Halloween is right around the corner, and while some might like the jump scares and terror of horror movies, others prefer something a little more grounded in reality. Crime dramas, regardless the time of year, are a staple for both late night television and streaming channels. One streaming platform that hosts multiple crime dramas, both original to the platform itself and televised ones, is Prime Video.
While not everything is always available on Prime, with some requiring members to rent or buy the shows, others are completely free to watch. I don’t know about you, but I prefer the latter. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of crime dramas available to watch on Prime Video, no extra payment required, just in time for Halloween.
Bosch
Starting in 2014 and ending in 2021, the Primetime Emmy-nominated drama Bosch brings best-selling author Michael Connelly’s character to life for seven seasons, 68 episodes, ranging from 40 to 50 minutes each. Starring Titus Welliver and Annie Wersching, the show focuses on LAPD homicide detective Harry Bosch, his past, and his pursuit of justice.
With each season reaching a 4 or 5 star rating, and an overall IMDb rating of 8.5, Bosch is a great find for Michael Connelly fans and crime drama fans alike.
Book lovers be advised: things always get changed.
Bosch: Legacy
Not willing to part with Harry Bosch in 2021, Prime Video kept him around for three more seasons with Bosch: Legacy. In these three season, viewers can continue to follow Bosch during his investigations. Only this time, rather than being a homicide detective, Bosch is a private investigator.
No longer bound by the confines of the law, Bosch can take a stronger, more unorthodox, route on his pursuit towards justice, promising more drama and action than the previous series. If such a thing is even possible.
Like its predecessor, Bosch: Legacy performed well with viewers and critics alive, with each season getting over four and a half stars and an overall show rating of 8.4 on IMDb.
Wire in the Blood
A British drama show from the early 2000s, Wire in the Blood is less talked about than others on this list. Considering the different premise, cast of characters, and ratings similar to those of Bosch and Bosch: Legacy, this is truly a crime.
Pun very much intended.
While the seasons are smaller, the episodes are longer: lasting roughly 90 minutes. The show centers on Dr. Tony Hill, a university psychologist that begins aiding the Major Incident Team of Bradfield Metropolitan Police’s CID.
Being able to empathize with both victim and perpetrator, Dr. Tony Hill proves a truly unique character: his background in psychology gives viewers a look into the criminal world that crime dramas often fail to deliver on, making it stand out amongst the many shows available on the streaming service.
Elementary
The iconic detective Sherlock Holmes returned with a modern twist from 2012 to 2019 in Elementary, a two-time Primetime Emmys-nominated drama that focuses on the previously mentioned detective, played by Jonny Lee Miller, and Dr. Joan Watson, yes, Watson is a female here, played by Lucy Liu.
Elementary tells the story of a Detective Sherlock Holmes who, after rehab, moves from London to New York and is forced by his wealthy father to live with a sober companion, aka Dr. Joan Watson. Using the detective skills that made the original Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s character famous to begin with, Holmes and Watson will be assisting the NYPD in high-profile cases.
Another four to four-and-a-half-star show, Elementary is perfect for dedicated Sherlock Holmes fans and those who might need a modernization of old tales.
Ballard
It might be new to the crime drama game, with its first season airing this July and a second season confirmed this month, Ballard is already holding strong and promises to be a strong contender in the crime drama world. Starring Maggie Q, the show centers on Detective Renee Ballard and her hunt for a serial killer. With people she can’t trust on both ends, Ballard is going to have to work hard and smart if she wants the victims and their families to receive justice.
A four star rating from viewers and an IMDb rating of 7.5, Ballard’s first season started on a strong note, and no doubt viewers will have much more to look forward to when it comes to Detective Ballard and her pursuit of justice.
Clearly, Prime Video has a lot of shows for its viewers to choose from. Focusing on everyone from detectives to psychologists, the shows offer different looks into the criminal world that, while not completely realistic, will certainly be interesting to watch. Happy streaming!
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