It takes strong penmanship to write a solid thriller. Whether it’s a multi-season series or a limited release, thriller writers have a distinctive way of delivering suspenseful stories that test the limits of human character. Traditionally, a thriller builds momentum while concealing just enough truth to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, all while maintaining a level of adrenaline that leaves audiences hooked. When the conclusion finally arrives, the viewer is either rewarded with a satisfying payoff or left with an even greater sense of perplexity.
At the end of the day, though, a thriller is a human story — one that examines how much of a walking contradiction these protagonists are. In pursuit of their cause, these characters are forced to reconsider just how much of themselves they are willing to lose. It also questions whether those causes are truly as noble as they initially seemed. Whether it’s a story about a drug empire in Albuquerque or a small-town detective unraveling a mystery, here are the thriller shows that are perfectly written.
‘Breaking Bad’ (2008–2013)
Television’s most infamous tale of a chemistry teacher turned drug kingpin is the reason why Breaking Bad is considered a writing masterclass. But when cancer, a pushover wife, and an avalanche of bills weighs on your shoulders, you abandon all sense of reason and rationalize your descent into the drug trade.
Breaking Bad builds its momentum by charting the timid Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) transformation into the power-hungry Heisenberg, to the point that he even intimidates his partner, Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul), who has been in the game far longer than him. But like any Aristotelian tragedy, his hubris — his pride — becomes the very thing that brings him, his business, and his family crashing down.
‘Scarpetta’ (2026–Present)
It’s tough to be a woman in a man’s world. Scarpetta captures the duality of Kay Scarpetta (Nicole Kidman), a female forensic pathologist surrounded by male colleagues who constantly undermine her. With her work centered around uncovering the smallest pieces of evidence to pursue criminal leads, her superiors believe women are inherently incapable of handling such demanding work.
But this is not a story about proving her rivals wrong. In fact, Dr. Scarpetta has her own deeply damaging flaws. They say never to get attached to the job, but when even a single wasted second could result in someone else’s death, the work begins to consume her. What was once a once-benevolent profession mutated into an all-consuming obsession.
‘The Glory’ (2022–2023)
The Glory is a student’s worst nightmare brought to life. Moon Dong-eun’s (Song Hye-kyo) dreams of becoming an architect are shattered when she becomes the victim of brutal school violence at the hands of her wealthy classmates. Forced to drop out of school, a now-grown Dong-eun dedicates her life to exacting revenge.
However, the classmates who tormented her grow up to become successful, seemingly untouchable adults — yet they remain just as cruel as they were in their youth. With South Korea long grappling with a notorious bullying problem, The Glory imagines a world where vengeance becomes possible, though not necessarily righteous, as Dong-eun goes to unthinkable lengths to bring her former bullies to their knees.
‘Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole’ (2026)
Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole follows Detective Harry Hole (Tobias Santelmann), a genius investigator in the Oslo Crime Squad who is tortured by his own vices. In the aftermath of a victim’s death caused by his negligence, Detective Hole is unable to let go of the case, allowing the guilt to consume him long after the tragedy itself.
The thriller series refuses to give audiences the perfect protagonist, and Detective Hole’s self-destructive alcoholism crosses that line. And yet, he is far from the most morally corrupt person on the force. Another officer — specifically the squad’s golden boy — has disturbing secrets of his own, forcing audiences to question who the real hero and villain truly are.
‘Squid Game’ (2021–2025)
Squid Game took the world by storm for being essential quarantine viewing. However, the show truly enticed audiences by combining something so innocent with something so vile. Financially desperate individuals from all over South Korea are invited by a mysterious figure to win $31 million USD in a competition called the “Squid Game.”
All they have to do is win a series of traditional children’s games — but there’s a twist. Losers are immediately killed on the spot. Imagine playing tag with the knowledge that getting caught means being shot instantly. The even more twisted part is that contestants are allowed to sabotage one another, meaning a character could survive one episode only to die suddenly in the next.
‘Cross’ (2024–Present)
Detective Alex Cross (Aldis Hodge) has a lot on his plate, but that pressure is precisely what makes him feel so human in Cross. As one of Washington, D.C.’s most prolific homicide investigators, Cross finds himself at the center of controversy, particularly when a suspicious death initially dismissed as a drug overdose reveals deeper issues tied to racial stereotypes.
As a Black detective, he is expected to represent and respond to racially charged cases while simultaneously working within an institution known for wrongfully targeting people who look like him. Although Cross is determined to make a difference and pursue justice, he increasingly realizes that the very system he serves may not fully support the change he hopes to create.
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‘Bosch’ (2014–2021)
Some of the best heroes are the most morally questionable, which brings us to Bosch. LAPD Detective Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver) has built a reputation within the force. While he’s a tenacious investigator, he’s also the type to make rash decisions — leading to a wrongful death civil lawsuit at the beginning of the series.
Although it’s easy to place all the blame on Detective Bosch for his mistakes, he is also a product of the justice system he works within — one that is arguably even more flawed than he is. It’s not uncommon for Bosch to go outside the rulebook. But to him, it’s not a matter of choosing the lesser evil; it’s about doing what’s right.
‘The Night Manager’ (2016–Present)
While many try their best to stay away from enemy lines, Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) heads straight into them. The Night Manager follows an unlikely hotel manager who gets caught up in an interconnected crime syndicate that stretches from the deserts of Cairo to the snowy Swiss Alps to the jungles of Colombia.
Hiddleston delivers such a convincing performance as a double agent that one could easily mistake him for the show’s villain. And that alone is terrifying. The Night Manager challenges Pine to consider how much of his humanity he is willing to sacrifice to maintain his dual identity, and whether remorse is even possible for the very villains he is supposed to bring down.
‘Beef’ (2023–Present)
Beef is best served hot and spicy — much like the tales of revenge in the Netflix series. In a perfect world, Danny Cho (Steven Yeun) wouldn’t chase Amy Lau (Ali Wong) with his car, and Josh (Oscar Isaac) wouldn’t get caught red-handed by his staff. But when the opportunity to be petty arises, they might as well take it.
Except these opportunities lead to a taste of payback. Society praises people who keep the peace, but sometimes it feels satisfying to give somebody a taste of their own medicine for once. But Beef shows that retribution is never satisfactory — it is an insatiable beast that keeps feeding on your ego until it ultimately consumes you entirely.
‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)
The smallest towns have the biggest scandals. In Mare of Easttown, detective Marianne “Mare” Sheehan (Kate Winslet) is arguably the town’s most hated person. After the police fail to provide answers in the disappearance of a local girl, Mare ends up taking most of the public blame. Things get even worse when Mare herself starts believing it.
They say trauma is not an excuse, but Mare is not a fan of sitting with her own emotions. The flawed detective often lets her grief affect her professionalism, making her difficult to like from the very beginning. She shows little willingness to see the light at the end of the tunnel, but when these cases demand otherwise, Mare is forced to set her cynicism aside for once.
Mare of Easttown
- Release Date
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2021 – 2021-00-00
- Network
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HBO
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Kate Winslet
Marianne ‘Mare’ Sheehan
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