There’s no denying that Castle was the whole package. It has crime, mystery, drama, and incredible chemistry between Castle and Beckett. The show instantly became a hit and ran for eight long, successful seasons. Sometimes I’d get baked and try to solve the mysteries with them! So if you’re like me and love watching crime television stoned, here’s a list of shows like Castle you can watch after toking your pipe.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons.
The Mentalist
Patrick Jane has a unique gift. Whenever he interacts with someone, he observes every single detail about them. This is what makes him such a great psychic. So he decides to use his talent to help the CBI solve complex crimes. But, of course, he has his own agenda in mind. He thinks working with the police can help him find the man who murdered his wife and daughter and avenge them.
The Rookie
If half the reason you watched Castle is Nathan Fillion, you’re in for a treat with this series. In this show, he plays John Nolan, a man who experiences an unreal adrenaline rush after being in a bank robbery. To chase that feeling, Nathan decides to join the police academy. But whether he has what it takes to survive in the industry is a different story. If you’re looking for shows similar to Castle on this list, it doesn’t get closer than this.
Sherlock
There have been plenty of adaptations of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous series, but this modern take is probably one of the best. Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman do a great job playing the obnoxious genius detective and his loyal sidekick. Andrew Scott plays the perfect anti-hero in his role as Moriarty.
True Detective
If you’re looking for shows like Castle but with an intense plotline, give True Detective a try. It’s an anthology and every season follows a different detective in a small town trying to solve a sinister, eerie crime. This show brags a strong cast, including massive talents like Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Mahershala Ali, and Colin Farrell. I liked the first season the best, but they’re all worth a watch if you’re in the mood for a good mystery.
Unforgettable
How would you feel if you could vividly remember every experience, interaction, and conversation you’ve ever had? Our protagonist, Carrie Wells, has that exact medical condition in this series. Thanks to her ‘powers,’ she’s able to solve a lot of challenging cases. But with every boon come complications, and our protagonist struggles to deal with the memory of her complicated past.
Lie To Me
Lie To Me is one of those shows like Castle that don’t only have a great storyline but strong leads as well. Tim Roth is a brilliant actor, and in this series, he plays Dr. Cal Lightman, a human lie detector. He reads people’s body language, making it impossible to lie to him. This makes him a powerful asset to law enforcement. However, his talent also makes him an excellent liar and could be dangerous if he ends up on the wrong side of the law.
Unbelievable
Beckett was an incredible, strong female protagonist. If you want more shows like Castle with similarly strong female leads, you’ll love this gripping mini-series. It follows a teenage girl trying to convince authorities she was sexually assaulted. However, the police refuse to believe her. When two female detectives decide to take matters into their own hands, they discover they have a serial rapist on the loose. The duo will do everything they can to catch him before he gets to his next victim.
Bones
One of the best things about Castle was the chemistry between the two leads. In this series, the two main characters share a similar dynamic. Dr Temperance ‘Bones’ Brennan is a forensic anthropologist. Along with her team, she helps Special Agent Seeley Booth solve murder investigations where the victims’ bodies are too damaged or decomposed for traditional identification methods to work.
NUMB3RS
In Castle, law enforcement sought out the help of a crime novelist to help them solve murders. In NUMB3RS, an FBI agent named Don Eppes seeks out the help of his brother, a mathematics professor. Charlie Eppes is a mathematical prodigy and uses his unique skill set to help the Los Angeles Violent Crimes Squad solve dangerous crimes.
White Collar
If you’re looking for shows like Castle that will keep you busy for a while, this 6-season-long crime drama is just what you need. In this show, FBI special agent Peter Burke asks Neal Caffrey, a skilled con artist, to be his informant. Both the leads are phenomenal, and the writing is crisp, making it a treat for crime fans.
Bonus Picks
- Collateral
- Mosaic
- Take Two
- Psych
- Lucifer
More Shows Like Castle If You Like Crime
From mini-series to multi-season long sagas, this list has enough content to keep you entertained for months to come. So if you liked this list and are looking for more crime shows like Castle to watch, check out this list of shows like Breaking Bad.
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