Saagar Kote
‘Furious’ depicts the experiences of FBI agent Alice Black (Emmy Rossum), who becomes determined to uncover the truth behind a series of murders involving wealthy men. Her investigation leads her to suspect Catherine Grace (Lola Petticrew), a mysterious young woman who has been romantically involved with multiple victims before their deaths. Catherine targets lonely millionaires, using deception and carefully planned methods to gain access to them before killing them. As Alice investigates a new murder, she discovers a connection to a case she handled a year earlier, bringing Catherine directly into her sights. The deeper Alice gets into the investigation to obtain proof and learn the truth, the more complicated the case becomes, as Catherine’s motives remain tied to an unexplained part of her past.
The two women’s obsessions turn the investigation into a tense game where the boundaries between justice, revenge, and morality become increasingly unclear. Created by Elizabeth Meriwether, the Hulu crime drama series is loosely inspired by the film ‘Black Widow.’ This list features shows similar to ‘Furious’ that explore concealed motives, horrifying truths, tense character dynamics, and obsessive pursuits.
12. The Alienist (2018-2020)
Based on Caleb Carr’s novel of the same name, ‘The Alienist’ is a crime thriller series set in 1896 NYC, where a string of brutal murders draws the attention of criminal psychologist Dr. Laszlo Kreizler (Daniel Brühl). Police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt (Brian Geraghty) quietly brings together an unconventional team to investigate the killings, including newspaper illustrator John Moore (Luke Evans), determined secretary Sara Howard (Dakota Fanning), and detective siblings Marcus and Lucius Isaacson. As they attempt to understand the killer and uncover a pattern behind the crimes, the group encounters resistance from influential people with their own secrets.
Their investigation takes them through a violent and rapidly changing city, where social tensions and hidden power structures complicate their search for answers. ‘The Alienist’ and ‘Furious’ revolve around violent crimes whose explanations are buried beneath layers of secrecy and hidden motives. Investigators must piece together connections and uncover information that powerful or suspicious individuals discreetly hold.
11. Hannibal (2013-2015)
‘Hannibal’ is a Bryan Fuller creation that follows FBI profiler Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), whose extraordinary ability to understand the minds of killers makes him valuable to the FBI but also leaves him psychologically vulnerable. Jack Crawford (Laurence Fishburne), who leads the FBI’s Behavioral Sciences division, brings Will into a difficult serial-murder investigation and places him under the supervision of forensic psychiatrist Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen). Unknown to the FBI, Lecter is himself a calculating serial killer and cannibal who uses his position to manipulate the investigation. As he develops a fascination with Will, Lecter begins deliberately testing the profiler’s fragile state of mind, gradually turning their professional relationship into an increasingly dangerous psychological game.
The psychological horror-thriller series is based on characters from Thomas Harris’ novels ‘Red Dragon,’ ‘Hannibal,’ and ‘Hannibal Rising.’ Both ‘Hannibal’ and ‘Furious’ explore investigations that become a psychological contest between people pursuing the truth and those hiding it. In the shows, uncovering a killer’s motives becomes increasingly personal, while the boundaries between investigator, suspect, good, bad, and obsession become harder to define.
10. The Chestnut Man (2021-)
‘The Chestnut Man’ or ‘Kastanjemanden’ deals with detectives Naia Thulin (Danica Curcic) and Mark Hess (Mikkel Boe Følsgaard) as they investigate a series of murders committed by a killer who leaves distinctive chestnut figures at each crime scene. When vulnerable victims are targeted, the investigation becomes increasingly urgent, and the growing threat spreads fear through the community. The case takes another complicated turn with the disappearance of a prominent politician’s child, adding another mystery for the detectives to unravel. While Thulin and Hess pursue connections between the crimes and examine increasingly disturbing clues, their work becomes an exhausting psychological battle against an elusive killer.
Based on Søren Sveistrup’s book of the same name, the Danish crime thriller series is from the creative trio of Dorte Warnøe Hagh, David Sandreuter, and Mikkel Serup. ‘The Chestnut Man’ is closely connected to ‘Furious’ through its focus on detectives pursuing a killer whose crimes have a dangerous pattern. The stories build their tension around separate murders, while the pressure increases on the cops as other murders could happen before the truth is uncovered.
9. The Valhalla Murders (2019-2020)
‘The Valhalla Murders’ is the tale of police profiler Arnar (Björn Thors), who returns to Iceland from Oslo when a series of killings points to a possible serial offender. He joins investigator Kata (Nína Dögg Filippusdóttir), and together they begin tracing the connection between the murders and a mysterious photograph. Their investigation eventually leads them to Valhalla, an abandoned boys’ home associated with disturbing events that took place decades earlier. As Arnar and Kata dig further into its history, they uncover a long-buried mystery that appears to be connected to the crimes happening in the present.
With the killer still at large and time running short, the investigators must piece together the past to understand the danger facing them now. Thordur Palsson is the creative voice behind this Icelandic crime drama series, which is loosely inspired by a real-life incident. ‘The Valhalla Murders’ and ‘Furious’ depict the difficulties of determined investigators racing to identify a serial killer before more people are harmed. The narratives also shed light on the unexpected ways in which the past continues to influence the present and causes chaos.
8. The Killing (2011-2014)
Veena Sud is the creator of ‘The Killing,’ which delves into the trials and tribulations of Seattle detectives Sarah Linden (Mireille Enos) and Stephen Holder (Joel Kinnaman) as they investigate the murder of teenager Rosie Larsen (Katie Findlay). What initially appears to be a single homicide gradually expands into a complicated case with consequences reaching far beyond the victim’s family. While Linden and Holder pursue leads and uncover hidden information, the investigation becomes entangled with local political tensions surrounding an upcoming mayoral election. Meanwhile, Rosie’s family struggles with grief and uncertainty while the person responsible remains free.
With each revelation producing new questions, the detectives are forced deeper into a case where nothing is straightforward. Based on the Danish series ‘Forbrydelsen,’ the crime drama series, similar to ‘Furious,’ examines murder, secrecy, and the pursuit of justice. The shows explore how relentless investigative work can consume the people pursuing the truth. The investigation gradually consumes Linden and Holder, just like the way Alice becomes increasingly obsessed with her pursuit of Catherine.
7. Black Bird (2022)
In ‘Black Bird,’ James Keene (Taron Egerton) is a prisoner who receives an unusual opportunity to reduce his sentence in exchange for helping the FBI. To secure his freedom, James must establish a conversational friendship with alleged serial killer Larry Hall (Paul Walter Hauser) to achieve a crucial mission. His task is to gain the extremely secretive Hall’s trust and coax him into revealing enough information to secure a conviction. As James attempts to get close to a dangerous man without exposing his true intentions, the assignment becomes an increasingly risky psychological game where the two men engage in a battle of uncertainty.
With Dennis Lehane serving as the creative voice, the crime drama series is based on James Keene’s memoir ‘In with the Devil: A Fallen Hero, a Serial Killer, and a Dangerous Bargain for Redemption.’ Both ‘Black Bird’ and ‘Furious’ focus on the risky task of understanding a suspected killer’s psychology as a means of uncovering the truth. The stories feature characters who go beyond their limits to look beyond the crimes themselves, thus placing themselves at risk of psychological collapse.
6. The Sinner (2017-2021)
‘The Sinner’ is a Derek Simonds creation that follows Detective Harry Ambrose (Bill Pullman), whose unusual investigative methods and strong empathy play a major role in his investigations into a series of disturbing cases. In the anthology crime drama series, each season presents a different mystery, with Ambrose attempting to understand what drove people to commit shocking acts rather than simply identifying the culprit. The first season is the tale of Cora Tannetti (Jessica Biel), whose act of violence forces Ambrose to investigate her troubled past. Later cases involve a young boy accused of poisoning a couple, a fatal car accident that conceals something more disturbing, and a tragedy involving a prominent family in coastal Maine.
As Ambrose repeatedly becomes entangled with the people he investigates, his own troubled history influences the way he approaches each case. ‘The Sinner’ strongly connects with ‘Furious’ through the idea that solving a crime requires understanding the person behind it. The complex narratives move beyond simply establishing what happened, instead examining hidden motives to understand inexplicable acts of violence, and how investigations can become deeply personal for the people pursuing them.
5. Sharp Objects (2018)
Created by Marti Noxon, ‘Sharp Objects’ deals with reporter Camille Preaker (Amy Adams), who returns to her small hometown after leaving a psychiatric facility to investigate the murders of two young girls. The assignment forces her back into the family home, where she must confront her complicated bond with her half-sister, Amma Crellin (Eliza Scanlen), and mother, Adora Crellin (Patricia Clarkson). When Camille searches for answers about the killings, the investigation becomes increasingly intertwined with her own troubled history and difficult family relationships. Her emotional connection to the young victims makes the case especially personal, while returning home exposes wounds she has struggled to leave behind.
Adapted from Gillian Flynn’s novel of the same name, the psychological thriller series places a layered female protagonist at the center of a troubling mystery, much like ‘Furious’ does through its two main female characters. Camille’s investigation becomes entangled with the difficult past she shares with her family, while Catherine’s history is essential to understanding her motives.
4. Marcella (2016-2021)
‘Marcella’ depicts the journey of former Metropolitan Police detective Marcella Backland (Anna Friel), who returns to the force after her husband leaves following years of marriage. Looking for direction, she joins a homicide investigation and soon discovers that the case may be connected to three unsolved murders from the past. As evidence begins suggesting that a serial killer could have returned, Marcella becomes increasingly determined to uncover the truth and prevent further deaths.
Her investigation draws her into a complex case that forces her to confront a criminal pattern that has remained unresolved for years. From the creative duo of Hans Rosenfeldt and Nicola Larder comes this British-Nordic noir series, which is connected to ‘Furious’ through its focus on a woman pursuing a dangerous murder investigation. Marcella and Alice face immense pressure to uncover the truth when the investigations reveal disturbing psychological elements.
3. Top of the Lake (2013-2017)
‘Top of the Lake,’ from creators Jane Campion and Gerard Lee, revolves around Detective Robin Griffin (Elisabeth Moss), whose work investigating sexual assault leads her into a disturbing case involving the disappearance of a pregnant 12-year-old girl, Tui Mitcham (Jacqueline Joe), in New Zealand. While Robin searches for the missing girl, she encounters a community filled with secrets and complicated relationships, making the investigation increasingly difficult to navigate. The case also forces Robin to confront aspects of her own emotional state and past as she becomes more deeply involved in the mystery.
The second season, titled ‘China Girl,’ moves the story to Sydney, where Robin investigates the death of an Asian girl in Bondi Beach. The New Zealand mystery drama series explores the secrets that can exist beneath seemingly ordinary social environments, along the lines of ‘Furious.’ Robin’s case forces her to confront her own state of mind, while Alice becomes increasingly consumed by Catherine’s actions.
2. The Fall (2013-2016)
Crafted by Allan Cubitt, ‘The Fall’ narrates the story of Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), a seemingly ordinary family man who secretly leads a double life as a serial killer targeting working women. While maintaining the appearance of a normal domestic existence, Spector carefully conceals his crimes and continues selecting new victims. His hidden activities eventually attract the attention of police officer Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson), who becomes determined to identify and stop the killer.
When Gibson’s investigation intensifies, the line between Spector’s carefully constructed public identity and his violent secret life begins to blur. The Irish-British crime drama series follows the increasingly dangerous pursuit between the two, which affects them in unexpected ways. Deception, obsession, serial murder, a determined female investigator, and the disturbing contrast between appearances and reality are themes common to both ‘The Fall’ and ‘Furious.’
1. Killing Eve (2018-2022)
‘Killing Eve’ depicts the life of Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh), an MI5 security officer whose dissatisfaction with her routine work changes when she is recruited to help track down Villanelle (Jodie Comer), an exceptionally skilled assassin working for a secretive organization. As Eve becomes increasingly focused on finding her target, the investigation develops into something far more personal. Villanelle, meanwhile, becomes equally fascinated by the woman pursuing her, turning their cat-and-mouse pursuit into a mutual obsession. Their fixation draws them deeper into each other’s worlds, gradually erasing the distinction between hunter and hunted.
When their motivations become increasingly difficult to understand, the investigation evolves into a dangerous psychological relationship. Phoebe Waller-Bridge serves as the creative voice behind this British spy thriller series, which is based on Luke Jennings’ ‘Villanelle’ novel series. ‘Killing Eve’ is strongly linked to ‘Furious’ because both shows revolve around two women positioned on opposite sides of a dangerous pursuit. Eve’s fascination with Villanelle gradually changes the nature of her investigation, while Alice becomes increasingly absorbed in uncovering Catherine’s secrets.
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