Television series

DCI Banks

Name: DCI Banks
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: 2010
Cast: Stephen Tompkinson, Jack Deam, Andrea Lowe, Caroline Catz, Lorraine Burroughs

A gritty Yorkshire crime drama where Stephen Tompkinson's weary DCI Banks methodically unravels murders in small northern towns. Procedural but character-driven, it balances detective work with the emotional toll of the job. For viewers who want crime that feels lived-in rather than flashy—solid craftsmanship over spectacle.

TVMaze rating

4.0

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Vera2011

Brenda Blethyn's rumpled detective works northern crime with the same unhurried intelligence as Banks. Each case unfolds through quiet observation and human insight rather than histrionics. Equally absorbing.

But Vera can feel repetitive after several seasons. The formula—eccentric detective, methodical solving—doesn't vary much, and some cases blur together.

Inspector Morse1987

Shaun Evans as the younger Morse has the same thoughtful intensity as Banks: a detective who thinks his way through crime, troubled by what he uncovers. Oxford instead of Yorkshire, but the emotional weight matches perfectly.

But Slower than Banks in places. If you want action and pace, Morse's cerebral approach can feel meandering.

The Killing2011

Danish noir that shares Banks' DNA: a dogged detective, complex cases that refuse easy resolution, the psychological cost of the work. Bleaker and more philosophical, but that same commitment to truth over sensation.

But Very dark and bleak throughout. Subtitled if you watch the Danish version. Some find the pacing glacial.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from DCI Banks

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

Broadchurch2013

Both understand that crime drama is ultimately about character and consequence. Banks solves cases; Broadchurch shows how cases destroy people. Same moral seriousness, opposite lens.

A murder in a small Devon town tears apart an entire community. Looks like a procedural but it's actually about grief, blame, and how well we really know our neighbours. Same human depth as Banks but inverted—the mystery matters less than the damage.

But Deliberately slow. Some find it claustrophobic and bleak. The twist, when it comes, divides viewers sharply.

Shetland2013

Another British procedural, but with Douglas Henshall's DI Perez bringing warmth beneath the toughness. Island setting adds isolation and atmosphere. Smartly plotted crimes with real emotional stakes.

But Early seasons are stronger than later ones. The show sometimes sacrifices character logic for plot twists.

Happy Valley2014

Sarah Lancashire as a Yorkshire sergeant hunting a killer who destroyed her family. Raw, urgent, and grounded in real grief. The procedural elements serve the character's devastation, not the other way around.

But Harrowing and violent. Not comforting viewing. The central crime involves a child, which some find too much.

Wallander2008

Kenneth Branagh's Swedish detective is Banks' melancholic cousin—brilliant but worn down, solving murders while his personal life crumbles. Beautifully shot, psychologically precise.

But Kenneth Branagh's brooding can tip into self-parody. Some find the tonal weight exhausting rather than compelling.

Taggart1983

The granddaddy of the British crime procedural. Mark McManus as the Glasgow detective set the template: grit, competence, actual police work. Still holds up as a model of the form.

But 1980s production values and pacing. Taggart episodes are longer than you expect and sometimes feel padded. Can feel dated now.

Luther2010

Idris Elba's obsessive detective solves crimes through sheer force of will. More stylish and intense than Banks, but built on the same foundation: a good cop undone by the work.

But Luther is far more theatrical and sensational than Banks. If you like restraint and realism, Luther's baroque intensity will feel overdone.

The Fall2013

Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) hunts a serial killer across Belfast. Procedural but character study. Explores obsession, profiling, the detective's own psychology. Smart and unsettling.

But Heavy on violence and psychological manipulation. The final season loses momentum. Some viewers find the gender dynamics troubling.

The Keepers2017

Both are committed to the unsexy truth of detection—the long hours, the dead ends, the cases that haunt you because you never know. The Keepers just refuses to pretend it's drama and give you one.

A documentary series about a murdered nun in 1960s Baltimore and the investigation forty years later. Real detective work, real people, real mysteries that don't resolve neatly. Devastating and unsolvable in ways fiction can't touch.

But This is a real unsolved murder. It won't satisfy you with a tidy ending. If you watch crime for resolution, this will frustrate you. Also deals with institutional abuse and covers disturbing ground.