Unbeknownst to you all, the Crime Binge has continued apace and I just finished checking out 610th(!) series.  It seems like a lot but, to be fair, in most cases I dropped shows that failed to impress so I didn’t finish all of them.  Hell, I didn’t finish a lot of them.  But I did finish quite a few and of those I finished, I did like at least half.  I’m batting roughly .250 and, rather than listing EVERY show along with my bullet review (I think I’ll set up a dedicated letterboxd account or website for that) I’m only going to regale you with my recommended watches.  Starting with these five fantastic shows…

The Diplomat (2 seasons) United States

In the midst of an international crisis, Kate Wyler, a career diplomat, lands in a high-profile job for which she is not suited, with tectonic implications for her marriage and her political future.

Now some will object to my classifying this as a crime show, but my definition of crime covers everything from mysteries and suspense to mob shows and espionage thrillers.  And this one falls into the latter category.  Terrific twists and turns with some cliffhanger outs that compel you to keep watching.

Poromafia/Reindeer Mafia (1 season) – Finland

A fierce power struggle amongst family members ensues following the death of a powerful matriarch and long-time ruler of the northern wastelands.

 I had to check this one out for the title alone.  To be honest, I wasn’t wholly convinced after the first episode but I decided to give the show a chance and I was rewarded with a delightfully different, darkly humorous crime show.  Finland’s answer to Fargo.

Say Nothing (1 season) United States

Spanning four tumultuous decades during The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

I really wasn’t familiar with the specifics regarding this difficult period and this series sheds an unflinching light on the struggles, sacrifices, and betrayals of those at the very heart of the conflict.   Truth is more heartbreaking than fiction.

Silence (2 seasons) – Croatia/Ukraine

A cop and a reporter on a Croatian murder case cross paths with a Ukrainian expat who’s searching for her missing niece.

A terrific character-driven multi-pronged narrative about human trafficking in Eastern Europe.

The King of Pigs (1 season) South Korea

Two friends meet up and recall their experiences as victims of school bullying when they receive a message from a friend from 20 years ago and mysterious serial killings begin to occur.

A solid serial killer tale with more than a few surprises.