10 crime shows that’ll drag you into the shadows and mess with your morals

It may seem like crime shows have a clear-cut case of right and wrong and good and evil, but that is not always the case. In most instances, crime shows portray a reality where it becomes difficult for the viewers to not empathize with the anti-heroes and the morally gray characters.

From Joe Goldberg’s murderous psychopathic obsession that makes the viewers attached, to Walter White’s descent into power-hungry tactics that make him enigmatic, here are 10 crime shows that will force viewers to check their own moral compasses.

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Hannibal, The Wire, and other crime shows that will force viewers to check their morals

1. Breaking Bad

One of the most famous or infamous crime shows where the viewers’ morals will be tested, this crime drama is created by Vince Gilligan and features Bryan Cranston.

The series is about a high-school chemistry teacher, Walter White (Cranston), who discovers that he has cancer and decides to produce and distribute methamphetamine so that he can secure his family’s future after he dies. However, the show becomes much more complicated as White begins to descend into madness and begins to relish his illegal venture.

Critically and commercially acclaimed, the series is one of the foremost crime shows where viewers are conflicted about their stand vis-à-vis the anti-hero, who is Walter White. As the show progresses, it is easy to get invested in White’s journey, and even though he has long forgotten the original purpose of creating drugs for his family, viewers still feel his transformation into a power-hungry kingpin is believable. Therefore, the show definitely drags one into the mess of moral ambiguity.

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2. Hannibal

Developed by Bryan Fuller and based on the characters from Thomas Harris’ novels, this psychological and horror series is one of the famous crime shows, where it is again a struggle for the viewers to not root for the morally ambiguous anti-hero.

The series focuses on the complex relationship between an FBI special investigator, Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), and the genius but cannibalistic forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). The two are inextricably bound to each other, and the show is tense and suspenseful.

Even though the viewers know that Hannibal isn’t morally upright, it is tough to not fall for his charms. Apart from the gory killing sequences, what draws the viewers in is the exploration of the psyches of both Will and Hannibal. Hannibal is one of the memorable characters in crime shows as he knows how to manipulate people and yet maintain an air of dignity.

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3. The Sopranos

One of the foremost crime shows that started the golden era of television, this crime drama series was created by David Chase and features James Gandolfini in the lead role of Tony Soprano, who is a New Jersey mafia boss. However, Tony suffers from panic attacks and has to take the help of a therapist to juggle his personal and professional life.

The series is one of the grittiest and realest takes on the criminal underworld, and there are many instances where viewers are compelled to look at Tony's point of view. He is the perfect anti-hero, and as he attends therapy, viewers can’t help but feel for the man who discusses his anxieties and fears like a common person.

There are times when viewers will find themselves cheering for Tony, and that is the beauty of one of the most critically acclaimed crime shows, as it imbues Tony with a lot of nuances.

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4. You

Based on the books by Caroline Kepnes, this psychological thriller is one of the best modern-day crime shows that expertly uses the craft of the unreliable narrator. Developed by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, the show is about a bookstore manager, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), who follows a psychopathic path of obsessing over women and then killing them.

It is one of the must-watch crime shows as the narrative is entirely narrated by Joe, and it is easy as viewers to slip and begin empathizing with Joe, especially when he despises his own self. The show has many clever story arcs that turn Joe into the victim, and his killing sprees therefore feel gratifying.

Joe hides himself behind a mask of kindness and meekness, and it is easy to fall for him, even though there is a dark side to this mask. The show proves that even when the viewers are inside the head of an evil man, his justifications will have an effect, and people will forget their moral convictions.

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5. Death Note

Many people have the wrong assumption that anime is for kids just because it is animated. However, the fact is that anime has always been one of the primary vehicles for Japanese creators to put across some of the most complex questions about life and morality. One such example is this popular series that is based on the manga of the same name.

It is one of the most acclaimed crime shows and focuses on a student, Light Yagami, who finds a notebook that allows any person to die whose name is written in it. While Light initially uses it to expel all evil from the world, it does not take time for Light to become evil himself. The show has many twists and turns and is incredible brain fodder, and Light and his nemesis, L, participate in a battle of wits.

Even though viewers know that Light is now beyond any redemption, his enigma is strong, and viewers still feel attached to him. Therefore, it is another one of those crime shows where the anti-hero drags the viewers into his morally ambiguous world.

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6. Mindhunter

Based on the true-crime book by John E Douglas and Mark Olshaker, this psychological crime thriller is one of the best modern crime shows that is executively produced by David Fincher.

The show focuses on the founding of the Behavioral Science Unit of the FBI in the late 1970s and the beginning of criminal profiling. Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany play two FBI detectives who must interview some of the most dreaded serial killers and understand the causes behind their crimes.

Instead of an anti-hero, the show forces viewers to recheck their moral compass as some of the serial killers in the show like Edmund Kemper, portray such a pity picture of themselves that it is easy to flow with them and even sympathize with them to a certain extent. Even Groff's character Holden Ford begins to feel uncertain and has to be repeatedly brought back to reality by McCallany’s character Bill Tench.

Filled with lots of statements from the serial killers that delve into their psyches, it is easy to feel morally disoriented after watching such crime shows.

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7. Dexter

Developed by James Manos Jr. and based on the series of novels by Jeff Lindsay, this crime drama is one of the famous crime shows that focuses on a forensic technician, Dexter Morgan (Michael C. Hall), who specializes in blood spatter analysis for the Miami Metro Police Department. However, he also leads a secret life as a vigilante serial killer and hunts down killers who have evaded the law and must get justice.

The show takes a unique approach by presenting a protagonist who has a thirst for blood but is able to redirect it into a more justifiable manner. However, it is one of those crime dramas that starts to blur the line between justice and undue vigilantism, and even though viewers feel for Dexter’s cause, it is still a crime to kill people on your own.

Dexter puts viewers on the spot and asks them if it is okay to ever kill someone, and as he is the lead of the show, it is easy for viewers to empathize with him.

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8. Ozark

Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams, this crime drama features Jason Bateman and Laura Linney and is one of the more acclaimed crime shows that focuses on a married couple, Marty and Wendy Byrde, who have to move their family to the Lake of the Ozarks to continue their illegal work of money laundering for a Mexican drug cartel.

The show is hypnotic as it focuses on everyday people who have a dark secret buried within them and are inextricably linked with the mafia. Even though Marty and Wendy push their family deeper into violence and moral decay, it is hypnotic to watch their activities, and even viewers are forced to find out the moral reasons behind their immoral actions.

Though the characters have slippery ethics, it is one of those crime shows that forces viewers to follow into the muck of the characters’ moral ambiguity.

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9. Barry

Starring Bill Hader as Barry, this black comedy and crime drama was created by Hader and Alec Berg and is one of the most acclaimed crime shows in recent history. The show is about Barry, who is a former US Marine and is now a hitman. However, when he travels to Los Angeles to kill a target, he becomes hypnotized by the world of acting and joins an acting class. He meets an aspiring actress and begins to question his path in life, while still dealing with his criminal associates.

It is one of the must-watch crime shows as Barry wants to escape his violent past and get redemption, but unfortunately, he still finds his murderous instincts coming back time and again. The show is a superb black comedy and forces viewers to question their own moral ethics as they feel supportive about a hitman who wants to escape his past through acting.

While Barry wants to choose the right path, the show poses the question about whether he is seeking true redemption or only hiding in the form of acting.

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10. The Wire

Created by David Simon, a former police reporter, this cult classic crime drama is one of the foremost crime shows that is replete with morally ambiguous characters. The show is set in Baltimore, Maryland, and offers an in-depth look into some of the major institutions of the city, like the illegal drug trade, the bureaucracy, the news media, and more.

The series is one of the most realistic portrayals of the gritty nature of urban life and how filled it is with morally questionable yet relatable characters like Omar Little. Even though Omar is a notorious stick-up man and regularly robs drug dealers, there is a moral contradiction in him as he does not use profane words and doesn’t harm innocent people.

Even the portrayal of the criminal underworld in the show is fascinating, and that makes it hard for the viewers to keep themselves separate. Therefore, it is one of those crime shows where viewers will find it difficult to not empathize with the characters in the show, even if they are morally gray.