Unfortunately, multiplecrimeTV showswere canceled far too soon. Some ofthe best TV shows of all timewere included in the crime genre and were remembered for engaging viewers in stories about the dark underbelly of the criminal world, the law enforcement officers who strove to bring them to justice, and the loved ones who were dragged into the chaos.The best crime procedural TV showstypically ran for several seasons, but some titles weren’t lucky enough to achieve the same stretch. Despite being cut short, these TV shows continued to gain traction years later.
Some crime TV shows only lasted for one or two seasons, which wasn’t enough time for the writers to develop the stories and characters. When these shows were unfairly canceled, which was often unexpected for viewers, it was extremely frustrating. Plenty of massive TV hits famously needed a few installments to understand what worked and what didn’t fully, but this worked out for them in the long run. Some ofthe most thrilling crime dramaswere swiftly canned before they had the chance to be expanded or developed further, which left many feeling that they were canceled far too soon.
10 Of The Longest Running Crime Dramas On TV, Ranked By Duration
From Criminal Minds to NCIS and Agatha Christie’s Poirot, these are the longest-running crime dramas that have ever graced the world of television.
Prodigal Son
Cast
Before becoming an FBI Profiler, Malcolm Bright turned in his father when he discovered he was an infamous serial killer called “the Surgeon.” Despite having a strained relationship with his father, Malcolm must visit him to get insights on a copycat killer. Prodigal Son starred Tom Payne and Lou Diamond Phillips and aired for two seasons.
Prodigal Sonfollowed Malcolm Bright, the son of the crazed serial killer Martin Whitly, who was also known as the Surgeon. As a child, Malcolm handed his father over to the police after he found out about his crimes. At the start of the show, Malcolm had grown up and worked for the NYPD, but he was forced to reunite with Martin when a copycat killer started copying his murderous pattern. Unfortunately,Prodigal Sonwas canceled by Fox after season 2, which was disappointing.
Prodigal Sonoffered a new dynamic that no other TV show had achieved
There was a lot of potential forProdigal Sonseason 3, but the show was cut short before it got to that point. The cast was stellar and included some big names, like Michael Sheen as Martin.The fascinating relationship between Malcolm and Martin deserved to be developed even further,and it was a shame that audiences didn’t get the chance to find out whether Martin was successful in repairing his relationship with his son. A police officer and villain duo wasn’t a new concept, butProdigal Sonoffered a new dynamic that no other TV show had achieved.
Profit
Profit is a 1996 series featuring Jim Profit, a junior executive at a multinational conglomerate. Utilizing ruthless tactics such as blackmail and bribery, Profit climbs the corporate ladder, dismantling his rivals in his pursuit of power within the competitive business world.
Profitwas canceled after only eight episodes, which was a massive shock, especially as critics rated the show rather well when it initially aired in 1996. It was widely considered thatProfitwas aTV show ahead of its time, mainly because of the compelling lead, Jim Profit. The titular character’s role at the massive corporation Gracen & Gracen threw him into a world of corruption and manipulation, which he happily embraced being a part of. ThroughoutProfit’s singular season, Jim did everything and anything he could to get ahead, and he wasn’t afraid of who he hurt in the process.
Profithad a solid future and an endless number of opportunities for the show to take. While there were only minimal episodes of the show,Profitcontinued to be extremely memorable for years after it ended. Adrian Pasdar provided a fantastic performance as Jim, and despite the show’s abrupt cancellation, the character was hisbreakout role in the world of TV.Jim’s backstory of how he reinvented himself to fit the corporate imageand his character development were both amazing,and it was a pity that viewers never got to see what would happen to him.
The Enemy Within
The Enemy Within is a 2019 American drama series created by Ken Woodruff. Erica Shepherd (Jennifer Carpenter), a former CIA operative serving life in prison, is recruited by FBI agent Will Keaton (Morris Chestnut) to track down a dangerous and elusive criminal she once knew.
Dexterlegend Jennifer Carpenter also starred in the TV showThe Enemy Withinas Erica Shepherd.The Enemy Withinwas another show that only lasted for one installment, which abruptly ended a fascinating story. Shepherd was a codebreaker serving a life sentence in prison for espionage and treason after she gave up crucial information to terrorist Mikhail Vassily Tal to protect her daughter. Three years later, Tal’s return resulted in the FBI needing Shepherd’s assistance once again.The Enemy Within’s concept was fantastic, yet the show never went any further than 13 episodes.
Jennifer Carpenter was praised for her performance inThe Enemy Within, but it wasn’t enough to keep the show on the air.The strained relationship between Shepherd and the FBI drew audiences in,especially because it was easy to understand and relate to both sides. Shepherd’s downfall was a great setup for a TV character, as she started as the CIA’s Deputy Director of Operations and rapidly descended to a disgraced prisoner. However, Carpenter was the only reasonThe Enemy Withinworked so well, and it needed another season to develop other areas of the show.
Clarice
Clarice is a psychological horror/thriller series loosely adapted from the Red Dragon novel series that tells the story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field after the events of The Silence of the Lambs. Brilliant and vulnerable, Clarice’s bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. However, her complex psychological profile that stems from her difficult childhood makes her capable of seeing angles of crimes others cannot comprehend.
Claricewas a brilliant butoverlooked crime TV show that only lasted one season. The show was set between the events ofThe Silence of the Lambsbut before the events ofHannibaland continued the story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling. Rebecca Breeds took on the role of the titular character, the third to do so, and she did well, following in the footsteps of Jodie Foster and Julianne Moore. After its 2021 broadcast,Clariceseason 1’s endreceived mixed reviews, but the show was unfairly cut before it had the time to truly find its feet.
Claricefaced a lot of pressure to live up to its source material. It wasn’t perfect, granted, but there were a few elements that had promise. The fallout of Buffalo Bill’s death at the hands of Clarice was endearing, especially in the pilot,which heavily focused on her therapy sessions and how she navigated her life with PTSD.However, one common criticism ofClaricewas that it was a slow burn, and perhaps the show might have been more successful if it’d spent more time engaging audiences in her story rather than trying to be a crime procedural.
Even After 3 Years, This Underrated Crime Drama Based On Jodie Foster’s 1991 Movie Still Deserves Season 2
This underrated Silence of the Lambs spin-off series deserves a second season, especially after airing for only one season in 2021 on CBS.
Limitless
Limitless is a television adaptation following Brian Finch, whose life transforms after using NZT-48, a powerful neuroenhancing drug. This changes his fate when he collaborates with the FBI, all while navigating intrigue involving a senator with a hidden agenda. Released on July 18, 2025.
Limitlesswas the TV spinoff of the hit 2011 movie of the same name, set four years after its events. While Bradley Cooper’s Eddie Morra did return, he wasn’t the main character of the series.TheLimitlesscastwas instead led by Jake McDorman as Brian Finch, who, after receiving a vaccine to combat the deadly effects of the miracle brain-altering drug, worked alongside the FBI.Finch’s battle to hide that he was on NZT-48 from the FBI was captivating, and his motivation added layers toLimitless,which made it so much more than a standard law enforcement TV show.
The show was another title featuring Jennifer Carpenter, who portrayed FBI Special Agent Rebecca Harris. The rapport between Carpenter and McDorman was especially notable, and they presented the developments in their characters' relationship fabulously. Their bond grew with each episode, and as Finch got more and more involved in Harris’ personal life and past, things became even more complicated. Unfortunately,Limitlesswas canceled after season 1 because of low ratings, but the limited viewers it did have were vocally against this decision and believed that with more time, the show could’ve blossomed.
Jett
Jett follows world-class thief Daisy “Jett” Kowalski, portrayed by Carla Gugino, who is forced back into a life of crime after being released from prison. Here, Jett faces old adversaries and new enemies while striving to stay one step ahead in a dangerous world of heists and high stakes.
Carla Gugino created a different female antihero inJettas the titular character. After the highly competent former thief Daisy “Jett” Kowalski was released from incarceration, she reunited with her criminal group, only to find herself forced back into the world of burglary. Jett wanted to retire, but she quickly fell back in love with her old ways. However, this was mainly because of the temptations that her ex-lover and boss, Charlie Baudelaire, offered her, which set off a chain of unhinged and wild events.Jettonly aired nine episodes in season 1, but it never returned to screens after.
Jettwasn’t initially canceled, but the show was eventually canned after long-running network issues. The show was a Cinemax production, and when they ceased all original programming, it failed to find another home for season 2. This was really disappointing for viewers, especially asreviews ofJettpraised its storylines and characters for being very strong. The chemistry between Gugino and Baudelaire actor Giancarlo Esposito was powerful, andJett’s characterization was generally enough to warrant several more seasons of the show.Unfortunately, the show fell off the radar, and its cast moved on to other projects.
magic city
Created by Mitch Glazer, Magic City is a Drama series that appeared on Starz for two seasons and starred Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Jessica Marais, Steven Strait, and Olga Kurylenko. The series follows Morgan as Isaac Evans, a man who owns an illustrious hotel in Miami and must make a deal with a Mob boss to see it succeed.
Magic Citywas set in 1950s Miami and focused on resort owner Ike Evans, portrayed by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Ike’s dodgy business deals to make his hotel a roaring success quickly slipped out of his control, which sent him into a spiral and entrapped him in a world of mob bosses and organized crime.Jeffrey Dean Morgan continued to prove how powerful an actor he was inMagic City,but the overall appreciation for the show from critics and audiences alike wasn’t great. However, in later years,Magic Citywas recognized for its positive qualities.
The show lacked the ability to pace its storylines properly
The show was praised for its vivid set design and era-appropriate cinematography, which made it immersive and easy to watch even in its slower moments. While it was criticized for having too many subplots, which covered topics of extra-marital affairs and familial pressures, they were still mostly enjoyable and kept the show from stagnating. However, the show lacked the ability to pace its storylines properly.Magic Cityran for a year and was canceled after season 2. AMagic Cityadaptation moviewas announced after thecrime TV showended, but it never came and became stuck in development hell.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s 10 Best Roles, Ranked Worst To Best
Jeffrey Dean Morgan is a prolific actor whose work in film and television dates back to the 1990s and boasts many memorable and iconic roles.
