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Slow-burn mystery shows often get a bad rap for making the viewing audience do something that television wasn’t invented to do: make you think. TV is often regarded as comfort food, something that you can turn to if you want to cut your brain off for a while. But that’s not the case for mystery slow burns.
These shows are experts at making you put your thinking cap on to solve the pieces of a slowly involving puzzle. While some people may not see the value in that, slow-burn mystery shows have tremendous value, and if you stick around, the payoff at the end is usually satisfying. So, to try to convince you that slow burns are absolutely worth it, here are the mystery shows that are experts at making slow burns truly exciting.
1
‘Elementary’ (2012–2019)
Sherlock Holmes doesn’t do anything quick. Every mystery that he’s found himself embroiled in has been a slow burn, requiring the viewer to take their time and help him unravel mysteries. That was the case for the CBS series Elementary, a modern-day take on the famous British detective with a slight twist.
Here, Holmes (Jonny Lee MIller), is recovering from drug addiction, and seeks out his sober companion, Dr. Joan Watson (Lucy Liu) to help him solve cases while also kicking his demon to the curb. Elementary doesn’t start out fast. It uses a slow and prodding pace to build suspense. However, at the end of each episode, you will be rewarded with a satisfying payoff. That’s what great mysteries do, and why Elementary is definitely in that category.
2
‘The Mentalist’ (2008–2015)
What would you do if you were “blessed” with the skill to read people’s minds? You would probably do what Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) did and go work for the California Bureau of Investigation to help solve murder cases. That was the central premise of The Mentalist, coming out at a time when TV, especially CBS, was really getting into the mystery genre with gusto.
This procedural drama took a different twist on the standard mystery procedural, and brought in psychic techniques to help solve crimes that befuddled the California CBI. In truth, Jane wasn’t a psychic — he just had out-of-this-world observational skills, which is what makes The Mentalist pay off even more, even if it ruined its series finale.
3
‘Columbo’ (1968–1998)
While Dragnet may have kicked off the crime drama procedural, it was NBC’s Columbo that pushed it into the mainstream. Starring Peter Falk as the titular Lieutenant Columbo, the show may be a crime drama technically, but, in spirit, it can also serve as a great mystery series, since it deals with putting the pieces together to solve crimes.
Columbo wasn’t a heavy action show like its crime companions would take on in subsequent years. That wasn’t the show’s style. No, this show was the very definition of a slow burn, using mystery to put the facts together to solve big cases. While this may bore some, trust me when I say, it actually works in Columbo‘s favor. The series expertly used slow burn tactics to keep its audience engaged, and it will keep you engaged as well.
4
‘Mare of Easttown’ (2021)
I will admit something to you. When I first saw HBO’s Mare of Easttown, I thought it was pretty boring. Maybe my love for slow burn shows may have worn out, I thought, as I struggled to get through the first couple of episodes. Then, the third episode came along, and I was hooked on this mystery like peanut butter is to jelly on a sandwich.
Mare of Easttown stars Kate Winslet in a truly spectacular performance. She portrayed Mare Sheehan, a detective who is investigating the murder of a teen mom while trying to piece her own life back together. Nothing here comes fast, and it’s a slow burn all the way to the ending. And, to be honest, that’s Mare of Easttown‘s strongest suit. The slow-moving nature of the series allows you to get a grasp of what Sheehan is struggling with, and helps you understand why this case is so important to her. I’m so glad I didn’t quit this show, as I would have missed a truly satisfying ending.
5
‘Only Murders in the Building’ (2021–)
We’ve now arrived at the mystery show that does have a bit of action to it, but it takes a while for it to get there. The beauty of Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building, starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez, is not within its comical mysterious oh no.
What sets Only Murders in the Building apart from its peers is the layers of background that play a big part of the mystery our true crime podcasters are trying to solve. There are a lot of intricacies that weave their way into the bigger picture, and while each season starts off pretty slowly, this acclaimed mystery series always sticks the landing in the end.
6
‘Big Little Lies’ (2017–)
What started out as a miniseries has quickly morphed into one of HBO’s best shows. That’s what happens when you give slow-burn Big Little Lies a chance to prove that being patient and waiting for the payoff is always the best bet. Starring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman, Big Little Lies follows a group of women who get wrapped up in a homicide investigation.
Again, this show isn’t for those who like their shows to get to the interesting part. It takes a bit of time for Big Little Lies to gather steam; but, once it does, get ready for a wild ride that rivals any modern-day mystery show. If you haven’t checked out Big Little Lies yet, this is your sign to do so, and pronto.
7
‘The Blacklist’ (2013–2023)
I feel like this show has slid into the category of underrated shows in recent years. That’s a shame, because The Blacklist was one of my favorite shows during the 2010s, and one of NBC’s biggest hits. Created by Jon Bokenkamp and starring the legendary James Spader, The Blacklist will have you on the edge of your seat in each episode.
Here, we follow Raymond Reddington (Spader), a career international criminal and fugitive who, in exchange for immunity from prosecution, decides to help the FBI track down and find other most wanted fugitives on his “blacklist.” Spader does a remarkable job here as the cunning Reddington, bringing a slice of charisma to a role that seemed tailor-made for him. The Blacklist, itself, is a very interesting show, a slow burn that takes off once you see the mystery unfold.
8
‘Yellowjackets’ (2021–)
Yes, Yellowjackets is technically a psychological horror drama. However, let me take a moment to explain why this show can also be categorized as a slow burn. First, some short context for those who haven’t watched the show yet. Created by Ashley Lyle and Bart Nickerson, Showtime’s Yellowjackets follows two storylines: one in which a group of teens tries to survive in the wilderness after a plane crash in the mid-’90s, while the second looks at how the survivors of that crash try to move on with life in the present day.
Even from that short synopsis, you can tell that there is a lot that goes on Yellowjackets. However, it takes a while to get to the true psychological horror nature of the series, which means that this show is also a slow burn. For a show like Yellowjackets, which has a lot of moving parts, starting out slow works in its favor if you give it a chance, which you absolutely should.
9
‘Pretty Little Liars’ (2010–2017)
I cannot tell you how much this show had a chokehold on me in the 2010s. In other words, I was, and still is, a huge fan of Pretty Little Liars, the teen mystery drama developed by I. Marline King. The series follows four girls (Lucy Hale, Shay Mitchell, Troian Bellisario, and Ashley Benson) who are mysteriously threatened by “A” after their leader, Allison DiLaurentis (Sasha Pieterse), disappears. The show is spent following the girls, nicknamed “The Liars,” as they try to solve the mysterious “A” and the disappearance of their friend.
Much like Yellowjackets, there is a lot that goes on in Pretty Little Liars, but you don’t get there right away. Most of the first half of Season 1 is a slow burn, as with the other subsequent seasons. But, this is a show that forces you to pay attention to even the most mundane of things, because everything ties together at the end to reveal who is torturing the Liars. That’s the beauty of this show, and eight years after it went off the air, I am still hooked on the mystery, and so will you.
10
‘True Detective’ (2014–)
While I was busy trying to find out who “A” was in Pretty Little Liars, another crime mystery had my complete attention for a different reason. For HBO’s True Detective, it wasn’t so much as trying to solve the mystery of who was trying to blackmail a group of high school teenagers. In this show, the mystery is the star of the show, and it will make you break out your inner Sherlock Holmes to try to help the detectives solve some of the most perplexing crimes on modern television.
Each season of True Detective is different, and offers its own flavor that will keep you on your toes. Whether it’s a pair of Louisiana State Police detectives trying to find an occult serial killer, or Alaskan detectives trying to find missing men in the dead of a polar night, you’ll be wrapped up in the mystery of each season. It’s one of the best slow burn mystery shows on TV, and if this show doesn’t make you believe that slow burners are worth it, I don’t know what to tell you.
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