Forget those mainstream picks – here are some of the under-the-radar series worth adding to your queue.
10. "BrainDead" (2016)
Ever felt like the political world has gone mad? "BrainDead" takes that sentiment literally. Laurel Healy (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) steps into Washington, D.C., to assist her brother, a senator, only to discover that alien ants are eating the brains of political figures, influencing the government's direction.
It's a satirical spin that combines elements of sci-fi with political commentary, all while wrapped up in a quirky, comedic bow.
9. "Tru Calling" (2003 – 2005)
Life and death take a wild spin in "Tru Calling." Tru Davies (Eliza Dushku) starts her gig at the city morgue, but she soon discovers her ability to hear the dead.
The twist? The corpses implore her to prevent their untimely deaths, sending her back in time to the start of that day. As Tru relives each day, she pieces together the puzzle of each death, attempting to change fate.
8. "Terriers" (2010)
Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue), an ex-cop with a tarnished record, and his pal Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James), a former thief, might not be the first duo you'd trust with your life. Yet, as unlicensed private investigators, their shoddy office in Ocean Beach becomes a haven for the ignored and desperate.
The cases they pull are a tangle of personal vendettas, corporate schemes, and political intrigue, all tied up with wit and grit.
7. "Awake" (2012)
After a car accident, Detective Michael Britten (Jason Isaacs) finds himself caught between two realities. In one, his wife survived the crash, but in the other, his son did. As he closes his eyes each night, he shifts from one life to the other, never knowing which is real.
As Britten solves crimes in both worlds, the clues from each start to intersect in eerie ways, challenging his sanity.
6. "Rubicon" (2010)
Will Travers (James Badge Dale) is an intelligence analyst whose world is thrown into disarray after he uncovers a complex pattern in crossword puzzles that leads him to a massive conspiracy. As he digs deeper, the stakes get higher, and Will realizes that he might just be in over his head.
This is no ordinary puzzle – it's a web of secrets and lies that stretch to the very top of the power pyramid.
5. "Perception" (2012 – 2015)
Enter Dr. Daniel Pierce (Eric McCormack), an eccentric neuroscience professor with paranoid schizophrenia, who is recruited by the FBI to help solve complex cases.
With every new crime, he harnesses his hallucinations to uncover what's hidden to others. Alongside him is former student and FBI agent Kate Moretti (Rachael Leigh Cook), who believes in his genius.
They tackle a plethora of mind-bending cases, each weaving through the labyrinths of human psyche and deception.
4. "The Unusuals" (2009)
The 2nd Precinct of New York City might just be the last place you'd expect to find a mix of comedy and drama, but "The Unusuals" serves it up. Detective Casey Shraeger (Amber Tamblyn) is the newbie who uncovers that the precinct is as quirky as the cases they solve – from a serial killer with a heart to a missing cat with a hefty reward.
The officers here are a different breed; they've all got secrets, and their cases are never what they appear to be.
3. "Hannibal" (2013 – 2015)
This isn't your average FBI series. "Hannibal" explores the twisted relationship between FBI special investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen), a forensic psychiatrist destined to become Graham's most cunning adversary.
The cases they investigate are gruesome, artistic, and psychologically complex, often linking back to the disturbing dance of cat-and-mouse at the series' core.
2. "Touching Evil" (2004)
After surviving a gunshot to the head, Detective David Creegan (Jeffrey Donovan) returns to the Organized and Serial Crime Unit with a newfound disregard for the rulebook and a peculiar empathy for the criminals he's chasing.
With his partner, Susan Branca (Vera Farmiga), Creegan dives into the darkness of humanity, confronting not just the criminals but his own inner demons.
1. "Lie to Me" (2009 – 2011)
Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth) isn't your typical protagonist. As a human lie detector, his expertise in micro-expressions and body language turns him into a valuable asset for law enforcement. Each episode presents a new case where Cal and his team apply their scientific prowess to expose the truth behind the façade.
From political scandals to heinous crimes, they dissect suspects and witnesses alike with uncanny precision.