20 Intense & Gripping TV Shows to Watch Instead of True Detective Season 4

For those in the latter camp, here's a list of 20 TV shows that keep the tension high and the plot gripping, without the controversy.

Think razor-sharp narratives, characters with more layers than an onion, and twists that'll have you second-guessing every theory you've ever had.

These series are the kind that glue you to your seat, with storylines so tight, they could pass for a drum skin. They're a mix of crime, mystery, and psychological thrillers – no supernatural stuff, just good old-fashioned mind games and detective work.

1. Black Bird ( 2022)

A convicted drug dealer, offered his freedom in exchange for coaxing a confession out of a suspected serial killer in a maximum-security prison, faces a psychological game of cat and mouse while dealing with his own demons and the suspect's manipulative tactics.

2. Mr. Robot (2015-2019)

A brilliant but socially inept cybersecurity engineer and hacker with dissociative identity disorder becomes involved in an underground hacker group led by the mysterious Mr. Robot, aiming to dismantle corporate America and reveal global conspiracies, only to unravel complex truths about himself and the world around him.

3. Severance ( 2022-)

The Apple TV+ show that managed to spawn a record number of theories; the story is set a dystopian world, where employees of a mysterious corporation undergo a surgical procedure called 'Severance,' dividing their memories between work and personal life, leading to chilling discoveries about their jobs and a quest to uncover the truth behind the company's unsettling practices.

4. Alias (2001-2006)

A young woman, recruited into a secret government agency as a spy, discovers her employer is actually an enemy organization; she then becomes a double agent for the CIA, embarking on complex missions, balancing her personal life, and uncovering family secrets tied to global espionage.

5. Sons of Anarchy (2008-2014)

In a fictional Californian town, a man struggles with his loyalty to a motorcycle club, led by his stepfather, and his growing unease with the group's illegal activities, leading to internal and external conflicts, power struggles, and a deep dive into the outlaw motorcycle culture.

6. The Wire (2002-2008)

An intense exploration of Baltimore's drug trade from the perspectives of both law enforcement and drug dealers; this series is mainly about the city's struggle with crime, poverty, and politics.

7. The Leftovers (2014-2017)

Following a global event called the "Sudden Departure," where 2% of the world's population disappears without explanation, this series explores themes of grief, faith, and human nature, through the eyes of those left behind in a small New York town.

8. The Night Manager (2016, Miniseries)

A former British soldier turned night manager of a Cairo hotel is recruited by intelligence agents to infiltrate an arms dealer's inner circle, leading to a dangerous game of espionage and revenge.

9. The Little Drummer Girl (2018, Miniseries)

Set in the late 1970s, a young English actress is recruited by Israeli intelligence to become a double agent and infiltrate a Palestinian terrorist group, leading her into a complex world of espionage, conflicting loyalties, and a perilous love affair.

10. FROM (2022-, Ongoing)

The residents of a mysterious town, unable to leave and surrounded by a forest where horrifying creatures lurk, struggle to maintain a semblance of normal life while seeking answers about the town's true nature and ways to escape.

11. Under the Banner of Heaven (2022, Miniseries)

A detective, a devout Mormon, investigates a brutal double murder supposedly motivated by religious fanaticism, leading him to question his own faith and uncover dark secrets within his community.

12. Mare of Easttown (2021, Miniseries)

A small-town Pennsylvania detective investigates a local murder while trying to keep her life from falling apart, uncovering the dark side of her close-knit community and confronting her personal demons.

13. Yellowjackets ( 2021-)

A dual-timeline narrative chronicling the lives of high school soccer players surviving a plane crash in the wilderness, juxtaposed with their adult selves, as they deal with the psychological trauma and a deepening mystery surrounding their time in the wild.

14. The Killing (2011-2014)

A gripping crime series focused on the murder of a young girl in Seattle, following the intricate investigation led by two detectives, each battling their personal issues, and the impact on the victim's family and community.

15. The Tourist (2022-)

A man wakes up in the Australian Outback with no memory of his identity; now he must uncover his past while being pursued by mysterious figures, leading to a web of intrigue and unexpected connections.

16. The Americans (2013-2018)

Two Soviet KGB officers posing as an American married couple in suburban Washington D.C. during the Cold War, struggle to balance their family life, espionage activities, and their loyalty to their country, amidst escalating tensions.

17. Ozark (2017-2022)

A financial planner, forced to relocate his family to the Ozarks, becomes entangled with local criminals as he launders money for a Mexican drug cartel, leading to escalating conflicts and moral dilemmas.

18. Strike Back (2010-2020)

A high-octane series following the missions of a secretive branch of the British Defence Intelligence service, focusing on two soldiers as they undertake covert operations around the world, often with personal stakes.

19. Condor (2018-2020)

A young CIA analyst stumbles upon a terrible plan that kills his entire office, forcing him on the run as he tries to expose the conspiracy, revealing layers of corruption and secrets within the intelligence community.

20. Y: The Last Man (2021)

The show is set in a post-apocalyptic world where a cataclysmic event has killed every male mammal; the only exception is just one man and his pet monkey. The series explores the societal changes, struggles for power, and the survival of humanity under these new circumstances.