Film & TV Recs: Crime Dramas

In a shocking move, Anna is not the one behind today’s film & tv rec list. Namely because Anna does not watch crime dramas, but I do, and I have been craving gay crime dramas above all. So, here are the fruits of my research, to share with you. A little confession though: I haven’t really…finished all of these shows, so some of the CWs may be lacking (I’ll come back to update when I do, for now I’ve made notes of when they cover up to, episode-wise. The number episode will be the last I watched), because apparently I have such little staying power even for shows I’m really enjoying… Who knew.

Before we get into the rec list proper though, I do want to note that there is a sad lack of trans rep in it. That’s because I had three (apparently insurmountable) standards for reccing trans rep in crime dramas: 1) that the actor is also trans, 2) that the trans character is not a murder victim and/or does not die horribly, and 3) the trans character is not the murderer and/or a psychopath. Maybe I should lower my standards next time.

However, I did come across a couple that fitted some of those categories, which I’ll share with you here if you really want to watch them: Bellevue (trans character played by a trans actor, but is the murder victim—although she is properly developed as a character and is given screentime, if that decides you) and Big Sky (trans side character played by a nonbinary actor, but seems minor).

And finally, because it’s just occurred to me, a note on CWs: I’ve tried to add all I’ve noticed while watching, but I feel there also needs to be a general one here, for the types of things you generally see in crime dramas (i.e. dead bodies, gore, autopsies).

Borderliner (2017)

cr. Megan Gallagher
IMDb
Rep: gay mc, gay li
CWs up to episode 3: suicide, violence, blood, gore, vomiting

Why Should I Watch It?

A series that’s guaranteed to raise your blood pressure levels as you watch the mc do his best to cover up his brother’s involvement in a murder case, while investigating the case himself. While also being involved in the trial of a police chief accused of corruption. It’s a lot to take in, I know. But, bear with the stress! Breathe through it! It’s worth it in the end.

The Valhalla Murders (2019)

cr. Thordur Palsson
IMDb
Rep: gay mc
CWs: death, gore, vomiting, eye gore, police brutality, past child sexual abuse, past self harm, institutional abuse, implied rape, gang rape, child death, suicide (aftermath on screen)

Why Should I Watch It?

Possibly the most addictive of the recs I have for you. It’s one of those shows you insist to yourself you’ll only watch one episode of and, before you know it, you’re halfway through and feverishly trying to guess where it’s going to go next. I meant to finish another series before I started on this one, but there was no hope of that in the end. If you’re looking for a show that centres on a prickly partnership that grows into respect and friendship, surrounded by gorgeous cinematography (probably helped by the fact it’s in Iceland), then this one’s for you.

Hightown (2020- )

cr. Rebecca Cutter
IMDb
Rep: Black lesbian mc
CWs: violence, drug use, death, gore, alcohol abuse, car crash, prostitution, overdose, fatphobia, vomiting, antiblack racism, relapse, violence, blood, sexual threats, homophobic slurs, dismemberment

Why Should I Watch It?

Is there anything better than seeing Monica Raymund playing a lesbian? I got a month’s worth of Am*zon Prime just to watch this show, and it was an excellent decision, if I do say so myself. It’s compelling and dark, you can’t help but rooting for Jackie, and, get this, there’s a cishet relationship that’s gonna really fuck you up too!

Although to note, there are definitely parts where you’re like “ah a cis, probably het, white woman wrote this” and also parts where you’re like “…so why did a cis, probably het, white woman write this“. Another rec that comes with some reservations.

The Frozen Dead (2016)

cr. Gerard Carre, Caroline Van Ruymbeke, Pascal Chaumeil
IMDb
Rep: lesbian mc, lesbian side character
CWs: animal death, vomiting, castration

Why Should I Watch It?

Dodgy CGI/greenscreen, necessary suspensions of disbelief (like how does a character come to work in a maximum security facility, as a psychiatrist no less, under another name, but without a background check), and affairs aside, this is an enjoyably tense and creepy thriller, centering on a detective who put away a serial killer, but who has to return when the man’s games start again. The first episode hooks you, the second… drags just the slightest, but from then on, the stakes are raised and everything kicks into gear. However, to be clear, if you don’t like on screen animal death (here, a beheaded CGI horse), then you might want to skip this one.

The Mire ’97 (2021)

cr. Jan Holoubek & Kasper Bajon
IMDb
Rep: lesbian mc
CWs: child death, drowning, g-slur, lesbophobic slurs, labour camps, casual antisemitism, vomiting, homophobia, attempted suicide, implied rape, implied dismemberment

Why Should I Watch It?

Conceivably, I think you could read the main character here (coincidentally called Anna, and a Polish lesbian), as nonbinary, gender non-conforming, or butch. Since that’s not something that’s confirmed though, I haven’t added it in the rep. However, you don’t really need that confirmation to enjoy this series anyway. It’s a slowburning series, in all honesty, one that flips between a past and the present, and the mystery is equally slowburning. But, if you’re here for gays and gays alone, the lesbian characters in this have a lovely relationship.

Note: I’ve specifically recced series 2 here, since series 1 is heterosexual through and through, but you don’t need to have watched series 1 to understand this (it’s nothing you can’t pick up along the way or find out spoilers of, either way).

Third Man Out (2005)

dir. Ron Oliver
Letterboxd
Rep: gay mc, gay li, gay & lesbian side characters
CWs: outing, f slur, homophobia, child sexual abuse, paedophilia

Why Should I Watch It?

This one has to be considered some kind of classic surely. Based on a book series that started in the 1980s, it follows gay private investigator, Donald Strachey, as he is employed by an individual infamous for outing gay men, who believes himself to be in danger from person or persons unknown. It is, in all honesty, very clearly an indie film, but it’s also a fairly enjoyable way to spend an hour and a half. And it does no harm that Donald and his husband, Timothy, will have you smiling to yourself the whole time.

Cuffs (2015)

cr. Julie Gearey
IMDb
Rep: gay mc, gay li, lesbian mc, lesbian side character
CWs: blood, self harm, suicide, murder

Why Should I Watch It?

This is a bit of a departure from the previous recs in that it’s less a crime drama in the same way. But it’s so good, more comedic than anything I’ve recced so far, but still finding time to be serious (and give you characters to love. No, truly, I would risk everything for Donna Prager). It’s only six episodes long—a real travesty—so easily something you could devour in an afternoon.

Note also, because I watched this a while back, the CWs are a lot less comprehensive than other entries on this list.

The Fall (2013-2016)

cr. Allan Cubitt
IMDb
Rep: bi mc, lesbian character
CWs up to series 2, episode 1: drug use, femicide, violence, suicide, implied animal death, implied paedophilia, implied domestic abuse

Why Should I Watch It?

I will admit that, initially, I thought I would get bored by this series, since from the first episode you know exactly who did it. But it’s actually a compelling watch, a game of cat and mouse between Gillian Anderson’s detective and Jamie Dornan’s killer. The rep in this case is a little more slipped-in-without-comment than other entries on this list, but it’s a show you won’t want to miss.

Dogs of Berlin (2018)

cr. Christian Alvart
IMDb
Rep: Turkish-German gay mc, gay li
CWs up to episode 1: violence, gore, blood, drug use, gambling

Why Should I Watch It?

Anaïs pointed this one out to me and I have to confess to having watched the first episode and being unable to finish the series in time for this list, BUT. It was a very very good episode, despite the sometimes glacial-feeling pace at which the detective duo came together to investigate the case (apparently it’s not for a long while…). It’s a show that finds time for some comedic moments amongst the seriousness, and you can’t help but love Erol (and his boyfriend).

The Tunnel (2013-2018)

cr. Ben Richard & Hans Rosenfeldt
IMDb
Rep: bi mc, lesbian li, bi & gay side characters
CWs up to end of series 1: drug use, vomiting, gore, prostitution, antisemitism, implied rape, child neglect, child abuse, beheading, police killing, immolation, racism

Why Should I Watch It?

This is a strange one, in a way. It’s massively compelling and sucks you in, and the characters have the best dynamic, but it’s also. Convoluted in terms of plot, and the entire reason for the first series? Who even thought that up? But if you push through series one, then you get to see Clémence Poésy snogging girls, and I think that’s beautiful.

Note also that series one has some… takes on antizionism (it’s mentioned briefly—and pointlessly!—with reference to a raging antisemite and Nazi, which is fun), and I’m not exactly on board with its portrayal of neurodiversity—see the schizophrenic character in episodes 4-6, and the question of whether Elise is played intentionally with autistic stereotypes or not… So while I do recommend this, I’m recommending it with reservations.

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