Crime drama is a popular genre seen in television, novels, films and theatre. There are two main types of crime drama on television - one-off shows that focus on crimes causing public anxiety, and long-running shows that develop character relationships over multiple plots. Long-running crime dramas feature detectives and investigators, specialists like criminologists, courtroom narratives, and police procedural shows. While typically a male-oriented genre, some exceptions like Prime Suspect feature strong female leads.

1. Crime Genre
To understand the conventions of crime drama

2. Crime dramas

Crime drama is one of the most enduring, popular genres, not just on TV but
also novels, films and theatre.

Its engaging narrative offers a space for debates about policing, criminality,
gender, race and social and cultural values.

3. Crime dramas

There are two kinds of TV crime drama, with important distinctions between
them. One-off crime dramas tend to focus on the kinds of crime that create
the most anxiety among the viewing public.

E.g. Murder and serial killing in shows such as Hollyoaks

4. Crime dramas

They are distinguished by which aspects of law enforcement they focus on,
for example a police inspector, a team of detectives, a psychologist or a
lawyer.

Long running TV crime dramas will have a variety of sub-plots over time that
help build relationships between characters.

5. Crime dramas

Criminal centre stageMinder, Hustle

Investigative detective and sidekick storiesMidsomer murders, A touch of Frost

Women investigators-
Prime suspect, Rosemary and Thyme

6. Crime dramas

Cold case narrativesWaking the Dead

Specialist criminologistsCracker, Silent witness

Courtroom narrativesJudge John Deed
Police Soap seriesThe Bill
There are some Crime Dramas that are mixture of subgenres such as Jonathan Creek which is also classed as
comedy.

7. Crime dramas

Crime dramas tend to be a male orientated genre.

Although there are a few acceptions, Helen Mirren in Prime suspect
being one of them.

Why is this? Is it because it appeals to the dominant male audience? Or
is it being stereotypical of the male role of the police?

Prime suspect main character Inspector Tennison usually involved failed
relationships so that her character takes on traits of a male detective
from TV drama.

8. Crime dramas

Corruption and betrayal are common in today’s crime series. There is an
increasing polarisation today between the series that present shocking
images, often in the form of still photographs taken at the scene of the
crime or in reconstructions of the event.

9. Crime dramas
 Dramas
such as Prime Suspect and Waking the dead have
resorted in using even more graphics, gruesome depictions
of killings and torture, others, like Inspector Morse and
Midsomer murders have moved away from this, offering the
audiences the pleasure of observing the slow solution to the
mystery from the perspective of a comfortable safety zone.