5 TV shows to watch if you love Will Trent

One of the big surprises for TV viewers in 2023 was Will Trent. This ABC procedural shone thanks to its fun title character, a detective in Georgia who handles some odd crimes. Will has an eccentric attitude, carried over from how he secretly suffers from dyslexia, among other issues. The show was a hit that got a second season, with fans eager to see more of Will and his fellow cops.

At least there are some intriguing TV shows to check out for fans of Will Trent. They also focus on cops or investigators with a unique view of crime-solving and often handle some weird cases.

These five shows are right up the alley for any Will Trent fans and a good way to fill up the hours until our newest quirky cop returns to screens.

5 shows like Will Trent

Monk

There’s a lot to like in this hit USA Network drama that won Tony Shalhoub three Emmy awards. He’s Adrian Monk, once a top detective for the San Francisco police department until his wife was murdered. He’s been struck with a crippling case of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, among other issues, but that eye for detail makes him a fantastic consultant for the police department. It’s a great connection to Will Trent.

The show was marvelous, mixing up its mysteries with Monk’s bizarre behavior with some fun mysteries and showing him piecing together the clues. His supporting cast matches the handling of his antics, but it’s Shalhoub who makes the “defective detective” one of television’s greatest-ever crime solvers.

Monk Seasons 1-8 are streaming on Peacock.

Perception

This little-known TNT series is an intriguing turn on the procedural drama. Eric McCormack is Daniel Pierce, a brilliant neuropsychologist who consults for the FBI. Rachel Leigh Cook plays his handler. The issue is that Daniel suffers from constant hallucinations and often has trouble telling what’s real or not. Yet often, those imagined people can give him the clues to crack a case.

McCormack does a fine job handling this strange character, showing Pierce often a bit arrogant but having to come to grips with his mental issues. The three seasons pull together plots from serial killers to possible terrorist attacks, and the fact it’s hard to tell which people involved exist is intriguing to make this a show to catch now.

Perception Seasons 1-3 are streaming on Prime Video.

Columbo

Every quirky TV detective for decades has followed the footsteps of Peter Falk’s Emmy-winning role. Each episode opens with a special guest star committing what seems to be the perfect murder, so it’s never a mystery to the audience who did it. The fun is when Falk’s seemingly bumbling and dim-witted cop shows up on the scene, and a battle of wits begins.

The genius is watching Columbo fooling the killer, lulling them into a false sense of security while unraveling their scheme. The killers never know how Columbo is one step ahead of them, leading to the final takedown that proves who the true mastermind is. No matter how routine it seemed, Falk always injected some fun to make this a classic crime show.

Columbo Seasons 1-16 are streaming on Tubi and Peacock.

Unforgettable

Airing first on CBS and then on A&E, this procedural drama has an intriguing female lead. Poppy Montgomery is a cop blessed with an incredibly perfect memory, allowing her to remember just about everything she sees. This naturally is a great gift for a police detective who works with the NYPD to solve crimes.

It’s fun showing how Montgomery takes minor details she spotted once and uses them to unravel the main case. Dylan Walsh is also good as her ex-boyfriend/police partner, with Montgomery a fiery spirit. Sadly canceled on a fourth-season cliffhanger, this show should be remembered much better.

Unforgettable Seasons 1-4 are streaming on Prime Video.

The Closer

Kyra Sedgwick won an Emmy for her turn in this smash hit TNT program. She plays Brenda Lee Johnson, a former CIA interrogator who’s now an LAPD detective. For most of an episode, Brenda can be a funny gal, bouncing around some cases that include bumbling fellow cops Provenza and Flynn getting into ridiculous jams. Her Southern accent adds to her quirky appeal.

But when she gets a suspect in a room, Brenda drops the cordial act and turns on an intensity that soon has them breaking. When the show becomes dramatic, it could be a powerful series with Brenda willing to bend a few rules to see justice done. Its spin-off Major Crimes is also good, but Sedgwick’s performance made The Closer the start of TNT’s original hit era.

The Closer Seasons 1-7 are streaming on Prime Video.

What are you streaming while you wait for Will Trent to return? Let us know in the comments on Facebook or Twitter.