10 Tv Shows Like Inspector Koo Thereviewgeek Recommends

10 More Investigative Dramas To Sink Your Teeth Into

Inspector Koo is a lively and enjoyable investigative drama, one that takes a lot of inspiration from Killing Eve for its psychopath and detective cat and mouse game. If you’ve finished watching this and are looking for alternate shows, fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle of having to try and find something similar with our top 10 picks for alternate viewing. To keep things simple for skim-readers we’ve added what similarities these have. Of course for all the shows we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that series and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with. So without further ado, we present 10 TV shows that should whet the appetite when you’ve finished streaming Inspector Koo.

Killing Eve

Similarities – Characters & Action

Playing on the archetypal tropes you’d expect to see in the spy genre, Killing Eve confidently walks a fine line between dark comedy and gritty drama. The story predominantly revolves around two women; bored, excitement-starved MI6 agent Eve and illusive assassin Villanelle. Their stories run parallel to one another during the opening few episodes before converging together in a deadly game of cat and mouse. Across three seasons, some excellent acting make this a unique slice of the crime drama pie. It’s not perfect, and at times the story does suffer from some serious contrivances. Despite that though, Killing Eve is a great option for anyone after a lively and dramatic crime drama. You can read our thoughts on Killing Eve in our full season review here!

Mouse

Similarities – Serial Murderer & Crime

Mouse is going to divide opinion. It’s undoubtedly a show with a lot of promise, including a twisty turny story about psychopaths and what drives them. With 20 episodes, some of which nearly 2 hours long, and several specials to flesh out characters, this is a really epic watch. The story centers on Jung Ba-Reum, a rookie police officer working at a police substation. Honest and hardworking, he finds himself faced with the impossible, tasked with tracking down a psychopath murderer who places the entire nation in fear. That’s the simple synopsis but with numerous timelines, lots of murders and numerous surprising twists, Mouse is undoubtedly gripping but complicated. It’s also slightly frustrating too, so do be aware of that. However, this one is undoubtedly an unforgettable experience!

Hannibal

Similarities – Unsettling Atmosphere

If you’re looking for a deliciously sinister thriller that hits all the right notes, look no further. The story of Hannibal predominantly revolves around two key characters; the calculated cannibal Hannibal Lector and criminal profiler Will Graham. Interestingly, Will can “see” crimes as they happen which gives him an edge while out in the field. Each episode has a different case to deal with but an overarching story tackles one murder in particular that brings both these characters together. Mads Mikkelsen does an incredible job portraying Hannibal Lector and the chemistry between these two leads is enough to make for a unique offering in the crime drama genre. You can read our thoughts on Hannibal in our full season review here!

The Fall

Similarities – Characters & Thriller Elements

The Fall is a psychological thriller that revolves around the lives of two hunters. On the one hand, we have a serial killer called Paul Spector who stalks his victims in and around Belfast. On the other end of the chase is Police Superintendent Stella Gibson, a senior investigating officer. With precious time ticking away, Stella’s team works tirelessly to try and build a case, only to meet various complications in and out the Irish police service. Well-acted and dripping in tension, The Fall is less a whodunit and more about the chase itself, documenting the trials and tribulations along the way. It’s a wonderful series, although the third and final season does jump the gun a little. Despite that, The Fall is an enthralling watch.

Mr. Mercedes

Similarities – Cat & Mouse Chase

Mr Mercedes is a well crafted, enjoyable thriller from start to finish, even if it is a little slow paced during the halfway point of the series. With a dual focus on the two excellent lead characters, culprit Brady and ex-Detective Bull Hodges, this character-driven romp is well worth checking out. A shocking, gut wrenching opening immediately sets the tone and mood, giving Mr Mercedes an unremorseful, no-holds-barred feel. After this short prologue, the story officially picks up 2 years later. Bill, the lead investigator in the Mercedes case, is now retired from police work with the unresolved case still haunting him. A strange message on Bill’s computer though, reignites the chase for our culprit, setting up a dangerous game of cat and mouse as Bill and Brady attempt to outsmart and out-maneuver one another. You can read our thoughts on Mr Mercedes in our full season reviews here!

Beyond Evil

Similarities – Murder Mystery

Beyond Evil is a great example of how to take a simple concept and absolutely run with it. Between the exemplary acting, tight writing and numerous twists and turns along the way, this Korean drama is easily one of the best shows of the year. It’s hardly surprising then that it’s been nominated for 7 Baeksang Awards. At its core, Beyond Evil plays out as a simple murder mystery. Police detective Dong-Sik is haunted by the death of his sister Yu-Yeon 20 years prior. With the case still unresolved, a string of new murders seem to be connected with her death. It also coincides with the arrival of junior detective Joo-Won. He suspects Dong-Sik killed Yu-Yeon and sets to work piecing together evidence to incriminate him. Only, as he soon comes to learn, those at Manyang substation are a tight-knit family and watch out for one another. Beyond the killings, Beyond Evil is a tale of forgiveness, healing, and respect. There’s no big romance or montage sequences, there’s just 16 episodes of crime investigating and character development. Beyond Evil completely exceeds expectations, solidifying itself as one of the best Korean dramas of all time. You can read our thoughts on Beyond Evil in our full season review here!

Stranger (Secret Forest)

Similarities – Shocking Case & Police Work

tvN’s first Saturday/Sunday night drama is an absolute firecracker. Blending excellent characterization, lots of twists and some believable detective work, Stranger is a must-watch Korean drama. A winner of 3 Baeksang Awards, Stranger earns those accolades with a story that keeps you guessing right to the very end. What’s particularly impressive with this show though is just how much chemistry the lead duo have without a single ounce of romance. There’s no romantic sub-plot or the usual tropes you’d expect, save for some late-season drama that tackles political ideas we’ve seen many times before. The catalyst for all of this drama is the death of Moo-Sung Park. Found dead in his apartment, prosecutor Si-Mok rushes to the scene and begins piecing together what really happened. With a TV repairman scrambling from the scene, Si-Mok joins police detective Yeo-Jin in chase and bring the suspect to custody. What seems like a simple crime soon reveals layers of shocking corruption at both the police station and the prosecution office. This leads all the way up the chain of command to various powerful players pulling the strings. You can read our thoughts on Stranger in our full season review here!

Kairos

Similarities – Cat & Mouse Chase

Shows involving timelines and rewriting time can either go horribly wrong or perfectly right. There really is no middle ground. With a simple but effective hook, a smartly written script and some endearing, well rounded characters, Kairos is the best show in 2020 you’ve probably never heard of. Kairos is one of the smarter written sci-fi shows of 2020 and it’s a shame more people aren’t aware of this one. The 16 episodes are consistently tense, fall of suspenseful moments and excellent twists. All of this builds up to one of the more satisfying conclusions to any drama released this year. If you’re in the mood for a good sci-fi thriller, this one’s definitely worth checking out. You can read our thoughts on Kairos in our full season review here!

Luther

Similarities – Solving Crimes & Psychopaths

Elevated by an incredible performance by Idris Elba, Luther is an emotionally charged, unconventional crime thriller. There are times where Luther feels rudimentary; the multiple cases are usually solved by Luther’s eccentricity and ingenuity. Ultimately though, its the realistic blend of John Luther’s personal drama and the high stake crime cases that make this such an absorbing watch. The real intrigue here though comes from Luther’s interactions with Alice, a completely unhinged, deranged woman whom Luther butts heads with on numerous occasions. This is what makes the cases so enthralling. If you’re after a gritty British crime thriller with a dash of the crazy, this one’s well worth a watch. You can read our thoughts on Luther in our full season reviews here!

Psychopath Diary

Similarities – Quirky humour & Psychopaths

Psychopath Diary is a fun and lively comedy/drama k-drama. The story revolves around Dong-Sik, a guy who works at a brokerage company. He’s mostly timid, unable to get angry. When he witnesses a murder, he accidentally picks up the diary belonging to this killer. When Dong-Sik flees, he’s hit by a police car and loses his memory. When he regains consciousness, Dong-Sik mistakenly believes that he himself is the serial killer. However, the real killer is a guy called In-Woo, who happens to the director at the company Dong-Sik works at. This dynamic works beautifully across the season, and despite the show dragging its heels a little, there’s actually a lot to like with this one. So there we have it, our 10 TV show alternatives to watch when you’re finished watching Inspector Koo on Netflix. What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!