If you liked Kaley Cuoco’s latest series, here are 5 shows that poke fun at our true crime obsession

It’s no secret that the true crime genre has us in an absolute chokehold. Whether it’s listening to gruesome accounts of murders through podcasts, YouTube and TikTok, or watching dramatised versions of real life horror stories play out on our screens, we are, as a society, completely and utterly obsessed with death, murder and mystery.

We’re either drinking in the gorey details under the pretence of equipping ourselves with a knowledge of the mind of a serial killer, or we’re playing detective in the hopes of figuring out the ‘whodunit’ first. It’s a morally dubious form of entertainment, and now we’re beginning to see a fun little sub genre emerge that taps into the obsession and pokes fun at it completely.

If you haven’t already watched Based on a True Story, starring Kaley Cuoco, Tom Bateman and Chris Messina, it’s an eight-part comedy thriller that revolves around a heavily pregnant true crime podcast aficionado (Cuoco) and her former tennis star husband (Messina) as they realise that their plumber might just be the Westside Ripper wreaking havoc around LA.

Instead of baulking in the face of imminent danger, the pair decide to boldly go where no true crime podcast has gone before: giving voice to the serial killer. It’s mostly hilarious, but there are genuinely unsettling moments, and just enough suspense, twists, and turns to keep you interested until the very end.

So, if that sounds like your bag, here are five more TV shows to enjoy over the weekend…

Only Murders in the Building

Starring Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Selena Gomez as an unlikely crime solving trio brought together by a murder in their exclusive Upper West Side apartment building, Only Murders in the Building spans two seasons and features a myriad of incredible guest stars including Cara Delevingne, Tina Fey, Amy Schumer, and Jane Lynch. Renewed for a third season set to air in August, there’s plenty of time to acquaint yourself with the many twists and turns that take place inside the Arconia.

The Woman in the House Across the Street from the Girl in the Window

If you haven’t watched this one already, you need to hop straight onto Netflix. Starring Kristen Bell, the series follows a heartbroken Anna as she stares out her window, wine in hand, watching life go by without her. But when a handsome neighbour (Tom Riley) and his adorable daughter move in across the street, Anna starts to see a light at the end of the tunnel. That is until she witnesses a gruesome murder… Or did she?

Poker Face

This 10-episode ‘mystery-of-the-week’ series follows Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie, who has an extraordinary ability to determine when someone is lying. She hits the road with her Plymouth Barracuda and with every stop, she encounters a new cast of characters and strange crimes she can’t help but solve. Guest stars are plentiful throughout, from Ellen Barkin and Adrien Brody to Luis Guzmán and Chloë Sevigny.

The Afterparty

This murder-mystery comedy is set at a high school reunion afterparty, and with each of the first season’s eight episodes, there’s a fresh retelling of the same night told through a different character’s perspective, each with its own unique visual format and film genre to match the teller’s personality. It’s been described as ‘the millennial whodunnit’, and the first season stars Tiffany Haddish, Zoe Chao, Sam Richardson, and Dave Franco.

Truth Be Told

A lot less lighthearted than the rest of the shows mentioned above, Truth Be Told stars Octavia Spencer and Kate Hudson, and follows a true crime podcast that was propelled to nationwide fame as new evidence emerged that suggests her original suspect may have been wrongfully convicted.

Imagery via Peacock