More True-Crime & Courtroom Thrillers
There has been a lot said about the brutal murder of Betty Gore, an honest churchgoer from Wylie, Texas that left many shocked over the last two decades. After Candace “Candy” Montgomery murdered her friend and fellow churchgoer, Betty, by stabbing her with an axe over 40 times, she quickly became a public sensation.
HBO Max recently released their adaptation of the Candy Montgomery case, where actress Elizabeth Olsen plays Candy, the axe murderer who was let go of all charges with a ‘not guilty’ despite admitting to killing Betty.
If you are someone who enjoyed watching this crime thriller as it was released and are looking for some alternatives, here is a list of 10 shows like HBO Max’s Love & Death that you will definitely enjoy.
Candy
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, True Crime
The show is also based on the case of Candy Montgomery, and is identical to Love & Death. The show follows the story of Candy’s life in the 1980’s and details her affair with Allan Gore, a fellow churchgoer. The show details how Candy ended up murdering Betty Gore, the wife of Allan Gore.
Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, True Crime
Another adaptation of a real-life true-crime case, Monster follows the story of Jeffrey Dahmer, one of America’s most notorious serial killers. The show details the grizzly crimes of Jeffery Dahmer, the Wisconsin serial killer who went on a killing spree due to police incompetence.
Dramatizing multiple instances where Dahmer was almost apprehended, the show highlights how apathy and incompetence ultimately allowed Dahmer to kill many more of his victims because he was presumed to be a clean-cut guy and repeatedly given a free pass by cops, as well as by judges.
When They See Us
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, True Crime
Another show dramatizing a real-life case is the Netflix show When They See Us. This one follows the story of a case from 1989 when a jogger was assaulted and raped in New York’s Central Park. After the incident, five young people were subsequently charged with the crime and labelled the Central Park Five.
The five boys maintain their innocence and spend years fighting the convictions, hoping to be exonerated. The show journeys the lives of these boys as teens ever since they are questioned about the incident in 1989 until their exoneration in 2002 and ultimately the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.
Mindhunter
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, True Crime
The show Mindhunter revolves around FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench who, along with psychologist Wendy Carr operate the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit within the Training Division at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Together, they launch a research project to interview imprisoned serial killers to understand their psychology with the hope of applying this knowledge to solve ongoing cases.
Pam & Tommy
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, Sexual Content
While this show does not involve the retelling of a real-life criminal case, the show Pam & Tommy depicts the turbulent three-year marriage between Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. The show puts particular emphasis on the theft and illegal distribution of an infamous sex tape the couple recorded privately during their honeymoon.
Catching Killers
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, True Crime
The ongoing documentary series follows interviews with investigators behind infamous serial killer cases as they reveal the harrowing, chilling details of their extraordinary efforts in finally finding the serial killers.
Copycat Killer
Similarities: Drama, Crime Thriller
The Taiwanese crime drama follows the story of a group of police officers dealing with a serial killer on the loose. This killer tries to tap into the media’s interest in his murders and ruthlessly manipulates their victims. Given the nature of their crimes, the police and the media end up being used as this serial killer’s puppets, turning the case into a national spectacle.
Delhi Crime
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, True Crime
Netflix Original Delhi Crime is an Indian crime thriller based on real-life events that narrate the story of how the Delhi Police Force solved two complex cases that put the entire state of Delhi as well as India, as a country in a fix.
The first season of Delhi Crime follows the aftermath of the 2012 Delhi Gang Rape case – also known as the Nirbhaya case whereas the second season follows the gruesome crimes committed against the elderly by a group of criminals dubbed as the Kachcha Baniyan gang.
Trial By Fire
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, True Crime
The 2023 Netflix original retells the real-life story of a well-known Indian tragedy that gripped the nation in the 1990s. Trial By Fire follows the 1997 Uphaar Cinema fire which is called to be the worst fire tragedy in recent Indian history. Detailing the difficult yet resilient journey of two parents, Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, the show follows the couple trying to seek justice for their loss for over two decades.
Chernobyl
Similarities: Based on Real-Life, Crime Thriller
The HBO mini-series follows the April 1986 explosion that erupted at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station in Northern Ukraine. Chernobyl narrates the stories of the men and women, who tried to contain the disaster, as well as those who gave their lives to prevent a subsequent and worse one.
There we have it, our list of the 10 TV show alternatives to the mini-series, Love & Death!
What do you think about our picks? Did your favourite make the list? Were there any honourable omissions? Let us know in the comments below.