Television series

McDonald & Dodds

Name: McDonald & Dodds
Genre: Drama, Crime
Released: 2020
Cast: Jason Watkins, Tala Gouveia, Lily Sacofsky, Claire Skinner, Charlie Chambers

A crime partnership drama set in Bath where ambitious DCI McDonald and sidelined DS Dodds make an unlikely team. McDonald charges through cases with fierce determination; Dodds quietly untangles puzzles. It's cosy but smart, with genuine chemistry between leads who actually challenge each other. For viewers who want procedural comfort without sacrificing character or wit.

TVMaze rating

3.8

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Line of Duty2012

Intense, twisty police procedural with the same British crime-drama DNA. Builds genuine suspense through dialogue and moral complexity rather than spectacle. Utterly gripping.

But Becomes increasingly convoluted in later series, and the tone darkens significantly. Less cosy than McDonald & Dodds.

Happy Valley2014

Sarah Lancashire anchors a crime drama that's brutally sharp and funny in equal measure. Balances trauma with dark humour, character depth with propulsive plotting. Unmissable British television.

But Deals with sexual violence and abuse graphically. The tone is far grimmer than a McDonald & Dodds episode.

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Nicola Walker leads a series where cold cases unlock lives and secrets. Thoughtful, character-driven procedural that treats every person as complex. Each investigation genuinely matters.

But Slower paced and more melancholic. Less sparky banter between leads. Focuses on grief rather than partnership dynamics.

Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from McDonald & Dodds

The wildcard

Something you would not have found on your own.

The Miniaturist2017

Both centre on a quiet, observant protagonist who pieces together truth from tiny details that others miss. Both reward close attention to visual language.

A woman enters a bewildering historical household through marriage, and gradually learns to read the hidden meanings in objects and behaviour. It's a mystery, but also a study in perspective and interpretation—exactly what Dodds does when he reads crime scenes.

But More unsettling and gothic than cosy. Slower-paced psychological drama rather than procedural. Period setting in 17th-century Amsterdam; not for people who want contemporary crime.

Grantchester2014

A vicar and a detective partnership in 1950s Cambridge. Charming chemistry between leads, clever mysteries, and a real warmth beneath the crime. Hits the same comfort-with-substance sweet spot.

But Period setting means slower pace and different rhythm from modern procedurals. Some plotlines lean heavily on soap-opera tropes.

Vera2011

Brenda Blethyn's gruff, brilliant detective navigates cases across the North East. Wonderfully character-driven, with a lead who's genuinely strange and compelling. Standalone stories that still build a world.

But Blethyn carries the entire show; other characters remain thin. Can feel repetitive after many episodes, and pacing occasionally drags.

Cagney & Lacey1982

The template for partnership procedurals. Two leads of different temperaments, real chemistry, and cases that let character shine. Groundbreaking at the time, still satisfying now.

But 1980s pacing and production values feel genuinely dated. Some storylines veer into melodrama. Available inconsistently on streaming.

Inspector Morse1987

Oxford detective obsessed with puzzles and classical music. Elegantly plotted mysteries with intellectual rigour. If you love Dodds' puzzle-solving brain, Morse is the gold standard.

But Can be slow; depends entirely on episode quality. The title character is often deliberately unlikeable. Less partnership-focused than McDonald & Dodds.

Cuffs2015

Fast, funny ensemble police procedural set in a single station. Sharp dialogue, real camaraderie, cases that feel grounded and consequential. Criminally overlooked.

But Only two seasons before cancellation, so feels incomplete. Ensemble means less character depth for any single pairing. Slightly grittier than McDonald & Dodds.

Il commissario Montalbano1999

Like Dodds, Montalbano is a quiet investigator who trusts his instincts and reads people. Both shows prioritise character and warmth alongside crime-solving—neither is grim for grimness's sake.

Italian police procedural with a brilliant, intuitive detective. Beautiful cinematography of Sicily, genuinely funny dialogue, and mysteries that unfold through character and observation rather than exposition. Utterly charming and wholly satisfying.

But Subtitled, which requires attention. Quite different pacing and narrative structure from British procedurals. Some cultural context about Italian life is assumed.