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5 Must-Watch British Crime Series On Netflix

These aren’t your average crime series. Don’t expect clear cut “good guy” versus “bad guy” cat and mouse games. Episodes don’t end with the criminal being caught and jailed so everyone can turn off their televisions with the satisfaction of bow-wrapped summation. No, these five British series turn the crime drama on its head and give us something to chew on. With short seasons that make every minute count, here are five must-watches from the BBC and ITV, now on Netflix.

Oh, and here’s a twist: none of these are called Sherlock.

1

'Broadchurch'

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Photo: Everett Collection

Did the finale of Serial leave you wanting more crime dramas about the secrets we tell others and ourselves? Then, you’ve got to binge-watch Broadchurch. The eight-part crime drama focuses on how the investigation into the death of a young boy tears a town apart. We promise that just when you think you’ve figured it out, it will shock you all over again. Meghan O’Keefe [Watch Broadchurch on Netflix]

2

'Happy Valley'

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Photo: BBC/Netflix

Sarah Lancashire plays Catherine Cawood: a no-nonsense detective in the Yorkshire valley, that was quiet until hard drugs made their way into the area. Now Catherine has to investigate where the drugs are coming from amidst a mysterious kidnapping, all while raising her young grandson after her daughter’s death.  [Watch Happy Valley on Netflix]

3

'The Bletchley Circle'

the-bletchley-circle
Photo: Everett Collection

Thanks to The Imitation Game, we now know all about Alan Turing and how Enigma won the war. However, once Enigma was a thing, the Brits employed countless brilliant code breakers to go through the data and many of these geniuses were women. The Bletchley Circle follows a group of these women years after the war. They’ve all gone their separate ways, but reunite to use their skills to break one terrifying serial killer’s pattern. Meghan O’Keefe [Watch The Bletchley Circle on Netflix]

4

'Peaky Blinders'

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Photo: BBC/Netflix

Arguably one of the best series of the last five years, the Cillian Murphy drama is everything you want from an awesome crime series. It’s like Boardwalk Empire meets Tarantino hyper-violence set to a White Stripes album. Oh, and there are tons of amazing women. Yes, please. [Watch Peaky Blinders on Netflix]

5

'Luther'

luther
Photo: Everett Collection

John Luther (Idris Elba) is a detective who can’t escape the darkness. He’s brilliant, but his dedication to his work makes him obsessive and dangerous to those around him. Further complicating things is his cat-and-mouse relationship with a brilliant and beguiling sociopath named Alice Morgan (Ruth Wilson). She’s the one who got away, and by that, we mean she got away with murder. Meghan O’Keefe [Watch Luther on Netflix]

 

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