Among the many genres available for viewing on television, crime has unquestionably remained popular. Crime shows have long been among the most popular series on television, dating back to the early days of the medium. Netflix has attempted to explore this region from its inception by releasing crime stories in a variety of media. Some were actual crime documentaries, while others were fictionalized tales of some of history’s most legendary criminals. ‘Narcos,’ a crime mockumentary similar to ‘American Vandal,’ and now ‘Unbelievable,’ a miniseries based on true events, are two examples.
While most crime series focus on murder or smuggling, ‘Unbelievable’ covers a more delicate crime – rape – which has dreadful consequences for the victim. The plot revolves around Marie, a young woman who was raped by a man in a mask who tied her up with her own shoelaces and took compromising photos of her. If Marie told anybody about the incident, he threatened to release her images online. When Marie tells her instructors, the cops, and her friends about the awful occurrence, they don’t believe her, and her story is never investigated. However, as further crimes with the same method of operation continue to occur, two police officers attempt to re-investigate Marie’s complaint.
The series takes a close look at police investigations and how preconceived assumptions about rape victims can sometimes prevent victims from receiving justice. If you enjoyed this series and want to see more like it, we’ve got you covered. Here is a selection of our top picks for shows that are similar to ‘Unbelievable.’ Several of these shows, such as ‘Unbelievable,’ are available on Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime.
American Crime Story (2016-)
‘American Crime Story,’ one of the finest dramatized true crime shows of all time, investigates some of the most prominent crimes and murders in American history. The first season centers on the infamous O.J. Simpson trial, in which the former NFL player was accused of killing his wife and another man. The second season chronicles the assassination of Gianni Versace and the subsequent manhunt, which ended in a stalemate. The series wonderfully covers these important cases without bias, assisting viewers in their decision-making process.
Broadchurch (2013-2017)
‘Broadchurch,’ one of the best Nordic noir programs on television in recent years, is set in the namesake town, where the murder of an 11-year-old child sends shockwaves across the community. Two detectives, played by David Tennant and Olivia Colman, are assigned to this investigation. The series is unique in that it not only examines the crime and its investigation, but also the aftermath in the normally charming town of Broadchurch, which has been engulfed in terror and worry. Furthermore, an invasion of reporters from throughout the country is proving to be a nuisance to the inhabitants. The second case that the two detectives work on involves a woman being raped at a birthday celebration in Broadchurch. The little town of Broadchurch serves as an allegorical device in this series, which uses aspects of Nordic noir to explore the influence that crimes can have on society as a whole.
Collateral (2018)
‘Collateral,’ created by David Hare, is a gripping police procedural series. The plot revolves around the assassination of a pizza delivery boy and detective inspector Kip Glaspie’s subsequent inquiry (Carey Mulligan). While everyone around her was willing to dismiss the crime as an isolated incident, Kip is determined to see that the victim receives justice. Her research gradually reveals a complex web of personalities all connected to the crime in one way or another. While the story is well-crafted and contains many political overtones, the creators leave the plot with many unsolved issues and doubts about how the climax is reached. Taking everything into account, the best way to describe this series is “half-baked.”
Marcella (2016-)
The idea of this ITV original series written, directed, and produced by Swedish screenwriter Hans Rosenfeldt is a sequence of unsettling killings. The title character is a police detective who is tasked with investigating the death of a small boy whose body is discovered inside a wall. Marcella is dragged down a rabbit hole by the terrible incident, where she encounters a multitude of strange personalities and events while also suffering from sporadic episodic blackouts.
Marcella’s story is continued in the second season, but there are new crimes involving a pedophile, a rockstar, and witchcraft. In each of these circumstances, the series does something pretty unusual. The backdrop is London, which is meant to be one of the world’s most prestigious capitals, but the characters are as nasty and ruthless as the world’s worst criminals. Even though a city appears to be elegant and prosperous on the surface, it always contains a dark underbelly filled with crime and sadness. This series deftly captures the current contrast in metropolitan settings.
Mindhunter (2017-)
‘Mindhunter’ is a television show that explores the notion of serial killers and shows how the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit began profiling serial killers based on their personality types. The series is based on FBI investigators John E. Douglas and Mark Olshaker’s book ‘Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit.’ The key protagonists of this series are Special Agents Ford and Holden, as well as psychologist Wendy Carr, who work together to figure out the psychological motivations and methods used by serial killers. All of the serial killers they interview are based on real-life serial killers such as Son of Sam, Charles Manson, Ed Kemper, and others. ‘Mindhunter’ deftly explains the history behind the labeling of some murderers as serial killers, as well as how their crimes have influenced society and popular culture in general.
Seven Seconds (2018)
‘Seven Seconds,’ a Netflix original series based on the Russian film ‘The Major,’ is a criminal drama that considers the social and political ramifications of a single case of homicide. The story begins with the case of Peter Jablonski, a police officer who critically injures Brenton Butler, a black teenager. Following the incident, Jablonski calls a few of his pals, and the group comes to the conclusion that Butler has died, and then proceeds to cover up the occurrence. Butler, on the other hand, was left to die alone, covered in his own blood. The story then follows the child’s parents as they fight the system for their son’s justice. The series has a gritty, dark, and realistic tone to it, which makes for an engaging experience.
Wormwood (2017)
While the police attempted to silence Marie following the rape, as seen in ‘Unbelievable,’ the plot of ‘Wormwood’ is about an even more horrific cover-up. The death of their own employee and biological warfare scientist Frank Olson is thought to have been covered up by the CIA. The narrative of how Olson was drugged by his own supervisor, who was experimenting on him according to the instructions of the controversial Project MKUltra, is told through the eyes of his son Erik in ‘Wormwood.’ Erik has been attempting for over six decades to learn the truth about his father’s murder, but has been unable. However, if the CIA is indeed to blame for his father’s death, he is unlikely to ever see justice. The series is quite methodically put together, with interviews and reenactments of many events that affected the case. ‘Wormwood’ goes on to highlight how those who are supposed to protect us can occasionally turn against us.
