Summary

Crime drama often stars troubled and tortured detectives , but it ’s when two detective with wildly different personality are forced to team up up that the police detective genre really reaches its peak . These pairs often begin with opposing perspectives and styles : one may be tight - lipped and serious , while the other is overflowing with personal appeal and a way-out sense of mood . Often , these duos challenge each other , micturate both characters question their belief and personal aliveness decisions . In some case , this tension fuels the duo ’s power to mold as effectual detectives . Other time it lead to heartwarming friendships or even romantic tension .

The allure of offence TV shows is often as much about the detectives as it is about the mystery themselves . From iconic offense - fighting duos like 1975’sStarsky & Hutchto advanced adaption of 120 - year - old character partnerships , as seen in the BBC’sSherlock , the timeless team - up is a testament to its enduring appeal to audiences . These pairings have appeared in some of the mostthrilling crime dramatic event TV showsof all time , and as new shows cover to emerge , there are bind to be more incredible detective duette on the celestial horizon .

10Crockett and Tubbs

Miami Vice (1984)

Miami Vicerevolutionized video with its cinematic stylus and enchanting detective duo . The show centered around James " Sonny " Crockett ( Don Johnson ) and Ricardo " Rico " Tubbs ( Philip Michael Thomas ) , undercover vice cops in Miami . This detective duo , with Crockett ’s man-about-town part and Tubbs ' problematic , street - smart New York background , excelled in in high spirits - stakes operations against drug dealers , sleeve cut-rate sale , and prostitution band . The show ’s distinctive style boast activity - packed montages and mickle of guest star . However , in later seasons , Miami Vicefaced critique for ridiculous plots and recycle villains .

9Temperance Brennan & Seeley Booth

Bones (2005)

Cast

Despite criticism for its formulaic approach , Bonesis celebrated for its character - driven storytelling , specially the dynamic between Brennan and Booth . The show asterisk Emily Deschanel as Dr. Temperance Brennan and David Boreanaz as Special Agent Seeley Booth . Their unconventional love story unfolds across six seasons . Beginning with clashing ideology , they gradually grow a abstruse , quixotic chemical bond . Their relationship inBonesdefies conventional romance tropes , focusing rather on a heavy connection that grows over metre , leave viewers on the edge of their rump , captivated by their will - they - won’t - they moral force .

8Jimmy McNulty and Bunk

The Wire (2002)

The Wire , hailed as one of the greatest idiot box shows of all time , follow a police squad direct by Jimmy McNulty ( Dominic West ) and his cooperator Bunk ( Wendell Pierce ) as they navigate the complicated relationship between the city ’s drug trade and the police . McNulty womanizing and hard liquor - loving ways contrast so well with Bunk ’s directly - spill nonsense demeanor . The two bounce off each other so well with fantabulous chemistrythat even unproblematic plainspoken conversations are gripping and full of humor . The two are most known for an infamous scenewhere they brilliantly infer a bullet ’s path using only magnetic declination of the f - Scripture .

7Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster

Psych (2006)

Psych , a comedy - drama , follows Shawn ( James Roday Rodriguez ) and Burton " Gus " Guster ( Dulé Hill ) , a couple of lifelong friends turn crime problem solver . The show , airing from 2006 to 2014 on USA web , gained a fad come after , leading to three post - series movies . Its blend of offence - solving , comedy , and the dynamic friendly relationship between Shawn and Gus was a immense part of its major success . The two actors apportion wonderful on - screen interpersonal chemistry , land something entirely Modern to the ordinarily cold and serious crime musical style . Psychstands out for itswitty backchat , wonderful playing , and big alchemy between the leads .

6Alec Hardy and Ellie Miller

Broadchurch (2013)

Detective Inspector Alec Hardy ( David Tennant ) and Detective Sergeant Ellie Miller ( Olivia Colman ) make up the striking detective duo inBroadchurch , one of thebest British murder enigma . The two ab initio start off on the unseasonable foot due to Hardy ’s uncongenial demeanour and Miller ’s resentment towards Hardy have the position she aspired to . Broadchurchis praised for its nuanced storytelling and type arc , particularly in portraying Hardy ’s character , who is ab initio abrasive and remote but step by step reveals a softer side , especially in his interactions with Miller .

5Fox Mulder and Dana Scully

The X-Files (1993)

The X - Files , airing from 1993 - 2002 and revived from 2016 - 2018 , chronicle the journey of FBI agents Fox Mulder ( David Duchovny ) and Dana Scully ( Gillian Anderson ) as they delve into paranormal investigations . experience for its mix of standalone episodes and a deeper mythology involving aliens and government conspiracies , the show develop from a cult sci - fi favorite to a major connection hit . The X - Files , keep forthe dynamic partnership between Mulder and Scully , amassed a dedicated fan fundament fuck as X - Philes , proving just how captivating this police detective duo is .

4Rust Cohle and Marty Hart

True Detective (2014)

HBO’sTrue Detectiveseason 1is a Southern noir execution whodunit following detectives Marty Hart ( Woody Harrelson ) and Rust Cohle ( Matthew McConaughey ) as they investigate a nonparallel killer with supernatural connection . Rust Cohle and Marty Hart ’s dynamical isone of the most interesting investigator duos . interview about a vitrine from a decade prior , the series explores their evolution from partners to constrained acquaintances , highlighted by a fistfight in the police station parking lot that ends their relationship . The tale intertwines two timelines , gradually unveiling the detectives ' personal daemon and the impact of the case on their lives .

3Sherlock and Watson

Sherlock (2010)

The modern BBC adaptation of Sherlock Holmes , run from 2010 - 2017 , features a unique take on the Graeco-Roman tec duo . InSherlock , the chemistry between the two contrast lineament hang from their witty humor and an entertaining bashing of head . Benedict Cumberbatch ’s Sherlock Holmesis a charismatic , mellow - functioning sociopath , wonderfully contrasted against Martin Freeman ’s Dr. John Watson , his grounded , humanizing friend . The clear-cut characterization and chemistry between the two doer adds a fresh , modern dynamic to theSherlock Holmesfranchise .

2Starsky and Hutch

Starsky & Hutch (1975)

Starsky & Hutchfeatures the iconic 1970s cop duo , David Starsky ( Paul Michael Glaser ) and Ken Hutchinson ( David Soul ) , who defined the era with their secret operations in the fictional metropolis of Bay City , California . inspire by real NYPD pig known for their undercover expertness , the series followed their risky venture for four seasons , assist by their street - smart informant , Huggy Bear ( Antonio Fargas ) . Their moral force was groundbreaking for the time , showcasing an warm friendship between cops that counterpoint with the distinctive macho portrayal that was more common in this epoch of cop display .

1Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler

Law & Order: SVU

Elliot Stabler ( Christopher Meloni ) and Olivia Benson ( Mariska Hargitay ) fromLaw & Order : SVU , a show with over 23 season , are one of TV ’s most iconic and long - running detective duos . For 12 years , the moral force between Stabler and Benson ( Mariska Hargitay ) was fundamental to the serial publication . Their chemistry and complex relationship were key toLaw & Order : SVU ’s success , make one of television ’s most captivating will - they - won’t - they kinetics . While there was always an underlie amorous latent hostility between the character and an almost kiss , the two still maintained a strictly professional relationship .

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Miami vice crockett and tubbs firing guns

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McNulty and Bunk in The Wire

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Shawn Spencer and Burton Guster in their food truck in Psych

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True detective Cohle and Hart

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David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser in Starsky and Hutch

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