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Justified (2010 – 2015)
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Yes, yes. If you watched Justified: City Primeval, you most likely have also watched—or at least are aware of—the original Justified series. But on the off chance you haven’t (or are just in the mood for a rewatch), this is one of the best shows of the 2010s and is pretty singular in its mood, tone, and execution. It’s a modern classic for a reason!
The Night Of (2016)
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For the same gritty, serialized crime story feeling as City Primeval, look no further than HBO’s The Night Of. This series comes from veteran screenwriter Steven Zaillian and crime writer extraordinaire Richard Price and tells a compelling story of a murder where no one can be sure what really happened. This series is best remembered as being the true breakout for star Riz Ahmed (who has since been nominated for a Best Lead Actor Oscar and won in the short film category), while John Turturro and the late Michael K. Williams also deliver some truly great performances. You’ll burn through this one quickly.
Perry Mason (2020 – 2023)
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The Sandman (2022 – )
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If you were electrified by Boyd Holbrook’s performance as the villainous Clement Mansell in Justified: City Primeval, then you need to watch Netflix’s The Sandman. Based on legendary author Neil Gaiman‘s game-changing fantasy comic series, The Sandman finally made it to Netflix in 2022 after years of previous attempts at adaptations. Holbrook plays The Corinthian in the series, a living, breathing, embodiment of a nightmare—and he’s utterly terrifying.
Banshee (2013 – 2016)
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Banshee is a little-seen show (it originally aired on Cinemax) where a criminal recently released from prison accidentally kills a small-town sheriff—and takes on his identity. The lead is played by Antony Starr (aka Homelander from The Boys), and the show gives you the same kind of adventure as Justified or City Primeval, albeit with a slightly different setup and in a slightly different setting.
The Shield (2002 – 2008)
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The Shield was a groundbreaking show for FX, leading an era of television where characters aren’t at all what they seem. Michael Chiklis plays the legendary role of Vic Mackey, a corrupt Detective for the LAPD; Justified fans should also be excited to know that The Shield marked Walton Goggins’ first major TV success.
True Detective (2014 – )
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For a season-long investigation/mystery of the highest quality, go to HBO’s True Detective for a modern classic. Arriving in the legendary moment of time known as the McConaughssaince, True Detective features one of Matthew McConaughey‘s most iconic roles as the ever-philosophical Rust Cohle, who, alongside Marty Hart (Woody Harrelson) create a fantastic detective duo. This show is a southern gothic mystery at its heart, and is great and creepy in all the best ways. Season 2 of True Detective is kind of a big mess and Season 3 is solid, but Season 1 is must-see TV for just about anyone.
Out of Sight (1998)
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OK, so these next two aren’t shows, but rather movies based on work also written by Elmore Leonard—and directly connected to Justified: City Primeval. Perhaps Steven Soderbergh‘s best movie, Out of Sight is a crime/heist/thriller with a twisty plot and an absolutely electric cast. The leads are George Clooney, Jennifer Lopez, and Don Cheadle, but City Primeval fans will recognize a much younger Paul Calderon as Raymond Cruz—the same character he played in a vital mid-season guest spot on the Justified sequel.
Jackie Brown (1997)
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Perhaps Quentin Tarantino’s most underrated movie (and the only one with a story that didn’t originate in his own head) is Jackie Brown. Based on the Elmore Leonard novel Rum Punch, it connects to Out of Sight through a shared character played by Michael Keaton, though this crime story features some absolutely electric performances from Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Forster, Robert De Niro, Bridget Fonda, and Pam Grier as the titular character. You won’t regret checking this one out if you haven’t gotten to it yet.
Poker Face (2023 – )
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If the well-crafted mystery part of Justified: City Primeval is what you seek, then we bring you to Rian Johnson’s Poker Face, which the Knives Out writer/director told Men’s Health “was like making 10 movies”Each of the show’s episodes follows Charlie Cale (Natasha Lyonne) as she navigates a messy mystery involving one (or several) guest stars (including Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Stephanie Hsu, and Nick Nolte among others).
Reacher (2022 – )
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You may remember the Tom Cruise Jack Reacher movies, and they were pretty fun mysteries. But Prime Video’s Reacher—starring Alan Ritchson as the titular investigator—really captures the mystery of Lee Child’s book series (and the MASSIVE size of Reacher himself). Check in here for another mystery series centered on a charismatic lead investigator.
Evan is the culture editor for Men’s Health, with bylines in The New York Times, MTV News, Brooklyn Magazine, and VICE. He loves weird movies, watches too much TV, and listens to music more often than he doesn’t.
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