10 Gripping Crime Dramas That Ended Too Soon

Crime dramas are some of the most appealing TV shows with their gripping storylines, captivating characters, and engrossing mysteries, yet they don’t always stand the test of time. As the years go on, the genre keeps evolving, and fresh ideas are increasingly brought to life. However, despite how good a crime drama is, there are several factors that may, at times, work against it.

It’s easy to fall in love with a show, whether it’s because of its characters, setting, or plot, so it’s understandable that whenever a series that deserved better is canceled, we are left heartbroken. The entertainment industry is, at the end of the day, a business.

As such, networks opt to cancel shows that don’t perform well or don’t resonate with audiences instead of investing more money in a series that isn’t profitable. The competition is stiff in the crime drama genre, and while some series had the potential to be great, they didn’t get the chance to show just how incredible they could be beyond the episodes that audiences watched.

The Enemy Within (2019)

The Enemy Within is an enthralling crime drama that focuses on Erica Shepherd (Dexter‘s Jennifer Carpenter), a codebreaker serving 15 consecutive life sentences for espionage and treason. Years later, when the terrorist responsible for her imprisonment returns, Shepherd is needed by the FBI to bring him to justice.

The Enemy Within only lasted for one season, which was a shame because it had so much more to give. As seen by The Blacklist’s success, TV shows that have a similar concept have the potential for longevity as each new season could include an engrossing premise.

The show’s unfinished status still stings six years after its cancellation, particularly because there are other areas that could have been developed in terms of its main character. Shepherd is the glue that held the show together, and its unfortunate that we didn’t get to see who she would have become and the cases she would have been involved in had the show continued.

Limitless (2015-2016)

Limitless was a unique series that added a spin to law enforcement stories, but it only ran for one season and was canceled due to low ratings. A spinoff of the 2011 Bradley Cooper movie of the same name, the series focused on Brian Finch, a man on the brain-altering drug, NZT-48, who was working with the FBI.

The series did an amazing job of creating an intense atmosphere while also placing its characters at the center of its story. Unfortunately, we’ll probably never get a chance to understand Finch’s motivation for what he does, nor see how Carpenter and McDorman’s relationship evolves.

Prodigal Son (2019-2021)

Prodigal Son’s premise of a police officer working with a criminal is by no means new. However, there was an added element of uniqueness to the crime drama, as it centered on a son who was in law enforcement and his father, a convicted serial killer, collaborating in order to catch a criminal.

The crime drama aired for two seasons before it was cut short, leaving a lot of areas unexplored. Martin and Malcolm’s dynamic was one of the most intriguing parts of Prodigal Son, but it was left hanging, so questions about whether the father and son duo would have mended their relationship still remain.

Lie To Me (2009-2011)

With the sheer volume of crime dramas that are available, it’s essential that any new addition to the genre finds a way to stand out, and Lie to Me did that. However, that wasn’t enough for the series to move past its three seasons. The crime drama focuses on Dr. Lightman, a scientist specializing in studying the behaviors of criminals.

Because of his skill set, Dr. Lightman and his team worked closely with law enforcement agencies. Lie to Me is a procedural drama, so it employed a formulaic approach. However, it could have gone beyond its narrative structure and ventured more into developing its other characters, besides the show’s protagonist.

Profit (1996)

Released in 1996, Profit is a TV show that was considered, and still so, as a series that was way ahead of its time. So the fact that it was put on the chopping block came as a complete shock to audiences and critics, who praised it for its creativity and character-driven narrative.

Centering on Jim Profit, the series sees the title character being involved in actions that are far from right while working at Gracen & Gracen. But it’s because of his warped sense of morality that Profit worked, as he was one of the few morally gray characters on TV during that time.

The crime drama did a great job of fleshing out its protagonist, but it could be argued that the title character had more to give and there were endless opportunities for the story to take shape. Adrian Pasdar was absolutely brilliant as Profit, and he deserved a chance to continue shining.

Jett (2019)

Available To Stream On: NA

Jett is one of the most disappointing TV cancellations of the 2010s, and anyone who’s had a chance to watch the series understands why. With a cast that includes Breaking Bad‘s Giancarlo Esposito, Jett had the potential to reinvent the crime drama genre had it not run into a few roadblocks.

Jett’s road to cancellation is fascinating, because the show wasn’t initially axed. When Cinemax decided to stop all original programming, the crime drama tried to find a new home for its sophomore season, but to no avail. Given that Jett had complex characters with compelling stories, there was an opportunity to delve further into their psyche, but unfortunately, that didn’t happen.

Fast Lane (2002-2003)

While crime dramas sometimes focus on the good side of law enforcement, Fast Lane does the opposite. The series sees Donovan Ray and Deaqon Hales, two corrupt law enforcement officers with a habit of keeping things they seize from criminals.

Fast Lane has 22 episodes, which cover a lot of ground. However, the fact that it didn’t get a proper ending left a lot of questions unanswered, such as whether Donovan and Deaqon’s criminal activities would have come to light. Although Fast Lane has some cliffhangers, it’s worth watching if you love gritty crime dramas with morally grey characters.

Magic City (2012-2013)

When Magic City aired in 2012, it didn’t hit home with a lot of people, so its low ratings and less-than-stellar reviews led to its cancellation. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean that it was an altogether terrible series. Starring Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Ike, Magic City had a gritty tone and a complex character whose escapades added to what made the show incredible.

The show wasn’t perfect, as there are some aspects, such as the show’s pacing that could have been better expected. It also unfortunately ended on a cliffhanger, with Ike’s fate left unknown. If the show had continued, it had the chance to get the appreciation it deserved, as it would surely have learned from the mistakes that were made in its first season.

The Waterfront (2025)

Available To Stream On: Netflix

Netflix has a reputation for canceling its most promising shows, so in a way, it doesn’t come as a surprise that the show axed The Waterfront despite its streaming success. The series focuses on the Buckleys, a family that is dragged back into a life of crime due to financial difficulties.

When it debuted, The Waterfront was considered Ozark’s replacement, but we can never truly know if that is true, given its premature ending. There were several questions that were left unanswered by the series, such as the Parkers’ motivation and how the family would run their business.

Mindhunter (2017-2019)

Available To Stream On: Netflix

While there are a lot of crime dramas, not all of them are masterpieces. Mindhunter, one of Netflix’s most underrated series, wasn’t just a prestige series; it had something that other shows in the genre were lacking. With its focus on why criminals commit their acts, Mindhunter set itself up as a unique series.

The Netflix crime drama only ran for two seasons, and audiences who enjoyed the show were enraged by its cancellation. There are several mysteries in Mindhunter that were left unsolved, including tracking BTK and seeing how Tench and Ford’s research would go on.

While there’s little hope that Mindhunter will be revived, especially because it was expensive to produce but wasn’t necessarily mainstream, there is some satisfaction that comes from knowing that it’s probably one of the best crime dramas to debut on Netflix. Mindhunter‘s cancellation will forever be heartbreaking, especially for a show that executed everything perfectly.