Best tv shows like Kavanagh QC
Last updated March 2024
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Plot Summary:
Kavanagh QC is a British television series made by Central Television for ITV between 1995 and 2001. It is often repeated on ITV3, and series 1–6 are available on Region 2 DVDs. The series starred John Thaw as barrister James Kavanagh QC who comes from a working-class upbringing in Bolton, Greater Manchester. This is only discovered in later episodes as his parents' health deteriorates and through an exchange with a colleague who presumed that Kavanagh was actually a Yorkshireman. The series dealt with his battles in the courtroom as well as his domestic dramas which include the death of his devoted and affectionate wife. Later he begins dating a fellow barrister. In court Kavanagh is usually seen to be defending a client who seems likely to be convicted until a twist in the case occurs, but occasionally Kavanagh is seen in a prosecuting role. The main plot often features Kavanagh confronting cases with a subtext of racism, sexism or other prejudice. In sub-plots comedy came from the pomposity and self-absorption of Jeremy, a posh barrister in chambers. Kavanagh will not stand for injustice and is never bullied by threats or bribes from those whom he is up against in the courtroom.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration:
Plot tags: serious, realistic
Best tv shows and movies like Kavanagh QC (1995):
Similar in 77%
QB VII (1974)
Plot Summary:
A physician sues a novelist for publishing statements implicating the doctor in Nazi war crimes.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 851
Genere: Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 390 min
Plot tags: thought provoking, bleak, epic, serious, realistic, disturbing, contemplative, gloomy
Similar in 78%
Original Sin (1997)
Plot Summary:
Commander Adam Dalgliesh is consulted by one of his literary heroes when Peverell Press staff fall victim to a rash of hate mail. When the body of an editor is discovered and another member of the venerable firm is found dead soon after, Dalgliesh and his team -- Detective Inspectors Kate Miskin and Daniel Aron -- turn to the past to track down a murderer who seems prepared to kill and kill again.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 285
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 50 min
Plot tags: detective, atmospheric, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 82%
Rumpole of the Bailey (1978)
Plot Summary:
Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It stars Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an aging London barrister who defends any and all clients, and has been spun off into a series of short stories, novels, and radio programmes.
IMDB Rating: 8.4
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: detective, clever, serious, realistic, witty
Similar in 87%
Dark Justice (1991)
Plot Summary:
Dark Justice is an American crime drama about a judge that turns into a vigilante by night in order to bring to justice high-level offenders that use technicalities to "escape" the legal system. The role of Judge Nicholas Marshall was played by actors Ramy Zada and Bruce Abbott. The series began airing in 1991 and ran for three seasons finishing in 1993.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 365
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA, Spain
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: rough, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 84%
Criminal Justice (2008)
Plot Summary:
The worst thing Ben has ever done is, tonight, he takes his Dad's black cab out without his permission. But that's not why Ben ends the evening in a police cell. What looked to be a spontaneous evening of fun with a sexy stranger, Melanie, has culminated in a dead girl and Ben covered in her blood, holding the murder weapon. All the evidence points to Ben. There are no other leads. But he didn t do it. He can t remember all the events of the night, but he s sure he didn t. Ben is about to see what the criminal justice system does to someone who was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 584 min
Plot tags: bleak, serious, captivating, suspense, atmospheric, crime drama, rough, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 76%
Accused (2010)
Plot Summary:
Accused is a British television anthology series created by Jimmy McGovern. The drama series first aired on 15 November 2010 on BBC One and has run for two series. Each episode follows a different character as they await their verdict in court, and tells the story behind how they find themselves accused. The series has featured actors and actresses such as Christopher Eccleston, Benjamin Smith, Juliet Stevenson, Andy Serkis, Marc Warren, Naomie Harris, Sean Bean and Anne-Marie Duff as the accused in each episode. The series follows previous drama series by McGovern, including anthology series The Street and Moving On. After the cancellation of The Street in 2009 by Granada Television, McGovern formed RSJ Films to produce independent drama programmes and consequently devised the Accused anthology series. Accused is written by McGovern, Danny Brocklehurst and Alice Nutter and is filmed in Manchester. In 2011 it won an International Emmy for best drama series.
IMDB Rating: 7.9
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: emotional, suspenseful, psychological, bleak, serious, anthology, realistic, gloomy
Similar in 76%
Innocently Convicted (2008)
Plot Summary:
Oskyldigt dömd is a Swedish drama television series from 2008. The first season was recorded in twelve episodes during February 2008 to be aired later during the fall. It premiered on the Finnish TV channel FST5 on September 24, 2008 and later the same evening on Swedish TV4. The series is produced by Filmlance. On January 23 TV4 announced that Mikael Persbrandt would be playing the main character and on February 10 other cast members were announced; Helena af Sandeberg, Sofia Ledarp, Marie Richardson and Mirja Turestedt. TV4 also announced that they had started to work on the second season before the first had even been aired., the first season was written by Johan Zollitsch, Jan Arnald, Karin Gidfors and Hans Rosenfeldt but the second one is written by Thomas Borgström and Sara Heldt. Filming the second season took place during the spring 2009. TV4 refused to say how much money the filming has cost the channel, but they confirms that "a lot of money" has been used.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 512
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Sweden
Duration:
Plot tags: realistic, tense, captivating, psychological, serious, suspenseful
Similar in 90%
Janet King (2014)
Plot Summary:
Senior Prosecutor Janet King returns from maternity leave to confront a high-profile murder, and a conspiracy which will have shocking ramifications throughout the judicial system.
IMDB Rating: 7.8
IMDB Votes: 3000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: Australia
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: clever, serious, captivating, realistic, detective, political thriller
Similar in 87%
The Jury (2002)
Plot Summary:
The Jury is a British television serial broadcast in 2002. The series was the first ever to be allowed to film inside the historic Old Bailey courthouse.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 300 min
Plot tags: psychological, serious, captivating, realistic, bleak, tense, talky
Similar in 90%
North Square (2000)
Plot Summary:
North Square is an award-winning British television drama series written by Peter Moffat and broadcast by Channel 4 at the end of 2000. Starring an ensemble cast, including Phil Davis, Rupert Penry-Jones, Helen McCrory and Kevin McKidd, the programme is set around the practice of a Leeds Legal Chambers. The series was filmed in and around the real life Park Square, Leeds. This is the area near the city where the majority of legal firms are concentrated. Despite gaining considerable critical acclaim the show failed to garner a substantial audience resulting in only the one series of ten episodes being produced. In Australia the series was broadcast in 2001 on ABC and repeated in 2004 after popular and critical acclaim. The full series was released on DVD for the first time by Acorn Media UK on 5 March 2012.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 310
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, clever, realistic, suspenseful, humorous, semi serious
Similar in 87%
Judge John Deed (2001)
Plot Summary:
Judge John Deed is a British legal drama television series produced by the BBC in association with One-Eyed Dog for BBC One. It was created by G.F. Newman and stars Martin Shaw as Sir John Deed, a High Court judge who tries to seek real justice in the cases before him. It also stars Jenny Seagrove as the barrister Jo Mills, frequently the object of Deed's desire. A pilot episode was broadcast on 9 January 2001, followed by the first full series on 26 November 2001. The sixth and last series concluded on 18 January 2007. The programme then went on an indefinite break after Shaw became involved in another television programme, and he and Seagrove expressed a wish for the format of the series to change before they filmed new episodes. By 2009, the series had officially been cancelled. The six series produced make it the longest-running BBC legal drama. The factual accuracy of the series is often criticised by legal professionals and journalists; many of the decisions taken by Deed are unlikely to happen in a real court. The romanticised vision of the court system created by Newman caused a judge to issue a warning to a jury not to let the series influence their view of trials—referring to an episode where Deed flouts rules when called up for jury duty. Another episode led to complaints about biased and incorrect information about the MMR vaccine, leading the BBC to ban repeats of it in its original form. All six series have been released on DVD in the UK.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 185 min
Plot tags: clever, serious, captivating, realistic, detective, crime drama
Similar in 82%
Harry's Law (2011)
Plot Summary:
Harriet, Matthew and Malcolm couldn't be any more different, but when they cross paths, they realize they're all looking for a fresh start. The most unlikely of people are starting a law practice in the most unlikely of places -- a rundown shoe store.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 7000
Genere: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 43 min
Plot tags: clever, serious, exciting, realistic, dramatic
Similar in 85%
Close to Home (2005)
Plot Summary:
Close to Home is an American crime drama television series co-produced by Warner Bros. Television and Jerry Bruckheimer Television for CBS. While in pre-production the series was known as American Crime. It first aired from October 4, 2005 to May 11, 2007 and starred actress Jennifer Finnigan as Annabeth Chase, a Deputy Prosecutor for Marion County, Indiana. Created by Jim Leonard, the series was primarily filmed in Southern California. The score composer was Michael A. Levine. On May 16, 2007, the series was officially canceled by CBS.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: sentimental, serious, realistic, suspenseful
Similar in 83%
Conviction (2006)
Plot Summary:
A fast-paced character-oriented story, focuses on the lives and loves of the young assistant district attorneys in New York, following their career paths as these passionate but naive ADAs are confronted with tough, emotional cases that challenge their limited experience – and force them to mature quickly or be overwhelmed.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: rough, thought provoking, serious, realistic
Similar in 84%
Common (2014)
Plot Summary:
Multi-award-winning writer Jimmy McGovern's brand new film based on the UK's controversial joint enterprise law. Jimmy McGovern's gritty drama stars Nico Mirallegro as guileless 17 year old Johnjo O'Shea, who goes from innocent bystander to accessory to premeditated murder after giving a few friends a lift.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 90 min
Plot tags: tense, thought provoking, serious, realistic, crime drama, bleak, gloomy
Similar in 78%
Outlaw (2010)
Plot Summary:
Outlaw is an American television series that was aired on the NBC network. The one-hour courtroom drama stars Jimmy Smits as a Supreme Court Justice who resigns from the bench and returns to private practice in an elite law firm where Claire Sax, love interest to Garza, is a powerful senior partner. As part of the deal the firm has an Ex-Supreme Court Justice on their staff of lawyers and Garza is allowed to pick his team and the cases he works. The series premiered on Wednesday, September 15, 2010, and began airing on Fridays beginning September 24. On October 11 Outlaw was announced as canceled by NBC and the remaining four episodes were moved to a Saturday time slot. The series finale aired on November 13, 2010.
IMDB Rating: 6.2
IMDB Votes: 729
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: realistic, clever, psychological, captivating, sincere, serious
Similar in 89%
Raising the Bar (2008)
Plot Summary:
The lives and cases of young lawyers who work on opposite sides - the public defender's office and the district attorney's office - as well as those who sit in judgment on their cases.
IMDB Rating: 7.3
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Drama
Country: USA
Duration:
Plot tags: serious, tense, clever, realistic, stylized
Similar in 85%
Shark (2006)
Plot Summary:
Notorious Los Angeles defense attorney Sebastian Stark becomes disillusioned with his career after his successful defense of a wife-abuser results in the wife's death. After more than a month trying to come to grips with his situation, he is invited by the Los Angeles district attorney to become a public prosecutor so he can apply his unorthodox-but-effective talents to putting guilty people away instead of putting them back on the street.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 12000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, tense, suspense
Similar in 81%
Matlock (1986)
Plot Summary:
Matlock is an American television legal drama, starring Andy Griffith in the title role of criminal defense attorney Ben Matlock. The show, produced by The Fred Silverman Company, Dean Hargrove Productions, Viacom Productions and Paramount Television originally aired from September 23, 1986 to May 8, 1992 on NBC; and from November 5, 1992 until May 7, 1995 on ABC. The show's format is similar to that of CBS's Perry Mason, with Matlock identifying the perpetrators and then confronting them in dramatic courtroom scenes. One difference, however, was that whereas Mason usually exculpated his clients at a pretrial hearing, Matlock usually secured an acquittal at trial, from the jury.
IMDB Rating: 7.1
IMDB Votes: 9000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, witty, clever, serious, realistic, retro, detective, thrilling, captivating
Similar in 85%
Garrow's Law (2009)
Plot Summary:
The true tale of pioneering 18th century barrister William Garrow, who acted as counsel for the accused, introducing the concept of 'innocent until proved guilty' at London's Old Bailey.
IMDB Rating: 8.3
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Biography, Drama, History
Country: UK
Duration:
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, period piece, intellectual, dark, period drama
Similar in 85%
Murder One (1995)
Plot Summary:
Theodore 'Teddy' Hoffman is a highly-regarded defense attorney in a prestigious Los Angeles law firm. Having successfully defended the wealthy but suspicious Richard Cross in a much-publicised murder trial, he is now involved in the defense of Neil Avedon, a famous young actor who has been suffering from severe drug and alcohol problems - and has been charged with the murder for which Cross was acquitted.
IMDB Rating: 8.2
IMDB Votes: 2000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: suspenseful, exciting, detective, thrilling, sincere, serious, realistic, contemplative, vintage
Similar in 77%
Law & Order: Trial by Jury (2005)
Plot Summary:
Law & Order: Trial by Jury is an American television drama about criminal trials set in New York City. It was the third spin-off from the long-running Law & Order. The show's almost exclusive focus was on the criminal trial of the accused, showing both the prosecution's and defense's preparation for trial, as well as the trial itself. The series premiered on Thursday, March 3, 2005, and ended on January 21, 2006. Its regular time slot was Fridays 10/9 p.m. ET on NBC. The last episode aired on Court TV months after the series' cancellation.
IMDB Rating: 6.4
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: rough, suspenseful, thought provoking, realistic, serious, gloomy
Similar in 81%
The Jury (2004)
Plot Summary:
Set in New York City, the series brings the viewer into the jury room to watch the deliberators try to answer the many questions posed during a trial. As facts are exposed through flashbacks of testimony and crime footage, viewers will form their own opinions about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. Following each verdict, a final flashback will let viewers see the crime as it actually happened and reveal whether or not the jury made the right decision.
IMDB Rating: 6.9
IMDB Votes: 144
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: serious, realistic, suspenseful, disturbing, rough, bleak
Similar in 84%
Law & Order: UK (2009)
Plot Summary:
Adapted from the hit US series, Law & Order: UK follows a team of police detectives and prosecutors representing the public interest in the criminal justice system.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery
Country: UK
Duration: 46 min
Plot tags: serious, tense, rough, bleak, suspenseful, crime drama, detective, clever, realistic
Similar in 88%
100 Centre Street (2001)
Plot Summary:
100 Centre Street is an American legal drama created by Sidney Lumet and starring Alan Arkin, Val Avery, Bobby Cannavale, Joel de la Fuente and Paula Devicq.
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 201
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: serious, thought provoking, realistic, suspenseful, gloomy
Similar in 86%
The Practice (1997)
Plot Summary:
The Practice is an American legal drama created by David E. Kelley centering on the partners and associates at a Boston law firm. Running for eight seasons on ABC from 1997 to 2004, the show won the Emmy in 1998 and 1999 for Best Drama Series, and spawned the successful and lighter spin-off series Boston Legal, which ran for five more seasons, from 2004 to 2008. The Practice focused on the law firm of Robert Donnell and Associates. Plots typically featured the firm's involvement in various high-profile criminal and civil cases that often mirror current events. Conflict between legal ethics and personal morality was a recurring theme. Some episodes contained light comedy. Kelley claimed that he conceived the show as something of a rebuttal to L.A. Law and its romanticized treatment of the American legal system and legal proceedings.
IMDB Rating: 7.7
IMDB Votes: 10000
Genere: Crime, Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: tense, clever, serious, realistic, sensitive, thrilling, stylized
Similar in 76%
Silk (2011)
Plot Summary:
Silk is a British television drama series produced by the BBC and first shown in 2011. Written by Peter Moffat, the series follows a set of barristers, and what they do to attain the rank of Queen's Counsel, known as "taking silk.".
IMDB Rating: 8.0
IMDB Votes: 5000
Genere: Drama
Country: UK
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: clever, serious, captivating, realistic, dramatic, costume drama, fast
Similar in 79%
The Defenders (1961)
Plot Summary:
The Defenders is an American courtroom drama series that ran on CBS from 1961–1965. It starred E. G. Marshall and Robert Reed as father-and-son defense attorneys who specialized in legally complex cases, with defendants such as neo-Nazis, conscientious objectors, civil rights demonstrators, a schoolteacher fired for being an atheist, an author accused of pornography, and a physician charged in a mercy killing. It was created by television writer Reginald Rose. The Museum of Broadcast Communications called it "perhaps the most socially conscious series the medium has ever seen", a show "singularly resonant with New Frontier liberalism." In 2002, The Defenders was ranked #31 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time. and in 2013 TV Guide ranked it #8 in its list of The 60 Greatest Dramas of All Time.
IMDB Rating: 8.1
IMDB Votes: 486
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: serious, captivating, realistic, thought provoking, clever, talky, retro, contemplative, vintage
Similar in 90%
Crownies (2011)
Plot Summary:
Delving into the extraordinary world of the Department of Public Prosecutions and its young, eager lawyers, Crownies follows five young solicitors as they face the pressures and endearing madness of modern single life - in a fast paced workplace that highlights the moral dilemmas and big issues facing an apparently civilized society.
IMDB Rating: 7.6
IMDB Votes: 1000
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: Australia
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: realistic, captivating, psychological, tense, serious, emotional, suspenseful
Similar in 78%
The Whole Truth (2010)
Plot Summary:
As District Attorney Kathryn Peale and defense attorney Jimmy Nolan rally their teams around their arguments and prepare to go head-to-head in the the courtroom, they make frantic moves and countermoves of complex legal wrangling to tilt justice in their favor.
IMDB Rating: 6.6
IMDB Votes: 716
Genere: Crime, Drama
Country: USA
Duration: 60 min
Plot tags: captivating, realistic, psychological, atmospheric, serious, contemplative