January is usually a time for shows to return. Sure enough, the likes of Will Trent and The Hunting Party are back, but there are many shows still on hold. CBS won’t bring back any of its shows until at least February 2026, and that gives you plenty of time to catch up on TV crime dramas.
There are some excellent crime dramas from 2025 that you missed out on, mostly because the broadcast schedules too over. Well, January is a time to play catchup, and we have five excellent suggestions in terms of broadcast and streaming crime dramas and thrillers.
Matlock
We couldn’t start the list off without Matlock. The second season picked up off the back of the first, with Olympia trying to figure out what to do with the knowledge that Julian had the Wellbrexa study that could have changed everything. She didn’t want the father of her children to go to prison, but she also knew that someone had to pay for the lies.
Meanwhile, Matty was determined to get the truth out there. With the two women against each other, would either of them be able to succeed? On top of all that, Matty had to deal with Alfie’s (potential) biological father showing up, and over the course of eight episodes, we got to see how it all fit together in 2025.
Matlock is available to stream on Paramount+. The show returns on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 9/8c on CBS.
Down Cemetery Road
2025 brought some excellent crime dramas to the streaming platforms, and Down Cemetery Road is a must for those who love a single crime story told over the course of a season. Emma Thompson stars as Zoe, a private detective who is pulled into a conspiracy when there’s an explosion in an apartment building and a missing child.
Zoe and Sarah (Ruth Wilson) end up on a journey for the missing child, Dinah. Along the way, they come across multiple people, both good and bad, as they figure out how to get the news of a major military and government conspiracy out in the open.
Down Cemetery Road is available to stream on Apple TV.
The Copenhagen Test
Released at the end of 2025, The Copenhagen Test likely flew under the radar, but it is a must-watch. Simu Liu plays Alexander Hale, an intelligence agent who ends up with his eyes and ears hacked by an unknown enemy. Now he is giving away intelligence secrets, and that agency needs to figure out what to do about him.
As the conspiracy unravels, it’s clear that Alexander can’t necessarily trust anyone in his life. He also needs to find a way to keep his parents safe, while he proves that he is loyal to his country. Now is the time to binge-watch all eight episodes.
The Copenhagen Test is available to stream on Peacock.
Yellowstone
While Yellowstone isn’t officially a crime drama, it is one to watch because of your favorite genre. Y: Marshals is a spinoff coming in March 2026, which will include one of the key characters from the series. While the procedural will focus on the law, there is a lot of backstory to cover.
You’ve got time to cover it all. There are five seasons of Yellowstone that look into the life of Kayce Dutton. On top of that, there are the relationships with Thomas Rainwater and Mo, who are both in the new series.
Yellowstone is available to stream on Paramount+. Y: Marshals will premiere on Sunday, March 1 at 8/7c on CBS.
Tracker
With Tracker airing on Sunday nights, it can often end up being skipped over in the fall. After all, Sunday Night Football takes precedent. As a football fan, I get it, and yes, I do the same. I tend to catch up on Tracker as I can on Mondays, but it’s not always possible. So, you’ll want to use January to catch up on it instead.
After learning that his dad was definitely murdered at the end of season 2, Colter Shaw had a lot of questions going into Tracker season 3. However, he also had cases to work and a brother to talk with about the entire situation. Now is the time to see how the first part of the season played out ready for the show’s return in March.
Tracker is available to stream on Paramount+ and will return on Sunday, March 1 at 9/8c on CBS.
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