If there is one thing the past decade has taught us, it is that we simply cannot get enough of a goodthriller. TV has long been home to some of the most gripping shows, where danger lurks around every corner, mysteries unfold at a dizzying speed, and characters are constantly thrust into life-or-death situations. Frompolitical conspiracies to mind games, the thriller genre has been serving great stories since the early days and combining suspense and action into the mix.
However, there is something truly mesmerizing about the2010s. It was when the thriller genre touched new heights by combining cinematic elements and layered character dynamics to make each arc feel more personal and worth investing in. The 2010s were an exceptional decade for TV thrillers. There were more sophisticated visuals and a cultural climate of uncertainty, which resulted in genuinely promising narratives. Shows likeMr. Robotset the stage for character-driven stories, while series likeMindhunterexplored the human psyche. This list covers them all.
Here are the 10 greatest TV thrillers of the 2010s.
10’The Blacklist' (2013 – 2023)
The Blacklist
Thriller and crime TV have made it pretty clear that criminals are a fascinating species. ButThe Blacklistpresents a delinquent more enigmatic than others. Raymond “Red” Reddington is a notorious mastermind who shocks the FBI by surrendering himself but offers them a deal. He will provide his intimate knowledge of the most dangerous criminals out there and help track them down, but only if he works exclusively with rookie profiler Elizabeth Keen.
Filled with Shocking Plot Twists
The Blacklistis a deliciously twisted thriller that plunges viewers into a complex web of intrigue, crime, and deception. The stakes keep growing and mysteries are ever-evolving. Across ten seasons, the show’s plot twists saw Red’s true identity being teased, Elizabeth going from a naive officer to a brilliant investigator, and Red’s confrontations with criminals like Berlin and Katarina Rostova. While Megan Boone is incredible in her role, James Spader’s magnetic presence made Redone of TV’s most interesting antiheroes.
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9’You' (2018 – 2025)
Love has never been more dangerous (and downright fatal) than inYou, a psychological thriller that arrived on Netflix in 2018. It follows Joe Goldberg, a charming yet obsessive bookstore manager who gets infatuated with certain women, mistakes it for love, and goes to great extremes to make sure their feelings are reciprocated. Joe uses social media and manipulation, inserts himself into their lives, and eventually ends up causing more harm than good.
A Chilling Exploration of Obsession in the Digital Age
Adapted from a series of novels written by Caroline Kepnes,Youran for five seasons and captivated audiences with its main character, played wonderfully by Penn Badgley. In the first season, Joe is fixated on an aspiring writer named Beck. FromBeck to Marianne to Love to Kate, and finally Bronte, his internal monologues are often filled with rationalizations for his crimes. Which is unnerving, horrifying, and strangely sympathetic at the same time. Overall, it’s a reminder that the most terrifying monsters often hide in plain sight.
8’S.W.A.T.' (2017 – 2025)
An exciting thriller bow-wrapped as a police procedural,S.W.A.T.follows Sergeant Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, a former Marine and dedicated LAPD officer tasked with leading an elite Special Weapons and Tactics unit. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, the series combines action-packed missions with a deeper understanding of law enforcement’s relationship with the community and their strong dedication to serving the people.
Both Exhilarating and Thought-Provoking
Witheight seasons of gripping storytellingand the most electrifying operations, such as hostage rescues, high-stakes chases, and personal dilemmas, the series carved its place as an addictive show in the action-thriller genre. The cast, including Semar Moore, Jay Harrington, Alex Russell, and Lina Esco, bring emotional depth to their otherwise hardened characters. The level of suspense and intensity ofS.W.A.T.earned it three Primetime Emmy nominations.
7’Homeland' (2011 – 2020)
Homelandis a political thriller that revolves around CIA officer Carrie Mathison, who may seem normal on the outside but it’s her bipolar disorder that fuels her to thwart national security threats. The series kicks off with her being convinced that Marine Sergeant Nicholas Brody, a recently returned American prisoner of war, has been turned by al-Qaeda and is planning a devastating attack on U.S. soil.
Political Intrigue and Global Espionage
The show begins as a humble one about personal turmoil but quickly evolves into a gripping exploitation of intelligence operations, counterterrorism, global conflicts, and the complexities of war. Anchored by Claire Danes and Damian Lewis’ remarkable performances, it spans eight seasons and delivers some of the most intense and unpredictable moments of the decade. Some include Carrie’s complete descent into paranoia and the cat-and-mouse game with terrorist mastermind Abu Nazir.
6’Mindhunter' (2017 – 2019)
Mindhunter
Set in the late 1970s,Mindhunterfollows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they pioneer the science of criminal profiling by interviewing incarcerated serial killers. With the help of psychologist Wendy Carr, they try to dig into the minds of infamous murderers like Ed Kemper and Charles Manson and uncover chilling motivations, then apply those insights to current crime-solving.
Dives into the Minds of Monsters
Perhaps the darkest, most slow-burning thriller of the 2010s isMindhunter. Despite running for only two seasons, the show’s meticulous attention to psychological detail, the constant atmosphere of tension, and the cerebral approach to investigations make it just as unsettling as a crime scene.David Fincher’s authentic direction, as well as the compelling performances from Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, and Anna Torv, received a lot of praise.
5’Mr. Robot' (2015 – 2019)
Created by Sam Esmail,Mr. Robotis set in a world that’s dominated by corporate greed and digital monitoring. At the center of it all is Rami Malek’s Elliot Anderson, a genius cybersecurity engineer who struggles in social situations and moonlights as a vigilante hacker. When he’s chosen by an anarchist to join the underground “fsociety,” Elliot becomes a part of a dangerous mission that involves overthrowing a corrupt organization.
Unsettling but Realistic
This genre-defying thriller was a massive hit in its inaugural season, and the three that followed only built on the reputation. It combines psychological depth with stunning cinematography and redefines techno-thrillers for newer audiences. A few memorable arcs include the big reveal of Elliot’s subconscious as well as the true nature of Mr. Robot’s existence. The show won multiple awards, including a Golden Globe and an Emmy for Malek’s phenomenal performance.
4’Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan' (2018 – 2023)
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan
Based onfictionalRyanversecharactersoriginally created by Tom Clancy, this modern reimagining finds CIA analyst Jack Ryan being plucked from the security of his desk job and thrust into field operations. It’s Ryan who first uncovers a string of suspicious financial transactions, all linked to a terrorist leader named Suleiman. From there on, the series pulls him into a dangerous chase across the globe.
Clancy’s Legacy Remains As Thrillling As Ever
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryanran for four seasons, throughout which, John Krasinski’s titular character faced political warfare in Venezuela, a nuclear conspiracy in Russia, and internal conflict within the CIA. The show combines global espionage with heart-stopping action sequences and delivers a fresh take on the spy thriller genre. It received a lot of praise for its realistic portrayal of intelligence operations and Krasinski’s strong performance.
3’Scandal' (2012 – 2018)
Kerry Washington’s character, Olivia Pope, commands the screen inScandal, a political thriller created by Shonda Rhimes for ABC. Olivia is a crisis management expert whose job is to fix all sorts of scandals concerning Washington’s elite. With her team, known as “gladiators in suits,” she handles political cover-ups, betrayals, and power plays, all while navigating her own romantic relationship with President Fitzgerald Grant.
Political Thrills and Personal Drama
Unlike the other thriller series on this list,Scandalstands out as a soapy, edge-of-your-seat drama that offers a relentless barrage of twists and turns, leaving the viewers shocked after almost every other episode. While election rigging and unexpected assassinations are a “no biggie” in the series, it is Olivia’s transformation from fixer to political powerhouse that keeps audiences hooked for seven seasons. For its fast-paced narrative and infinite layers of intrigue,Scandalwon a Peabody Award.
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2’How to Get Away with Murder' (2014 – 2020)
How to Get Away With Murder
Perhaps one of the widely recognized thrillers of the 2010s isHow to Get Away with Murder. In it, Annalise Keating is a defense attorney. She also teaches a group of ambitious law students about the art of courtroom manipulation and selects a few of her top students to work at her firm. However, the students – Wes, Michaela, Connor, Laurel, and Asher – soon find themselves entangled in real-life murder cases.
Legal Thriller with Unmatched Performances
A compulsively watchable thriller that explores the darkest corners of the legal system and the moral compromises that come with the pursuit of justice,How to Get Away With Murderthrives on its nonlinear storytelling and jaw-dropping cliffhangers. From the mystery of Sam Keating’s murder to the truth about Wes’s past, it’s got several unpredictable character arcs to keep viewers invested. Also,Viola Davis made historyas the first African-American woman to win an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Annalise in the series.
1’Ozark' (2017 – 2022)
InOzark, we follow financial advisor Marty Byrde after he is forced to relocate his family from Chicago to the remote Ozark region of Missouri and launder money for a ruthless drug cartel. While constantly under a watchful eye, Marty and his wife Wendy navigate the treacherous world of crime, clash with local power players, and take decisions that carry life-or-death consequences.
Crime Thriller with Relentless Tension
Created by Bill Dubuque and Mark Williams and starring Jason Bateman and Laura Linney as Marty and Wendy Byrde,Ozarkis the most consistently compelling TV thriller of the 2010s. It spans four seasons and is a masterful study of how greed corrodes one’s moral compass and life. It also stands out because of the shocking deaths of major characters andJulia Garner’s brilliant performance as Ruth Langmore. A tense, atmospheric, slow-burning, and emotionally charged narrative earned it a lot of praise and a devoted fanbase.
