Actor Priyamani Shares Her Favourite Crime Shows: From 'Bones' to 'Unforgettable'

“Don’t quote me on this but I really like crime shows,” says actor Priyamani. And she clearly knows a thing or two about high-stakes investigation. With The Family Man Season 3 having just released at the end of November, she’s now spent years inhabiting the world of espionage and danger. Off-screen, she’s just as drawn to the genre — devouring crime series that blend forensic detail with psychological intrigue.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter India, Priyamani shared her top six crime shows and what makes them — in her eyes — essential viewing.

1. Bones (2005-2017)

A long-running American drama series, Bones follows forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance Brennan and FBI special agent Seeley Booth as they investigate crimes and decipher clues from human remains. The show employs good old detective work paired with the science of forensics, keeping viewers hooked. Streaming in India on JioHotstar, it draws us into the compelling world of ‘bone analysis’ — how fracture patterns or bone density can lead you to a killer. “I would love to rewatch Bones because it is one of those informative shows on a subject that is good to learn about,” says Priyamani.

2. Blue Bloods (2010-2024)

Centred around a multi-generational family of policemen in New York City, Blue Bloods explores duty through the intricacies of relationships and rigid family values. Each of the family members holds distinctive positions in the judicial and law enforcement system: the patriarch (played by Tom Selleck) is the police commissioner, the elder son is a lead detective in the New York Police Department, the younger son is a law graduate who also joins the NYPD, and the daughter is a district attorney. For Priyamani, “What really hooks you is seeing how different types of crime unfold and watch the family decipher the clues together.”

3. Grimm (2011-2017)

Grimm unfolds in modern-day Portland, USA, but is deeply rooted in German folklore. The protagonist, Nick Burkhardt, is a homicide detective who discovers his ancient lineage from a long line of Grimms — supernatural beings tasked with protecting humanity from mythological creatures known as ‘Wesen’. The series explores Nick’s mental conflict between procedural police work and his supernatural calling. The folklore and drama are carefully threaded in the show, available on Amazon Prime Video. “I absolutely love that when the characters are over-emotional — when they’re angry or sad — the animal in them comes out,” Priyamani says.

4. High Potential (2024-present)

High Potential follows Morgan Gillory, a single mother of three who works as a cleaner to make ends meet. Morgan soon discovers that she is gifted with a high IQ, and her intuitive thinking draws the attention of the Los Angeles Police Department, where she is onboarded as a consultant to help solve complex crimes through unconventional means. “It is her presence of mind that intrigues me the most, and her ability to read the room in the right way,” Priyamani says. High Potential Season 2 is streaming on Amazon Prime Video and JioHotstar.

5. Lie to Me (2009-2011)

The average human lies at least once a day. So, what about the average criminal? Hailing from the mind of actor, producer and screenwriter, Samuel Baum, Lie to Me is an American psychological crime drama revolving around Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth), a body language expert who assist investigators in detecting deceptions by using psychology. “What intrigues me is the way the show plays with your psyche,” says Priyamani. It explores the subtle art of physical signals, such as facial twitches or eye movement, and how these micro-expressions can be a natural tell to identify if a person is lying.

6. Unforgettable (2011-2016)

In Unforgettable, Poppy Montgomery stars as Carrie Wells, a former detective with a rare condition called hyperthymesia. “She solves the crime not always by being in the thick of the action, but because her mind works in mysterious ways,” says Priyamani. Hyperthymesia gives her a photographic memory — she recalls every instant of her life in perfect detail. Every room she enters, every conversation she has, nothing escapes the meticulous ledger of her mind. The brilliance of her memory aids investigators in solving dead-end cases, making for a compelling watch.

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