Sep 11, 2026, 3:15 AM1 views

10 Near-Perfect Procedurals That Nobody Remembers

Great procedurals shows that no one remembers.

Published Sep 10, 2026, 5:45 PM EDT

Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.

Procedurals have long been one of the most dependable genres on TV, and even with shows of the past falling into forgotten territory, there are some near-perfect procedurals that deserve more attention. and forensic pioneers to genre-bending mysteries and science-led investigations, the best procedurals represent some of the greatest TV shows ever produced. While their footprints may not dominate the streaming charts, they've left behind a lasting, often nostalgia-fueled legacy that makes them well worth revisiting in the modern era. 10 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency

2008-2009

Mma Ramotswe (Jill Scott) standing in front of her agency in The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency.

Based on Alexander McCall Smith's bestselling novels, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was an HBO and BBC co-production that starred Jill Scott. Following Precious Ramotswe, a Botswanan woman who opens the country's first women-owned detective agency, the series ran for a single season that focused on everyday mysteries over violent crimes. The show's warm sense of optimism was rare for a procedural, and the production filming in Botswana made it a historic one, as well. Earning praise for the performances of Scott, Anika Noni Rose, and Lucian Msamati, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency was a refreshingly light watch.

9 Crossing Lines

2013-2015

Airing for three seasons between 2013 and 2015,

Release Date: 2013 - 2015-00-00
Network

Creator(s): Rola Bauer

8 Silk Stalkings

1991-1999

Promotional still of Mitzi Kapture as Rita Lee Lance in Silk Stalkings.

A series that ran on USA Network for 8 years,

Release Date: 1991 - 1999-00-00
Network

7 Quincy, M.E.

1976-1983

Quincy looks grumpy in his lab from Quincy M.E.

Decades before forensics became the backbone of procedurals of all types, Quincy, M.E. was already giving audiences a look into the scientific methods behind solving crimes. A series that ran from 1976 through 1983, Quincy, M.E. followed Dr. Quincy (Jack Klugman), a medical examiner who often challenged the conclusions that police officers came to about cases. Uncovering the truth behind suspicious deaths, Quincy, M.E. helped establish storytelling conventions that became highly popularized by later franchises that dabbled in forensics, like CSI. Tackling public health and social issues in its cases of the week, the series did far more than mystery.