‘Sherlock Holmes Meets NCIS’ Hit 2000s Detective Series Is Officially Free on Streaming
A popular detective series from the 2000s is now available for free on a streaming platform. The article examines how network television’s golden age for detective and crime procedural shows has largely concluded, despite franchises like NCIS and Law & Order continuing to produce new content.
Beginning around 2020, cultural discourse surrounding “copaganda”—criticism of media that portrays law enforcement favorably—fundamentally altered what audiences sought from escapist entertainment. This shift marked a sharp turning point in television programming and viewership preferences.
The 2010s represented a particularly strong period for crime television, featuring mystery-of-the-week shows with unconventional protagonists including fake psychics, con artists, famous writers, and supernatural beings who assisted local law enforcement in solving complex homicides. These shows offered creative twists on the traditional detective procedural format, though such programming has become less prominent on network television. The article reflects how this shift reveals broader changes in American entertainment consumption and cultural attitudes toward police narratives in media.