Who doesn’t love binging an atmospheric, noir-inspired crime drama mixed with superhero world-building? Series that combine these genres are on the rise, and the result is surprisingly so addictive. The same goes for HBO’s DC Universe series ‘Lanterns’.
It explores fractured authorities, layered conspiracies, a society in shambles, and, of course, there are plenty of storytelling experimentations. Here are 10 more such dramas to watch if you liked ‘Lanterns’.
10. The Boys (2019-2026)
Rather than celebrating superheroes, imagine a world where extraordinary abilities are tied to celebrity culture, corporate control and terrifying abuse of power. ‘The Boys’ is a very bold and refreshing take on the superhero genre. Following a group of vigilantes determined to expose and fight corrupt superheroes, the dark satire will make you question what heroism truly means.
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9. Daredevil (2015-2018)
Bringing superhero stories down to the streets, ‘Daredevil’ takes a very unique look at crime, corruption and moral ambiguity by exploring the criminal underworld of New York City. By day, Matt Murdock is a lawyer fighting for justice. By night, his heightened senses help him protect Hell’s Kitchen as a masked vigilante.
8. Fringe (2008-2013)
Combining procedural drama with very ambitious sci-fi storytelling, ‘Fringe’ tells the story of the newly formed Fringe Division consisting of FBI agent Olivia Dunham, the troubled genius Walter Bishop, and his estranged son Peter. Together they investigate bizarre and horrifying events. The show started out with an episodic, case-by-case format, but soon it developed a very rich world-building.
7. The X-Files (1993-2018)
Another classic that expertly blended investigative drama with eerie science fiction, ‘The X-Files’ follows FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they examine strange, unsolved cases that are bound by one common thread: a paranormal phenomenon. Much like ‘Fringe’, the show also starts out with episodic mysteries that soon develop into much larger mythology.
6. Slow Horses (2022-)
Blending espionage, dark humour, paranoia and dysfunctional characters, the ‘Slow Horses’ follow the titular group of people worn down by the system they serve. They are disgraced MI5 agents who are expected to waste their careers doing routine work, until they get involved in a politically sensitive case threatening Britain.
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5. Counterpart (2017-2019)
Exploring espionage to its peak, ‘Counterpart’ tells the story of Howard Silk, an overlooked employee at a Berlin spy agency. When Silk discovers a secret passage connecting two realities, he realises that his organisation is hiding life-altering secrets that he now needs to find out. Through slow-burn tension, the series seeks out a very complex question: “What if our lives could have been different?”
4. Andor (2022-2025)
‘Star Wars’ might sound like an unexpected choice, but at its roots, the storytelling of ‘Andor’ is always about the people at the bottom of the ladder and what they do in the face of tyranny. Following thief-turned-rebel Cassian Andor, the series explores his gradual radicalisation against the backdrop of an authoritarian Empire.
3. The Penguin (2024)
Nothing is more inviting for DC fans than another unique look at the city of Gotham. ‘The Penguin’ takes you back there but leaves Batman largely out of the picture so that the criminal underworld is the central focus. It takes place right after the events of ‘The Batman’ (2022) and follows the rise to power of Oz Cobb through the criminal power structures of Gotham’s underworld.
2. True Detective (2014-)
This crime anthology has defined atmospheric and psychological storytelling in crime dramas. Each season follows a different set of investigators who confront disturbing crimes while also dealing with their fractured lives. The series thrives on shifting perspectives, ambiguity and the moral conflict that lies behind finding complicated truths.
1. Watchmen (2019)
Based on the legendary 1980s graphic novel, ‘Watchmen’ takes place in an alternate world where superheroes once existed openly but have since been outlawed. It is set in the aftermath and follows the conspiracies and consequences that they have left behind. Much like ‘Lantern’, the focus is on ordinary life beneath extraordinary figures and powers to explore themes of systemic injustice, especially those at the bottom.
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