Entertainment
'True Detective' Joins Long List of Serial Killer-Centric Shows: What 6 Others Came Before It?
HBO's True Detective airs Sunday, Jan. 12, and if the trailers look familiar, they should — True Detective is just one of the many new killer-centric shows on TV today. Starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as two Louisiana detectives, the story traces multiple timelines in order to show the hunt for a serial killer over the course of 17 years.
However you feel about this new TV trend — whether you find it harmless entertainment or a disturbing new subject to be saturated with — it's clear that this subject has taken over our TVs. If you are tuning in this Sunday to True Detective, here are seven other killer TV shows that are also on the trend.
Image: HBO
'The Fall' (BBC Two)
Before he was cast as Christian Gray, Jamie Dornan played secret serial killer Paul Spector on this Northern Ireland crime drama. Gillian Anderson also stars as the detective on the case. The series is available in the US via Netflix Instant Streaming.
Image: BBC Two
'Hannibal' (NBC)
You may think of Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lector, but Mads Mikkelsen brings his own distinct charm to Bryan Fuller’s series about the infamous cannibalistic psychiatrist. This series shows Hannibal as a free man (but still murderer) who treats FBI agent Will Graham whose own personal struggle is that he is able to feel empathy towards killers.
Image: NBC
'Broadchurch' (BBC America)
This British crime drama is getting a new life on Fox as Gracepoint, but you should definitely check out the critically claimed original first. When a young boy is found dead on the beaches of a quiet seaside town, two very different detectives get paired to help solve the case. What secrets are the residents of Broadchurch hiding?
Image: BBC America
'The Following' (Fox)
This show from creator Kevin Williamson is suuuuuper crazy. After professor Joe Carroll is convicted of murdering female students on his college campus, he begins to recruit new members of his murderous cult via the internet to do his dirty work. Luckily there’s one person who may be able to stop him — Ryan Hardy, the FBI agent who caught him the first time.
Image: Fox
'Bates Motel' (A&E)
This prequel to Psycho — featuring Freddie Highmore as a teen Norman Bates — shows that there are a lot more murders surrounding the Bates Motel than we ever would have imagined. Set in the creepy modern day town of White Pine Bay, the Bates come head to head with drug dealers and corrupt police officers as they attempt to “start over” after the death of Norman’s father.
Image: A&E
'The Killing' (AMC)
This cable drama based on the Danish series of the same name was criticized for dancing around the show’s main mystery — who killed teenager Rosie Larsen? AMC called it quits on this show before bringing it back for a third season co-produced by Netflix. A new mystery and new faces (like Peter Sarsgaard) kept the show fresh and enticing. Though AMC cancelled this show, Netflix will bring it back for a six-episode fourth season.
Image: AMC
'Twisted' (ABC Family)
Killers can be hot, too! At least that’s the general premise of ABC Family’s fun, juicy, murder-y drama. Danny returns to his hometown after spending years in juvie for killing his aunt with a jumprope. His arrival is met with the murder of one of the school’s most popular students — and Danny is definitely a suspect. So is Danny a serial killer, or there yet another murderer hanging out in his hometown? His former best friend’s father, the town sheriff, is determined to find out.
Image: ABC Family
