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Craving the neon-soaked streets and the sizzling action of 'Miami Vice'? Look no further. Here's a list of the 25 best shows that capture that same vibe, ranked for your viewing pleasure.
From undercover sagas that rival Crockett and Tubbs in coolness to crime dramas that bring their own flavor to the streets, each show is a nod to the legacy of 'Miami Vice', yet stands tall with its own unique twist.
A professional 'fixer' for LA's rich and famous, Ray Donovan navigates the challenges of his dysfunctional family and his clients' problems, all while dealing with his own troubled past.
Each season unfolds as an anthology, with police detectives in various settings unraveling complex and often personal cases, marked by psychological depth, dark atmospheres, and unexpected twists.
23. "El Chapo" (2017) Rotten Tomatoes score: 80%
A dramatization of the life of El Chapo, from his early days in the 1980s working for the Guadalajara Cartel, to his rise to power during the '90s and his ultimate downfall in 2016.
22. "Power" (2014) Rotten Tomatoes score: 81%
A wealthy New York nightclub owner who lives a double life as a drug kingpin seeks to escape the criminal world to pursue his legitimate business interests, facing challenges from his family and criminal associates.
A financial planner, forced to relocate his family to the Ozarks for money laundering, becomes entangled with local criminals, leading to escalating conflicts and moral dilemmas.
20. "Gomorrah" (2014) Rotten Tomatoes score: 85%
A gritty, realistic portrayal of the brutal Neapolitan crime syndicate Camorra, focusing on the inner workings, conflicts, and power struggles within the organization and its impact on the lives of those involved.
19. "Graceland" (2013) Rotten Tomatoes score: 86%
Undercover agents from various law enforcement agencies cohabitate in a seized beach house, known as "Graceland," tackling cases while navigating the complexities of their secretive lives and shifting loyalties.
A man struggles with his loyalty to a motorcycle club, facing internal and external conflicts in the club's dealings in illegal enterprises, while dealing with familial and moral issues.
A brilliant but emotionally impulsive detective in London faces a series of complex murder cases, balancing his dedication to the law with his own dark temptations and personal demons.
16. "Queen of the South" (2016) Rotten Tomatoes score: 88%
A woman in Mexico becomes the most powerful drug trafficker in southern Spain in order to avenge her lover's murder, constantly battling to stay alive and keep her business moving.
A gritty series chronicling the rise and fall of notorious drug kingpin Pablo Escobar, detailing his battles with law enforcement, rivals, and political figures in the violent drug trade of Colombia.
A Southern California family, led by a matriarch, engages in a lifestyle of excess and crime, seen through the eyes of a teenage boy who moves in with them after his mother's death.
A companion series to 'Narcos,' focusing on the illegal drug trade in Mexico, charting the rise of the Guadalajara Cartel in the 1980s as DEA agent Kiki Camarena moves his wife and young son from California to Guadalajara to take on a new post.
12. "The Shield" (2002) Rotten Tomatoes score: 90%
Set in a corrupt Los Angeles precinct, it follows a group of detectives in an anti-gang unit, blending moral ambiguity, intense crime investigations, and the personal struggles of the officers, especially the team's leader, Vic Mackey.
11. "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993) Rotten Tomatoes score: 91%
A police procedural drama set in Baltimore, focusing on the personal and professional lives of homicide detectives as they solve complex murder cases in a city fraught with crime.
10. "The Sopranos" (1999) Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
A New Jersey mob boss, Tony Soprano, struggles with managing his crime family while undergoing therapy for panic attacks, exploring themes of mental health, family dynamics, and the violent business of organized crime.
In prohibition-era Atlantic City, a politician and gangster, Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, navigates the treacherous world of politics and organized crime, facing off against other gangsters and government agents.
8. "Snowfall" (2017) Rotten Tomatoes score: 92%
Set in 1980s Los Angeles, it chronicles the first crack epidemic and its impact on the culture of the city, seen through the eyes of a young drug dealer, a CIA operative, a wrestler, and a Mexican crime boss's niece.
A notorious gang in post-WWI Birmingham, England, led by the ambitious and cunning Thomas Shelby, seeks to move up in the world, facing rival gangs, law enforcement, and political adversaries.
This anthology series, inspired by the Coen Brothers' film, explores crime stories in the Midwest with dark humor, quirky characters, and shocking violence, often involving ordinary people getting involved in criminal activities.
An exploration of Baltimore's drug trade from multiple perspectives; this series delves into the lives of drug dealers and law enforcement, showing the impacts of drugs, poverty, and politics on the city's residents.
4. "The Night Of" (2016) Rotten Tomatoes score: 94%
A New York City murder case examines the police investigation, legal proceedings, criminal justice system, and the purgatorial nightmare of Rikers Island, where the accused awaits his trial.
A high school chemistry teacher turned methamphetamine manufacturing drug dealer teams up with a former student, navigating the criminal underworld while facing moral dilemmas, family conflicts, and the consequences of their actions.
2. "Justified" (2010) Rotten Tomatoes score: 97%
A U.S. Marshal, known for his unconventional and often violent methods, returns to his hometown in Kentucky, dealing with criminals, his past, and his own brand of justice.
The prequel to Breaking Bad, detailing the transformation of Jimmy McGill, a small-time lawyer hustling to make a name for himself, into the morally flexible lawyer Saul Goodman.
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