A TV genre can rarely capture an audience’s attention for over 20 seasons, but there is one that successfully does so: procedural dramas. No matter how many murder storylines, crazy cases, or dramatic fights within the department occur, it never gets old. There’s a reason most of the longest-running scripted American primetime TV series are procedural dramas, and it’s also because they’re excellent.
Whether they’re taking inspiration from real-life cases or creatively cultivating dramatic crimes, it is addictive. Though it may sound unbelievable, people love watching murder and crime at the end of their day. The audience is emotionally attached to the detectives, no matter what city or criminal department, and the show’s formulas stay consistent and strong.
From the classic Law & Order franchise to newer shows such as The Rookie, law enforcement shows will never fail to amaze us. Below is a list of the best procedural dramas still airing on TV, ranked.