10 Best Paranormal Procedural TV Shows, Ranked

Procedural TV shows are widely popular, but procedural shows that deal with the paranormal add a whole extra layer that makes them even more unique and interesting. Procedural TV shows typically have a set formula which each episode tends to follow, and they may or may not have a loose story that runs underneath. With this format, it allows a series to be enjoyed by audiences who can drop in on any episode and still enjoy what’s happening, although watching the series as a whole will likely add context and enhance the experience.

As procedural shows became more and more common, new shows in the category had to look for ways to set themselves apart, whether it be using a new and unique location, or exploring a career or world which many people may be unfamiliar with. One example that has increased in popularity dramatically over the last couple of decades is paranormal proedurals. These shows can also be layered with comedy, drama, or mystery, but they all introduce ghosts, demons, and other ghouls to elevate the tension and create something new.

10

Angel

Angel was a spin-off of the popular supernatural series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The series ran from 1999 until 2004, and had five seasons in total. In the original series, Angel was a love interest to Buffy Summers, but considering his identity as a vampire and his lack of control around Buffy, he chose to move away for the benefit of everyone.

After moving to Los Angeles, aka The City of Angels, Angel works on cases brought to him by people in need. This results in Angel becoming a sort of supernatural private detective, who helps to solve problems, clean up messes, and track down lost people. While many spin-offs struggle to find their unique voice, Angel grew to become a strong and unique series in its own right, with incredible chemistry between the main cast and exciting new stories in each episode.

9

The Dresden Files

While Angel had a successful run over several years, another supernatural detective series didn’t fair nearly as well. The Dresden Files, starring Paul Blackthorne as the titular Hary Dresden, was canceled after a single season in 2007. The series aimed to adapt the popular book series by Jim Butcher about a private investigator who also happens to be a wizard. While the core concept was strong, the show didn’t pull in the for viewers to make it worthwhile for the Sci Fi Channel to renew for season 2.

However, similar to Firefly, The Dresden Files has managed to gain a reputation as an underrated show and become a lesser known favorite among fantasy fans. While there are only 12 episodes of the series to watch, the story it is inspired by is expanded in the original novels, and the execution of the series is worth watching for the fun and visuals alone.

8

Grimm

Grimm draws inspiration from the classic fairytales by the Grimm brothers, and applies the mythology to an exciting and twisty crime procedural. When homicide detective Nicholas Burkhardt learns that he is a descendant of the Grimm’s a whole new world of supernatural intrigue is opened up to him. As a descendent of the Grimm’s Nick possesses special abilities and a charge to protect the world from the supernatural beings known as Wesen.

The series ran for six seasons from 2011 until 2017, and enjoyed a great deal of success in that time. The series was a much more pronounced procedural drama than many of its contemporaries, and it struck the balance well. Each episode uncovered a new mystery and saw Nick and his friends investigate, keeping the world of the mystic, and the real separate. The reluctant hero and his stumbling into the world of fairytales despite his previous work as a detective who only believes what he can prove is also a fun juxtaposition in the show.

7

Lucifer

Another overt procedural cop series, Lucifer is a loose adaptation of the character and comics by Neil Gaiman. The series follows the literal devil, as he grows tired of his position in Hell and wishes to live life with the living on Earth. The series had a difficult road, as it was initially canceled after just a few seasons, but thanks to vocal fans online, the series was picked up and finished in its sixth season on Netflix.

In the first episode, Lucifer Morningstar comes into contact with a detective, Chloe Decker, and finds his powers don’t seem to have any sway over her. Tantalized and intrigued by the mystery, and looking for something to do in his boredom, he then chooses to work closely with Chloe as a consultant, and together, they solve murders around LA. The series is fun, engaging, and breaks down barriers between genres to offer something unique and fun from start to finish.

6

Penny Dreadful

Penny Dreadful is a unique and thoroughly engaging series which ran for three seasons before the creator, John Logan, announced the series was concluded, and the story had been told. Taking its name from the popular short story collections from the 19th Century Britain, the series collected a number of stories and combined them together for a horror drama series revolving around death and mysteries.

The series revolves around Ethan Chandler, who quickly comes into contact with unusual figures from mythology consisting of people like Victor Frankenstein, Dorian Gray and Lucifer. The story is darker in tone than the others previously mentioned, but it is very well laid out, and the story feels conclusive after three seasons. With mysterious deaths and an exploration of Victorian England, the series is beautiful visually, as well as deeply captivating throughout.

5

Twin Peaks

Moving into a very different direction, David Lynch’s Twin Peaks changed the genre when it came to mystery and supernatural stories. Lynch had already made a name for himself creating remarkable films that earned widespread admiration, but his series was groundbreaking in many other ways. The series revolves around the murder of a young woman named Laura Palmer, but the real mystery was the town and the people themselves.

The series originally aired for two seasons, with a total of 30 episodes between them, but the series certainly made an impression in that brief timespan. From switching focus to surreal dreams, and featuring unusual nightmare scenarios, the series was very different from anything else in the category at the time or since, but it added to the mystery and intrigue as each episode uncovered a new dark secret about Twin Peaks and its community.

4

The X-Files

Originally, the X-Files ran from 1993 to 2002 over nine seasons. However, the popularity of the show and increased media attention in the years since it finished resulted in the creation of two more seasons which aired from 2016 to 2018. The iconic FBI special agent duo of Fox Mulder and Dana Scully was one of the most intriguing and exciting series to come out of the 90s.

Mulder and Scully were assigned to tackle the cases that most people regarded as impossible, unsolvable, or even just pranks. The reason being, these cases all involved a paranormal element that was impossible to explain. However, Mulder is a strong believer in the supernatural, and he finds himself drawn to these cases, while his partner, Scully is a hardcore skeptic who always has some sort of explanation or idea why what looks extraordinary is actually just ordinary in a clever disguise.

3

Fringe

Fringe had a difficult journey maintaining high ratings during the original release from 2008 to 2013, but since the series wrapped, it has gained a larger cult following. The series began as a procedural monster of the week show, which slowly blended together genres and became more serialized as the series progressed, but nonetheless, the show had a lot to admire. Following the team in the newly formed Fringe division of the FBI, the team investigates cases that can’t be explained through known or natural scientific means.

The show also had some outstanding talent behind it, with creators J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman, and Roberto Orci all actively a part of bringing the show to life. The casting is perfect, and the series was nominated for three Primetime Emmys, along with winning numerous other prestigious awards. While the story becomes more serialized as the lore begins to build up, it’s well worth watching.

2

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

From Angel earlier on, to the original series upon which it was based, Buffy the Vampire Slayer is easily one of the best supernatural series of all time. There are elements that run through the series and solid character arcs for each, but in general, each episode can be picked up and enjoyed without the others. Buffy Summers is a seemingly normal girl living in Sunnydale, but she is actually the chosen Hunter, a monster slayer destined to protect the world from evil.

The series by Joss Whedon is fun, exciting, a coming-of-age drama, and a paranormal procedural all at once. Each episode brings a new threat to Buffy and the quaint town which is actually positioned over a Hellmouth. With the help of her friends and training from her Watcher, Buffy is able to come out on top, and keep the world from unruly demons and monsters.

1

Supernatural

Supernatural is another show that began life as a typical monster of the week procedural in the early seasons, but began to shift to longer serialized narratives as the show progressed. Considering the shows’ 15 season run, from 2005 to 2020, it makes perfect sense that the focus would change in that time. The series was created by the incredible Eric Kripke, who also adapted the Amazon Prime Video series, The Boys.

Sam and Dean Wincchester were raised as hunters from an early age by their father, John Winchester, after his wife, the kids mother passed away. When their father goes missing years later, the pair team up to go and stomp out any supernatural threats in the hopes of finding clues that lead back to him. The show is an incredible exploration of family, loyalty, and the paranormal, combined with an incredible 15 season run that makes this the best paranormal procedural on TV.