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violabr t1_j8qsdt4 wrote

It's a very high bar but I believe The Last of Us (so far) has been that good

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catnapspirit t1_j8qtcl4 wrote

Mr Robot. Devs. The Outsider. Outer Range. The OA.

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sappyguy t1_j8qu2e7 wrote

Fargo (at least Seasons 1 and 2)

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CurseofLono88 t1_j8qv76o wrote

You might enjoy Ozark for a Breaking Bad fix, and as for True Detective, if you can handle scenes involving self harm you might really enjoy Sharp Objects it’s an HBO limited series that’s a dark southern-gothic crime mystery. It doesn’t have the masculine feeling of season 1 of true detective, because it’s focused mainly on female characters, but it still has a lot of similarities to TD season 1 (it’s dark, deals with generational trauma, takes place in the south, centers around the murder of teenage girls, amongst many other things)

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Murderyoga t1_j8qvenx wrote

You and me both. That show did some things no other show has done.

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TheHeyHeyMan t1_j8qvmwj wrote

Under The Banner of Heaven was quite good, worth checking out.

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theyusedthelamppost t1_j8qvw61 wrote

nothing reaches that level. but stuff in the neighborhood..

The Night Of

Mindhunter

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GlobalTravelR t1_j8qvy7k wrote

Skip Season 2 of True Detective, and go to Season 3.

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RunDNA t1_j8qwk4b wrote

There's a series of 4 Scandinavian Noir movies called 'Department Q' that is very similar and very good:

The Keeper of Lost Causes (2013)
The Absent One (2014)
A Conspiracy of Faith (2016)
The Purity of Vengeance (2018)

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DomesticApe23 t1_j8qxg8p wrote

Unbelievable was pretty good. Not as visually dark but a similar investigation style and very dark subject material.

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Just-Background-5447 t1_j8qy3yh wrote

Watch prison break, it is arguable the best first season of TV show..i have watched true detective but prison break is on another level

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jtomatzin t1_j8qy68i wrote

The show Hannibal is really good

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Citizen_Kong t1_j8qy727 wrote

Black Spot is a French mystery crime series that is very dark and broody, with some folkloric mysticism thrown in. It's about a small town in the middle of the woods where electronics are going crazy so there are no telephones, as well as a suspicious high murder rate.

1

Escaho t1_j8qyelu wrote

I'm going to copy-paste my most recent comment to someone else who wanted suggestions on top-tier television.

Anthology or mini-series:

(NOTE: Each season is a different story/cast, so you can watch them independently of each other):

  • Fargo (seasons 1 and 2)
  • True Detective (season 1)
  • Band of Brothers
  • Chernobyl

Drama series:

  • Breaking Bad
  • Mr. Robot
  • Battlestar Galactica (2003) (science-fiction)
  • The Expanse (science-fiction)
  • Utopia (Channel4) (UK)
  • Attack on Titan (anime)
  • Arcane (animated)
  • Mindhunter
  • Dark (science-fiction)
  • The Last of Us*

(* indicates the show premiered within the most recent year and opinion may change if quality drops)

Comedy series:

  • Fleabag (BBC, AmazonPrime)
  • Taskmaster (UK)
  • Community
3

Taalian t1_j8r2yq8 wrote

Another show with Brian Cranston called “Your Honor” is an absolute wild ride similar but different to Breaking Bad (his character often reminds me of Walt and the situations he finds himself in). Give it a go!

Other honorable mentions:

Yellowjackets

Peaky Blinders

Black Sails

The Boys

Channel Zero

From

Night Sky

Westworld

2

Jimbob929 t1_j8r39gk wrote

Can’t believe nobody has mentioned The Leftovers yet. A masterpiece. As bleak and philosophical as True Detective S1, if not more so.

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ballsoutofthebathtub t1_j8r39uh wrote

I think while there are plenty of good shows, there’s nothing exactly like True Detective S1. It nails the tone it’s going after so well. The casting and the writing was so perfect.

On a related note, has anyone else noticed that every show after TD basically copied the intro’s animation style?

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KingRemoStar t1_j8r3dkx wrote

True detective season 3 is probably the best season. Outsiders and Mare of Easttown are both on HBO and are on par with True Detective.

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Bananaman9020 t1_j8r3xyr wrote

Just don't watch season 2. Thank me latter. The The Killing US is good

6

uknownoothin t1_j8r41i6 wrote

It's not an American show, but in Europe, "Pagan Peak" has the reputation of being the German-Austrian True Detective. Sadly, in America it's only avaible on Topic as far as I'm aware, but it's definitely worth checking out

1

Apprehensive_Race_24 t1_j8r5qko wrote

"Just finished season 1 of True Detective, would like some more stuff exactly like that please."

Me too buddy, me too

223

YoungHazelnuts77 t1_j8r5qoz wrote

Quarry. Its about a Vietnam vet who gets mixed with the Memphis crime world. Brutal and heart crushing yet entertaining all the way through.

2

qtx t1_j8r5tm8 wrote

I always assume that people who love Breaking Bad are people who had never seen a good tv show prior and this was the first time (probably because of age) that they experienced one. Cause lets be honest, it's not groundbreaking. It's an average network show.

But nostalgia muddies the waters a lot.

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blametheboogie t1_j8r66eq wrote

I'd like more shows like this as well OP but shows of this quality comes along rarely, we have to savor them when they do appear because we never know how long we'll have to wait for the next one.

1

D10SMessi t1_j8r95yc wrote

I think Mare of easttown is the closest in style. Hannibal is another great show.

1

ReservoirDog316 t1_j8r9b4m wrote

There’s not much measures up to it.

Sharp Objects is pretty much the rightful True Detective season 2 though. Not nearly as perfect but as close as I’ve seen.

The movie Prisoners is very similar too.

In general things that are very great too even if they’re not very similar to True Detective is:

The Knick (very grisly show but amazing)

Normal People

Chernobyl

Bojack Horseman

2

rainbowyuc t1_j8ra1a3 wrote

True Detective season 3 is the closest. Not quite the same quality but it's still pretty good and the most similar in subject.

1

pinewind108 t1_j8ra9zk wrote

Lol. There is nothing like it! Not even season 2 was like that.

Season 2 was decent, and would have shined if it had been season 1. But the writing and Matthew McConaughey were just insane.

I firmly believe that his television performance influenced voting for his academy award for Dallas Buyer's Club. (True Detective showed January 12, and the Oscars were March 2.) Every body who saw True Detective was in awe of his insane acting chops. With that performance he blasted away the "Mr Rom-com" image.

3

H00NER t1_j8rakrl wrote

Unbelievable (Netflix, 2019)

1

VonDeckard t1_j8raobr wrote

That season is something very special. I doubt a show with a similar feel exists. So good

1

SweetPillow t1_j8rbban wrote

Replying to random_blubber (#1,828,326)

I liked season 2 - It obviously had to carry the weight of following season 1, the biggest challenge ever, but if it came up on its own I think it would be better received. It’s definitely not on the level of S1, but i still think it’s great television.

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LurkerV1 t1_j8rebqc wrote

Replying to catnapspirit (#1,827,922)

Bumping this one for The Outsider. Hits that True Detective season 1 itch. And Severance, because it’s the best show on tv. Doesn’t have the detective style but plenty of mystery and mayhem.

4

CallumBrady t1_j8rejcj wrote

The Sinner and The Killing are good drawn out detective thrillers

2

sharklazies t1_j8rfdkz wrote

What’s your tolerance for animated? While it’s NOTHING at all like True Detective, Arcane on Netflix is one of the best pieces of pop culture I’ve watched in years. Incredible writing, characters, visuals, music.

True Detective S1 is still pinnacle stuff. S2 was bad. S3 was solid-ish.

You mentioned Breaking Bad, so have you watched Better Call Saul? It’s right up there.

1

[deleted] t1_j8rh16f wrote

If you were into the surreal aspects of the show, then Twin Peaks might scratch an itch.

1

I_HATE_CRUMBS t1_j8rhali wrote

Black Bird.

>Jimmy Keene is sentenced to 10 years in a minimum security prison but he cuts a deal with the FBI to befriend a suspected serial killer. Keene has to elicit a confession from Larry Hall to find the bodies of as many as eighteen women.

2

yunojelly t1_j8rj6fv wrote

Season 3 of True Detective is really good too! but Mindhunter springs to mind aswell as Black Bird! really love those as well. Black Bird is so underrated imo, Mindhunter isn't but its praise is definitely warranted, try them out !

1

Rufus2fist t1_j8rjr87 wrote

If you are fine with subtitles Dark on Netflix is good in a weird same vein.

1

Beans186 t1_j8rkqh2 wrote

'Paperboy' movie was somewhat similar.

1

MacKinnon22 t1_j8rkzvh wrote

True Detective S3, Fargo, The Outsider, Archive 81

1

Elros217 t1_j8rla46 wrote

It’s like asking for Monalisa 2

1

PammieLammie t1_j8rlixd wrote

Lockwood and Co is actually very good. It's on Netflix and its only 8 episodes. Has a little bit for everyone, some spookiness, comedy, romance and friendship, sci fi, adventure and a killer soundtrack. I would say it's a twist on the typical detective show. They're agents with cases with paranormal elements. It's really cool!

1

lifeisterrible t1_j8rlmsn wrote

The Leftovers(all 3 seasons), Yellowjackets, Severance, Maniac, Station Eleven, the first few seasons of Homeland, I love Ray Donovan but it’s not everyone’s favorite

2

Barleyarleyy t1_j8rlrj6 wrote

A few people have mentioned them, but absolutely agree that Mind Hunter, Sharp Objects, and Mare of Easttown definitely scratch a similar itch to TD season 1 and are comparable in quality.

1

earhere t1_j8rmnig wrote

ITT: People just posting good tv shows. None of these in the comments are anything like true detective.

1

StealthBadger01 t1_j8rp3fq wrote

Mr. Robot. Each season gets better and better. (Season 2 is hard on first watch but has great payoff down the line) and Season 4 is a masterpiece. With 1 episode being its magnum opus, The same way the Ozymandias ep for BB was.

1

ASEdouard t1_j8rq6sr wrote

One slightly below the radar show that made be think of True Detective s1 a bit was the 2020 HBO show The Outsider, with ben mendelsohn and jason bateman. Solid, dark show.

1

ApolloMac t1_j8rrqx6 wrote

The Sinner S1 is pretty good and has kind of a similar vibe. I mean, it's no where near the level of TD S1 but it's in the ballpark I think.

1

PhallusInChainz t1_j8ryycz wrote

Replying to Beans-and-frank (#1,830,687)

I don’t care, you fucking pedantic loser. OP is just looking for a good show to watch. There’s no other show that’s ‘like’ season one of true detective.

OP should also check out Curb Your Enthusiasm.

Go try to police a conversation somewhere else

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