True Detective Season 5 and a Bosch Prequel Keep 5 Greatest Detective Series of All Time Ranked in the Spotlight
A Distinctive Detective Method
The ranking centers on a lead detective or close investigative partnership whose reasoning shapes the show. It excludes ensemble procedurals such as Law and Order and The Wire, which the text says belong in a different discussion.
A key test is whether viewers could recognize a detective’s investigative approach from a single scene. The selections span more than a decade, reflecting changes in the genre over time.
Shows Across Different Eras
Monk arrived on cable in 2002. True Detective later brought a literary quality to HBO’s prestige television, while Bosch premiered the same year and has built a following within a growing franchise.
The text also discusses Sherlock, which Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss reimagined in modern London. Benedict Cumberbatch plays Holmes, and Martin Freeman portrays Watson; the BBC made thirteen episodes across four seasons, with most running nearly 90 minutes.
New Projects and Lasting Appeal
True Detective is preparing for a fifth season, with Nicolas Cage and Antonio Banderas attached. Set in Jamaica Bay, New York, it is scheduled to begin shooting in 2027.
Bosch is also getting a prequel, Start of Watch, with Cameron Monaghan as a rookie Harry Bosch in 1991 Los Angeles. The text says the other three shows have no new seasons or branch-offs in development, but retain loyal audiences.
Sherlock’s Highs and Lows
Cumberbatch’s Holmes treats people as puzzles, while Freeman’s Watson brings patience to the partnership. Andrew Scott’s Moriarty is described as a standout villain, and “The Reichenbach Fall” is noted for its cliffhanger.
Cumberbatch and Freeman each won an Emmy for the show’s third series. The fourth series is described as losing direction, with plots that become uncontrolled and a divisive finale.
Key points
- The ranking favors lead detectives with recognizable investigative methods over ensemble procedurals.
- Monk, True Detective, Bosch and Sherlock are named in the text.
- True Detective’s fifth season is set in Jamaica Bay and scheduled to shoot in 2027.
- Bosch prequel Start of Watch follows Harry Bosch as a rookie in 1991 Los Angeles.