15 Obscure Police Procedurals Actually Worth Watching

These are the police procedurals you probably haven't heard of but absolutely need to watch.

1. Ripper Street (UK)

What happened after Jack the Ripper? That's where this series kicks in. Set in the late 1800s, the detectives of London's H Division aren't just hunting Jack; they're trying to keep peace in one of the most chaotic parts of the city. In one memorable plotline, Inspector Reid investigates a toy maker who's involved in child trafficking, all while juggling personal losses and the ever-present threat of corruption.

2. Shetland (UK)

Based on a series of novels by Ann Cleeves, Shetland is set in the subarctic archipelago of Shetland, Scotland. Detective Jimmy Perez, a widower and single dad, navigates murders and mysteries on these isolated islands. In one season, an old woman is found dead with a scarf tied around her mouth, and it turns out she was silenced to prevent exposing illegal trades her own son was involved in.

3. Bron/Broen: The Bridge (Sweden/Denmark)

A murder investigation as a cross-border team-building exercise. A body is found on the Øresund Bridge, precisely on the border between Sweden and Denmark. This forces Saga Norén from Sweden and Martin Rohde from Denmark to work together. In Season 1, they discover the body is actually two halves of two different women – one Swedish, one Danish – forcing the detectives to untangle a mess of politics and social justice.

4. Wallander (Sweden)

Kurt Wallander isn't your average detective. He's battling personal demons, from a shaky relationship with his daughter to his own health problems. Meanwhile, the crimes in the Swedish town of Ystad are unforgiving. In one plotline, Wallander is chasing a serial killer who scalps his victims, only to find out the culprit is a deranged man who believes he's avenging the love of his life.

5. Signal (South Korea)

A walkie-talkie allows a detective from 2015 to communicate with a detective from 1989. Both are frustrated by unsolved cases and systemic corruption. For instance, the old-school detective helps solve a kidnapping in the future, leading to the arrest of a politician's son. On the flip side, modern tech helps solve a murder case from the past.

6. Happy Valley (UK)

This one's set in a quiet West Yorkshire town, but don't let the name fool you – "Happy" Valley is anything but. Police sergeant Catherine Cawood is still reeling from her daughter's suicide, which was triggered by a rape. When the man she blames for her daughter's death is released from prison, things go haywire. A kidnapping plan he's involved in spirals out of control, intertwining his fate with Catherine's in a grim showdown.

7. The Shadow Line (UK)

A detective with a bullet in his brain and amnesia – that's our guy, Jonah Gabriel. He's investigating the murder of a drug baron while trying to figure out his own cloudy past. At the same time, Joseph Bede, a criminal, tries to secure a huge drug deal to ensure a comfortable future for his Alzheimer's-stricken wife.

8. Fortitude (UK)

Ever think a sleepy Arctic town could harbor terrible secrets? Me neither. Until Fortitude came along, that is. It starts with a bizarre murder – a scientist is found dead, and his body is missing its eyes. As Sheriff Dan Anderssen investigates, he finds links to ancient parasites and climate change. Also there's a mammoth carcass involved.

9. Top of the Lake (New Zealand)

Detective Robin Griffin is back in her small New Zealand hometown, dealing with her traumatic past, when a 12-year-old girl tries to drown herself. She's pregnant, and nobody knows how it happened. Robin's investigation takes her to some truly dark places, including a commune led by a mysterious man. Soon enough Robin realizes the case is uncomfortably close to her own childhood trauma.

10. Line of Duty (UK)

Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott refuses to cover up a shooting gone wrong by his own team. His punishment? He's transferred to an anti-corruption unit where he has to investigate a beloved, seemingly perfect officer, Tony Gates. As Arnott delves into the case, he uncovers layers of corruption that even he can't believe.

11. Wentworth (Australia)

A crime drama set in a women's prison. Bea Smith is locked up for the attempted murder of her abusive husband and has to learn the ropes of prison life fast. It's not all orange jumpsuits and lunch trays – there are power struggles, drug problems, and guards who can't always be trusted. Bea slowly evolves from a timid newcomer to a strategic player in the prison's hierarchy.

12. The Bridge (US/Mexico)

If you loved the Swedish/Danish version, this American adaptation set on the border of El Paso and Juarez is a must-watch. Two detectives – one from the U.S., one from Mexico – have to join forces when a body is found on the bridge connecting the two countries. The killer makes it personal by targeting people on both sides of the border, throwing in themes like immigration and cartel violence.

13. Unforgotten (UK)

When skeletal remains are found in the basement of a demolished house, DCI Cassie Stuart and DI Sunil 'Sunny' Khan reopen the case of a boy who went missing in the '70s. Through meticulous investigation, they identify four potential suspects whose lives are intertwined in unexpected ways. They dig into their pasts, unraveling secrets and lies until they finally get to the shocking truth.

14. Broadchurch (UK)

A small coastal town in England becomes the epicenter of a massive investigation when 11-year-old Danny Latimer is found dead. Detectives Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller must untangle a web of secrets and lies within this tight-knit community. The suspects? Everyone from the local reverend to the boy's own family. Even Ellie's husband ends up arrested for the crime, leaving the community – and Ellie – shattered.

15. The Break (Belgium)

Set in the hauntingly beautiful Ardennes, detective Yoann Peeters returns to his hometown after a personal tragedy. He's trying to heal but is immediately drawn into the investigation of a young African soccer player's death. Initially ruled a suicide, Peeters suspects foul play and digs deeper, revealing the town's prejudices and hidden agendas.