Criminal perspective drives these 5 best crime shows, told through Ozark, Dexter and Better Call Saul, ranked
Crime stories from inside
Most crime dramas put law enforcement at the center, while criminals appear mainly as targets or brief obstacles. Shows told from the other side let viewers follow the lies, choices and motives that drive the people breaking the law.
That closeness can create an uneasy bond: audiences may begin to root for characters even while recognizing their wrongdoing. The selected series use that tension to hold attention and explore how their leads change.
Ozark’s family under pressure
In Ozark, Marty Byrde, played by Jason Bateman, appears to be an ordinary financial adviser from Chicago. He has spent years laundering money for a Mexican drug cartel, and after his business partner is caught stealing, Marty promises to move his family to Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks and launder more money there.
The local dangers prove as serious as the cartel. Wendy, played by Laura Linney, begins as a reluctant passenger and becomes increasingly ruthless. The series combines family drama with crime, asking whether the Byrdes can survive without losing who they were.
Dexter’s divided life
Dexter follows Dexter Morgan, played by Michael C. Hall, a Miami police blood spatter analyst who secretly hunts murderers who escaped justice. His adoptive father, Harry, taught him rules meant to direct his violent urges toward people who appear to deserve death.
Dexter’s narration gives viewers access to his thoughts and dry jokes, drawing them close to him even as the show exposes his coldness. The fourth season, featuring John Lithgow as the Trinity Killer, is described as the series’ peak; its ending disappointed some fans.
Jimmy McGill’s slow descent
Better Call Saul follows Jimmy McGill, played by Bob Odenkirk, before he becomes Saul Goodman, a lawyer for drug dealers. In Albuquerque, Jimmy tries to leave behind his past as a small-time con man and earn respect, particularly from his successful older brother, Chuck, played by Michael McKean.
His habit of cutting corners brings him closer to the cartel, while viewers can see the danger building before he does. The show makes his worst moments understandable through desperation and his desire to be taken seriously.
Key points
- Ozark follows Marty Byrde as cartel money laundering draws his family into danger.
- Wendy’s growing ruthlessness shifts the balance of the Byrde family story.
- Dexter uses its lead’s narration to bring viewers close to a serial killer’s thinking.
- Better Call Saul traces Jimmy McGill’s movement from struggling attorney toward Saul Goodman.