Prime Video’sBallardis proving to be one of 2025’s major hits. With a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the procedural now sits firmly on the shelf of the most flawless television productions of all time. A spinoff ofBoschandBosch: Legacy,the cop series follows Detective Renée Ballard (Maggie Q) as she takes command of the LAPD’s newly formed but under-resourced cold case unit of the Robbery-Homicide Division (RHD).
All episodes ofBallardare currently available to stream, and if you’re done, you’re probably wondering if there are any other exciting offshoots of investigative shows to watch. There are plenty. Even though most of them require a viewer to be familiar with the original series, a few can be watched independently, so they are ideal for new viewers. No matter which side of the autonomy spectrum they fall on, these spinoffs will thrill you from start to finish.
10’Major Crimes' (2012 – 2018)
Major Crimes
A spinoff ofThe Closer,Major CrimesseesCaptain Sharon Raydor (Mary McDonnell) taking over the leadership of the LAPD’s Major Crimes Divisionfollowing the departure of Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (Kyra Sedgwick). She initially has a hard time getting the veteran detectives to trust her, but they all get along eventually.
New Leader, Same Problems
A gripping cop seriesshowcasing the superb talent of Mary McDonnell,Major Crimesis basically a clone ofThe Closer. The only difference lies in the two protagonists.While Brenda was eccentric, Sharon is the firm and assured type. Despite no signs of pomp, the spinoff still became a major hit. You’ll love all the officers, professionals whose imperishable passion for the job motivates numerous acts of supreme self-sacrifice.
9’Endeavour' (2012 – 2023)
Spun from one ofthe most critically acclaimed detective shows,Inspector Morse,Endeavourstars Shaun Evans asa young Endeavour Morse during the early stages of his career as a detective constable, and later as a detective sergeant, with the Oxford City Police CID. Events occur between 1965 and 1972 in a seemingly idyllic England.
Morse Begins
A well-photographed procedural of the highest order,Endeavourreminds us why our favorite lawman is so good at his job. Watching him nurture feverish victims out of their nerve-addled states is truly heartwarming. The lead actor, Evans, manages to elicit our sympathy at every turn as he moves from shell-shocked witnesses to egocentric criminals while maintaining the nagging sense that anyone can be a culprit.
8’S.W.A.T.' (1975 – 1976)
Forget the Shemar Moore series. There was the originalS.W.A.T.,an offshoot ofThe Rookies. In it,Lt. Dan “Hondo” Harrelson (Steve Forrest) leads a Special Weapons and Tactics unit in dismantling threats in an unnamed Californian city. The personal lives of the officers are also focal points of numerous episodes.
No One’s Cooler Than Them
Whether it’s well-organized gangs demanding exorbitant sums in ransom or a drug lord known for his profligate spending on the finer things in life, this team steps in and kicks a**. In the taut, well-scripted show,the rigor of police work is brilliantly melded with timely social commentary. Besides that, it has a marvelous opening theme song by Barry De Vorzon, which peaked at Number 1 on Billboard.
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7’The Rookie: Feds' (2022)
The Rookie: Feds
Birthed byThe Rookie,The Rookie: Fedsis about Simone Clark (Niecy Nash‑Betts),a 48‑year‑old former school counselor who joins the FBI Academy, becoming the oldest rookie. She is later assigned to the Special Investigative Unit in Los Angeles, where she does her job while trying to maintain a relationship with her father, Cutty (Frankie Faison), a man who hates police officers after he was wrongfully convicted.
Age is But a Number
Like the original,Fedswill definitely hold your attention. The suspense is maintained via the calm, studied scenes of questioning, tapped calls, cyber digging, and over-the-top surveillance. Butthe real tension truly explodes during the action scenes and delicious cliffhanger episode endings. Regrettably, the show had to end sooner than expectedbecause of the Hollywood double strike.
6’Diagnosis Murder' (1993 – 2001)
Diagnosis: Murder
Jake and the FatmanboreDiagnosis Murder,which centers onDr. Mark Sloan (Dick Van Dyke), and his son, LAPD Detective Steve Sloan (Barry Van Dyke), as they solve baffling crimes. Mark’s medical expertise often enables breakthroughs in cases that initially seemed unsolvable.
Dynamic Duo
Withstunning cinematography and soothing music,Diagnosis Murderis a dramatic marvel spread on amedical-drama-likecanvas. The Bergman-ish camera movements, mostly consisting of close-ups, ant-eye-views and numerous askew angles, properly evoke the emotional state of the main characters, especially Steve, who always seems to vacillate between immaturity and logicality.
5’Baptiste' (2019 – 2021)
Retired lawman Julien Baptiste (Tchéky Karyo) fromThe Missingispersuaded to get back into action to help the Dutch Police look for a missing 15-year-old enslaved sex worker in Amsterdam. While doing his job, he makes shocking discoveries and uncovers major secrets involving people related to the girl. How will he solve the labyrinthine mystery inBaptiste?
Baptiste Returns
While not as popular as the original series, the unique spinoffwarrants greater commendation and acknowledgment for its detailed, slow-burning plots and marvelous cinematography. Karyo also holds up his end admirably as the stern lawman who will leave no stone unturned. A few more action sequences would have been useful, but other storytelling elements fully compensate for their absence.
4’The Finder' (2012)
The Finder
The Finder’s protagonist, Walter Sherman (Geoff Stults), first appeared inBones. In the spinoff, the former US Army major investigates cases with his friends from his base at a Florida bar.Due to a traumatic brain injury suffered in the Iraq War due to a roadside bomb explosion, he can see patternswhere no one else can.
Effortless Investigations
One of the few shows to depict the post-war experience positively,The Finderremainsan indelible visual and storytelling triumph, even though it ended too soon. Like most Florida-based series, it has a gorgeous, paradise-like feel, so much so that the cases sometimes feel like distractions to the leisure everyone has sunk into. If only everyone’s mind could work like Sherman’s.
3’CSI: Miami' (2002 – 2012)
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miamiwas the first of many spinoffs. This one stars David Caruso asLieutenant Horatio Caine, an investigator who solves brutal crimes using cutting-edge tech and science. The cases initially seem easy to solve, but beyond the reality of the initial reports, precise circumstances are often more difficult to establish, since all witness recollections tend to differ markedly.
Mr. Sunglasses
The ingenious spinoffthrives by examining the elusive nature of factsand the ability of malicious people to reshape them to suit what they want the world to believe.Caine is arguably the coolest of allCSIfranchise protagonists, thanks to Caruso’s performance. The character has many iconic one-liners, and you can always tell it is about to go down whenever he takes his shades off.
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‘Bosch’ star Titus Welliver is often typecast in law enforcement roles. Some of his stints as a cop have been excellent, others forgettable.
2’NCIS' (2003 – Present)
NCIS’sconcept and characters were introduced in two backdoor pilot episodes of the CBS seriesJAG(“Ice Queen” and “Meltdown”). The series followsagents of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service as they solve crimes involving marines. For the first 19 seasons, the team was led by Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Mark Harmon).
New Day, New Case
An investigator cuffing a soldier? Mon dieu! From family drama to terrorists, this rollicking CBS hithas everything you could ask for in a procedural. And it sure has evolved with the times, from the post-9/11 geopolitical squabbling of the 2000s to the tech-driven threats of the modern world. It’s nowthe third-longest-running scripted, live-action American showcurrently airing, surpassed only by the series that’s occupying the first spot on this list.
1’Law & Order: SVU' (1999 - Present)
Law and Order: SVU
Law & Order: Special Victims Unitfocuses on the NYPD’s elite Special Victims Unit as it investigates child abuse, sexual offenses, and crimes against vulnerable members of society. The team is led by Detective Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), who later rises to the position of Captain.
Greatest Cop Show?
SVUisMariska Hargitay’s show. Rarely do lead actors in police procedurals get to win Emmys, but she got one in 2006. Since then, her performances have remained fairly consistent. Most importantly,no other cop show addresses gender-based violence better than this. Many episodes will put you in an emotional state, but you’ll be full of glee when the culprits are punished.
