Procedurals are the bedrock of network TV, and over the years a wealth of amazing procedurals have graced our screens. FromLaw & Order: SVUtoNYPD BluetoChicago Fire, cop and forensic shows mark a core part of a network’s season schedule. The issue is, some have been running for so long that discovering them for the first time is challenging.
Themost influential network procedurals everran for multiple years and hundreds of episodes, making them a pretty daunting prospect for new viewers. A classic procedural likeNCIShas aired almost 500 episodes, and is still going strong. Trying to get into a show like this is almost impossible because there is so much to catch up on.
But there are plenty of excellent newer procedurals that have either only just started airing, or premiered in the past few years, so they are relatively easy to catch up on. Here are some of the best and most engaging modern procedurals you can catch up on in just a week or two.
8Will Trent
41 Episodes
One of the quirkiest and most enjoyable procedurals in recent times has got to be ABC’sWill Trent. Based on the novels by Karin Slaughter,Will Trentsees the titular character, a product of the foster system, working as a special agent to solve crimes for the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, while battling a complicated past.
Will Trentis a great entry point for those who enjoy their procedurals a little more off-beat, and with a wonderfully diverse and rich cast of interesting and flawed characters. And, as a bonus, there have only been three seasons and 41 episodes aired to date, so you should have no trouble playing catch-up beforeWill Trentseason 4.
7High Potential
13 Episodes
In fact, if you finish Will Trent pretty quickly, and you want to enjoy something else in a similar vein, we would highly recommend Kailin Olsen’sHigh Potential. Also airing on ABC, the show was created by Drew Goddard, and is based on the French-Belgian series HPI, and boasts a strong supporting cast that has helped make it a hit.
The procedural has only run one season but been renewed for a second, andHigh Potential’s season 1 endingset the show up nicely for season 2 to be bigger, better, and more unconventional. With just 13 episodes in the first season, there should be no problems getting throughHigh Potentialand being up-to-date in time for season two to drop.
6Elsbeth
30 Episodes
Speaking of quirky and off-beat procedurals, Carrie Preston’sElsbethis the perfect comedy-drama procedural to sate the appetite. The show, which functions as a spinoff toThe Good Wife, is framed as an inverted detective story, which shows the crime, its perpetrator, and its motives, while then focusing on how they are caught.
Elsbethhas been a big hit for CBS, and its unconventional approach to the murder-mystery genre continues to make it a fun and engaging watch for audiences. With 30 episodes having aired across two seasons so far,Elsbethseason 3has been renewed and is set to premiere on CBS on June 27, 2025.
5Matlock
19 Episodes
Legal dramas are also hugely popular procedurals, and the gender-flippedMatlockremake is one of the most popular modern examples of this. Starring Kathy Bates as the titular Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a retired lawyer who comes out of retirement seeking justice for her daughter’s opioid-related death, while she takes on other cases as well.
Kathy Bates' historic Emmy nominationcould enhance the profile ofMatlockas a show, and might even help to attract more viewers for season 2. Matlock is an immersive watch for those seeking mystery, legal drama, interesting characters, hidden motivations, and the pursuit of legal and social justice. After a 19-episode first season, the show has been renewed for season 2.
4Watson
The genius of CBS’s Morris Chestnut-ledWatsonis that it effortlessly combines Sherlock Holmes mythology with an engaging medical drama, making for a fun and high-concept procedural.Watsonis a fun and dynamic show with a swift 13-episode first season that can be completed in a couple of sittings, ready forWatsonseason 2 in October.
There is so much intrigue and mystery to theWatsonstoryline, with Sherlock Holmes a peripheral character in absentia, and an enigmatic Moriarty. Watson must find a way to stop his arch nemesis, while also using his extensive medical expertise to help diagnose and treat patients with a range of strange and unidentifiable conditions.
3Tracker
33 Episodes
Trackerutilizes the star power of its leading man, Justin Hartley, to largely good effect. This is an epic, sprawling procedural that boasts gorgeous scenery, interesting mysteries, and cool gadgets, as Hartley’s survivalist, Colter Shaw travels the wilderness solving cases for reward money, while trying to escape the tragedies of his youth.
Season 1 ofTrackerhad the perfect blend of action, survival, backstory, and character dynamics, setting up the show for long-term success. While season 2 went much darker than its predecessor, there was still a lot to love, and another renewal allows the show to blend the two for the next season.
There’s a lot to love here, and the fact thatTrackeris basically a modern westernallows for plenty of symbolism and strong hero themes. The first two seasons have so far run 33 episodes, so it should be pretty easy to work through these in a week and prepare forTrackerseason 3 to drop sometime this fall.
2Found
35 Episodes
NBC dramaFoundfollowed PR specialist and crisis manager Gabi Mosely and her team as they sought to find and help missing people who slipped through the cracks of the system and forgotten by the press. A unique procedural, the show combined immersive storytelling with prescient social commentaries to stand out as an audience favorite.
Though the show was unfortunately canceled after just two seasons, it is definitely a procedural with a difference, and well worth a watch for those seeking something a little different. With 35 episodes across the show’s run, this is a procedural you can comfortably enjoy over the course of a week; it’s just a shame there are no more seasons coming.
1The Lincoln Lawyer
One of the most fun modern procedurals,The Lincoln Lawyeris based on the novels by Michael Connelly and stars Manuel Garcia-Rulfo as LA defense lawyer Mickey Haller. Each season of the show sees Mickey and his legal team take on a new case, with an ongoing side story that runs through the entire narrative of the show.
It is the second adaptation ofThe Lincoln Lawyerstory, following the successful 2011 movie of the same name starring Matthew McConaughey, and the show manages to expand on the story. Quirky, reliable, binge-worthy legal pulp,The Lincoln Lawyeris a show perfect for those who love procedurals and courtroom dramas.
The Lincoln Lawyerhas the perfect mix of strong characters who get their own arcs, courtroom drama, complex cases, conspiracies, mystery, and plenty of humor. And withThe Lincoln Lawyerseason 3 ending on a cliffhanger, now is the perfect time to catch up on all 30 episodes of the series before the season 4 premiere in the fall.
