown of Easttown, Pennsylvania, after scoring the winning basket in a basketball game when she was in high school.
However, the community’s perception of her changed after she failed to solve the case of a missing young girl for a year, with many doubting her detective skills. Now, Mare is assigned to investigate the murder of a teenage mother, but on top of that, she’s dealing with a lot in her personal life.
Mare is going through a divorce while coping with her son’s suicide and a custody battle over her grandson. Mare of Easttown works perfectly as a miniseries, enhancing the feeling of a small, struggling community and closely exploring not only the case itself but the complexities of Mare.
Adolescence
Four Episodes
One of Netflix’s best TV shows of all time is a crime miniseries with just four episodes: Adolescence, created by Jack Thorne and Stephen Graham. Adolescence takes the audience to an unnamed English town, where the lives of the Miller family take a turn after their 13-year-old son, Jamie (Owen Cooper), is arrested.
Jamie is the prime suspect in the murder of his classmate Katie Leonard, and he’s processed and held at a police station for questioning. Adolescence, then, follows the investigation and interrogations made by a forensic psychologist, who, along with the audience, makes disturbing discoveries about Jamie.
Meanwhile, at the Millers’ home, Jamie’s family deals with the community’s anger against them, while they do their best to cope with Jamie’s detention and the results of the investigation. Despite only being four episodes long, Adolescence masterfully builds suspense, with incredible performances and visual storytelling. Adolescence is not an easy watch, but it’s a must.