The very popular crime drama Hawaii Five-Ois one of those procedurals that manages to be both narratively compelling and visually stunning, very much in keepingwith the original series. It keeps viewers coming back week after week by providing narratives that are easy to follow and usually solve by the end of each episode.
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At the same time, it also features characters that audiences enjoy getting to know with each new episode. Fortunately for fans of the show, this happens to be something of a golden age for the procedural, and there are several that hit several of the same notes.
The Glades
As its title implies, this crime drama takes place in the Everglades, and its emphasis on its location is what makes it a good choice for those who love Hawaii Five-O for its similar emphasis on locale. It’s also a very gorgeous sort of show, and the viewer will enjoy the immersion in the Florida milieu. What’s more, it also has a bit of a fish-out-of-water scenario as well. However, it was canceled without a true resolution, so that’s something to be aware of.
White Collar
No one can deny that Matt Bomer is one of the most charming actors working in television and film, and he brings that considerable charm to bear in White Collar, wherehe starred in all six seasons of the series. He plays a con man who is truly brilliant in his abilities. Though he’s quite the antihero, the fact that he’s played by Bomer makes him the kind of character that audiences can’t help but root for.
Magnum P.I.
Hawaii Five-O isn’t the only very popular proceduralto receive a bit of an update. In fact, this series takes place in the same fictional universe as its Hawaii counterpart, meaning that there’s a certain internal consistency that one doesn’t always see in this type of television show.
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It is also very pleasurable to look at, and while its start may not be quite the same type of Magnum as Tom Selleck (who played in the original series), it still has more than enough to satisfy fans of the genre.
MacGyver
Anyone who watches television knows that this is not just a golden age for procedurals; it’s also something of a golden age for reboots (for better and for worse). MacGyver was, of course, one of the most popular series of its time. Obviously, quite a bit has been changed for this updated version, but the series still has some of the charm of the original series, and it also takes place in the same universe as Hawaii Five-O.
Chicago P.D.
Dick Wolf is one of those people who seems to have a bit of a golden touch when it comes to producing television series that spawn numerous spinoffs. It is successful enough in its own right, and it hits all of the notes that one would expect of a police procedural, with compelling storylines and characters that grow and change as the series progresses. It’s also part of a franchise of series, so there’s lots of other related material to explore.
NCIS
It’s easy enough to create a procedural that manages to attain success on its own, but every so often one emerges that manages to produce an entire franchise, despite being a spinoff itself. That is, however, exactly what NCIShas managed to do. It’s a pleasurable show to watch, precisely because it hits all of the notes that one expects from the genre, with a group of characters that are quite likable. It’s the sort of show that tells a good story and does it well, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Criminal Minds
This procedural, unlike many others out there, is much more interested in the psychology of the various suspects. There’s a lot to recommend this series, and the characters and cast seem to have genuine chemistry with one another. It has to be said, though, that it’s the exploration of the darker, more sinister parts of human psychology that makes this procedural stand out from the crowd and that helps to explain why it is still very popular.
Law & Order: SVU
is one of those shows that managed to be enormously successful both on its own and in the spinoffs that it produced, including SVU, which is still going strong after a very long time on the air. It’s become an ever more prominent and important show, particularly with the rise of the MeToo movement.
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Mariska Hargitay has been and remains one of the best things about the show, providing a measure of stability to an ever-changing cast.
CSI: Miami
This show, part of the CSIfranchise is, as its title suggests, set in Miami. The show focuses on a group of police who use the techniques and technologies to determine who is responsible for various murders. Though it’s a pretty standard procedural, what sets it apart are both the distinctive characters and, just as importantly, the lush cinematography that immerses viewers in the sultry, sun-drenched world of Miami and its glamorous environs. Though it’s no longer on the air, it still holds up remarkably well.
NCIS: Los Angeles
The success of this show really is quite something. After all, it’s not the first in its franchise and, for the most part, it doesn’t really try to do anything new or adventurous in terms of its narrative. However, it’s precisely because NCIS: Los Angeles doesn’t try to do anything new or adventurous with its formula that it succeeds so well. Of course, it definitely helps that its characters are likable and have their own distinct personalities, so that also helps to explain its continuing popularity.
NEXT: Hawaii-Five-0: Season 1-10 Finales, Ranked (According To IMDb)
