Cerebral TV Shows

2026 • Rating 10.0 • crime, mystery, drama

A fiercely competitive police officer and an idealistic prosecutor, former high school classmates, reunite while investigating a nationwide serial murder case, pulling them into both a dangerous pursuit and an unresolved personal past.

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Detective, Investigation, Police, Serial Killer, Buddy Cop, Police Procedural, Crime Thriller, A Fiercely Competitive Police Officer And An Idealistic Prosecutor, Former High School Classmates, Reunite While Investigating A Nationwide Serial Murder Case

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-04-20

Place: South Korea, Korean

Cast: Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-jun, Kwak Sun-young, Seo Ji-hye, Jung Moon-sung, Bek Hyun-jin

2013 • Rating 8.7 • animation, sci-fi & fantasy, action & adventure

100 years ago, the last remnants of humanity were forced to retreat behind the towering walls of a fortified city to escape the massive, man-eating Titans that roamed the land outside their fortress. Only the members of the Scouting Legion dared to stray beyond the safety of the walls – but even those brave warriors seldom returned alive. Those within the city clung to the illusion of a peaceful existence until the day that dream was shattered, and their slim chance at survival was reduced to one horrifying choice: kill – or be devoured!

Genre: Animation, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Action & Adventure

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Mind Bending, Surreal, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Family

Plot: Fascism, Dystopia, Politics, Revenge, Gore, Survival, Tragedy, Giant Monster, Based On Manga, Super Power

Time: Year 2013, 2010S, 2013-04-07

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Yuki Kaji, Yui Ishikawa, Marina Inoue, Kisho Taniyama, Hiro Shimono, Yoshimasa Hosoya

1980 • Rating 8.6 • documentary

Carl Sagan covers a wide range of scientific subjects, including the origin of life and a perspective of our place in the universe.

Genre: Documentary

Style: Cerebral, Futuristic

Audience: General Audience

Plot: Nuclear War, Greenhouse Effect, Space Travel, Exploration, Astronomer, Scientist, Universe, Evolution, Astronomy, Solar System

Time: Year 1980, 1980S, 1980-09-28

Place: United Kingdom, United States Of America, English, Space

Cast: Carl Sagan

2006 • Rating 8.6 • animation, mystery, sci-fi & fantasy

Light Yagami is an ace student with great prospects—and he’s bored out of his mind. But all that changes when he finds the Death Note, a notebook dropped by a rogue Shinigami death god. Any human whose name is written in the notebook dies, and Light has vowed to use the power of the Death Note to rid the world of evil. But will Light succeed in his noble goal, or will the Death Note turn him into the very thing he fights against?

Genre: Animation, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Psychological, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Family, Teens

Plot: Detective, Journalism, Secret Identity, Police, Supernatural, Sociopath, Rivalry, Murder, Serial Killer, Grim Reaper

Time: Year 2006, 2000S, 2006-10-04

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Mamoru Miyano, Shido Nakamura, Aya Hirano, Kappei Yamaguchi, Kimiko Saito, Naoya Uchida

2017 • Rating 8.6 • documentary, family

There is nowhere more powerful and unforgiving yet more beautiful and compelling than the ocean. Join us and explore the greatest yet least known parts of our planet.

Genre: Documentary, Family

Style: Cerebral

Audience: Family

Plot: Ocean, Sea, Fish, Deep Sea, Miniseries, Oceanic Expedition, Oceanography, Scientific Expedition, Underwater Photography, Science And Technology

Time: Year 2017, 2010S, 2017-10-29

Place: China, France, Germany, United Kingdom, United States Of America

Cast: David Attenborough

2012 • Rating 8.6 • animation, action & adventure, comedy

Twin brother and sister Dipper and Mabel Pines are in for an unexpected adventure when they spend the summer helping their great uncle Stan run a tourist trap in the mysterious town of Gravity Falls, Oregon.

Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Comedy, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Family

Style: Cerebral, Mind Bending, Surreal

Audience: Adult, Family, Teens

Plot: Small Town, Dreams, Symbolism, Oregon, Usa, Magic, Time Travel, Uncle, Alien, Coming Of Age, Summer

Time: Year 2012, 2010S, Time Travel Era, 2012-06-15

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal, Alex Hirsch, Linda Cardellini

2016 • Rating 8.6 • sci-fi & fantasy, mystery, action & adventure

When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and one strange little girl.

Genre: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery, Action & Adventure

Style: Cerebral, Mind Bending

Audience: Adult, Family, Teens

Plot: Monster, Small Town, Indiana, Usa, Experiment, Halloween, Friendship, Supernatural, Coming Of Age, Parallel World, Super Power

Time: Year 2016, 2010S, 2016-07-15

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin

1992 • Rating 8.6 • action & adventure, animation, drama

Vowing to avenge the murder of his parents, Bruce Wayne devotes his life to wiping out crime in Gotham City as the masked vigilante "Batman".

Genre: Action & Adventure, Animation, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Family

Plot: Detective, Asylum, Race Against Time, Cartoon, Deformation, Superhero, Based On Comic, Organized Crime, Robin, Super Power

Time: Year 1992, 1990S, 1992-09-05

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Kevin Conroy

2018 • Rating 8.5 • crime, drama, comedy

Starting over isn't easy, especially for small-town guy John Nolan who, after a life-altering incident, is pursuing his dream of being an LAPD officer. As the force's oldest rookie, he's met with skepticism from some higher-ups who see him as just a walking midlife crisis.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Comedy

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Mind Bending, Surreal, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Police Chase, Los Angeles, California, Police Officer, Police Detective, Street Crime, Lapd, Police Training, Crime Investigation, Dramedy, Police Department

Time: Year 2018, 2010S, 2018-10-16

Place: United States Of America, Canada, English, Los Angeles

Cast: Nathan Fillion, Melissa O'Neil, Eric Winter, Alyssa Diaz, Mekia Cox, Richard T. Jones

2014 • Rating 8.4 • crime, drama

A riveting police drama about the men and women of the Chicago Police Department's District 21 who put it all on the line to serve and protect their community. District 21 is made up of two distinctly different groups: the uniformed cops who patrol the beat and go head-to-head with the city's street crimes and the Intelligence Unit that combats the city's major offenses - organized crime, drug trafficking, high profile murders and beyond.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Chicago, Illinois, Police, Spin Off, Crime Investigation, A Riveting Police Drama About The Men And Women Of The Chicago Police Department'S District, Who Put It All On The Line To Serve And Protect Their Community, District, Is Made Up Of Two Distinctly Different Groups, The Uniformed Cops Who Patrol The Beat And Go Head-To-Head With The City'S Street Crimes And The Intelligence Unit That Combats The City'S Major Offenses - Organized Crime, Drug Trafficking

Time: Year 2014, 2010S, 2014-01-08

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Jason Beghe, Marina Squerciati, Patrick John Flueger, LaRoyce Hawkins, Benjamin Levy Aguilar, Arienne Mandi

2008 • Rating 8.4 • crime, drama, mystery

Patrick Jane, a former celebrity psychic medium, uses his razor sharp skills of observation and expertise at "reading" people to solve serious crimes with the California Bureau of Investigation.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: California, Con Man, Cop, Serial Killer, Criminal Investigation, Mourning, Mysterious, Forensic Psychology, Criminal Consultant, Desperate

Time: Year 2008, 2000S, 2008-09-23

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Rockmond Dunbar, Joe Adler, Josie Loren

2016 • Rating 8.4 • crime, mystery, reality

The cast is introduced to the settings and suspects of a murder case for the new episode. The cast then chooses their role in the episode, as a particular suspect or the detective.

Genre: Crime, Mystery, Reality

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult

Plot: Detective, The Cast Is Introduced To The Settings And Suspects Of A Murder Case For The New Episode, The Cast Then Chooses Their Role In The Episode, As A Particular Suspect Or The Detective

Time: Year 2016, 2010S, 2016-03-27

Place: China, Mandarin

Cast:

2012 • Rating 8.4 • drama

An edge-of-your-seat view into the lives of everyday heroes committed to one of America's noblest professions. For the firefighters, rescue squad and paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51, no occupation is more stressful or dangerous, yet so rewarding and exhilarating. These courageous men and women are among the elite who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way and whose actions make the difference between life and death.

Genre: Drama

Style: Cerebral, Suspenseful

Audience: Date Night, Teens

Plot: Chicago, Illinois, Fire Brigade, Paramedic, Crime Investigation, Firefighter, An Edge-Of-Your-Seat View Into The Lives Of Everyday Heroes Committed To One Of America'S Noblest Professions, For The Firefighters, Rescue Squad And Paramedics Of Chicago Firehouse, No Occupation Is More Stressful Or Dangerous, Yet So Rewarding And Exhilarating

Time: Year 2012, 2010S, 2012-10-10

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Taylor Kinney, David Eigenberg, Joe Miñoso, Christian Stolte, Miranda Rae Mayo, Hanako Greensmith

2005 • Rating 8.3 • drama, mystery, sci-fi & fantasy

When they were boys, Sam and Dean Winchester lost their mother to a mysterious and demonic supernatural force. Subsequently, their father raised them to be soldiers. He taught them about the paranormal evil that lives in the dark corners and on the back roads of America ... and he taught them how to kill it. Now, the Winchester brothers crisscross the country in their '67 Chevy Impala, battling every kind of supernatural threat they encounter along the way.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style: Cerebral, Dark

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Angel, Witch, Monster, Exorcism, Supernatural, Paranormal, Purgatory, Paranormal Phenomena, Apocalypse, Bromance

Time: Year 2005, 2000S, 2005-09-13

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Jared Padalecki, Jensen Ackles, Misha Collins

2005 • Rating 8.3 • crime, drama, mystery

An elite team of FBI profilers analyze the country's most twisted criminal minds, anticipating their next moves before they strike again. The Behavioral Analysis Unit's most experienced agent is David Rossi, a founding member of the BAU who returns to help the team solve new cases.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Fbi, Criminal Mastermind, Crime Investigation, Special Agent, Criminology, Police Profiling, Police Procedural, Suspenseful, An Elite Team Of Fbi Profilers Analyze The Country'S Most Twisted Criminal Minds, Anticipating Their Next Moves Before They Strike Again

Time: Year 2005, 2000S, 2005-09-22

Place: United States Of America, Canada, English

Cast: Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Adam Rodriguez, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Aisha Tyler

2006 • Rating 8.2 • crime, drama, mystery

Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police also leads a secret life as a serial killer, hunting down criminals who have slipped through the cracks of justice.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Miami, Florida, Based On Novel Or Book, Double Life, Homicide, Vigilante, Murder, Serial Killer, Psychological Thriller, Killer, Forensic Science

Time: Year 2006, 2000S, 2006-10-01

Place: United States Of America, English, Spanish

Cast: Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, Geoff Pierson, David Zayas, James Remar, Aimee Garcia

2005 • Rating 8.2 • crime, drama

Dr. Temperance Brennan and her colleagues at the Jeffersonian's Medico-Legal Lab assist Special Agent Seeley Booth with murder investigations when the remains are so badly decomposed, burned or destroyed that the standard identification methods are useless.

Genre: Crime, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Washington Dc, Usa, Fbi, Forensic Science, Murder Investigation, Crime Investigation, Forensic Archaeology, Temperance Brennan And Her, Colleagues At The Jeffersonian'S Medico-Legal Lab Assist Special Agent Seeley Booth, With Murder Investigations When The Remains Are So Badly Decomposed, Burned Or Destroyed That The Standard Identification Methods Are Useless

Time: Year 2005, 2000S, 2005-09-13

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Emily Deschanel, David Boreanaz, John Boyd, Michaela Conlin, Tamara Taylor, T.J. Thyne

2022 • Rating 8.2 • mystery, drama, sci-fi & fantasy

Unravel the mystery of a nightmarish town in middle America that traps all those who enter. As the unwilling residents fight to keep a sense of normalcy and search for a way out, they must also survive the threats of the surrounding forest – including the terrifying creatures that come out when the sun goes down.

Genre: Mystery, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Style: Cerebral

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Sheriff, Small Town, Forest, Priest, Gore, Trapped, Folk Horror, City Ruin, City Nights, Supernatural Horror

Time: Year 2022, 2020S, 2022-02-20

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Harold Perrineau, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Eion Bailey, Pegah Ghafoori, Hannah Cheramy, Simon Webster

2026 • Rating 8.0 • mystery, drama

An ambitious prosecutor rises through Korea’s elite by marrying a famous actress, only to be pulled into a ruthless power cartel where hidden informants, corporate heirs, and political players collide in a brutal struggle for survival and control.

Genre: Mystery, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night

Plot: Power Struggle, An Ambitious Prosecutor Rises Through Korea, S Elite By Marrying A Famous Actress, Only To Be Pulled Into A Ruthless Power Cartel Where Hidden Informants, Corporate Heirs, And Political Players Collide In A Brutal Struggle For Survival And Control

Time: Year 2026, 2020S, 2026-03-16

Place: South Korea, Korean, Korea

Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, Nana, Cha Joo-young, Oh Jung-se

1997 • Rating 8.0 • action & adventure, mystery, animation

After a long hiatus -- The Caped Crusader is back and cooler then ever, in the animated action-packed series -- The New Batman-Superman Adventures. Picking up years after Batman: The Animated Series, the series highlights Batman and his crimefighting cadre of Nightwing, Robin and Batgirl, as they join forces to battle Gotham City's classic super-villains.

Genre: Action & Adventure, Mystery, Animation, Kids

Style: Cerebral, Psychological, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Family

Plot: Detective, Vigilante, Deformation, Superhero, Based On Comic, Robin, Super Power, Ward, Double Identity, Dc Animated Universe (Dcau)

Time: Year 1997, 1990S, 1997-09-13

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Kevin Conroy

2019 • Rating 8.0 • animation, comedy, mystery

The Mystery Inc. gang solve bigger mysteries while also encountering many memorable celebrities.

Genre: Animation, Comedy, Mystery, Family

Style: Cerebral

Audience: Adult, Family

Plot: Detective, Friendship, Friends, Talking Dog, The Mystery Inc, Gang Solve Bigger Mysteries While Also Encountering Many Memorable Celebrities

Time: Year 2019, 2010S, 2019-06-27

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Frank Welker, Matthew Lillard, Grey DeLisle, Kate Micucci

1999 • Rating 7.9 • crime, drama, mystery

In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Detective, Sexual Abuse, Sex Scandal, Domestic Abuse, Sexual Violence, Domestic Violence, Criminal, Sex Trafficking, Interrogation, District Attorney

Time: Year 1999, 1990S, 1999-09-20

Place: United States Of America, English, New York

Cast: Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish, Peter Scanavino, Aimé Donna Kelly, Kevin Kane

2018 • Rating 7.9 • crime, action & adventure, drama

The New York office of the FBI brings to bear all their talents, intellect and technical expertise on major cases in order to keep their city and the country safe.

Genre: Crime, Action & Adventure, Drama

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: New York City, Fbi, Investigation, Gunfight, Foot Chase, Criminal Investigation, Gun Shooting, Special Agent, Police Procedural, Fbi Agent

Time: Year 2018, 2010S, 2018-09-25

Place: United States Of America, English, New York

Cast: Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, John Boyd, Jeremy Sisto, Alana de la Garza, Juliana Aidén Martinez

2016 • Rating 7.8 • animation, action & adventure, sci-fi & fantasy

Natsuki Subaru, an ordinary high school student, is on his way home from the convenience store when he finds himself transported to another world. As he's lost and confused in a new world where he doesn't even know left from right, the only person to reach out to him was a beautiful girl with silver hair. Determined to repay her somehow for saving him from his own despair, Subaru agrees to help the girl find something she's looking for.

Genre: Animation, Action & Adventure, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Mind Bending

Audience: Adult, Family, Teens

Plot: Magic, Trauma, Time Travel, Reincarnation, Supernatural, Gore, Tragedy, Time Loop, Fate, Parallel World

Time: Year 2016, 2010S, Time Travel Era, 2016-04-04

Place: Japan, Japanese

Cast: Yusuke Kobayashi, Rie Takahashi, Yumi Uchiyama, Chinatsu Akasaki, Yuichi Nakamura, Inori Minase

2003 • Rating 7.8 • crime, drama, mystery

The Philadelphia homicide squad's lone female detective finds her calling when she is assigned cases that have never been solved. Detective Lilly Rush combines her natural instincts with the updated technology available today to bring about justice for all the victims she can.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Detective, Victim, Investigation, Police, Police Detective, Female Detective, Murder Investigation, Homicide Detective, Cold Case

Time: Year 2003, 2000S, 2003-09-28

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Kathryn Morris, Danny Pino, Jeremy Ratchford, Thom Barry, Tracie Thoms, John Finn

2013 • Rating 7.6 • drama, crime, mystery

Raymond "Red" Reddington, one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives, surrenders in person at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. He claims that he and the FBI have the same interests: bringing down dangerous criminals and terrorists. In the last two decades, he's made a list of criminals and terrorists that matter the most but the FBI cannot find because it does not know they exist. Reddington calls this "The Blacklist". Reddington will co-operate, but insists that he will speak only to Elizabeth Keen, a rookie FBI profiler.

Genre: Drama, Crime, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Gritty, Psychological, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Fbi, Investigation, Terrorism, Criminal Mastermind, Crime Lord, Hidden Identity, Criminal Consultant, Raymond, Red, Reddington

Time: Year 2013, 2010S, 2013-09-23

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: James Spader, Diego Klattenhoff, Hisham Tawfiq, Anya Banerjee, Harry Lennix

2000 • Rating 7.6 • crime, drama, mystery

A Las Vegas team of forensic investigators are trained to solve criminal cases by scouring the crime scene, collecting irrefutable evidence and finding the missing pieces that solve the mystery.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Detective, Police, Crime Scene, Las Vegas, Criminal Investigation, Forensic, Murder Investigation, Homicide Detective, Crime Investigation, Police Procedural

Time: Year 2000, 2000S, 2000-10-06

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Ted Danson, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, Robert David Hall, Wallace Langham

2003 • Rating 7.6 • crime, drama, action & adventure

From murder and espionage to terrorism and stolen submarines, a team of special agents investigates any crime that has any connection to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Action & Adventure

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: Navy, Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, Naval Officer, Medical Examiner, Interrogation, Ex Marine, Criminal Investigation, Veteran, Virginia

Time: Year 2003, 2000S, 2003-09-23

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Sean Murray, Wilmer Valderrama, Katrina Law, Brian Dietzen, Rocky Carroll, Diona Reasonover

1997 • Rating 7.5 • crime, drama, mystery

The peacefulness of the Midsomer community is shattered by violent crimes, suspects are placed under suspicion, and it is up to a veteran DCI and his young sergeant to calmly and diligently eliminate the innocent and ruthlessly pursue the guilty.

Genre: Crime, Drama, Mystery

Style: Cerebral, Dark, Gritty, Suspenseful

Audience: Adult, Date Night, Teens

Plot: England, Murder, Police Detective, Murder Investigation, Police Inspector, Midsomer, The Peacefulness Of The Midsomer Community Is Shattered By Violent Crimes, Suspects Are Placed Under Suspicion, And It Is Up To A Veteran Dci And His Young Sergeant To Calmly And Diligently Eliminate The Innocent And Ruthlessly Pursue The Guilty

Time: Year 1997, 1990S, 1997-03-23

Place: United Kingdom, English

Cast: Neil Dudgeon, Nick Hendrix, Fiona Dolman, Annette Badland

1979 • Rating 7.5 • animation, mystery, comedy

Everyone’s favorite mystery-solving Great Dane is here to find clues, along with a little help from his energetic nephew and four human companions.

Genre: Animation, Mystery, Comedy, Family, Kids

Style: Cerebral

Audience: Adult, Family

Plot: Criminal Investigation, Gang Solves Mystery, Everyone, S Favorite Mystery-Solving Great Dane Is Here To Find Clues, Along With A Little Help From His Energetic Nephew And Four Human Companions

Time: Year 1979, 1970S, 1979-09-22

Place: United States Of America, English

Cast: Casey Kasem, Don Messick