Watching movies could be a waste of time for some people, but it’s one of my favorite hobbies. It’s entertaining, but I can also learn many things from movies, such as historical value, cultural diversity, personal development, and the English language.
I improved my English language skills through various genres, including romance and thriller, as well as different categories such as educational, cultural, and historical.
Among all genres, detective series are my favorite to watch. I always look up any interesting series to spend time with, especially nowadays, during my son’s naps and pumping sessions.
I used to love watching the Japanese anime series Detective Conan and the classic Sherlock Holmes. Still, I can find many interesting storylines, plot twists, and unique characters in modern settings nowadays. Eventually, I came up with these 3 detective series that I think are worth watching.
For the disclaimer, I’m not a movie critic, so my recommendation is based on my personal thoughts and feelings. If you’re a fan of crime-solving and mystery genres, these series could be satisfying to watch.
High Potential
This American crime-comedy procedural series is adapted from a popular French series called Haut Potentiel Intellectuel. As the title suggests, the series tells a story of a 160-IQ woman who is gifted with high intellectual potential (HIP) – photographic memory, intellectual creativity, and extraordinary deductive reasoning skills.
Besides her genius trait, Morgan Gillory is a single mother of three kids, who has struggled with financial issues, has a messy life, and a missing ex-husband.
The story begins with Morgan working as a cleaner at the LAPD, and coincidentally solves a murder case that has stumped all the police and detectives, who have been stuck with the unmatched evidence.
With her proven ability, she is eventually offered the position of LAPD consultant, alongside Detective Adam Karadec. Morgan takes the chance to rebuild her life and provide stability for her children, but is also quietly looking for her missing ex-husband with Lieutenant Soto’s help.
In 2021, this series gained popularity in France, achieving the highest TV rating in nearly 15 years. After releasing the first season in the US, High Potential got 7.7/10 on IMDb and 93-96% on Rotten Tomatoes. I would give 5 out of 5 stars.
I know all the main characters in the detective series are mostly eccentric and genius, as well as Morgan. But what makes the story fresh is how Morgan figures out the suspicious evidence using her photographic memory to solve any case. She also shows how vulnerable she is, how she’s afraid yet curious to reveal the truth behind her missing ex-husband.
It is what makes the series worth watching. Every case she solves proves her exceptional abilities in observing details and unraveling the mystery, deepening her collaboration with the police. Through that connection, she gains more access to classified information about her missing ex-husband.
I’d like to recommend this series if you’re also enjoying the crime-solving series, packed with humorous skits, making the series less serious and more enjoyable.
The series released its first season in September 2024 and will continue to the second season this month. So, if you’re a fan of binge-watching, don’t hesitate to put this series into your watch list for the weekend.
Poker Face
I just recently finished watching season 2, and that’s why I included it among my top three detective series worth watching.
The series is an American crime-comedy drama, which I think is lighter, funnier, and more adventurous. This is because the story begins with a surprise turn of events that changes Charlie Cale’s life on the run across the US.
She is an ordinary woman who works at a casino, has a unique skill – she always knows if someone lies. She called herself a human lie detector. Known for her special ability, Sterling Frost Jr., her boss, offered Charlie a side job, which she agreed to. When Charlie is busy working on the side job, she finds out that her colleague has been killed.
Later, she discovers the truth and reveals the murderer – her boss. Frost Jr. couldn’t handle the mess he had made, so he ended up taking his life. The incident makes Charlie a suspect and fugitive. She lives on the road, moving from one city to another across the US.
This is where the story begins. In every place she visits, she is involved in various cases just because she can detect a lie. Thanks to her talent, she also succeeded in uncovering the crimes while avoiding being caught.
If you’ve ever watched Knives Out, this series has the same creator, Rian Johnson. He created the series for two seasons in total, released in January 2023 and May 2025, respectively.
Poker Face gained a 7.8 IMDb rating and an above 95% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes. I’d say 4.5 of 5 stars because I like the series format – using the how-catch-em approach, shows the initial perpetrator, and how every episode tells a different case.
If you’re up for a casual, witty crime-solving series, I’d like to recommend Poker Face. It’s enjoyable to watch if you look for something less thrilling and heavy.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder
Last year, when I had more free time during my pregnancy, I mostly watched movies to feel less lonely and bored. Then, I came across this British mystery-thriller series, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder.
The story follows a smart and passionate schoolgirl, Pip Fitz-Amobi, who chooses a closed murder case for her research project and is later determined to solve it. So, it began five years ago, when Pip’s classmate, Andi Bell, was believed to have been murdered by her boyfriend, Sal Singh, who supposedly confessed, but was found to have committed suicide.
Pip doesn’t believe the accusation, trying to dig deeper even though it’s dangerous, with help from Ravi Singh, Sal’s younger brother. While investigating the case, they also unravel the dark secret of their hometown for the last five years.
The series is adapted from the first book of Holly Jackson’s best-selling trilogy, which shares the same title. Comes in two seasons, the series received a 6.8 IMDb rating and a 90% critic score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Because the storyline is quite engaging and thrilling, I’d give it 4.5 of 5 stars. It’s more of a teenage drama performance with a bit of romantic sparks. The lead role also has a strong character, making the series entertaining to watch.
Have you ever read the book anyway? If you’ve read the novels, you might want to thrill yourself through the movie. If you’re not familiar with the book, but you’re a fan of the mystery-crime genre, you probably like to binge-watch this series.
As a new mom, sometimes I feel burned out and drained by the monotonous routine of parenting and housework. When I need something thrilling and challenging to keep me sane, I’d love to spend my time watching crime-solving, crime-mystery genres.
Even though I’m not a movie genius, I’m happy to share some movies – including these three worth watching series – with you who feel the same way.
If you’ve already watched these series, maybe you can give your opinion in the comment section, or if you have another recommendation, please kindly share it with us.