Here are some of the under-the-radar picks that still deliver on the dark psychological thrills.
This is the list of obscure, gritty shows that are perfect for the die-hard "Mindhunter" fans among us.
1. "Broadchurch" (2013-2017) Forget your typical who-done-it; "Broadchurch" goes way beyond that. Set in a small British seaside town, the show begins with the murder of an 11-year-old boy, Danny Latimer. Detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller are on the case, and boy, do they clash. Ellie's son was Danny's best friend, making it personal. They sift through secrets, from cheating spouses to reformed criminals.
And just when you think you've got it all figured out, there's a plot twist that flips the story on its head.
2. "Happy Valley" (2014-) Catherine Cawood is a sergeant dealing with her daughter's suicide when Tommy Lee Royce – the man she believes is responsible – gets out of prison. Tommy kidnaps a local girl for ransom but messes up, leaving her dead. Meanwhile, Catherine's recovering addict sister unwittingly gets involved. Catherine is a ball of fury, hell-bent on serving her own form of justice, even if it destroys her.
3. "Top of the Lake" (2013-2017) Set in New Zealand, this series follows detective Robin Griffin, who investigates the disappearance of Tui, a 12-year-old girl. Robin soon finds out Tui's pregnant, adding a layer of urgency. Meanwhile, Tui's dad is a local drug lord, and he's not too thrilled about police involvement.
Robin faces her own demons, including a past sexual assault, as she struggles to find her place in this deeply misogynistic town. To complicate things further, the father of Tui's baby is shockingly close to home.
4. "Rectify" (2013-2016) Daniel Holden spent 19 years on death row for the rape and murder of his girlfriend – only to be released due to DNA evidence. But that doesn't mean the town believes he's innocent. He returns home, but reintegrating is a slog. His sister fights for him, his step-brother despises him, and he's got no clue how to live a normal life.
Is he innocent, or is that just what we want to believe? The guy joins a tire shop, attempts dating, but his past is always in the rear-view mirror.
5. "Fortitude" (2015-2018) Fortitude is a fictional Arctic town, and it's got more going on than sub-zero temperatures. The town's chief of police, Sheriff Anderssen, is investigating the brutal murder of a research scientist. Mind you, this town has never had a violent crime before. The plot thickens with a parasitic wasp outbreak causing violent behavior.
The show turns the "peaceful town turned upside down" trope into an icy, parasitic nightmare.
6. "The Fall" (2013-2016) Set in Belfast, Northern Ireland, "The Fall" pits Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson against a serial killer, Paul Spector. Gibson is called in to review a murder case and quickly realizes they've got a serial on their hands.
Spector, a bereavement counselor and a family man, is downright creepy in how he stalks his victims. Stella knows he's smart, but she's got her own intellect and isn't afraid to use it.
7. "Marcella" (2016-2020) Marcella Backland, a former London detective, returns to the force when an old case resurfaces. Talk about bad timing – she's also going through a divorce.
Marcella deals with sporadic blackouts, and she's terrified that she may be connected to the murder she's investigating. She wears a camera to track her actions during these episodes. Marcella pieces together fragments of her life while solving gruesome murders. She ultimately discovers she's being framed, but by who?
8. "Bates Motel" (2013-2017) Sure, it's a prequel to the iconic "Psycho," but "Bates Motel" stands on its own two legs. It starts with a teenaged Norman Bates and his overly attached mother, Norma, buying a motel. Almost immediately, Norma kills a man in self-defense, and the two hide the body.
The motel becomes a hub for criminal activity, and Norman starts to show signs of severe mental illness. His "blackouts" result in violent behavior, and Norma's in denial, covering up for him every time.
9. "Hannibal" (2013-2015) You might've seen the movies, but the TV show takes a deep dive into the relationship between FBI profiler Will Graham and psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Will can empathize with serial killers, which helps him solve crimes but takes a toll on his mental health.
Hannibal, a secret cannibalistic serial killer, tries to manipulate Will into becoming a murderer. Will knows something's off but can't quite put his finger on it, while Hannibal revels in the power imbalance.
10. "Dark" (2017-2020) A German series that's heavy on atmosphere and complexity. Four interconnected families unravel a time travel conspiracy which spans several generations. Initially triggered by the disappearance of two young children, the small German town of Winden is thrown into disarray. Characters hop through different timelines, including a post-apocalyptic future.
There are Doppler caves, a mysterious cult, and all sorts of timeline-twisting shenanigans.
