The past few years have delivered a standout crop of TV detectives, reminding us that crime dramas are just as much about the crimes as they are about who solves them. While murder and mystery remain the hook, it’s the investigators themselves who keep audiences coming back for more.
We rounded out four singular, memorable, one-of-a-kind detectives who are destined to become genre icons.
What makes this quartet especially compelling is how wildly different they are. Whether it’s about an ex-military bruiser with battlefield instincts or a cleaner with a genius-level IQ or a retired actor who once pretended to solve crimes on television, these shows prove there’s no single blueprint for great detective work.
Judging by how eagerly viewers are tuning in, there’s plenty of room on the case board for all of them.
You don’t need a badge (or even a clue!) to be a great detective. Meet TV’s most unconventional crime-solvers.
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Most Empathetic
Charlie Cale (Poker Face)
OK, so Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) isn’t, technically speaking, a detective. She’s, in fact, a casino worker on the run — and that’s exactly her advantage when it comes to solving crimes. Gifted with an uncanny ability to tell when someone is lying, Charlie drifts from place to place, stumbling into murders she feels compelled to solve. She’s casual, sharp-tongued, and allergic to authority, preferring instinct over procedure. In this regard, she’s very much like some of the other detectives on this list.
What makes her stand out isn’t just her skill, but her empathy. Charlie isn’t chasing justice for glory; she genuinely cares about discovering the truth so those affected by tragedy get the closure they need. Though her nose for trouble brings her to some dark places, she never fails to harbour an unwavering hope for humanity. She’s cool, but she’s also caring and empathetic — a breath of fresh air from all the hard-boiled detectives we’re so used to seeing on screen.
Charlie navigates her existential road trip with wit, empathy, and her lie-detecting ability.
View DetailsPoker Face
Drama
Synopsis
Charlie navigates her existential road trip with wit, empathy, and her lie-detecting ability.
Catch this title and similar content under these categories: Paramount+, New on KrisWorld, Bingeworthy Series, Drama, Top 20 on KrisWorld, For Business Class
Cast: Natasha Lyonne, Megan Suri, Colton Ryan, Adrien Brody, Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Audio: English
Episodes
The Game Is a Foot (S02, Ep1)
With the mob hot on her tail, Charlie Cale avoids capture through the aid of a coworker.
56m
Last Looks (S02, Ep2)
Charlie’s vintage Barracuda catches the interest of a film shoot. She finds a new road trip buddy.
50m
Whack-a-Mole (S02, Ep3)
An old foe demands that Charlie root out a rat in her organisation or else face the consequences.
41m
The Taste of Human Blood (S02, Ep4)
Trying to put her past behind her, Charlie begins working for an animal sanctuary.
51m
Hometown Hero (S02, Ep5)
Charlie lands the job she may have been searching for her whole life – ball girl for a league baseball team.
49m
Sloppy Joseph (S02, Ep6)
Charlie works in the cafeteria of a school. A talent show performance is upstaged by a student’s plot.
44m
One Last Job (S02, Ep7)
As Charlie contemplates putting down new roots, her work sets her up for a romcom meet-cute with a manager.
44m
The Sleazy Georgian (S02, Ep8)
Charlie is welcomed into a group of con artists. She befriends the motley crew and learns their operation.
48m
A New Lease on Death (S02, Ep9)
Charlie turns over a new leaf. The death of a neighbour draws her into the secrets of the other tenants.
47m
The Big Pump (S02, Ep10)
Charlie visits her local gym, and with the encouragement of a friend, decides to pursue a healthier lifestyle.
42m
The Day of the Iguana (S02, Ep11)
Charlie works at a wedding. The event goes well enough until her friend is caught in a compromising position.
43m
The End of the Road (S02, Ep12)
Racing to warn the target of a killer before it’s too late, Charlie is set on a dangerous path.
43m
Most Physically Intimidating
Jack Reacher (Reacher)
Based on Lee Child’s bestselling novels, Reacher follows a former US Army military police officer who drifts from town to town and inevitably stumbles upon conspiracies no one else seems equipped to handle. Played by Alan Ritchson, this version of Reacher leans fully into the character’s physicality, making him a walking giant deterrent before a punch is ever thrown.
But Reacher isn’t just muscle. Beneath the towering frame is a razor-sharp investigator with a strict moral code and a near-photographic memory for detail. When words fail, Reacher is more than capable of ending the conversation himself — permanently, if necessary.
Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit. He is in the middle of a deadly conspiracy.
View DetailsReacher
Drama
Synopsis
Jack Reacher is arrested for a murder he did not commit. He is in the middle of a deadly conspiracy.
Catch this title and similar content under these categories: Paramount+, Bingeworthy Series, Drama, Top 20 on KrisWorld, For Suites and First Class, For Business Class
Cast: Willa Fitzgerald, Alan Ritchson, Malcolm Goodwin, Hugh Thompson, Chris Webster
Audio: English
Episodes
Persuader (S03, Ep1)
Reacher’s attempt to thwart a kidnapping brings him into contact with mysterious businessman Zachary Beck.
51m
Truckin' (S03, Ep2)
Tasked with transporting cargo, Reacher must juggle the involvement of the DEA and a nosy new associate.
41m
Number 2 with a Bullet (S03, Ep3)
As a rising body count threatens his undercover position, Reacher makes a play to secure Beck’s trust.
52m
Dominique (S03, Ep4)
Reacher reunites with Duffy and Villanueva, sharing the painful details of his history with Xavier Quinn.
51m
Smackdown (S03, Ep5)
A DEA tragedy puts the mission at risk. Reacher, Duffy, and Villanueva improvise a plan to save their cover.
47m
Smoke on the Water (S03, Ep6)
Reacher is torn between his desire to kill Quinn and his promise to Duffy to save Teresa.
46m
L.A. Story (S03, Ep7)
After Reacher and Duffy travel to Los Angeles to arrange a deal, Neagley helps Reacher get answers.
50m
Unfinished Business (S03, Ep8)
Reacher finally faces off with both Paulie and Quinn.
50m
Most Knowledgeable
Morgan Gillory (High Potential)
Morgan Gillory (Kaitlin Olson) doesn’t look like a typical detective — and she’s technically not one. But she has a brilliant mind that few detectives possess.
A single mum of three who works as a cleaner at the LAPD’s Major Crimes Division, Morgan makes an impulsive decision to ‘fix’ a crime board (a board with clues to a crime pinned up) one day, and inadvertently lands a job as a police consultant. She’s not a detective in title, but she’s far smarter and sharper than the one she works with.
Armed with a 160 IQ and an uncanny ability to connect dots others overlook, Morgan brings fresh eyes to old cases. She balances crime-solving with mummy duties, and isn’t above wheeling a stroller onto a crime scene. High Potential is a reminder that titles don’t define talent, and that brilliance can come from the most unexpected places.
High Potential follows a single mom with an exceptional mind for solving crimes.
View DetailsHigh Potential
Drama
Synopsis
High Potential follows a single mom with an exceptional mind for solving crimes.
Catch this title and similar content under these categories: Drama, For Suites and First Class, For Business Class
Cast: Kaitlin Olson, Daniel Sunjata, Javicia Leslie, Deniz Akdeniz, Amirah J
Audio: English
Episodes
Pawns (S02, Ep1)
Morgan works tirelessly to shield her family from the Game Maker’s threats.
43m
Checkmate (S02, Ep2)
Elliot prepares a surprise act for his school's talent show.
43m
Eleven Minutes (S02, Ep3)
A man is killed under mysterious circumstances.
43m
Behind the Music (S02, Ep4)
An investigation involving the murder of a local singer uncovers details…
43m
Content Warning (S02, Ep5)
When a social media stunt turns deadly, Morgan and Karadec head to an influencer content house.
43m
Most Eccentric
John Chapel (Death Valley)
In Death Valley, a retired actor best known for playing a TV detective finds himself solving real-life murders. John Chapel (Timothy Spall) is roped in by rookie detective sergeant Janie Mallowan (Gwyneth Keyworth), and his presence rarely goes unnoticed — passersby often assume they’re watching a TV shoot.
John is theatrical, unconventional, and unapologetically odd. After a lifetime of pretending to be someone else, he’s developed an uncanny ability to read people, often spotting truths that trained detectives miss. His eccentric methods may raise eyebrows, but they get results. Maybe the strangest instincts are the sharpest of all.
John Chapel lives a reclusive life. But when his neighbour is murdered, John is dragged back into the world.
View DetailsDeath Valley
Drama
Synopsis
John Chapel lives a reclusive life. But when his neighbour is murdered, John is dragged back into the world.
Catch this title and similar content under these categories: BBC, Bingeworthy Series, Drama, For Suites and First Class
Cast: Timothy Spall, Gwyneth Keyworth
Audio: English
Episodes
Death Valley (S01, Ep1)
DS Janie Mallowan teams up with beloved TV detective John Chapel to solve the murder of one of his neighbours.
46m
Death Valley (S01, Ep2)
After a walker is found dead, John's insight into the unidentified woman turns into a murder investigation.
45m
Death Valley (S01, Ep3)
Janie and John disagree on how to investigate the death of a best man. John goes against Janie's wishes.
44m
Death Valley (S01, Ep4)
John and Janie investigate a murder in an amateur dramatics group, prompting John to take a role.
45m
Death Valley (S01, Ep5)
A murder mystery party turns into a real investigation when a famous actor is found stabbed to death.
44m
Death Valley (S01, Ep6)
John and Janie unravel a mystery involving a murder at a reunion, a cold case, and a shocking discovery.
45m
Watch these shows and more on KrisWorld.
Text: Georgia Ho
Images: Peacock © Peacock TV LLC. Poker Face © MRC II Distribution Company, L.P. All rights reserved., © 2026 Skydance Productions, LLC, Paramount Television Studios, a division of Paramount Pictures Corporation and Amazon Content Services LLC. All Right Reserved., © 2026 20th Television. All rights reserved, © BBC Studios 2026.