I just finished up re-watching The New Detectives! Now that it’s fresh in my brain, let’s go into another true crime review.

The New Detectives aired from 1996 to 2004 on several networks: Discovery Channel, TLC, the Investigation Discovery network, the Justice network, The History Channel, and Court TV. It was on Court TV that I first watched the show, and it was one I watched (and re-watched) constantly along with Forensic Files.

Each episode is about 50 minutes long and usually features two or three cases that have something in common, like a similar forensic investigation technique (blood spatter analysis, forensic entomology, ballistics, etc.) or similar motive. I think that’s what sets The New Detectives apart from other true crime shows. Like Forensic Files, the episodes go in-depth with the forensic evidence in a case. Footage consists of mostly interviews with the detectives, forensic scientists, and experts. It really isn’t until the later seasons that an episode includes interviews with a family member or friend of the victim, and even then it’s not very often. There are, of course, some cheesy reenactments, but nothing too over-the-top or distracting like some other true crime shows I’ve seen. This show is focused on the investigation and forensic science surrounding a case, and that’s what I love about it the most, since forensic science is the most interesting aspect to me.

While the production is a bit dated, the show is still solid and the cases are fascinating. If you’re a fan of Forensic Files, I highly recommend watching The New Detectives. It’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime and Pluto TV.