5 Underrated Crime Dramas To Binge On Netflix

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Netflix offers a huge selection of TV shows, but with so many options, it’s easy to miss some good ones. While Netflix has many popular and critically acclaimed shows, it also features some lesser-known crime dramas that are definitely worth watching.

Netflix has a fantastic selection of crime dramas, including popular hits like Ozark and Mindhunter. But beyond those well-known shows, there are also some hidden gems – series that didn’t get much attention at first, but are absolutely worth watching.

Freud

Eight Episodes

Freud is a crime thriller series that offers a fictionalized take on the early life of Sigmund Freud, so it’s not meant to be historically accurate. The show is set in 1886 and introduces a 30-year-old Sigmund Freud (played by Robert Finster), a neurologist intrigued by hypnotherapy. While his mentor supports him, Freud’s ideas are dismissed by his hospital director.

When Freud attends a party hosted by Countess Sophia von Szápáry and witnesses a séance, he finds himself caught up in a web of conspiracies, murders, and strange supernatural events. He begins to investigate, using his unconventional and often dismissed theories. Luckily, Freud isn’t alone – he’s assisted by his loyal housekeeper and a police inspector still haunted by his experiences in war.

Despite some criticism that Freud took liberties with historical facts and introduced unscientific ideas, the series offers a fascinating and original portrayal of the psychoanalysis pioneer. It’s also enjoyable to watch him apply his skills to solve these intriguing cases.

Quicksand

Six Episodes

The Swedish miniseries Quicksand is a psychological crime drama based on Malin Persson Giolito’s 2016 novel. It’s set in the town of Djursholm and follows Maja Norberg (Hanna Ardéhn), an 18-year-old high school student who is arrested and suspected of murder following a shooting at her school.

Okay, so the story kicks off with a really intense discovery – Maja’s ex, Sebastian, is one of the people found dead. And get this, she actually confesses to killing him, but swears she had nothing to do with the school shooting that happened. The whole thing unfolds through the investigation and trial, but we also get flashbacks to see how Maja and Sebastian’s relationship started and everything that led up to that terrible day. It’s a really interesting way to piece things together, seeing the past and present collide.

Quicksand is a fast-paced and gripping series that expertly builds suspense and resolves its central mysteries in just a few episodes. While the show’s mature themes might not appeal to everyone, it’s a standout hidden gem on Netflix.

Seven Seconds

10 Episodes

Inspired by the Russian film The Major, Seven Seconds tells the story of Peter Jablonski (Beau Knapp), a Polish-American detective working narcotics in New Jersey. One day, Jablonski unintentionally strikes a Black teenager, Brenton Butler, causing serious injuries. Distraught, Jablonski immediately calls his colleagues at the police department for assistance.

Mike DiAngelo (David Lyons) believes Brenton is dead and tells everyone else to help hide what happened. This immediately creates conflict because of the unfairness of the situation, and Jablonski and his team will have to deal with the fallout from their choices.

What makes Seven Seconds compelling is the strong acting, particularly from its lead performers, and its exploration of difficult issues like racism, corruption, and the problems within the justice system – all brought to life through nuanced and complicated characters.

The Chestnut Man

Six Episodes

The Chestnut Man is a Danish crime drama inspired by Søren Sveistrup’s novel of the same title. The series opens in 1987 with the discovery of a family murdered on a remote farm. Years later, in modern-day Copenhagen, a young woman is found killed in a playground.

Detective Naia Thulin, played by Danica Curcic, and her new partner, Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard), discover a small chestnut figurine near the crime scene. The figurine bears the fingerprint of a politician’s missing daughter, adding another layer of complexity to the investigation. While critics praised the series The Chestnut Man, it didn’t receive widespread attention.

If you enjoy Nordic crime dramas, you’ll likely love The Chestnut Man. It’s known for its suspenseful story, dark mood, high production quality, and interesting characters. Good news for fans – a second season is planned for release in 2026.

Bodies

Eight Episodes

Netflix has a fantastic, yet often overlooked, crime show called Bodies. It’s a British miniseries adapted from a graphic novel by Si Spencer. The story starts with the discovery of a dead body on Longharvest Lane in London’s Whitechapel area, but the mystery quickly deepens – the same body appears in that exact spot in 1890, 1941, 2023, and 2053.

The series Bodies centers around four detectives investigating separate cases that unexpectedly connect, revealing a large-scale conspiracy involving time travel. It’s a captivating blend of crime, drama, and science fiction, built around a compelling central mystery that will keep you guessing. The show features strong performances, especially from Stephen Graham.

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2025-11-18 21:12