NBC's fan favorite series, The Blacklist, returns to screens this month. For the uninitiated, the crime thriller revolves around Raymond Reddington (played by the incomparable James Spader). He’s the kind of mastermind a spook salivates over, and he turns himself into the FBI with a simple deal: a list of his criminal colleagues in exchange for his immunity, and a partnership with a specific female agent. This will be the show’s ninth season, and unfortunately for fans, neither the showrunner nor the leading lady will be returning. Will the series be the same without them?
Never fear, readers. If the latest season isn’t up to snuff, there’s always something else to stream. This list will get you started. Are you in the mood for conspiracies and spies? We’ve got you. What about a comforting procedural format? There’s plenty of that, too. Most importantly, there’s an entire rogues’ gallery for you to get acquainted with. These villains are brilliant, and they tend to take center stage.
Alias
Before Lost, Star Trek, and Star Wars, J.J. Abrams created Alias. It was the first television show produced by his company, Bad Robot. This critical darling won four Emmys and a Golden Globe, and that’s barely scratching the surface. Alias was broadcast on ABC for five seasons, running from 2001 to 2006. It’s an espionage thriller with action, drama, and a sprinkling of sci-fi. The story centers around Sydney Bristow (Jennifer Garner), a double agent for the CIA installed within a criminal organization called SD-6.
Do you like spies? Watch this one - Alias has entire spy families. This show has the costumes, the gadgets, and the action sequences. It’s fitting that Abrams went on to direct the third Mission Impossible movie because the world of his show is so similar. However, Alias isn’t your standard spy fare. It’s a little bit mystical (in an Indiana Jones sort of way). There are battles over strange artifacts as prophecies merge with conspiracies. Rather than taking over the show, the sci-fi elements give it a little flavor. In addition, Abrams throws in just the right amount of drama, romance, action and comedy, creating the perfect genre blend. If that doesn't intrigue you, the show also stars a young Bradley Cooper and Michael Vartan.
Sherlock
While there have been many different versions of Sherlock Holmes, this particular adaptation has a remarkedly devoted fanbase. It also won over the critics, with nine Emmys to its name. Sherlock was created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, and it originally aired on the BBC. It has four seasons so far, and a fifth is possible. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman star, as Holmes and Watson, respectively.
This show is set in the modern day. It’s respectful to the original stories without being married to them. Generally, the episodes are what you would expect: the famous detective solves mysteries. However, this is not your mother’s Sherlock. The Cumberbatch version is a “high-functioning sociopath.” In addition, the show takes Moriarty (Andrew Scott), Sherlock’s archnemesis, in an entirely different direction. Think Batman and the Joker, but the tension feels almost sexual in its intensity. This creative team has plenty of inspired choices. Here's another fun one: Irene Adler (Lara Pulver), Holmes’ adversary/love interest, is depicted as a cunning dominatrix in this adaptation. As edgy as this show tries to be, it's still reserved in a distinctly British sort of way, and that's what makes it so charming.
White Collar
White Collar is your standard cable procedural, as comforting and familiar as chicken noodle soup. The show was created by Jeff Eastin, and it aired on USA Network for six seasons. Matt Bomer amps up the charm as Neal Caffrey, a con artist turned FBI informant. His handler, played by Tim DeKay, is the agent who caught him, and the two have a buddy cop dynamic. This show has a lot in common with The Blacklist. Both series focus on charming criminals who decide to cross to the other side and work with the FBI. However, the tone of White Collar is more lighthearted. It’s rather like a cute television version of Catch Me If You Can. In addition, the show boasts a bunch of familiar faces (if you watch too much television). Willie Garson, Tiffani Thiessen, and Hilarie Burton have starring roles. Watch this show if you're in need of a little comfort and want something simple and fun.
Hannibal
You’re probably familiar with The Silence of the Lambs. This psychological horror show is another take on Hannibal Lecter; it’s based on Thomas Harris’ novels featuring the character. Created by Bryan Fuller, the show ran for three seasons on NBC before it was canceled. In spite of its low ratings, it managed to amass critical acclaim, a cult following, and eight Saturn Awards.
Mads Mikkelsen plays Lecter opposite Hugh Dancy as Will Graham, the hero to his villain. The two men are tied together; Lecter will become the infamous serial killer, and Graham is the one who eventually catches him. Hannibal is about the evolution of their relationship, which is similar to the one Sherlock and Moriarty share. The show is known for its imagery, which shifts between grotesque and beautiful. Sometimes, it’s both at once, a stunning portrait of the psychopathic mind. This one gets grisly, and it's not for the faint of heart.
Mindhunter
Another serial killer show - you can never get enough of those, can you? Mindhunter is a Netflix series created by Joe Penhall. Like Hannibal, it has a unique aesthetic, which is due to the fact that many of the episodes were directed by Oscar-nominee, David Fincher (who also served as an executive producer). It has two seasons so far, and there is the potential for a third, with Fincher saying that he might return.
Mindhunter is about the birth of criminal profiling, based on a true crime book of the same name. Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany play FBI agents who team up with a psychologist (Anna Torv) to study serial killers in the ‘70s and ‘80s. They subsequently begin to build the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. The show is based on real events, featuring infamous murderers like Edmund Kemper and Charles Manson. Period accurate details, like the costumes and music choices, transport you back in time, and every actor’s performance is layered. To sum it up, Mindhunter has the slick, dark feel of a Fincher film, but you get two seasons instead of two hours. Bonus!
Jack Ryan
Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, Ben Affleck, and Chris Pine have all taken their turns playing different versions of the Tom Clancy character. However, this is the first television version. John Krasinski does a solid job bringing the CIA analyst to life in this Amazon original. The series was created by Carlton Cuse and Graham Roland, and there are two seasons so far. The third is already underway, and a fourth has been greenlit by Amazon.
It’s a political thriller with plenty of action. In essence, spies do spy things internationally. The plot is forgettable, but the writing doesn’t need to be perfect. Your mind isn’t required for this one - watch it for the spectacle. Amazon pumps the money into this series. With high production values, the sets and action sequences look impressive - and Krasinski isn't too hard on the eyes either. Are you feeling vaguely patriotic? Do you like abs and/or explosions? You can just sit back, park your brain somewhere else, and enjoy.
Person of Interest
Considering the cast, crew, and concept of this show, it’s criminally underrated. Jonathan Nolan created this sci-fi/crime/drama series, and J.J. Abrams was an executive producer, airing on CBS for five seasons from 2011 to 2016. Person of Interest stars Jim Caviezel as John Reese, a former soldier, a CIA operative, and a generally dangerous guy. He’s tracked down by Harold Finch (Michael Emerson), a brilliant billionaire who created a powerful AI. Together, the two of them work with the machine to prevent crimes and save lives.
In essence, the AI is rather like the technology in Minority Report. However, the machine knows that a death is going to take place (and the people involved), but it doesn’t know who the murderer or the victim will be. That is up to John and Finch to figure out. As the story progresses, the world of the show expands. It delves into the possibilities of competing AIs with various organizations fighting to control the technology. Expect a lot of drama and action. The show also stars Taraji P. Henson as police detective, Joss Carter. The relationship between Joss and John is worth the price of admission. Amy Acker also shows up as a fun recurring character, a dangerous hacker, and she later gets upgraded to series regular. However, you should be warned that this show evolves, refusing to stick to its original formula. Be prepared for some radical shifts.