This Flashback-Driven 2000s Procedural Series May Have Been the Grittiest of Them All

The 2000s and 2010s were a gold mine for police procedurals, and standing out among the bunch was Cold Case, a compelling fusion of nostalgia, twist-laden storylines, and often melancholic thematic heft. Premiering in 2003, the series dished up seven seasons of thoughtful drama and red-herring-rife thrills, using unique techniques to differentiate its past from its present. Amid staples like Law & Order, CSI, The Mentalist,Without a Trace, and the long-runningCriminal Minds, Cold Case remained true to the escapist formula cop show fans clamor for while balancing thematic depth in a compelling 45-minute mystery.