The 1990s marked a golden era of television, introducing several noteworthy cult classics and long-running sitcoms. Additionally, severalgreat yet forgotten 1990s TV showslaid the groundwork for suspenseful thrillers in entertainment that helped shape the trajectory of modern television.1990s TV helped create a culture of viewers tuning in every weekto watch the newest episode of their favorite show and discuss the plot.
The decade was filled with various suspenseful TV thrillers, ranging from mysterious supernatural dramas to crime-solving police procedurals. These shows revolutionized how complex plots and gripping narratives kept viewers coming back every week. The 1990s also brought variety to television,broadening the type of content that was available on cable. Nostalgia is not the only factor keeping these shows' legacies alive, as the ideas ofinfluential directors of 1990s TV showscan still be seen in modern television.
10NYPD Blue (1993-2005)
Exploring The Personal & Professional Lives Of NYPD Detectives
Obviously set in New York City,NYPD Bluefollows the lives of detectives of the New York Police Department. The long-running crime drama TV show featured a great ensemble of actors and characters and was critically acclaimed for its realistic portrayal of the lives of detectives. Notably,NYPD Bluedid not shy away from controversy and received praise for the characterization, as the various characters made mistakes and bad decisions rather than being the beacons of truth and justice.
The detectives' personal lives were often intertwined with the cases they were solving, adding to the depth of their arcs and elevatingNYPD Blueto being arguably one of thebest cop TV shows ever. Watching theNYPD Bluedetectives struggle to do the right thing and sometimes fail made audiences root for the characters and made the show a thrilling, suspenseful journey.
9Agatha Christie’s Poirot (1989-2013)
British Drama Based On Agatha Christie’s Novels
Agatha Christie’s Poirot,also known asPoirot, is a British drama based on Hercule Poirot, the fictional private investigator created by the legendary murder mystery author. Actor David Suchet starred as the titular detective, with each episode based on a novel or short story written by Christie.
Every Major Actor Who Played Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot, Ranked
With Agatha Christie’s Poirot in 50 stories or more, it’s not surprising that there have been numerous adaptations. But which portrayal is the best?
Because each episode was based on a different story by Christie, viewers were able to treat every outing as its own complete storywithout worrying about missing the overarching plot. The popular whodunit TV series revolving around Poirot also includes characters like Poirot’s best friend Captain Arthur Hastings (Hugh Fraser) and secretary Felicity Lemon (Pauline Moran), who joined some of thebest episodes ofAgatha Christie’s Poirot.
Poirot’s brilliance and investigative skills were best witnessed in contrast to different detectives and styles of investigation. For instance, Chief Inspector James Japp (Philip Jackson) serves as the perfect foil for Poirot as a hardworking and diligent police officer. The entertaining character dynamics and intriguing mysteries inAgatha Christie’s Poirotkept viewers hooked.
8Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001)
Western Crime Drama Filled With Martial Arts
Walker, Texas Ranger,follows the titular Sergeant Cordell Walker, played by iconic martial artist and actor Chuck Norris. Walker is a member of the Texas Ranger Division who has a penchant for administering justice in the ways of the Wild West. The action and crime drama TV was successful enough to spawn the spin-off seriesSons of Thunderand the now-canceled rebootWalkerstarring Jared Padalecki.
Walker, Texas Ranger
Cast
Walker, Texas Ranger is an action-packed TV series that follows Cordell Walker, a Texas Ranger with a strong sense of justice, played by Chuck Norris. Set in contemporary Texas, the show combines martial arts, crime-solving, and moral lessons. Walker teams up with James Trivette (Clarence Gilyard), and together they tackle a range of criminal activities while upholding the law. The series emphasizes traditional values and integrity.
After Walker’s parents were murdered, he was raised by his Indigenous American uncle and grew up to serve in the Vietnam War before becoming a ranger.Norris' real-life martial arts expertise and Walker’s sense of Old West justice made for a different type of Western action,one with gunslinging and explosions alongside martial arts and hand-to-hand combat. The popular action-heavy Western TV show cemented Norris' role as an action hero and martial arts icon.
7Blue Heelers (1994-2006)
Australian Police Drama Set In A Small Town
The police proceduralBlue Heelerswas one of the highest-rated and most-awarded series on Australian television. At its peak,Blue Heelershad more than 2.5 million viewers tuning in every week. One of thebest Australian crime dramasavailable focuses on the lives of police officers, referred to as Heelers, in the fictional small town of Mount Thomas. The problems faced by the police officers inBlue Heelersrange from trivial concerns such as fencing disputes to serious crimes such as homicides.
10 Underrated Recent Detective TV Shows You Probably Missed
The detective genre is always evolving, and these great crime shows might not have made big news, but they’re must-watch crime television.
Police inspector Russell Falcon-Prince, played by Neil Pigot, also serves as a recurring source of conflict as he continuously attempts to shut down the small police department. The police dramaBlue Heelersalso showcases the personal lives of the police officers and their relationships with other detectives, friends, and families. Despite being a TV show with a large ensemble cast,Blue Heelersmanaged to give screen time to each police officer and their lives.
6La Femme Nikita (1997-2001)
A Spy Drama About A Woman Forced To Become A Spy
La Femme Nikita,which translates to"The Woman Nikita,“follows the titular character Nikita (Peta Wilson), a woman who is recruited by a spy agency andforced to work as an assassin under the threat of death. The action-filled thriller show’s unique premise is based on a French film of the same name. This film also inspired the TV showNikita,starring Maggie Q as the titular character.
The female-led spy drama is driven byNikita’s struggle to maintain her strong moral compass and humanity in the face of adversity, making her a compelling character and enhancing the thrilling plot.Nikita’s dangerous romantic entanglement with her mysterious trainer,Michael Samuelle (Roy Dupuis) also serves as a thrilling source of conflict and character growth. Nikita’s compassionate personality and her conflict with the ruthless secret government organization result in interesting character dynamics with the rest of the agency members.
5Homicide: Life On The Streets (1993-1999)
The Police Drama Based On True Events
Homicide: Life On The Streetsis a TV police drama that follows a fictionalized Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit. Thedetective show is based on the crime bookby reporter David Simon titledHomicide: A Year on the Killing Streets,describingthe reporter’s year spent with detectives from the Baltimore police’s homicide unit. Therefore,many of the intense events and characters inHomicide: Life On The Streetsare based on real-life incidentsdepicted in the book.
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street is a crime drama series that aired from 1993 to 1999. It follows the detectives of the Baltimore Police Department’s Homicide Unit as they investigate gruesome murders while grappling with the complexities of their personal lives. The series is known for its realistic portrayal of police work and complex character development, featuring an ensemble cast led by Andre Braugher and Richard Belzer.
The gritty and realistic portrayal of crime and police officers helpedHomicide: Life On The Streetsstand outfrom other cop dramas and police procedurals. The detectives inHomicide: Life On The Streetsdid investigate crime and solve murders, but they also complained about paperwork and were desensitized to violence due to the nature of their job.
Exciting Homicide: Life On The Street Streaming Update From David Simon
Homicide: Life on the Street was a procedural crime drama that starred Andre Braugher. It’s missing from streaming services, but NBC is working on it.
Homicide: Life On The Streetswas revolutionary as it didn’t only focus on the mystery behind a murder case, it also explored thelives of the detectives and how their jobs impacted their mental state and relationships. Despite ending in 1999, fans ofHomicide: Life On The Streetsare still finding hidden detailsin the police procedural that capture this reality.
4Oz (1997-2003)
The Psychological Thriller Set in Prison
The prison dramaOzis set in a fictional men’s prison and the TV show takes an in-depth look at the lives of inmates and staff. Thepsychological thriller focuses on the characterizations and delves into the minds of incarcerated criminals, with a dark and cynical tone that perfectly fits the setting. Unfortunately,Oz’scancelation left unanswered questionsfor fans of the show regarding the"Emerald City"wing and experimental unit of the prison that sets the stage forOz.
Oz
Oz was a crime-drama series from HBO created by Tom Fontana. The series focuses on the inmates and officers of the fictional experimental Oswald State Correctional Facility. The prison, prioritizing rehabilitation instead of corrective punishment, navigates the fragile social cliques within its halls, where tensions never relent.
The factions within Emerald City are constantly warring, causing conflict for the ensemble characters. Unit manager Tim McManus (Terry Kinney) and Warden Leo Glynn (Ernie Hudson) struggle to control the inmates of Emerald City, while they continue their power struggle.Ozeffortlessly built tension and suspense in the show by having intricate and conflict-ridden dynamics between the characters.One ofOz’s strengths is the tension between the staff and its inmates,which serves as a consistent point of conflict that is utilized to add depth to the characters' motivations.
3The X-Files (1993-2002)
Two FBI Agents Investigate Paranormal Cases
The iconic supernatural drama seriesThe X-Filesfollows FBI special agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigate the"X-Files,“unsolved cases that involve paranormal activity. The two lead characters, criminal profiler and conspiracy theorist Mulder and logical doctor Scully have a memorable dynamic that influenced other TV show duos. Thebeliever and skeptic dynamic between Mulder and Scullyoften leads to tension between the characters and those characterizations and dynamics helped sway how the mystery would unravel through their investigation.
The X-Files
The X-files takes the police procedural formula and applies it to sci-fi mysteries. Conspiracy theorist Fox Mulder and skeptic Dana Scully team up to solve cases surrounding alien invasions and other unexplained, paranormal phenomena.
Mulder and Scully’s will they/won’t they relationshipand their back-and-forth banter was the highlight of the show, resulting in astrong fanbase that exists 30 years after the show initially premiered. It demonstrates a mix of overarching story arcs along with the “monster of the week” episode format, which kept viewers entertained and engaged with the show. The strong plot and intriguing mysteries every episode, along with Mulder and Scully’s relationship developing throughout the episodes, madeThe X-Filesa hit that kept viewers guessing each week.
2The Sopranos (1999-2007)
The Influential Mafia Crime Drama
The Sopranosbroke ground in TV as a crime drama revolving around the life of Tony Soprano as he navigates life as a Mafia don, his relationship with his family, and his mental health. The massively successful and critically acclaimed mafia TV show is often described asthe greatest TV series of all time.
The Sopranos
The Sopranos follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he navigates the challenges of managing his family and criminal enterprise. He seeks guidance from psychiatrist Jennifer Melfi while dealing with complex dynamics involving his wife Carmela, cousin Christopher Moltisanti, and other Mafia associates. Released in 1999, this series delves into organized crime and personal struggles.
The duality ofTony Soprano, a mobster who committed heinous crimeswhile dealing with mental health issues and his relationship with his family made him a likable, morally ambiguous, and iconic character.The Sopranoshad intricate dynamics between the characters and strong characterizations which made the moral dilemmas and complications they face compelling and thrilling.The Sopranoshelped popularize serialized storytelling that required regular watchingof the show to keep updated with the complex plot. The flawed characters inThe Sopranosand their monstrous actions made each episode a thrilling ride, even if it didn’t pay off and add to the plot.
1Twin Peaks (1990-1991)
A Small-Town Murder Uncovers Dark Truths
The surreal murder mysteryTwin Peaksrevolutionized small-town mysteries and horror on television.Twin Peaksfollows FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and Sheriff Harry Truman’s (Michael Ontkean)investigation into the murder of Laura Palmer(Sheryl Lee). The investigation into Laura’s untimely death reveals that she had been living a double life and the supernatural elements that were influencing the town of Twin Peaks.The seemingly idyllic yet uncanny town of Twin Peaksserved as the perfect setting for the horror murder mystery show.
17 Horror Movies & TV Shows Inspired By Twin Peaks
David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks is a singular series, but it has also spawned many imitations and homages, especially in the horror genre.
Twin Peaksrevolutionized television, andheavily influenced and inspired television shows and other forms of media, including video games likeAlan Wakeand Life Is Strange.Twin Peakspopularized the story formula of having a small-town case that unveiled dark and terrifying truths and the use of surrealism and cryptic and uncanny settings in mysteries.
“It’s probably a good idea to resign yourself from the thought of getting concrete answers, but that was never really the point of watching Twin Peaks to begin with. It’s about the unmistakable feeling you get from watching a piece of Lynch’s work. It’s oftentimes baffling, but it’s also thrilling just the same."-Screen Rant
Twin Peaksnotoriously ended with more questions than answersand redefined what a murder mystery TV show could be. While the mystery of Laura Palmer’s murder was the central plot ofTwin Peaks,the show was a thrilling albeit puzzling exploration of human nature and good versus evil.
Twin Peaks
Conceived by Mark Frost and David Lynch in 1990, Twin Peaks is a supernatural mystery-drama series that brings FBI Agent Dale Cooper to the quiet town of Twin Peaks to investigate the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer. As Dale continues his investigation of her death, he learns that Laura’s life wasn’t as she advertised it, and the town itself is hiding far more secrets than they let on. The show received a revival for a third and final season two decades later to resolve the cliffhanger left at the end of the second season.
